Our Heart for God

Like these two flash animations as well, again by Kiro... nice ones about choices and how we develop a heart for God amidst our priorities, about how we are spiritual impact to others; in pointing others to Christ.

(Click on the pictures to start the shows):

Priorities
Duty

Footprints (Another Version)

Here's another version of Footprints, also by Kiro, which I find meaningful:

(Click on the picture to start the show):

Walking with Him

Kind of like this flash animation by Kiro, maybe because I had once backslided. Something like the parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:11-32. Enjoy!

(Click on the picture to start the show):

Song: Above All Else

Hi everyone!

I remember coming across this local youth's webpage some time ago and was so inspired by his testimony. Apparently, God has used his talents and he has written many meaningful worship songs, some of which has personally ministered to me like "One Thing I Ask of You".

And recently, when I visited the Love Singapore website, I came across yet his song "Above All Else", the English rendition of his song "感谢你上帝" (Thank You Lord) which is also a wonderful song on God's love for us. And the amazing thing is that he provides his music free for all to listen and be ministered to. Galvin is a strong testimony on how God uses people and their skills to also be a blessing to others.

Above All Else


感谢你上帝 (Chinese Rendition of "Above All Else")


ABOVE ALL ELSE
Galvin Sng

How wide is Your great love
That You would come and die for me
The Lamb that’s been given
So I may come receive

Your grace it overflows
Your mercy fills me in my soul
Such a wonderful Saviour
Who knows me like my own

What a privilege for me to come depend
on a God who calls me by my name, my friend

Above all else
I want to love You like You do
Lord I will worship like I should
I will give my all to You
Above all else
I want to live my life each day
Pleasing in every single way
Jesus I will offer up my all to You

There’re times when I would fall
When I can’t seem to hear You call
But I know that You’re here Lord
You’ll never let me go

You’ll always stand by me
For who I am and used to be
Don’t deserve any of these
The things You freely give

Song: Hosanna

A song which I have heard again and again but did not know the name till recently. Nice song that makes me want to declare how much I would like to exalt, praise and bless God for all He has done.



Hosanna
By Ollie Sebastian
Sang by Guy Sebastian

All the Nation come
They bow and sing your majesty forever
Every tongue confess that you are Lord.

Every knee shall bow
declare your name that you are Lord forever
High and lifted up We bless Your name

In your holyness
We find redemptions song
In Your majesty
I find where I belong

Hosanna You are holy and exalted
Hosanna You are high and lifted up
Hosanna You are worthy of all praise

We worship You
We worship You

A Letter to God

Hi everyone, here's my letter to God written last October... it is also my testimony of how God has worked in my life...

Modified from "Brown Envelope"
by spekulator

Dear God,

This is a long overdue letter to you (and I know it deep within my heart). I had recently started typing this letter but somehow did not know what should go into it; I had wanted to adequately express my gratitude for all that I have received from you; your grace, your blessings, your forgiveness. But somehow, sometimes I get a mental block...

Transformation A Year On

It has been a year now since I came back to Christ and it is clear to me how much my life has changed over the months. Not only have I grown spiritually, I have also seen how, from a broken person I was last year, my life has now changed for the better. Sure, I still struggle with certain issues but it sure feel comforting that you are watching over me... A year ago, I had to contend with strained relationships, a friendship that was coming to an end, and having to resign from a job I liked so much and facing the uncertainty of being jobless. All these came crashing down on me at the same time and I was sure that I was at the "bottom-mest" of the pit. Never would I have imagine that a year on, I am being blessed with another job which I love so much, blessed with wonderful people, friends and colleagues around me and you have also helped nursed the strained friendship back to almost the way it was... (Picture "White Clock" by Fenix)

The Return
In fact, one of my friend joked that I was made to go through all these so that I may have the opportunity to come back to Christ. Though, this was mentioned jokingly, I had never doubted that it might just have been so. I remember being baptised when I was just 12. But at that time, I did not know what it meant to be a Christian. All I remember was that the baptism was a very unique experience that still amazes me till this day. Though young, I remember coming out of the baptism pool feeling like a new person... it was as if the old me was washed away... it is a feeling that I am not able to describe fully even up till this day.

Anyway, after that, I just went on with the motion of being a Christian and soon drifted further and further away from you. I stopped going to church and backslided. My life was going so well to the extent, I felt that it was blessed, but I seemed to have forgotten about you. This went on for one year, two years, three years and lasted for some fifteen years. To be trueful, I did thought about returning back to Church but then the fear of being looked down upon as a backslider has prevented me from doing so many a times. I kept thinking "I do not need to go to church to be connected to God. As long as I have God in me, these are all but protocol". In fact, this was how I felt up till the personal crisis I faced last year. I remember tendering my resignation and while I was thinking where I will be going next to work, I recall telling myself... "definitely not a christian organisation since I will be looked down upon as a backslider.". But little did I expect that you already have a plan for me to return to you after fifteen years. You sent friends to support me during the crisis and you also sent a friend (who I was unlikely to keep in touch with) to minister to me and invite me back to church. I will always remember the words spoken by this friend which has touched me:

"the fact you feel this shame and remorse (of being a backslider) shows how much faith you still have in God. You will always be welcomed back into God's arms and God is always there in times of need, not failing us but only we failing him."

