tgif

Hearing God
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman
Tuesday, June 30 2009

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me"(John 10:27).
I have discovered a pattern in the way God speaks to me when I'm faced with major decisions. I will spend a great deal of time seeking direction from Him and asking Him to speak to me regarding a decision. I spend time in prayer and Bible study. Many times I have suddenly had a rush over me with an overwhelming feeling of His presence. The feeling is usually so intense I will begin to cry, sometimes uncontrollably. (Thank God this doesn't happen too often, because it is rather embarrassing in a public setting.)
I recall one time when I was praying about whether I should make a commitment to work for a ministry that would involve at least a one-year commitment. It seemed like the right thing, but I was still awaiting confirmation. One morning during my quiet time, the situation I just described came over me. Angie walked into the room to find me crying. (She always laughs when this happens and says there's nothing like seeing a grown man cry.) I told her God was telling me to enter into a working relationship with this ministry. It was a great release in my spirit and confirmation of what I was to do. Two years later, I was able to look back and see that God had led that decision which resulted in much fruit.
One night as the famous Bible teacher F. B. Meyer stood on the deck of a ship approaching land, he wondered how the crew knew when and how to safely steer to the dock. It was a stormy night, and visibility was low. Meyer, standing on the bridge and peering through the window, asked "Captain, how do you know when to turn this ship into that narrow harbor?"
"That's an art," replied the captain. "Do you see those three red lights on the shore? When they're all in a straight line I go right in!"
Later Meyer said: "When we want to know God's will, there are three things which always occur: the inward impulse, the Word of God, and the trend of circumstances. Never act until these three things agree."

Seekers of God
By Os Hillman, June 30, 2009
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God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. - Psalm 53:2

Are you a man or woman who is a seeker of God? The Lord delights in seeing those children of His who truly understand the meaning of life and why there is only one thing worth seeking God Himself.

I can always tell when I have not been seeking God. The cares of this life, the urgent over the important, and the petty irritations-these are the symptoms of a life that has not been in the presence of God. Do we understand, really understand? That is the question God raises to each of us today. If we understand, then why do we spend day after day toiling and fretting over what doesn't matter? Can we set proper boundaries in our lives that don't allow our time with Him to be continually stolen away? It is a challenge in a world that screams "activity, activity!"

Do you have a consistent time of seeking Him in your life? Are you committed to developing that intimacy with your Lord that He so desires? If not, ask Him today to help you. This is the longing of His heart. Ask Him to make it the longing of your heart. Then you will demonstrate to Him that you understand, and you will be a seeker of God.

brokenness

met a lady at the park today, God gave me a picture for her, i had paper and coloring materials with me, so i drew it for her and as i was telling her the nice things God had shown me abt her with the picture, she broke down and thanked God, she poured out her heart, and i realized that she was going through what i had been through before.. i shared my testimony of how and God had delivered me from that deep dark valley of tears and given me such joy.. He is our deliverer and healer and protector and provider. i had also wondered if i could smile again when i was so broken, but nothing is impossible for God. He gave me amazing joy so much sooner than i thought possible. we prayed and hugged and prayed some more, she shared that she's never been to the park before and she rarely ventured out beyond her neighborhood, she was at another end of the park but somehow her feet brought her to the spot we met, she knew it was God..

she didn't know that we were there on a treasure hunt with God, we had actually prayed and asked God to send us His treasures so that we may bless them with the nice things He wanted to tell them, and she was one of the precious treasures that God had led us to today! while i was chatting and praying with her, i invited my friend over to bless her with a song, without even knowing God had just downloaded a new song to my friend especially for her, and the lyrics was just perfect for her! my friend wasn't even within earshot, that is how amazing God is.. He loves each of us in such a perfect way, and always loves us so much more than we can imagine..

thank you Lord, in all our brokenness, we give You glory, honor, praise, and thanks

***
a visiting pastor who didn't know me at all, prophesied during anointing some time ago, that God had allowed my heart to be broken for a reason, and that He wants to be my relationship. God is so awesome, people who know Him closely and hears His voice so clearly, are so amazing and such a blessing, i wanna be like them too Lord, to hear your softest sigh, and be totally obedient to You

been getting this picture of a shell totally broken, and God's great big gentle hand taking the pearl from the broken shell and beholding it in His hands. God is holding me in His hands.. another lady minister who didn't know me had also saw the same picture of God holding me like a pearl in His hand and she doesn't know this picture God gave me.. wow God

***

and came across this extract from TGIF

Pleasing to the Lord
By Os Hillman, June 28, 2009
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"Prepare it with oil on a griddle; bring it well-mixed and present the grain offering broken in pieces as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. - Leviticus 6:21

There is a requirement to be blessed at a deeper spiritual level by God. Christ requires it of each of His servants. He required it of Paul when He struck him down on the Damascus Road. He required it of Joseph when he was left in the pit and then sold into slavery. He required it of Jacob when he left his homeland penniless and needy. He required it of most every major leader that He used significantly - brokenness.

