Sunday, June 14, 2009

You Hold me Now

The Global Economic Recession that is currently looming on each and every corner of the globe (no pun intended), has now also hit home, where I am.
Already about a year and a half ago the first clouds of the Global financial crisis that we have to face currently, were looming on the horizon.And we (including me) did not do enough to be proactive and place preventative measures in place. (This is quite normal for us human beings, as we tend to think that we are invincible and nothing can touch us and that we as humans tend to forget that history repeats itself over and over again.)

And once again, I must admit that I was foolish in my choices. Thoughts of “I should have…” is currently looming through my brain. I blame myself for not seeing the crucial Truth in what is taught in the Bible, in Genesis, when the Pharaoh had a couple of dreams with symbols of seven good and seven bad years and that the only way to survive it, was to reap from the seven good years and store it up when it is need during the seven lean years. So,yes to bring myself back to reality, I haven’t prepared properly for the coming economic storm, I am feeling the pinch rising living cost and just plainly trying to survive.

This afternoon, whilst driving home, I though to myself, to al of a sudden put a way extra money for a nest egg, in a time period where I am already worried of making it through the month (unfortunately knowing my bank balance remaining for the remaining two or three weeks), is that I can’t do it on my own effort.

I need some form of intervention that is beyond my logic. And I can already see something happening…

Let me explain: For those of you who don’t know me, I get a basic minimum salary, which according to other people standards and my known monthly fixed monthly expenses, just enough to survive (excludes travel and other unseen cost). Also there is a commission part, which is not a set amount and will differ from month to month, depending on technical call outs and other factors that make up my commission.

Thankfully I was able to pay al my normal monthly expenses, thus not having any added debts standing over to next month. But now, I have barely enough to make it through the month, waiting patiently for the commission to be paid in.

At this point in time, I realize that the only thing, or even only Someone I really can go to with all my burdens, al my shortfalls and needs, is God Almighty.

There was a point during the earlier part of tonight, that I just when into my inner room, not just to leave my burdens at His feet, but to praise Him, for where He has brought me so far in this month and even beyond my comprehension.

There is some lyrics from a song called “Blessed be Your Name”(which was written and sung by Matt Redman originally), which speaks to my soul and gives me hope, even though I can not even see where the path is, which I want to share with you:


Blessed be Your Name
In a land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your Name


Blessed be Your Name
When I’m found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your Name

I also further got encouragement, once again from the Bible, from Habakkuk chapter three, from different portions of this chapter, especially the last three verses to place my trust in the Lord. (To really understand the real hope of the last three verses of Habakkuk 3, you must read the whole chapter 3.)

Here some of the verses that stood out for me (and what it meant to me):

“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord” (verse 2A).

What more can I say, words from my mouth will not be able to do justice to tell of the fullness of God’s character and who He is. I feel so very very small and inadequate in His sight. That the creator of the known and humanly unknown universe (which He already knew about for like Eternity), would know me by my name and still calls me to be His…that’s scary, yet comforting on a whole other level.

“His glory covered the heavens, and His praises fills the earth. His splendor was like the sunrise: rays flashed from His hands, where His powers were hidden” (Verse 3 to 4)

From verse 5 until the end of verse 15, it tells of the anger of God towards those people and powers, which threatens and persecutes those who he really loves. God will do anything to keep His “loved one” from harms way, using forces of nature to overcome these threats.

The famous word of verse 17 to 19 gives hope and direction, in these difficult times, and is my hope keeping focused on Him:

Though the fig tree does not budand there are no grapes on the vines
Though the olive crop failsand the fields produce no food
Though there is no sheep in the penand no cattle in the stalls
Yet I will rejoice in the LordI will be joyful in God my Savior
The Sovereign Lord is my Strength

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to go on the heights.

I hope that my situation will be an encouragement, an inspiration to all reading, to “Trust in the Lord, with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5)
Please pray for me, so that I will keep my focus and trust in Him that my words, as written here will be also written on my heart and that I will trust in God to supply in His ways and means and that I will thank Him, whatever form, He decides to intervene.
It is so easy to stumble and fall, but with the knowledge of people (and God) believing in me will be a rock on which I can stand.


Tian