Cracked Pots

Jason shared this story yesterday and I thought that it was a wonderful reminder how sometimes we need not be "complete" in our own understanding of things before God can use us. A lot of times, we will want to wait till we are all perfect and fine before we choose to play a role in God's plans but have the faith to know that God can use you no matter what.

Just when you think you are not making a difference, think again. You are valuable in God's eye and so can you play an instrumental role in bringing others who God treasures back to Him. Thanks Jason for the wonderful sharing of the story.

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked
pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it
still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took
advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway.

Source: http://www.creativeyouthideas.com/blog/devotional/cracked_pots_1.html

Dealing with Anger

Hello everyone,

Received quite a few articles on the topic of anger recently and thought of sharing and hope it will bless your hearts.

I am sure this is not a topic that is unfamiliar to us and truth is that we will all face with the issue of anger in our life and the issue seems not to be with anger, as Jason had once aptly point out in cell but how we respond when we are angry. The articles remind me, coupled with my own experience, how destructive anger can be in our life and even in our relationships with each other and with God.

Recently, while doing my quiet time, I was brought to Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV) and it reminds us

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

I am a person who seldom erupts and whenever anything happens that makes me angry, I would usually need time away to think through matters and how have I been wrong myself. But then, I have also realized that the longer I take to think about thing, the greater the potential for it to fester into something unhealthy. Maybe that is what the bible calls “do not give the devil a foothold” because “the devil came to “steal, kill and destroy” especially everything which is of God including our relationships. And we also know how when we are angry, we will also sometimes say things we do not mean and later realized the negative impact of it. Do not give the devil a foothold and test every spirit of things that goes through your mind when you are angry; asking God to give you wisdom to know what is not of Him and not righteous, even thoughts of how you might be unworthy.

So, even though these articles are long, I do hope that it will bless your heart, regardless whether or not you are facing issues of anger, bitterness and unforgiveness now or in the future. Remember God’s word on anger.

Do not let anger, unforgiveness and bitterness rob you of your joy. God has shown me that the answer to it all is Him; that, as He knows what our hearts are going through, to trust in Him that He can work things out. After all, shouldn’t the Christ-like life be one which is filled with the Spirit, one filled with the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). For me, I have allowed bitterness to control my life for close to 2 years (and most of the time, while we suffer, the people who caused the bitterness seldom even are bothered by it) and having let God deal with it, it has helped me to be freed… my chains are gone….

Don’t Hold on to Offenses, Communicate!

Just two years after our marriage, hubby brought up the idea of asking Mother to move from the rural hometown and spend her remaining years with us. Hubby's father passed away while he was still very young.Mother endured much hardship and struggled all on her own to provide for him, see him through to a university degree. You could say that she suffered a great deal and did everything you could expect of a woman to bring hubby to where he is today. I immediately agreed and started packing the spare room, which has a balcony facing the South to let her enjoy the sunshine and plant greenery. Hubby stood in the bright room, and suddenly just picked me up and started spinning round and round. As I begged him to put me down, he said: "Lets go fetch mother." Hubby is tall and big sized and I love to test on his chest and enjoy the feeling that he could pick me up at any moment put the tiny me into his pockets. Whenever we have an argument and both refuses to back down, he would pick me up and spin me over his head continuously until I surrendered and begged for mercy. I had become addicted to this kind of panic-joy feeling.

Mother brought along her countryside habits and lifestyle with her. For example; I am so used to buying flowers to decorate the living room, she could not stand it and would comment: "I do not know how you young people spend your money, why do you buy flowers for? You also can't eat flowers!" I smiled and said: "Mum, with flowers in the house,our mood will also become better." Mother continues to grumble away, and hubby smiled: "Mum, this is a city-people' s habit; slowly you will get used to it." Mother stopped saying anything. But every time thereafter,whenever came home with flowers, she would ask me how much it costs. I told her and she would shake her head and express displeasure. Sometimes, when I come home with lots of shopping bags, she would ask each and every item how much they cost, I would tell her honestly and she would get even more upset about it. Hubby playfully pinched my nose and said: "You little fool, just don't tell her the full price of everything would solve it."

There begins the friction to our otherwise happy lifestyle.

Mother hates it most when hubby wakes up early to prepare the breakfast. In your view, how could the man of the house cook for the wife? At the breakfast table, mother facial expression is always like the dark clouds before a thunderstorm and I would pretend not to notice. She would use her chopsticks and make a lot of noise with it as her silent protest.

As I am a dance teacher in the Children's Palace and am exhausted from along day of dancing around, I do not wish to give up the luxury of that additional few minutes in the comfort of my bed and hence I turned a deaf ear to all the protest mother makes. From time to time, mother would help out with some housework, but soon her help created additional work for me. For example: she would keep all kinds of plastic bags accumulating them so that she sell them later on, and resulted in our house being filled with all the trash bags; she would scrimp on dish washing detergent when helping to wash the dishes and so as not to hurt her feelings, I would quietly wash them again.

One day, late at night, mother saw me quietly washing the dishes,and "Bam" she slams her bedroom door and cried very loudly in her room.Hubby was placed in a difficult position, and after that, he did not speak to me for that entire night. I pretended to be a spoilt child, tried acting cute, but he totally ignored me.... I got mad and asked him: "What did I do wrong?" Hubby stared at me and said: "Can't you just give in to her once? We couldn't possibly die eating from a bowl however unclean it is, right?" After that incident, for a long period of time, mother did not speak to me and you can feel that there is a very awkward feeling hanging in the house. During that period of cold war,hubby was caught in dilemma as to who to please.

In order to stop her son from having to prepare breakfast, mother took on the "all important" task of preparing breakfast without any prompting. At the breakfast table, mother would look at hubby happily eating his breakfast and cast that reprimanding stare at me for having failed to perform my duty as a wife. To avoid the embarrassing breakfast situation, I resorted to buying my own breakfast on my way to work. That night, while in bed, hubby was a little upset and asked me: "LD, is it because you think that mum's cooking is not clean that's why you chose not to eat at home?" He then turned his back on me and left me alone in tears as feeling of nfairness overwhelmed me. After some time, hubby sighed: "LD, just for me, can you have breakfast at home?" I am left with no choice but to return to the breakfast table.

