Be Led by the Holy Spirit December 27, 2021 bizadmin Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. Acts 16:6–7 BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT The more areas of your life you involve the Lord in, the more you can experience His protection. You can even ask the Lord to guide you in something as seemingly natural as your travel itinerary. In fact, read the passage above. The apostle Paul allowed the Holy Spirit to lead them at every step. We see from those scriptures that closed doors are not necessarily negative and could be signs of God’s protection over our lives. The challenge for some of us is that we are so adept at planning and scheduling our busy lives that we often don’t make room for the Lord to intervene and guide us to be at the right place at the right time. Let’s not trust our intelligence and planning, but in His wisdom, leading, and counsel. There is a proverb that says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9). Even as we plan, I pray that we will never forget to commit all our ways to the Lord and allow Him to direct our steps. Being led by the Spirit does not have to be something complicated. When you walk close to the Lord and have a close relationship with Him, He can guide you in supernaturally natural ways. Some years ago, a couple in our church were vacationing at a beach resort on Penang Island in Malaysia when the wife felt like eating something in another location on the mainland. Because of that “prompting” in her belly, they headed off earlier than originally planned. While they were loading their vehicle, a man kept hurrying them and asking them to move off as they were blocking the hotel driveway, and that had irritated them at that time. In any case, just fifteen minutes after they had crossed from the island to the mainland, they heard the news that an earthquake in the Indian Ocean had triggered a killer tsunami that crashed onto the beachfront they were at, killing more than fifty people. Had they left just a little later, they could have been among the casualties of the tragedy that day. Looking back, the couple believes that the man at the hotel might even have been an angel sent by the Lord to get them out of harm’s way quickly. I don’t know about you, but I want the Lord to direct all my steps! Call upon Him today, and He will answer you.
Be Rooted in His Love December 25, 2021 bizadmin That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. Ephesians 3:17–19 BE ROOTED IN HIS LOVE My friend, if you have received a negative medical report, it is natural for you to be fearful. It is normal to feel doubt, anger, sadness, worry, and condemnation, and even “struggle with your Christian beliefs.” The Lord does not expect you never to be shaken. But amid your tumult of emotions, keep your eyes on Jesus and keep on declaring His finished work over your situation. Maybe right now, you are angry with God for allowing disease to take root in the body of a loved one. Perhaps you feel helpless because it feels like you are standing on the sidelines, and there is nothing you can do to alleviate the suffering. Or maybe you have been confined to a hospital bed, and you are terrified. Every time you are wheeled out for more scans, you don’t know what the doctors will find, and you are crying out, “God, why is this happening to me? Where are You?” When you are staring at the symptoms in your body or the body of your loved one, when it seems as though you have prayed with all your heart and still the sickness remains, I know it is hard to believe God can heal. Or maybe you think He can heal, but you doubt He wants to. Perhaps you have given up hope because you think that if He wanted to heal you or your loved one, He would have done it already. If that is how you feel right now, may I encourage you to feed on His love for you? The doubts in your mind might be screaming so loudly it’s hard for you to even believe in Him anymore. But I pray that you will be able to catch a fresh glimpse of the width and length and depth and height of your Savior’s love for you (Eph. 3:18–19). I pray that even when your mind cannot understand it, your heart will be rooted and established in His love for you. When you are so set in His love, you will see Him do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that you ask or think (Eph. 3:20). Do not allow the enemy to shake your faith. Do not allow the enemy to sell you any more lies. He is a defeated foe, and whatever evil he meant against you, God will turn it around for your good and His glory. The Word of God declares that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isa. 54:17). Even if the enemy has formed some weapon of disease against you, rest assured that it has no power to prevail against you.
