The '5 Idiots'

Some years back, there was a famous Bollywood movie called the ‘3 Idiots’. It was a very meaningful & inspiring movie.

But today, I want to write about ‘5 Idiots’ from the Bible.

1. NOAH
(Read Genesis 5-10)

In a dry and sunny land, God instructed Noah to build a huge boat. Everyone who passed by thought Noah was a complete idiot! Why would a man build an ark when there’s no sign of rain or even a flood?

He worked so hard to build the ark, while everyone who passed by called him a mad man!
Not only that, he also brought in all the species of animals, 2 by 2, to save them in the ark. He even warned people about the flood, and asked them to believe!

Nobody believed him!

If your neighbour started building an ark during a draught, you would think he’s an idiot or lunatic too, wouldn’t you?

But guess what? In the end, the Flood really came. Everyone else died. Only Noah & his family were saved!

Who are the idiots now?


2. JOSHUA
(Read Joshua 1-6 in the Bible)

Can you imagine an army going for war? Instead of using weapons, they go around blowing horns around the walls in the city of Jericho!

That’s exactly what God asked Joshua to do.

So, Joshua instructed his army to do according to what the LORD said. They did it for 6 days; their enemies & those watching, must have thought, “Their leader, Joshua is a complete idiot!”

But on the 7th day, the walls of Jericho collapsed by the effect of the loud sounds! Joshua & his army easily marched right in!

Who are the idiots now?


3. SHADRACH, MESHACH and ABEDNEGO
(Read Daniel 3 in the Bible)

These 3 men worked for the King in Babylon. They believed the Lord and followed God’s commandments. One day, the King created a golden statue & made it a rule for everyone to bow down & worship the statue as God. If they refused, they will be punished and thrown into the fire!

At that time, these 3 men refused to bow down to worship the statue as God. They said, they will worship the Lord only! They were willing to be thrown into the fire to die!

Everyone around them would have said, “What idiots! Why do they want to die just because of this? Can’t they pretend & bow down for courtesy sake?”

The King threw them into the fire! But these 3 men did not die!

Instead, the soldiers who threw them in died! Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were protected by God, even inside the burning fire!

They came out alive! – until the King himself made a new rule to punish anyone who said anything bad about these 3 men’s God!

Who are the idiots now?



MORAL OF THE STORY:

When you follow God’s instructions, you might look like an idiot to the world.

People might make fun of you, or think you are stupid – but GOD will NEVER PUT YOU TO SHAME.

It’s ok to be an IDIOT for GOD, because GOD ALWAYS WINS, IN THE END.

YOU WILL BE SAVED.

BE BRAVE to be the only one standing out. BE PROUD to be the minority.

In the end, you can look at the whole world and say, “Who are the idiots now?”



Romans 10:11 (The Bible)
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him (the LORD) will not be put to shame.”

A Poem: You Can Tame a Tiger

Once I had a dream,
I was walking by a field,
Everybody screamed and scrambled,
When a tiger toddled in,
Some ran to grab their weapons,
Some got ready to shoot and kill,
But I remained where I was standing,
Amazed by the beautiful predator,
Approaching still.

“Would you let me touch you?”
“I mean you no harm,”
“You won’t hurt me, would you?”
“You will listen to your Master's command.”

My eyes sent him the message,
I meant what I said,
He lifted his paw as if to greet me,
As I gently stroked his head,
He lowered his body to reach me,
Rubbed his face as if to kiss me,
And I climbed onto his back,
We rode across the people,
Staring at us wide-eyed,
How a girl could tame a tiger,
Become his friend instead.

I woke up with an unexplainable feeling,
What the beautiful scene!
Could there be a deeper message,
What does it really mean?

If you can overcome fear and face the predator,
You surely are as brave as a warrior.
If you can withhold your fist & avoid a fight,
It means you know how to handle power.

If you can admit mistakes and say sorry,
Your humility will definately bring you glory.
If you can forgive even before they apologize,
It means your heart is way bigger than your size.

If you can be quiet when your soul’s ablaze,
You certainly have admirable grace.
If you can speak with kindness against feelings of hate,
You’re a man who can use both your heart & head.

If you can love your enemy,
And the ones who could hurt you,
Can become closer than a brother,
Even if you can't capture an entire city,
But you can control your temper,
Then, my friend,
You can tame a tiger.

-JJ-

Proverbs 16:32 (The Bible)
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

A Poem : Can You Really Trust People?

Good moments in life are plenty,

That’s when the smiles are many,

People joke, chat and laugh,

But can you really trust any?

Do you know what they’re thinking?

Are they really happy for you within?

When they shake your hands and wish you all the best,

Is the look in their eyes real?

Can you really trust people?



Times of trouble are no less,

You get worried when you see the mess,

People come and offer you help,

But are they genuine?

Do they have a motive secretly kept?

When they pat your back and tell you all is at rest,

Is this the solution that will make you stable?

Can you really trust people?



When you need a favour,

When you look for men in high places,

You see their position, money or power,

You think this is your answer,

But will they always assist?

What if there’s something that you miss?

Is there something they’ll want in return?

To pay the price, are you even able?

Can you really trust people?



What if they promise to deliver,

And then they back out in the final hour,

If their health deteriorates,

Or if they even die,

Can you hold their breath?

