i sought him, but i found him not

"..I sought him, but I found him not.." (Song of Solomon 3:1)

Tell me where you lost the company of Christ,
and I will tell you the most likely place to find Him.

Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer?
Then it is there you must seek and find Him.

Did you lose Christ by sin?
You will find Christ in no other way but by the giving up of the
sin, and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell.

Did you lose Christ by neglecting the Scriptures?
You must find Christ in the Scriptures.

It is a true proverb, "Look for a thing where you dropped it, it is there."
So look for Christ where you lost Him, for He has not gone away.


But it is hard work to go back for Christ. Bunyan tells us, the pilgrim found the piece of the road back to the Arbour of Ease, where he lost his roll, the hardest he had ever travelled. Twenty miles onward is easier than to go one mile back for the lost evidence. Take care, then, when you find your Master, to cling close to Him.

But how is it you have lost Him? One would have thought you would never have parted with such a precious friend, whose presence is so sweet, whose words are so comforting, and whose company is so dear to you! How is it that you did not watch Him every moment for fear of losing sight of Him? Yet, since you have let Him go, what a mercy that you are seeking Him, even though you mournfully groan, "O that I knew where I might find Him!"

Go on seeking, for it is dangerous to be without thy Lord! Without Christ you are like a sheep without its shepherd; like a tree without water at its roots; like a sere leaf in the tempest--not bound to the tree of life. With thine whole heart seek Him, and He will be found of thee: only give thyself thoroughly up to the search, and verily, thou shalt yet discover Him to thy joy and gladness.

(by CH Spurgeon)
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soothing, isn't it..

"..no temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and blood to bear. but GOD can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. HE will see to it that every temptation has its way out, so that it will be possible for you to bear it.."

aaahhh.. how soothing is it..
thanks to a friend who reminds me of this verse..
and i will pray for you too.. God bless..
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do not settle for the good !

“And Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!’”
(Genesis 17:18, NIV)

Dearly Beloved,

An international speaker, John L. Mason, wrote a book that is a best-seller titled “An Enemy Called Average.” On the cover page of the book, he said, “Don’t settle For An Average Life – God Wants To Launch You Past The Middle To The Top.” The final words of the author of the book in part are, “Be the whole person God called you to be. Don’t settle for anything less.”

It was as if the author of the book had Abraham in mind when he was choosing the title of the inspirational book. God had called Abraham out of his relatives to make him the father of many nations (see Genesis 12:1-3). God promised to bless him greatly and make his descendants numerous and great (see Genesis 15).
However, he did not have children. He had even concluded in his mind that a servant would inherit all his possessions and the blessings of God! God assured him that a son coming out of his own body would be his heir (see Genesis 15:1-4). When God tarried in fulfilling this promise, Abraham and his wife tried to help God. They had a son through Hagar, a maidservant (see Genesis 16). Nonetheless, God insisted that the promised child would come through Sarah (see Genesis 17:15-16). Abraham saw this as a joke and suggested to God to be contented the good he (Abraham) helped God brought into being (see Genesis 17:17-18). He had settled for the good. Nevertheless, God was resolute to do the best for him (see Genesis 17:19).

On many occasions, we also settle for the good we have and pray that God should bless it while God is planning the best for us. A popular adage says, “God’s time is the best.” However, most of us prefer the good time we have or that we are thinking of to the best time of God. This should not be! We should learn how to wait for the best time and the best things of God for us. We should not settle for the good or the average, but the best.

What are you expecting from God? Does it seem it is getting too late? Are you trying to settle for the good you have now? The best of God came to reality in the lives of Abraham and Sarah when they least expected it (see Genesis 21:1-7). Your best will also come to reality in Jesus’ name. Amen.
But, do not settle for the good!

In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)
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me i no go suffer ?

here's a 'frightening' fact about christianity yet to be thanked..
are we ready for this ?

