Feel Be Filled

 

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Imagine a jar that is made to fill salt but instead you forcefully fill it with large, jagged and heavy rocks. Before long, cracks develop and the jar threatens to fall apart. And we start wondering why this is so.

We are intricately created and woven together by God as an amazing being (science attests to that); created you in such a way that only a TRUE and MEANINGFUL relationship with God can fill the void in life. However, we, myself included, sometimes choose to have relationship (often times ungodly ones) with people and things. We fill it with people who seem but cannot meet our real needs, activities/things that seem to temporarily meets the need or numbs it. It's no wonder things come crumbling down sooner or later, just because it's just not meant to be that way.

Try all you may but go back to your Creator and Daddy God because ONLY He knows and can fill you. Man are fallible and will fail you. Activities and things are but temporal and, well, just things. You have only one life to make the right choice for eternity. Live it well and come back to God and be filled in just the right way.

"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed". (2 Corinthians 4:7-9 NLT)

God has been trying to get your attention and stands in the doorway to receive you in His arms, no matter you have yet to come to Him or have once came to Him but now far away. Here you have nothing that you need to prove about yourself and is where you CAN be accepted.

"But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him". (Luke 15:20 NKJV).

Feel be filled.

God's Antivirus Version U

Reading God's word is just like installing an antivirus on your computer.

New computers may come with no antivirus or with limited antivirus. In the same way, when we come into the world, we might not have the knowledge of the Word of God (the Word of God is always with and around us) or we might have it (though in a limited way) while we were growing up in a Christian family.

However, there are always people who wants to wreck havoc in our lives and create viruses. And new viruses are added each day. In the spiritual realm, satan does that. While some links, softwares and pirated warez looks tempting and nice, it has an army of viruses waiting behind to do the damage it has been programmed for.

It is thus crucial that we find the right antivirus and that's not the end; we need ensure it is updated so when a new virus tries to enter our system, we can nip it in its bud and/or clean it. God gives this antivirus and it's His word and it's free. No need for annual subscription to renew license, it's free.

Do you have the right antivirus software and are you updating it to deal with new challenges? If not, it's little wonder that damage is sometimes done and systems can halt and jam and even die.

And even though you do not have antivirus, are on a much limited antivirus, have not updated it and/or have been infected, there's nothing that God's antivirus cannot rectify and it's never too late to install the right one and update it to God's antivirus.

Satan longs to disarm us of God's antivirus or to have us stop updating it as he throws old tricks (new packaging) at us.

God's Word is a gateway which prevents unnecessary infection, and even though infection has taken place, He can rectify it because the Programmer created you and gave the antivirus; His word.

No wonder it's called B.I.B.L.E: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17 NKJV)

Which Sorrow? My Testimony (Coming Out of Depression)

2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NIV)

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

This morning, as I did my quiet time, I came across this passage. And it seems that God was trying to capture my attention as one part of the passage sprung out to me. As I read the verses again, I sensed God telling me that sorrow is always here with us, because we live in a fallen world and simply because we are created by Him to have emotions. No matter how much we try, even with our very best, to avoid sorrow and regardless of what others tell us about being able to escape sorrow when we choose to be happy, the truth is: sorrow is here to stay. And I am sure, as you are reading this, God may bring to mind periods where you have been through sorrow, over something which may have happened to you, over a loss or even over someone else. We need to face the truth and come to terms that sorrow is normal because we are just not robots with no emotions. The difference though is the kind of sorrow: Godly and worldly sorrow.

Some of you may not know but I have been battling with depression for the last few months. It has been a rough year since July 2011. The year saw me preparing for my wedding and renovations of our new home and being stressed out by all the decisions that need to be made for it, facing my dad’s diagnosis of advanced stage lung cancer in August 2011 and coupled with it, the uncertainty of how we are going to cope with it physically, emotionally and financially, striving to understand all the medical jargons being spewed out to me and trying to stand tall to make decisions about care plans for my dad and also for his treatment, shuttling to and from work and hospital to accompany my dad, facing the news of the death of my wife’s beloved grandfather, subsequently dealing with my unexpected but eventual departure of my dad due to pneumonia, facing news of my wife being diagnosed with large fibroids and requiring surgery, facing the unexpected and sudden death of my cousin who we have reconnected back just a few months back before my dad’s passing on and so on. And all this while, I was running low in my “tank” and on my strength while trying to cope with worrying and ministering to people in ministry, while trying to deal with past hurts in ministry and previous work stints, cope with work, worrying about health problems that surface one after another in the last few months and also negative thoughts in my mind that I am unworthy. Yes, by the time my cousin passed away suddenly in April 2012, I found myself starting to crumble under pressure. My depression was starting to worsen and I found myself being dazed, had no interest in anything, had an insatiable appetite, was quiet and at times and had wanted to even break down and cry when I am alone and outside. Life was getting too difficult to bear and even though I had no courage to commit suicide, I remember praying before sleep that God will just take me away in my sleep that I can be far away from all these. Have you felt this way before?

I asked God what have I done to have to go through all these? But even though with that being said, I still trusted God because He had seen me through many trials in the past before and has revealed Himself real as He worked in my life in many miraculous ways. Trust me, if you live my life, you will know what I mean. There are many miracles and blessings that just shows God is real. I held on to God and He continue to bring me much assurance of Him being with me.

And some of His assurances are captured in my thanksgiving journal, beginning at the church camp on 8 Jun 2012:

Even though with all the assurance, I did not quite understand why I was going through all these.

At first, I thought that it might have been spiritual attacks because just before my depression told a dive for the worse in end May when my cousin passed away suddenly, I received two unique experiences and knew that the Lord might be calling me to a greater works:

So, in my heart, up till the time of my first Healing & Wholeness session last Saturday (14 Jul), I had sensed that it might be spiritual attack from Satan.

However, as I read the verse from 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 above, I sensed that God is also telling me that He needed to work with me as a person to prepare me for greater works.

On 11 Jul 2012, I wrote these words in my devotional as God impressed on my heart that morning:

As I read it , yes, it does speak of abundant life in God in this fallen world, but more so, it made me realise that God was doing 2 things here to me: (1) Asking me to go back to the source of abundant life; Him and not anyone else and (2) Growing me as a person.

In fact, I have so focused on verse 2 about trials that I forgot about verses 3-4 which says: “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”.

And today, going back to 2 Corinthians 7:10-11, it is as if God bringing me full revelation of what He wanted me to learn and that sorrow has been but an instrument of perfecting me. Indeed, I felt spoken to that there are two kinds of sorrow: worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. One brings life and one brings death. Sorrow apart from God or worldly sorrow, can make us feel so hopeless and brings physically, spiritual and psychological death but godly sorrow drives us towards God, towards Hope.

Look at how the Message bible puts it:

Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.

I thank God that in my distress, I had not let go and continue to seek Him. And yes, surprising to some, God allows distress to sometimes bring us to our knees to come back to Him and rely on Him. And we HAVE the choice to turn our sorrow, which is unavoidable in life, to godly sorrow or worldly sorry. What is the Lord telling you in your sorrow?

I used to interpret verse 10 as only for those who have yet to know God, but today God shows me that, in fact, we all need to repent from our imperfect ways and when sorrows come into the picture, God can use it to turn us around.

I thank God for how He brought me back to Isaiah 41:9-10 just as I prepare to facilitate worship with Min Qin, Joyce and Joshua for the first time with the young adults in my church last Friday (13 Jul). God reminds me that I am in His hands. He had given me this verse a few years back when I was going through another rough patch, which I overcame and grown from it.

The Lord says (Isaiah 41:9-10 NIV):

I took you from the ends of the earth,
    from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

How do I know that God has turned things around for me? Frankly, as I type this, I do not know what lies ahead me (no one knows) but then what surprised me is that how God quickly turned things around over just 2 hours. I had been depressed and getting increasingly depressed over the last 1 year but over just 2 hours at the Healing & Wholeness counselling session, God turned things around. It has to be God! And I know that God is holding my hand no matter what.

I leave the depression behind knowing and confirming once again God is real in my life and that I only need get my love and source of life from Him and not anyone else or anything else. I lost my dad but I now can rely on my Daddy God.

And so God says and reminds in closing:

2 Corinthians 7:11 (MSG)

And now, isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you've come out of this with purity of heart..

May this bless you and encourage you to look to God in your sorrow. Stop running away from sorrow but allow God to work in your sorrow as you turn your worldly sorrow into godly sorrow which brings hope.

Min Qin's Testimony

… a new posting and sudden change of working environment in June 2011 after my advanced diploma in gerontology nursing, yet it’s a place where the harvest is plentiful and where I see my calling to be… news of my father-in-law bring diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer in October 2011, yet after a good battle with the illness, he went home to be with the Lord in early February 2012… a farewell to my beloved Grandpa in Hong Kong as he went home to be with the Lord peacefully in his sleep just a month before my wedding, but not before the Holy Spirit giving me promptings so I was able to talk with him the day before he left …… busy preparations for my wedding in November 2011 and saw how everything just fall into place so wonderfully, with the help of all our family members, cell members, church friends, colleagues and friends… being diagnosed with having a 10.5cm diameter fibroid in my uterus in October 2011 but yet received much peace and joy from the Lord, successfully went through my first operation in April 2012 to have the 11.5cm diameter fibroid removed with much success and without much complications and also receiving a speedy recovery from the Lord now…That’s my  life in the last few months! 

I m truly grateful and am filled with thankfulness for all that God has done in my life!

MY WORK

Praise God that I graduated from the advance diploma in gerontology nursing on 10 June 2011.

With 5 distinctions, 2 As and 2 B+, this has been the best grades and achievement I have gotten in all my life of studies thus far. I still remember how  I was having a terrible running nose and fever on my last day of my exam and could not remember much what I wrote on my exam script. But when the results were released, I remember being filled with great joy as I come to realize that I scored a distinction. I know that this marvelous achievement has not been by my own strength but that God has truly been with me and has led me on.

On 13 June 2011, I was informed to report at another clinic and to serve my 2 years bond. Initially, I felt a bit disappointed as my former workplace was just 4 bus-stop from my home and, apart from that, I knew that going to a new working environment, I will have to readapt to a new culture and rebuild new relationships. But, just as I was making my way to my new workplace, I uttered a prayer and surrendered my work into God’s hands. He then convicted me with Jeremiah 29:11, reminded me that He has plans to prosper me and not to harm me.

Over a period of 10 months, I developed strong relationships with my new colleagues and saw how God has placed me in this place where I could be a blessing to my colleagues and my clients. I also discovered that this place is a fertile field where the harvest is plentiful and I was affirmed, through many circumstances, to be called to station in this place for this season.

With the Holy Spirit’s prompting in April 2012, I used the Evangelism Explosion tool and skills which I have learnt from the course and reaffirmed the salvation of a colleague of mine, whom I have been praying for 9 months. Hallelujah!

