I'm now at changi airport terminal 2 awaiting our flight. Just thought i'd put write a little about what He has put in my heart the last few days. We'll be back next saturday.
A minister told us just yesterday that we will be ministering and teaching at a higher level than before. He encouraged us to be bold and step out in faith, and step up in His grace. I receive that in Jesus' Name. All the more, i want to depend on Him, knowing that strength, wisdom, ability to teach all come from Him. Apart from Him, i can do nothing, but in Him, I can do all things; in Him, i can bear much fruit.
We look forward to the next few days with expectation and anticipation of His goodness and blessing, of His impartation through the Holy Spirit, moving in the power that comes only from Him. We want to see more of Him in our lives, and through our lives, in the lives of others who will go forth and preach the Good News in their own nation!!
When we obey His call, He provides the means to fullfill the calling. He will continue to open doors, surround us with favour like a shield. His protection and mercy cover us. His ministering spirits go forth to prepare the way for us.
It is always an adventure as we journey with the Lord, co-labouring with Him in the planting and watering of the seed of the word of God. A journey filled with joy, peace and security because when we are in Him and following Him, we are in the safest place we can ever be, no matter where we are!!
I love the Lord, and i want to obey Him! He is just SO SO .... GOOD! :)
Saturday 25 August 2007
Friday 17 August 2007
helping
It's always been a pet peeve of mine - when parents tell their children to eat up their food, because children in other parts of the world are starving or malnourished. This does not help the hungry children at all, and privileged children are de-sensitised to the needs of those not as fortunate as themselves through this constant well-meaning but totally misplaced reminder.
Instead, children should be encouraged to help others in practical and real ways - contributing parts of their savings, giving their toys (and not always old ones), even thinking of creative ways to raise funds. When they are older, they then would continue to help, having learnt from young to have consideration for others' needs.
It's a privilege to help others, and the bible commands us to be "open-handed" to the poor, so rather than just pay lip service, we should act on it.
I'm not boasting about or romanticising what i've done... i mean it's just a small part to play when you think of the great need "out there", as well as the great contribution by generous philanthropists who build schools, clinics, roads, orphanages, etc.
The reason i'm writing this is because i've just received a letter informing me the child i've been supporting through a certain organisation for the last 7 years (at least) is finally self-supporting, and the place the child lives in - the whole developmental area - is now self-reliant. Praise God!!
The next phase for me, this organisation tells me, is to support another child from another developmental area in another country. I'm so excited about this. The amazing thing is that i've been to the very place the child is from eight years ago. The child would have been only a toddler then... and the place is huge - 63 villages... so i don't think we've met.
But I've met the people there. They are generous even in their need. Not too proud to admit they need help. Diligent. Warm. Vibrant and full of life! I remember the mayor and the governor - so gracious. I remember that when i brought my school kids to help paint a school building (single storey), and build a clinic in that place, they were so excited to see a particular caged wild boar they visited it every day. And the people there were amused that we'd never seen a wild boar, or the chickens and little chicks that run around in their backyards up close before...
My school kids were impacted by their visit. i heard that some of them planned another trip a couple of years later with the same organisation but to a different place. I'd like to think i made a little bit of an impact in their lives through introducing them to a world different from our own. And they enjoyed that world - the people, the place, the simplicity. They discovered love and humanity there. It warmed my heart to know they wanted to contribute.
God is good...what good memories!
PS. i'm not an expert in helping the less fortunate, and what i write is not the final word on how to help them. I'm doing my part - a very small part, and i was just reminiscing...
Instead, children should be encouraged to help others in practical and real ways - contributing parts of their savings, giving their toys (and not always old ones), even thinking of creative ways to raise funds. When they are older, they then would continue to help, having learnt from young to have consideration for others' needs.
It's a privilege to help others, and the bible commands us to be "open-handed" to the poor, so rather than just pay lip service, we should act on it.
I'm not boasting about or romanticising what i've done... i mean it's just a small part to play when you think of the great need "out there", as well as the great contribution by generous philanthropists who build schools, clinics, roads, orphanages, etc.
The reason i'm writing this is because i've just received a letter informing me the child i've been supporting through a certain organisation for the last 7 years (at least) is finally self-supporting, and the place the child lives in - the whole developmental area - is now self-reliant. Praise God!!
The next phase for me, this organisation tells me, is to support another child from another developmental area in another country. I'm so excited about this. The amazing thing is that i've been to the very place the child is from eight years ago. The child would have been only a toddler then... and the place is huge - 63 villages... so i don't think we've met.
But I've met the people there. They are generous even in their need. Not too proud to admit they need help. Diligent. Warm. Vibrant and full of life! I remember the mayor and the governor - so gracious. I remember that when i brought my school kids to help paint a school building (single storey), and build a clinic in that place, they were so excited to see a particular caged wild boar they visited it every day. And the people there were amused that we'd never seen a wild boar, or the chickens and little chicks that run around in their backyards up close before...
My school kids were impacted by their visit. i heard that some of them planned another trip a couple of years later with the same organisation but to a different place. I'd like to think i made a little bit of an impact in their lives through introducing them to a world different from our own. And they enjoyed that world - the people, the place, the simplicity. They discovered love and humanity there. It warmed my heart to know they wanted to contribute.
God is good...what good memories!
PS. i'm not an expert in helping the less fortunate, and what i write is not the final word on how to help them. I'm doing my part - a very small part, and i was just reminiscing...
