Monday, February 9, 2015
Is God real? If Yes, why not turn to Him today through JESUS?
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
God is good - cliche or truth?
We often say "God is good all the time and all the time God is good". Do we really believe it? Do we really trust Him that all things work together for good?
As for me, let me recount the ways God has been good even through trying times this year.
1. The year began with challenges at work - new assignments and projects. Much leaning on God's grace to tackle them.
2. In April, the multiplication of one to two cells started. The 'breaking' of long-time relationships to form new ones is often trying and tests our faith in Him who knows all. As I trust Him, I see the fruit of obedience in the past outreach events especially this Christmas. Two cells are able to reach out and see more souls saved. The 'pruning' process has borne fruit!
3. This year also is a year of different milestones - turning 55, 30 years of marriage, 27 years in post-secondary education, becoming grandparents. I humbled that the Lord has led me to this point in time to look back and see His Hand in all things.
4. The birth of my grandson is a joy and a delight. Little did I know that 2 months after his birth, my wife and I had to experience a testing of our faith as he was hospitalised for meningitis. The 12 days in hospital was a time to hold steadfastly to Jehovah Rapha to heal and restore. We experienced the love and unity of the cell community as they prayed with us for him.
5. This unity was translated in many ways recently during the Christmas outreach events. Seeing God's favour in many groups and working together as one body, our Lord is pleased.
The old year is closing and the new is coming. Are there more challenges? Yes. Are there perhaps suffering and tests? Yes. Is God good despite the tests? YES!
"For me to live is Christ, to die is gain" - this is no cliche but the transforming grace that enables us to believe, to trust, to obey and to live or die fully assured that God is fully in control and all He does is GOOD! Hallelujah!
Blessed Christmas and Joyous New Year to all!
As for me, let me recount the ways God has been good even through trying times this year.
1. The year began with challenges at work - new assignments and projects. Much leaning on God's grace to tackle them.
2. In April, the multiplication of one to two cells started. The 'breaking' of long-time relationships to form new ones is often trying and tests our faith in Him who knows all. As I trust Him, I see the fruit of obedience in the past outreach events especially this Christmas. Two cells are able to reach out and see more souls saved. The 'pruning' process has borne fruit!
3. This year also is a year of different milestones - turning 55, 30 years of marriage, 27 years in post-secondary education, becoming grandparents. I humbled that the Lord has led me to this point in time to look back and see His Hand in all things.
4. The birth of my grandson is a joy and a delight. Little did I know that 2 months after his birth, my wife and I had to experience a testing of our faith as he was hospitalised for meningitis. The 12 days in hospital was a time to hold steadfastly to Jehovah Rapha to heal and restore. We experienced the love and unity of the cell community as they prayed with us for him.
5. This unity was translated in many ways recently during the Christmas outreach events. Seeing God's favour in many groups and working together as one body, our Lord is pleased.
The old year is closing and the new is coming. Are there more challenges? Yes. Are there perhaps suffering and tests? Yes. Is God good despite the tests? YES!
"For me to live is Christ, to die is gain" - this is no cliche but the transforming grace that enables us to believe, to trust, to obey and to live or die fully assured that God is fully in control and all He does is GOOD! Hallelujah!
Blessed Christmas and Joyous New Year to all!
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Believe, Obey, Pray - Key to the Unstoppable
Unstoppable life of faith is possible as we believe, obey and pray.
This 3-step key can be illustrated with the picture of the train engine on a track.
The train engine is analogous to believing (trusting) in God and His ability and power. We cannot on our own strength do anything great without His help. Like a engine-less train, we cannot move in unstoppable faith without His enabling. We need to continue believing and trusting even when we do not see (yet) in the natural what we ask for.
The track is analogous to obedience to God and His plan. When the train remains on the track and move along it, the train will be able to reach its destination. Hence we too, when we obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to achieve what God has purposed for us to accomplish.
Prayer is analogous to the oil that is necessary to lubricate the wheels of the train as it moves along the track. Without prayer, which is the most important part of any ministry or service for God, we move in God with much difficulty even when we believe and obey. For in prayer, we 'oil' our service, bringing all our petitions to Him who in return gives us peace, joy and love in the midst of all our work. Then like the well-oiled train, we move in unstoppable faith with a burden that is light and a yoke that is easy.