I believe that more will come to receive their salvation very soon. My motivation to go to work every day is to save 1 more for Jesus!

MY FATHER-IN-LAW

My father-in-law (Mr. Eddy) was diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer in October 2011 and after fighting a good battle with the illness, he went home to be with the Lord in early February 2012.

I thank God for how He has given me an opportunity to interact and know my father-in-law during chats and visits. Though just a brief period, I felt that I have known him for long. We spent time together, having ‘makan’ and he would share with me his life and his past. He treated me like his own daughter and I feel very comfortable and loved by him.

I also thank God that I was also able to apply what I learnt in my nursing studies and understand the treatments offered and provided relevant information and support to my husband and his family in terms of treatments, medications and caregiving matters. And when my father-in-law went home to be with the Lord, 

I also thank God for the strength and wisdom as He guided me through in assisting and supporting James and his family in preparations for my father-in-law’s funeral.

I remember that just when I needed strength to move on during that period, God provided it and helped me to carry on with my work everyday, sent people to pray alongside me, granted me peace and comfort in my heart and granted me wisdom in supporting James especially.

MY GRANDPA

My beloved grandpa in Hong Kong went home to be with the Lord peacefully in his sleep a month before my wedding and I really thank the Holy Spirit for giving me promptings to call my grandpa on Saturday afternoon (a day before he pass on) while I was making my way to the hospital to visit James’ dad. Though he conversed with me with a weak small voice, I could hear him call my name. I teared after talking to him as I missed him so much and I could sense that he might not live long. I quickly contacted my cousin who stayed with him to check on him and I even shared with my mum my plans to fly off to see him the next day.  Unfortunately, with a phone call from my aunt early next morning, I was awoken in cold sweats, and learnt from her my grandpa has just gone home to be with the Lord. I was devastated, the feeling was so painful and I cried myself to sleep.

Later that morning, I told myself that I will still go church to worship God even though my heart was still grieving badly for the loss of my grandpa  (he was closest to me among all the grandparents, and I always confide in him about many things in my life).  As I made my way to church, my tears would begin to flow whenever I think of him. As service began, and the worship leader led us in singing ‘Amazing grace’, my heart ached so badly I cried as I sing. But later as I cried, I asked God to heal my grief and allow me to trust in Him that grandpa is in a better place. I could remember every line of the lyrics of the song as the whole congregation sang graciously. When worship segment ended, I could feel deep comfort and God’s embrace around me.   

I am thankful that my new manager was understanding and granted me leave to fly back to Hong Kong for my grandpa’s funeral. Little did I expect, during the funeral, I was given opportunities to evangelize to my closest cousins, my aunt and uncle. Though they have yet to say the sinners’ prayer, I know that I have planted some seeds in them. I am still praying for their salvation and know that the day is approaching!

Even though I still feel a bit emotional now whenever I think of my grandpa, I am grateful that God has granted me a chance to talk to him the day before he left. I miss him a lot but I am certain that I will see him again in heaven.

MY WEDDING

 

Amidst all the circumstances-my grandpa’s departure and James’s dad health condition-I asked God for strength for both James and I as we made preparations for our wedding in November 2011. By October, we actually had a long list of “to do”s but miraculously, God just helped to ensure that everything fell in place. From the bridal shop, make-up artists, photographer, emcee, church venue, banquet matters to helpers, everything just came into place perfectly so much so it amazed both us and our friends around us! One thing is certain, everything in our wedding preparations went so well and wonderfully because God has blessed both James & me with the help of all our family members, cell members, church friends, colleagues and friends. Praise God!

I thank God for the opportunity and courage to share my testimony at my wedding banquet in Hong Kong. A month before the wedding, God impressed on my heart to share my testimony to my relatives. Without much thinking, I obeyed His call to testify. Due to our hectic schedules, I did not have the time to prepare my testimony, even more so, in Cantonese! But God helped me to prepare my testimony, ‘freshly out of the oven’ the night before the banquet dinner. I could remember frantically rehearsing in the hotel room continuously! I was filled with great excitement that our relative’s salvation day is here! James & I prayed that our banquet dinner would be special; that people will at ease and enjoy the dinner and my testimony would impact them. That night, the banquet went extremely well. In fact, we were amazed that the banquet manager, who looked “straight faced” as I shared my testimony, shared that she back-slided as a Christian and how my testimony encouraged her to return back to church once again. My Hong Kong make-up artist, who stayed for the banquet, also shared that she was inspired by my testimony. Even though none of my relatives came forth to talk to me about my testimony, many shared that they enjoyed the whole dinner and the heart-warming atmosphere of the banquet. That night, I was just so amazed by all that God has done and all that He is continuing to do that I think I was smiling all night in my sleep!

MY HEALTH

In early October 2011, I was diagnosed to have a 10.5cm diameter fibroid[1] in my uterus during my pre-marriage health checkup. I felt rather depressed as much has happened during that period, with James’ dad just being diagnosed with lung cancer and my grandpa just passed away. I desperately prayed and asked God for strength as I felt that I was at the bottom of the pit.

I am thankful that God has brought my family, my husband, my in-laws, my cell members, friends and colleagues into my life because God used them to bless me abundantly. They have provided me with physical support, prayers support, send words of encouragements and support via sms & emails and they also availed themselves to help me in my every need wholeheartedly. I felt really blessed.

