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Hopeful Heart

Feeling "Less Than"

31/3/2016

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“God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.”
Ge 1:31 NKJV

Farai Chideya graduated from Harvard, worked for Newsweek magazine, and quickly rose to the top. Yet she spent years fighting bulimia, trying to become like the glossy images in the make-believe world around her. When she finally broke free from her disease she wrote: “Losing weight didn’t change my personality and it didn’t lighten the emotional baggage I carried from my childhood. I thought I wanted to be thin. What I really wanted was to be happy, and neither my looks nor my achievements could do that. Because I couldn’t love or accept myself, the acceptance of others was never enough. When I tried to be perfect I came across as remote and unapproachable, yet the exact opposite was what I wanted.”

Then she shares four life-changing principles:

“(1) Your obsession to be perfect will keep you trapped in loneliness, for satisfying relationships can only be built on honesty and total acceptance.
(2) Your obsession to be perfect will force you to see your shortcomings as something to hide, instead of opportunities for growth.
(3) Your obsession to be perfect will keep you fixated on what you’re going to be some day, instead of enjoying what you are right now.
(4) Your obsession to be perfect will rob you of the chance to make your life count, for by focusing constantly on yourself you’ll have nothing left to give to others.”

Bottom line: God didn’t need to create you, He chose to. On the day you were born He smiled and said, “Very good.” When you fully grasp that, you’ll begin to overcome the problem of feeling “less than.”


- http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/feeling-less-than/ -


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Live for the Lord

28/3/2016

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So many people are still unhappy despite having their basic needs such as home, clothing and food. The reason for this is because they desire for much more than what they need.

In 1 John 2:16, the Bible mentions the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (the vain-glory of life that is the empty pride, boast, and display of material things). God's word reminds us not to focus on these things; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Why should we care so much for temporary things for the sake of our pride?

God created man for a higher purpose and we belong to Him. It is according to His will that we should love Him, always rejoice, be saved and come to the full knowledge of the truth.

2 Corinthians 4:18 
So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

1 John 2:16 
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1 Peter 4:2
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Romans 14:8
If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.


- Diven

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Blessed Good Friday 2016

25/3/2016

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John 3: 16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

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Just as I'am

24/3/2016

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Charlotte Elliott wrote the hymn “Just As I Am” in 1834. She had been an invalid for many years, and though she wanted to help with a fund-raiser for a girl’s school, she was too ill. She felt useless, and this inner distress caused her to begin doubting her faith in Christ.

She wrote “Just As I Am” as a response to her doubt. The crux of her distress is perhaps best expressed in these words:

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come!


Three days after His death and burial, Jesus rose from the grave and invited the disciple whom history has nicknamed “Doubting Thomas” to examine the marks of His crucifixion (John 20:27). When Thomas touched Jesus’ wounds, he finally believed in the resurrection. Christ responded, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (v.29).

As Christians today, we are the ones who have not seen but still believe. Yet at times our earthly circumstances create serious questions in our souls. Even then, we cry out: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Jesus welcomes us to come to Him just as we are.

Dear Jesus, help me to trust You when life doesn’t make sense. Please take my doubt and replace it with fresh faith in You.

​Mark 9:24
 ..."I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

- Jennifer Benson Schuldt (Our Daily Bread)

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Our opportunity to join  in God's work

21/3/2016

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What advantages have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others? (Eccl.6:8)

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”(James 3:17-18)


As long as we still live under the sun, we will always have opportunity to join the preacher in his saying: Vanity all is vanity. But as we acknowledge God and make Him Lord over our life, we will find joy and purpose for our life, though it is just a short journey here on earth because we know that our home is not here but with God.

Life on earth is the opportunity for us to join in God’s work for His purpose: to reconcile the sinners to Himself through Christ and in the power of the Spirit. Because of this, we as the privileged one are also the responsible one: to submit ourselves to God and to proclaim the peace and to share the love of our Father. 

Only God knows human heart. We can do many good things, but our motive and purpose can be wrong. By having humility we can understand that wisdom and knowledge can only bring satisfaction when we acknowledge that God is above all our human understanding and knowledge.

Fear God and obey His commandments is the final conclusion of the Ecclesiastes and it is the beginning of the Book of Proverbs. God is the Alpha and Omega, which has no beginning and end thus we must involve God and acknowledge Him in all we do, from the very beginning to the very end because our life is from Him and when we finish our journey, we will also go back to Him. Amen.

- Jenni Wang

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Being meek and lowly in heart

14/3/2016

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Matthew 11:28 - 30
Come to Me all who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

The Lord Jesus was not only meek but also lowly in heart. We often have improper thoughts and carnal desires.  We often compare ourselves to others. Our thoughts are filled with pride and boasting. Our Lord never hopes to gain anything for Himself. He is willing to accept everything from God. He can say that it is enough, and He is satisfied. This is being meek and lowly in heart.

Brothers and sisters, are you satisfied with what God has given you? Or do you constantly covet more? Is God's provision enough for you? Or do you insist on your way concerning certain things and affairs? Many people have great ambitions and aspirations, but these things do not count in God's eyes, and God cannot use such ones. They are not lowly in heart, and they do not have rest. They do not have any rest because they are not satisfied with what God has given them.

Our Lord Jesus is meek; He does not demand anything for Himself. Only those who are meek can be led by God, and only those who are lowly in heart can satisfy God's desire.All those who have some experience can testify that nothing is more joyful than consecration, and nothing brings more happiness than placing oneself in the Lord's hand and under His direction. If we are not joyful and satisfied in heart, the only possible reason for this, is that we have not taken the Lord's yoke and learned from Him.
Let us humbly pray, “Yes, Father, whatever You decide is the best.” Amen.

- www.emanna.com


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Treasure in darkness

7/3/2016

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God has still His hidden secrets, hidden from the wise and prudent. Do not fear them; be content to accept things that you cannot understand; wait patiently.

Presently He will reveal to you the treasures of darkness, the riches of the glory of the mystery. Mystery is only the veil of God’s face.

Do not be afraid to enter the cloud that is settling down on your life. God is in it. The other side is radiant with His glory. When you seem loneliest and most forsaken, God is near. He is in the dark cloud. Plunge into the blackness of its darkness without flinching; under the shrouding curtain of His pavilion you will find God awaiting you. 

Isaiah 45: 3
I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

- Anonymous

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    Through this site, we hope to encourage you in your faith journey as well as our own.

    Be hopeful. Be blessed.
    

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