Listen to this article

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

Loving God's Laws

Listen to this article

Here's the cell discussion outline I used for this week's cell. Did a bit of research and put the following together:

Objective: Provides an understanding of the love behind God's law and how we should not merely adhere to the Letter of the Law but the Spirit of the 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.

Good God, God Good

Listen to this article

Just thought of this on my way to work on bus:

"It's never Good without God"

Well think about it :)

How about it? My rare few "few liner" entries in this blog :)

17 Days in 45 Minutes

Listen to this article

Wow, a real relief! Managed to finish my presentation slides for tomorrow's sharing / staff devotion about my mission trip... Frankly, I started working on the presentation and was really at a loss as to how to do the presentation. It's no joke cramping 17 days into 45 minutes, you know? And yet capturing the essence of the trip... But thank God, things slowly took shape and although it took me till 10pm to finish the slides... it is a real miracle that I managed to finish the slideshow over the span of a few hours... close to 150 slides :) Thank God, again for guiding the slide preparation. Now, I just pray that tomorrow's devotion will go well and that I will be able share, with success, my testimony of how I experienced God throughout the whole trip... Also pray for the prayers and worship session to go well... first time leading the staff devotion for the whole headquarters, so of course nervous.

By the time I left the office, it was 10pm and I started to feel a little pain in my leg... Call me paranoid but then all the talk about working long hours and possibility of dying from overwork and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or blood clot in the thigh and legs really scares me... OK, try not to sit around for too long...

My friend just called me to inform that the friend, who is madly in love with this taiwanese girl who seems to be manipulating him, is getting married to the girl. I can't believe it. He asked me if I will attend his wedding because apparently, it seems even his mum do not want to attend the wedding. I don't know... I am at a loss.. I really don't feel like attending because I do not give the marriage my blessings (even though it is none of my business and who am I to say whether I will bless or not bless). But then on the other hand, I can understand how lonely my friend might feel because not many approve of his relationship. I don't know. Well, let's see if he asks me... he just came online just now, but I switched off my MSN... guess I have not decided how I will answer him if he asks.

Today, one of my colleague gave me a scare... she suddenly walked into my office and walked towards Jerrie, wanting to hug him. But when I looked at her and jokingly said "cannot", she snapped back and said she needed something to hug... apparently she has been wronged and she feels horrible about it... I stood there for a while, not knowing what to say but just gave her my blessings to hug Jerrie, know that it would make her feel better. Hope she is OK now...

Nevermind about Underpaid, Just Don't Overwork

Listen to this article

"Overworked and underpaid", that seems to be a common complaint I hear from people whenever they talk about their work and how it is "killing" them. I first heard this phrase from a JC teacher but now can better understand how hectic life can be for Singaporeans, as I again and again come into contact with friends who struggle with their career but yet not take the step to do something for themselves... Perhaps it is really true... the competition is real great and leaving a job which "kills" but pays well can be so difficult, especially when we are too comfortable with our current standard of living; the opportunity cost is just too great.

I have always believed that one's mental health is very important and it does not matter if one earns a lot but do not have the opportunity to really enjoy life and their work... No point waking up early in the morning and dreading to go to work and continue to live life like that... Things became even clearer after I came back from China and having experienced the sharp contrast of life here and there. I am also happy for a friend who has decided to leave his job which is taking a toll on him with late nights and yet having to report to work again early the next morning. And now I hear from a colleague and friend about this local blogger who died from overwork. My first impression was "you are kidding me" (yup, I can be quite blur to local happenings sometimes) but later come to realise that he wasn't joking. And it's happened so close to us, here in Singapore. It's almost like a reminder to us all that sometimes, it is health that is still important. So to all who is reading this and to all my friends, if you find yourself really overwork, do something before it is too late...

Ironically, May's last entry in her blog on 21 Apr says "... Just yesterday, I received an email from my job agency saying that a contract staff who's working in HP as well, passed away from heart attack, leaving his wife & kids... deja vu? coincidental? a warning sign? I dunno. I don't wanna end up dead for the sake of dough..." but it is just too late. Really, I don't hope there will be more cases similar to that of May Leong. But, it seems to be a reality we have to face. Before long, this will fade in the memory of people and it will be back to work...

May, may you rest in peace...