Saturday 11 August 2007
furnished intensively
Part of my bible reading "jumped out" at me today -
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete (perfect), thoroughly equipped (furnished intensively so that there is no room left for improvement) for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 - NKJV + my own notes)
So we need not be concerned or anxious that we cannot do what God has called us to do, or that we cannot make it or are not good enough. Instead we turn to the Word of God which has the power to equip and enable, because His Word contains His life and essence.
See entry dated 19 June which explains how we are His living epistles because when we were born again, we become a new creation which can contain His nature and we have the ability to walk in Him. The old has passed away, the new has come. (my paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 5:17)
ONE WORD from God can change our lives!
So the conclusion is:
"Be diligent to present your self approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
I'm going to acquaint myself more and more with the Word of God, which reveals His nature and is like my study guide for life. When i read His Word, i not only discover who God is, but also who I am in relationship to God and what He has done for me, and of course, what i am supposed to do in my life (enabled and empowered by the very life and essence of God contained in His WORD)!!
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete (perfect), thoroughly equipped (furnished intensively so that there is no room left for improvement) for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 - NKJV + my own notes)
So we need not be concerned or anxious that we cannot do what God has called us to do, or that we cannot make it or are not good enough. Instead we turn to the Word of God which has the power to equip and enable, because His Word contains His life and essence.
See entry dated 19 June which explains how we are His living epistles because when we were born again, we become a new creation which can contain His nature and we have the ability to walk in Him. The old has passed away, the new has come. (my paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 5:17)
ONE WORD from God can change our lives!
So the conclusion is:
"Be diligent to present your self approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
I'm going to acquaint myself more and more with the Word of God, which reveals His nature and is like my study guide for life. When i read His Word, i not only discover who God is, but also who I am in relationship to God and what He has done for me, and of course, what i am supposed to do in my life (enabled and empowered by the very life and essence of God contained in His WORD)!!
Friday 10 August 2007
1st week of 40 days of purpose (from the purpose-driven life)
What on earth am i here for? - is the question of the 1st week of this 40 day of purpose journey that my church is taking together. More than 900 members and new friends from 4 to 90 years of age are taking part.
As we read the book this first week, we learn that God created us purposefully for a purpose and we are supposed to discover this purpose. Well, it's not going to take only 40 days... this is just the beginning. It's gonna be an exciting and adventurous life-long journey of discovery as we learn about the "five purposes" (these are the general purposes the author raises in the book) that should guide our lives.
What am I driven by? The book suggests that many are driven by anger, fears, need for approval, resentment, guilt, even materialism. But these are fleeting and temporal.
I heard this quotation in a sermon a couple of years back, and wrote it on the title page of my bible.
"There is but one motive that will sustain you in testing and trial - the love of Christ". ~ Hudson Taylor
The love of Christ compels me to do what i do in my life. I took a step out of the work of teaching i knew and loved (most of my job anyway) for 9 years, and went to bible school in obedience to the call i had on my life. "To love Him is to obey His Word" (my paraphrase of John 14:23).
God prepares ahead of time good work for us to do (Eph 2:10 - please see amplified version on the right of the blog page) and when He prepares, He prepares well. No details are left out. And everything is at the right place at the right time. (and we all know how difficult that is when we are dealing with people of all kinds! :D Well, nothing is too difficult for Him. In fact, nothing is impossible for Him! Haha... i'm laughing cos it's so true.) God not only prepares the work, He prepares us to do the work. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we are empowered and enabled, having been made a new creation in Him, to do what has been prepared for us.
He has revealed to me some of the plans He has for my life, and they thrill and fulfill me.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has ever conceived the things He has prepared for those who love Him but God has revealed Him to us through His Spirit for the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God." (1 Cor 2:9-10)
I'm pressing in for more of His purpose and plan for my life to be revealed to me as i live this purpose-driven life in Him.
As we read the book this first week, we learn that God created us purposefully for a purpose and we are supposed to discover this purpose. Well, it's not going to take only 40 days... this is just the beginning. It's gonna be an exciting and adventurous life-long journey of discovery as we learn about the "five purposes" (these are the general purposes the author raises in the book) that should guide our lives.
What am I driven by? The book suggests that many are driven by anger, fears, need for approval, resentment, guilt, even materialism. But these are fleeting and temporal.
I heard this quotation in a sermon a couple of years back, and wrote it on the title page of my bible.
"There is but one motive that will sustain you in testing and trial - the love of Christ". ~ Hudson Taylor
The love of Christ compels me to do what i do in my life. I took a step out of the work of teaching i knew and loved (most of my job anyway) for 9 years, and went to bible school in obedience to the call i had on my life. "To love Him is to obey His Word" (my paraphrase of John 14:23).
God prepares ahead of time good work for us to do (Eph 2:10 - please see amplified version on the right of the blog page) and when He prepares, He prepares well. No details are left out. And everything is at the right place at the right time. (and we all know how difficult that is when we are dealing with people of all kinds! :D Well, nothing is too difficult for Him. In fact, nothing is impossible for Him! Haha... i'm laughing cos it's so true.) God not only prepares the work, He prepares us to do the work. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we are empowered and enabled, having been made a new creation in Him, to do what has been prepared for us.
He has revealed to me some of the plans He has for my life, and they thrill and fulfill me.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has ever conceived the things He has prepared for those who love Him but God has revealed Him to us through His Spirit for the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God." (1 Cor 2:9-10)
I'm pressing in for more of His purpose and plan for my life to be revealed to me as i live this purpose-driven life in Him.
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