Brokenness cannot be achieved on your own. It is something God does Himself. We cannot determine that we are going to be broken, but we can refuse to become broken. When God begins this deeper work in our lives, we can kick and scream and refuse the process. We can manipulate and strive to stay on top, but this only delays His work."

***
God pl do whatever needs to be done with me further, so that i will be a blessing, and fulfill all that You have called me to, You know best what is best for me, pl help me to hear You clearly and love and follow You with my all, come what may

banana cupcakes

did baking with my nieces tdy
it was so much fun, just watching them get all excited every step of the way
they peered at the cupcakes through the oven door during baking and got worried when they saw the mixture expanding and spilling out over the cups.. both went "oh no.. oh no.. wat should we do.."

i was frantically praying in my heart for God to help, this was our first time baking.. i knew the cups were too flimsy to support the mixture, but it was too late to do anything about it, and we could only pray..

we pried their little faces off the oven door, and left the cupcakes to bake

when the ringer sounded, we opened the oven door and saw that the cupcakes were nicely browned, smelled good, and looked quite alright, some had expanded and spilled out of the cups, and weren't perfectly round but everyone got really excited after tasting the first.. it was yummy!!

thank You Lord that our first bake out went well! they could have turned out too hard or dry or not so yummy, but You didn't allow that to happen.. they were soft and yummy, not perfectly round like those in the shops, but each one was uniquely shaped and some looked like hearts!

my niece went about promoting the cakes, and all were "sold out" in no time :)

o.. and here's the recipe.. thanks to janice or sharing and giving great advice and ensuring i got all the measurements correct, without me having a measuring cup!

125 g butter (unsalted)
half cup caster sugar
2 eggs
1tspn vanilla essence
1 and half cup mashed bananas* (about 4 medium ones)
1 tspn bicarbonate soda
half cup milk
2 cups self raising flour

*use very ripe bananas, it makes the recipe tastier.. the sugar can then be reduced slightly as ripe bananas are sweeter

1) beat butter & sugar till light & creamy
2) continue beating and add eggs, essence, and mashed bananas
3) dissolve soda in milk
4) fold sifted flour, alternately with milk, into the mixture
5) stir to combine thoroughly
6) spoon mixture into cups (2/3 full to allow for rising)
7) bake for 10 min at 180C

the cupcakes remind me of how each of us is perfect in God's eyes, no matter what we look like, or what others think we should be like. God made us the way we are and He loves us very much just as we are, as long as we abide in Him, and rely on Him in all that we do, we'll turn out great for the good of everyone around us

my last day at work

so glad i got to say goodbye to the cleaner aunties who have showered me with such love, auntie goh said God bless me several times when i told her it was my last day at work.. and that she was very happy for me.. and that her idol is mother theresa.. and that money doesn't matter.. so jie put down her work and gave a me a big hug when she heard i was leaving.. so happy to learn that she has started to attend church near her home, everyone one of them is on God's heart..

God bless so jie with good health, heal her surgical wound completely, take away her pain, and give her good eyesight, God bless everyone with love joy peace and salvation, and touch everyone deeply with Your love, and draw everyone into Your heart

thank You Lord

***

a little girl who looked abt 4 years old caught my eye when i was at the counter yesterday, she was alone, and she looked at me like she knew me, and started smiling and waving, i waved back happily, trying to recall where i've met her.. i figured i probably resembled someone she knows

then her mom came with a younger sis and she joined them as they walked toward the lift, but after a while she turned back and walked toward the counter where i was seated, i thought she was going to ask me for directions or for book recommendations.. but she came round to the side of the counter where the swing door was, and waited ofr me to go near to her.. i bent over and smiled and asked her if there was something i could do for her, and she said in a soft sweet voice..

