Unity with the Father and the Son.
I am touched by todays reading in John 17:20-23. Jesus prays that we may be one and that we may be one also in Him.

That all of them may be one,
Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:21

That there may exist a unity with the Triune God.

When we are securely rooted in personal intimacy with the Source of Life, it will be possible to be flexible without being relativistic,
convinced without being rigid;
willing to comfront without being offensive,
gentle without being soft and
true witness without being manipulative.
- Henri Nouwen

I realize that in trying to resolve disagreements or conflicts, my words are often laced with hidden objectives or manipulative which is only an indication of the flesh in me. I am especially aware of this when it comes to a conflict with someone close to me. I have learn to bite my tongue but still the words are there, internally. I want to know the Source of Life and be securely rooted in His love so that I will speak with grace and my life reflective of my Lord who is ever so merciful and just!

Last week was too hectic for comfort. World Cup and late nights did not help and it certainly prevented me from having any meditations leave alone inspirations. However, the message at church by Rev Stuart Rae 2 weeks ago is etched in my heart for awhile now. My spirit has been meditating on it.
Exodus 4: 2 "whats in your hand?"
- God used what is most familiar to Moses; his staff
- Our giftings must be given to the Lord...and willing to "throw it to the ground"
- Our giftings if not yielded to God could become a deadly serpent.

2 Kings 4: 2 "What is in your house?"
the widows oil

Although I am cautious about such use of scripture to draw parallels, these 2 questions have been ringing in my ears. The Lord has certainly bless me and Connie with much. We have not been as faithful as we have been in the past of offering it back to the Lord for His use. I pray the Lord will make clear the answers to these 2 questions....

I have been struggling with the question, "what next Lord?" Where would you want me best to serve in the Kingdom? I began to experience a sense of restlesness and questioning as to the significance and worth of all that I had done in the past. The Lord gently reminded me over several ocassions of the pride and desire for self worth in all that I do for Him. How easily it is to be self centered. Afterall we were brought up to be independent and to take care first of "me".

Reading again, this great book "Seeing and savouring Jesus Christ" (John Piper) - At last today I found a bookshop that carried many titles from Piper, it must be a good bookshop then...(Canaanland in Centerpoint PJ)

...We are all starved for the glory of God, not self. No one goes to the Grand Canyon to increase self esteem. Why do we go? Because there is greater healing for the soul in beholding splendour than there is in beholding self. Indeed what could be more ludicrous in a vast and glorious universe like this than a human being, on the speck called earth, standing in front of a mirror trying to find significance in his own self image? It is a great sadness that this is the gospel of the modern world.

The glorious gospel of Jesus Christ is for us, but definitely not about us. A simple example :
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever belives in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16
If the focus is on me : God loves me so much He sent Jesus to die for me. I am special and He loves me. (nothing wrong with that but should it stop there?)
If the focus is on God : A holy and awesome God, out of His grace and mercy gave His son up for me, a rebellious and sinful man.
The gospel is about the Glory of Christ..........

I wish to take this time of "limbo" to delight in Him, to enjoy Him and to behold His Glory and splendor...........

I have been singing this song throughout the day and it gives me such hope that Christ is the solid rock on which I am saved. He is a sure foundation in an ever changing, chaotic world we live in. I am going thorugh a period of "what next Lord...". and doing something fulfilling for His Kingdom. In all of this....there is comfort that NOTHING can seperate us from the Love of Christ....the best part is NOT even ME. He has chosen me and saved me by Grace through faith in the Lord Jesus..."He is mine and I am His". What peace, what joy in this fact alone!

(The first verse again)

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I was inspired by this song "In Christ Alone..." on our Sunday worship. It wraps up all and expresses completely my heart. My prayer is that he would lead me to the Springs of Living Water and help me to delight completely in Him Alone....

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

‘Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand