its been a tumultous past 2-3 weeks for me and for dear...
however, after a good talk with Heavenly Father and dear, we've worked things out.
hence, back to basics:
radical honesty and enthusiastic agreement!
we are going to keep accountable in the various areas of our lives:
our past, present and future
our emotions
Also, we will pray with one another at least once per week.
Prayer builds intimacy!
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Thank You. And you.
I'm a work in progress.
I need time, grace in bucketloads.
Thank God for you in my life, i know i have let u down many times...
But i believe what doesn't break us makes us stronger.
I will do my best for the relationship and for our future.
Thank You. And you.
I need time, grace in bucketloads.
Thank God for you in my life, i know i have let u down many times...
But i believe what doesn't break us makes us stronger.
I will do my best for the relationship and for our future.
Thank You. And you.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Blessed to give
Hey guys!
It's the beginning of a new week!
Just to share a verse:
Acts 20:35 (NIV) In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
Last weeks testimonies are very encouraging. There is a season for sowing and reaping, and now we prepare ourselves once again to sow into the building fund.
Let us remember the words of Jesus, as He said "It is more blessed to give than to receive". Truly, it is a joy to receive presents during festive periods, birthdays etc. But notice that giving always come before receiving. Indeed, the act of giving brings more joy than the act of receiving! If you don't know what I'm talking about, you should really start to bless the people around you! The Amplified Bible reads "...It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive."
Here's a testimony, that you might have heard before, but nevertheless, worth sharing again. My brother's salvation came about as an act of sowing and reaping. Not just in terms of finances, but time, energy and effort to reach out to him. Most of you guys were involved in some way or another too. I have also a group of friends in NUS who also sowed in his life to make a difference in him. This whole project took 5 years, and along the way, there were disappointments when he stopped short of saying "Yes" to God.
But I kept the faith. It is more blessed to give than to receive. I felt joy everytime i encouraged him with a word, even though at times he appeared closed up to sharing. This persistence eventually paid off, and we can now look at my brother as a living testimony of God's faith and promise.
Most of us have been around for more than 1 year. Truly, it is time to re-examine our lives, especially in the regards of finance. Have we been faithful towards God in our finances? Have we been generous toward our loved ones? (hint hint to the recently promoted/increased pay dudes;)
When we sow, we will surely reap in due time. Let's begin sowing generously, and expect a great harvest of souls during christmas and blessings in our lives in the year to come!
It's the beginning of a new week!
Just to share a verse:
Acts 20:35 (NIV) In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
Last weeks testimonies are very encouraging. There is a season for sowing and reaping, and now we prepare ourselves once again to sow into the building fund.
Let us remember the words of Jesus, as He said "It is more blessed to give than to receive". Truly, it is a joy to receive presents during festive periods, birthdays etc. But notice that giving always come before receiving. Indeed, the act of giving brings more joy than the act of receiving! If you don't know what I'm talking about, you should really start to bless the people around you! The Amplified Bible reads "...It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive."
Here's a testimony, that you might have heard before, but nevertheless, worth sharing again. My brother's salvation came about as an act of sowing and reaping. Not just in terms of finances, but time, energy and effort to reach out to him. Most of you guys were involved in some way or another too. I have also a group of friends in NUS who also sowed in his life to make a difference in him. This whole project took 5 years, and along the way, there were disappointments when he stopped short of saying "Yes" to God.
But I kept the faith. It is more blessed to give than to receive. I felt joy everytime i encouraged him with a word, even though at times he appeared closed up to sharing. This persistence eventually paid off, and we can now look at my brother as a living testimony of God's faith and promise.
Most of us have been around for more than 1 year. Truly, it is time to re-examine our lives, especially in the regards of finance. Have we been faithful towards God in our finances? Have we been generous toward our loved ones? (hint hint to the recently promoted/increased pay dudes;)
When we sow, we will surely reap in due time. Let's begin sowing generously, and expect a great harvest of souls during christmas and blessings in our lives in the year to come!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Jesus our Shepherd
Hey friends,
I just want to share something with you guys, Jesus our shepherd. Let us look to John 21 as our main reference.
John 21: 15 (NIV)
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
We see in John 21 as Jesus is having a moment of discipleship with Peter, after His second coming. This passage is significant as it allows us a glimpse into what is God’s purpose for each and everyone of us, and what we need to do to be true disciples of Jesus.
In Jesus’ last commandment to His disciples, He said in Mathew 19:28-29,
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
What is the call of God for each and everyone of us today? If we look at the last commandment of Jesus, He gave authority to each and every disciple to go and make disciples of all the nations. Making disciples is something that is very similar to the role of a shepherd. In today’s world, the role of a teacher in a school is not just to teach. Teachers, those of you who are teachers or who personally know, are expected to play the role of mentor as well. That means beyond just delivering “hardware” knowledge, teachers are expected to deliver the “heartware”, looking into other areas of development of the student.
Likewise, when Jesus calls us to make disciples, He is now entrusting the role of discipler to us. This is now our calling; and He has given us authority for it.