And when she subsequently asked me to visit her church, it was surprising that I agreed (though reluctantly) because I would usually decline. This paved the way for my return to Christ. The "dramatic happenings" at that very visit just made everything seem more than coincidental e.g. the incident where I lost my wallet (and was reminded by my friend when she came to return me the wallet: "hope you will be like your wallet, once lost but now am found") and the coincidental "40 days" mentioned in "The Purpose-Driven Life" and the 40 days to my last day at work. You continue to speak to me through church service, week after week. I recall that when I first came back to church, I was feeling terribly exhausted and burnt out at work. You helped me back onto my feet and the sermons during that time was on burnout and how to refocus to get back on track. Then subsequently, whenever I faced a struggle, you always had a sermon to minister to me that very same week. Even though I have drifted far away from you, you have not forgotten me and showed me much grace.

Your Blessings
Then, something unthinkable happened: upon learning about my resignation, my current boss asked me to apply for my current position. I recall telling myself before this that I will not apply for a job in a Christian organisation but things just seemed to fall into place and I was now going back to church and that paved the way for me to join a christian organisation. In fact, during the interview, I was asked about my spiritual maturity and I frankly told them that I had backslided but have recently gone back to church. I was no longer in bondage by my inferiority about my backsliding.

You subsequently gave me the job and I could see why I was called to my current job. You helped me to surface my skills in setting up systems and that was just what my current organisation needed; a volunteer management system. Despite being totally new to volunteer management, you continue to bless me everyday so much so I realised at my recent appraisal that so much have been achieved in this one year. Many could not believe that I am new to volunteer management and yet could achieve what I did. In fact, I was also surprised but I gather that this would not have been possible without your blessings. I continue to see your hands guiding the work that I do e.g. whenever I needed a particular kind of volunteer, that volunteer will just come knocking on our doors. In fact, everything just falls into place nicely and at the right time and there are just new blessings every day that just continue to convince me that you are real.

Going into a Spiritual Desert
Then, I went through a period of spiritual desert and a bit of that still persist today. I recall going with my friend to watch "The Da Vinci Code" and I started having so much doubts about you. Even though so much have happened to show me that you are real in my life, I began to have doubts nonetheless. You eventually won me over again and I am convinced about you. Then you called me; you called me to minister to others who came into my path so they will get to know you. I wouldn't say that I had been very successful but I am amazed how you worked through me. Many a times, I worry what I should say, but you never fail to provide me with opportunities to share about the gospel and also the say the right things at the right time. I also thank you for watching over me when I visited the cult and thank you for keeping me in your protection. (Modified form picture by "mancity")

Your Calling
Sometimes, the calling gets very tough and I withdraw and somewhat pretend not to hear the calling (just like Jonah). I even ask questions like "why me?" and felt that "I am so new and spiritually immature". You have continued to call out to me through sermons and various ways to remind me of my calling e.g. I recall one time when I ignored the calling to minister to my friend in the cult, there was the sermon on Jonah and Jonah just kept coming back again and again through sermons, through my colleagues (who were passing around a DVD about Jonah) and also during department devotion. You also reassured me about my calling when I was in doubt whether I was fdoing your will e.g. how you sent a colleague to travel with me as I went to meet my friend from the cult and incidentally, she had the book "Knowing God's Will" with her which she loaned to me.

You have taught me hard that I may not reap but may just have sowed the seed... just like how you have worked through me in talking to my friend in the cult, to my fellow sister-in-christ who is undergoing a very rough patch, to a part-timer who was also drifting away from you and how you allowed me to use my testimony to encourage her. I have also reaped harvest and am glad to see that a friend and my sister back in church. Of course, there are also a few others which I had not been able to reach out to but I sure hope to share the gospel with them... as a way of sharing the good news about salvation through Jesus Christ.

You continue to show yourself real through bible studies. In recent weeks, I have come to realise that the bible is not just any other document but a chronicle of your covenant to us; your unfailing convenant that we will get salvation not by good works but through Jesus Christ. The study of the books of Romans in recent months has shown me how your redemption plan is still in place and how many of your prophecies have came true. I also see the link between happenings in the past as chronicled in the bible and current situations as seen in the promised land of Israel and the middle east.

My Commitment
Though I still feel that I have drifted a bit away from you, I sincerely wish for you to be back in my life and to touch me and work through me to bless others. Just like what an elder shared a few weeks ago during sermon, I want to be like a river; it starts from a high point and as it meanders down, it feeds many animals along its course, carve out majestic landforms and waterfalls etc. Although by the time it comes to the end towards the dead sea it is muddy and dirty, it has served it purpose and has been a blessing to many before it came to the dead sea.

