Thoughts. Attitudes. Reflections.

Notes from The Mystery of Providence

Vee — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:10:12 +0000

And as to the service of God, if your heats are spiritual, you may enjoy much communion with God in your very employments, and you have some intervals and respites for that purpose. Have you not more spare hours than you employ to that end? - pg78

Sin brought in sweat (Gen 3:19), but now, not to sweat increases sin. He that lives idly cannot live honestly, as is plainly enough intimated (1 Thess 4:11-12). - pg77

Do not be slothful and idle in your vocations…The command to Adam (Gen 3:19) no doubt reaches all his posterity, and Gospel-commands bind it upon Christians (Rom 12:11, 1 Thess 4:11). If you are negligent, you cannot be innocent. -pg79

And yet do not be so intent upon your particular callings as to make them interfere with your general calling. Beware you do not lose your God in the crowd and hurry of earthly business. -pg79

Remember always the success of your callings and earthly employments is by divine blessing, not human dilligence. “Be thou shalt remember the Lord thy God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth’ (Deut 8:18). The devil himself was so far orthodox as to acknowledge it: ‘Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands’ (Job 1:10). Recommend therefore your affairs to God in prayer. ‘Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass’ (Ps 37:4-5). And do not meddle with that which you cannot recommend to God in prayer for a blessing. pg77-80

Be well satisfied in that station and employment in which Providence has placed you, and do not so much as wish yourself in another. ‘Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called’ (1 Cor 7:20). Providence is wiser than you, and you may be confident it has suited all things better to your eternal good that you could do had you been left to your own option. pg 80

It pleases the Lord often to try and exercise His people this way, and make them cry: ‘How long, Lord, how long?’ (Ps 12:1-2). These delays, both for spiritual and temporal reasons, are frequent, and when they befall us we are too apt to interpret them as denials, and fall into a sinful despondency of mind, although there is no cause at all for it (Ps 31:12, Lam 3:8,44). It is not always that the return of prayer are despatched to us in the same hour they are asked of God; yet sometimes it falls out so (Isa 65:24, Da 9:23). But though the Lord means to perform for us the mercies we desire, yet He will ordinarily exercise to wait for them, and that for these reasons: 1. Our time is not the proper season for us to receive our mercies in. 2. Afflictive providences have not accomplished that design upon our heart they were sent for when we are so earnest and impatient for a change of them; and till then the rod must not be taken off (Isa 10:12) pg 138-9

It is usually found in the experience of all the saints that in whatever ordinance or duty they have any conscious communion with God, it naturally produces in their spirits a deep abasement and humiliation from the sense of divine condescension to such vile poor worms as we are. Thus Abraham, ‘which am but dust and ashes’ (Gen 18:27). the same effect follows our converse with God in His providences. Thus when God had in the way of His providence prospered Jacob, how does he lay himself at the feet of God, as a man overwhelmed with the sense of mercy! ‘I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth with thou hast shown they servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands’ (Gen 32:10). Thus also it was with David: ‘Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?’ (2 Sam 7:18). And I doubt not but some of your have found the same frame of heart upon you that these holy men here expressed. Can you not remember when God lifted you up by providence, how you cast down yourself before Him and have been viler in your own eyes than ever! Why, thus do all gracious hearts. What am I, that the Lord should do thus and thus for me! O that ever so great and holy a God should thus be concerned for so vile and sinful a worm! pg 145

Does God perform all things for His people? Do not distrust Him when new or great difficulties arise. Why should you think He that has done so many things for you will now do no more? Surely, ‘the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear’ (Isa 59:1); if anything put a stop to His mercy, it is your iniquities, your distrust and infidelity. ‘How long will it be ere you believe him?’ If a thousand and ten thousand trials and experiences of His tender care, faithfulness and love will cure this unbelief in you,you have them at hand to do it. If the infrequent confutations of this your distrust by the unexpected breakings-out of mercy for you under like discouragements will cure it, look back and you may see them. Certainly you have been often forced by Providence with shame and repentance to retract your rash censure of His care; and yet will you fall into the same unbelieving state again? O that you would once learn this great truth, that no man evre lacked that mercy which he did not lack a heart to trust and wait quietly upon God for. You never yet sought God in vain, except when you sought Him vainly. - pg183

