Commitments of What kind?
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

It is easier to say
“Lord I will die for you,”
than to say
“Lord I will live for you.”

It is easier to say
"Lord I will give you ABC,"
than to say
"Lord I will give up ABC."

It is easier to say
"Lord I will give up _______________ ,"
than to say
"Lord I give you everything."

It is easier to say
"Lord I give you everything,"
than to say
"Lord my time/money/love belongs to you."

Why?

Some answers:
It is easier to say “Lord I will die for you,” than “Lord I will live for you” because there is glory and honor in martyrdom, but in life there are trials and sufferings.

It is easier to say "Lord I will give you not-so-treasured xyz," than to say "Lord I will give up treasured abc."

While the Lord is undoubtedly pleased with our sincere offerings, we have to ask ourselves if a) it constitutes a sacrifice - Did you come to a decision easily? It probably doesn't mean as much to you as you thought. and b) how we give - Do you pick and choose what you have to give him? Are you giving because you love God? Or is there another reason?

It is easier to say "Lord I will give up (treasured possession)," than to say "Lord I give you everything."

When we say "Lord I will give", it is something that we commit to doing. Conversely, when we say "Lord I give", it is something we have committed to the Lord. Being willing to give up everything is also a position of absolute surrender: nothing is withheld. Rather than a giving of our choosing, it is the choosing of giving everything.

It is easier to say "Lord I give you everything," than to say "Lord my time or money or love belongs to you."

Once our life is dedicated to the Lord, we become responsible to him for how what we do with it. Time, e.g. Do we waste our time on meaningless things? Do we live with a Spirit of Boredom? Are we indulging in entertainment? Money, e.g. Do we make financially wise decisions? Are we spending on extravagance? Are we committed to a budget and savings plan? .... and so on.

It might not be time, money or love, it might be something else. Whatever it is specifically for you, it is hard not being in control. Coming to a position of absolute surrender is abstract - It is easier to make decisions if we don't look too closely. But to stay in that position we get down to the nitty gritty. Realization sets in, and we start to think that not being in control might equates to complete chaos. God may call you do do something you wouldn't do on your own - taking that expensive holiday you think you can scarcely afford to show love to your kids for example.

We are given the right to live as we see fit, but in giving up our rights to make space for God's will, we become filled with Christ's righteousness.

So what kind of commitments do you made to the Lord? Is there one you need to be making?

Posted by yipeng 3:28 AM 5 comments

Lord, please don't send me to Africa!

Oh Lord I am your willing servant
You know that I have been for years
I'm here in this pew every Sunday and Wednesday
I've stained it with many a tear
I've given You years of my service
I've always given my best
And I've never asked you for anything much
So, Lord I deserve this request

Please don't send me to Africa
I don't think I've got what it takes
I'm just a man,I'm not a Tarzan
Don't like lions, gorillas or snakes
I'll serve you here in suburbia
In my comfortable middle class life
But please don't send me out into the bush
Where the natives are restless at night

I'll see that the money is gathered
I'll see that the money is sent
I'll wash and stack the communion cups
I'll tithe eleven percent
I'll volunteer for the nursery
I'll go on the youth group retreat
I'll usher, I'll deacon , I'll go door to door
Just let me keep warming this seat.

- Scott Wesley Brown

Posted by yipeng 3:15 AM 0 comments

Deal of the Day
Friday, July 31, 2009

Christianbook.com is selling Zondervan's NIV Study Bible in black bonded leather for $19.99 USD, which is a great price even after adding shipping. Be warned... for international shipping to Singapore expect to wait up to 3 months.

Posted by yipeng 10:23 PM 0 comments

Labels: promotions

Website Update
Tuesday, July 21, 2009

If you visit the actual homepage of my Blog you will see a new links section. Riding above my regular posts are my shared items. These are thoughtful, striking, or simply fun articles that I track with my RSS web crawler (google reader) which allows me to select great material from all over the web to share with you.

If you follow me with via RSS yourself, you can subscribe to my shared items, or both my shared items and blog together.

Enjoy!

Posted by yipeng 12:08 AM 0 comments

A New Song
Monday, July 20, 2009

Dear Lord, I do surrender Myself, my all, to thee;
Myself, my all, to thee;
My time, my store, my talents,
So long withheld by me.
I've heard the call for workers.
The world's great need I see
O send me to the rescue,
I'm here, my Lord, send me!

Here am I, my Lord, send me,
Here am I, my Lord, send me,
I surrender all to obey thy call,
Here am I, my Lord, send me.

Too long at ease in Zion
I've been content to dwell,
While multitudes are dying
And sinking into Hell.
I can no more be careless,
And say there's naught to do,
The fields are white to harvest
And labourers are few.

O hear, thou God of Heaven,
The vows that now I make!
To thee my life is given,
'Tis for the lost world's sake.
To serve thee I am ready,
Though friends and foes despise,
I now present my body
A living sacrifice.

HT: Beyond the Brook

Posted by yipeng 10:57 PM 0 comments

Labels: Evangelism

TGIMB
Saturday, July 11, 2009

Thank God It's My Birthday. =]

Posted by yipeng 10:23 AM 0 comments