The next morning, I was having porridge prepared by mother and I felt a sudden churn in my stomach and everything inside seem to be rushing up my throat. I tried to suppress the urge to throw up but I could not. I threw down the bowl, rushed into the washroom, and vomited everything out. Just as I was catching my breath, I saw mother crying and grumbling very loudly in her dialect, hubby was standing at the washroom doorway staring at me with fire burning in his eyes.. I opened my mouth but no words came out of it, I really did not mean it.

We had our very first big fight that day; mother took a look at us, then stood up and slowly made her way out of the house. Hubby gave me a final stare in the eye and followed mother down the stairs. For three days, hubby did not return home, not even a phone call. I was so furious, since mother arrived; I had been trying my best and putting up with her, what else do you want me to do? For no reason, I keep having the feeling to throw up and I simply have not appetite for food, coupled with all the events happening at home, I was at then low point in my life.

Finally, a colleague said: "LD, you look terrible; you should go and see a doctor." The doctor confirmed that I am pregnant.

Now it became clear to me why I threw up that fateful morning, a sense of sadness floated through that otherwise happy news. Why didn't hubby, and mother who had been through this before, thought of the possibility of this being the reason that day? At the hospital entrance, I saw my hubby standing there. It had only been three days, but he looked haggard. I had wanted to turn and leave, but one look at him and my heart soften, I couldn't resist and called out to him. He followed my voice and finally found me but he pretended that he doesn't know me; he has that disgusted look in his eyes that cut right through my heart. I told myself not to look at him anymore, and hail a cab. At that moment, I have such a strong urge inside me to shout to my hubby: "Darling, I am having your baby!" and have him lift me up and spin me around in circles of joy. What I wanted didn't happen and as I sat in the cab, my tears started rolling down. Why? Why our love couldn't even withstand the test of one fight?

Back home, I lay on the bed thinking about my hubby, and the disgusted look in his eyes. I cried and wet the corner of the blanket. That night, sound of the drawers opening woke me up. I switched on the lights and I saw hubby with tears rolling down his face. He was removing the money. I stared at him in silence; he ignored me, took the bank deposit book and some money and left the house. Maybe he really intends to leave me for good. What a rational man, so clear-cut in love and money matters. I gave a few dried laugh and tears starting streaming down again. The next day, I did not go to work. I wanted to clear this out and have a good talk with hubby. I reached his office and his secretary gave me a weird look and said: "Mr. Tan's mother had a traffic accident and is now in the hospital."

I stood there in shock. I rushed to the hospital and by the time I found hubby, mother had already passed away. Hubby did not look at me, his face was xpressionless. I looked at mother's pale white and thin face and I couldn't control the tears in my eyes. My god, how could this happen? Throughout the funeral, hubby did not say a single word to me, with only the occasional disgusted stare at me. I only managed to find out brief facts about the accident from other people. That day, after mother left the house, she walked in dazed toward the bus stop, apparently intending to go back to her old house back in the countryside. As hubby ran after her, she tried to walk faster and as she tried to cross the street, a public bus came and hit her...I finally understood how much hubby must hate me, if I had not thrown up that morning, if we had not quarreled, if....In his heart, I am indirectly the killer of his mother.

Hubby moved into mother's room and came home every night with a strong liquor smell on him. And me, I am buried under the guilt and self-pity and could hardly breathe. I wanted to explain to him, tell him that we are going to have our baby soon, but each time, I saw the dead look in his eyes, all the words I have at the brink of my mouth just fell back in. I had rather he hit me real hard or give me a big and thorough scolding though none of these events happening had been my fault at all.

Many days of suffocating silence went by and as the days went by, hubby came home later and later. The deadlock between us continues, we were living together like strangers who don't know each other. I am like the dead knot in his heart.

One day, I passed by a western restaurant, looking into the glass window, I saw hubby and a girl sitting facing each other and he very lightly brushed her hair for her, I understood what it meant. After recovering from that moment of shock, I entered the restaurant, stood in front of my hubby and stared hard at him, not a tear in my eyes. I have nothing to say to him, and there is no need to say anything. The girl looked at me, looks at hubby, stands up and wanted to go, hubby stretched out his hand and stopped her. He stared back at me,challenging me. I can only hear my slow heart beat, beating, one by one as if at the brink of death. I eventually backed down, if I had stood that any longer, I will collapse together with the baby inside me. That night, he did not come home; he had chosen to use that as a way to indicate to me: Following mother's death so did our love for each other.

He did not come home anymore after that. Sometimes, when I returned home from work, I can tell that the cupboard had been touched - he had returned to take some of his stuff. I no longer wish to call him; the initial desire to explain everything to him vanished. I lived alone; I go for my medical checkups alone, my heart breaks again and again every time I see a guy carefully helping his wife through the physical examination. My office colleagues hinted to me to consider aborting the baby, I told them No, I will not.. I insisted on having to this baby, perhaps it is my way of repaying mother for causing her death. One day, I came home and I saw hubby sitting in the living room. The whole house was filled with cigarette smoke. On the coffee table, there was this piece of paper. I know what it is all about without even looking at it. In the two months plus of living alone, I have gradually learned to find peace within myself. I looked at him, removed my hat and said: "You wait a while, I will sign." He looked at me, mixed feelings in his eyes, just like mine.

As I hang up my coat, I keep repeating to myself "You cannot cry, you cannot cry..." my eyes hurt terribly, but I refused to let tears come out from there. After I hung up my coat, hubby's eyes stared fixed at my bulging tummy. I smiled, walked over to the coffee table and pulled the paper towards me. Without even looking at what it says, I signed my name on it and pushed the paper to him. "LD, are you pregnant?" Since mother's accident, this is the first time he spoke to me. I could not control my tears any further and they fell like raindrops. I said: "Yes, but its ok, you can leave now." He did not go, in the dark, we sat, facing each other. Hubby slowly moved over me, his tears wet the blanket. In my heart, everything seems so far away, so far that even if I sprint, I could never reach them. I cannot remember how many times he repeated "sorry" to me. I had originally thought that I would forgive him, but now I can't. In the western restaurant, in front of that girl, that cold look in his eyes, I will never forget, ever. We have drawn such deep scars in each other's heart. For me, it's unintentional; for him, totally intentional. I had been waiting for this moment of reconciliation, but I realized now, what had gone past is gone forever and could not repeated.

