Consider the lilies, how they grow – Matthew 6:28

I need oil,“ said an ancient monk; so he planted an olive sapling. ”Lord,“ he prayed, ”it needs rain that its tender roots may drink and swell. Send gentle showers.“ And the Lord sent gentle showers. ”Lord, my tree needs sun too. Send sun, I pray.“ And the sun shone, gilding the dripping clouds. ”Now frost, my Lord, to brace its tissues," cried the monk. And behold, the little tree stood sparkling with frost, but at evening it died.

Then the monk sought the counsel of a brother monk, and told his strange experience. “I, too, planted a little tree,” the brother monk said, “and see! it thrives well. I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows better what it needs than a man like me. I laid no condition. I fixed not ways or means and I pray “Lord, send what it needs. Storm or sunshine, wind, rain, or frost. You have made it and you know it more.”

Yes, leave it with Him, The lilies all do and they grow—They grow in the rain and they grow in the, dew. They grow in the darkness and they grow in the sunshine, revealed by the light. Yes, leave it with Him for you are His care and He knows more.

- Unknown Author

There was a dad who was playing with his kid. The dad was standing waist-deep in the pool, while the little kid stood by the edge. The kid so wanted to jump, but he was scared. Yet, the dad stood patiently just waiting for him to jump.

There are seasons in our life where we too may be like the little kid. Perhaps we are standing at the edge of uncertainty and the unknown. The pool seems deep! Sometimes it's hard, we may say to ourselves, "I'm not sure if I can leave my reasoning behind", "it just doesn't make sense", or "what will happen to me", "what will others think", "I'm too scared and I don't have what it takes"... And it's easy to just cling to what we know. 

But God lives in the realm of our impossibility! Where we come to a dead end, that's when God really begins! God is inviting us to live within His realm above our impossibilities so that we become living miracles! 

Our always and forever loving father God is waiting with His arms wide open. Will you jump?

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalm 36:7-9 NIV)

- Jo Voon - 

Have you prayed and prayed and waited and waited, and still there is no manifestation?

Are you tired of seeing nothing move? Are you just at the point of giving it all up? Perhaps no one ever told you that patience takes away worry. It takes away all the wobbling; patience takes you to the place where you could meet Jesus spiritually and be comforted with His presence.

Jesus’ promise is equal to His presence. His presence will take away your weeping. Why feel sad and despondent? He knows your need better than you do, and His purpose in allowing you to wait a little longer is to bring more glory out of the trial. Patience takes away self-works. The work He desires is that you “believe” (John 6:29), and when you believe, you may then know that all is well.

Patience takes away all want. Your desire for the thing you wish is perhaps stronger than your desire for the will of God to be fulfilled in its arrival. Patience takes away all weakening for it is assured that God is getting a larger supply ready and He must prepare you for the overflow.

Get hold of this restful patience as you seek the presence of the Lord. When patience has her ways; it will steady you while you wait. Patience gives worship and when she finishes her work, you will find enrichment. Wait joyfully for the Lord.

Colossians 1:11
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy.

- Anonymous

Many self help books assure everyone can overcome any weaknesses with step by step instructions. It often include testimonies or success stories from those who tried but it does not have any follow through stories on how their life has changed after the “self encounter.”

Trying to cure our weaknesses is definitely worth every effort and encountering a success over it is a self achievement but anything based on self-effort will not have a lasting effect. People who have sought the Lord’s help on the other hand, they often encounter not only just a breakthrough but a life changing perspective and eventually it leads to a life change.

They sought the help of the Lord by building on Scriptural principles as the foundation of their spiritual strength to overcome their physical flesh. Applying Scriptural solutions brings results and this is the good news; we don’t have to strive alone to overcome our weaknesses. God’s help is available for you. Reach out for His words and His promise to Paul stands true for you as well, “My grace is sufficient for you, My power in weaknesses.”

2 Corinthians 12:9
Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

- John.W

An aging king woke up to the realization that he was the last male in the royal family. He then decided that he would adopt a son who would then be his heir so he launched a competition and ten boys made it to the very top.

'I have one last test. This kingdom depends solely on agriculture so the king must know how to cultivate plants. Take this corn seed home and nurture it for three weeks.’ The boys took their seeds and hurried home.

In one home, the seed failed to sprout. The boy was heartbroken; his friends advised him to buy a replacement seed but his parents who had always taught him the value of integrity reminded him, 'That would be dishonesty. Don't be found to have deceived the king.'

