Friday, December 26, 2008

Psalm of David - My Prayer Life

King David Faith Declaration - Psalm 27 (Verse 1 - 14)
Verse 1-3
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear ?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked came against me, To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.

Verse 4-5
One thing I have desired of the Lord, That I will seek;
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hides me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.

Verse 6
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Verse 7-9
Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy on me and answer me.
When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said, "Your face, I will seek."
Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.

Verse 10-12
When my father and mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care me.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.

Verse 13-14
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed.
That I would see the goodness of the Lord, In the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!


Abiding In The Presence Of God - Psalm 91 (Verse 1-16)
Verse 1-3
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High,
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowl er,
And from the perilous pestilence.

Verse 4-6
He shall cover you with His feathers, Under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of arrow that flies by day.
Nor of the pestilence that walks in the darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

Verse 7-9
A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

Verse 10-13
No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you. To keep you in all your ways.
In their hand they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

Verse 14-16
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Pray To God. I am Going Somewhere.

I have beginning to start my prayer daily life by reading the Psalm 1 - 50.

Miracle(s) start to happen when I pray to God using Psalm as today I received called from company I was offer an engineer position and required to report work from 5Th Jan 09. All praises to the Lord who show His mercy and loving kindness to me.

Brief explanation of book of Psalm:
When David was a little child and taking care sheep's, the prophet Samuel came to his house to anoint David as future king for Israel. However, the prophecy David become king only materialise after 14 years.

Most of the Psalm were written by King David when he was not yet become king and was a fugitive in the wilderness, hideout in cave or run away from King Saul army who wanted to kill him.
During the time of fugitive, David wrote many psalms to express his heart desires to God. His prayer life is through the psalm.

Psalm 3: Verse 3 & 4
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
I cried to the Lord with my voice,
and He heard me from his holy hill.

Psalm 8: Verse 1 & 2
O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, You have ordained strength,
Because of your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

Psalm 18: Verse 1 - 3
I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Psalm 23: Verse 4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For you are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 27: Verse 1 - 3
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life,
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked came against me,
To eat up my fresh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

Psalm 36: verse 7
How precious is Your loving kindness, O God !
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

And many more beautiful psalms can be found when you personally read the book of psalm written by King David. When David become King for the kingdom of Judah and Israel, He was the richest and strongest king who has a 1.7 million mighty army besides with huge abundance wealth of Gold, Silver, Precious stones and all his heart desires, God give all to him. His son, King Solomon succeeded in his throne.

Monday, December 8, 2008

When All Door Are Closed...

Yesterday when I was reading the book of Revelation, in facing many uncertainty of reality of my life, I was awakened, encouraged, strengthened
and uplifted again by the below verse:

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says......"
"These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens."
- Revelation Chapter 3: Verse 6 & 7 -

There are many doors / gates I have been letting myself open and exposed before I came to the Lord. For the past few years, I had been shutting down the doors / gates so as to allow God to open its paths in my life.

The gates I had been shut down in my life and the fire of Holy Spirit burnt away within me:

My sensual pleasure through my senses - entering into cinema to enjoy movies; watching TV programs from channel to channel; playing computer games and surfing Internet in adult website; window shopping in complex aimlessly and occasionally went to pub.

My past believing in Buddishme teaching and meditation practice which is against the will of God.

My thinking pattern: I was heavily influenced by the society in making money is the primarily goal. I had been involving in Multilevel Marketing and Direct Insurance Selling. I was indulged in imaginative thinking without solid reality foundation.

My life style: My life was not centered on god principle. Shopping complex, internet surfing and playing computer game are the norm of my life.


By shutting down my doors, God begins to open His doors in my life. The doors God open for me:

* Fellowship in the church functions such as Sunday service, Jesus Heals function, cell group, bible study, outing and leadership development camp.

* Life style is centering on reading Bible, praying in tongue, sing praises and fasting for spiritual growth and maturity.

* Thinking pattern: Aligned and renewed by the power of Holy Spirit, the blood of Jesus and His word.

* Service for the Lord: I am now serving the Lord in the Mandarin service of EPPC (Penang) as well as writing word of encouragement through the blog.


Saturday, December 6, 2008

God's Word Has Healed My Life

One of my favorite Bible Scripture taken from 1st King: Chapter 8: Verse 22 onwards.

Brief explanation: King Solomon is praying to God towards the temple he build for God dwell in it. The presence of God in the Solomon temple that bring Solomon fame, wealth, wisdom and security in numerous abundance ways that King Solomon was the richest, wisest and strongest king during Israel time. Solomon pray to God at first for God wisdom to rule on his people, in turn God provides to Solomon wealth, fame besides wisdom.


Verse 22: Then King Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands towards heaven;
Verse 23: and Solomon said, "Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
Verse 24: "You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father, You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.
Verse 25: "Therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what you promised Your servant David my father, saying, " You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me."
Verse 26: "And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father."
Verse 27: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain You. How much less than this Solomon build temple."
Verse 28: "Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today:
Verse 29: " that Your eyes may be opened toward the temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, My name shall be there, that you may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.
Verse 30: "And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven, Your dwelling pl ac; and when You hear, FORGIVE.