Jesus’ Peace Sets You Up for Success December 23, 2021 bizadmin There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 JESUS’ PEACE SETS YOU UP FOR SUCCESS Jesus gives you His shalom to set you up for success in life. You cannot succeed in your marriage, family, and career when you are crippled and paralyzed with fear. Today, as you are reading this, I believe with all my heart that Jesus has already begun a work in your heart to liberate you from all your fears, whatever they may be. They may be the fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of people’s opinions of you, or even the fear that God is not with you. All the fears that you are experiencing in your life today began with an untruth, a lie that you have somehow believed. Perhaps you have thought that God is angry and displeased with you and that His presence is far from you. That’s why the Bible says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” This scripture tells us that when you begin to have a revelation that God loves you perfectly (not because of what you have accomplished, but because of what Jesus has accomplished for you), that revelation of the unmerited favor of Jesus will cast out every fear, every lie, every anxiety, every doubt, and every worry that God is against you. The more you have a revelation of Jesus and how He has made you perfect, the more you will free yourself to receive His complete shalom and succeed in life! My friend, know that you have absolute peace with God as a believer in Jesus Christ. The new covenant of grace is also known as the covenant of peace. Today, you stand upon the righteousness of Jesus and not your own. Today, because of Jesus, God says this to you: “I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke [condemn] you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed” (Isa. 54:9-10). God is on your side. Jesus’ shalom is on your side to make you succeed in life. All of heaven’s resources are on your side. Even if you are caught amid a storm right now, think of a picture of eagle chicks sleeping soundly despite the storm, nestled under the wings of their mother, their protector, and provider. And may the shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7). Go in this peace, my friend, and rest upon His shalom!
Go to the Source December 20, 2021 bizadmin The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy . . . He has not dealt with us according to our sins nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8, 10–12 GO TO THE SOURCE Psalm 103 is one of my favorite psalms of David, a beautiful psalm that describes who and what God really is—a gracious and merciful Savior. Believing right begins with what you believe about God and must be based on the solid foundation of God’s Word. To know the truth about who and what God is, we can’t go by feelings, circumstances, human conjectures, or what we may have heard someone say about God. We have to go to the source! If you heard a rumor that someone you knew was saying horrible and negative things about you, don’t believe it immediately. Go to the source first. Ask this person if this is what he or she said or if this is what he or she meant. Many people allow precious friendships and relationships to become fractured because they believe the rumors. They become bitter, angry, and disappointed without ever verifying with the person if he or she had said those nasty things. In the same way, in the world we live in, there are all kinds of wrong beliefs perpetuated about God: “God is angry at you.” “He is disappointed with you.” “God is allowing all these negative things to happen to you because He’s punishing you for your past sins.” Please do NOT believe all this baseless gossip about God! Such impressions of God have damaged many people’s relationships with Him, and they live with a distorted perspective of who God is. Instead of receiving His love, grace, and forgiveness, they become afraid, distant, and fearful of Him. Instead of allowing Jesus to come into their situations, they live their lives running away, avoiding, and hiding from Him. Come on, let’s honor God and go to the source. Look again at what the Bible says about Him in today’s scripture reading: He is “slow to anger, and abounding in mercy . . . as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” This is our God! This is why you can always run to Him and believe that you can freely receive His help!
American Underdog – 2 Free Ticket Codes Giveaway to the USA Citizens December 13, 2021 bizadmin American Underdog tells the true story of NFL MVP Kurt Warner and his wife, Brenda, as they persevere through challenges and demonstrate that anything is possible when you have faith, family, and determination. • Make family time this Christmas extra special by seeing American Underdog, in theaters everywhere on Christmas Day! • It’s the true story that makes for the perfect Hollywood story! Experience American Underdog, in theaters Christmas Day, with special Early Advanced screenings Dec. 17-18. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DTan (@philin135) Synopsis: American Underdog tells the truly inspirational story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi from Shazam), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. For the uninitiated, a quarterback directs and leads an offensive back in football who usually lines up behind the center, calls the signals, and directs the team’s offensive play. The film centers on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player – but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is. American Underdog is an uplifting story that demonstrates that anything is possible with faith, family, and determination. Buy tickets now for American Underdog, in theaters everywhere on Christmas Day! Buy Links • Main Website: https://americanunderdog.movie/ • Get Tickets Here: http://tickets.americanunderdog.movie/ Two free Fandango ticket codes to see American Underdog in theaters (Please note: This giveaway is limited to US winners only. Disclosure: Many thanks to Kingdom Story Company for providing a product sample for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. #AmericanUnderdogMIN #AmericanUnderdog #MomentumInfluencerNetwork