The future is already set,

Even if at the moment,

They seem fit and able,

One day they might let go,

Who will help you then?

Must you hold on to their hand?

Can you really trust people?



The Kings & men in the Book of old,

In the Bible they already told,

The lessons they learned,

The pains foretold,

In strategic wars,

Family and friendship,

You cannot even trust the closest kinship,

When everything is gone,

You can see it’s very simple.

The truth is plain and clear,

You cannot really trust people.



People may promise and walk away,

Brothers may cheat and prevail,

Friends may be there one day,

Then you realize it’s just a game people play,

But the Lord is different,

He's not like humans,

He will hold your hand,

God will never fail.



At the right moment, time and place,

When you feel you’ve lost your face,

When things appear impossible,

When all hope for the future totally disappears,

The Lord will send acquaintances or strangers,

Men and women from the least expected places,

They’ll help you with a heart that’s sincere,

To show you unprecedented favour,

Even if things take an unfortunate turn,

In an instant He can change the whole situation,

When you realize,

And keep the faith,

That you cannot really trust people,

But you can always trust Jesus.



-JJ-

Psalm 118: 8-9

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in people.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

A Poem : Just Tell Them the Truth

If someone sent you a message,
If someone gave you a call,
If someone asked you a question,
Whether it was urgent or not,
Would you just read without replying?
Would you just listen without talking?
Would you be asked without answering?
Would you pretend it was nothing?
As if the other person was just a wall.
If your answer is “Yes”,
Say it clearly,
Then people can be sure that you’re ready,
If you want to say “No,”
Make sure you let them know,
At least they can find other alternatives,
Instead of living on a sedative,
If you can’t give an immediate answer,
If you need time to think better,
Just tell them the truth,
It’s the respectable thing to do,
Don’t make promises you know you can’t keep,
Don’t just give offers to achieve your selfish means,
If you’ve given your word with good intentions,
But later on realized you can’t fulfil the requirements,
Just tell them the truth,
It’s the responsible thing to do,
Never just be quiet,
And keep others waiting,
Never just be silent,
And leave them hanging,
Never just ignore it,
Hoping they’ll somehow get it,
How would you feel,
If they did that to you?

Jesus said in Matthew 5:37:
Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

A Poem: You’re Not the Devil, Just a Man

Do you realize you’re not the Devil?
Do you know you’re just a man?
Can’t you see you’ve been enslaved,
To carry out the Devil’s plan.

The world may like your charm & money,
Sex & drinks may be like ice-cream with honey,
Women may fall for the offers you throw,
But your heart longs for more than this show.

You take great pride in being somebody,
It’s nice that your acquaintances are many,
Important people sit & chat with you,
But you know that true friends who love you are few.

People look at your performance,
And the game that you cleverly play,
But God looks into your heart,
At the man you really are.

Do you see your sins are many?
They’re innumerable as sand,
But they’ll never be too many,
To be washed away by the Man.

Do you know that Jesus loves you?
Do you know that He died for you?
Do you know that His blood already bought you,
From the Devil, you thought, was you!

You belong to the Kingdom of Heaven,
Where God truly loves you,
The Devil is trying to trap you,
But that’s exactly why I feel I need to tell you.

Would you like to be forgiven?
Would you like to start anew?
Be a free man, my dear friend,
This is God’s offer to you.

Just ask Jesus to forgive you,
And you’ll become brand new!
You’re not the Devil – you’re just a man,
Sincere words from a humble friend.

-JJ-

John 3:16
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus Christ), so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

“Away from me, Satan!”

As long as we live on this planet, we will face challenges and temptations. Some challenges make us angry. Others make us upset. Some bring us really down, while others offer a 'screen-saver' dream beyond our imagination.

It's important for us to know, which is the test from the Devil, and which is the opportunity from God. Sometimes, it's very difficult to differentiate. The Devil will always intercept, at any moment, using things which appear very good and noble. That's why we need to pray & continually ask God for direction.

One point to remember : God is NOT the one testing you. It’s the Devil who does all the tempting!

Even Jesus himself was tempted!

The greater your FAITH, the greater your challenge and tests!

When situations or people in your life, bring temptations and troubles – don’t be angry with the people! It’s NOT them! It’s the DEVIL!

A spiritual war is going on. The Devil (powers of darkness) are using people & situations to tempt you.

Those people who tempt you are just weak puppets who are being used by the Devil, to carry out the mastermind plan.

Let’s look at how temptations come, and how the Man Himself handled it, with the real spiritual Devil.

Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil.

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

How the Devil tempts? – The Devil looks for something you need, & then offers it with an evil motive. He makes you think it's your right to fulfill that need. The Devil knows your weakness and will use it. He will make you think it's your right to take the solution. But his purpose is evil. The Devil knew Jesus was hungry, because he was fasting. So, He tempted Jesus to turn the stone into bread.

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

How Jesus overcame? – Using the Word (God). Jesus tells the Devil, he doesn’t just survive on physical food, so he doesn’t need the food, even when He has the power to turn stones into bread. Jesus is telling the Devil, he has God’s power. Jesus is telling the Devil that God can take care of him! He doesn’t need the solution offered by the Devil.