I also want to ask for your forgiveness for all the times I have disappointed you. I am like the prodigal son but even though I have returned, I can't help but feel I sometimes upset you. I also thank you for your grace which I witness everyday. I recall one of my friends sharing about this... if God hasn't been graceful, with so many people sinning against Him every second, He could have got so angry and just wiped the whole human race out just as He did during Noah's time. I also recall reading a comic strip about the grace of God and how instead of rain coming down in one big drop, He sent it down in many small droplets.

Amen.

God's Plan For Me

i would like to give thanks for my new working environment.

As i have share with some of you that i have resigned from tan tock seng hospital in May.and i was looking forward to my last day of work on 30th jun 07, friday 5pm sharp!

Amazingly, God changed my mind and i actually withdrew from my resignation on thursday 5pm! All these while (2years) i have been struggling in my career as a nurse. My life was full of ups and downs and i was feeling rather burnout and exhausted to a point that i felt that nursing does not suit me at all.I always ask why i m so bad luck, especially when i was working in the elderly ward setting when i first passed out as a new graduate staff nurse.

Many incidents and accidents will happen in my shift. Either my patient will collapse or one will have a fall or a patient will turn delirious (sun-down syndrome: behaving in an unusual manner and screaming), admissions from emergency department at my most occupied hour, my colleague suddenly don't feel well then need to take mc, doctors in bad-mood and screamed at me, call-bells start to ring endlessly, phone started ringing non-stop.....any many etc.(u can name any other things that u can think of and i should have experienced it)

I was always filled with anxiey and worries about my patients.and i felt very gulity when my patients passed away even though i have tried my very best. I was very disappointed with myself and became more and more discouraged everyday.

One day, i finally had a major break down and i took a week's break. i began to question myself about my purpose in life. All these while where is GOD? Why am i always so unlucky? Why ME?

God answered all my questions as i confess my doubts and sins before Him. God has always been with me but i have put him aside. Instead of partnering with God, i was trying to use man power whereby lots disappointments arised and many problems were impossible to be solved with man's power. But will only be possible if GOD is in the picture.

I eventually rewelcome God into my life.And now i understood that as a christian, it is not a bout attending church or cell regularly, but it is about putting faith and confidence in GOD and letting Him to be the CEO of my life and to worship Him in all things that i do everyday and every second of my Life.

Sorry, i side track abit back to my withdrewal of resignation. I always wanted to resign and get a job somewhere nearer because i always used to struggling to work especially during morning shifts and i hated the long travelling journey.And i think that Tan Tock Seng is really a busy hospital!

By God's grace, i was offered a distant study in bachelor of nursing at the singapore nurses association.I was really happy. And during one of our cell gathering, we did a test on our spirtitual giftings. I was even more afirm and rejoiced when i discovered that my strongest spirtual gifting is healing! Honestly, i was so happy and excited that night that i could not sleep and kept smiling and laughing with joy! (Sound like i've turned crazy?) =p

As my last day of my work was approaching nearer and nearer, i kept asking God if i really did made the right choice. God sent an angel which was my teacher to me on wed. She asked about where i be going after my resignation. And i told her honestly that most likely, i will take a month of vacation and then start to look out for a new job, nearer to my place. She asked if i m interested to withdraw my resignation. A question which has never struck my mind before.

I have always enjoyed nursing my patients especially when they are able to be dicharged home after getting well.I loved chatting with my patients.i didn't have any thing which i don't like about TTSH, just only the travel distance.As i recapped my thoughts, i remembered that i did actually spent most of my travelling time with God. I would either read the bible or i would listen to my MP3 and whorship God in my heart.And these periods of time, i have actually built a closer relationship with God. =)

Through the old testement challenge, reading of the bible, reading christian books, attending courses in church, having quiet time daily, i have began to understand GOD's purpose in my Life. I realized that he has wanted to strengthen my character and faith through all the challenges and trials. And God has wanted me to share my failures and msitakes with my c0-workers so that they will not make the same mistakes and learn what to do when they face the same type of situtaions or problems.I have learnt to put my confidence in Him and i am still learning to do so. I also understood that the timing of death of my patients is planned by God. I have to learn to let go and move on. I slowly understood that helping my patients to leave at their verge of dieing painlessly is better then trying to substain their life and allowing longer unbearable pain and suffering.

I want to thank God for giving me that inner peace and i know that i have tried my best and GOD IS WITH ME ALL THE TIME.I am glad that God has blessed me with many things and i am very joyful that GOD is using me as a blessing to others too =>

Therefore, I be working in TTSH still but i would be posted back to the ward setting as i began to miss bedside patient care while i was ( having my break) working in the clinic! I no longer feel fearful about facing each day's challenges and problems but getting ready to overcome each and every problem with GOD together!