The nature of work

Vee — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:06:53 +0000

IF there’s every one thing I remember from all my discourses with Joel, it’s on the theology of work. I was impressed upon how work is both a blessing and a curse, how God meant work to bring satisfaction but our own rebellion meant that we are frustrated in our own work. It seemed only like yesterday when I made the decision to take an alternative route. I am surprised at how I landed at the very job that I wasn’t keen on applying 6 months earlier. The Lord has been gracious and allowed me to find satisfaction in my work. He has also sent His Providence to guide me through many affairs. However, I have my fair share of tears and frustrations. There are temptations, unfair comments about me, and practices that I do not agree with. Perhaps G is right that the only way out is to stay close to the Lord. Perhaps JT is right in pointing out Ps 73 to me, and saying that I do have to be a good witness when I can. Perhaps YM is right that it’s more important to ensure that my sup is happy with my work. It has turned out more complicated than I thought, but I am thankful for godly counsel and providence. I still need a lot of wisdom, EQ, and wits to navigate through this maze. May He let me find favour in both God and men.

Weeding

Vee — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:56:02 +0000

It’s almost amazing how much lesson one can learn from Nature. I developed an interest in weeding because they were sprouting, in my rosemary pot, at a faster rate than I could remove them. I figured that getting to the root of the problem was the only solution - to remove the mature plants that must be propagating seeds. And so as I set about weeding, it dawned upon me that we need to weed out unwanted influences in our lives as well. If we are not careful, weeds will crowd out the very object that we are trying to cultivate. As much as some plants/characters are inherently resilient to the presence of weeds, how can we be sure that the distractions won’t have negative influences on our growth? When the attention that was meant originally for the prized possession becomes dispersed, how well can it grow?

Guitar Resources

Vee — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:46:35 +0000

An eclectic mix of guitar resources for the bold and the curious:

Chords diagram and many others

http://home.roadrunner.com/~nils

String Care

http://www.iol.ie/~murphypj/String_Care.htm

Guitar Action

http://www.theguitarfiles.com/guitarfile97.html

Guitar Music

http://www.guitarlincs.com/christmasbuskers.htm

Timing/rhythm line sample + Guitar software

http://www.transpoze.net/sample.html

Last but not least: http://www.frets.com

Special gifts at the English Class

Vee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:24:07 +0000

I received 2 presents from my students today. I thought it was really sweet of them to get us, the teachers and tutors, something for Christmas. I mean, I volunteer at the class purely out of my enjoyment to teach and share my knowledge with others. It is my main form of community service and ministry, for I derive much satisfaction and joy from helping out at the class. It is a special class, because even though all of us operate on a working relationship, there is still a sense of warmth and sincerity involved. I guess these are the things that ultimately matter. I have received much from helping out at this class; many unexpected good things. I guess this is what people term as unmerited favours from God - grace

Advent 2009

Vee — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:18:28 +0000

Alright, it’s already the 3rd week Advent, but unlike previous years, I can’t seem to feel the atmosphere of this festive season. As a byproduct, I don’t really look forward to Christmas this year. Even though I attended a few in the past 4 years, this year, I’ll rather stay at home. The human emotion is really complex and I can’t pinpoint exactly what is wrong. All I can say is that after a year without Christmas parties, or rather, after experiencing how parties can be a way to socialize to pick people’s brain, I have formed different expectations of how parties should be run! Never had I attended a party that I felt so comfortable, so at ease, than the one at Povo. And I don’t even know anyone there! Christmas parties here are stressful events. I face difficulties enjoying myself almost every single time.

Of course there are fears echoed by some of my friends that I’ll turn into a social recluse. I don’t know. I guess I can’t be bothered now. I’ll just go for some where I won’t be expected to do much. I just want to enjoy. I need a break.

Christmas gift? Who cares. I’ll just buy myself a book. It’s just much much wiser not to expect anything from people.

Whirlwinds of Life

Vee — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:14:59 +0000

My Professor talked about how young people should be energetic, filled with passion and visionary. She often discussed about the curiosity to explore, to learn, to grow. She has often encouraged me, counseled and advised me to pursue my dreams, yet I am now the very anti-thesis of what she has hoped for me.

