Are you born again according to the original way? 
The LAST WORDS Jesus instructed before He ascended to heaven.
A must hear for ALL. Very thought provoking.

was browsing through my journal where I write to God and very recently I was asking God for tremendous amount of grace and courage.

You know about the courage part of my name and

I just realised, in chinese, En (恩) means grace.

and my name is Yong En.
(haha this makes my chinese name very christian =D)

nice, I am a happy girl =)

(pardon my random moment, I am random. haha like a ninja! lol) 

princessgracesdairies:

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20 (NIV)

I had the most interesting conversation with a friend who lives in Hollywood. Although her family lives in the midst of glitz, glamour and extreme excess, she said they are determined to teach their kids something rare… the courageous choice.

You see, there are two kinds of courage. There’s the courageous act that makes our heart beat fast when the knight fights the dragon or the firefighter rushes into the burning building. These are extreme events most of us won’t ever face. And because most of us aren’t put in positions to participate in a courageous act, we don’t necessarily think of ourselves as courageous.

But there’s a second kind of courage that, dare I might say, is widely available but not widely embraced. It’s the courageous choice. This is the decision to do the right thing even when it’s unpopular, uncelebrated and probably even unnoticed.

Have you been faced with one of these kinds lately? Probably one of my toughest courageous choices has been in the area of my food choices. It was my hidden struggle. The one I didn’t want to deal with or talk about. Not with my friends and certainly not with God.

But then I started coming across verse after verse in the Bible that spoke directly to my issue. Though I didn’t want to talk to God about it, God certainly seemed to want to speak to me. Verses like Philippians 1:20 as well as many more:

Deuteronomy 2:3, “You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north…” (NASB)

Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (NIV)

2 Corinthians 7:1, “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (NIV 1984)

God assured me He loved me exactly how I was, but He loved me too much to leave me in a state of defeat.

I made a courageous choice to read the Bible looking for God to speak to me about my struggle. I made the courageous choice to walk willingly on the path of discipline. I made the courageous choice to pick something healthy even in the quietness of my pantry when no one else was looking.

I made the courageous choice to put a stake in the ground and say, I’m more than the sum total of my screaming taste buds. My heart doesn’t want that junk food. My arms don’t want that junk food. My legs don’t want that junk food. And my soul certainly doesn’t want that junk food.

It is possible to layer one courageous choice upon another and find victory in your area of struggle. No matter what your struggle is, are you willing to make one courageous choice today?

Make that choice.

And then make it again.

And then make it again.

You are a courageous woman. Now, go out and prove it to yourself.

- Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa TerKeurst

We have all been told that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Our perception of beauty changes greatly depending on what or who that beholder may be.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

thebeheld.wordpress.com

Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, 50mm 1.4, 100mm 2.8, 24mm 1.4
Music: Written by Tiffany Wong, Recorded by Scotty Visk
Spoken Word: Written by Jenna Mercaldo, Performed by Jenna Mercaldo
Software: Final Cut Pro 7.0

mbachphotography.com

nonelikejesus:

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19

thekingandme:

Be SILENT when anger stirs your heart;

 Don’t speak the word that sends the dart

 Or adds a burden to some soul

 Add to your faith that self-control.

 Be Silent.   

Be PATIENT when everything goes wrong

And Satan tries to steal your song

 Let the peace of God keep mind and heart,

And every needful grace impart.

Be Patient.   

Be KIND when folks don’t understand

And friends misjudge on every hand.

“Let your yieldedness be known,”

Remembering that you’re not your own.

Be Kind. 

Be READY always to extend

A helping hand to foe or friend.

Jesus prayed for those whose hate

Caused Him to die without the gate.

Be Ready. 

Be FAITHFUL; plow and sow the seed

By steady plod and loving deed.

Though others may not know the cost,

God knows your labour ‘tis not lost.

Be Faithful.

-Unknown

I’m hardly angry, or at least people hardly see me angry, or even when I’m angry mostly I just frown and keep quiet or pretend everything’s ok.

but this week, I’ve been angry so long (it almost like i broke my own personal record) and it feels like it’s still boiling inside and I want it to continue to boil -.- and most irritating if I think about it logically, there’s no one or anything really to be angry at.

and since Pastor preached about pride, God has been giving me opportunities this week to humble myself, but I haven’t been responding/thinking right… but I NEED GRACE!

so ok, got to keep trying, cause even when I’m feeling alone, I’m not. And even if I feel so hopeless, God turned me to Psalm 136 and that psalm just keeps repeating, His love never quits… His love never quits…

Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits.

Thank the miracle-working God,
His love never quits.
The God whose skill formed the cosmos,
His love never quits.
The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations,
His love never quits.
The God who filled the skies with light,
His love never quits.
The sun to watch over the day,
His love never quits.
Moon and stars as guardians of the night,
His love never quits.
The God who struck down the Egyptian firstborn,
His love never quits.
And rescued Israel from Egypt’s oppression,
His love never quits.
Took Israel in hand with his powerful hand,
His love never quits.
Split the Red Sea right in half,
His love never quits.
Led Israel right through the middle,
His love never quits.
Dumped Pharaoh and his army in the sea,
His love never quits.
The God who marched his people through the desert,
His love never quits.
Smashed huge kingdoms right and left,
His love never quits.
Struck down the famous kings,
His love never quits.
Struck Sihon the Amorite king,
His love never quits.
Struck Og the Bashanite king,
His love never quits.
Then distributed their land as booty,
His love never quits.
Handed the land over to Israel.
His love never quits.

God remembered us when we were down,
His love never quits.
Rescued us from the trampling boot,
His love never quits.
Takes care of everyone in time of need.
His love never quits.
Thank God, who did it all!
His love never quits!

wongpeiting:

Today’s sermon still rings in my mind.

Hopefully this will make it ring longer.

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

samdavidzhu:

enough is enough. if ever you’ve been challenged in your environment about why you keep your convictions (and i am gonna be straight honest: hair, skirts, and for guys our speech, integrity, drinking) and you struggle to give an answer for the hope that you have, its time to study the Word.

the measure of your success is how simple and clear you can present the Word to a friend, colleague or family member.

after all, didn’t you pray “i want to be a witness and share truth?”

chance provided.

inspireyourdream:

This year is different.

I’m not just hoping that I am going to develop healthy habits.
I’m not just wishing that my creative ideas would become a reality.
I’m not just crossing my fingers so that the goals I have will be accomplished.

To a greater degree than ever before, I am committed.

I am committed to praying with my wife every evening.
I am committed to investing time reading the Bible each day.
I am committed to posting a blog entry to edwardpaz.com every day.

I am committed.

What exactly does this mean?

Even when I’m tired, I will do what I said I would do.
Even when I’m distracted, I will do what I said I would do.
Even when I don’t want to, I will do what I said I would do.
Even when it’s uncomfortable, I will do what I said I would do.
Even when I don’t have the time, I will do what I said I would do.
Even when my excuses to slack off are good, I will do what I said I would do.

I am committed.

I have not set goals. I have made commitments.

And never before have I been so excited about the difference my commitments will make.

amen.

and this is a big ‘note to self’.