Hallelujah!Praise GOD!He is our Lord God Almighty! Amen!

Devotional: Letting Go and Letting God

Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

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.

Today's devotion at work is about "Letting Go and Letting God".

Somehow, deep inside us, we know this cognitively but then to practice it seems like nearly impossible. In the words of someone else, "we tend to give God a hand".

Today's devotion was from the devotional article, The Perfect Storm, in Our Daily Bread, based on Mark 4:35-41. It asks if you are currently facing a storm in life and just as Jesus had calmed the storm, do you trust in the Lord to deliver you from your trials. As someone has put it nicely too:

Our God does not promise us a smooth life's journey but a safe landing.

How Do We React in Times of Trials?
Yes, many a times, we get angry when God seems far away and allow suffering (I myself am guilty of that). We can be like Naomi, who intially lamented how the Lord had made her life bitter. We however learnt later how she was blessed in small ways. Last week, the Old Testament Challenge sermon was on 1 Samuel and we saw how Hannah had cried out to the Lord in her desparation of having her womb closed and being chastised by Peninnah:

1 Samuel 1:6-7 (NIV)

6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.

We cannot fully appreciate the torment Hannah went through but we know she persistently cried out to the Lord and trusted in Him and in the end, she gave birth to Samuel and many children:

1 Samuel 1:21 (NIV)
And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

A Personal Testimony of a Mini Storm and God's Deliverance
Yes, for me, I have come to realise, over the past few weeks, how God has blessed my leading of cell. I am this meek person who just do not know what to say and how to lead. I asked God why did He choose me, to the extent I was really not having an easy time, worrying and fearing every week. But then, on hindsight, I have realised how God has led the cell through me in the past few weeks. Somehow, God will speak to me and minister to me in themes and that would in turn help me in leading cell discussion. Yes, I am not the most charismatic leader of all, but then I have come to learn that I can trust in the Lord to minister through me. My heart still remains that it is not what I say but what the Lord says through me that is important and I sincerely pray for God to continue to use me to minister to others.

How Do we Treat God's Deliverance?
Trials are something that we are all familiar with. We have our various experiences of successes and failures with them but ultimately, they are what has shaped us to be what we are today. Some of us also have experiences of facing trials and being delivered by God. But the question is now: how then do we treat these deliverances? There is a tendancy for us to just shove the experience aside and sometimes forget how God delivered us. Just like the Israellites who were delivered by God and soon forgets His deliverance and strayed away from God, angering Him. We can sometimes be like Israel, don't we?

The Bible = A Book of Reminders, Lessons and Testimonies
If we put things into perspective, what is the bible about? yes, it is about God's love and God's grace. But ultimately, it is a chronicle of the story of God's people which serves to remind us, teach us and also a testimony of the greatness of God to others. We can sometimes be forgetfulof how God has delivered us and stray away. Are you one of them? Do you remember how God works in your life and how God has delivered you? Better still, do you keep an account to remind yourself with and learn from your experiences? Do you share your testimony of the greatness of God with others?

Our Daily Bread (21 January 2003)
In the Car Wash

I'll never forget my first experience using an automatic car wash. Approaching it with the dread of going to the dentist, I pushed the money into the slot, nervously checked and rechecked my windows, eased the car up to the line, and waited. Powers beyond my control began moving my car forward as if on a conveyor belt. There I was, cocooned inside, when a thunderous rush of water, soap, and brushes hit my car from all directions. What if I get stuck in here or water crashes in? I thought irrationally. Suddenly the waters ceased. After a blow-dry, my car was propelled into the outside world again, clean and polished.

In the midst of all this, I remembered stormy times in my life when it seemed I was on a conveyor belt, a victim of forces beyond my control. "Car-wash experiences," I now call them. I remembered that whenever I passed through deep waters my Redeemer had been with me, sheltering me against the rising tide (Isaiah 43:2). When I came out on the other side, which I always did, I was able to say with joy and confidence, "He is a faithful God!"

Are you in the middle of a car-wash experience? Trust God to bring you through to the other side. You'll then be a shining testimony of His keeping power. —Joanie Yoder

How wonderful to know that He

Who watches from above

Will always keep us sheltered in

His ever-present love! —King

A tunnel of testing can produce a shining testimony

Source: http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-01-21-03.shtml

What Are You Going to Do About It?
We thank God for His deliverance but here comes the hard part of remembering and sharing about it.

Conclusion? God will not promise a smooth journey but He promises He will be there with you. He knows what you are going through. At times, when God seem so far away, He is not. He is still with you. But when we are delivered, how do we remember His deliverance and how will we react again in the next trial?

Devotional: The Tea Cup

OK, the part about the tea cup speaking is unthinkable but then, on reflecting on the article, it is true how sometimes trials make us stronger, complete and more beautiful.