Although life has never been easy, I have often embraced each challenge with a sort of optimism and a kind of hope, a type of assurance. Yet, things seemed to have taken a sharp U-turn. I wonder what has caused a gray cloud of skepticism to drape itself over me. It is dark, depressive, and menacing. It threatens to devour me, even as I attempt to fight it. It causes me to sin, to doubt, to question - all in dis-empowering ways. When my faith that the Mighty One would provide is already at its rock bottom, this incident attempts to rub away the very last threads that define the fabric of my life in God. This sadness, helplessness, and hopelessness strain the fabric, and inches it day by day towards material failure. If it doesn’t break my faith in Him, it will break me. Cracks always happen first at the weakest link.

Although it may not be one of the 7 deadly sins, but there should not be any distinction between intensities of sin. All sin causes God to look on us with scorn as it disrupts our relationship with God. We also fail to bring glory to God when we sin. It is certainly not a case of self-expectation, but in accordance with the thought propagated by Paul - to put to death whatever sin that God unearths. For ’sin is crouching at your door; and its desire is to master you, but you must master it.’ (Genesis 4:7).

When all feelings point in opposite directions to what one knows, that is when we must exercise self-control before sin crushes us. As I write all these, I am well aware that I may be fighting a losing a battle, for ‘nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets.’ Dealing with sin is never a pleasant affair, but one should try to get all the help one can get. It means making one more vulnerable for future hurts, but it is always better than the undesirable consequence of letting sin crush us. As for that incident, no one can solve the problem I face or offer the solace I need.

Notes from The Pilgrim’s Progress

Vee — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:37:07 +0000

The theology is nothing but good. A must read even though it’s fiction. It’s a great piece of literature though!

Who make thee?
-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost

Who saves thee?
-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost

But how doth God the Father save thee?
-By his grace.

How doth God the Son save thee?
-By his righteousness, death, and blood, and life.

How doth God the Holy Ghost save thee?
-By his illumination, by his renovation, by his preservation.

What is man?
-A reasonable creature, made so by God.

What is supposed by this word saved?
-That man by sin has brought himself into a state of captivity and misery.

What is supposed by his being saved by the Trinity?
-That sin is so great and mighty a tyrant that none can pull us out of its clutches but God, and that God is so good and loving to man as to pull him indeed out of this miserable state.

What is God’s design in saving of poor men?
-The glorifying of his name, of his grace, justice etc. And the everlasting happiness of his creature.

Who are they that must be saved?
-Those that accept of his salvation.

Why wouldest thou go to Heaven?
-That I may see God, and serve him without weariness; that I may see Christ, and love him everlastingly; that I may have the fullness of hte Holy Spirit in me, that I can by no means here enjoy.

Is there was ever anything that had a being, antecedent to, or before God?
-No, for God is eternal, nor is there anything excepting himself that had a being until the beginning of the first day. For in six days the Lord made Heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is.

What do you do when you meet with such places therein, that you do not understand (in the Bible)?
-I think God is wiser than I. I pray also that he will please to let me know all therein that he knows will be for my good.

How believe you as touching the resurrection of the dead?
-I believe that they shall rise, the same that was buried; the same in nature, though not in corruption. And I believe this upon a double account; first because God has promised it; secondly, because he is able to perform it.

pg 287- 289. Prudence catechizing James, Joseph, Samuel and Matthew.

http://www.jwpepper.com/mp3/10058634.mp3

The verdict

Vee — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:50:25 +0000

The senior minister delivered a highly thought-provoking message yesterday on Romans 3. Reading ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’, I can’t help but would like to add on to his content.

If these men cannot stand before the sentence of men, what will they do with the sentence of God? And if they are mute when dealt with by vessels of clay, what will they do when they shall be rebuked by the flames of a devouring fire? - John Bunyan

John Bunyan must have drawn inspiration from Romans. I’m glad for the discovery of this quote.

And usual, we are all guilty, guilty, guilty. Read the whole story.

Next phase of life

Vee — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:56:49 +0000

Two roads diverged in a wood - and I
took the one less traveled by

-Robert Frost

On top of the fact that I am considering, wondering and thinking what I should do with my life, I must add that I do factor in stewardship - how and where can I contribute. But other than that, I haven’t enjoyed much of a break. I have been busy since the start of my holidays. Working, yes, unfortunately. I hate the 6 lettered word named ‘burnout’ but sometimes I wonder if it’s imminent?

I hope not.