Other than the thought of the baby inside me that would bring some warmth to my heart, I am totally cold towards him, I no longer eat anything he buys for me, I don't take any presents from him and I stopped talking to him. From the moment I signed on that piece of paper, marriage and love had vanished from my heart. Sometimes, hubby will try to come into the bedroom, but when he walks in, I will walk out to the living room. He had no choice but to sleep in mother's room. At night, from his room, I can hear light sounds of groaning, I kept quiet. This used to be his trick; last time, whenever I ignore him, he would fake illness and I will surrender and find out what is wrong with him, he would then grab me and laugh. He has forgotten that last time I cared for him and am concerned because there was love, but now, what is there between us? Hubby's groaning came on and off continuing but I continuously ignored him.

Almost everyday, he would buy something for the baby, infant products, children products and books that kids like to read. Bags and bags of it stacked inside his room till it is full. I know he is trying to use this to reach out to me, but I am no longer moved by his actions. He has no choice but to lock himself in his room and I can hear his typing away on his computer keyboard, maybe he is now addicted to web surfing but none of that matters to me anymore. It was sometime towards the end of spring in the following year, one late night, I screamed because of a sudden stomach pain, hubby came rushing into the room, its like he did not change and sleep, and had been waiting for this moment.He carried me and ran down the stairs, stopped a car, holding my hand very tightly and kept wiping the sweat off my brow, throughout the journey to the hospital. Once we reached the hospital, he carried me and hurried into the delivery suite. Lying on the back of his skinny but warmth body, a thought crossed my mind: In my lifetime, who else would love me as much as he did?

He held the delivery suite door opened and watch me go in; his warm eyes caused me to manage a smile at him despite my contraction pain. Coming out of the delivery room, hubby looked at our son and me, eyes tear with joy and he kept smiling. I reached out and touched his hand. Hubby looked at me, smiling and then he slowly collapsed onto the floor. I cried out for him in pain... He smiled, but without opening that tired eyes of his... I had thought that I would never shed any tear for him, but the truth is, I have never felt a deeper pain cutting through my body at that moment. Doctor said that by the time hubby discovered he had liver cancer, it was already in terminal stage and it was a miracle that he managed to last this long. I asked the doctor when he first discovered he had cancer. Doctor said about 5 months ago and consoled me saying: "Prepare for his funeral."

I disregarded the nurse's objection and rushed home, I went into his room and checked his computer, and a suffocating pain hitsme. Hubby's cancer was discovered 5 months ago, his groaning was real, and I had thought that... the computer showed over 200 thousand words he wrote for our son:

“Son, just for you, I have persisted, to be able to take a look at you before I fall, is my biggest wish now... I know that in your life, you will have many happiness and maybe some setbacks, if only I can accompany you throughout that journey, how nice would it be. But daddy now no longer has that chance. Daddy has written inside here all the possible difficulties and problems you may encounter during your lifetime, when you meet with these problems, you can refer to daddy's suggestion.. ..

Son, after writing these 200 thousand words, I feel as if I have accompanied you through life journey. To be honest, daddy is very happy. Do love your mother, she has suffered, she is the one who loves you most and also the one who loves me most..." From play school to primary school, to secondary, university, to work and even in dealing with questions of love, everything big and small was written there.

Hubby has also written a letter for me:

"My dear, to marry you is my biggest happiness, forgive me for the pain I have caused you, forgive me for not telling you my illness, because I want to see you be in a joyful mood waiting for the arrival of our baby...My dear, if you cried, it means that you have forgiven me and I would smile, thank you for loving me...These presents, I'm afraid I cannot give them to our son personally, could you help me to give some of them to him every year, the dates on what to give when are all written on the packaging... "

Going back to the hospital, hubby is still in coma. I brought our son over and place him beside him. I said: "Open your eyes and smile, I want our son to remember being in the warmth of your arms..." He struggled to open his eyes and managed a weak smile. Our son still in his arms was happily waving his tiny hands in the air. I press the button on the camera and the sound of the shutter rang through the air as tears slowly rolled down my face.... A fatal misunderstanding and the person who loves me the most in this world is gone forever..."Cruel misunderstandings one after another disrupted the blissful footsteps to our family. Our originals intend of having Mother enjoy some quiet and peaceful moments in her remaining years with us went terribly wrong as destiny's secret is finally revealed at a price, every thing became too late."...... ..

This is a true story.

LEARNING POINT - DO NOT EVER HOLD ON TO OFFENCES!!!

I am totally speechless, this story brought tears to my eyes as I read through each line eager to know what would happen next. It truly showed the devastating power of grudges and anger! Simple humility and communication would have resolved most of the problems in that story, as well as patience.... This story has really touched my heart and life as a whole and it has stimulated a paradigm shift. Though it is very sad, it is also very refreshing to know that from today, I can consciously start to live a life free of grudge. People please let's live a life devoid of grudge. Communication is key.

Take greatest care and live on

"I'm Feeling Angry"

When you are angry, the first positive step is to admit to yourself that you are angry. Say aloud, "I'm feeling angry." The second step is to ask God to help you handle your anger in a positive way. "Lord, help me to do what is right and good with my anger." The third step is to ask, "Did someone sin against me?" If so, the biblical answer is to lovingly confront the person and seek reconciliation.

On the other hand, if you are angry simply because something happened that irritates you, ask "What can I learn from this experience?" If the other person habitually arrives late for your appointment, perhaps you can talk with them and negotiate change. Thus the anger has served a positive purpose. God wants to teach you how to handle your anger in a godly way.

When you are angry, be sure to get the facts before you take action. You hear your spouse tell someone on the phone, "I'll be there tomorrow night." You know that tomorrow night is your date night, so you get angry. Before you storm in and say something harsh, take time to ask, "Did I hear you promise someone to do something tomorrow night?" Your spouse says, "Yes, I told mom I'd bring her blanket by. I thought we could do it either before or after we go out to eat."

Your anger subsides because you took time to get the facts. Often we jump to conclusions about what someone said or did, and we accuse them in anger. We ruin a perfectly good evening because we failed to ask questions.

Adapted from Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Healthy Way by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.

With blessings.

11 Be Still And Know (Ps 46_1-2, 10).mp3 -

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Rejoice in the Lord

Rejoice In The Lord - The St. Johns Childrens Cho

Haven't had the opportunity to update the blog with something that the Lord had ministered in to heart these couple of weeks. For me, I make it a point to share whenever I am being blessed by the Lord and learnt something from Him, both to remind myself and also hoping that as I pen it down, it would be a blessing to many others.

