Matters of the Heart

No, Mom, Shawn or Desmond. I'm not going to talk about a girl that I like because there is none at this point in time. (Shawn, don't say, "Don't bluff.")

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Somehow the past CG was exciting for me. I can't really explain it but I believe as Coach Tammie told us at the retreat that CG will be an enjoyable time, that seed was planted in my heart and it started growing and I believe that future CGs will be even more exciting.

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Pastor Benjamin shared last Arrow that everything begins from the heart. What we believe in our hearts affects our thinking and what we think affects what we do. Right believing leads to right living and that belief originates from the heart.

In my NLT, Proverbs 4:23 reads, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." What we do or say; our actions, it begins from the heart. How we react to situations and how we communicate, how we interact with people, our relationships, all these are birthed from the heart. Faith begins from the heart.

The things that are important to us are often called "close to our heart". They are so precious that Luke 6:45 calls them treasures. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." As long as it is in our heart, it is treasure and it can be either good treasure or evil treasure and that treasure is what springs forth from us. It springs forth in our speech and our actions.

I am also reminded of Luke 12:34 that reads, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. So if we consider something as important, if we treasure something, our heart is there also. I am so glad that if something matters to us, it matters to God as well.

That is why Jesus came not just to forgive us of our sins, heal all our diseases and became poor that we might become rich, but he also came to heal us of our broken hearts. In John 19:34 we can read that when Jesus' side was pierced, blood and water came out. Medical science would tell us that water came out because Jesus suffered hypovolemic shock; Jesus' heart began to beat rapidly so much so that fluid gathered around the heart and lungs. It was a literal breaking of the heart. His heart was physically broken so that we need not suffer the pains of a broken heart.

Jesus knew the importance of healing our broken hearts. He knows that faith is birthed from the heart and that if our hearts are broken we might find it hard to have faith. When we suffer a broken heart from rejection, disappointment or self-condemnation we will find it difficult to believe that God is for us. If everything begins from the heart, then if the heart cannot believe in God, how can a person believe that God will come through? Jesus died for our broken hearts so that our hearts may be pure, not hardened or closed off.

Matthew 5:8 reads, "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God." When our hearts are so pure, purified by Jesus' blood, we will find it easier to believe God and we will see Him! I used to think that this verse was referring to when we die and go to Heaven but it is referring to our time on earth and because we are made righteous by Jesus, we have that pure heart and when we simply believe, we will see God in the here and now.

And I was so blessed by what Ireen shared about the piece of armour that protects our heart; the breastplate of righteousness. Being conscious of our righteousness in Christ is one of the ways that our hearts are kept guarded.

Romans 10:10 reads, "From with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Again we can see how everything begins from the heart. When we receive righteousness it began with the believing from the heart and from there we confess and Jesus comes into our hearts.

And when we find our hearts troubled by the cares of the world we are reminded in Philippians 4:6-8 that it is the peace of God through Jesus Christ who will guard our our hearts and minds. We only need to fill our hearts with the things mentioned in verse 8 and that includes the believing that we are righteous in Christ!

Some people might think that they have not really experienced a broken heart. They might say, "I have not been rejected by someone of the opposite sex. In fact it is I who does the heart breaking. Hehe (Jerk)" or "I have been disappointed before but not to the point of depression. I don't think that counts as a broken heart." But all these are different degrees of brokenness that is encompassed in Jesus' death burial and resurrection. Even if it is a "small" heart break Jesus died for it too whether it may be not getting into an institution of choice, a person telling us something and then doing a totally different thing, all these seemingly small things can contribute to a person's heart being broken. But Jesus died even for all that so that these things need not be harboured in the heart.

I'd like to offer another characteristic of a broken heart. A heart that has become numb to God's love is also broken. It is a heart that takes defeat as the norm. It is broken by God's standards.

God does not want us to remain defeated or disheartened (pun intended) but it is His will that we experience victory in our lives. Our hearts should be firmly founded in the finished work of Jesus which is the ultimate victory in all of history. If God's heart for us is to prosper and to succeed in life then let us determine to be people after God's heart and start believing in our hearts that because of Jesus we will reign in life!

Playmode: Repeat

I'm the kind of person who can listen to the same song over and over and over and over and over and over and over... you get the idea.