Verse 35: "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they prayed towards this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflicted them."

Verse 36: "then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk, and send RAIN on Your LAND which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

Verse 37: "When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickeness there is;

Verse 38: "whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spread out his hands towards this temple;

Verse 39: "then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and FORGIVE, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know.

Verse 40: "that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers."


Friday, December 5, 2008

An End Is A New Beginning Starts

"I assure you, Unless you are born again; you can never see the Kingdom of God." - John Chapter 3: Verse 3

Jessica was pinned under a lorry in a ravine; both her legs crushed, her left elbow dislocated, so was her jaw, the deep cut on her forehead spurted out blood; her body bruised and twisted, and there was no sensation in her lower back.

"You are lucky to be alive." the doctor said. "No brain concussion. But you may never able to walk again." That was the end, or nearly the end for Jessica.

But Jessica was determined to walk again. She undergone several operations and every day the physiotherapist worked with her limbs; on her back and on her legs. Then a miracle, one step, two steps - and she walked with crutches. And then without them.

After full recovery, she left for Australia to study to be a physiotherapist. Now she is back to help others. A new beginning in her life.

For my life is also very similar with Jessica an end was the new beginning:

a. I was born in a non-Christian family who considering themselves as Buddhist (but actually practising worshipping idols in temples). Non of my family members until now are Christians.

b. During my study in secondary school and college time, I got in touch with Buddishme teaching. After graduated, I came to Penang to work as engineer in factory. I was totally lost in the influence of soceity and the making money was my primary objective in my life. I was involving in MLM, insurance selling and direct selling. My life was just followed the current flow of society.

c. After a few years, I was able to recover some sense of conscience that I should involved with some godly fellows in a nearby church. One of my friend from USM invited me to attend his Methodist church in Century Garden. Most the members of this church are USM graduates and students.

d. However after attending quite sometime in Methodist church, I still felt my spirit was death as not yet awakened by the Holy Spirit of God. I then was drifted away from God due to my habits of always going to shopping complex, watching movies in cinemas, playing Counter-Strike game and even tempted by the Devil to surf into adult web site so called by society.

e. My life was a mess even I called myself as Christian or John Wesly follower. I still remember 5 years ago, I was invited by friends to attend a function in RGBC church in Penang (Malaysia) where my inner spirit was awakened and cleansed by the Presence of God movement in Holy Spirit. I was baptised by the Holy Spirit then and continually to attend church Sunday service until present time in. Presently I am attached with EPPC church in Taman Pekaka, Penang.

"I assure you, Unless you are born again; you can never see the Kingdom of God." - John Chapter 3: Verse 3

Fasting - My Secret Weapon

Every time I encounter a difficult problem, situation, slandering from people or something that seem impossible, I always see the hand of God at work when I do fasting. Whenever I fast and pray with the power of word of God, I engage in the spiritual warfare and direct confrontation with the power of darkness that come only to steal, rob, destroy and deceive. Fasting helping me to subdue my flesh body, emotion and mind so that my inner strength, spirit, will and conscience to be more sensitive to the unseen evil forces trying to control my thinking negatively.

The power of fasting can be explained by Bible Scripture:

a. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall be any means hurt you. - Luke: Chapter10: Verse 19 -


b. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, but against the power, against the rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the supernatural realm. - Eph Chapter 6: Verse 12 -

c. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapon of flesh and blood), but they are Spirits of God - mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of stronghold. - 2nd Corth Chapter10: Verse 4 -

d. If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, fast, pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. - 2nd Choronical Chapter 7: Verse 14 -

e. Now therefore," says the Lord, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting and praying then I will heal your land. - Joel Chapter 2: Verse 15 -

Thursday, December 4, 2008

The Journey Home

The house sat on a small plot of land with overgrown bushes, isolated and aged. Outside, the creepers ran up the walls to the windows. Inside the building, Mrs Tan lived all alone by herself; in self-imposed isolation. Her loved husband, Jonathan died in sudden heart attack 5 months ago. Since then, Mrs Tan not able to cope with grief, sadness and sorrow in her heart. Bereaved and lonely, she sank heavily into isolation.

A few well-meaning friends called on her to comfort her. Mrs Tan often stared into empty space in their presence and said, "I really appreciate your care and concern but I prefer to be alone where I am right now, as life is not the same without Jonathan."

There are many instances can make us feel dejected, losing the battle to fight against our enemies. The situation we are facing seemed to be too huge and overwhelmed, such as losing a job which I am facing now during the tough financial crisis hitting on many multinational companies in Penang (Malaysia) and also around the globe.

Many will fall into the pain, isolation, dejection, angry and depressed just as this poor Mrs. Tan losing her beloved husband. Yet isolation from the society is a necessary step in the recovery path of grief, but it should not be for too long. When I was called by the HR department and informed me that my company I am working in unfortunately had to retrenched me not because of my job performance, but was due to company business affected by financial crisis, I was very disappointed and down.