The Inevitable Trials in Life
Recently, I have been thinking about circumstances that we face and how we respond. It makes me wonder if being a Christian indeed would rid us of all trials and inevitably, the answer is no, but I have come to realise that the difference is that, being a Christian, we are assured that God is in our lives and He knows and have His plans for us, that to me is peace and hope.

I am reminded in the book of James how it was mentioned that we consider it pure joy whenever we face trials of many kinds and its role in helping us in maturity. The word used here is "whenever" and not "if", pointing to how trials are inevitable even in the lives of Christians. So anyone who thinks that Christians are "exempted" from the trials of life, then think again. But, like I have learnt through the big and small trials of my life, the difference is God and knowing that He sees and everything is in His hands.

Remembering We Are Significant
At Thursday devotion last week at work, we saw a presentation on the size of the planet earth as compared to the sun and eventually, the galaxy. We saw that, as compared to the galaxy, we and the planet earth are minute in scale. But yet, God cares for us so much that He did his work on the cross.

Someone has ever said, the next time we face a trial, instead of calling out "Oh God, we have a big problem!", call out "Problem, we have a big GOD!".

Remembering God is the Almighty and Sovereign God
Indeed, everything is in God's hands and nothing is too difficult for God as the bible reminds us in Luke 1:37 "For nothing is impossible with God."

However, God is still a sovereign God and has His sovereign will. In His love for us as the heavenly Father, He knows what's best and sometimes says "Yes", "Not Yet" or "No" to us. Perhaps, God has His plans for all His people and is not a genie who grants everyone's wishes. He is the sovereign God with His sovereign will for everyone.

Choosing to Rejoice & Receiving The Peace of God
Instead, Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

At our Tuesday devotion last week, as everyone shared, I felt spoken to and prompted to share from Philippians 4:4-7 ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

God shows us that He is a big God and having God in our lives, we can have the peace to say that God knows every single struggle and challenges we are facing and we can rejoice in the fact that He is in your life and we can pray to Him and submit to Him areas which we need His touch.

At the devotion session that just past on Thursday, I heard of a testimony of a person with a tough life; someone who was almost aborted, someone who was born to divorcee, someone whose mum is an alcoholic and threatened to kill her every night, someone who was bullied by her peers, someone who lost her mother subsequently and who had to work hard to put herself through studies, failing many years. But today, we hear the testimony of this person who gave testimony to how God had helped her to pull through it all, the peace of God which transcend all understanding and watched over her as she believes that God has His plans for her.

Maybe, to many of us, we may not have as dramatic a life story or we may even have. But all in all, we are reminded that God is always in control. To many of us, this may sound like something cliche and something easy to preach but I speak from experience after have seen God at work in my life that He is real and He does have His plans for us... sometimes, we may not understand it all but years later when we look back, we see how things worked out.

When I was in a down moment about 2 years back in ministry, facing all kinds of perceived rejection. I lamented to God. But God ministered to me through Don Moen and his song, "I Will Sing". Today, I will still sometimes lament, but after seeing how God had delivered me time and again (though sometimes not immediate), I choose to rejoice and sing unto Him.

To be a Blessing
While we may not be in the best of best of situations, but we can be thankful each day for what we are blessed in big and small ways and we can in turn bless others as God has blessed us.

In the words of Gary Haugen at the Global Leadership Summit last year, he challenged and ask Christian leaders, "Why have we been given so much when there are so much suffering in other parts of the world?" The answer, God loves the world and we can be the answer to others suffering, through blessing others with the love of God through prayer, donations or even just showing care and concern.

Thank God for blessings in our lives but don't stop there. Be a blessing so others can be impacted and also praise God for the blessing they received:

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

We have the choice

A Spirit-Filled Life

Last week's cell discussion was great and I really thank each and everyone of you for sharing the work of the Holy Spirit in your lives.

Personally, I have enjoyed preparing for the discussion as I sat down myself and reflected upon what the Holy Spirit has done in my life and that evening, hearing how the Holy Spirit is so real in your lives has further encouraged me and even helped me to know the Holy Spirit better.

The "Mystical" Topic of the Holy Spirit
For a long time, I have heard about the Holy Spirit and know about it but then because it is somewhat "intangible" and to me it was a rather abstract idea. However, last week's cell discussion has helped me to know the Holy Spirit better and also to see it at work in my life. As much as I had been blessed by the session, I hope you too. And I thank God for this blessing.

Wisdom & the Holy Spirit
In fact, it was a prayer answered. Even though I approached the cell discussion having thought through the topic and reflected on my spiritual walk with the Lord, I was still rather lost (as usual) as to how I should approach cell facilitation. I prayed to God and had asked for guidance. That evening, I had prepared a few questions but in the morning, I suddenly received a sms from a colleague friend on 1 Corinthians 2 about how the Spirit reveals to us wisdom from God. I do not know why but then that set me thinking about the work of the Holy Spirit in my own life and prompted me to change one of the discussion questions. And looking back, I was glad I heard the prompting and how the question eventually surfaced a rich discussion on the Holy Spirit in your lives, which ultimately also blessed me.

What is the Basic of Church?
Reading from Acts 2:36-47, we read of Peter's address to the crowd after Jesus died and the instructions given to the early church. For many of us, this might be a "back-to-basics" reminder about what the church is supposed to be:

1. Repentence and baptism for the forgiveness of our sin (v38)
2. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (v38)
3. Devotion to apostle's teaching (v42)
4. Devotion to fellowship with one another (v42)
5. Devotion to breaking of bread (v42)
6. Devotion to prayer (v42)
7. Works - selling their possessions and goods and gave to anyone as he had need (v45)
8. Unity (v44, 46)
   

While these is how the early church is and it might be tempting to note it as a "to-do" for the church, Elder Freddy kept reminding that there is a critical part of the church and that is the Holy Spirit... without the Holy Spirit, a church is not a church! So in v38, we see how the early followers received the Holy Spirit and as a result of their faith and all they have done with the presence of the Holy Spirit, there were:

1. Salvation - Three thousand were added to their numbers that day (v41)
2. People were filled with awe (v43)
3. Many wonders and miraculous signs (v43)
4. Praises as people praised God and enjoyed the favour of all the people (v47)
5. More salvation - The Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved (v47)

The Promise of the Holy Spirit for Us
For me, I was reminded that God gave us His Holy Spirit to help us in our lives. In John 14:15-27, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit ...

