Tired

been a tiring week...feeling worn..easily my eyes twitch...and I feel so drained..

been encouraged by a few things yet discouraged by even more things..

sometimes I wish i could go to Christ's bossom and end everything that is here..heaven is a far better place..definitely

i do realise that God's strength is ever so needful..for me to endure till ilfe's journey end, except for God as my strength..I dun think I can endure even one second.

the joy of the Lord be my strength...

ECP Catch Report

hmm...not as good as last week but manage to witness someone (not me :() who caught a huge stingray...haha..though didnt manage to catch one myself..at least someone is happy..

manage to catch a rabbit fish though...this is a new year fish..usually abundant in Feburary in local waters so I am surprised to get one...dining size..so still very happy..

today it rained..though catch would be good..but just 10 over fish..not as good as last week, but nevertheless had fun..just got cold and miserable and drenched at one point..but glad i wore an adidas climate cool...dry in an instant when the sun was up.. :)

stacey and justin also come and try their hand at fishing..

on the whole, thank God for a good day of fishing. He is good.



My biggest catch for the day - a rabbit fish



A few good fish...enuf for dinner..



A huge sting ray - great for bbqing..haha



Huge ray..one day i must also try to catch one.. ;p

Constricted and constrained

When the welling of tears is no longer on the eyes but in the heart...you know there is a depth of sadness that would be only untold.

It is a second wave of stress. Earthquake aftershocks are usually milder than the first. I do not seem to have any stretch of rest. Its taking its toll and toil.

When perpetual stress and discontinuos stress seizures come, it is worse than having an epilethic fits...the convulsions will stop, but not this when tsunami after tsunami keep coming.

I think the message is clear.

These strivings must cease or there can't be deliverance except that of delirium.

I must stoop not lower, but to make a stand to trust that the brook cherith has dried, and it is compelling, in this constricted and constrained environment, God has wanted me to leave.

It is untenable. Not a matter of endurance. When sanity hangs a thread, I need to swing to know that beyond a greener pasture, lies the stiller water.

I need peace and a longer one. I must have this rest for a season.
Not words. But just rest.

This mind expects deliverance. This mind expects fulfillment. Almost all, joy to delight.

And only one in my Lord would suffice.

I must go.

Fishing

finally, after years of withdrawal..a bumper catch..not too bad with 4 hrs of work...

oh tamban..u never left.. :p

Alas

And so did Christ die in vain?

With bated breath and reflections a trough deeper, the thoughts that tenders in images of grace untold, puts me to shame that I haven't press for a life that is more consistently testfying the glory of my Lord.

I bade to say goodbye to self desires but yet it bade me not.

This verse I encountered today gave a cry, " But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. " 2 Cor 4:7

I say I cannot hide. Oh where is this heart beating unlesss a life story told that Christ is the treasure of my life.

Why live for self where there are glories of Christ still to be told?

Romans

The just shall live by faith.

What a verse of simplicity and beauty. Assault this verse with sin and it beautifully echoes, the just shall live by faith. Try telling it about righteousness deeds for justification, and it smoother the thought away and rings again, the just shall live by faith.

This verse stays and echos.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words abide forever.

The just shall live by faith.

Is Godliness the exception and not the norm?

I think this is a good question. Coz if I may answer it, the answer to me is obvious.
Perhaps it gets clearer if I read the OT. How much of Israel history do we see faithfulness and revival?

Few.

How about the NT church age? I can say that Paul has epistles after epistles correcting errors. And Christ brings charges to the 7 churches in Asia of their errors?

I say Godliness of man comes with 2 right perspective of God. Fear of God and the grace of God.

Let me talk about fear.

I conclude that the fear of the Lord is almost non-existant in Christianity today when our attention is warped towards love and grace. In Luke 12, Jesus confronts the religious gurus of His day, the scribes and Pharisees. No doubt they wield great power and influence, Jesus pointed say to the thousands that are gathered on the real fear man must have. It is not towards man. He says to the masses, "Fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul!"

Jesus pointed brings us what we all lack. The lack of fear for God. The fear for men is natural and its constantly a snare.

Every wonder why none of us pursue holiness and thirst for righteousness? The lack of fear, a reverence for Jehovah God.

How about grace?

John Piper says he approves of 2 man in the bible. Saul (Paul) approved Stephen of his stoning. Both are examples of grace. Stephen displayed courage to speak for God and hence stoned. Saul displayed murderous zeal and was converted by Jesus on the road of Dasmascus displayed God's deliverance of his murderous ways to become the most effective minister of the NT ever. Paul showed grace. Grace that God can transform any man to fear Him as a mark of grace.

I don't want to put fear in a negative light. Hence I want to describe that Stephen being bold fears God. Paul being bold fears God. They fear that they do not demonstrate what the grace of God has given to them that they live a life that demonstrates bestowed divine grace.

I shudder to think that if a person sees grace and not sees fear. The absence of one or the other brings licentiousness to sin as Jude writes in his short epistle. Fear without grace stops us from doing anything for God. Grace without fear stops us from doing anything "right" for God. Taken together they are important. What moves you?

I hope we see fear and grace together. I hope fear drives you from sin. To live holiness and righteousness and grace drives you to sinners to tell them of the fear of God and the grace that is available.


Is Godliness the exception and not the norm. Yes it is. Coz not many see fear and grace together.

I hope you do.