we had an awesome prayer meeting where we worshiped the Lord for 40 minutes without realising it, and there was a time of consecration before the Lord. There was just 2 songs and we just lifted our hearts in praise.
We then prayed for a missionary to Nepal who was back on home visit, (there was a prophetic song, and some words of encouragement for her), then our pastor, then our congregation leaders. We gathered around these people in turn, lifted our voices and prayed.
I was gonna lead the people into praying for outreach events when hubby told me that he had it in his spirit to continue in worship. There was an agreement in my spirit, so i led them in worship with one of the songs prepared, but the worship leader had not used it earlier.
There was such a cry of consecration again from among us. I saw in my spirit people coming to the front and kneeling in surrender to the Lord. It took me a couple of minutes before i released that as i was checking with the Lord. I had done the same thing last year, and there was no response, so there was a fear there. I told the Holy Spirit that this was His to orchestrate, and if there was no response, it was to Him the people were responding, not to me and what i could say or do. Then i yielded.
One by one, the people came up. There were at least 12-15 people kneeling on the floor, on the cushion at the altar railing. Tears were flowing from some as they prayed on their own and fellowshiped with the Lord. A few stood where they were and just worshiped. I saw one who did not move to the front just kneel where she was. There was such a move of the Spirit in their lives, as they both ministered to and were ministered by the Lord.
All GLORY be unto Him.
There's gonna be more!
Monday, 21 January 2008
Sunday, 20 January 2008
take your limitations off!
To see the fullness of His glory in our midst, it seems that the Holy Spirit is saying to us:
"take your limitations off! Begin to speak forth what the Lord has shown you in your spirit."
Acts 4:29-30 (AMP)
And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly, While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus.
"take your limitations off! Begin to speak forth what the Lord has shown you in your spirit."
Acts 4:29-30 (AMP)
And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly, While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus.
Saturday, 19 January 2008
throw down your rod! (just updated!)
i was at prayer meeting last night. God's presence was awesome. It was a strong call to consecration to Him. During the worship, i was reminded again of a dance that i saw many years back in my mid-teens. It's been coming back to me in the last week actually.
I don't really remember the tune of the song, but i remember the dancer miming out the words of the song, which was about Moses being called to throw down his rod. This dance has been impacting my life through the years as i grew in the Lord as i would remember time and again the lesson. God would show me different aspects of being consecrated to Him.
In a way, you could call it a prophetic dance...
The rod in Moses' hand represented his vocation, his comfort zone, his ability and talent, the strength of his life. But as Moses decided to give his all to the Lord by throwing down his rod as instructed by the Lord, it became a serpent - a symbol of God's power and might. God actually asked Moses to pick it up, and when he did, it became a rod again.
But the rod was already different. Now it represented God's authority and power in the hands of Moses. Moses was different. God was then able to use Moses because of his obedience to bring His people out of Egypt, a land of bondage and oppression. God could trust Moses.
What does it mean to throw down your rod? It may mean different things to different people.
For me, one of the things that i had to put aside was my love for singing. It's been my dream since i was in my mid-teens to sing all over the world. I've had to "put it down", throw it down many times, so that i no longer needed it to boost my self-esteem, or serving my purposes selfishly.
One of the things i loved to do was to sing solo. This allowed me to push myself to improve my voice, as i had to practise and ensure that i could handle the songs easily, and some songs were a challenge. I took exams, i sang in a few musical productions, and assumed that God allowed me to participate in all these just because he allowed me to take the first steps. I went further than God allowed me to. So quite a few times, i had to pull back, and give it to the Lord.
I remember once i actually felt physically sick when i even thought about going for rehearsals. This took place over a few weeks, before i finally spoke to the music director, and withdrew from the choir and any production.
Each time, the Lord would return it to me - when the Lord put it in my hand again, it took on different life and power. i also became more focused on His plan and purpose for my life, instead of pursuing my own desires, whims and fancies. This did not happen immediately of course. It was noticeable only after a period of time had passed.
I wanna sing for Jesus all over the world.
I wanna touch them with His saving and healing power, advancing His kingdom.