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

How the Devil tempts? – The Devil offers you unwarranted risks with potential gain, hoping you will fall. The Devil knows your mission for God, and wants you to fail. The Devil will ask you to do things you know how to do. He won't ask you to do something you can't do! The Devil knew that Jesus’ mission was to die on the cross for the world’s sins – to save the world from hell. Fasting was to prepare Jesus to bear the suffering that was going come on the cross. The Devil knew Jesus had the power jump off a building, and instruct angels to catch him (but perhaps the Devil was not sure if the angels will really catch Jesus). The Devil probably wanted Jesus to ‘test power’ (hoping he would commit suicide), and fail his mission.

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

How Jesus overcame? – Using the Word (God). Jesus saw through his tricks and told him it’s wrong to test God.

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

How the Devil tempts? – The Devil offers you money, power & pleasure in EXCHANGE for your soul. The Devil wants your soul to suffer with him in Hell, once you die. When you are a Christian, you pursue high standards of holiness. The world may offer you money, power and pleasure – but it may mean, you have to lower your standards of holiness. Maybe you won’t have time for God and church anymore. Maybe, in your job, you’ll have to drink & party, and follow the ways of SIN (Devil). When you love SIN, it automatically means, you are worshipping the Devil. This means you’ll have to go against your values and stop following God.

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

How Jesus overcame? – Using the Word (God). Jesus tells the Devil, in life, we must worship only God. We must pursue holiness in every way of life (personal or job). We must love God more than anything else in this world. Jesus chases the Devil away, and the devil gets lost!

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

******************************************************************

PRAY for yourself, and those around you. PRAY, even for the people whom the Devil uses to tempt you. Pray that they will wake up and stop being used by the Devil.

If something is from God, it will be clear, with nothing to hide. It will not take you away from God, or your values. There will be no hidden agenda.

DEAL WITH the REAL SOURCE OF TEMPTATION, in the SPIRITUAL WORLD. Deal with the spiritual devil itself!

Don’t hate the person, but be very careful with them.

Say to the Devil, “Away from me, Satan!” and he will get lost! Don't say it direct to people's faces. Talk to people with wisdom, but say it strongly in your PRAYER.

The Devil will come back again, with new challenges, using the same or new people & situations, after you pass each test. But his TECHNIQUE IS ALWAYS THE SAME, as what the mastermind used on Jesus.

See, Jesus already showed us.BE STRONG IN THE LORD & follow Jesus’ example. It's not easy, but don’t give in to the Devil.

Instead, chase the Devil away with GOD'S WORD, continue to live holy - then, you can win – EVERY TIME.

The One Thing That Doesn't Change

Every day of our life, is different. Nothing remains the same.

Some days, everything is rosy and beautiful. Work is going great, and everything makes you happy. You feel on top of the world, and so loved by the people around you. You are also very nice & loving to those around you.

There are also times, where everything is a mess! You might feel you mean nothing to the ones closest to you, and they are willing to leave you in difficult moments. You also make them feel worse.

There will be moments, where you realize, there is no one in this world who will be with you forever. No one in this world can just accept and make you feel better, even after you admit your mistakes. No one will just understand, instead of getting angry, when you express your feelings. No one has PERFECT LOVE. You, yourself don't have it, either.

The world is ever fleeting. Humans are selfish. People change.

Today, you might be working with a reputable organization with a great income. A few years later, you might have a different job. That can change.

Today, you might be engaged to someone. Tomorrow, you might marry someone else. Even that can change.

Today, you might be someone's husband / wife. Tomorrow, who can tell?

Today, you might have brothers. Tomorrow, you might disown them.

Today, your parents & family may be around, but no one lives forever. Situations change.

You change. People change.

As I get older, I realize that JESUS is the only thing that’s CONSTANT. He NEVER changes. When you confess mistakes, He forgives. When you’re down, He picks you up. Even if you stubbornly walk away from him, He is still waiting for you with arms open wide. He will never let you walk alone, even if you’ve made terrible mistakes. He is LOVE, and He doesn't change.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today & forever.


Everything & everyone changes, even you change... But YOU ARE a child of God. You'll always belong to Him, if you believe - Only that remains.

A very touching song on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms_klH3jjNw

KU MAHU CINTA YESUS SELAMANYA

Ku mahu cinta Yesus selamanya (I want to love Jesus for eternity )
Ku mahu cinta Yesu selamanya ( I want to love Jesus for eternity )
Meskipun badai silih berganti dalam hidupku (Though many storms may come and go in my life)
Ku tetap cinta Yesus selamanya ( I will still love Jesus for eternity)

Chorus:

Ya Allah, Bapa, (My Lord, Father )
Ini aku anakMu, (Here I come, as your child)
Layakkannlah seluruh hidupku (Cleanse my life - make me worthy & true )
Ya Abba, Bapa ( My Abba Father)
Ini aku anakMu, (Here I come, as your child)
Pakailah sesuai dengan rencanaMu (Use my life according to Your plans)

The Story of 2 Brothers

In today’s worlds, it’s all too common to hear about siblings squabbling for parents’ money, and brothers fighting for property.Some might feel that the world has become evil, and people have changed. The truth is, human nature has always been like this, since the beginning in the Bible. Let’s look at the true story of 2 brothers in Genesis 27-33.

How a mother can lead a son to cheat his own brother? How does the brother feel when he is cheated? What happens to the cheater? How does God deal with it? What can we learn?

Let’s take it from the dramatic account of Isaac’s 2 twins; Jacob & Esau.

