The Lord is my Shepherd. What does it mean?

"The normal way of looking at the cross is to say that =man was so bad and God was so mad that someone had to pay=. But it was not anger that led Christ to be crucified; it was love. The crucifixion is the point of the story. God loves us so much that He Himself took on our guilt. He internalized all our sin and healed it. When it was over He said, "It is finished!" There is nothing left for us to do but to enter into forgiving acceptance--and for those of us who have already entered it, to enter into more of it. "

God is Great! Double Grr eat!
It was a day full of wonders today. Though, I felt rather guilty for not listening to God yesterday night, ignoring Him while I did my work.

1) There was tingxie today. As I was looking and revising through the words before the test, I just noticed these words which seemed prominent. So I read them out loud. They came out for the test! Yippee! I didn't get very high, but I thank God all the same... I might have puffed up otherwise.

2) There was also a History test today. Very very scary test it was... As I was looking and revising again through the History textbook before the test... I just sort of noticed this section on the contribution of the immigrants... so I managed to commit it to memory. The content came out for the test too! Though I'm not so sure if I'll get very high...

3) We're going to do a presentation on Infinity for maths lesson, me and my partner. But we hadn't really prepared for it... it's not really done yet... but my partner had, earlier on this week, lost her voice to laryngitis. So we managed to get an extension using that, to 2 weeks later! Phew.

4) My mum was supposed to pick me up today at 4pm, but at the last minute she called and changed it to 5 pm. And then my friends left the classroom, leaving me alone. I think God was trying to tell me to read more about Him, so I grabbbed the chance and read through the booklet: "Prayer: It moves mountains". I thank God for giving me the opportunity to do this. But I slept for 10 mins after reading it.

5) My mum's group at the office won Gold today! For an quality circle (QC) or something like that.

6) As I was waiting for my mum, I noticed my handphone had only 1 cell of battery left. Recalling what I read earlier about praying and believing, I asked God to restore my handphone battery. Then I switched it off and on again. It was restored to 3 units! Whoa.

7) We were going to my sister's school to pick up a book of hers. Then at the gate, my mum was stopped by the caretaker, who talked into the walkie-talkie to the General Office. After a few seconds, the answer came loud and clear: "Jing Lai" (Come in) So I really thank God for allowing us to get in.

It so happens that it is my sister's school's Thanksgiving Day tomorrow... So I wonder if God made all these possible, to give thanks to Him.

How do I know all these happened with God's help? God is in charge. Things happen because He allows it to happen... and sometimes He might be wanting you to pray about it to change it. Most importantly, pray to Him all the time, asking Him what course of action you should take. And when you pray, believe that it will happen... it is so that often the things that you pray for like healing, to be happy, for wisdom... they are in accordance to His good and perfect will... for the good of humanity, so that glory and honour are brought to His name. However, God never puts His power on display, nor does He give special demonstrations for the entertainment of the vulgar.

Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

However,

1 Corinthians 13:2
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

I confess, I do have my ups and downs, and my strengths and my weaknesses too. But I have been cleansed with the blood of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for us! So whenever the devil comes to you and reminds you of your past, remember, you have been cleansed from your sins, and salvation is there for you in heaven! Hell was made for Satan, not humans... It is the last days, and Satan is doing all he can to drag as many people as possible down to Hell with him.

But Psalm 23 says,

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

God is Great!

How do I live the Christian Life?

I was feeling down and out the whole day. To tell you the truth, I felt really guilty.
But then I read this.
Thank you God.

Hey! I spotted this at the Christianity.com Forums for Spiritual Life.

< ! --start here -- ! >

THE BRIDGE .. bridging the gap between you and your destiny
THE BEST CONNECTION

In the beginning, during the days of creation, when God wanted to create something, he spoke.

When he wanted light, he said he said “let there be light”;

When he wanted to separate land from seas, he spoke;

When he wanted to create animals , birds, fishes, and the likes; he spoke.

But when he wanted to create man, he didn’t just speak , it got personal. Because he knew he was about to make someone in his own image, he took his time. Genesis 2:7 reads “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground , and breathed into his nostrils , the breath of life and man became a living soul.” Before man’s creation God described everything he made as good but of the creation of man he said very good [perfect] because that completed creation.

"The seed of need" was planted by the creator . God made himself a necessity for human happiness. Like the missing puzzle piece, we were built for connection. The ear demands sounds, the eye demands sights, the mind wants negotiation, the heart seeks companionship. God created man for fellowship and companionship.

Man craves greatness. We possess an obsession to expand, grow and improve. We were born for the "high place". We instinctively gravitate towards increase spiritually, mentally and financially. But true increase can only be gotten from God for he only makes rich without adding sorrow to it.

Man cannot get to his place of destiny in life without being connected to his creator. Man’s sin in the Garden of Eden severed the connection but Christ’s blood shed on the cross of calvary restored it.

The God connection is the bridge from failure to success. Jesus Christ is that bridge and only through him can one discover his true self. Just as the manufacturer has a particular purpose for his product, you are here on a purpose, designed and equipped for a particular function(s). You must discern and develop the God-given abilities , he invested at your birth. It is only when those gifts are being used properly that you will feel and know the value God sees in you.

Be connected , your connection to God will lead to your manifestation of his gifts and fulfillment of purpose.