I wanna bring people into His presence where they encounter Him and never be the same again. I wanna be HIS channel of blessing, bringing rivers of living waters to those thirsting for Him, bring hope to those in despair, bringing truth and light to those in oppression and darkness.
It's His to use as He wills.
I care less and less about how i sound, or how good i am. And the wonderful thing is that He takes care of that part of it.
Ultimately, it's about Him and giving all GLORY to Him. My part is to continue to be yielded to Him.
It's about having Him and knowing Him in my life, not just His gifts. I continue to focus on Him.
Phil. 3:10-11
(ESV)
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
(AMP)
Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),
I don't really remember the tune of the song, but i remember the dancer miming out the words of the song, which was about Moses being called to throw down his rod. This dance has been impacting my life through the years as i grew in the Lord as i would remember time and again the lesson. God would show me different aspects of being consecrated to Him.
In a way, you could call it a prophetic dance...
The rod in Moses' hand represented his vocation, his comfort zone, his ability and talent, the strength of his life. But as Moses decided to give his all to the Lord by throwing down his rod as instructed by the Lord, it became a serpent - a symbol of God's power and might. God actually asked Moses to pick it up, and when he did, it became a rod again.
But the rod was already different. Now it represented God's authority and power in the hands of Moses. Moses was different. God was then able to use Moses because of his obedience to bring His people out of Egypt, a land of bondage and oppression. God could trust Moses.
What does it mean to throw down your rod? It may mean different things to different people.
For me, one of the things that i had to put aside was my love for singing. It's been my dream since i was in my mid-teens to sing all over the world. I've had to "put it down", throw it down many times, so that i no longer needed it to boost my self-esteem, or serving my purposes selfishly.
One of the things i loved to do was to sing solo. This allowed me to push myself to improve my voice, as i had to practise and ensure that i could handle the songs easily, and some songs were a challenge. I took exams, i sang in a few musical productions, and assumed that God allowed me to participate in all these just because he allowed me to take the first steps. I went further than God allowed me to. So quite a few times, i had to pull back, and give it to the Lord.
I remember once i actually felt physically sick when i even thought about going for rehearsals. This took place over a few weeks, before i finally spoke to the music director, and withdrew from the choir and any production.
Each time, the Lord would return it to me - when the Lord put it in my hand again, it took on different life and power. i also became more focused on His plan and purpose for my life, instead of pursuing my own desires, whims and fancies. This did not happen immediately of course. It was noticeable only after a period of time had passed.
I wanna sing for Jesus all over the world.
I wanna touch them with His saving and healing power, advancing His kingdom.
I wanna bring people into His presence where they encounter Him and never be the same again. I wanna be HIS channel of blessing, bringing rivers of living waters to those thirsting for Him, bring hope to those in despair, bringing truth and light to those in oppression and darkness.
It's His to use as He wills.
I care less and less about how i sound, or how good i am. And the wonderful thing is that He takes care of that part of it.
Ultimately, it's about Him and giving all GLORY to Him. My part is to continue to be yielded to Him.
It's about having Him and knowing Him in my life, not just His gifts. I continue to focus on Him.
Phil. 3:10-11
(ESV)
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
(AMP)
Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),
Friday, 11 January 2008
deeply moved
i read the last couple of entries... wondering whether there was too much emphasis on myself... but really my focus is to chart the process of spiritual growth and how the manifestations and ministry of the Holy Spirit impacted my life.
Anyway, this has been in my spirit lately: the testimony of this 20 year old sister who lives in another country deeply moved me and others when we heard it just last december in our teaching trip.
At 17, she topped the matriculation exams in her entire state, and was invited by the government to the capitol to receive an award. It was an honour to be so recognised. She was also offered a scholarship to study. However, she had heard from the Lord, and decided to turn down the all expense paid for scholarship, and went into a bible school. She is in her 3rd year now, and she will be graduating soon with a bachelor's degree in theology. She wants to impact lives through teaching the word of God after completing her masters.
I praise God for her obedience, and pray that favour will surround her like a shield, and God's goodness and mercy will follow her ALL the days of life.
John Sung was such a man who set aside things of the world in order to pursue the things of God. He put aside his paper qualifications in order to serve God. As a result of his obedience, many lives were transformed in the Chinese speaking world.
Not every one is called to do that. Some are indeed called to remain in the marketplace to impact and influence lives too! So whatever we do and wherever we are placed, we need to have what i call "eternal spiritual perspective" so that we do things that WILL last, that will remain, that will not be burnt by the judgment of our works by fire
- bringing up children in the ways of the Lord (not the world),
- speaking hope and purpose into lives,
- showing them that following God would be the best thing to ever do in their lives
- helping people discover the plan and purpose of God for their lives
- bringing people into the Kingdom of God and thus being part of eternal LIFE instead of death.
Frivolous things, temporal things, things of the world will pass away, but eternal things are well, eternal.
Anyway, this has been in my spirit lately: the testimony of this 20 year old sister who lives in another country deeply moved me and others when we heard it just last december in our teaching trip.
At 17, she topped the matriculation exams in her entire state, and was invited by the government to the capitol to receive an award. It was an honour to be so recognised. She was also offered a scholarship to study. However, she had heard from the Lord, and decided to turn down the all expense paid for scholarship, and went into a bible school. She is in her 3rd year now, and she will be graduating soon with a bachelor's degree in theology. She wants to impact lives through teaching the word of God after completing her masters.
I praise God for her obedience, and pray that favour will surround her like a shield, and God's goodness and mercy will follow her ALL the days of life.
John Sung was such a man who set aside things of the world in order to pursue the things of God. He put aside his paper qualifications in order to serve God. As a result of his obedience, many lives were transformed in the Chinese speaking world.
Not every one is called to do that. Some are indeed called to remain in the marketplace to impact and influence lives too! So whatever we do and wherever we are placed, we need to have what i call "eternal spiritual perspective" so that we do things that WILL last, that will remain, that will not be burnt by the judgment of our works by fire
- bringing up children in the ways of the Lord (not the world),
- speaking hope and purpose into lives,
- showing them that following God would be the best thing to ever do in their lives
- helping people discover the plan and purpose of God for their lives
- bringing people into the Kingdom of God and thus being part of eternal LIFE instead of death.
Frivolous things, temporal things, things of the world will pass away, but eternal things are well, eternal.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
my christian heritage part 8(b) - prophetic statements
P and C Ang came to my church - this was probably some months after the prophet i wrote about in the previous chapter. They conducted a seminar and i believe i was leading worship then.
During the teaching, i believe he was led to speak words of wisdom and knowledge to various individuals in the congregation. He just asked us to remain where we were, standing or seated, and spoke forth.
I still remember 2 of the men whom he ministered to, and they are still in church today. One is a giver to missions and missionaries, and one is a minister of the gospel.
They spoke over my life, and mentioned that i'll be speaking into lives, bringing hope and life to people. I'll be like the spark plug of the church. There was something about my music, and that i'll be bringing in people into the kingdom - a little here, a little there.
Hmm... i must find that piece of paper on which i wrote the prophecy... it's much more coherent.
Till later then...
During the teaching, i believe he was led to speak words of wisdom and knowledge to various individuals in the congregation. He just asked us to remain where we were, standing or seated, and spoke forth.
I still remember 2 of the men whom he ministered to, and they are still in church today. One is a giver to missions and missionaries, and one is a minister of the gospel.
They spoke over my life, and mentioned that i'll be speaking into lives, bringing hope and life to people. I'll be like the spark plug of the church. There was something about my music, and that i'll be bringing in people into the kingdom - a little here, a little there.
Hmm... i must find that piece of paper on which i wrote the prophecy... it's much more coherent.
Till later then...
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
my christian heritage part 8(a) - prophetic statements
Besides the prophetic statement i made about the how my family will serve the Lord, i've had also received quite a few prophetic statements in those initial years which so much encouraged me in my walk with the Lord, and impacted my life, causing me to grow spiritually.
Indeed God continues to speak today through men and women. We just have to be careful to "test all things; hold fast to what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
I've recorded most of them in my journals, but what i'll do here is to write my impressions from memory so there is a sense of them. To refer to my journals would result in too many details...