This 3-step key can be illustrated with the picture of the train engine on a track.
The train engine is analogous to believing (trusting) in God and His ability and power. We cannot on our own strength do anything great without His help. Like a engine-less train, we cannot move in unstoppable faith without His enabling. We need to continue believing and trusting even when we do not see (yet) in the natural what we ask for.
The track is analogous to obedience to God and His plan. When the train remains on the track and move along it, the train will be able to reach its destination. Hence we too, when we obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to achieve what God has purposed for us to accomplish.
Prayer is analogous to the oil that is necessary to lubricate the wheels of the train as it moves along the track. Without prayer, which is the most important part of any ministry or service for God, we move in God with much difficulty even when we believe and obey. For in prayer, we 'oil' our service, bringing all our petitions to Him who in return gives us peace, joy and love in the midst of all our work. Then like the well-oiled train, we move in unstoppable faith with a burden that is light and a yoke that is easy.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
The 'So Much MORE' God
The Lord God that we serve is truly a 'so much MORE' God as seen in the Scriptures:
1. We are MORE valuable than all of His creation. Matt 6:26, 12:12
2. He loves us MORE than we realise. "...how much MORE will your Father in heaven give good gifts (to us)" Matt 7:11
3. We are worth MORE than many sparrows. Matt 10:31
4. He says "Whoever has will be given MORE, and he will have an abundance." Matt 13:12
5. He has MORE mercy than we can imagined. "one more year..." Luke 13:8
6. There is so much MORE rejoicing in heaven over all who repent and turn to Him. Luke 15:7
7. Because of His words many MORE become believers as we dare to preach them. John 14:41
8. He prunes us so that we will be even MORE fruitful. John 15:2
9. He tells us that He has so much MORE to say to us. John 16:12
10. We are MORE blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
11. How much MORE shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! Rom 5:9
12. How much MORE did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to (us) the many! Rom 5:15
13. His grace increased all the MORE. Rom 5:20
14. In all these things we are MORE than conquerors through Him who loved us. Rom 8:37
15. (Through Him), will not the ministry of the Spirit be even MORE glorious and how much MORE glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 2 Cor 3:8-9
16. (He) is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine. Eph 3:20
17. He enables our love that it may abound MORE and MORE in knowledge and depth of insight. Phil 1:9
18. He enables our faith that it is growing MORE and MORE each day. 2 Thess 1:3
19. He reminds us to encourage one another--and all the MORE as we see the Day approaching.
Heb 10:25
20. He gives us MORE grace. James 4:6
1. We are MORE valuable than all of His creation. Matt 6:26, 12:12
2. He loves us MORE than we realise. "...how much MORE will your Father in heaven give good gifts (to us)" Matt 7:11
3. We are worth MORE than many sparrows. Matt 10:31
4. He says "Whoever has will be given MORE, and he will have an abundance." Matt 13:12
5. He has MORE mercy than we can imagined. "one more year..." Luke 13:8
6. There is so much MORE rejoicing in heaven over all who repent and turn to Him. Luke 15:7
7. Because of His words many MORE become believers as we dare to preach them. John 14:41
8. He prunes us so that we will be even MORE fruitful. John 15:2
9. He tells us that He has so much MORE to say to us. John 16:12
10. We are MORE blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
11. How much MORE shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! Rom 5:9
12. How much MORE did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to (us) the many! Rom 5:15
13. His grace increased all the MORE. Rom 5:20
14. In all these things we are MORE than conquerors through Him who loved us. Rom 8:37
15. (Through Him), will not the ministry of the Spirit be even MORE glorious and how much MORE glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 2 Cor 3:8-9
16. (He) is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine. Eph 3:20
17. He enables our love that it may abound MORE and MORE in knowledge and depth of insight. Phil 1:9
18. He enables our faith that it is growing MORE and MORE each day. 2 Thess 1:3
19. He reminds us to encourage one another--and all the MORE as we see the Day approaching.
Heb 10:25
20. He gives us MORE grace. James 4:6
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Trust AND Obey
Trust and Obey - key words for our daily discipleship living. We long for revival and transformation for our lives, our church and our nation.