"and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knowns him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you... you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me and I am in you... But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom I the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

Jesus went on to talk about the vine and the branches and how we can bear fruit as long as we remain in Him and Him in us; bearing fruits (v2, 4, 5), glorifying God (v8) and being filled with joy (v11). It is like a reminder on the consequences of having God in our lives; with the Holy Spirit in our lives. We received the Holy Spirit into our lives when we accept Christ as Lord and Saviour and invite Him into our lives.

A Spirit Filled Life that We Can Strive Towards
And, for the first time, it started to make sense to me what the fruit of the Spirit means. Maybe I am slow but then God spoke into my heart how it is His will that we be filled with the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit as we live Spirit-filled lives. That as we continue to strive towards a Spirit-filled life, it is God's will that we have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The Work of the Holy Spirit
So, it really led me to think about what the Holy Spirit has done in my own life. I mean, as I reflected on myself, I have come to realise how my life has tremendously changed in the last 4 years after having come back to the Lord. Yes, it hasn't been easy and I had cried out to the Lord on several times but then I see how I am indeed filled with more peace and joy and God has also brought restoration in relationships in my life, including doing the seemingly impossible and reconciling me to people who I hated and who caused me to go into downtime 4 years back. I am a much confident person now and can see God at work everyday of my life, even to the extent of prompting me in ministry to others with words to share. Even my mum, whom I had thought will never come back to the Lord, is now back walking and coming to church every week. To many things changed and to me, it is definitely more than coincidence.

And, just as we had shared with one another through our various experiences, we have learnt and saw how the Holy Spirit have, in different one of our lives:

1. Granted us peace and hope even in the midst of trials and everything seemed bleak
2. Restores broken relationships
   
3. Instructs us in life on walking righteously with the Lord, prompting us in spirit when we are not
4. Protects us from attempts of the enemy to take us away from walking with the Lord
5. Prompts us in ministry to each other including the sharing of His word that speaks Rhema word into others' lives
6. Moulds us and our person
7. Speaks into our lives in different seasons of our lives
8. Helps us

Well, I believe that if we had more time, we would have gone on and on and the fact is that the Holy Spirit plays an important role in the lives of Christ followers as it helps, guides, equips, protects etc. I have shared at the closing of cell last week how I am quite a klutz and can be very blur. But it is amazing how God has led me through, including even blessing me in my work ministry and even moulding my personality to be more confident. For me, I would say it is the life transforming work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

Sons and Heirs
As I was doing my quiet time today, I was reminded from Galatians 4 that we were once children and even though we were heirs, we were likened to slaves, being subjected to trustees and guardians until a time set by the father; slaves of the principles of the world. But with the work of Christ, we have become children and God "sent the spirit of his son into our hearts, so we no longer are slaves but sons and heirs.

Do You Desire the Holy Spirit?
God have His Holy Spirit to help us and the church. And I can say that God, the Father, wants the best for us, a life that is spirit-filled and filled with the fruit of the spirit. How much do you desire the Holy Spirit in your life? Continue to ask for the Holy Spirit to fill your life and work in your life... Are you tired of living life and steering yourself when God is also all along around?

As we approach the time for prayer meeting tomorrow to pray for revival for Riverlife Church, let's pray for revival in our lives and also for the Church.

Living Life with Confidence

How do you live life after being a Christ-follower? Have anything changed?

As I saw this clip and when reflecting upon, it became clear to me that as compared to the past, I have come to become relatively more confident in life, knowing that I am not alone and that God is always with me, watching over me and guiding me.

For me, seeing God at work in my life, both in big ways and small ways, both in blessing me to achieve things I know I would not be able to alone and in helping me to overcome trials, have just helped me to become more and more confident in living life with God's presence.

One thing I have learnt is that being a Christ-follower does not necessarily means life will be easier but life becomes more bearable, peaceful, more powerful and hopeful knowing that God is with us.

After all, did not God in His word promise us that:

"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 29:11, NIV)

and "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?"
(Hebrews 13:5b-6, NIV).

Our God is an omniscient (knowing everything), omnipotent (all powerful) and omnipresent (being present everywhere) God.Have you allowed Him to change your life?

Lessons from Naomi & Ruth

It's funny how I am ministered to by the book of Ruth again this morning at department devotion (see Our Daily Bread article below). But then again, the word of God does have power to speak to us and minister to us. And I continue to thank God for each and every one of my colleagues and the opportunity to come together week after week, even if it is for a few minutes, to share time together in devotion and coming before God to be ministered to and to minister. I am always ministered to by the sharing as it shows how real God is in each and everyone of our lives. I always believe that where God is, lives are touched and changed.

The Book of Ruth & Ministry
Earlier, I shared how the book of Ruth has a part to play in my ministry, when God spoke to me in church during the Peter Tsukahira seminar, moments before I communicated my decision to step down from ministry to our AO. God stirred my heart and assured me how He will never leave me and asked if I would leave His calling for me. As I look back, I can say that it hasn't been easy but then I can feel God walking with me every step of the way and it is really wonderful seeing Him so real in every aspect of my life, not just in ministry.

The Book of Ruth Speaks Again
Today, the book of Ruth spoke to me yet again, more than 1.5 years later; kind of like a reminder.

Lesson #1 - It showed me how despite the bitterness and how Naomi had cried out in her human spirit about the bitterness, she has never forsaken God. Similarly, sometimes in the midst of difficulty, it may be difficult seeing and understanding from God's perspective of things e.g. death of someone close, loss of things we hold dear to, difficulty, brokenness etc but we can know "that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). We cannot explain trials because God can do so many things through it... it can be that God is refining us, it can be that God has other plans in place, it can be that we are receiving attack from the enemy and/or it can just be us paying the consequences of our sin, but we know that God is always there and will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). God has given us Immanuel (God with us) (Matthew 1:23) that we may have life and have it in abundance as we draw near to Him (John 10:10). A reminder how God has used the book of Ruth to minister to me about ministry and His calling. But I am glad to have stayed on in His calling and seeing that He has not forsaken me.

Lesson #2 and #3 - The other thing I have learned is how God is always in control. We see how Naomi, though having not done anything of epic proportions, has been used by God and became a spiritual impact for Ruth (Ruth subsequently became part of the genealogy of Christ, see Matthew 1). That is God's big picture of things. Recently, a friend and I was able to see how God was in control every step of the way despite difficult circumstances. I had prayed for wisdom to help in the situation and was amazed how things fell into place and how God had used me and led me through with words and verses. God is always in control and He will make a way. But even more than that, it also shows how in obedience, we also become a spiritual impact for others, no matter in big or small ways, God can work through us, as He works through Naomi and Ruth, despite Ruth being a Moabitess and not an Israelite.