There was a man who came to our church on a weekday evening to share about his experiences in the Lord. This was probably about 16 or 17 years ago. He spoke of an intimate relationship with the Lord which was very appealing to me. He shared that he knelt down and greeted the Lord once he reached home - just to be aware of His presence. At the end of his sharing, there was a time of question and answer. I don't know what i asked, but his answer was to remain etched in my heart. Perhaps it was not a direct response to my question. It was probably a timely prophetic teaching.
"You are sensitive. Guard your vulnerability and sensitivity by abiding in Him. There is a difference between being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to people around you. Don't get easily hurt. Learn allow the Lord to deal with those issues that affect you."
From then on, i began to differentiate between being sensitive to the Lord and being emotionally affected by what people said of me.
Indeed God continues to speak today through men and women. We just have to be careful to "test all things; hold fast to what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
I've recorded most of them in my journals, but what i'll do here is to write my impressions from memory so there is a sense of them. To refer to my journals would result in too many details...
There was a man who came to our church on a weekday evening to share about his experiences in the Lord. This was probably about 16 or 17 years ago. He spoke of an intimate relationship with the Lord which was very appealing to me. He shared that he knelt down and greeted the Lord once he reached home - just to be aware of His presence. At the end of his sharing, there was a time of question and answer. I don't know what i asked, but his answer was to remain etched in my heart. Perhaps it was not a direct response to my question. It was probably a timely prophetic teaching.
"You are sensitive. Guard your vulnerability and sensitivity by abiding in Him. There is a difference between being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to people around you. Don't get easily hurt. Learn allow the Lord to deal with those issues that affect you."
From then on, i began to differentiate between being sensitive to the Lord and being emotionally affected by what people said of me.
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
bible reading come alive!
My church is encouraging members to read the bible in one year starting from Genesis. I've done that a few times in my life already. I think i started the most recent one some time ago, but skimmed or skipped some books like Leviticus and Numbers, so for this bible reading in one year exercise, i decided to start from Revelations.
Aside: It would have been interesting reading the bible chronologically too. Job would have been one of the first books, i believe! I'll try that one day. There are websites with bible reading plans which can be emailed daily upon request. Hmm... perhaps i'll just start immediately... yep...i just subscribed to online reading... :D
I've just finished 1 John (the 4th book in reverse order) this morning, and the truths leapt out at me. The focus is on doing which naturally supernaturally outflows from being...IN HIM. John encourages us that we are able to sin not, keep His commandments, love our brothers and overcome all evil just because of who God is and what He has done for us through Jesus to make us who we are in Him.
Tremendous.
If we practice righeousnessness, we are righteous just as He is righteous. If there is no doing, for example if we do not practise righteousness, we are not of God. But we are of God, so we are able to practice righeousness. The link is that God's life, love, righteousness, etc, are already in us, so we are able to be righteousness and do righteously.
Aside: It would have been interesting reading the bible chronologically too. Job would have been one of the first books, i believe! I'll try that one day. There are websites with bible reading plans which can be emailed daily upon request. Hmm... perhaps i'll just start immediately... yep...i just subscribed to online reading... :D
I've just finished 1 John (the 4th book in reverse order) this morning, and the truths leapt out at me. The focus is on doing which naturally supernaturally outflows from being...IN HIM. John encourages us that we are able to sin not, keep His commandments, love our brothers and overcome all evil just because of who God is and what He has done for us through Jesus to make us who we are in Him.
Tremendous.
If we practice righeousnessness, we are righteous just as He is righteous. If there is no doing, for example if we do not practise righteousness, we are not of God. But we are of God, so we are able to practice righeousness. The link is that God's life, love, righteousness, etc, are already in us, so we are able to be righteousness and do righteously.
Sunday, 6 January 2008
1st anniversary of "passion with purpose"
It's been a year since i started blogging.
I really enjoy the process. It has helped me focus on, even 'concretize' in a way, what i'm learning from the Lord, as i put down in words things which are spiritual which are also eternal and permanent and invisible.