I am thankful for God’s word which I feed on daily to strengthen my inner man and took courage to face all the mountains in my life. Even though the devil frequently came to steal my joy and bring fear, such negative feelings only last for awhile. I have learnt to proclaim God’s words in faith over my situation several times everyday. One of my favorite remains to be from Psalm 118:17: “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done”. I thank God for His peace to rest every night without fail.

I am thankful that God is teaching me to endure through tough times and to learn to truly rely totally on Him in all circumstances. He has convicted my heart to not think and feel about my health condition from just a medical angle but instead to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways submit to Him and He will make my paths straight (Proverbs 3: 5-6). God also impressed on my heart that He would be directing the whole operation and that I need not worry.

On the Sunday before my operation, I felt a deep pleasurable heat on my right hand as the worship leader led us in the song ‘Jesus loves me this I know’. I felt such a deep sense of Jesus’ hand and presence that He is holding me and telling me to be secure in Him; He assured that I am being taken care of and am in His good hands. After service, I went forth for prayer and Elder Andrew anointed my hands with oil and prayed for me.

Throughout the whole time, I could sense God’s will for me to just trust and obey Him and to go through the operation instead of living in fear. He shared with me in my devotions that my step of obedience is a part of His greater plans. On 24^th April 2012, I successfully went through an operation to remove a 11.5cm diameter fibroid without much complications. Hallelujah!

Despite the difficult times, I have learn to give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for me in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5: 18). I am thankful to God that my operation was successful; no blood transfusion was required, no wound infection, no deep vein thrombosis and my uterus was preserved. I did not experience much side effects from the morphine, was able to walk and sit up on the second day and slept well during my hospitalization. In addition, I was taken care of by a good team of healthcare workers, regained my appetite quickly and felt really great physically, emotionally & spiritually after the operation.

Now, I am into my 2^nd week post-operation and I can see God’s work through all that has happened. I could see my faith being heightened to a new level. My testimony has encouraged others who are sick and have given hope to people around me. My family relationship has also become closer. My mother-in-law prayed out loud for me for the first time. My husband shared that he was inspired by my courage and faith in God and it edifies him. I could also sense a heightened spiritual atmosphere in cell. I now also have a better understanding of how it feels to have to go through an operation and become convicted to avail myself to provide support to people who need to go through operations or women with fibroids in the future. I was able to use the photographs of my extracted fibroid and testify to others about the Great God I serve.

I just can’t help but thank God for His strength, providence, joy, peace and everything! He is awesome and I m assured that surely His goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).

MY APPRECIATION

People I am extremely grateful for their prayers & support:

My daddy, mummy, sister, hubby (James Lim), mother-in-law, sister-in-law (Joyce Lin).

My spiritual family (Onelife 3: Lydia also my Prayer Accountability Partner, Michelle, Daniel, Huifen, Cynthia, Xu Chao, Joshua, June, Kent & Elly, Joyce & James Seah, Chui Wai & Ivan).

Area Overseers Chek Shih & Pei Kwee.

Onelife leaders (Sarah & Bill Leung, Wendy, Glen & Veronica, Ee Yang & Charmaine, Lydea, Maurice)

Riverlifers:  Elder Andrew Goh & wife, Celina, Angie & Kexin from Hospitality F & B Team, Alginna, Sarah Jenny, Amanda, Lucy Leng, Angela, Leng Leng.

Colleagues: Regina Lee, Xin Yi, Jerry, Ming Keat, Tok Cheng, Dawn, Zainon.

Friends: Yi Xuan, Syn Syn, Jia Hui, Grace Leong, Teri, James’ colleagues from Salvation Army HR department.

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[1] A tumor growth in females. While most fibroids are asymptomatic, they can grow and cause heavy and painful menstruation, painful sexual intercourse, and urinary frequency and urgency. Some fibroids may interfere with pregnancy.

The Parable of the Pencil (Adapted)

Hi everyone,

Was in chapel today and heard about the Parable of the Pencil. 

I adapted it and hope the below will bless you as it has blessed me:

The Parable of the Pencil

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting it into the box.

"There are 7 things you need to know..." he told the pencil, "...before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."
 

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."
 

"Four: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

"Six: Use your ability to erase appropriately, help others to correct mistakes and not to run them down and negate their mark."

"And finally Seven: You need to work alongside other pencils to see beautiful things achieved. There are times when a darker shade of pencil needs to be used and there are times when a lighter shade is essential."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now, replace the pencil with YOU. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess. 

John 15:4 (NIV, 1984) "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various challenges in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

James 1:2,3,4 (NIV, 1984) "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Three: The most important part of you will always be what's inside. For some of us, we operate out of broken lead inside and no matter how much we sharpen, the tip will always come out broken and break. If you inside is broken, it's time for you to receive God's lead.

1 Samuel 16:7b (NIV, 1984) "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Luke 6: 45 (NIV, 1984) "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

Ezekiel 26:36 (NIV, 1984) "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

Four: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

The bible is full of imperfect people who makes mistakes. The difference is that they did not let them stop them from growing: David, Peter, Moses, Abraham and the list goes on. 

Five: On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything. 

Romans 12:11 (NIV, 1984) "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

Six: Use your ability to erase appropriately, help others to correct mistakes and not to run them down and negate their mark.

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV, 1984) "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV, 1984) "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 2: 25-26 (NIV, 1984) "Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

And finally Seven: You need to work alongside other pencils to see beautiful things achieved. There are times when a darker shade of pencil needs to be used and there are times when a lighter shade is essential.

Romans 12:4-8 (NIV, 1984) "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily.

Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish. You can have a life with a meaningful purpose and a wonderful relationship with God everyday.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV,1984) "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 1:4-5a (NIV, 1984) "The word of the LORD came to me, saying,  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;"

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV, 1984) "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil, it has no point.

Extreme Heart Makeover

You Are For Me

Romans 8:31b (NIV):

If God is for us, who can be against us?

So faithful. So constant.
So loving and so true.
So powerful in all You do.

You fill me. You see me.
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to You.

I know that You are for me.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You will never,
forsake me in my weakness

I know that You have come now,
even if to write upon my heart.
To remind me who You are.

So patient, So gracious,
So merciful and true…
So wonderful in all You do.

Praying In Need

Praying In Need
May you be blessed by this reading today. Are you in need today? Are you willing to open your life to God's amazing grace today and to the community of believers where we can experience God's unconditional love and grace together?


Suggested Bible Reading

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

-James 5:13-18 (NRSV)


Today's Scripture

Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.

-James 5:14 (NRSV)


SOME years ago, our congregation began offering anointing with oil and prayers for healing for those in our community. At first people were hesitant to ask for prayer or to come forward to receive anointing for physical, emotional, or relational scars. But in time these healing services became very important to our congregation. Now it is not uncommon for dozens of people to seek healing and prayer.

We easily forget that all of us are broken people. Each of us has needs that may require God's healing touch or the support of a caring community. Indeed, great things happen when we open our lives to God's amazing grace. Consider your life today. Where are you in need? What prayers for yourself, your family, or for others do you need to offer?

Christianity is not a solitary faith for only the strong but a bond that calls us to pray for one another in our infirmities and our need. And often, in our weakness, we discover the strength of God.

Todd Outcalt (Indiana, USA)

Prayer
Dear Lord, make us instruments of your peace and healing. Where we are weak, make us strong. Where we are wounded, heal us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thought for the Day

Through Christ's wounds we are healed.

Showing Grace and Truth

For the past few weeks, I have been pondering how to work with at-risk youths, as God called me to my current new role here, working with at-risk youths; something which is very new to me. Following home visits, God has helped me to see a side which I never have expected to; how both youths and their parents are usually people who are hurting in their own ways. Similarly, I have recently also been asking God how I can increase in my capacity to work alongside with people to facilitate restoration and healing in ministry.

I thank God for an answered prayer as He brought me to Borders yesterday, since I had time to spare in between a planning retreat and another appointment. I had just intended to just go and just browse some books but had never thought that I would be blessed by finding a book, that helped me answered both my questions above and yet also teach me something about a spiritual matter I have been wanting to get some insights on.

As I browsed the shelves of Borders, God brought me to a book that looked old and dated; a book with a cover that had some defects as well. But the title caught my attention: "Changes that Heal" by Dr Henry Cloud. I picked up the book and started reading there and found myself getting quite a lot from the initial few chapters.

The first chapter spoke about how in wanting to help others to be helped in a sustained manner and to grow into the person who God has intended him/her to be, we need to first examine and understand two major qualities of God's character: Grace and Truth. The book started with an unlikely but powerful story which really sets one thinking about our view of God.

Once upon a time in a faraway galaxy, there was a highly advanced people. They had everything they could ever desire: technology to solve every problem, and more leisure than we get in a life time. But they were bored. Bored to tears. They needed something new-something exciting-to liven up their planet.

A committee was established to look into the matter. They discussed coming up with a new sport. Or developing a new amusement park. Finally, an alien named Beezy proposed the winning idea. "How about creating a god?" he suggested.

Everyone agreed it was a wonderful idea. "It will give our people something to do Sunday," one said. "And it will be great for conversations," said another.

So they tried to invent a god. But to no avail. Beezy, who had been placed in charge  of the research and development of a new god, called the committee members together.

"Look, this just isn't working," he said. "What good is a god we can invent ourselves? We're smart enough to know that's not a real god. Why don't we find us a god instead--like the God the earthlings worship?"

The committee agreed, and soon afterward Beezy took a business trip to the Planet Earth.  Under his invisible cloak, he visited dozens and dozens of churches and religious institutions. He took copious notes and spent hours writing up his report.

When he returned, the committee gathered, eager to hear of his findings. "Fellow aliens,"  he greeted them.  "I have returned not with one god, but with two."

A gasp of astonishment rippled through the room.  "The name of the first god, or should I say goddess,  is Grace.  A very attractive Goddess she is. She talked about love often. "Get along,  be friends, be nice,  she would say. 'And if you can't be good, I'll forgive you anyway." Beezy looked perplexed.  "The only thing is, I'm not sure what she would forgive, since they didn't seem to have any rules to break."

Beezy went on. "I especially liked the things the followers of Grace did, like feeding poor  people, and visiting prisoners in jail. However"--he shook his head--"these followers of grace seemed so lost. They kept doing the same bad things over and over, and they never seemed to know where they were going.

"Then there's the other god."  Beezy took a deep breath. "This god is definitely a man, a his name is Truth. Truth is just as mean as Grace is nice. He kept telling the people all sorts of things about them that made them feel very bad, and his followers did the same thing. But there's a good side to Truth,"  Beezy reassured the committee. "He campaigns against some very nasty enemies, such as lying, cheating, adultery, abortion, and drunkenness. He's like a big religious street sweeper, sweeping away all his enemies. The only trouble is, he not only sweeps away bad things; he also sweeps away the people who do the bad things. As for the smiles you see on the followers of Grace--forget it.  All Truth's followers do is scowl and scream."