*****Jacob Cheats His Brother*****

Esau was the older brother to Jacob. In those times, the father would always bless the oldest with child with the best, before he died, and these blessing would come true (the power of words by faith!). Jacob was always jealous of his older brother, but he happened to be his mother’s favourite.One day, when Isaac was old and his eyes could not see, he told his first son Esau, “I am old and don’t know when I will die. Go out and hunt. Prepare my favourite food and give me to eat. I want to give you my blessings before I die.”

His wife overheard this conversation, and quickly informed her favourite younger son, Jacob.

She told him, “Your father is going to bless Esau. He asked Esau to prepare his favourite food. Listen to me, go and bring me 2 best goats. I will cook for your father. You give it to him, and take the blessings.”

But Jacob said, “My brother is a hairy man. My skin is smooth. What if father touches me and finds out I’m not Esau? I’ll get cursed!”

But his mother was a great mastermind. She covered Jacob’s hand’s and neck with goatskin, so it would feel hairy. She made Jacob wear his brother’s best clothes, so the father will smell his first son.So, Jacob did as his mother taught him. His father was almost blind, and fell for his trick.

Jacob received his father’s best blessings!

His father said (Genesis 27: 27-29): “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field, that the LORD has blessed. May God give you of heaven’s dew and of the earth’s riches – an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and may those who bless you, be blessed.”

And when Jacob received all the blessings, he quickly left.

Now, Esau, the older brother has just finished cooking his best for his father. He came in excitedly to serve his father the food. His father got a shock!

He asked him, “Who are you?” Who came earlier with the food? I already blessed him, and everything I said will happen!”

Esau burst out with a loud, bitter cry! He couldn’t accept it – how his brother cheated his of his blessings!

Esau begged his father, “Don’t you even have just one blessing for me? Bless me too, father!”His father said (Genesis 27: 38-40), “I already blessed your brother to be master over you. What can I give you?”

Then his father blessed Esau, saying, “ You will live away from all the earthly richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck.”

Esau hated his brother, and was planning to kill him after their father passed away.

When his mother heard it, she quickly told Jacob, “Your brother is planning to kill you. Quickly go to my brother’s house and stay there, until your brother is not angry with you anymore.”

This was the deceptive plans of his mother, and Jacob followed it. (*Note: She never saw her favourite son again after this. This is what she got for her deception.)

So, Jacob quickly escaped to his uncle’s house in another land.

#####Note:#####

How would we feel if we were in Esau’s place? How would we feel if our own brother cheated us? Is God letting injustice happen freely? Does the story end here?No! Far from it. Let’s look at Jacob’s life, when he goes to stay with his uncle, Laban.

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*****What Goes Around, Comes Around*****

When Jacob goes to meet his uncle, he sees that his uncle has 2 daughter’s; Leah & Rachel. Leah was not very attractive, but Rachel was extremely beautiful. Immediately, Jacob fell in love with Rachel. (Genesis 29 -30).

His uncle told him, “Just because you are my relative, you cannot work for free. Tell me how I should pay you?Jacob replied, “I will work for you for 7 years, to marry your younger daughter, Rachel.”

So, Laban agreed, and Jacob worked very hard for 7 years, and it felt just like a few days because he loved Rachel very deeply.

He learnt how to be honest and perform his best, and the LORD’s blessing were with him, just as his father blessed him.

Now, 7 years had passed and it was time to marry Rachel.

But what happened?

Laban prepared a great feast and arranged the wedding. But he switched the bride. He prepared Leah instead!So, Jacob slept with Leah, and did not realize until the morning. When he woke up, he got a shock when he saw she was not Rachel. It was her sister, Leah!

Jacob went to his uncle Laban, and said, “What have you done to me? I served you for 7 years, to get Rachel. Why have you cheated me?”

Laban coolly replied, “It’s not our custom to let the younger daughter marry, before the older one. Work another 7 years, and you can marry Rachel.”

Here, Jacob was cheated by his uncle, just as he cheated his own brother. He was paying a very high price for it. God was teaching Jacob a hard lesson, to change him. And Jacob paid the price.

He worked another 7 years, to marry Rachel! He learnt to LOVE, and do something for LOVE.

Jacob had served Laban for 14 years, before he could get his dream wife! Does the story end here?

No. Laban cheats Jacob again!

Jacob’s 2 wives gave birth to a couple of children, and Jacob wanted to leave Laban to start his own life & business.

But Laban said, “ The LORD has blessed me because of you. Ever since you worked for my, my livestock has increased. Continue to work for me. Tell me what you want and I will give you.”So Jacob agreed.

He told Laban, “Don’t pay me anything. I will continue to tend your sheep. I will remove every spotted and dark coloured sheep. That will be my pay. My honesty will speak for me. If you find I have any lamb which is not spotted, or dark coloured, then it’s considered stolen."

Laban agreed. But as time passed, he noticed that Jacob was doing very well. Jacob’s flock was becoming bigger than his!

Laban again cheated Jacob and changed the terms of agreement a few times. But every time, the LORD blessed Jacob. Jacob always prospered, just as his father blessed him. Laban’s own sons were not satisfied because their wealth was going to Jacob.

Jacob became very afraid, and the LORD told him, “Go back to your father’s land. I will be with you.”