The day came and the boys returned, each of them proudly exhibiting fine corn seedling. The king began making his way down the line of eager boys and asked each of them, 'Is this what came out of the seed I gave you?' Each boy responded, 'Yes, your majesty.' And the king would nod and move down the line.

The king finally got to the last boy in the line. The boy was shaking with fear as the king would have him thrown into prison for wasting his seed. 'What did you do?' the king asked. 'I planted the seed and cared for it diligently, your majesty, but it failed to sprout.' the boy said tearfully as the crowd booed him.

But the king suddenly said, 'My people behold your next king.' The people were confused. 'I gave these boys boiled seeds. A boiled seed never sprouts. This test was not for cultivating corn. It was the test of character; a test of integrity. It was the ultimate test,' said the king.

Nowadays, we live in a society that has become obsessed with success and many want success at any cost. We say the end justifies the means. Failure often is an invitation to God to show that He is all powerful and does not need help to make us great or to bless us. Take heart and do not grow weary in doing right for the Lord blesses the righteous.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

- Unknown Author

Some time ago, I was enjoying a beautiful sunset. The western skies seemed like a great archipelago of golden islands, the masses in the distance rising up into vast mountains of glory. 

The hue of the sky was so beautiful that it seemed to reflect itself upon the whole atmosphere as I looked back from the west to the eastern horizon. The whole earth was radiant with glory. The fields had changed to strange red richness, and the earth seemed bathed with the dews of heaven.

So it is when the love of God shines through all our celestial sky; it covers everything below, and life becomes radiant with its light. Things that were hard become easy. Things that were biting become sweet. 

Labor loses its burden, and sorrow becomes silver-lined with hope and gladness.There are two ways of living in God's love: one is constant trust; the other is constant obedience. God's own Word gives the message for both. 

John 15:10
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

- Anonymous

Bless the Lord, 0 my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgives all of our iniquities; who heals all our diseases (spiritual and physical); who redeems our life from destruction; who crowns us with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies us with good things; so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Who so well can sing this thanksgiving song as we who rejoice in God's full salvation and praise God for the glorious health of a risen Lord. This psalm and its opening verses is in the very center of the Scriptures by an exact count of letters and verses. So let it stand central in our lives, as we look backward and forward and upward in grateful thanksgiving. 

Lord, center my heart in You and in the spirit of Your love and praise.

Psalm 103:22
Praise the LORD, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the LORD.

- Unknown Author

This man knows my name; he knows my story. He sees when I smile and when I frown. Tears I have shed, he understands; the disappointments I have, he knows; the promises I hold dear, he records. My God knows my name and my purpose in this land of the living. He has created me for His glory and honor; He fashioned me in ways that others can’t replicate.

He watches my steps, He protects me and my loved ones, He places people in my life to achieve the purpose He has for me. The crown of life He has bestowed upon me for I have been made righteous through Him (Romans 5:1). He has died for me even when I did not know Him nor His story. A stranger took my place and became the propitiation for all my sins (1 John 2:2).

All these, He has done so I could live a life overflowing with the goodness of joy and peace He desires for the one who believes in Him (Romans 15:!3). He makes a way when there is no way. He parted the Red Sea for the Israelites, He made the sun stand still for Joshua, He gives sight to the blind, He brings back the dead to live and no death could hold Him down. He knows your name and your story too. Let all who has breath praise His Holy Name – the name of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

- Irene Soon

Be ready in the morning, and come u ...present yourself there to me in the top of the mount. And no one is to come with you – Exodus 34:2-3

The morning watch is essential. You must not face the day until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His. You cannot expect to be victorious if the day begins only in your own strength.

Face the work of every day with the influence of a few thoughtful quiet moments with God. Do not meet other people, even those of your own home, until you have first met the great Guest and honored Companion of your life, Jesus Christ.

Meet Him alone; meet Him regularly. Meet Him with His open Book of counsel before you; and face the regular and the irregular duties of each day with the influence of His personality definitely guiding your every act. 

- Anonymous

The prayer at the close of the Letter to the Hebrews is beautiful:

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus... through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will.”

The phrase "make you perfect in every good work" literally means, "adjust you in every good work."It is a great thing to be adjusted to our surroundings and circumstances rather than trying to have them adjusted to us. Adjusted to the people we are thrown with. Adjusted to the work God has for us, not trying to get God to help us to do our work. Adjusted to fulfill the very will and plan of God for us in our whole life.

This is the secret of rest, power and freedom in every spiritual endeavor. May the Lord fill us with His fullness until our very heart overflow in kindling thought and glowing words; to do every good work according to His will.

Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will 


- Anonymous