Billy Graham - The Early Years

Giving pain for the sake of love

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Prov 15:22). This I need to constantly remember and u can too esp if u have lots of plans coming up, big or small. Although the truth can @ times hurt, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." (Prov 27:6), just got to bear with it alright, so that smooth sailing can occur(hopefully).

Therefore, its good to also as a friend note when a friend is starting to stray off course to remind him or her about the dangers they are getting themselves into. "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20)

If we cant even stand hearing words of rebuke from friends who know us well and really care about our well being, how then can we even say that we can hear God's inner voice speaking to us. "If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." (1 John 4:20)

So sharpen those arrows and get ready to shoot, of course bearing in mind what exactly you are doing and being sensitive about it as well.

- summaried and extracted from "Wasting Time with God"

His outcome

How little or how much planning can go into something, how little or how much effort can go into something, how little or how much time can go into something, in the end, the outcome will be set by God and God alone. His outcome is always the best in his sight even when at times, the mind cannot fully comprehend the results. Thanks nevertheless for making it pleasant for your people on Sunday.

Channel it out to him

Imagine a volcano that remained quiet for years and years and suddenly it explodes out all the lava, steam and ashes. In the same way, our lives can be looked upon in similar aspects to that of a volcano. Why? That happens when many choose to keep all the negative feelings and thoughts inside of them, not even revealing it to close friends or God. And one day, when they can no longer contain all the built up stress over the years, they let it all out in 1 huge blow. The end result is these people suffer break downs and at the same time, those around them suffer as well due to the effects of their explosion (imagine all the hot lava chasing after you and the ashes that damage your health when you breathe them in).

So what does the world do to prevent these from happening if they do know a volcano is on the verge of exploding. Of course the most wise choice is to leave the area till the volcano calms down. But they'll live in constant fear from then on, not knowing when this disaster might happen again. Another method is to blow up the surrounding rocks and try to force the lava to flow into a different direction, out of harm way.

What about us Christians ? What do we do in these sort of situtions ? If you are the volcano, will you be willing to open up to close ones to allow them to help you through tough times. Or will you want to stick it up alone, believeing that your abilities will pull you through ? Sadly, most times, those who go at it alone, end up suffering the most. But does that mean brothers and sisters in Christ are the best options you have in terms of a living presence? Yes, they are concern for you and in trying times, you will finally know who are those who do care about you. (much like the ppl who blow away the rocks to help channel the lava to a different direction) No, in lots of cases, when one really needs the support, many choose to distant themselves away. (Why ? Well, they might be like the residents of the area near the volcano, living in fear of the next explosion that will drag them into things that causes them to lose things that are precious to them)

So are friends really dependable? Not totally. After all, everyone is a sinner, made from the earth and in which we'll return as earth when our time is up. As much as we hope that friends can be there for us in all times, they can't. That's the reality that we must live with. It is in this manner that God is allowed to be in control of our lives. When we no longer look to man but to Him, the Lord will assure us that he will carry us through all things. That unlike human beings, He is the only one who is always with us, in good and bad times.

Jer17:5 states that "This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD." Have we placed too much trust and hope in man that we have diminish God to a smaller role ? This has happen in many situations and God has to let us go through the trials of this life in order for us to place our trust in him and him alone. Remember this well, man will forsake you but God will never leave your side so channel your problems to him and release your burdens for you are not running this race on your own. God is beside you, running with you, if only you pause and sense his sweet presence.

Seeking God

Are we only interested in God only when it is convenient for us such as during church services and bible study groups or will we pursue God no matter what the cost may be, to the tune of rearranging our priorities and lifestyle ?

Finding contentment in God

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength

Phil 4:11-13

Friendship is linked from the top down and back up

The trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit loves one another and is also the same God that we all love. In this way, there already exist a loving relationship within the Trinity and this loving relationship model is spread to us as well. John 14:21, 23 states "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." .... If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him". Through this, Jesus is teaching and commanding us to obey and love him and in the same way, not only will He love us but his Father as well.

Jesus spoke in Matt 22:37-40, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Thus, after the immediate command to love God, it's the command to love those around us, people that we come into contact with.

Friends, who can do without them. One can't really express the meanings behind the feelings you experience when you're in their presence. You can be just yourself, feeling accepted, loved, able to express thoughts without been judged and being offered listening ears. In this way, we experience a foretaste of heaven: encouragement, sympathy, care, laughter, bonding, sensing someone's soul. Pro 17:17 states, "A friend loves at all times"

To help us to gain the emotional and relational skills we need to engage in a closer relationship with God, God offers a school of love through experiences with human friendships. Not only are human friendships a joy to be in, they are also a means to deepen our relationship with God. Our close relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ are essentially very important to Christian living than previously thought.

As i look back to the Saturday where we share about what Mkkadesh means to us, we are also effectively saying that after God, friends in this cell has special meanings to us. We can't deny the huge influence that each one of us have on one another. Of course, been humans also mean one gets the full package as well. Hurts, pains, tears, frustrations, unfulfilled expectations, doubts, rumours, misunderstandings and many more occur from time to time in the cell. Although in almost all cases, we do in unknowingly, we still end up hurting someone. And yes, the writer here has given his fair share of heartaches to everyone out there as well, which I'm sorry about and please continue to forgive me cos i know there might be more to come.

That aside, the joyful knowledge is God's grace, mercy and love allows each one of us to forgive and grow stronger in our friendships with one another. In doing so, like taking part in communion and asking for forgiveness and forgiving others as well, we increase our individual capacity to love one another. God experiences hurts from our actions and yet he has never given up hope in us and love us just the same from the 1st day we were created in our mother womb. How great is that capacity to love? Unmeasurable ! Do you want to even reach near that level to love?

As we grow older and draw deeper in love with God, in the same way, we'll grow deeper in our ability to love one another. This despite when in a friendship, when one party gives to another and gets nothing or even hurts back in return, our faith to continue to love is truly tested. But if each one of us here in Mkkadesh loves God, we'll be able to love one another even greater cos we are indeed obeying his commandments. It's a wonderful experience in knowing that you are loved by him and you can love one another in a greater level because He first love us.

Therefore, whatever happens next yr and the the yrs to come, let's continue to love one another to the best that our capacity allows and pray that our capacity to love will grow exponentially.

HIS or mine ?

Whenever a matter of small or big status comes along, which one is more evident when you make that important decision ?


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Is it time to relook at how we deal with matters that come along ?