SOUND SAYINGS

"The one who said he is the bread of life

has also said he'll satisfy your thirst

so why should you be searching everywhere

when he said you should seek him first"

- Hess

"Joy comes by putting Jesus first

Others second

Yourself last. "

-Anonymous

"True success is discerning God's purpose for your life and doing all it takes to fulfil it." - O. James Fagbire

"I shall not live 'til I see God and when I have seen him, I shall not die."
- John Donne

"The fact that you were born is evidence that this world needs the potential you are pregnant with, stay connected to the source and you will not lack the resources to fulfil purpose ".

-O. James Fagbire

WORD FOR YOU

25"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.
28"And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!
31"So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. 32Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, 33and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
34"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

MATTHEW 6: 25-3 [the new living translation]

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
MATTHEW 6: 33 [the king james version]

A PUBLICATION OF STEADFAST LOVE MINISTRIES

EMAIL THIS TO A FRIEND. MAY GOD BLESS YOU

< ! -- End of post -- >

It really answered a lot of the doubts that had formed in my mind.
Get this straight: I'm not perfect. I'm not your usual nice person, who has everything in order, living in the perfect world that everyone wishes for. I have trials and troubles to go through too, however when that happens I depend on God. Right now, I have no idea why I am so down, out and uncheery, and I am doubting a lot too, but I don't want to let go of God.

Yesterday I realised why I was feeling stressed: It's because I was taking everything, including the most important part of my life now, homework, into my own hands. I wasn't willing to let God take care of it.

Today I realised that I had been feeling to full of myself and high-and-mighty. Overconfidence, my piano teacher said. I realised that no matter what I had gained, whether a grade 8 in piano or being the greatest piano player in the world, was of no use to me at all. It may be one of the reasons I didn't let God take control: believing in my own puny might.
Imagine taking a 100 leather reins into your hands and driving a 100 chariots. That's how I felt.
I have to learn the concept of humility before I can serve others. Before I wanted to be a leader... and that was pretty selfish of me.
Eeep.
Special thanks to Litzee who mentioned me in her blog... I think she's great.
< blankness, humbleness, and sadness puree>

You say: "I can't do it."
God says: "You can do it, with my help."
Satan says: "You can't do it. You never will."

Who do you prefer?

Today's testimony!
I went for my sister's school funfair today. The weather was blazing hot, you could almost boil an egg in the sun. My mum fetched me and my youngest sis, and parked the car at the opposite carpark. It was hot, so I told God, "God, please send a cloud so that it won't be so hot." I started doubting, but I remembered Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" And I did. A few moments later, it did get less hot and more shady!

When I got home, I wanted to look for a long-lost booklet on how to operate my handphone. I couldn't find it the previous times. This time was different: I sought God's help in finding it. And lo and behold, I did find it! Yup. God answers prayers.

Hey people! It's the seventh month, also known as the Hungry Ghosts Festival ( I think).
I did this at Youth Fellowship (YF) today... so I'll share it with you readers.
Remember to keep on your guard and pray, or talk to God throughout the day... and keep doing your quiet time (QT) with God! Satan's like a hungry lion (1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.") so remember to put on your spiritual armour (more about that later).
During this period of time, in fact, almost any time, Satan will be firing arrows at you, trying to stop you. Any disciple who is out to follow Christ no matter what the cost, is sure to run into spiritual conflict sooner or later, and the road of discipleship is also a battlefield.
Remember the 5 Ds that the devil uses as deadly weapons:
Doubt. He will be challenging every step you take, making you doubt whether God or his word is real or not.
Discouragement. Satan will keep asking you to look at your problems, like they were too large for God to handle, even as big as God. Remember, there is nothing God cannot do. :)
Diversion. He will try to divert your attention to other things, instead of focussing on God. E.g. TV, computer games, etc.
Defeat. He will make you feel defeated and hopeless, thinking you're a failure. In fact, you're not.
Delay. The things that you do, he might make you put it off... he might even make problems crop up and ruin your quiet time with God... keep praying!

So... you might be wondering, "How then can I stand against Satan? How can I ever hope to win against him when he comes?"

Actually, this then is the truth: "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4) Christ has done everything He can to make daily victory possible.
-He broke Satan's power on the cross (Colossians 2:14-15).
-He will not let Satan tempt you above your strength (Job 1:8-12, 1 Corinthians 10:13).
-He has prayed that your faith may not fail (Luke 22:32, John 17:15).
-He has given you complete armour for the battle (Ephesians 6:12-18).
-He has given you atuhority over all the powers of the enemy (Luke 10:19).
-And He has put His Spirit within you. What more can Satan do?

When Satan comes against you, command him to go in the name of Jesus!
-As a child of God you never need to fail.
-Tell him you are cleansed and covered by the blood of Jesus and he has no power over you anymore! You can have daily victory.
-And even when you do fail or fall, that is not the end. You can get up and go on again.
-As Jesus over came Satan (remember 40 days and nights in the desert?), so can you!
-Victory will come out knowing and speaking out the Word of God (as Jesus did!).
-And it will come out of a life filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit (as Jesus was!).
-You can be a "good soldier of Jesus Christ"- strong and dependable (2 Timothy 2:3).
Is that what you want to be?

Ephesians 6:10-18
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."