I was really feel discouraged and dejected for the first week. But I strengthen my self by doing fasting and reading Bible. I continue to attend weekly cell group meeting and Sunday service as well as have fellowship with good friends for encouragement and support emotionally and spiritually. I really managed to came out from isolation state within a week time and now I am serving the Lord by helping others in my similar situation through this blog "A Reason To Live."

Isolating oneself for too long can make his world close in even tighter and he can becoming emotionally, intellectually and spiritually paralyzed (not physically paralyzed). Then the person may no longer view life beyond the walls that imprison him.

Somehow in time Mrs. Tan has to brave herself and finding a bridge back to the outside world; the reality of daily living. Fortunately she recently has a new good neighbor. Madam May was an old retired teacher and a voluntary social worker. She understood Mrs. Tan loss.

"Why don't you come with me to church," Madam May suggested. "It will help you to find the peace of the mind and I can introduce you to our cell group members." In time, Mrs. Tan even attended Bible study class. For her it was a long journey home back. She had found solace in God's love and care and she found A Reason To Live.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

A Time To Grow

More often than not, life is a very difficult journey. A crisis can be in any form:
a. A devastating illness;
b. A failed marriage ending with divorce;
c. A financial ruin with debts;
d. A fatal accident leading to permanent disability;
e. A passed away loved one and so on.

When facing a crisis, we can fight or flight from it. Or we can pray to God to grant us the inner strength to battle it out with our Will and Courage. That's is what I view as "A Time To Grow".

During this transition period of waiting for another job opening, I keep on reading the Bible and praying everyday asking God what can I do to help others in the same situation I am facing right now. Then God give me an answer. The answer is "A Time To Grow Up" and "Reason To Live".

I realized I can use Blog to reach out to the outside world to tell them "Jesus Loves You."

And with every stage of growth, we will become stronger and more resilient. Every crisis is a time for us to grow and the Lord Jesus is always with us, holding our hands if our heart are softened to let His words enters in our hearts.

Of course at the time when our lives are shattered, there is intense pain and suffering. It is a reality we all have to face and we can not run away from it. But if we direct our energy and reconnect our lives, then we will learn to bounce back again perhaps to greater height.

Are you a ping pong ball or a flat volley ball that hitting on the ground that would bounce back or stay on the ground?

No Time For God.


After finishing the steak, Arthur smacked his lips and reached for his glass of red wine. Then he loosened his belt, patted his round belly and said, "Ah! This is the life. Eat, drink and be merry. Lift is too short. I have no time for God."

"I have no time for God" as most of us are busy in working place, shopping in complex, watching movies, playing latest X-box games, surfing Internet for latest tech and news, SMS, and so forth.
For some, their relationship with God is like the stock market. When the market is booming, they swing and dance all night, leaving the bible to gather dust. But when the chips are down, they run to God, crying "O Lord, please bail me out."

This is an example which is happening to me now as I am no longer working in factory and still waiting for another job offering, I have been spending most of my time reading Bible in order to come closer to Him again. To know God in the shortest and fastest time is to read the Bible.

With time the wind changes its direction. It may be a gentle breeze or a sudden storm which shake us to the very deepest core of belief, "Fear of death".

To everything there is a season;
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time of war, and a time of peace.
- Taken from Book of Ecclesiastes -

However the writer (King Solomon) did not include "A Time For God." although he ends it by saying "Fear God and keep His commandments."

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

By Faith We Are Saved.


"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews: chapter 11: verse 1 -

A journalist asked Billy Graham, "If you are so blessed by God, why did He allow you to get Parkinson disease at your old age?" The great evangelist reflected
a while and said, "I think God wants me to draw closer to Him."

Too often when people are in distress they seek solutions to their problems from one source to another; praying in different places of worship; switching beliefs, even consulting with the unknown; sometime putting their trust in horoscopes. They do just about everything except to come to terms with God.

Our God is a God of Hope, of Love and of Faith. We ought to draw spiritual strength from Him alone and not from any other source. What does that mean? Faith means believing God against all odds. And faith remains UNSEEN. You might have heard these words in church, but until you are put to the test (as I am now), you will not really experience the depth meaning and the truth in it.

Reason To Create This Blog


We are now living in globalization world that hit by financial tsunami that causing huge devastating damaging forces on many multinational companies, financial banking, big and small business companies, families and societies well being.

I am one of the many victim that have suffered and affected by companies in Bayan Lepas, Penang (Malaysia) doing cost cutting measures by laying off good and dedicated workforce. Many have been affected badly as they are longer have the ability to pay for their housing and car loan, supporting family members in higher education, planning for retirement, providing basic needs of food, shelter, clothing and so forth.

In facing the storm of life, some may fall into depression, worry and anxiety of not knowing what to do, tempted by the Devil (Satan) to resort to crime (such as stealing, robbing, prostitution and gambling) and even ending thier lifes by jumping off from high rise building and bridge.

God gives us a reason to live.
A reason for now.
A reason for tomorrow.
A reason for life hereafter.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- John 3:16 -