#####Note:#####

From this, we can see that God’s ways are different from ours.

We always want people to pay for their mistakes, but the LORD has a greater plan.He wants them to CHANGE.

He blesses, and teaches at the same time. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. God keeps his promise.

He blessed Jacob, to keep his father’s word. Yet, he taught Jacob a lesson for cheating his brother.

God taught Jacob honesty and made him work very hard, by allowing Laban to cheat him many times.By now, Jacob had changed and become a better man. God loved him and took care of him, through it all.

A lot has been happening with Jacob for years, but what about his brother Esau? Does God have a plan?

Yes, the LORD makes them meet again

#####Note:#####

*****Jacob Prepares to Meet His Brother******

By now, Jacob had realized his mistake. God has changed his heart. Jacob wanted to make right with his brother. Jacob travelled to his father’s land, and sent messengers to meet his brother Esau. (in those day, they didn’t have hand phones or internet! They had to pass a message through a person).

He told them to say this to his brother (Genesis 32:4-5) : “Your servant Jacob say “I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, and servants as gifts to you. I hope you will be friendly with me."

But the messengers returned to Jacob with bad news! They said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is bringing 400 men with him, to meet you!”

Jacob was terrified. He divided his servants into groups and sent them in different directions. He picked the best goats to give as gifts to his brother and sent them. He told each herd to go ahead of him.

He said, “When you meet my brother, tell him, “All this belong to your servant Jacob. This is his gift you. He is coming behind us.”

Jacob prayed to God. Jacob was so afraid his brother will attack him, his family and his servants. Jacob was not selfish anymore. He cared for the people with him. He asked God to help him. He humbled himself, and realized that he was not worthy of God’s kindness to his life, all this while. (Genesis 32: 9-21)

*****Jacob Wrestles with God*****

Jacob spent that night alone in the camp, and suddenly a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When it was daybreak, the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”So, the man touched Jacob’s hips. The man told Jacob, “Your name will not be Jacob anymore. You will be called Israel, because you struggled with God and men, and you have overcome.”

When the sun rose above, Jacob was limping because of his hips.

#####Note:#####

Jacob asked God for blessing, and God touched his hips. He became injured instead and started limping! Sometimes in life, we don’t understand God’s ways, and see unfortunate things as disasters, but God always has a plan! Read on!

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*****Jacob Meets Esau*****

Jacob saw his brother coming with 400 men! (Genesis 33)Jacob arranged his wives, children and servants to stand. He went in front of them, and bowed down to the ground 7 times to Esau, as he got nearer to his brother.

Jacob was so scared whether his brother will accept him.

But guess what?

The Lord has melted Esau’s heart, just as He had changed Jacob.

Esau was filled with compassion as he saw his brother limping. He ran to meet Jacob. He hugged him and kissed him. Esau had forgiven his brother for cheating him. He still loved and accepted his brother.Both the brothers cried.

Imagine, they were meeting each other after more than 15 years!

Esau did not want to accept the gifts, because God had also prospered him with plenty. He was happy to have his brother back.

And that was the day, the 2 brothers were reconciled. Their relationship was restored. LOVE WON! (as the Bible says in I Corinthians 13; LOVE always WINS in the end.)

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LESSONS for us to learn:

1) Don’t cheat others. What you do to others, will happen to you in other ways, in life. Remember, what happened to Jacob, for cheating his brother. Follow God’s rules for living, and you won’t go wrong. When you realize your mistake, quickly make right.

2) If you’ve been cheated, learn to FORGIVE & LOVE. God has his own way of dealing with the cheater. God will teach them a lesson & make them change. That’s God’s role. It’s not your job to teach people a lesson. So BE PROFESSIONAL, & leave the rest to God. Remember, how God handled Jacob.Don’t revenge. Revenge belong only to God. See how Esau never purposely went after his brother. See how he loved and forgave his brother.

3) God’s way is always LOVE. Even the lesson he teaches, is because He loves us and wants us to change. While we are going through the lesson, he still loves and protects us, just like he treated Jacob. Follow God’s example. You WIN when your ENEMY CHANGES & REALIZES HIS MISTAKE, NOT when he suffers and you fight for your right. You WIN when LOVE WINS.

4) When people realize their mistake, change and come back to you, accept them with LOVE. Just like Esau accepted his brother.

5) When we ask God for help or blessing, sometimes it might look that things turn into a disaster instead. But don’t worry! God has a plan. We might not understand, but God knows what he’s doing! Just like he made Jacob limp, to melt his brother’s heart.

6) Remember, the LORD is the GOD of JUSTICE & FAIRNESS. At the same time, GOD is LOVE. His ways and time frame is different from ours.God kept his word to the father's blessings. It took Jacob & Esau more than 15 years to meet! He made justice for Esau, by allowing Jacob to be cheated time and again. He taught Esau to LOVE & FORGIVE, by allowing him to be hurt. God blessed them both. And it turned out so touching & beautiful! God is always in CONTROL. Just BELIEVE IT.

7) Read your Bible & pray everyday. You can get timeless wisdom from God. Everything we experience in life already happened in the Bible. Learn the right way to handle it. Learn to understand & trust God.

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-JJ-

Do Not Be Right in Your Own Eyes

We tend to look at people or situations and form strong judgements about them. We look at their behaviour and predict what’s wrong, or why they are behaving in a certain way. We think we understand.