Needless to say, after hearing Beezy report, the committee were ready to opt for the new amusement park because they didn't like either god. But Beezy had on last suggestion.

"We have all this wonderful technology for mixing repelling elements, like oil and water," he said. "How about if we try mixing Grace and Truth?"

As I read this part of the chapter, it forces me to think about how we view our God. Do we recognise the two aspects of God's character or do we just "invent" a god we are comfortable with, focusing only on one aspect?

With the first god of Grace, there is compassion and relationship and her followers did all kinds of loving things, both for one another and also for those in pain. The only problem is that they heard little truth spoken and keeps falling, again and again, into same old bad situations and patterns. They needed directions to prevent this from happening.

With the second god of Truth, the followers receive a lot of direction, knowing what if right and what is wrong, knowing what they can do and cannot do. The only problem is that the god "seems" uncaring and mean and not to care about the people who were violating the standards; wiping them out.

The fact is...

• Our God is a God full of grace and truth (John 1:14) and grace and truth came through Jesus (John 1:16)
• God gave us the truth in the form of the law which provided a blueprint of life to offer us guidelines and limits but 
• ... no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (Rom 3:19-20, NIV)
• The law was added so that the trespass might increase.(Rom 5:20, NIV)
• Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.(Rom 7:9-10, NIV)
• For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (Jam 2:10)
• You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Gal 5:4)
• God gives us Grace which is unmerited favour of God  towards us because we have not earned it and do not deserve it; the unconditional love and acceptance God gave to us but
• What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!(Rom 6:15-16, NIV)
• The acts of the sinful nature are obvious... those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(Gal 5:19-21, NIV)
• You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. (Gal 5:13, NIV)
• Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.(Col 3:5, NIV)

According to Henry Cloud, Truth without Grace is judgment and Grace without Truth is License (to sin). Both are essential as seen in John 8:3-11, where Jesus addressed the Pharisees who brought a woman caught in adultery and asked how she should be dealt with. Jesus showed grace and yet also emphasised the truth "Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11).

In similar way, we will sometimes cross paths with hurting people in the body of Christ. But how do we work with them to help them be liberated and grow to be the person God intends him/her to be? Some of us may have experienced it ourselves or even seen how some would come from the angle and may say things like "they are in sin", "they don't have enough faith", "they are not obedient", "they don't spend enough time in the Word" etc, sort of like the friends of Job. According to Cloud, while they may contain some elements of truth, it does cause more pain; "the pain she originally had, plus the guilt over not being able to apply the answers she was given". If not handled well, those struggling would either learn to fake healing to remain in church or leave church, deciding their faith provides little solace. In the same reverse way, we have also heard know how grace without emphasis on the truth rarely helps, as in parenting. The bible does clearly says that:

• He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.(Proverbs 13:24)
• "...because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son... God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. ." (Hebrews 12:6, 10-11)
• "...because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.  (Proverbs 3:12)

Grace and truth goes together in helping people we come across with to heal: an atmosphere of grace to help the hurting cope with guilt and shame and feel the love of God, beginning the process of healing and truth to help facilitate growth as we grow in Christ-likeness.

This is of course the part we play in extending a hand to those who need healing in the Lord and on the other end, whoever is receiving help from us would also need to respond by allowing the real self (rather than the portrayed front) to come forth to receive ministry. For some, it might take some time, a community and God for that to happen and for growth to take place, just as a plant takes time to grow. The plant needs to be anchored, rooted, receiving nutrients and it does not grow in a vacuum but receives sunlight and water from the outside, doing its part of photosynthesis to grow under the heavens.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6)

I hope this would bless you as it blessed me in thinking how to go about blessing others. I believe God will bring into your path someone who you can help heal.

My 21 days of prayers: Testimony & Sharing

We finished the 21 days of prayers on 21 March. So many things I have heard from the Lord during this period even up till now, I felt God is still in the midst of giving me revelation and understanding about issues in my life and directions. I am really thankful for this journey, how God had breakthrough in my life. I am really amazed by God's work in my life, his grace and courage uplifting my spirit. I just wanna to share the areas God had moved my heart in this period(actually the 21 days of prayer is just the beginning of the breakthrough I am beginning to see in my life):

The assurance of God's peace and strength to close the last chapter of an important relationship in my life even in the midst of deep emotions within my heart. In fact it is a very painful process I undergo as I choose to end this chapter of my life under such circumstances especially for me as a person with such strong cravings for family. But I have come to a point when I realized ending this chapter is very important for me, I felt peace even though emotionally it may not have been easy. God tells me it is the time to let go and move on from this painful past. I felt the peace to let go of this past pain and guilt I have been going through in these past 3 years. God still has his assurance and promise for me. What has happened in the past is only the work of the flesh. But something greater will happen. I will witness God's powerful work of the spirit in my life, something that I have never experienced before in my life where I will experience unprecedented faith and fruitfulness in the Lord. Lord open up my heart to see greater things in my life. I choose to seek your face and obey you completely in my life. I choose to have undivided devotion and love for you. Only you shall my heart long after deeply.