Sometimes I'll put the Hillsongs Album This is Our God on shuffle and I would find myself changing it to repeat mode on a few songs and the one song that probably holds the record for being on repeat for an incalculable number of times for me is With Everything.

I just love the part that says,

Let hope rise
and darkness tremble
in Your Holy light...

These three lines only appear twice in the whole song but they never fail to remind me of putting my trust in God. I am reminded that hope in God is different from the world. It is a hope that does not disappoint. Although the current circumstances may be bleak and no matter how long it seems I can't help but have this hope knowing that God is a loving Father and that all the forces of evil and of the curse cannot succeed in my life.

I'm really glad for this song that is a constant reminder that God loves me and His grace super abounds in the areas where I miss my mark.

If I can describe this song in one word it would be something that can be said of God too - powerful.

I love my neighborhood even more during the night time (save for weird people going around asking to be your friend) because the streets are empty and no body cares when I walk past almost screaming out this song. Its during those times that I feel I can really worship Him with all my heart, my soul, my voice, my everything.

After listening to this song over and over again it's no wonder I find myself singing out the lines that are such an encouragement to me. I am reminded that whatever is in my heart, that is what comes forth from me and hence why I find myself singing this song even when I'm not listening to it. It has become a part of my heart.

Sausage McMuffin with Egg Meal, Extra Bread with Jam, and a Hotcake

If you did not already know, if I can't think of an entry title I'll just put in my breakfast as the title.

The past week I had two gatherings that I attended. The first one was with my colleagues from NS. It was our long overdue cohesion event (its an event to promote bonding within the work place to enhance, for lack of a more original word, cohesion). For a long time now the section had some extra cash earned from a project that was done by the previous members of the section. I think its a move by the army to promote creativity and innovation; give good idea, get good money. This particular idea is one of those ideas good enough to earn a lot of money. The money given differs based on the idea. I ever came across a person awarded $20 for suggesting to put a bell on the office door so that people would know that someone comes into the office. But anyway, this idea was so good that it was enough to sponsor 13 people to eat the lunch buffet at Kuishin Bo and still play 3 rounds of bowling after that. I was very blessed to be able to enjoy the free favours despite having ORD last year November. I learned that I am horrible at bowling. -_-" Or rather was reminded that I am horrible at bowling.

Had a CNY gathering at Sheena's place yesterday as well. It was a reunion of sorts with my secondary school classmates, some of which I have not seen for about 4 years. I really believe God placed me to be in that particular class to meet all these people who are so friendly and welcoming. Really the right place at the right time. They all really helped me adjust into the Singapore school system. I really can't imagine being in another class other than 4E1. I was quite amused at how people have changed in appearance. For one there was a transfer of erm... prosperity... One of the guys who used to be super fit and slim was now kinda healthy while the other who used to be quite healthy was now slim. Even though the journey was a total of 4 hours to and fro it was worth it.

Also woke up really early today (something which I have not done for a while). Praise God for a direct bus to the airport. A few of us went to see Wanling off as she goes to study in Perth. I realized how accessible the airport is for me and I can understand why some people love going to the airport. There's just something about it that it got me thinking that I don't mind hanging out there some time.

I also decided to play with my digital camera. I have been under appreciating it. Sometimes when I take it out people say, "Whoa, cool!" or something like that. It is kinda cool looking and I shall be thankful for it and shall use it more often. I found one fun thing to do with it.

Took some photos of myself one day and I found some photos that I can play with like this one. =D

I added in the thought bubble and it becomes a template I can use for any other random stuff that I can think of.

I like how my hair looks, (and I quote Oinkypig) "untamed". Although he said untamed I read it as "wild". Haha. It's going to get more wild as I continue to experiment with the length and the final look that I want to acheive.

Anyway, still looking for a job after a month or so of looking.. Hah. If you know of any prospects please let me know. Been helping out my Dad with some stuff but mostly because I have the time anyway.

Yup. Shall end of here and the following is something I see in some people's LiveJournal websites but I'm putting my own personal touch...

Mood: Happy.

Listening to: This Is Our God (The Whole Album) - Hillsongs United. I'm so in love with the songs in this one and have been listening to it A LOT!