We look at a problem and think that we know everything. Then, when the situations look impossible or things are not working out our way, we start to feel angry and upset. Our heart & mind becomes very troubled, and we begin to worry.

As human, we often focus on our own limitations & how big the problem is. We think within the box! We forget that our Father in Heaven is the King. He owns the whole world, and He is GREAT!”

That’s exactly why Jesus teaches us to change our minds. He wants us to think out of the box!

Proverbs 3:7 tells us:
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

What does this mean?

1) Do not be wise in your own eyes

-Stop thinking that you know everything.
-Admit that you have your limitations & ask Jesus for help
-Believe that your Father (the Lord) knows more than you
-Trust that your Father will take care of you. You're His child. He loves you!

Why do we need to do this?

Because if we are wise in our own eyes, we will think inside the box. We will think, “My problem is so big! This is the only way to settle it! I know how to handle it.”

Then, when things don’t work out, we will begin to get frustrated with life, and feel that everything is hopeless. We will lose our peace, and it will affect our day. It will affect our relationship with our loved ones. We won’t be able to love with our best. We can’t eat & sleep well. Our heart affects our whole life. Even if God sends the solutions, we might miss it because our mind is so troubled!

But when our heart is settled with peace & love, we can think clearly. We will be able to see the solution to our problem when God shows us. That’s why Jesus keeps telling us to trust Him, and not our own wisdom.

2) Fear the Lord

The verse goes on to say, “Fear the Lord…” Meaning:
-Fear God only! Don’t be scared of your enemies, people who are trying to harm you, or your problem.
-Respect the fact that God is in control! (even if the problem seems out of control).
-Don’t get upset with God. God is good all the time. The Devil throws problems at us, to break us from believing God. But when we still TRUST Jesus, the Devil becomes the loser, and we become the winner!

3) Turn away from evil

-Don’t follow the ways of the evil ways of the world in handling problems, with revenge, hatred & selfishness. This makes us the loser.
-Keep your heart right at all times – filled with love, forgiveness & acceptance. Then, you will win!
-Don’t worry! Worry is a sin!
-Don’t let your heart be troubled. Have peace.
-When you don’t believe in the Lord’s greatness, this is the greatest evil & sin in your life! (if you don’t believe in Jesus’ power, this is an insult to Him because it means you think you’re smarter than God.)

Remember this, when things happen in your life:

· When God wants to teach you PATIENCE, He will allow delays so you learn how to WAIT.

· When God wants to teach you COURAGE, He will allow scary things to happen, so you learn to be BRAVE.

· When God wants to teach you PEACE & JOY, He will allow mind troubling problems so you learn how to BE HAPPY & LET YOUR HEART NOT TO BE TROUBLED.

· When God wants to teach you LOVE, He will allow people to hurt you so you learn how to FORGIVE.

· When God wants to teach you FAITH, He will allow things to happen which are beyond your capability, so you learn how to BELIEVE IN HIM.

Jesus does not think like us. He thinks & acts out of the box! The bigger our problem, the bigger our chance to experience God’s greatness!

We will truly experience God’s power & the solution to our problems, when we learn the meaning of “Do not be right in your own eyes.”

A Poem for the New Year: YOU ARE

YOU ARE

You are a wonder,
You are a star,
You are destined to shine,
To be admired from near and afar,
Because you're a child
Of the Almighty God,
You belong to Christ.

You are a warrior,
You are a knight,
You were born to face challenges,
And win the fight against darkness,
Because you're a child,
Of the Almighty God,
You belong to Christ.

You are the salt,
You are the light,
You are the flavour and the guide,
To a world that's tasteless and lost for sight,
Because you're a child,
Of the Almighty God,
You belong to Christ.

When problems trouble your mind,
When you think of mistakes and failures,
When fears arise about the future,
When you feel unloved,

Just close your eyes and remember,

You are a child,
Of the Almigthy God,
You belong to Christ.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2012!

-JJ-


MATTHEW 5:13-16

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Different Types of People

In my life, I don’t have a very large social circle. But with the encounters allowed on my path, I have made a few conclusions.

My personal opinion is that people generally fall into these 3 categories, in different situations of life.

1) “The Stone Cold Heart”

Symptoms:

a) “I am PERFECT. YOU are WRONG”

These kinds of people love themselves more than anything else in the world. They are selfish & focus a lot on themselves. These kinds of people tell you only the good things about their lives. They hide their past and their mistakes, because they are cowards. They’re scared their standard will drop if they tell you their faults.

Then, they try to tell you your mistakes, and highlight themselves as the perfect example in every situation. If they see your mistake, they tend to say, “Why are you so like this? You don’t know how to do all this. Look at me. If I am in your situation, I’ll do this, this & this…See how I do this…See how I handle it.”

They want to appear perfect and be the best in everything. But in reality, they are insecure, because they are not satisfied with so many things in their own life.

b) “I have the right to tell you off – YOU need to change”

They are open and honest about their opinions. They don’t pretend to agree with you when they think you are wrong. When they think they are right, they will be very happy to tell you off. They tend to use harsh words with raised voice. At that moment, they have no patience to think how the other person might take it. This is their way of handling their emotions.