Many times, the Holy Spirit gives me ideas, titles, introductory statements, and i just start writing what He shows me. So this is very much a long-term exercise in being led by the Holy Spirit.
To celebrate (hehe...so sentimental, right?), I've added more photos, linked several blogs, and changed the layout and design template.
All glory to the Lord!
I really enjoy the process. It has helped me focus on, even 'concretize' in a way, what i'm learning from the Lord, as i put down in words things which are spiritual which are also eternal and permanent and invisible.
Many times, the Holy Spirit gives me ideas, titles, introductory statements, and i just start writing what He shows me. So this is very much a long-term exercise in being led by the Holy Spirit.
To celebrate (hehe...so sentimental, right?), I've added more photos, linked several blogs, and changed the layout and design template.
All glory to the Lord!
Friday, 4 January 2008
first blog of 2008 (updated)
This is my first blog of the year 2008, complete with photos. :D
i can't believe i'm awake in the middle of the night, after having slept for only 2.5 hours. i wonder whether it is the espresso i drank at 3pm today (took 10 hours to kick in). I don't often drink coffee, and usually latte (less coffee more milk), though rarely, like not more than once a month. So well, i am up... (grin).
These two phrases have been in my spirit the past 24 hours:
1. missions exist because worship doesn't (John Piper) - i just discovered from the younger of my two brothers who was the one who said it. I've had this statement on the first page of my bible for three years now. Now i've added the 'author'. I've been impacted by this statement regarding the importance of missions (and this includes discipleship - of preaching and teaching the truths so that more are equipped for the great commission) because of the heart of God who longs for fellowship with those He created.
2. i woke up yesterday morning before 5 am with the following phrase repeated again and again in my heart (This morning i woke up at 1 am. haha!):
rivers of living waters shall flow from you...
(see photo of waterfall taken in Dec 2007)
I just received from the Lord, placed my hands on sleeping hubby, and began to pray in tongues.
We want to preach, teach and heal in the Name of Jesus just like Jesus did, bringing LIFE to all we meet!
This picture was taken on the last day of 2007. I saw it, got excited, and just had to take a shot as it brought to my spirit Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV):-
1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
There is promise of fruitfulness and prosperity when we choose to obey the Lord.
i can't believe i'm awake in the middle of the night, after having slept for only 2.5 hours. i wonder whether it is the espresso i drank at 3pm today (took 10 hours to kick in). I don't often drink coffee, and usually latte (less coffee more milk), though rarely, like not more than once a month. So well, i am up... (grin).
These two phrases have been in my spirit the past 24 hours:
1. missions exist because worship doesn't (John Piper) - i just discovered from the younger of my two brothers who was the one who said it. I've had this statement on the first page of my bible for three years now. Now i've added the 'author'. I've been impacted by this statement regarding the importance of missions (and this includes discipleship - of preaching and teaching the truths so that more are equipped for the great commission) because of the heart of God who longs for fellowship with those He created.
2. i woke up yesterday morning before 5 am with the following phrase repeated again and again in my heart (This morning i woke up at 1 am. haha!): rivers of living waters shall flow from you...
(see photo of waterfall taken in Dec 2007)
I just received from the Lord, placed my hands on sleeping hubby, and began to pray in tongues.
We want to preach, teach and heal in the Name of Jesus just like Jesus did, bringing LIFE to all we meet!
This picture was taken on the last day of 2007. I saw it, got excited, and just had to take a shot as it brought to my spirit Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV):-1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
There is promise of fruitfulness and prosperity when we choose to obey the Lord.
Monday, 31 December 2007
2008
I can't believe it's just 6 hours more to 2008.
It's been a good year...many things that we have desired, and what God has promised us have come to pass.
I'm still waiting for other things to be fulfilled in our lives and ministry.
Still, God is Good ALL the time! I'll always believe that. That's why i'm looking forward to 2008!
It's been a good year...many things that we have desired, and what God has promised us have come to pass.
I'm still waiting for other things to be fulfilled in our lives and ministry.
Still, God is Good ALL the time! I'll always believe that. That's why i'm looking forward to 2008!
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