GPS: God's Positioning System

GPS. I am sure almost if not everyone of us has ever used a GPS before in our lives. And do you realise how it works is almost the same and applicable to how God's guidance in our lives work?

How does a GPS work? You key in your preferred destination, and you diligently obey wherever it takes you to, even though it may seem like a never-ending series of unknown streets and small alleys that you wouldn't have imagined having to drive pass by, (and I speak from experience here, driving in Indonesia) but after driving pass all those, voila! you are back in the main road and your destination is right in front of you. That is not the only nerve-wracking experience that GPS offers. Do you realise that GPS doesn't communicate with us often? The only times they talk to us are when we have to make a turn. 

I feel that this same idea is applicable to the spiritual GPS that is guiding our lives. God is looking at us from above and He is in control of everything that is happening in our lives. Don't lose heart, if you feel as though you are fighting alone and are not seeing anything miraculous happening, just remember that His help is never too late, nor too early. Just like when a GPS prompts you to make a turn just in time, God too will do the same, in wonderful ways you had not imagined before. And when our Heavenly GPS prompts us to make a shift in our lives, you will know in your heart that it is Him, you don't need to second-guess anymore. 

When we don't see His hands, trust His heart 

Hebrews 13:5 ...For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 

Be blessed. 

Folded Napkin

I came across this post a couple of weeks ago and I thought it is something good to share.

Do you know anything about the following Hebrew tradition?

John 20:7 tells us that the napkin that was placed over the face of Jesus was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Is that significant? Absolutely!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. 

The folded napkin had to do with the master and servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished. If the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m done.”

But if the master got up from the table, folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, “I’m not finished yet.” The folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!”

He (the master, Jesus) is coming back! Hallelujah!

While I know there will be people opposing this perspective, saying the original translation may not translate those critical words/phrases into "napkin" or "having been folded", and so on, I still find this such a sweet story to remind us of His definite second coming. 

"He is not here, for He is rise, just as He said..." Matthew 28:6

Be blessed always. 

Be Like Flower

We are like flower seeds in the process of blossoming into a flower

Process #1: 

(You can also read my previous post titled "Bloom where you are planted" for more of this part")

Soil: The seeds are planted in soil which is smelly, ugly, unpleasant to the eyes.

Where we are right now, our current circumstances and situations are like our soil. Sure we may not like where we are right now, it is full of struggles and discomfort.

Seed: Like how the seeds don't choose to be bought, we don't choose to be where we are. We didn't choose where and into what kind of family/circumstances to be born into. But just as how a gardener knows where to plant what type of seeds, our Gardener knows where to put us in too.

We are not in the wrong soil, we are not in the wrong situation. How bad or hard it is right now, it is necessary for our growth. God sees the present from the future, He sees the flower we will bloom into and He knows what type of soil we need to be planted in right now for that to happen.

In the process of transition, from being a seed to blooming into a flower, we will face hardships, we won't be able to see the end product now, but it is important for us not to give up halfway. 

2 Corinthians 4:8

 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

We may find ourselves being confused and worried about our future, but we will never find ourselves in hopelessness, because God is still in control over everything in our lives. Nothing 'occurs' to Him, nothing slips out of His plans. 

Process #2:
Flower: When the time comes, when the flower has blossomed, they can get separated from the soil, and they will. And the often be used to beautify others, be it to be wedding bouquets, table centerpieces or party decorations. 

Us, when the time comes, our hardships will come to past and during then, we would have been fully grown into someone God has created us to be. And the beauty doesn't just stop there, like how flowers beautify others, we too will beautify others by being God's channels of blessing to them.

What we are going through right now if you think it is quite a pretty messed up situation, we are not in it because God is punishing us but we are in it so that we can grow through it and be His channel of blessings to someone who may be going through similar situations in the future. Our mess, He will turn into a message. Our tests into testimony. 

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your request to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Be be-you-tifully blessed.