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to weep and a time to laugh,.....
a time to mourn and a time to dance,.....
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,.....
He has made everything beautiful in its time." (Ecclesiastes 3)

I also decided to go for H&W after the cell prayer session at my house on 07 Mar.
God had prepared my heart to go for the H&W now. Nothing better than God's good timing now. In fact after I send in my H&W forms, I began to feel something different in my spirit. I felt a sense of peace in my heart. That God is so good to me that he is about to start a new work in my life. It seems like I am beginning to hear from God again. Behold I am hearing from God, nothing can block the connection as I choose to yield to him and lay hold of my past, my pains and sins before him. My past and sins had no hold on me anymore. Within 2 weeks I submitted the form, I heard from church on the H&W session they had arranged for me. I managed to know who my counsellor is, I thought her name is very familiar but I had no recollections who she is. Actually I saw her on the day I submitted the form which is also one of the prayer meeting I came for. Then I saw my counsellor on few days ago at the church Intercessors prayer meeting. I didnt know she is the one. I went for prayer for my family situations and struggles. She is the one who prayed for me. At that time, when she prayed for me, I suddenly felt she could be my counsellor (the name and person kinda matched). It is also amazing she is the one who prayed for me. It is confirmed when Pastor called her name later. I am thankful God kinda prepared my heart to meet my counsellor first before I formally meet her in the H&W session.

I remember on 7 March, I saw the advertisement at Pasir Ris Mrt Station with this renown quote: Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising up whenever we fall. What a rhema word for me from God! I felt God is telling me to rise up where I have fallen in the area of relationship. God is ready to redeem me and the painful past I went through. Who is the one who restore? Who is the one who give us strength to rise up from where we have fallen? Is not it God? God is willing to to restore us back to where we had been. But are we willing to take that step of faith with the Lord? Are we willing to trust the Lord? Just that leap of faith?
I felt the assurance of God's promises and provision in my life. Something different has happened now. I have chosen to lay hold of God in my life. I will trust him wholeheartedly (not just my mind alone but my heart totally) with unwavering faith, God shall be the desires of my heart. I will cry out to God and he will hear me and answer me. God will prove that he is so faithful to deliver his promises. God will never shortchange us if we commit in our heart to trust him. God will be my deliverer forever!

From my readings from Breakthrough Prayers, the painful past and story of a young lady touches my heart deeply. I see how God is so gracious to a broken young women from Haiti. God's power and love can heal us in places only he can touch. God wanna me to know that his answers are always worth waiting for. I need to keep holding onto the Lord today no matter how I feel, no matter how bad things get.

I am also assured so much by God's love and forgiveness in the 21 days of prayers, I received these verses and stories released to my heart:
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15) God has not forgotten me!
Luke 7:36-50 (The sinful woman actually adores Jesus so much that she is willing to give all of her to Jesus, far beyond his disciples and other people do for Jesus. I recognize this require faith, and she knows Jesus right in her heart)
John 4&8: Referring to reaction of Jesus when he saw them, Jesus loves them.
"You shall no longer be called the abandoned. You shall be called beloved. This is a special word that Pastor Betty released on 03 Mar during the prayer meeting, also my actual birthday. Thanks God for giving me this special day when I can choose to consecrate my life once again to God. In fact I feel in my spirit that the breakthrough had progressive started since from onset of 21 days of prayers as we prepared our hearts and being to pray.

Indeed I am really thankful for this 21 days of prayers, I felt a transformation in my life that words may not be able to fully express it. Not only it had empowered me to heighten my faith and trust in the Lord. In the midst of uncertainty about life and things around me, I felt the constant assurance & reassurance of God's peace in my life. I realized such a deep longing for the Lord within me. Therefore I am determined to walk right with God daily, nothing is better than living a life of obedience and abiding in him wholeheartedly in which ever area of life.

Building Your Life

Last Thursday, I was to share in chapel at work; the first chapel for the year. Though I had been nervous about sharing, I thank God for bringing me to the topic and for even blessing me myself with the sharing... God was placing something in my heart towards the end of 2009 and was affirming it through my sharing. I hope to also share this with you and hope it will bless your heart.

New Year, New Hopes
I love new years, partly because it is a time I can draw the old year to a close, keep the sweet memories and let go of the pains. On the other hand, new years will usually bring hope; hope that things could perhaps be better.

New years have traditionally been a time for me to reflect upon the past year and how things have been. At the end of 2009, I participated in my first watch night service. Not knowing what to expect, I went to the service all excited and left it being all awed by what God has done in my life, not only in 2009 but also in the years preceding it from the time I came back to Him. It became very clear to me how God has placed me in a rehabilitation programme and helping me to rebuild my life.

So as 2010 starts, God continues to drive home this point as I saw how real He is in my life. Sure, it has not been smooth sailing all the way, but only thing I realised is that God has never left me and has helped me to weather through it all.

As I was preparing for the chapel sharing, I prayed and asked God to guide me to what He wanted me to share. Following my reflection at the watch night service, quiet time and also at the first department devotion for the year, He brought me to Luke 6:46-49 and spoke about building our lives.

Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)
The Wise and Foolish Builders
46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

2010 has started and while many of us try to set things right for the new year and make resolutions, let me ask:

How would you like to build your life this year?
All of us are building our lives all the time, so how would you like to build it this year?

From the parable of the wise and foolish builder, we can see similarities between building a house and building our lives.

Lesson 1: The Master Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Just as a house require a master plan, so do our lives. What's your master plan? Do you believe that God has His plans for you.

In Genesis 15, we see how God made a covenant with Abraham for offspring as many as the stars and to give his offspring the promised land. God has His plans for Abraham to be made into a "great nation" and that He will bless him and make his name great and he will be a blessing to many (Gen 12:2-3). That came to pass as his descendants grew and how Christ also came from his lineage. God has His plans for Abraham, as He did with Moses, Jacob, Joshua, David, Paul and so on and He has His plans for you.