New Fav Worship Songs

Listen to this article

The worship songs sang on 29 Apr (first Sunday service after I returned from mission trip) was just simply wonderful! What a great way to round up the trip as we sang 4 songs which sums up my praises for God:

Majestic



Oh Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth
Oh Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth
The heavens declare Your greatness
The oceans cry out to You
The mountains, they bow down before You
So I'll join with the earth and I'll give my praise to You

Oh Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth
Oh Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth
The heavens declare Your greatness
The oceans cry out to You
The mountains, they bow down before You
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing...
The heavens declare Your greatness
The oceans cry out to You
The mountains, they bow down before You
So I'll join with the earth and I'll give my praise to You
Ooohhhh...

And I will worship You
I will worship You
I will worship You (I will worship You, Oh God)
I will worship You
We will worship You (We will worship You, Oh God)
We will worship You

The heavens declare Your greatness
The oceans cry out to You
The mountains, they bow down before You
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing...
The heavens declare Your greatness
The oceans cry out to You
The mountains, they bow down before You
So I'll join with the earth and I'll give my praise to You
So I'll join with the earth and I'll give my praise to You
So I'll join with the earth and I'll give my praise to You

With all the mountains and rivers that I saw in China, all I can do is just marvel and be awed at the beauty of God's creations. I stand amazed...

Amazed



You dance over me
While I am unaware
You sing all around
But I never hear the sound

Chorus:
Lord I'm amazed by You
Lord I'm amazed by You
Lord I'm amazed by You
How You love me

Verse 2:
You paint the morning sky
With miracles in mind
My hope will always stand
For You hold me in Your hand

Bridge:
How wide
How deep
How great
Is Your love for me

With all I am, I boast of what you have done...

I will Boast

Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom
Or the strong man boast in his strength
Let not the rich man boast in his riches
But let the humble come and give thanks

To the One who made us
The One who saved us

Chorus:
I will boast in the Lord my God
I will boast in One Who’s worthy
I will boast in the Lord my God
I will boast in the One Who’s worthy
He’s worthy

I will make my boast in Christ alone

And the two new songs that are my favourite and have ministered to me... "Oceans will Part" because of in the same way, my heart has grown distant from God before the trip but I have come to realise and see His work, which showed me how true He is.

Oceans will Part




If my heart has grown cold
There Your love will unfold
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
When I’m blind to my way
There Your Spirit will pray
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

Oceans will part nations come
At the whisper of Your call
Hope will rise glory shown
In my life Your will be done

Present suffering may pass
Lord Your mercy will last
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
And my heart will find praise
I’ll delight in Your way
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

"Word of God Speak" was sang at worship service last Sunday. Just as I am struggling with leadership and what to say... the very first verse of the song caught my attention and reminded me that, as a leader, it is not so much of me being heard but God being heard...

Word of God Speak



I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

China vs Singapore

Listen to this article

In China, you see real-life cow grazing in the fields...
In Singapore, you see this:

Cracked Pots

Listen to this article

Was preparing for cell this week and came across the following meaningful parable... spoke to me because I can sometimes feel like the crack pot. But isn't it true how every one of us has flaws and if we allow the Lord to use the flaws, it will turn into something good :) Now, let's hope I remember this...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How have you experienced God today?

Listen to this article

Wow, two weeks have passed since I returned from missions and so much has happened, I have yet the time to blog. In fact, I have pages and pages of my travel journal waiting for me to transfer to this blog... But today, I had to blog...

In a spiritual "high" and just felt that I needed to blog before I lose this feeling. It's the kind of day where you experience God again very strongly in your life. I am a rational kind of person and despite several experiences with God, I have often come back 360 degrees to again wonder how true God is. But, there comes a time when you sense and know that God is working in your life and coincidences are just not coincidences anymore. So, I just want to record down my thanksgiving...

I thank God for showing me He is there when I recently was called to do a presentation for a prayer meeting on our mission trip. With the short time frame given to prepare the slides, I thought that I will have to sacrifice my whole May Day holiday to work on the slides, which are to be used the very next day. But thank God for not only giving me the May Day holiday to rush out the slides, but also giving me the inspiration to finish it within half a day... I had started off not knowing what to put in the presentation but everything just came out by late afternoon, that I even had time to go out to meet my friends for a simple night's out.