25 Days of Christmas December 8, 2021 bizadmin Create special memories with your family by reading through Arlene Pellicane’s “25 Days of Christmas” ebook for FREE this holiday season! The “25 Days of Christmas” ebook is filled with ten devotionals, ten family activities, and five ways to serve this Christmas season! Make sure Christ is the center of the season for your family. Arlene’s “25 Days of Christmas” is more than just a daily devotional or advent calendar. It is a practical way for busy families to find meaningful opportunities to connect and celebrate Jesus. Download the “25 Days of Christmas” ebook today, and check out The Happy Home Podcast/AccessMore podcast network! Buy Links Disclosure: Thanks to AccessMore for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. #25DaysMIN #25DaysofChristmas #MomentumInfluencerNetwork
The Ground Is Ready for Your Healing December 5, 2021 bizadmin “The plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows long.” Psalm 129:3 THE GROUND IS READY FOR YOUR HEALING In verse above, we see a powerful and graphic agricultural imagery used to help us understand the violent suffering our Lord Jesus endured for our healing. Psalm 129 is messianic, and this is a picture of the scourging Christ went through. I was reading this verse one day, and I felt the Lord saying to me, “Meditate on why I used words that are associated with farming.” That made me wonder, Why did the Lord say, “They plowed My back” rather than beat, scourged, or hit? Plowers drag a sharp plow that digs into the soil to break up and make deep furrows in preparation for seeds to be sown, as pictured on the following page. I believe that was what happened to our Lord Jesus’ back. When The Roman soldiers scourged him, it was as if His whole back had been plowed. Furrows made in the ground by a plow allow for seeds and irrigation. In Psalm 129, the furrows speak of the scourging Jesus received for our healing. Victims of Roman flagellation were scourged using a whip made up of several long leather thongs embedded with shards of broken bone, metal, and hooks. With each stroke, the thongs would wrap around the victim’s body, and the shards would lodge in his flesh. When it was jerked away, the flesh of the victim would be ripped off and left in shreds, making deep, long furrows across his back. By the time our Lord’s tormentors were done, I believe there wasn’t a single sliver of skin left on His back. Psalm 22, a messianic psalm, tells us that even His bones were exposed and stared back at Him (Ps. 22:17). It was not by coincidence the language of sowing was used to describe our Lord Jesus’ horrific scourging. Furrows are made so seeds can be sown. When you feel like you have no faith to believe in healing, our Lord Jesus says you just need faith as small as a mustard seed (Luke 17:6). It is not about how strong your faith is—just sow your little seeds of faith into the good ground of our Lord. The more you see what He has done for you, the more your faith will grow, and the more you will experience a harvest of healing. When His back was lashed into furrows, He was allowing the seed for your specific healing to be sown, whether it is high blood pressure, a tumor, or your child’s asthma. Whatever condition you or your loved one might be suffering from, Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice speak of how the price for your healing has been paid in full. It speaks of how you are so loved. Now reach out by faith and receive your healing. And even as you wait for your hundredfold harvest, may you experience His love for you never like before!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2022! December 2, 2021 bizadmin This video was created by yours truly, last year. The decorations taken in Gurney Plaza in December of 2020 are thus, posted here. This year, the Christmas tree embellishments were somehow insipid. Last year was more cheery, attractive, and enticing. I guess, due to Covid-19, the establishment decided to cut down on the Christmas decorations budget. The long red chiffon ribbon surrounding the large green Christmas trees is a sight to behold. Hence, as a newbie blogger/vlogger, I decided to capture this precious moment in a video for posterity. The elegance of the decorations done by professionals was so enticing and lovely that I saw these in a few YouTube thumbnails. I shot the above video in Queensbay Mall, another premier mall in Penang owned by Singapore’s Temasek Capital Land. I enjoyed Christmas shopping locally. At that time, the government imposed the Movement Control Order (MCO) to contain the spread of the covid-19 virus. So, we could no longer travel to Genting Highlands for a mountain retreat to recuperate. Therefore, the time spent in Penang instead was well worth the effort. I hope that you enjoy the two clips here. Below is another greeting during the Reason for the Season. Enjoy. Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast, and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on the Twelfth Night. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many countries, is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians and culturally by many non-Christians, and forms an integral part of the holiday season organized around it. The traditional Christmas narrative, the Nativity of Jesus, delineated in the New Testament, says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem by messianic prophecies.[18] When Joseph and Mary arrived in the city, the inn had no room, and so they were offered a stable where the Christ Child was soon born, with angels proclaiming this news to shepherds who then spread the word. Finally, I wish all my readers and visitors to this blog a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2022! 💥💦💖