= = = = = = = = = = =
Me I No Go Suffer

"..for it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him.." (Philippians 1:29, NIV)

There is a popular chorus in pidgin English in my part of the world that goes thus: "Me I no go suffer, I no go beg for bread. God of miracle, na my Papa o. God of miracle, na my papa o".
The literal meaning in the conventional English is, "I will not suffer; I will notbeg for bread. God of miracle is my Father. God of miracle is my Father"

The song is a positive confession of who a Christian is in the Lord and what would happen to him. However, the song is partly one of such false hopes that make many Christians to lose the essence of being a Christian.

The Bible in many places teaches about the Christian suffering. Consider these verses:
"I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united tome. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!"
(John 16:33, TEV)

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus willbe persecuted"
(2 Timothy 3:12, NIV)

"For even when we were with you, [you know] we warned you plainly beforehand that we were to be pressed with difficulties and made to suffer affliction, just as to your own knowledge it has [since] happened"
(1 Thessalonians 3:4, AMP).

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death"
(Philippians 3:10, NIV).

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you aresuffering, as though something strange were happening to you"
(1 Peter4:12, NIV).

Nevertheless, this suffering is not suffering for wrong doing, but suffering for being a Christian (see 1 Peter 4:12-16; Philippians1:29), and it is certain that the Lord will see the Christian through the suffering and make him/her come out of it like a purified gold
(see Psalm 23:4; 66:10; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3; 1 Peter 4:12-13).

The implication of this, is that, the Christian should be prepared for suffering all the time. However, he should "not lose heart. [Because] outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal"
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV).

It is indeed good to positively confess that we will not suffer. However, we should always remember that Christian life involves suffering in this world. The good news is that God has given Christian victory over the suffering, and He will be with the Christian to go through the suffering successfully.

In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)
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psalm 131:2

.. surely i have calmed and quieted my soul.
like a weaned child with his mother... is my soul within me.. (Psalm 131:2)

A nursing baby is a picture of ultimate calm and quiet. He is the happiest baby in the world. There is no greater physical or emotional comfort for the child than when receiving nourishment from the mother. Why then does the psalmist use the analogy of a weaned child and not a child that has just nursed? This is where the beauty of this psalm lies.

The psalmist likens the peace in his soul to that of a weaned child with his mother. When a child is weaned and able to calmly rest in the bosom of his mother, we have a picture of calm and quiet that transcends any earthly contentment. The bond between the child and the mother surpasses that of the physical and emotional satisfaction of nursing. The child's desire is the mother, not what she can offer him. His peace comes from being with the mother.

There are two kinds of peace from closeness with God. One comes from being with God and drawing upon His providence, or having one's desires satisfied. Another kind comes from simply being with God. In our worship, are we like that of a nursing baby or that of a baby weaned? Do we draw close to God because we need to draw from Him that which satisfies our desires, or do we draw close to God because all that we want is Him and Him alone?

Our souls can be still knowing that God is in charge and that He will not withhold anything good from us as long as He wills. But, a greater peace awaits us, the peace of not being in want of anything else, for God alone satisfies.

(from: milis Metamorphe)
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enjoyments

Enjoyment & Blessings
… Di depan cermin, saudara merasa kecewa pada satu tahi lalat yang posisinya tidak bagus di wajah saudara. Akhirnya, saudara kehilangan sukacita dan merasa tidak cantik diri...
Sayang sekali, bukan? Coba saudara perhatikan.. Berapa banyak kita bisa dibawa kepada pencobaan ketika kita berada dalam kehidupan yang tidak fokus pada berapa banyak berkat yang sudah Tuhan kasih; tetapi malah fokus ke satu hal kecil.. Dan karena itu akhirnya kita menghancurkan semua yang ada.

Kembali kepada apa yang Tuhan sudah katakan, “everything you can enjoy and take as a blessing from God”. Itu yang Paulus angkat di dalam 2 Tim.4:4, bagaimana Paulus merestorasi konsep PL sebelum jatuh ke dalam dosa, khususnya berkaitan dengan enjoyment terhadap apa saja yang Tuhan ciptakan. Semua ‘enjoyment di dalam creation’ *keren euyyy!!* dipulihkan kembali setelah kebangkitan Yesus Kristus menghancurkan dosa dan membalikkan kita kembali kepada keadaan sebelum manusia jatuh ke dalam dosa. “Karena semua yang diciptakan Allah itu baik dan satu-pun tidak ada yang haram jika diterima dengan ucapan syukur, sebab semuanya itu dikuduskan oleh firman Allah dan oleh doa.”