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'let me alone,' but he only smiled, 'Not yet'.

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. 'Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!' I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.'

Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled, and I knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head, 'Not yet.' "Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool.

'There, that's better,' I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.'

"Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head, saying, 'Not yet.' "Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up.

But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself.' And I did. I said, 'That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.''

I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurt to be rolled and patted, but if I just left you, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked.

I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life, and if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held.

Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.'

~ AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Source: http://www.creativeyouthideas.com/blog/teaching_illustrations/the_tea_cup.html

CG Discussion: Lessons from Naomi

Hi everyone!

When God Leads

Galley Head Light, Co Cork Ire by harris

Yesterday's cell discussion was great! I hope you have been ministered to by the word of God as much as I myself was. As I have shared, I really give thanks to God for being such as wonderful God. I had started the week on a bad note, ending with having to take leave yesterday to just have some time alone. But as I went through the week, I give thanks for everything God has given me and I also started to see how God ministers to me throughout the week through my reading of His word, the devotion at work, a sms sent by a friend, a DVD sermon my dad was playing and even a devotional I have read some time back. Everything just clicked so nicely. As you all would know, I am this meek and quiet person, but I give thanks how God has used me yesterday and things just flowed, from the discussion, to my line of thought and also our prayer.

The Lesson from Naomi
During sermon last week, we learnt about radical obedience from Ruth and Boaz. But as I was reading the book of Ruth this week, somehow I sensed that we also have something to learn from Naomi. I have decided to cover Naomi for various reasons: (i) I somehow had the feeling to cover Naomi and when I read in my bible commentary:

"obviously, Naomi's life was a powerful witness to the reality of God, Ruth was drawn to her - and to the God she worshipped... she (Ruth) became the great-grandmother of David and an ancestor in the line of the Messiah. What a profound impact Naomi's life made!"

I just suddenly felt compelled to cover Naomi, although the sermon's covered Ruth and Boaz as well, (ii) it would tie in with the line of cell discussion so far: two discussion ago it was about choices, then last week was about gifting and so this week about being an impact in others' lives and lastly (iii) it is a timely reminder as we prepare to reach out to people for the upcoming Sy Rogers outreach event. It was a radical choice because nothing much is written about Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, except that:

• she had moved away from Bethlehem down to Moab to escape a famine,
  
• she lost her husband and two sons,
  
• lamented that her life is bitter,
  
• was blessed with Ruth (her daughter-in-law, a Moabitess) who decided to stay with her and follow her back to Bethlehem and
  
• later advised Ruth how to go about expressing her love for Boaz

But what we know is that Naomi:

• Had suffered badly because she had moved away from Bethlehem (God's land) for a Moabite land (similar cases also seen in:
• Abraham - he moved down to Egypt to escape a famine [Gen 12:10-20],
  
• Lot - he chose the "greener pastures" when the quarreling beween the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot made it necessary to "go their separate ways". He chose the "greener pastures" which seemed like a good choice, but it was near Sodom and Gomorrah, full of sin, later destroyed by God. Lot also lost his wife [Gen 13 & 19]. And then later, a family tragedy took place when his daughters laid with Lot and became pregnant. Lot eventually became the father of the Moabites
  
• Jonah - who refused to hear God's call to preach the word of God in Nineveh but went the other way, only to be swallowed by a big fish)

• Had been such a powerful witness of the reality of God so much so Ruth decided to follow her and her God.
  
• Does things in love, even the request to her daughters-in-law to leave her when Naomi lost her husband and her two sons.
  
• She later even advised Ruth to express her love to Boaz

Naomi Laments about God & her Life
Yes, sometimes God does seem far away, as lamented by Naomi (Ruth 1:20-21):

20. "Don't call me Naomi, " she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.
21. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."

Psalm 9:10 and 112:4 reminds us of God's presence that all who are righteous will have light even in darkness:

Psalm 9:10: 10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 112:4: Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

Having God in our lives doesn't mean it will be free of trouble but that we have someone Almighty within us when we are in darkness, trusting that He will deliver us in one way or another, just like Job, when he was tested by satan. Sometimes, we turn away from God and God allows trials to help us grow. Leviticus 26:40-45 tells us:

40 " 'But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers—their treachery against me and their hostility toward me, 41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 For the land will be deserted by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees. 44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the LORD their God. 45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the LORD.' "

Ruth further illustrates this point that sometimes God do not deliver in miraculous ways but will sure do, guiding our every day lives.

Salvation for ALL
Then passages about God's salvation being for all people keep coming out:

• Ruth, who is a Moabite but became part of lineage of Jesus Christ
• Jonah who refused to preach to the people of Nineveh who he thought was evil and worthy of God's salvation, and also
  
• Isaiah 56:3-8

3. Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say,
"The LORD will surely exclude me from his people."
And let not any eunuch complain,
"I am only a dry tree."