Now let us come back to our passage John 21. When Jesus asked Peter, not once, not twice, but Three times, if Peter loved Him, what was He trying to put across to Peter? Understand that Jesus has chosen Peter to build His church upon (Peter is the solid rock upon which He would build His church), and now Jesus to tell Peter what is his role in this church. The role of a shepherd is very much similar to that of a discipler.
A shepherd not only leads the flock from place to place, he is also expected to take care of each and every need of the people. Food, water, protection and welfare of the flock must be looked into. A shepherd builds a strong relationship with the flock, such that the flock recognises his whistling or sounds that he makes. This I’ve personally observed on the pastures of New Zealand when I was touring there quite a while back.
Now, this is also the role of a discipler, and the role that each and everyone of us need to take up in order to be true followers of Jesus. That is why, as believers, it is even more important for us to be strong in God. The message of the season is really building our altar to God and putting God in the throne of our lives, and this the shepherd must do before he is able to fulfil his role as a good shepherd.
We as the shepherds need to be able to find a good source of food and water for our flock. This speaks about feeding the flock with good mana, a good word in season that speaks to into the heart of the people that we are looking after or reaching out to. Water speaks about the Holy Spirit, about being able to carry the presence of God wherever we go, so that we will be able to minister effectively and discern the needs of the people.
In John 21:18-19, Jesus said, I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
When we were younger in Christ, there were people that God placed in our lives to act as our shepherd, meeting us up for bible study, bringing us to cell groups and service. Now that we are more mature in Christ, Jesus wants us to take up the role of the shepherd. Truely, if we want to follow Him, this is a responsibility that comes with “carrying the cross”. In fact, this is our central role for God, as God desires us to preach the gospel to the world. Friends, let us begin to strengthen ourselves first in God, so that we will be able to fulfil our potential as true disciples of God and be good shepherd to the flock of people that we are tending to. It does not matter whether our flock is big or small; it may consist of just our family members, or include friends that we are reaching out to. If we are leaders in the church, it will consist of the members in our groups. Whatever it is, big or small, let us be faithful in what God has called us to do. Feed our flock with the Word of God, meet their needs and build a strong and lasting relationship with them.
By doing so, we follow Christ our Shepherd.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
duckie and bearbear
my bolster represents the love of my mom, and these 2 cute creatures represent dear's love:)
duckie and bearbear are members of our household. duckie has been to many many places: europe, Japan, Malaysia (KL), Taiwan and Hongkong, Indonesia (Bali) and soon Thailand! She was born in China, and was a gift from dear to me:) She is the cutest and bravest duck, and Jo called her the "duck for luck" when i was in europe. She is very spiritual too and goes for service and prayer meetings.
bearbear was a gift from me to dear on our 6th month anniversary. He is the cutest bear ever! He is very kind-hearted. He has only 2 habits - sleep and eat. He is afraid of the dark and refuses to walk with me down the dark alleys when I meet dear at the gates of her workplace. He also brings much laughter as we constantly tease him about his weight. (He is in self denial about his weight.><)
i love duckie and bearbear, because i love dear.:)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
A generation of instant gratification
A generation of instant gratification
This is expanded from Pastor Tan’s sharing at leaders’ meeting, with my own input
We continue the story from Exodus 24, after my first sermon on finding dreams and visions. From Exodus 24 to Exo 31, we see Moses going up to Mt Sinai. God gave Moses many instructions on building the tabernacle, of constructing a place where He could dwell.
However, we see in Exo 32, that after 40 days and 40 nights, the people became tired and wreary of waiting. Mt Sinai is the place where Moses could meet with God, and first he had to climb the mountain.
Ex 24:15,16 “Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.
Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.”
When we seek God, we have to first climb out of the level ground, out of our comfort zone. And even when we have done so, when we have constructed our altar, we are to wait for God’s presence to come upon like a cloud. Moses waited for 6 days before God showed up.
Obviously, the people of Israel could not bear waiting for 40 days. After seeing nothing nor hearing nothing of Moses, they began to look for practical signs of God. This drove them to start looking for an alternative, something that they could see, hear, feel and touch.
Remember the faith of Thomas? After being through many miracles, now the people were not satisfied with just waiting. They want things quick. They want things that can immediately satisfy their physical senses, their immediate needs. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the measure of things unseen. However, to these people, faith is only in what they can see and hear.
This passage speaks to mature believers, who have tasted the goodness of God. They expect God to bless them once again, and at their timing. However, God works on His own timing. Just like Job, these people were not satisfied with God. Time and again, they wanted instant gratification. Today, we live in a world of instant gratification. Instant entertainment, music, food, sex... The marketing and advertising world knows this and exploits it.
Seeking God does not produce instant gratification. The devil knows it, and uses this knowledge to tempt Eve. “Has not God...” The promises of instant success appeal to our fleshly nature. When we are faced with an obstacle, we are told once and again to look to God, who is the Provider of all solutions, in Word and in prayer. Seeking God diligently; asking, knocking... Many endless days, weeks and months, we seek the Lord for an answer that only comes at His timing. Finally, we tire of waiting like the Israelites, and begin to take matters into our own hands. Crafting a substitute solution out of fleshly matter to replace what is Holy.
