Normal state vs Fundamental state

"When we accept the world as it is (by living in the normal state), we deny our ability to see something better, & hence our ability to be something better. we become what we behold. what is not normal, is embracing the fact that another state exists."

-Prof Quinn (Building the Bridge as You Walk On It)

the grinch

Christmas time. O month of December.

It's a very special month for many of us. It's a time whereby we get to spend with family, friends. Sometimes, it's such a great month because it's a time to get gifts. Also, it's the last year of the month, and the new year is coming. Which means, we get to start fresh, we get to move on, and leave all that's bad behind.

Why do we slog so hard throughout the year, only to hope that's it'll soon be over? For some, we are even to beaten to the point that we JUST want the year to be over. Some of us aren't even looking forward to the new year. So lost. So weathered down. Weighed by tonnes of hurt, anger, disappointment, sadness.

John 10:10 says
The thief comes ONLY to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, have it to the full. TNIV

The thief, the grinch, the enemy comes ONLY to steal, kill and destroy. Steal the important bits that's holding up your life, killing whatever dreams, hopes, faith, love that one has, and finally destroying the person that can do great things.

It's the end of the year, but not the end of the world or your life. Reflect, don't regret, but use what you see as a building block.

Christ came so we could have life to the fullest. Don't let the grinch come to steal whatever God's placed under your christmas tree this year. Finish strong!

Matthew 12:29
...how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man?

the march

I think, everyone's been pretty busy. Work must be pilling up to your noses at this point.

It is during this time, we often forget what's most important, because we look at everything else, and worry about entirely all things different from what's before us.

After the Israelites defeated the Amalekites, Moses built an altar for God and called it the Lord is my Banner. (Exodus 17:15)

You know, as I thought about it, really, a banner is very significant in A LOT of things. In a march during war especially, as it boosts troop morale. Sir William Wallace had his own banner of Scotland (or however the flag was then) as they marched into battle.

Guess what?

We have the Lord our God as OUR BANNER!

Isn't that in itself a guaranteed success?

Remember guys/gals, look at what's just before you, but more importantly, remember who your banner is! Let it fly high as you march into whatever battle you are facing!

A medical student's post

Recently, I saw a patient who had a discharging abscess, very messy. The SHO who saw him after me asked for my tourniquet to use in taking bloods. Needless to say, I wasn't too keen, but gave it up anyway, knowing that that was the end of my tourniquet as a useful device.

An Accident and Emergency rotation without a tourniquet....not the best situation ever. And since I haven't discovered lunchtime meeting areas yet, I haven't been able to rely on that benefactor of medical students to provide me a new one: the drug reps.

After chucking it in the bin, I found I had to keep asking the nurses around for their tourniquets to use in taking bloods, putting in cannulas etc. Otherwise, I'd just be hanging around (the Royal Liverpool Hospital sees 200 plus patients everyday in A&E, so it gets pretty busy).

I was fortunate to have a yearmate who had an extra one and loaned it me for a few days. It was nice having my own for a while; I even lent it to a doctor who seemed to be in the same boat as me earlier.

***

I think a touniquet is just one of those things that I don't really think about until its not there. Its just one of those things.

I find that I can misplace God pretty easily and not miss Him. Until I come to a situation when I need Him, that is. And its then that I ask for help, that I repent, that I cry out to Him, etc etc. And He answers, always.

Going to meetings, camps, boosting my faith by meeting others and living by their testimonies etc is fine, for a while, but ultimately I need to pursue this relationship by myself.

With purpose, and not by convenience.

Not borrowing off others, but seeking my own (insert)

Actively seeking, not trusting to circumstance.

God didn't leave me to chance, on His part.

***

I still do really need a tourniquet. In Malaysia I'd have used gloves, but I'm still not that confident putting cannulas in for me to try that.

Do you know...

Do you know, the flock of sheep is safer as a group then when one is astray? For the wolf is always in on the prowl, looking for one's that lost, to consume and ravage.

As I shared with the people of IMU yesterday about the post camp fire in their hearts, and how to continue to stay on fire. I told them, you have to come to church, you have to go for life group, but more importantly, it's the peers that help each other move along together.

It's the same basis as the verse below our 'ouch!' title.

In Philippians 2:1-4 (NLT) also talks about being united in Christ.

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.
Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in other, too, and what they are doing.

Are we going about our own businesses? Or are we watching out for fellow sheep, helping them if they need help, walking with them if they are alone? Or are we too busy buffing ourselves up that we forget?

Let us then constantly remember each other in all we do, and encourage each other as much as we can.

The mercies of God

For most of the Old Testament, if asked to name one really bad king, King Ahab springs to mind. For a king who tolerated idol-worship, and persecuted the prophets, he was portrayed as the epitome of Israel turning away from God.

In 1 Kings 20, though, another side of Ahab appears. Ben-Hadad, king of Aram along with 32 other kings threatened Israel, and Ahab was bold enough to answer to his threats, "Tell him: 'One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.' " (v11) Ahab managed to defeat Ben-Hadad with God's help, and later, he inquired if Ben-Hadad was still alive.

"The king answered, 'Is he still alive? He is my brother.' " (v32)

This seemed like magnificent behaviour on King Ahab's part. One might almost say his bloodthirsty reputation was not justified at this point. However, merely 10 verses later, a prophet had this to say to Ahab.

"He said to the king, 'This is what the Lord says: 'You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.' " (v42)

***

Put simply, there are some things the Lord wants to put to death. In verse 42, the word 'die' in Hebrew apparently is a term referring to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.

Seemingly quite against God's nature, and unsurprisingly, its hard for me to put certain things away for good. But the consequences of this false mercy don't look good. Not only is my own life forfeit, but the lives of those around me, those that I'm responsible for, will be put at risk.

the way

This season, is definitely a refreshing change for me. I must say, for once, I'm being a little more obedient with what God is asking me to do. He he. Unfortunately, with wanting to be purposeful, so many things will happen, and just so many things would try to drag one down.

Just the past Sunday as Ps Tim (ECF) had gathered the leaders to come together to put our faith pledge in our new church building (yes I said NEW!), he shared this verse, which I felt best described my season this time around also.

In Isaiah 30:
19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

What I really feel God is saying to me in this season is that, despite the trials and tribulations that I will face, God will reveal the path in which I am to walk in. I believe with each and everyone of us, who sometimes give up hope as we often don't know where we are headed, sit down, and ask God. For He has promised that despite the dishing out of the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, our eyes will be able to see our teachers and our ears will be able to hear the voice that guides us.

So, if you are discouraged this season, remember this verse, for God always fulfills His promises.