4. For this is what the LORD says:
"To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me
and hold fast to my covenant-

5. to them I will give within my temple and its walls
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that will not be cut off.

6. And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD
to serve him,
to love the name of the LORD,
and to worship him,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant-

7. these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations."

8. The Sovereign LORD declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
"I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered."

Naomi as a Spiritual Impact, What Sets Us Apart as Christians?
Yesterday, we also discussed what sets us apart as Christians from pre-believers? Why do we continue to read His word, go to church, meet for cell group discussions? Yes, God desire for His people to be in communion with Him again, to turn away from sin which has separated us from God. Now that we have salvation, is that the end of the story?

Some mentioned that what distinguishes us is that our eyes are open to God and His grace and we get to enjoy having God in our lives. We also have the choice to tap into God's power. There is also assurance of our "final destination" and our names in the Book of Life.

But yet, some also suggest that we are sometimes no different from pre-believers. We should not let our status as God's children bring us so much pride we feel we are different from "them". After all, do we all not fumble again and again even after accepting Jesus into our lives? But, just as I left home, I heard a message from my dad's sermon DVD that reminds us that, because of our very sinful nature, we are not perfect and does not only go to the altar once. We come to the altar of God again and again to confess our sins and repent, just as Abraham and some of God's people did in the bible.

Naomi has had a profound spiritual impact on Ruth so much so they became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. And as some have highlighted, she may not even have known the impact she has made but the fact is that, in her own ways, she had been an impact. What about us? What have we been doing/are going to do to become a spiritual impact?

Philippians 2: 14-15
14. Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15. so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Mark 4:21:
21He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?

Then I remember a devotional I came across some time back: Let your Light Shine. The devotional reminds us that in order to be good mirrors and an icon, we need to be clean mirrors, focused on the source of light (Jesus) and also in the world. It is also interesting that the discussion yesterday also brought up two interesting points: that a mirror with crack can also still reflect light and how as as a body of Christ, shining as one, we can be an icon to others. As Philippians 2:14-15 above shows us that we can be shining stars in a crooked and depraved world (which is all so evident). But remember Peter Tsukahira's reminder that we ought to be "in the world but not of the world"; that we sometimes need to get out of our comfort zone and bring salvation and hope to all who need it. Our focus, just like our church, should always be on being outreaching, to reconcile more to God and that is what God desires. Be a beautiful water lily growing out of muddy waters, be a torch in the midst of darkness.

On Thursday, our devotion in my office was on Mark 13 and the second coming of Christ. The first word spoken by Jesus is "watch" and guess what is the last word in the chapter, yes, "watch" as well. Are we doing what His word tells us in Mark 13:32-37:

32. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35. "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "

Then yesterday morning, I was reminded of the parable of the talents (Matthew 15:14-28).

What are we doing with our gifting? Are we letting our light shine and are we behaving in Christ-like manner? Are we joining the ranks of people like Abraham, Noah, Joshua etc?

Song: By His Wounds

Somehow, happen to hear this song quite a bit these few days... nice song, meditate and focus on the words... simple but meaningful :)

Picture"+) It is Finished (+" (Right) by VinnyPrime

Glory Revealed - By His Wounds Lyrics
(Feat. Mac Powell, Mark Hall, Steven Curtis Chapman and Brian Littrell)
Isaiah 53:5

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Devotional: Let your Light Shine

Hi everyone, I was preparing cell for this week and remember a sharing I did at work sometime back of an interesting article. Here it is:

Put Your Bible Down for a Day. Let your light shine.
by Dennis Stout
From: http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/areas/biblestudies/articles/070221.html

Recently, I was in Cincinnati for a conference. Our activities were at the Duke Energy Center where the entire west facade is a sign of 77 lights that spell out Cincinnati. The sign can be seen for miles as it adorns the skyline and has become somewhat of an icon of the city. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the lights were not lights at all. In fact they are just flat panels angled to reflect the light below. The result is a huge sign that impacts the surrounding community.

Isn't this our call as Christians as well? Aren't we as Christians supposed to be shining? Jesus tells us that we are the "light of the world." However we are merely reflections because Jesus is the true light of the world. We're just mirrors. But here is the catch. In order to be a mirror for Christ, we must be clean, focused on him, and in the world. Obviously a mirror is much more effective if it doesn't have dirt and grime impeding its ability to reflect light. I know at my house or on my car, cleaning the mirrors is a regular activity. The spiritual parallel is also true in that we must continually work to keep our mirror clean. Secondly, we must also focus on Jesus if we want to reflect him. We can have the cleanest mirror in the county but if it is not trained on Jesus, the reflection will be in vain. In fact it will be reflecting something else because you can't turn off a mirror. It always reflects, so take care in what you focus yours on.

