When you lose what you love

source : http://www.thewordfortoday.com.au/

"When they walk through the Valley of Weeping ... They will continue to grow stronger." Psalm 84:6-7 NLT

When you lose what you love, you go through five stages: (1) Denial - 'No, it can't be happening.' (2) Anger - 'God, why are You permitting this?' (3) Bargaining - 'Lord, please make it go away.' (4) Depression - Silence and withdrawal. (5) Acceptance - 'Not my will but Yours be done.' Whether it's the loss of a child, a marriage, a job, your health, etc., when you turn to God, He'll give you the grace to embrace it, grieve it, express it, release it, and go on to become stronger. Sometimes we seek quick relief by releasing it before we've gone through these stages. That's because we fear the process. We've been taught that any show of emotion is a show of weakness, so we stuff it. But we only stuff it into our emotional rubbish bin, then spend all our time and energy sitting on the lid, trying to keep the contents from spilling out. 'You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free' (Jn 8:32). It's knowing and embracing the truth, including its painful aspects, that sets you free. You must be willing to forgive. But until you come to grips with your loss, including any injustice of what was done to you, you are not ready to forgive. When you rush to forgive, you forgive only in part and you're released only in part. Are you running from pain today? Are you trading it in prematurely for some other feeling? That's not God's way. Jesus said, 'You will weep and mourn ... but [eventually] your grief will turn to joy ... and no one will take [it] away' (Jn 16:20-22 NIV).

1 Peter 1:20,21

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

Faith

today is raining in Dallas...

When I took some break after doing my assignment, I took sometime to look at joycemeyer.org  and listened to the sermon today by her.

as Im writing this down, it also strengthens me. maybe I have been living in the same attitude, same faith through out this years. often, I listen about faith and it strengthens me for a while... then as worries and trials come, I start doubting my God and look more in my circumstances (Matthew 12:20,21 NKJV).

but hey! I'm renewed, God has renewed my mind, all of my sin has been forgiven, no more condemnation about my past mistakes.

anyway, back to the main topic is about FAITH. Faith needs to grow, trials after trials we can not have the same act of faith, but our faith must grow too!

What is Faith?

Faith is believes in who God is, not who God was. 

Faith is act like how Jesus acts. 

Faith is believing in right now, eventhough I don't see it, eventhough I don't feel it. God is working now. 

Faith is rejoicing in impossible things, rejoicing in unseen things.

I learn that Faith must be released through our action, through our spoken words. not just believe it, but do it :)

Lord, today I pray that the seed of faith that you have put in me and in your children will grow. I believe in You. thank you Lord, thank you for Your love. Amen

Leaving it all behind

hi!
it has been long time since I never got a chance to write down some of my devotion again :).

as what God has promised me. now I'm in San Francisco, US. it is amazing if I looked back for what God has lead me through all this time. I believe, He has purpose for placing me in here. blessed to be a blessing.

this verse was given by my pastor in Brisbane :
Isaiah 26: 2-4
" Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength."

trust in the Lord... this is what life is all about.
once, I was given an illustration from God when my sister in law was expecting. just like an expecting mother who has received the seed in her womb, she knows that in the due time, in God's perfect time, the seed will be born as a baby. while she is waiting for that time, she keeps nurturing the fetus in her womb. She eats healthy foods, she keeps her body away from caffeine. she nurturing the seed.
the same thing happens when I received the seed of the promise of God. while I'm waiting for His promise in His perfect time, I should and MUST nurtures that seed of promise by a right attitude, by feeding my spirit with His words, by giving thanks to Him for His promise, by worshiping Him, by always nurtures my relationship with Him.

challenge and problem will always come, these are the things that hinder my spirit to keep His promise. but wait! I need the FAITH. a true FAITH in times of trouble. MY LORD is a POSSIBLE GOD. yes He is.

Lord, though now the things are not going my way... so many things that make me confuse and asking " how, why, when?"... but Lord, my hope is not in human...but in You alone.

today, I claim that YOU ARE A POSSIBLE GOD. I will not doubt. let my faith grows more and more in You alone.