I thank God for showing me He is there when He helped nursed my esteem again and again after the trip, with successes in work and affirmation from friends. My article got published in a magazine... I was asked if I would like to go back to work in my former organisation (though that did worried me a little because my boss is a committee member in the organisation, and I wonder if she has heard the rumour about me wanting to go back and how she felt about it)... I managed to redesign my volunteer bulletin all within a night and got an affirmation on the new design... I got affirmation from my team members and my cell leader for the presentation slides on our recent mission trip I done up for the prayer meeting... I responded to the CEO of the organisation which printed the publication where my article was in to thank her and also express a little view and she asked if she could publish my comments... and the list goes on...

I thank God for showing me He is there when He blessed the mission trip presentation at the prayer meeting. I dreaded presentations and to present to a group of strangers was even more nerve-wrecking. But, I thank God for showing me that He is in control and, surprisingly, I even dared to stand in front of the rostrum to speak and there were light-hearted moments when I made the audience laughed...

I thank God for showing me He is there when He answered my prayers for my friends and showed me the power of prayers. I have recently come to know of a friend who is worried that she might have down syndrome child, and yet another friend who is facing some career difficulties. I had prayed for them an glad that God answered. I thank God for preparing the heart of my friend to be visit church again; I had prayed for opportunities to broach the topic and the next thing I know, my friend expressed interest to visit my church. I also thank God for the prayer warriors that prayed for our mission trip and it is no wonder the trip went well with so many intercessors (colleagues, friends, family, volunteers and even Christian brothers and sisters I didn't know).

I thank God for showing me He is there when He sent friends to me at my workplace... friends to affirm me and encourage me on, friends who are ever so willing to help me when I need help (e.g. the simple act of agreeing to help play the piano when I conduct devotion this Thursday, even though it means having to practice a new song over the next two days and also helping me to find out prayer request for Thursday), friends who will stand up for me, friends who blessed me with little gifts which made me feel valued, friends who gives me their ears, friends who shower me with concern, friends who make my work life interesting e.g. colleagues and friends who would come over to re-arrange Jerrie's in the room, whenever I am out of office :) Thank God, or I thought my bears have a life of its own :)

I thank God for showing me He is there when He blessed me in my preparation for cell. I have just taken over cell leadership officially last Friday, but I keep wondering why i even accepted the role in the first place. But God has, through the trip, and several other occasions, showed me He is Jehovah Jireh (God the Provider) when He provided when I am on the path of uncertainty. Just like how I was preparing for cell email yesterday and I was thinking about what verse to use to end the email and there, staring at me in my email inbox are two devotional email, from two separate websites, but both on the topics I am to cover for this Friday's cell. How much more coincidental can this get?

I thank God for showing me He is there when He continued to speak to me through circumstances. Just as when I am doubting my capability as a cell leader, God spoke to me through friends who reminded me that I should not limit God's ability by doubting what He can do through me. Another friend also reminded me that I should not end up like Moses, one who is after the heart of God but who never got into the promised land. True, I am doing the Old Testament Challenge now and as I read through the chapters, I am beginning to identify with Moses because he too is a person with little self-confidence and struggles with leadership over God's people. Just as Moses had doubts about himself when he was called to lead God's people out of Egypt and said: "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue... O Lord, please send someone else to do it." (and in the process angered God), so did I when I was called to cell leadership. Just as Moses started to lament his burden with leading the Israelites (Numbers 11:11-15), so did I recent lament to the Lord why he has placed me in cell leadership? But one thing is for sure, I do not hope to turn out to be like Moses, not being able to see the promised land. I also thank God for speaking to me through worship in church, the latest from the song "Word of God speak" just as I am struggling with cell leadership and what to say.

I thank God for showing me He is there when He used to, hopefully, minister to others. Just as someone has ministered to me with 1 cor 15:58, I have recently come to know of a friend who told me that a bible verse I had sent to her has ministered to her. To me, it was just a simple message I sent to my friends but God has used it. I also thank God for the sudden inspiration for an encouragement mms I drafted this morning to some of my friends. I am not the kind of person who can type inspiration smses, but this morning, I suddenly had the inspiration to do so and the words just flowed. And so, I ended up using a photo I took while doing my "healthy lifestyle" with a colleague in Bishan Park yesterday and the mms went...

Rays
"... Isn't God's creation so wonderful? Reminds us that God is just like the sun, sure to be there and even when cloud cover, still can peek at its rays, if we look carefully and let it in. May God be with you. :)"

I am really glad to be experiencing God again in daily life but then deep inside me, I really hope it stays this way... How have you experienced God today?