Finally, get in the world. If you want to shine light on something, you must get reasonably close to it. Distance makes light less effective; so if you want to give light to a lost world, get in there and do it. You can't cook dinner by staying in the living room. You must go into the kitchen where the stove, pots and pans, pantry and such are. You can't take light to a place in which you don't go. It is important to note that Jesus left his safe, comfortable, and holy place to go into a dark world with the gospel of love. If God considered it necessary to respond in this manner, shouldn't we?

Let me encourage you to try something. For a day, lay down your Bible, pick up a tool, and go "live" the Bible. I'm not saying "don't study the Bible." But you may be the only Bible that someone reads—go live it for them, and live it well. The Bible does mention Jesus reading Scripture and even expounding on it. However, the Gospels are not about how well Jesus read, studied, prayed or even spoke. The Gospels are about the new covenant. God knew that this new covenant would be misunderstood so he brought in the big gun—Jesus. Well, today Jesus is back on his throne and God chooses to use us as his hands, feet, and light. The religious leaders of Jesus' day did not impress God with their knowledge, smooth talk, or strict adherence to the laws. He was impressed by a boy with fish and bread, a centurion with simple faith, and a leper's genuine appreciation.

Today, we have the Good News, but what do we do with it? Hide it under a bushel? No, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let … hmm, sorry, I digressed there. But wait, aren't those our instructions? If we are the light of the world, shouldn't we be shining? And if we are not the true light but simply sharing the light of Christ with others, doesn't that make us like mirrors and our light merely a reflection of his light? Like that sign on Duke Energy Center, shouldn't our impact to the community be great, visible, and even iconic? To put the great commission into today's vernacular, it might go something like this, "Go light your world—with my light. Be a mirror of me to your community. Go make a difference."

Thanksgiving: James (20 June 2007)

This week has started on a bad note for me but I would still want to give thanks for the following:

• I give thanks for the pain in my throat disappearing
• I give thanks for the opportunity to reach out to a friend
• I give thanks for good colleagues again; was taking group photo to welcome our new officer and we had a wonderful time staying back after work to take the group photo. We laughed ourselves crazy when we had to take out phone books so the guys standing behind will not be blocked by the ladies in front
• I give thanks for work which has been manageable
• I give thanks for being blessed with a good time of rest from cell preparation last week
• I give thanks for being affirmed when I was asked if I will consider taking up office in the executive committee in a professional association
• I give thanks for being able to complete a few major tasks this week including finishing the report for the planning retreat last month, prioritising of a list of refinements for the electronic volunteer management system I am working on with my IT department now and also finished penning the welcome greeting and coordinating my department photo for our new officers' welcome
• I give thanks to God for my gifting in the area of IT, making it possible for me to work on my professional association's web community and also on my CG blog
• I give thanks for the opportunity to meet up with an old friend from secondary school who was back in Singapore from the States. We met and visited Jurong Bird Park. Was great feeling going back there after so many years. I think the last time I went there was in secondary school.
• I give thanks to God for sending people around me to encourage me on in my spiritual walk and for a friend who, despite have not kept in touch for very long, never fail to send me "devotional" smses, which sometimes speak to me and is so apt for the week's cell group discussion. This week, we have covered the book of Ruth in the Old Testament which spoke or Ruth and Boaz's radical obedience, is like a beautiful water lily coming out of muddy waters, in the midst of darkness in the history of Israel as written in Judges and 1 and 2 Samuel. And the sms came on Monday:
  "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness Psalm 112:4. God sometimes puts us in the dark to show us that Jesus is the light"
• I give thanks for a prospective volunteer who walked into my office and we spent more than 2 hours talking about working in the social services... it helped me rekindled my passion in working in the social services and made me appreciate my job more

Devotional: Century of Experience

A man, after 25 years with same company, doing the same old job and drawing the same old salary, decided to approach his boss for a raise and a promotion. While talking to his boss, he was outlining his justification for such a request. "After all," he concluded, "I've had a quarter of a century of experience."

"My dear man," sighed the boss, "you haven't had a quarter of a century of experience, you've had one experience for a quarter of a century."

I wonder if the same might not be said about some of us... "You haven't had a quarter of a century of Christian experience, but one Christian experience in a quarter of a century. Too often, we are also happy with one experience, instead of experiencing God each and every day. Others journey through life seeking dramatic experiences, climactic turning points, and instant solutions to spiritual problems instead of seeking God's face. But neither of these define the Christian life.

Christianity isn't an event that happened at a camp, at a retreat, or at a difficult time in our life. Christianity isn't our activities as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, or a group leader. Christianity is experiencing God day by day.
Like the oak, whose growth you cannot see, you may be able to define when the seed was planted, when the tree sprouted, but growth takes place almost invisibly day by day and moment by moment.

