Rediscovering the joy of being with Christ

I've been a Christian for about 12 years, and in that time I've experienced the blessing of spending time alone with God at various stages of my life. One of these times was when I would go to the worship hall every Saturday evening and arrange any chairs which are out of place into orderly rows so that on Sunday the place will be tidy for the worship service. Not everyone sees the value of what I do, and that's understandable. For me, it's a simple and personal way for me to worship and adore the Lord, perhaps not too different to how the woman who came to Jesus with the alabaster box of expensive fragrance to anoint Him. Long story short, I did the chair arranging thing for quite some time; I don't remember how long I've been doing it. But somehow, someway, I stopped doing it and to this day I still don't know why. So the years passed, and it wasn't until last Saturday night when I went to church to pray with a brother. After we finished praying, we started to put some of the chairs back to where they belong. The brother asked me if I remember the times I used to come in every Saturday night to arrange the chairs. I felt kind of embarrased as I said yes, and I told him that I would like to arrange the chairs alone if that was okay. He was okay with it and left the worship hall. As I started arranging the chairs, thoughts came flooding back to my mind about the times past when I was alone with the Lord in the worship hall arranging the chairs. I remembered how I used to bring my mp3 player with me to the worship hall and listened to sermons and hymns. I would be thinking about God as I moved the chairs into position, and since no one else was there except me and God, I felt safe enough to break out into song without feeling embarrased with my singing going out of tune, not being able to remember the words to a hymn, or something like that. It was one of those times when I could really be myself in the presence of my Lord. I could speak to the Lord openly and not having to be secretive about it. So for me, that Saturday was a night to remember, because it was truly something that I had missed for all these years. I remember one of the national youth camp messages I heard last year about returning to our first love. I remembered Bro Peter Blake telling us that we never lose our first love; it is we who leave our first love. So, in a way, coming back on Saturday and arranging the chairs in preparation for the worship service the next day is for me a return to my first love, albeit in a small way. But that simple act of doing what I used to do all those years ago has made me want to come back the following Saturday and so on. Thank God for His faithfulness and love for me that never dies.

One of the best Sunday evenings I've ever had

Sundays for me have typically been the busiest day of the week for me and a good number of brothers and sisters in BPCWA. Usually by the time I come home I would feel exhausted, but this Sunday I was able to have a very blessed evening listening to one of my hymn albums and reading a book by A. W. Tozer (his name is Aiden Wilson Tozer, by the way, for those who don't know). It was truly one of the most peaceful evenings I've had, and reminded me of what I used to do years ago when I had just become a Christian. I think it's a really blessed experience because for me it's an alternative form of escapism. Instead of a-musing myself with TV or something that has zero spiritual value, I was able to learn more about God and at the same time have my senses filled with wholesome spiritual music of old. Well, after attending the national youth camp last year, I've been discovering more ways to be with God and this is one of them so praise God for that.

Mysteries of God

1 Corinthians 4 (whole chapter)

 

Our daily lives can become routine and hum-drum when we repeat the same activities over and over, in a certain way and at a certain time. Spending time with God and reading His Written Word is no exception, sadly. As I read 1 Corinthians chapter 4 today, I felt that something was amiss, not just in my quiet time but how I've been living my life in every area. It wasn't the way or form of my prayers or any spiritual, but the fact that I'm just going about doing what I do, just to get it done and out of the way. Task upon task, activity upon activity. I felt empty, even though I was doing something. In the 1st verse, the words "mysteries of God" caught my attention, and as I finished reading the chapter and began to pray, I had come to realise that I have been looking everywhere but at God Himself. By that, I don't mean trying to picture what God looks like in my mind or something of that nature, but to simply be still and reflect on who God is, how great He is, what I do not yet know about Him, what He means to me, and so on. I wasn't aiming to get something from God so that I could feel better for the day, but my reflecting upon Him has changed something in me. Whereas before I was just busy trying to do what I need to do before the day is out, but now it seems that these things are not my main focus. Yes, I still have things to do and I must continue to do them, but in my heart and mind there is this constant sense that there is something higher and far above all that is earthly, and I believe that it is God Himself. To behold God with my soul is, perhaps, something that goes beyond what words can describe. But if there was one word that I would use to describe this moment, it would have to be captivating.

Mary or Martha?

Dear Beloved, 

How are you treating God today? It's 23 days after camp, how's your relationship with the Lord?

As we step into a new year, are you piling more labour on yourself and sacrifice your time with the Lord like Martha? Or as Mary, you have decided to chose that good part, to sit at Jesus' feet and hear his word? 

Are you Mary or Martha?

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt 11:28

"Rest is simply release from that burden. It is not something we do; it is what comes to us when we ceae to do. His own meekness, that is the rest." - A.W.T. Pursuit of God

Our Lord is calling. Come and he will give you rest.