They think like this: “I have the right to say this. If you can’t take it, that’s your problem. You need to change.” Then, they easily walk off, without feeling bad about hurting someone’s feelings, because they SERIOUSLY think it’s their right!

c) “Don’t expect me to say SORRY”

It’s very difficult to show them their mistakes, because in their own eyes, they are always right. If you highlight their fault, they’ll become very angry & defensive. They are impatient, and find it very hard to just listen to people’s feelings.

They find it very difficult to say ‘sorry’ because they just can’t see their mistake. They always feel it’s the other person’s fault, so there’s no need to apologize. Even when they hurt someone, it’s very difficult to them to take the initiative to say SORRY, because they think they didn’t do anything wrong. They avoid apologizing because they feel it hurts their ego.

They don’t do all this purposely. It’s just because their heart is hard as stone. They think with purely with their head. They don’t listen with their heart.

How to deal with them:

· First, forget about yourself & try to understand them.

· Put yourself in their shoes & think like them. Explain to them that you understand their point of view. Tell them that they are RIGHT from their point of view (that’s what they really want to hear, because it boosts they’re EGO!).

· If you say they are wrong, they will become defensive, angry and upset. They won’t listen to you if they are angry. Instead, they’ll tell you off! Never, ever directly say they are wrong.

· So, the only way to get them to LISTEN is to pamper their ego first. After that, explain to them DIRECT TO THE ISSUE. Don’t use complicated examples and indirect stories. It will make them more angry, because they lack patience. Make your message short and clear. Deal with the issue immediately, not one month later!

Don’t say: “Last time you did this & this. Then you did this. Now, you are doing this. You don’t care about my feelings.”

When you say things like this, the ‘stone cold heart’ can’t understand your point, because it’s an EMOTIONAL message. The hard heart thinks with the head, not with the heart. Remove the ‘emotion’ and replace it with direct and precise words.

When you use emotions, they'll think, “What the hell is going on! What a big scandal! I have the right to say all that. It’s not my fault. If they can’t handle it, that’s their problem.” So, they never get your point.

The right way: Pamper their ego first, because their ego means the world to them. Say, “You have the RIGHT to say all this to me. You are very experienced. I know you have good intentions. You care about me and want me to change for the better. I learn a lot from you.”

Once you say this, you manage to catch his attention to make him listen.

Only after this, get to your point. Say, “What you say is right, but I can’t take the WAY you say it. Understand my point of view. Please don’t use harsh words. Don’t raise your voice. Listen to me, and talk gently. Then, I can accept it.”

Of course, you will be expecting an apology for hurting your feelings. You really want them to say sorry. But try to understand the other person. They have a hard heart. If you can get them to listen, and talk more gently and softly, that’s already a HUGE success!

In their mind, they're still right, but they're beginning to understand other’s feelings. That’s a good start.

Getting an apology is on a higher level. It will take time for stone to melt. Don’t expect immediate change. Appreciate small steps of progress.

In time, only God can melt a heart of stone with PERFECT LOVE. Leave the rest to Jesus.

If you are a “Stone Cold Heart” person:

· LEARN TO LISTEN. Your first reaction is always to get angry, fight & tell of. Forget about your rights & feelings for one moment. Give your feelings to God. Just tell Jesus, “I am feeling SO ANGRY. Change my heart to be like you.” Just be quiet, imagine you are the other person, and just LISTEN. Try to understand the other person’s feelings. Feel what they feel, hear what they hear.

· SPEAK WITHOUT ANGER. Only open your mouth, when you are sure your heart has no anger. If your heart still has anger, just listen quietly. When you calm down, then start to talk. Express your feelings. Don’t keep it in your heart.

· USE KIND WORDS & SOFT TONE OF VOICE. When you talk, don’t say, “I’m tired of you. I don’t understand. You are weak etc…”. Instead, SINCERELY SAY: “I understand your feelings. I know why you are hurt. My intentions was….., but maybe the way I said it was too harsh.”

· APOLOGIZE. Say ‘SORRY.’ When you say sorry, it doesn’t mean that you had bad intentions. SORRY means, “I said it with the right motive, but somehow something I said /did hurt you badly. I don’t want you to be hurt. I want to see you happy. I love you.”

2) “The Soft Heart”

Symptoms:

a) “Understand me”

These kinds of people are open book. They tell you everything about themselves. They don’t hide their mistakes or their shame. They just share it, hoping others will understand them better, and see them as they really are. They are honest and original. They don’t put up a show or pretend to be someone else. They are open enough to show their true emotions and cry. But sometimes, they are too honest, until people think that they are weak, and start to overpower them.

They want to be nice all the time. When they expect something from others, they don’t ask directly. They beat about the bush and tell a long story. They send a long message, because they expect other people to understand the message, on their own. When people don’t get the message, they feel hurt and upset. They tend to cry or become very quite, because that’s their way of dealing with their feelings.

Sometimes, the feel too much with their heart, they forget to think with their head. They forget to think from other people’s point of view.

b) “It’s not over yet!–YOU need to need to know what’s wrong”

When there’s a problem, they quickly settle things because the want to avoid a fight. They tend to give in, and take the blame, even if they really feel that it’s the other person’s fault. They tend to cry and become very upset. Yet, they find it very difficult to be direct to the point, because it might cause a fight. They are afraid to face a fight, because they’re too used to playing the ‘nice’ role.