So next time, instead of looking for an experience, choose to experience God day by day.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.... So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (II Corinthians 4:16, 18)

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalm 1:3,4)

"Be still and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10)

Author: Ken Sapp - copyright 1999 - Permission granted for non-commercial use

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

CG Discussion: Choices

Last week’s cell discussion was on choices, which is the main theme that we study the book of Judges and Ruth. We saw how despite being a sharp contrast from each other, the two books is really linked to each other, telling us about choices. We make choices everyday and should be experts but yet, we can sometimes still make the wrong choices…

• The choice of Jephthah - The choice that Jephthah made which cost him as daughter. Even though “… the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah” (Judges 11:29) just before he prepared for battle with the Ammonites, in the very next verse, he made a vow to the Lord that if He deliver the Ammonites into his hands, he will sacrifice as burnt offering whatever that came out of his house to meet him when he returns in victory (which happened to be his beloved daughter) (Judges 11:30-31). That spoke of his trust in the Lord and the choice he made.
  
  
• The choice of Samson - Samson chose to marry a Phillistine woman despite the Lord’s command to not intermarry with people who would turn the Israelites away from God (see Dt 7:2-4). His marriage caused much bloodshed and later his choice to be with Delilah caused his downfall
  
  
• The choice of Ruth – Though a Moabitess, decided to stay with Naomi even after she has been widowed and Oprah (her sister-in-law) left Naomi. She later became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ
  
  
• God Gives us Choices – Just like how He gave Adam and Eve the choice about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Romans 1:24-32 also show us how sometimes God gives people over to their sinful desires
  
  
• Choose to be in the world not of the World - We started cell with a discussion about our choice of our ambitions when we were young and also played a game about choices and survivial. Sometimes there can be misleading messages, which even though seem sound, will sometimes help us make the wrong choices. Just as Peter Tsukahira encouraged us to be “in the world and not of the world”; to influence the world away from being unchrist-like.
  
  
• Choose Life or Death – I shared about the story from Our Daily Bread of John Wilkes Booth (who assassinated President Lincoln) and his elder brother, Edwin Booth, who saved President Lincoln’s son. One chose life, one chose death. God gives us the choice of life as well. See Dt 30:15-20 and Dt 11:26.
  
  
• How to Make Decisions – (i) some of us suggested using WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?), while some reminded us of the need to maintain a close walk to God which sometimes make making decisions easier because we know God’s will (see example of Job). Some choices may seem like wise ideas, just like how Lot (Genesis 13: 12-13) chose to stay near Sodom and Gomorrah because the land seemed better, but it turned out to be living near sin.
  
  
• Why People Keep Making “Bad” Choices – Some suggested not walking closely with God and as such not knowing how to make the right decisions. Perhaps making the choice to walk closely is also not easy because we can be forgetful about how the Lord has worked in our lives, just like the Israelites (see Judges 2:10), and just don’t see the need to. Whatever decision we make (even though if it is seemingly “right”), God knows our intentions. Remember how Jesus condemned the Pharisees for choosing to follow the Letter of the Law but not the Spirit of the Law (as discussed in previously in cell).

CG Discussion: Loving God's Law

More than Negative: The law condemns sin and thus it is understandable we have negative feelings about it. But reflecting upon it, the law is more than something negative.

Restoration of Relationship: It's God's way of restoring our relationship with Him, when we were separately by sin from Him. Just as Jer 31:33 shows that God desires for His people to be His people and Him to be their God and Ex 20:21 reminds us that it keeps us from sinning. Through the law, we get to know God and His will better.

Knowing Sin: Through the law, we come to know of sin (Romans 7:7-13) just like a warning sign warns us of shark-infested water. The sharks (just like sin) were there before the sign and it's aim is to protect.

Law as Holy, Righteous and Good: Paul also says that the commandment is holy, righteous and good (Romans 7:12). 2 Timothy 3:16 also reminds us that all scriptures (including the law) is God-breathed and "useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness".

The Law is still relevant: Hebrew 10 reminds us that the sacrifices, repeated year after year does not make us perfect, because if it does, it would have been stopped being offered. God does not require sacrifices and offerings. Jesus also came to say in Matthew 5:17-20 that He has not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.

The Letter of the Law: By this time, people honoured God with their lips but their hearts are far away and states that the worship is in vain as the teachings are but rules taught by men (Matthew 15:8-9). We needed to understand the principles behind the law and no longer follow the law blindly... Jesus also condemned the religious leaders (Matthew:23:25-26) on how clean the cup and dish are on the outside but inside, they are full of greed and self-indulgence... that they should clean the inside first so the outside will be clean...

The Spirit of the Law: Jesus became a role model as to how to live out the law (Galatians 2:15-21 says that we do not become justified by observing the law but by faith in Jesus Christ). In both Jer 31:33 and Heb 10:16, it was mentioned that the law will be written in our hearts. The spirit and principle of the law is more important than outward observance and so in Luke 10:27 and Matthew 22:37-40, we are reminded to:

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind
• Love your neighbor as yourself

that "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments".
So we need to recognise the love and the principles behind the law before we learn to appreciate God's laws.