Our Daily Bread
February 24, 2009
Managing The Mess
READ: Ruth 1:15-22
Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me? —Ruth 1:21

When we meet Naomi in the Scriptures, her life is a mess. She and her husband had gone to Moab searching for food during a famine. While in that land, their two sons married Moabite women, and life was good—until her husband and sons died and she was stuck, widowed in a foreign land.

Though honest about her pain, Naomi obviously had a sense of who was in control: “The Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me” (Ruth 1:21).

The Hebrew word for “Almighty” (Shaddai) indicates God’s sufficiency for any situation. The word “Lord” (Yahweh) refers to His faithfulness as the loving covenant-keeping God. I love how Naomi put these two names together. In the midst of her complaint, she never lost sight of the fact that her God was a capable and faithful God. And, sure enough, He proved His capability to deliver her and His faithfulness to care for her to the very end.

If there seems to be no way out of your despair, remember that Naomi’s God is your God as well. And He specializes in managing our messes to good and glorious outcomes. Thankfully, He is both capable and faithful. So, when your life is a mess, remember who your God is! — Joe Stowell

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last. —von Schlegel

Stand back and watch the Lord manage your mess into a glorious outcome.

Related Post: CG Discussion: Lessons from Naomi

What On Earth Am I Here For?

Today, we had department devotion and as we were going through Our Daily Bread today, it was interesting how the article sparked off quite a bit of reflection within me; I had thought that as Christians and having accepted the Lord, we should know who we are and where we are going. But the truth is that, we seem to need constant reminders and reflections:

Our Daily Bread
16 February 2009
Link: http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/02/16/devotion.aspx
1 John 3:1-9

The Answer

The story is told that the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) was sauntering through Berlin’s famous Tiergarden one day, mentally probing the questions of origin and destiny that had been constantly perplexing him: Who am I? Where am I going?

A park-keeper, closely observing the shabbily dressed philosopher as he walked slowly with head bowed, suspected that Schopenhauer was a tramp. So he walked up to the philosopher and demanded, “Who are you? Where are you going?” With a pained expression, Schopenhauer replied, “I don’t know. I wish somebody could tell me.”

Are you ever perplexed by those same questions? Who am I? Where am I going? What a comfort it is to have God’s authoritative answers in the Bible. Who are we? In 1 John 3, John calls his readers “children of God” (v.2). We become His children by receiving Jesus as our Savior from sin (John 1:12). And where are we going? John 14:1-6 tells us that one day He will receive us into a home He is preparing in heaven.

Our Maker is not only the Author of science and history, but He writes the story of every member of Adam’s family—yours and mine. We can trust His answers. — Vernon C. Grounds

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave-notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear. —Scott

When you know Jesus, you know who you are and where you’re going.

It was a refreshing touch and reminder as I pondered about purpose of life once again. I have again come to realise, through all the discussion and even the sermon at the Chinese service last week, how God's heart is for relationship with us and to see us transformed and restored, not about robots or religion. He longs for everyone to come back to Him with a contrite, convicted and convinced heart, rather than it all being about just conversion.

So, as some will put it, God has placed eternity in our hearts; a God-shaped vaccuum that many of us tries to fill with things e.g. wealth, sex, glory, work, religiosity etc. Yet sometimes, it takes crises to help us see how these things are not eternal and things will change, but yet God's love will never change. For me, it has been work and achievements in the past which had fed the vaccum. Though it worked for many many years, I soon found myself all shocked and lost when these things started to fail me...

So, if you have yet to pondered about the purpose of life or needs a nudge, here's something which my colleague has found on the net and hope it will ministers:

What On Earth Am I Here For?

Suggested use: Answer the questions first for yourself, and then read and enjoy John Fischer’s comments.

Have you ever wondered about, or felt confused about, the purpose of your life?

Being confused about your purpose in life is not a bad thing. It is actually something that can awaken a desire to seek the truth about who we are and why we’re here.

One of the wisest men in history, King Solomon, who ruled the nation of Israel after his father, David, was confused about his purpose in life. He once wrote, “I, the Teacher, was king of Israel and I lived in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done in the world. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. Everything under the sun is meaningless, like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:12-15 NLT).

A lot of people are surprised to find out that such statements are in the Bible, and that God himself would be blamed as being responsible for our meaningless lives. But the key to Solomon’s observation is where he places the seat of this wisdom as being “under the sun.” Solomon is saying that if he looks at our human existence trapped on this planet and tries to explain it using human reason and accomplishments “under the sun,” that he can’t come to any better conclusion than life is meaningless.

It is hard—almost impossible—to explain the meaning of life without God, and that’s why everything starts here. God brings design and purpose to our existence. God has a plan that stretches beyond our history. God wants a relationship with us. That in itself gives us meaning. For whatever reason, Solomon wasn’t willing to go beyond what he could physically prove to look for answers to his questions

Every human being who has ever lived has had questions about his or her existence. It makes a big difference where you look for answers. You can’t really know much about meaning in life without being willing to admit that “beyond the sun”—or outside our human experience—is a Being with a design and a reason for all that we see and experience “under the sun.” You’ll need to at least be open to the possibility to move on in this study.

Here’s something to think about: Do you think it’s possible that God created us hungry for the very thing He wants to give us? He created us to seek Him? If so, wondering about your purpose could very well be the most important thing you could do. If this is true, then wondering about your purpose is the first step in finding it.

What ways have you tried to discover your life’s purpose that haven’t worked?

Have you ever wondered if a good deal of advertising appeals to the need we all have for purpose and meaning in life? Buy this car, drink this beer, go to this school, wear this make-up, purchase this insurance and you will have meaning in life. (…and for everything else, there’s MasterCard.)

The real truth about human nature never changes. Almost 400 years ago, Blaise Pascal, a brilliant French scientist and philosopher explained the dilemma of human existence as a God-shaped vacuum in the center of the human heart—a need for God that He placed there that won’t be satisfied by anything other than God Himself. In Pascal’s own words:

What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object—in other words, by God Himself.