God does not dwell in methods of man. He is above and beyond our means and methods. Prayer, fasting, reading the Word again and again, going to church, listening to sermons; these become the staple of a Christian and can be taken for granted easily. But if we begin to get complacent, we get too comfortable for our own good. When we think that “it is just going to be another message” or “i know that already”, it is time that we deconstruct that golden calf, grind it to powder, and throw it away. Imagine drinking golden powder! How will it taste? That is precisely what the people’s minds came up with – something utterly disgusting and profane in the eyes of God.
For 7 chapters, God told Moses to build his altar. Surely God could come up with a better solution than that? And that is precisely the best solution that God could give. Building intimacy with God takes lots of hard work and sacrifice, which is why Jacob “wrestled” with God. Moses too had to wait 40 days and nights up in the cold and harsh mountains just to hear God speak. (Mount Sinai is just a mountain of rocks, sand and stones) What about you? What are you willing to give to hear God speak?
This is expanded from Pastor Tan’s sharing at leaders’ meeting, with my own input
We continue the story from Exodus 24, after my first sermon on finding dreams and visions. From Exodus 24 to Exo 31, we see Moses going up to Mt Sinai. God gave Moses many instructions on building the tabernacle, of constructing a place where He could dwell.
However, we see in Exo 32, that after 40 days and 40 nights, the people became tired and wreary of waiting. Mt Sinai is the place where Moses could meet with God, and first he had to climb the mountain.
Ex 24:15,16 “Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.
Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.”
When we seek God, we have to first climb out of the level ground, out of our comfort zone. And even when we have done so, when we have constructed our altar, we are to wait for God’s presence to come upon like a cloud. Moses waited for 6 days before God showed up.
Obviously, the people of Israel could not bear waiting for 40 days. After seeing nothing nor hearing nothing of Moses, they began to look for practical signs of God. This drove them to start looking for an alternative, something that they could see, hear, feel and touch.
Remember the faith of Thomas? After being through many miracles, now the people were not satisfied with just waiting. They want things quick. They want things that can immediately satisfy their physical senses, their immediate needs. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the measure of things unseen. However, to these people, faith is only in what they can see and hear.
This passage speaks to mature believers, who have tasted the goodness of God. They expect God to bless them once again, and at their timing. However, God works on His own timing. Just like Job, these people were not satisfied with God. Time and again, they wanted instant gratification. Today, we live in a world of instant gratification. Instant entertainment, music, food, sex... The marketing and advertising world knows this and exploits it.
Seeking God does not produce instant gratification. The devil knows it, and uses this knowledge to tempt Eve. “Has not God...” The promises of instant success appeal to our fleshly nature. When we are faced with an obstacle, we are told once and again to look to God, who is the Provider of all solutions, in Word and in prayer. Seeking God diligently; asking, knocking... Many endless days, weeks and months, we seek the Lord for an answer that only comes at His timing. Finally, we tire of waiting like the Israelites, and begin to take matters into our own hands. Crafting a substitute solution out of fleshly matter to replace what is Holy.
God does not dwell in methods of man. He is above and beyond our means and methods. Prayer, fasting, reading the Word again and again, going to church, listening to sermons; these become the staple of a Christian and can be taken for granted easily. But if we begin to get complacent, we get too comfortable for our own good. When we think that “it is just going to be another message” or “i know that already”, it is time that we deconstruct that golden calf, grind it to powder, and throw it away. Imagine drinking golden powder! How will it taste? That is precisely what the people’s minds came up with – something utterly disgusting and profane in the eyes of God.
For 7 chapters, God told Moses to build his altar. Surely God could come up with a better solution than that? And that is precisely the best solution that God could give. Building intimacy with God takes lots of hard work and sacrifice, which is why Jacob “wrestled” with God. Moses too had to wait 40 days and nights up in the cold and harsh mountains just to hear God speak. (Mount Sinai is just a mountain of rocks, sand and stones) What about you? What are you willing to give to hear God speak?
Monday, October 05, 2009
pain of pregnancy
was on my way to meet dear for lunch this afternoon, and on the trains, i spotted a pregnant lady who was fanning herself with one of those "mos burger" fan...
was it really that hot? then i realised that having that little one inside does indeed make a whole world of a difference for the mommy
my mommy carried two in her when she's with my bro and i...
later in the afternoon, i just looked through some videos and articles on pregnancy and labour, and once again, i'm reminded how great our mommys are.
the stuff they have to go through during pregnancy, just to name a few:
morning sickness, weight gain, stretch marks, hormonal changes, water retention, back ache, hemorrhoids, food cravings, insomnia...and that's just the tip of the ice-berg!!!
so to you guys out there: treat your spouse/girlfriends well! treat your mom well too, because she really went through a lot to carry you into this world...
all moms are God's gift to us! yays!
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