Enjoyment & Obedience
Allah menciptakan Adam dan Hawa, lalu membawa mereka ke dalam Taman Eden untuk bisa menikmati syukur, enjoyment, dan sukacita bersama Tuhan. Semua buah boleh dimakan, karena semua itu baik adanya. Lalu, kenapa buah yang satu itu tidak boleh dimakan?
Karena itu merupakan bagian dari bagaimana engkau menikmati semua di dalam ketaatan kepada Tuhan !


Enjoyment & Compability Freedom
Ques:
Kereta api berjalan di atas rel, itu sebenarnya bebas atau terbatas?

Ans:
Mari kita melihat perbedaan konsep kebebasan dari Libertanian dengan konsep yang diajarkan oleh Reformed Theology, bahwa kebebasan yang kita terima adalah kebebasan yang punya compatibility. Kebebasan kompatibilitas adalah kebebasan yang bukan saja saya bebas, tetapi saya bebas seturut dengan kompatibilitas, dengan kemampuan dan keinginan yang compatible dengan kebebasan kita. Itu namanya bebas. Sebab kalau saudara bebas tetapi tidak compatibile dengan kemampuan, itu bukan bebas.
Film Kungfu Panda memberi contoh bagus mengenai hal ini.
The Master bilang kepada Po, “You are free to eat this dumpling.”
Tetapi waktu Po mau ambil, gurunya meghalangi.
Po bilang, “You said I’m free to eat.”
The Master menjawab, “Yes you are! But do you have abilities to get it?”


(original text by Rev. Effendi Susanto, “Cara Setan Memperdaya Manusia”
taken from : www.griisydney.org)

*and edited by me.. of course.. :p *

a blessed chance

huah..
i knew it..
i wont regret for not absent last sunday..
even with the bit-byte-baud things wandering all around my head..
plus another uneasiness of this-so-called life..
i was (and now am) sure there are things still worth to do..
and one of them..
is to be in His home..
and im blessed of still having that chance..

no worries

Matthew 6:31-34
‘…therefore do not worry, saying, “what shall we eat?” or “what shall we drink?” or “what shall we wear?” for after all these things the gentiles seek. for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. sufficient for the day its own trouble…’

we rarely if ever worry about the precise present moment. our worries are so often concentrated on the as yet unknown future. at such times, we openly or secretly hope for some sort of advance revelation of the future. a sort of ‘divine equivalent’ (hihi.. nice jargon) to those yearly planners that we use to plot out our activities for the year. we want to know in january, for example, what is going to happen in april and how we are going to be able to handle what will happen. or even what is going to happen tomorrow and what we will do about it. our wish is for some divine illumination to make things clear.

Jesus in this passage reminds us that the key to not worrying is to focus on living for Him in the present rather than wondering about the future. honour Him today and you can be assured He will honour you tomorrow. it is not as if we give no thought for the future: those year planners are virtually a necessity. planning ahead is part of responsible living. it is the worrying ourselves about the future, that is the problem!!! the preoccupation with future possibilities that robs us of present opportunities and delights. by all means, plan and pray for the future, but live fully in the present, alive to all that God is doing.
(i know who hold the future)

God tends to give just enough light for what we need. He doesn't switch on the floodlights and so sweep all shadows and uncertainty away. He gives light enough for us to enjoy Him and others in the present. He gives light enough for us to take the next necessary step, enough light for us to live boldly and creatively, but not so much as to imagine we can manage life by our own wit and wisdom. our grandiose five year plans and ambitious programmes are not evil, but are always conditional, always subject to his direction. we walk humbly in the light we have, and are careful not to equate all our own fond floodlit dreams of the future with divine illumination.
("..My grace is sufficient for you.." - 2 Cor 12:9)

we worry about the future when we imagine it is ours to manage or control. we worry because we do not have the "light" to do so. be thankful for the light we have, trusting it is sufficient, trusting that more will be provided as God deems necessary. this is what we understand as walking by faith and not by sight.
(i know whom i have believed)

in one of his New Year messages, King George VI used this famous quote, "I said to the man at the gate of the year, 'give me a light'. he replied, 'put your hand in the hand of God; it will be better than a light and safer than a known way.'"