To see this happen, we need to ask the Lord to give us a burdened heart for the lost, bended knees to continue persistently praying for them, a clear mind to visualise the goal of winning/consolidating/discipling/sending and calloused hands to do the work each day (seeking God's divine appointments and opportunities)
Let us NOT negate the small but significant faith that we have by the words of our mouth by declaring the difficulties BUT let us speak forth that we can see salvation of the 12 and 144 in these next 10 months!
Just like Elijah when praying for rain (1 Kings 18:41-45) and Peter walking on water (Matt 14:28-31), we look to Jesus ignoring all the negative things that are thrown at us and confessing that the God of the impossibles is able and willing to move in and through us to do the very thing He desires - to see the harvest brought in and discipled!
Jesus said that we will have what we say if we do not doubt but speak faith!
Mark 11:22-24: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
So let us arise, shine! This is the season of harvest!
To see this happen, we need to ask the Lord to give us a burdened heart for the lost, bended knees to continue persistently praying for them, a clear mind to visualise the goal of winning/consolidating/discipling/sending and calloused hands to do the work each day (seeking God's divine appointments and opportunities)
Let us NOT negate the small but significant faith that we have by the words of our mouth by declaring the difficulties BUT let us speak forth that we can see salvation of the 12 and 144 in these next 10 months!
Just like Elijah when praying for rain (1 Kings 18:41-45) and Peter walking on water (Matt 14:28-31), we look to Jesus ignoring all the negative things that are thrown at us and confessing that the God of the impossibles is able and willing to move in and through us to do the very thing He desires - to see the harvest brought in and discipled!
Jesus said that we will have what we say if we do not doubt but speak faith!
Mark 11:22-24: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
So let us arise, shine! This is the season of harvest!
Friday, August 29, 2014
Free Thinking?
I have always wonder why someone would call themselves a freethinker. What does that mean? That you are thinking freely or you are freely thinking?
What does mean to be truly a free thinker or a thinker who is free?
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." He also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
It is obvious that freedom is tied to truth - knowing the truth will set one free. Deception or deceptive thinking will cause one to be in bondage but Truth or 'truth' thinking will set one free.
Knowing the truth is more than just cognitive knowledge but it is actually knowing the very Person who embodies all truth - the Truth Himself, Jesus Christ.
So if you really want to think freely or freely think - you need to know the Truth then truly You are free to think as the Truth thinks.
What does mean to be truly a free thinker or a thinker who is free?
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." He also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
It is obvious that freedom is tied to truth - knowing the truth will set one free. Deception or deceptive thinking will cause one to be in bondage but Truth or 'truth' thinking will set one free.
Knowing the truth is more than just cognitive knowledge but it is actually knowing the very Person who embodies all truth - the Truth Himself, Jesus Christ.
So if you really want to think freely or freely think - you need to know the Truth then truly You are free to think as the Truth thinks.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
'Smooth and Rough' Blessings
In this life, we often want everything to go smoothly and we pray for blessings from the Lord to make all things work according to our plans. Yet there are times when it seems everything is falling apart and it is a rough and bumpy road we travel on.
I learn that God's blessings are for both the 'smooth sailing times' as well as the 'rough seas'.
He never rescinds on His promises and His purposes. He is always there with us whether we experience smooth or rough situations. This is the first and greatest blessing - He is ever-present (His omnipresence).
In the smooth times, we may experience all things are in our favour and all things seem to fit nicely. We rejoice as we see God answering our prayers and see His omnipotent power at work.
But in the rough times, we tend to forget and start to question why our prayers seem to go no where. We realise often after reflecting when the rough time has passed, that He knows all things (His omniscience) and what we think was a loss was actually working out for our good according to His plans.
So the test comes - will we continue to trust and rejoice in the rough times just like the smooth times or do we start to grumble, criticise and forget He is there?
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