Think of the things our culture lures us into using for our purpose: power, prestige, glory, sex, and wealth. The problem with these things is that there never seems to be enough. Even the people who have “arrived” aren’t happy the way we imagine them being. Meaninglessness is like a black hole at the center of human existence that sucks up whatever we throw at it, leaving it as empty as it was before. Even things that are supposed to be good seem to disappear in this deep cavern.

What have you thrown into the black hole of your existence that hasn’t filled it up? I think we all receive temporary satisfaction from some things, but what will really hold up over time?

Why do you think people try to discover their life’s purpose without turning to God, their creator?

Let’s think about some answers on this one:

- If I turned to God I might lose control of my life.

- God might take away all my fun.

- If there is a God, He’s definitely bigger than me and probably has some demands on my life.

- We always want to do things ourselves. Theme song: “I Did It My Way.”

- We want to be in control of our own destiny.

- We are afraid of God, we don’t know God, or we find God too mysterious.

- We think God’s idea of purpose is probably pretty religious and definitely boring.

- We like religion about as much as we like politics; we don’t want to get into a discussion about either one.

- We don’t believe in creation. We’ll have to find a purpose apart from a designed existence because that’s what we learned to believe.

But what if God were a kind, loving creator who made us like Himself because He wanted a relationship with us, and gave us the ability to choose Him or not because He didn’t want robots? What if He actually has our best interests in mind? Wouldn’t you want to check it out?

For Further Study

• Ephesians 1:3-14 God’s eternal plan for us.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 Even Solomon made some difficult conclusions about God ’s place in our search for meaning.

Source: http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/AboutUs/AboutTheBook/sampleChapters/chapter1.htm

Discussion: Abiding in the Presence of God

Open the Eyes of My Heart

Lover of My Heart

Lover of My Heart - Paradise Community Church

I Just Want to be Where You Are

God Always With Us
Elder Andrew Goh spoke on the presence of God recently. One of the thing about what I have learnt thus far in my walk with God is that God is ever present, even through the good times and bad times. Even though when things seems to be falling apart or not going well, and it feels horrible, God has never forsaken us because aren't Christ called "Immanuel" (Matthew 1:23), which means "God with us"? Similarly through the Old and New Testament, we have been reminded that as we seek the Lord, he will not forsake us:

Old Testament - Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

New Testament - Hebrew 13:5
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Feeling God Has Forsaken Us
Do you believe in that? I do, because I have seen how God has brought me through many personal, family and ministry struggles in my life so much so it becomes more than coincidences. But this do set me thinking why does it sometimes feel as though the Lord has forsaken me? I am reminded at devotion this week at work that these feelings are common, even to David who sought after God's heart, when in Psalm 22 he started "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" but he goes on to proclaim that he believe God will lead him out in victory. David has never took his eyes off God and proclaimed to him in verse 19 "But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my strength, come quickly to help me..." He believed in the power and will of God in his life. In Isaiah 49:14, the people of Israel felt that God had forsaken them but Isaiah puts forth his argument that God would never forget them as a loving mother would not forget her little child.

Isaiah 49:14-15
14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me."15 "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!"

Feeling Forsaken: God's Deliverance Through Trials
Why then do we feel "forsaken" by the Lord sometimes? Personally, I cannot answer that... but I do believe that God has His will in everyone's life... firstly to receive everyone into a relationship with Him and then to work with the person... I am reminded of how I came back to Christ when a sister-in-christ asked me "God has not forsaken you, have you forsaken him?" I was in a low period at that time and was going through horrible struggles but looking back, I can see how God has His plans for me as he reminded me when I first came back with Jeremiah 29:11. God has brought me through different phases and seasons and have made life better. I am reminded of a saying during one of my devotions that sometimes God does not deliver us FROM trials but delivers us THROUGH trials.... perhaps that's the reason why James has mentioned in James 1:2-4

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

Feeling Forsaken: God's Pruning Through Trials
As I reflect back, God has used trials to prune me, removing undesirable parts of my life

John 15:2
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

Feeling Forsaken: God Revealing Himself
And through trials, He showed me how he is real... So sometimes we feel "forsaken" because we need to be delivered just as the struggles came to bring me back to Him and then for Him to do His work on me.

Feeling Forsaken: Us Withdrawing from God
Perhaps we feel forsaken because we had to take responsibility for our actions and we withdraw away from God, just as Adam and Eve withdrew away from God when they ate from the Tree they were told not to eat from (Genesis 3). God loves them still and had wanted the best for them, to be in a relationship with Him. But they have fallen away and withdrew from God as they hid among the trees and as God called out "where are you?" In a recent devotion, I have read how sometimes, in our sinfulness, we make deliberate choices to withdraw from Him because we are uncomfortable having Him near. So it became clear to me that it is not God who has forsaken us but sometimes we withdraw from Him. But the good news is that "He allows us to stay in our dark places for a time, but he doesn't leave us alone. He patiently watches over us, waiting for any indication that we desire to emerge" (from "A Devoted Heart" in New Men's Devotional Bible). So where are we now?

Where Are You?
Where are you with regards to the presence of God? Through Matthew 14:22-33, Elder Andrew God brought us through lessons we can draw lessons on our journey of abiding in God's presence. Where are you now?

Presence of Christ Lost
Presence of Christ Dreaded (v26)
Presence of Christ Revealed (v27)
Presence of Christ Desired (v28)
Presence of Christ Trust (v29)
Presence of Christ Forgotten (v30)
Presence of Christ Restored (v31-32)

Do you desire a touch of Him or to abide in His presence daily?

Why is Abiding in His Presence Important?
Last week, I was reading my devotion on Acts 16:16-40, I began to see how God not only walked on in journey with Paul and his companions, watching over them but also how God cared for everyone, including the slave girl who was kept following Paul and Silas proclaiming how Paul and companions are servant of the most High God and have come to tell people the way to be saved (v17). But what struck me the most is how Paul and Silas could ever by praying and singing hymns while in prison (v25). To me, I thought to myself, it must be the presence of God comforting them...

But as we discussed last week, that if God is omni present and dwells within us, why do we still need to strive to abide in His presence and seek for something that is already all around and within us?

Reasons to Abide - A Relationship to be Developed
Many of you shared how it is because Christianity is a relationship with God and how like in any relationship, it is important to spend time with the person in developing the relationship. In the same way, just as Senior Pastor was sharing in sermon last week on spiritual disciplines, it takes time and effort; it is not automatic, does not happen instantaneously and it is not a mystical experience meant for super saints. I remember sharing with someone that just as in relationship, no one else can ever help you to "pak tor" (go dating) and you yourself will have to put in the time and effort in developing your relationship with God. So abiding in God's presence helps you build a relationship with God.