But, in their heart, it’s not over yet. They really want the other person to understand. Even if you think the issue is settled, in their mind, they’re thinking of different ways to make you understand what really happened. They want you to understand what’s wrong, and why they felt hurt. They just want you to feel what they feel, instead of scolding them. When you understand them, they will be satisfied.

Only when they are sure you understand, then it’s settled for them!

c) “Tell me SORRY – it means, you LOVE me.”

This kinds of people are generous with nice words. They say “Please” and “Sorry” very easily to others. So, in the same way, they expect others to happily apologize when they’ve hurt them. When they don’t get this desired reaction from others, they become very disappointed.

For them, it’s not a matter rights. It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong. If you’ve accidentally hurt someone, you need to say ‘SORRY,’ even if you had all the right intentions. Not just that, you need to say it LOVINGLY, express it GENTLY, and do it HAPPILY. For them, this is a demonstration of LOVE.

They don’t do all this purposely. It’s just because their heart is fragile and soft. They FEEL with their heart. They don’t purely think with their head.

How to deal with them:

· First, forget about yourself & try to understand them.

· Put yourself in their shoes & think like them. Explain to them that you understand their point of view. Tell them that they are RIGHT from their point of view (that’s what they really want to hear, because it makes them feel that you UNDERSTAND them!).

· If you say they are wrong and weak, they will become very hurt. They will listen to you patiently, but their heart will be terribly broken. They will keep it in their heart, and think of many ways to make you understand.

· So, the only way to settle the problem is to LISTEN & UNDERSTAND THEM FIRST. After that, explain to them WITH GENTLE WORDS & SOFT VOICE. Be patient. Add emotions to your words, even if you are so used to thinking purely with your head. Make your message short and clear. Deal with the issue immediately, but BE LOVING.

Don’t say: “I don’t understand you. You are very weak. You are a baby..Look at me, see how I handle things so well.”

When you say things like this, the ‘fragile soft heart’ can’t understand your point. They will think, “He is comparing me and putting me down. He is looking down on me!” Then, they might cry even more because you’ve just shattered their fragile heart into bits!" They want you to understand them.

The ‘soft heart’ feels with the heart, not just thinks with the head.

The right way: Show them that you REALLY UNDERSTAND THEM, because this means the world to them. Say, “I understand you. I know why you feel like this. I know you love me so much and want me to change for the better. I learn a lot from you.”

Remove the harsh words and raised voice. Replace it with understanding words and soft tone.

Once you say this, you manage to catch their attention to make them listen.

Only after this, get to your point. Say, “What you say is right, but I can’t take the WAY you say it. Understand my point of view. Please don’t send me long messages. Don’t send me strong e-mails. Understand me, and tell me straight to the point. Then, I can accept it.”

Of course, you will be expecting them to be strong and stop crying. But understand the soft heart. If you can get them to be happy and be cheerful, that’s already a success.

In their mind, thay are still right, but they're beginning to understand your opinion. That’s a good start.

Getting them to be firm and stop crying is a higher level. It will take time for a fragile heart to be firmed up. Don’t expect immediate change. Appreciate small steps of progress.

In time, only God can comfort and heal and strengthen a fragile heart with PERFECT LOVE. Leave the rest to Jesus.

If you are a “Fragile Soft Heart” person:

· LEARN TO LISTEN. Your first reaction is always to get hurt, upset & cry. Forget about your feelings for one moment. Give your feelings to God. Just tell Jesus, “I am feeling SO HURT. Change my heart to be like you.” Just be quiet, imagine you are the other person, and just LISTEN. Try to understand the other person’s feelings. Feel what they feel, hear what they hear.

· SPEAK WITHOUT HURT & GRUDGE. Only open your mouth, when you are sure your heart can handle the hurt. If your heart still feels upset, just listen quietly. When you calm down, then start to talk. Express your feelings. Don’t keep it in your heart.

· USE DIRECT WORDS & SOFT but FIRM TONE OF VOICE. When you talk, don’t say, “You don’t understand me, you don’t know your mistakes, you enjoy hurting me…”. Instead, SINCERELY SAY: “I know you have the right to tell me. I know why you are angry and upset. My intentions was….., but maybe the way I said it was too harsh / indirect.”

· APOLOGIZE. Say ‘SORRY.’ When you say sorry, it doesn’t mean that you had bad intentions. SORRY means, “I said it with the right motive, but somehow something I said made you really angry. I don’t want you to be angry. I want to see you happy. I care for you.”

3) “THE HEART OF FLESH”

This heart is not too hard, not too soft. It’s just RIGHT. It's strong and loving. It thinks with the HEAD, & listens with the HEART. It firmly guides and advices. It gently shows faults. It patiently accepts corrections. It admits mistakes & happily changes self to serve others. It sincerely understands, beyond rights and mistakes. It truly LOVES with its whole life!

This is the kind of heart God gives us, when we BELIEVE & ask JESUS to CHANGE us. We develop this HEART OF FLESH when we BELIEVE JESUS, READ THE BIBLE & PRACTICE IT DAILY.

GOD says in Ezekiel 36:26 :

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will
remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Remember:

HEAD – HEART = STONE COLD HEART (heartless)
HEART – HEAD = SOFT HEART (weakness)
HEART + HEAD = HEART OF FLESH (strong & loving)

Let’s have a Heart of Flesh in 2012! Happy New Year!