The mill will never grind with the water that has passed

Greetings!

As you're reading this post, I'm actually off at Johor on a job. (Yes, this is actually a "post-dated post") But I want to share this with you, and I hope you grasp its meaning. For I loved this poem dearly having realized what it means...

The Lesson of the watermill

Leave no tender word unsaid;

Love, while life shall last!

The mill will never grind

with the water that has passed.

And the proverb haunts my mind

like a spell that's cast.

The mill will never grind
with the water that has passed.

Power, intellect and strength

may not, cannot, last;

The mill will never grind
with the water that has passed.

Take this lesson to your heart,

Take, oh! Hold it fast;

The mill will never grind
with the water that has passed.

by: Sarah Doudney

Did you learn the lesson of the windmill?

from afar,
Mi.

Allowance, Budget, Claims...

"If I had the money right, I'd definitely...."
"I wanna go! But... No time lar..."
"Sure sure, no problem, oh.. can claim for this?"

One way, one form, one mean or another, we've made at least one of those statements in the course of life- some more so than the other.

To some extent, sometimes, it feels that way as well for our spiritual lives- we'd love to fast and pray, but we have things to do (legitimate ones like attending class, working, meeting up with old friends); we want to commit to regular quite time with God but with 24hours in a day and 48 different commitments here and there, it's really hard to set aside that time regularly, *and the BiG one...* we want to share the word of God, but we really, really don't know how (i.e. Don't know how to start, what to talk about, what NOT to talk about, who to share with, how to share with a person like that, where to share, when to share...)

It's great to know that our Christian life and the spreading of God's Word is not rested on our capabilities.

Our Father in Heaven is not like an employer that tells you to do this and that given a specified amount of resources... [Matthew 28]
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Leave it to Daddy to give us a mission in life so we won't have to scratch our heads after accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour thinking, "Ok, so what now?"

AND, letting us know that when we're on this mission, the same authority that is given to Christ our Lord is given to us- in fact He Himself is with us!

There's no limit to our resources! No budgets, no need for "claims" because we will never need to put in our own resources first, no allowances because it's "all for us" when it's "all for Him".

Would you say that your spiritual life has been limited because you've been living it on your own resources and abilities?

Feel free to share your thoughts and feelings.


Paid-in-full,
Mi

Food for thought

Mi gave me a food for thought the other day. We were deliberating on something and having our usual conversations then she gave me something to think about. Feels like she had given this a whole lot of thought. But I never thought about it that way. So it was good.

So Mi said this, "Food for thought. Do you think we should ask God for wisdom do be humble or humility to be wise. Does humility come with wisdom or does wisdom come with humility?" (It was something along those lines. Of course this doesn't apply to everything but it should for most.)

So I gave it some thought and she was right. She said that with humility comes wisdom. I think so too. Pride is one of our biggest sins. And most of the time, we fail to see that we sin that way. We often ask God for wisdom in dealing with certain circumstances; to know what to say or what to do and to be humble. But who would ever thought that if we humbled ourselves in all things, we'll be wise enough to know what to say or what to do. For one thing, we are not blinded by what we already know and what we are so sure about. I guess in a lot of things we can't be exactly sure about everything. Only God is sure.

I don't exactly know if I'm right about this but it makes a whole lot of sense in a peculiar way.

Maybe Mi would have something to say. That girl has been "MIA" for awhile now. She had started a new journey and is busy busy busy.

"With humility comes wisdom" What do you think? Comments are welcomed. Hope we can all learn from this.

Love always,
Me

Wonderfully and fearfully made

This month, my schedule is packed with birthdays. This week itself there is going to be 3 birthday celebrations. We celebrate this day every single year. Each year tells us that we grow older and its time to grow up. Little that we know, that this day signifies God's miracle. He created us on this day and knitted us in our mother's womb (Psalms 139:13). And how are we made into living beings, with something called a soul with a body filled with veins and organs that functions in such a complex way that till date, we, humans are still trying to find out how our mind and body works. Here we are trying to quantify what we do and why we do it. Investigating how the right brain differs from the left brain. We try to measure the ways of our lives and try to make sense out of it. Amazingly, we find the answers. At least, we find the answers to some of the questions. These answers describes God perfectly and it explains exactly how we are made.

The complexity of the human body proves that God is an amazing creator as He has carefully designed everything so perfectly that it is beyond the comprehension of the human mind. These answers proves that God is into the details and we are made in such a way that no man can make sense to another or can it ever be explained in simple terms.

So if you're celebrating your birthday, take just awhile to look at how you've been created, from the hair on your head to the toes at your feet. It's truly mesmerizing how we turned out to be. In Paul's wise words of praise to the Lord, I will praise thee; for I am WONDERFULLY and FEARFULLY made: marvellous are thy works; and my soul knoweth right well - Psalms 139:14.

You are wonderfully and fearfully made

Love always,
Me

Hugs

I love hugs.

I love the way it speaks not with words, but in an action- an embrace.

The best wishes and fondest hopes for a beloved are usually best secured with a hug... it's as though that simple act takes the words both spoken and kept in one's heart, and allows the beauty and wonder of a touch to sign, seal and deliver it all.

I cherish the PEACE that comes with each hug... that 'someone', had not just seen me, wished me "all the best" and walked on; (s)he pressed the mute button on the remote of my life so I could see past the hustles and bustles that are swirling around me, take position, and face- no, dance through- the music that life plays for me.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. [John 14:27]

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:7]

I rest in the COMFORT a hug devotes... "You'll be alright", "I'm here for you"...

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. [Isaiah 43:2-3a]

I love the LOVE a hug conveys... the knowing- that no matter what happens, no matter what you decide, no matter where life takes you, I will still love you. Because it's not what you are, and it's not what you do, it's just you- I love, you.

The LORD appeared to us from afar, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. [Jeremiah 31:3]

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
[Romans 5:8]

I rest in the promise of BELONGING that a hug assures.

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. [Isaiah 43:1]

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.
[Jeremiah 15:1a,b]

I shelter in the SECURITY hugs commit- that you're safe now, you don't need to be afraid, be strong.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. [Psalm 5:11]

The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. [Psalm 9:9]

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. [Psalm 18:2]

There are so many things that a hug can say... And you know, though I do no see Him, and my touch can't seem to touch Him, I can feel- my Father's hugs.

The wonder...

-=-=-=-

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the darkest valley;
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

-=-=-=-

Hugs,

Mi.