Reasons to Abide - Remembering God in Your Life
Some of you shared how abiding in His presence help you to remember God amidst all the distractions in life; work, temptation etc. So abiding in God's presence help some of you to remember God in your life.

Reasons to Abide - Knowing God More
Yet for some of you, you have shared how abiding in His presence help you to know Him more. I like the way that Jason had put it... you can read Lee Kuan Yew's autobiography but still not know him. In the same way, are we putting in effort to know God... Having a relationship with God is more than just reading the bible and not allowing to shape your life. So abiding in His presence helps some of you to know God better.

Reasons to Abide - Experiencing His Power
I have shared how for me, personally, learning to abide in His presence helps me experience His power and glory. Sometimes it just makes me want to see God's glory and power more and more in my life. I have shared how over the span of a week, God had worked miracle in my family and how things feel into place, including my dad's hospitalisation, and my mum began coming to church again after many years of prayer and feeling that it will never happen. I shared how it was amazing seeing during the Chinese New Year week how God had worked; how while visiting our relatives, they had one after another asked if my mother is going to church, how my father's sudden cramp attack during CNY day 3 early morning and hospitalisation seemed to have an impact on my mum, how God had brought Min Qin to my house to invite her to the CNY service in church, how as if God knew that I needed time to work on my devotion on Thursday had granted me leave on Wednesday to rest after sending my dad to A&E and also work on my devotional sharing in Thursday. Every step of the way, it was amazing seeing how God worked and this has been a constant thing in my walk to see how God works and it just amazes me. And, I have also seen how God has worked in my life and by His grace, I continue to do relatively well in my job which He had called me to when I returned to Him. And even though I had no prior experience doing volunteer management, He continued to guide me through and I give thanks everyday at work as I see how things work out and how I am sometimes being asked to share with other organisations on volunteer management. All these over a span of 3 years. On my own, I would not have been able to do it so I can only attribute it to God. This is similarly so for cell ministry as I looked back how He continue to guide me and teach me things in ministry. So abiding in the presence of God helps me to do things that I will not be able to do myself and helps me see Him at work.

Reasons to Abide - Experiencing His Comfort
I have also shared how this time round, when I sent my dad to A&E, I have come to realise that though I was still anxious, I was relatively less anxious as compared to the time when I rushed him to A&E a few years back when he had a heart attack. I remembered crying in A&E and feeling all lost and not knowing what to do as I faced the uncertainty and the thought of losing my dad. But this time round, I felt relatively more comforted and prayed and committed my dad into God's hands, trusting in Him after having seen how He is so real in my life. So abiding in the presence of God helps me to feel not alone and comforted in times of crisis.

Whatever the reason, I do pray for you to be able to experience God in your life as you continue to walk with Him.

How do you abide in His presence?
Again, I don't think there is a secret formula but as some of you have shared...

• for some it is daily bible reading and reflection
• for some it is daily devotion using devotional materials e.g. Our Daily Bread
• for some it is being still and in solitude with self and God
• for some it is listening to praise and worship songs and reflecting on the lyrics
• for some it is singing aloud while with yourself
• for some it is writing, blogging and journalling in helping you to be more God-aware
• for some it is strumming away on the guitar and singing to the Lord

Whatever it is, find your way of relating to the Lord and you can start today in experiencing God in your life...

Jeremiah 31-2-3
² This is what the LORD says:
"The people who survive the sword
will find favor in the desert;
I will come to give rest to Israel."

³ The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:
"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Have Been Thinking: One True God

I had recently led in devotion at my workplace and God had showed me how life can sometimes be like being at the airport... there are so many airlines but which will in fact bring you to where you need to be? Similarly, in life, we are surrounded by "religions", worldviews, new age beliefs and how do we know that we are worshipping the one true God? Maybe I will reserve sharing the devotion for another time.

While reading my devotion this week, I was brought to Acts 17:16-34. There, Paul was waiting in Athens and observes how the people were worshipping idols (Acts 17:16) and instead of condemning them, his passion for Christ compelled him to reason with the people to draw them to God (Acts 17:17) even though it meant ridiculed sometimes or not being understood (Acts 17:18). Paul had wanted to proclaim the one true God to them (Acts 17:22-23). He made his case:

The One True God is not limited by temples and only live in it (Acts 17:24)
Think about it. If God is all so mighty, why is He only limited to buildings? Psalm 139:7-8 reminds us that "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

The One True God does not need sacrifices to be appeased (Acts 17:25)
The verse says it all... God does not need to be served by human hands as if He needed anything. After all, does He not own the whole world and gives man life and breath? Hebrews 10 reminds us that "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made)" (Heb 10:8). It goes on to explain how "those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (Heb 10:3-4). The bible describes man as very forgetful, often forgetting who God is and how He had delivered them...

The One True God is not fashioned as an image or idol made by man (Acts 17:29)
God in the bible has commanded that He is to be revered and that man are not to bow down to any idols. Who has seen God and who can do justice to fashion Him with our thoughts of His image.

The One True God is not far from us and accepts us as His children (Acts 17:27-28)
God accepts us as His children, to bless and watch over... John 1:12-13 "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." And man are being called children of God way in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 14:1) and several times in the New Testament e.g. 1 John 3:1 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" This is perhaps a very bold preposition.

The One True God is a loving God (Acts 17:30-31)
God is a loving God and Father and allows man to repent as 2 Peter 3:9 reminds "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."And He gives us choice to choose Him and gave us His son as an indication of His sacrifice Hebrews 10:10 "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." And God calls out to all to be reconciled to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:

"17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

The One True God is in control (Acts 17:26)
God is always in control as He reminds in Isaiah 44:24 "This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself..." and Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." But we are given a choice in life, just as Adam and Eve was given a choice and ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God gives us the choice to choose to love Him or be apart from Him. He draws people to Him through those who are called by Him and who are willing to be a part of the ministry of reconciliation. But precisely how all these work together, I have no answer because Romans 11:33-34 reminds us "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" A similar case is being put forth in Job 38-41.

And as a result of God's children going about with the "ministry of reconciliation", some come to become followers of Christ, while some has yet to (Acts 17:32-34).

Again, I thank God for giving me the wisdom to pen this down within this short hour... I pray He will bless your hearts with it.