(by David Reay)

i know whom i have believed

ku tak mengerti anugrah Tuhan, yang diperbuatNya bagiku
tak layak ku-trima kasih Kristus, tebusku jadi milikNya

namun ini yang kupercaya, bahwa Dia dapat memelihara
apa yang t’lah kuserahkan, waktu aku percaya

do you believe that 4-lines sentences could speak for your thoughts ?
well.. i do !!

vanity of vanities, all is vanity

"..the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot.."
Genesis 8:9
(by CH Spurgeon)

reader, can you find rest apart from the ark, Christ Jesus? then be assured that your religion is vain. are you satisfied with anything short of a conscious knowledge of your union and interest in Christ? then woe unto you. if you profess to be a Christian, yet find full satisfaction in worldly pleasures and pursuits, your profession is false. if your soul can stretch herself at rest, and find the bed long enough, and the cover let broad enough to cover her in the chambers of sin, then you are a hypocrite, and far enough from any right thoughts of Christ or perception of His preciousness.

but if, on the other hand, you feel that if you could indulge in sin without punishment, yet it would be a punishment of itself; and that if you could have the whole world, and abide in it for ever, it would be quite enough misery not to be parted from it; for your God--your God--is what your soul craves after; then be of good courage, thou art a child of God.

with all thy sins and imperfections, take this tothy comfort: if thy soul has no rest in sin, thou are not as the sinner is! if thou art still crying after and craving after something better, Christ has not forgotten thee, for thou hast not quite forgotten Him. the believer cannot do without his Lord; words are inadequate to express his thoughts of Him. we cannot live on the sands of the wilderness, we want the manna which drops from on high; our skin bottles of creature confidence cannot yield us a drop of moisture, but we drink of the rock which follows us, and that rock is Christ.

when you feed on Him your soul can sing, "He hath satisfied my mouth with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's,"
but if you have Him not, your bursting wine vat and well-filled barncan give you no sort of satisfaction: rather lament over them in the words of wisdom, "vanity of vanities, all is vanity!"

distrust

In getting a dog out of a trap, in extracting a thorn from a child's finger, in teaching a boy to swim or rescuing one who can't, in getting a frightened beginner over a nasty place on a mountain, the one fatal obstacle may be their distrust.

We are asking them to trust us in the teeth of their senses, their imagination, and their intelligence. We are asking them to believe that what is painful will relieve their pain and that what looks dangerous is their only safety. We ask them to accept apparent impossibilities: that moving the paw farther back into the trap is the way to get out ; that hurting the finger very much more will stop the finger hurting ; that water which is obviously permeable will resist and support the body ; that holding onto the only support within reach is not the way to avoid sinking ; that to go higher and onto a more exposed ledge is the way not to fall.

To support all these incredibilia, we can rely only on the other party's confidence in us, a confidence certainly not based on demonstration; admittedly shot through with emotion, and perhaps - if we are strangers - resting on nothing, but such assurance as the look of our face and the tone of our voice can supply (or even, for the dog, on our smell).

Sometimes, because of their unbelief, we can do no mighty works. But if we succeed, we do so because they have maintained their faith in us against apparently contrary evidence. No one blames us for demanding such faith. No one blames them for giving it. No one says afterwards what an unintelligent dog or child or boy that must have been to trust us...

Now to accept the Christian propositions is ipso facto to believe that we are to God, always, as that dog or child or bather or mountain climber was to us, only very much more so. (C.S. Lewis)

==taken from "Reaching for the Invisible God", by Philip Yancey==