"can i hug you..?"

and she gave me a really good hug! i could feel the love, and i haven't met this little girl before! i asked for her name.. she has a beautiful name, and it fits her perfectly.. jewel.. she is such a jewel! i was reminded of the prophetic jewel painting i'd just given to sulian earlier over lunch.. i couldn't help loving her and telling her nice thoughts God thought towards her.. i asked her how she knew me, and she said she recognize me from the photo.. i figured it must be the princess standee..

we enjoyed the moment so much, we almost forgot abt her mom and sis, i remembered they were headed for the lift.. they were waiting for her and beckoning for her to join them, it's quite unusual.. there was a connection between us even though we've not met before, thank You Lord for sending this jewel along on my last day at work, it made the day special

God bless jewel and her family i pray their hearts and eyes will be transfixed to You even when there are distractions
jewel is such a mighty channel of blessing of God's love! thank You Lord

wow thank You Lord for this lovely moment especially on my last day at work, for bringing me great encouragement and wonderful affirmation of Your plans for me

love You Lord

***

got to share my testimony of how God has called me to Him at a wedding dinner with dance frens.., and how He has placed His love for children in my heart, how i run to church with joy and anticipation and yet can't help weeping during worship when i'm deeply touched by His love.. one of them commented i look very happy indeed and wondered aloud why God hasn't spoken to him or why he hasn't heard from God.. Lord pl speak to him clearly and let him know that it is You who are speaking to Him and it is You who had arranged that moment of testimony sharing.. God bless bj and morn and keep them safe and joyful in their travel and wedding preparations

thank You Lord

***

couldn't stop weeping today during altar call, when pastor prayed in tongues.. it's amazing how we connect spirit to spirit with God.. our mind dun have to fully comprehend it, yet we can be touched so deeply

3

noticed that God's been giving me pictures and words in 3's
received 3 pictures of a windmill from 3 different persons and 3 pictures of a house and He also gave me John 15 three times before i followed Him with my all
and each time the picture and message's the same.. and the set of 3 pictures/words are all given to me within a short time frame (a week)

recently received 3 pictures of God pouring and me holding a jar and receiving His outpouring, all within a week.. from 3 people, i received the first one one night during prayer, another during prophesy by a sister, and the third was painted by a speaker at a conference, who included john 15 (my calling verse!) in her prophetic painting.

He also sent along 3 "treasures" during a treasure hunt last sunday on 14 jun

our cell group was blessed with 3 durians for our picnic yesterday (haha we find this fruit really yummy but it was featured on fear factor as a challenge)

and there's 3 baptism services this weekend

wow.. so many good things come in 3's :)

Father Son Holy spirit is 3 in 1!

some of what i gather from the recent set of pictures

the goodness He pours out onto us is for the people around us, so that everyone will taste of His goodness, and we are not to keep His goodness to ourselves, for His goodness is endless and He is eager to pour so much more than we can ever imagine.
His goodness should flow out of us like a river, and it will be refreshed all the time, for He has infinite supply
He replenishes faster than we can leak them out, and we should pour out as soon as we receive them so that the goodness doesn't clog up and become stagnant

***
attended transformation conference recently and was greatly blessed
deeply touched by the spirit of prophecy.. with testimonies of encounters with Jesus by speaker

random thoughts:
everyone is loved infinitely by God, God sees each of us as His most precious, no matter how we see ourselves, no one person is less valued than another, every life is important to Him, each is given different things to do and each is valued very very very much by Him, no matter what we do, we don’t even have to do anything, and He just loves us.

there are those who are overwhelmed with His love, and can’t help but want to serve Him with their all and He knows our heart, He will fulfill the desires of our heart. all we have to do is desire, and He will give us and equip us to do all that we wanna do for Him out of His infinite love for us all, no matter lost or found

but most of all we are called to love Him, and be loved by Him, and share His endless love for everyone, with everyone endlessly

God rulez

Performing Miracles With Your Staff
By Os Hillman, June 3, 2009
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But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it. - Exodus 4:17

What is the staff God has put into your hand? Is it being a builder? Is it being an office worker? Is it being a doctor? Moses' staff represented his vocation as a shepherd. God had something in mind for his vocation - to perform miracles. And awesome miracles He did! God turned the Nile river into blood with the touch of the staff. He turned the staff into a snake. He parted the Red Sea with it. These are just a few of the miracles God did with that staff.

When we yield our talents and abilities to the Lord, God can perform miracles through them. First, Moses had to yield what He had in his hand to God. Only after this took place could God use that staff. As long as Moses held onto it, God could not and would not perform miracles through it.

Until we come to this place with our heavenly Father, we will fail to see miracles performed in our work. He delights in showing His power through us. When we become an open vessel, we can expect to see things happen.

Have you given your staff to the Lord? Offer it to Him and see what He might want to do through it. Your life will never be the same.