Are You Happy?
I recall 5 years back my life was in a low period; everything from work, friendship, family was falling apart. But interestingly, God began to draw me back to Him during this period and ministered to me time and again in various circumstances from Jer 29:11. The verse appeared again and again and even appeared on my current workstation when I reported to work.

Over the span of 5 years, God brought me back to church, brought me to my current workplace, put me into ministry as well as restored relationships and granted me with new relationships. Just last week, a day before chapel, an insurance agent came to me on the streets and asked me "are you happy with your life?" and I found myself responding to myself in my heart "yes"... I have come to realise how I am not only happy but joyful how life has changed from the time I came back to walk with the Lord, and to see how every step of the way He had blessed me and blessed others through me.

Believe it or not, I have come to realised how God has brought me...

• ... spiritual and emotional restoration through Riverlife, as I began to learn about His word and was ministered to by His word as I listened and applied it to my life;
  
• ... emotional restoration and restoration to my confidence through my current workplace as He gave me good genuine colleagues, used my skills and blessed me in my work ministry;
  
• ... spiritual and character growth through the cell ministry which He has called me to, as I learned to rely on Him and do His will. Not only have I grew spiritually the most during these years of ministry, I have also come to encounter God as real, and
  
• ... emotional and character growth through the restoration of relationships, granting and blessings of relationships in my life.
  

God had His plans for me and while at many times I could not understand why certain things had to happen, on hindsight, it made perfect sense. There were just too many "coincidences" that happened in my life that I know God is watching over me and guiding me.

And the latest "coincidence" is when different ones of you shared with me how the Lord spoke to you through the verses cards I have given out at the beginning of the year; different verses for different ones of you. And I thank God for that.

So will you let the master builder, who knows the plan, build your life or will you want to build your life according to your fancy? The Lord has His plans for your life.

Lesson 2: Strength to Build the House

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Genesis 15:1 (NV)
"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. "

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Life is full of trials and whoever did say that a Christian's life is smooth sailing? The truth of it is, trials will still come and the only difference is that we have a God who IS with us through the storms; we have "Immanuel" ("God with us"), one who we can rely on for strength.

At the watch night service, I have come to realised how God has brought me through the various trials of my life; trials which I had thought I would not survive; trials which made me break down and questioned God how long He would allow me to go through it.

At the end of 2009, I have come to see how God has given me to strength every step of the way... to forgive others (something which had gripped and tormented me for years in 2005), pull through in ministry and in facing challenges in relationships in my life. Particularly in ministry, at the moment when I was the lowest, God sent me Isa 41:10 and assured me through various other scriptures that He will send help. It's funny how sometimes verses jumps out at you when you least expected it and it is the same with the verses which spoke to me. For weeks and months, friends have been encouraging me with verses but it was not until a colleague opened his diary to write something that the verse Isa 41:10 just popped out to me at that point in time and ministered to my heart. As I continued to hanged on, God continued to assure me through various other verses in my quiet time which spoke to my heart and gave me strength.

As I stood on the stage with the cell at the end of Kent and Elly's wedding last week, I have come to see how the cell has grown and I can only thank God for giving me the strength to pull through it all and to be able to see what I see today.

Are you building your life with your own strength? God reminds us that He is God Almighty and that He will not leave us. Why build your life yourself when the master builder can give you strength; strength to overcome challenges?

Lesson 3: The foundation that has the power to hold it all together

Acts 4:11 (NKJV)
This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone'

The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in construction, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit in you not only will help you to overcome challenges but also will help you to achieve with power from God.

In Acts 3-4:22, we saw how both Peter and John were empowered by God and what the power from God can do. The power from God brings...

• ... salvation - "But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand...Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:4, 12)
  
  
• ... healing - "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed" (Acts 4:10)
  
  
• ... courage and wisdom - "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13)

God has blessed me with much throughout the last few years, in work, relationship or ministry and its amazing to see how when we work with God, things get achieved. At work, I always get amazed whenever I submit my monthly reports and to see how much has been achieved. I know deep in my heart that it is by the grace of God that my work ministry is taking off so well, something beyond my imagination. In the same way, at the watch night, I have come to realise what God has done through this cell and the various life transformations that have taken place. Again I realised that it is really by the grace of God that these transformations are possible because I would not have been able to effect these transformation without God's power. In the same way, I see God's power at work in my family as He continue to draw my family, one-by-one back to Him. Even my mum, whom I have been praying for her to come back to God has, unexpectedly, agreed to go back to church last year.

Lesson 4: The importance of upkeeping the house and having the right occupants

Matthew 12: 43-45 (NIV)
43"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

How would you like to build your life this year? Would you like this to be a year when you draw even closer to the Almighty God, trusting and entrusting your life to the Master builder? Will you be a wise builder and build your life on Him, His word and His will for you?

For different ones of us, we are at different stages. For some of you, you might be needing to come back to the Lord and trusting that He has His plans for you, plans to prosper you and not the harm you, plans to give you hope and a future... for some of you, you might need to learn to rely on God's strength, especially when everything else is not working in your strength... for some of you it might be to hold on to God for His spirit to empower you and yet for some, it is to learn to upkeep our lives and have the right occupant, the Holy Spirit, on our lives. Whatever the stage, I invite you to just say a prayer for yourself and entrust yourself into God's hands...

What are you building your life on?

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray

I don't worry o'er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him
For He knows what is ahead

Chorus
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

I don't know about tomorrow
It may bring me poverty
But the one who feeds the sparrow
Is the one who stands by me

And the path that be my portion
May be through the flame or flood
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood