Cyberfellowship.blogspot.com - Living and thinking

God Is With Us

2012-01-01T00:48:00.001+08:00

Christ, the Eternal Word

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2 NLT.

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

So the Word became human and made his home among us. John 1:14 NLT.

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit......And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 2:18, 21 NLT.

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet: "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means

'God is with us." Matthew 2:22-23 NLT.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 NKJV.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

John 8:12 NLT.

I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10 The Message.

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death to life. John 5:24 The Message.

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. John 1:4 NLT.

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 NLT.

He came to tear down the walls that we have erected between one human being and the other - between the Jew and the Gentile; the Church and the un-churched; the rich and the poor; the healthy and the sick; the intellectual and the simpleminded; any form of segregation, prejudice, bigotry, ignorance and abuse. He did not create the human race to hate, destroy and fear one another.

He created human beings in His image, in Godlikeness, to be in communion with Him. He came to restore what is good to us and in us. He came to give us hope, make our heart clean.

Teach us to live in peace with one another. He came to pay the price for our waywardness - a spiritual darkness which creates blindness in our mind, heart and soul. And He lives in each of us who have asked Him into our heart and life to show us the Way, the Truth and the Life. He came as a restorer. That no one be left out.

In Him, we may once again find grace, forgiveness and hope to live. And not just to live but to expect God in our midst, God with us, God in us and God through us. God overflowing!

His goodness knocking out death, decadence, suffering, pain, neglect, inequality, corruption, pride, lust, greed and loneliness. That those who need what man cannot give will find it in the embrace of the One who loves unconditionally. That in meeting us at our worst, He may restore us to His best.

Have a blessed new year. Shalom.

Our Vision Determines Our Journey

2011-11-30T22:55:00.001+08:00

For as long as I have breath, my lips will glorify, I will sing, praise to You, my King.

When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."

He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. Matthew 16:13-18 The Message.

An Event for Everyone

The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide. A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. Luke 2:10-14 The Message.

Blessings

In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I've seen your salvation; it's now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own." John 10:14 NKJV. ~ Jesus.

For I know who leads me home and makes me whole.

Sv ",+

Thanksgiving speech to Pastor Rev (Dr) Patrick Lau and Sister Evelyn Lau

2011-11-28T16:03:00.004+08:00

Pastor Lau, Sister Lau, guests, brother and sisters in Christ,

Greetings and blessings in the merciful Name of our LORD Jesus Christ.

It is my honour to be able to give a short thanksgiving speech to Pastor and Sis Lau on behalf of the Sunday School teachers. May I ask that the teachers, past and present, stand up where you are so that we know who I am representing.

There are two parts to my speech. The first part is a summary from various teachers. The second is just a personal word of thanks from me and my household.

(a) Many of us were still students when we first attended Church, and Pastor Lau taught us during Sunday school at the old church premise (at 635, Upper East Coast Road). Those years attending Sunday School has helped many of us to understand the Word of God better and to apply them in our lives. Some of these students are still in Calvary Assembly today and are holding key layman appointments besides being involved in the Sunday School Ministry as Teachers.

(b) Pastor Lau was supportive of the Sunday School Day camp and on various occasions, he has delivered short but precise message of encouragement during the morning sing- a-along session. Praise God for those words of encouragement to students and teachers alike.

(c) Another teacher recalled that Pastor Lau (a very young pastor who looked boyish then) was her Sunday School teacher for about 2 years while she was in secondary school. He taught them using "The Gateway to Life" and she learnt a lot about the basics of Christian Living such as Baptism and Tithing. This teacher is a product of Sunday School.

(d) Pastor Lau has always been very supportive (in terms of budget and approval) of Sunday School programs and readily gave us his blessings. He has empowered the Sunday School Superintendant and the team of Sunday School teachers fully. We appreciate very much this trust and confidence he has placed on the entire Sunday School Team.

Pastor Lau,

Thank you for being our pastor for the last 20 years. When I first came to Calvary, one of the first things I noticed about you was your booming voice. It evoked a sense of comfort and security for a young man who then new to this church and faith. During those days, Calvary had her services in one of the cinemas in Bedok. Although I couldn't see you clearly from where I was usually seated, your voice and words ministered to me week after week. When I got to know you better, I noticed another thing about you. You never failed to give me a firm handshake whenever we met. The handshake, coupled with your smile, was always pleasant and re-assuring, consistent with your claim that this is a family church, friendliest in this part of Singapore, other parts you don't know.

Over the years, you gave us wise counsel and guidance. Veron and I clearly remembered your advice to us during marriage preparation class - no TV in bedroom, which we have kept till this date. You shared with us the importance of communicating with our spouse, and deciding early on how we want to manage our finances as a family.

You invested in us based on our availability, not talents or rather, the lack of, when we were given the opportunity to serve first in Mighty KIDS, followed by Sunday School. Our spiritual growth through the years is a result of your tireless pastoral care and personal concern. As I have shared with brother Dwayne, your labour has not been in vain.

I have come to realize that the pastor needs a good team to support him, even in fulfilling GOD's will and vision for the church. In the Old Testament, when Joshua battled the Amalekites, the Israelites prevailed only when Moses's hands were held up high. We read of Aaron and Hur holding Moses's hands up high when he was tired.

As a new season opens up for you in mission work, and as Calvary enters into a new era, may I urge all to continue to do our part to pray, to serve and to support as GOD enables and directs, so that Pastor Lau and the pastoral team at Calvary will continue to be fruitful in their respective callings. Thank you, once again, Pastor Lau. May the LORD's blessings and favour be upon you. Be strong and be of good courage, for the LORD will never leave us or forsake us.

Sister Lau,

You have been the tireless helpmate to Pastor Lau, selflessly sharing him with the church and needy for decades. Many spouses of servants of GOD often work hard behind the scenes so that their husband or wife can serve GOD wholeheartedly. I believe you are one fine example.

Besides quietly supporting Pastor Lau behind the scenes, you have also raised 2 talented children who have been a blessing to the church ever since they started serving many years ago. Week after week, we have been blessed by the beautiful songs and music in the sanctuary. Year after year, we have been blessed by the many creative productions, through which loved ones and friends have come to know the LORD. As a father of 3 children, I can say with authority that raising up children isn't easy, much less children who grow up to love the LORD.

In the domestic helpers' ministry, I can personally say that you have done well in imparting the love for our LORD Jesus to the helpers. My former helper Yumi, who sang the song El Shaddai earlier, has been tremendously blessed by your teaching and love. I believe she and many others will continue to grow spiritually because of the Word you have sown in their lives. Thank you, sister Lau. May the LORD continue to look upon you with His favour, and continue to bless the work that is being done through you, and those helpers whom you minister to.

The LORD bless you.

Note: The above was delivered at Thanksgiving Dinner for Pastor Lau and Sister Lau at Teochew City Restaurant, Centrepoint on 27th Nov 2011. This event was organized by Calvary Assembly of GOD church, Singapore.

O Wretched Soul!

2011-11-15T06:47:00.001+08:00

Wretched - Deeply afflicted, dejected, or distressed in body or mind.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:24 NKJV.

Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:25 NLT.

Paul understood the struggles of a fallible human being.

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognise my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Psalm 51:1-3 NLT. David was a man after God's heart. Yet, he committed adultery and murder.

Arresting Jesus, they marched him off and took him into the house of the Chief Priest. Peter followed, but at a safe distance. In the middle of the courtyard some people had started a fire and were sitting around it, trying to keep warm. One of the serving maids sitting at the fire noticed him, then took a second look and said, "This man was with him!" He denied it, "Woman, I don't even know him." A short time later, someone else noticed him and said, "You're one of them." But Peter denied it: "Man, I am not."

About an hour later, someone else spoke up, really adamant: "He's got to have been with him! He's got 'Galilean' written all over him." Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about." At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed. Just then, the Master turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and cried and cried and cried. Luke 22:54-62 The Message. Peter pledged undying loyalty to Jesus, but caved in under duress.

They were not men short of purpose, passion or heart. They were individuals driven by a cause. Passionate human beings when pride, lust, evil and lack of moral courage got the better of them and brought out the worst in them. Where they saw their hearts and minds in conditions as they really were; abject, puffed up, falling short of the fullness of God.

Some of us have been there, where we look into our hearts and minds and see only darkness. Darkness where only the light of God can shed light on, where it can pierce through and renew.

Grieved over their wrongdoings, they threw their wretched self before God. And God healed their brokenness and washed away their shame. He did not just stopped there, He gave them a new heart, calling and identity. Even as remorse engulfed them, and consequences entailed, they found a second chance in life, in relationships in God's forgiving embrace.

When we come to the end of ourselves, God steps in and turns us around.

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Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1-6 NKJV.

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Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You. Psalms 51:11-13. NKJV.

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So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, " Feed My Lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep." John 21:15-17 NKJV.

Sv ".+

Thank you, Yumi

2011-11-14T08:22:00.007+08:00

Dear Yumi,

Thank you for being part of our family for the past 7 years. We appreciate all that you have done for us, especially the little gestures of love for Deborah, Rachel and Grace.

You have been a source of joy and pride for us. I am personally proud and honoured to have you work for us. Thank you for even taking time to share words of encouragement from the Bible. Thank you for questions pertaining to our faith in Christ, as well as your testimonies and those from Bro. Mok's wife. Your enthusiasm towards Dr Kameel's sermons put me to shame. You have been a good and faithful sister in Christ, far beyond your role as a domestic helper.

Taking care of a household with 3 young children isn't easy. We adults have also been demanding at times. Yet, despite all that you had to do, you were mostly cheerful and even found time to cook dessert for the family and my home cell fellowship group. We appreciate that you woke up early to clean the house on your off days so that we can return to a clean house after church. Thank you for your little gifts of hair clips for Deborah and Rachel, and for the beautiful photos of Grace. You have been a good kakak to them.

Although we are sad to see you go, we know you have much to accomplish in the years ahead. We trust that GOD will continue to lead and equip you according to His will. As you have desired and been faithful with the little things as a domestic helper, I believe GOD will lead you to greater things in the road ahead. For this alone, we are happy for you.

Thank you once again. Do forgive us where we have been wrong or unreasonable towards you in the past 7 years.

We wish you the very best, Yumi.

May GOD bless you and your loved ones, healing those who are afflicted. May your family come to know the saving grace of GOD in Christ Jesus, and may He continue to shine through you, and touch the lives of those around you. May you be as Joseph of the Old Testament, so that even your employers will be blessed because of GOD's favour upon you. May you continue to be the Father's joy as your baptized name Abigail means.

By His Grace,

Thomas

Higher Ground

2011-10-23T00:03:00.000+08:00

The Call

I think I've heard Your voice before, and I've got to hear You just once more. Cos' the dreams that You have building deep inside, lie broken now before me and I cry.

I don't want another plan, cos' LORD, You know I've made my stand. That I only do the things that You command, so please help me now to hear and understand.

Is that really You, O LORD? Calling my name out now. Is that really You, O LORD? Showing me higher ground.

You say to gain my life, I must die. To all the dreams I've held inside.

As I give them now and lay aside my pride. Somehow I can hear You calling me to bigger dreams and higher heights.

Is that really You, O LORD? Calling my name out now. Is that really You, O LORD? Showing me higher ground.

I've never gone that far, I'm just afraid to start. But LORD I know it's true, that voice is really You, calling me, calling me, I hear You calling me.

Yes, that's really You, O LORD. Calling my name out now. Yes, that's really You, O LORD. Showing me higher ground.

I believe it's You, O LORD. You, calling my name out now. I believe it's You, O LORD. You, showing me higher ground.

~ Bob Fitts, "Is That Really You, O LORD?"

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:4-10 NIV.

The Man

Jeremiah was a priest, a member of the household of Hilkiah. His hometown was Anathoth. Although timid by nature, he received the Lord's assurance that he would become strong and courageous. In his "confessions", he laid bare the deep struggles of his inmost being, sometimes making startlingly honest statements about his feelings toward God. On occasion, he engaged in calling for redress against his personal enemies.

The Prophet - Pronouncement of Divine Judgment

Jeremiah began prophesying in Judah halfway through the reign of Josiah (640-609 B.C.) and continued throughout the reigns of Jehoahaz (609), Jehoiakim (609-598), Jehoiachin (598-597) and Zedekiah (597-586). It was a period of storm and stress when the doom of entire nations - including Judah itself - was being sealed. Ashurbanipal, last of the great Assyrian rulers, died in 627. His successors were no match for Nabopolassar, the founder of the Neo-Babylonian empire, who began his rule in 626 (the year of Jeremiah's call to prophesy).

In 605 B.C., the Egyptians were crushed at Carchemish on the Euphrates by Nebuchadnezzar, who succeeded his father Nabopolassar as ruler of Babylon. Neco returned to Egypt with heavy losses, and Babylon was virtually given a free hand in western Asia for the next 70 years. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem in 605, and again in 598-597.

Jeremiah was ever conscious of his call from the Lord to be a prophet. He lashed out against the sins of his countrymen, scoring them severely for their idolatry. But Jeremiah loved the people of Judah in spite of their sins, and he prayed for them even when the Lord told him not to.

Called to the unhappy task of announcing the destruction of the kingdom of Judah, it was Jeremiah's commission to lodge God's indictment against his people and proclaim the end of an era. The Lord was about to inflict on the remnant of his people the ultimate covenant curse (Leviticus 26:31-33; Deuteronomy 28:49-68).

He would undo all that He had done for them since the day he brought them out of Egypt. It would then seem that the end had come, that Israel's stubborn and uncircumcised (unconsecrated) heart had sealed her final destiny, that God's chosen people had been cast off, that all the ancient promises and covenants had come to nothing.

The Intercessor - Promise of Restoration

But God's judgment of his people (and the nations), though terrible, was not to be the last word, the final work of God in history. Mercy and covenant faithfulness would triumph over wrath.

Beyond the judgment would come restoration and renewal. Israel would be restored, the nations that crushed her would be crushed, and the old covenants (with Israel, David and the Levites) would be honoured.

God would make a new covenant with his people in which he would write his law on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34) and thus consecrate them to his service. The house of David would rule them in righteousness, and faithful priests would serve. God's commitment to Israel's redemption was as unfailing as the secure order of creation (Jeremiah 33).

The very God who compelled Jeremiah to denounce sin and pronounce judgment was the God who authorised him to announce that the divine wrath had its bounds, its 70 years. Afterward forgiveness and cleansing would come - and a new day, in which all the old expectations, aroused by God's past acts and his promises and covenants, would yet be fulfilled in a manner transcending all God's mercies of old.

Before Jeremiah was born, God had it in his mind how Jeremiah would be formed; where he would be born; the family he would be borne to; which chapter in history his life would be a part of; what purpose the prophet's life would fulfill in the divine scheme of things. Jeremiah was but an ordinary priest in the kingdom of Judah, called into the presence of an extraordinary GOD, who then began to pour out His heart to Jeremiah. His heartaches, anguish, love; pending wrath, followed by promise of restoration for his people, Israel.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV.

Sv ".+

Trustworthy and True

2011-10-09T22:28:00.000+08:00

Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ's death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation. Hebrews 9:27-28 The Message.

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid in the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 1 John 4:17 NLT.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."

And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega - the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

"But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshippers, and all liars - their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:1-8 NLT.

Some say that the Bible is a book of fairy tales; that God does not exist. And if God is God why is there so much suffering in the world? And why is Jesus the only Way, Truth and Life?

What then separates a believer from a non-believer? It is FAITH. The Christian sees through eyes of faith, believing that God exists, and thus understands life, purpose and existence through the revealed truth from the Word of God, The Holy Bible; and in relationship with God.

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see. Hebrews 11:1-3 The Message.

It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 The Message.

God did not create the world to prove that He is God. He did it out of love, to share His creation with a man made in His image. First this: God created the Heavens and Earth - all you see, all you don't see. Genesis 1:1 The Message.

God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. Genesis 1:26-27 The Message.

God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning - Day Six. Genesis 1:31 The Message.

It was love, still is and always will be. "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. John 3:16-17 The Message.

What would you believe?

In Christ,

Sv ",+

When a loved one hurts

2011-06-09T12:48:00.002+08:00

When a loved one hurts
We feel the pain
We look for answers
Sometimes in vain

Hope lingers for a moment
Then gives way to doubt
In stillness we cry
In helplessness we shout

Prayers of faith
Words of comfort
Tears of anguish
Can't take away the hurt

Holding her hand
Stroking her hair
Our presence we offer
Our heart we share

Amidst the gloom
We know we're not alone
For outside Lazarus's tomb
Jesus said, "Take away the stone!"

He prayed and the Father heard Him
With a loud voice, said "Lazarus, come out!"
The people standing there believed
When Lazarus appeared, dispelling all doubt!

In Christ there is hope
When all else seems bleak
When it feels like the end of the rope
Through the darkness, dawn breaks

I'm touched by the love
The brethren has shown
When dark clouds gathered above
Their love shone through like a beacon

Peeling away
One layer at a time
Till the silver lining shows
Till the sun shines bright

After the Valley......Hope

2011-04-24T20:03:00.001+08:00

Ezekiel lived during a time of international upheaval. In 612 the great Assyrian city of Nineveh fell to a combined force of Babylonians and Medes. Three years later, Pharaoh Neco II of Egypt marched north to assist the Assyrians and to try to reassert Egypt's age old influence over Palestine and Aram (Syria). At Megiddo, King Josiah of Judah, who may have been an ally of Babylon as King Hezekiah had been, attempted to intercept the Egyptian forces but was crushed, losing his life in the battle.

In 605 the Babylonians overwhelmed the Egyptian army at Carchemish, then pressed south as far as the Philistine plain. In the same year, Nebuchadnezzar was elevated to the Babylonian throne and King Jehoiakim shifted allegiance to him. When a few years later the Egyptian and Babylonian forces met in a standoff battle in southwestern Palestine, Jehoiakim rebelled against his new overlord.

Nebuchadnezzar soon responded by sending a force against Jerusalem, subduing it in 597 B.C. Jehoiakim's son Jehoiachin and about 10,000 Jews, including Ezekiel, were exiled to Babylon, where they joined those who had been exiled in Jehoiakim's "third year". Nebuchadnezzar placed Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, on the throne in Jerusalem, but within five or six years he too rebelled. The Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem in 588, and in July, 586, the walls were breached and the city plundered. On August 14, 586, the city and temple were burned. Israel's monarchy was ended; the City of David and the Lord's temple no longer existed.

"Introduction to Ezekiel", pp. 1226 The NIV Study Bible, 1985 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Ezekiel was born to a priestly family. He would have served as a priest in The Temple in Jerusalem had it not been destroyed and he exiled to Babylon.

When I was thirty years of age, I was living with the exiles on the Kebar River. On the fifth day of the fourth month, the sky opened up and I saw visions of God. (It was the fifth day of the month in the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin that GOD's Word came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, on the banks of the Kebar River in the country of Babylon. GOD's hand came upon him that day.) Ezekiel 1:1-3 The Message.

Instead he was called by GOD to serve as a prophet to the people of Israel.

Then I heard a voice. It said, "Son of man, stand up. I have something to say to you." The moment I heard the voice, the Spirit entered me and put me on my feet. As he spoke to me, I listened.

He said, "Son of man, I'm sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was one. They and their ancestors have fomented rebellion right up to the present. They're a hard case, these people to whom I'm sending you - hardened in their sin. Tell them, 'This is the Message of GOD, the Master.' They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they'll know that a prophet's been here. But don't be afraid of them, son of man, and don't be afraid of anything they say. Don't be afraid when living among them is like stepping on thorns or finding scorpions in your bed. Don't be afraid of their mean words or their hard looks. They're bunch of rebels. Your job is to speak to them. Whether they listen is not your concern. They're hardened rebels.

"Only take care, son of man, that you don't rebel like these rebels. Open your mouth and eat what I give you." When I looked he had his hand stretched out to me, and in the hand a book, a scroll. He unrolled the scroll. On both sides, front and back, were written lamentations and mourning and doom. He told me, "Son of man, eat what you see. Eat this book. Then go and speak to the family of Israel." As I opened my mouth, he gave me the scroll to eat, saying, "Son of man, eat this book that I am giving you. Make a full meal of it!" So I ate it. It tasted so good - just like honey. Ezekiel 2:1-3:3 The Message.

The Temple, the adoration of worship in the eyes of the Israelites no longer existed. Exiled from The Promised Land and with the annihilation of the Davidic kingdom, the Israelites had seemingly lost everything that had ever meant anything to them. A priest without a Temple, a people without a king, a nation without a country. But were they mistaken. The LORD their God, the Holy One of Israel, had never left or forsaken them. He would once again remind them that He is their source of strength, hope and life.

GOD grabbed me. GOD's Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them - a lot of bones!

There were bones all over the plain - dry bones, bleached by the sun. He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "Master GOD, only you know that."

He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones: 'Dry bones, listen to the Message of GOD!" GOD, the Master, told the dry bones, "Watch this: I'm bringing the breath of life to you and you'll come to life. I'll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You'll come alive and you'll realised that I am GOD!"

I prophesied just as I'd been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them.

He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'GOD, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!' "

So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army. Then God said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they're saying: 'Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there's nothing left of us.'

"Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, 'GOD, the Master, says: I'll dig up your graves and bring you out alive - O my people! Then I'll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you'll realise that I am GOD. I'll breathe my life into you and you'll live. Then I'll lead you straight back to your land and you'll realise that I am GOD.

I've said it and I'll do it. GOD's Decree.' " Ezekiel 37:1-14 The Message.

They had lost the outward forms of religion that they may begin to understand the inner life of worship that God desires. A priest ordained as a prophet. A prophet availing himself to God. Ezekiel breathed, lived and was transformed by the word of God, declared God's words to those who had lost hope. A Living God who would ultimately restore hope and life to His covenantal people.

He is Risen,

Sv ".+

He Cares

2011-03-21T00:29:00.001+08:00

The cold breeze greeted dawn. Just as it had been blowing across the land the whole night, it was sanguine.

Life is fleeting, a lifetime is not enough to love. God is sovereign. The righteous will be vindicated.

He was not found in the earthquake. His Presence was not felt in the tsunami. Nor His hand in the disaster we have created.

Where was GOD when our world went into a tailspin? Where was GOD when even our hearts failed us?

Then the word of GOD came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?" Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before GOD. GOD will pass by."

A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before GOD, but GOD wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake,

but GOD wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but GOD wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. 1 Kings 19:9,11-12 The Message.

Then I heard His still small voice. There I found His presence. As my heart listened, it began to heal. No longer does it gets tossed around in the sea of turbulence and turmoil.

Faith rooted solely in Him. Hope rises again from the ashes of calamity.

I am reminded of His grace......The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." Luke 4:18 NKJV.

When our world went into a tailspin, He was there unseen, loving each person. When no strength remained, He carried us through situations we didn't understand.

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The Promise

2011-02-23T23:42:00.000+08:00

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son." "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Revelation 21:1-8 NKJV.

This is the final revelation, the saint's comfort, the Father's promise, the warrior's code, the child's longing, the eternal truth. And the day will come when all will be revealed.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only, but as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking marrying and giving up in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man be." Matthew 24:35-39 NKJV.

The end will come but before that takes place, while we are still alive, we ought to live our lives to the fullest, in the fullness of Christ, the fullness of divinity in humanity.

Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it - saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me.

I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.

But take heart! I've conquered the world." John 16:31-33 The Message.

Shalom,

Sv ",+

Letter to a brother in Christ on sexual sins

2011-02-10T12:30:00.001+08:00

Dear brother,

"No temptation has seized you except what's common to man" (1 Cor 10:13) and "every sin that a man commits is outside the body, but when one sins sexually, he is sinning against his own body." (1 Cor 6:18)

As a young man, I struggled with porn, fornication, masturbation, sexual fantasies and lust. Jesus said when we look at a woman lustfully, we have already committed adultery, and we know that violates one of the 10 commandments.

Initially, I found it hard to comprehend how these may be offensive to the LORD until I realised that it all boils down to loving GOD and loving our neighbour as ourselves. As I look back, I am eternally thankful that GOD is merciful. He could have killed me in my shameless deeds BUT, He did not. He could also have exposed and shamed me in public, but He did not.

Over the years, over many cycles of miring in mud, cleaning up, and back to the mud again, the Holy Spirit dealt with me through the Holy Scriptures. I began to understand without a doubt why these are sins, and are not excusable, no matter how I try to trivialize them. Do search the Scriptures and meditate over them. Ask the Spirit to help us overcome the flesh, as "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Ask the Spirit to open our eyes to see the "wondrous truths in His laws."

But, how do we deal with this practically, in a world saturated with sexually explicit and suggestive images and messages?

1. Flee from temptation

I mean literally. Don't even look at images that fire up lust. Newspaper, TV and web are full of ads showing women in suggestive poses. Don't give them any attention. Look away from women who are inappropriately dressed. I personally avoid TV besides watching news, documentaries and family-oriented shows. As for the web, I surf it in the study room next to where my young daughters study. When I browse from my mobile, I avoid links and sites that are inappropriate. If I have to read an article online, I will choose a wholesome site over those that may contain adult content. Configure search engines to exclude sexually explicit content. Use Content Advisor in Internet Explorer to keep away from sexually explicit sites.

2. Saturate ourselves with His Word

His Word is "active and living, sharper than any double-edged sword." Hide them in our heart so that we will not sin against Him. Fill our minds with "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" so that we are constantly reminded of His goodness, mercy and love. Submit to GOD, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Talk about GOD and His Word with fellow brethren. Encourage, and be encouraged on how GOD wants us to live.

3. Have a healthy lifestyle

Take up a good sports; Nintendo Wii is NOT considered sports, and avoid beach sports for obvious reasons. I will also add, keep away from gyms. They are not as healthy as they once were. If you need a good workout, you can invest in a pair of dumbbells or a bicycle :) I personally like running. Sports keep us fit as well as minimizes the time we spend on the web. A person active in sports is also unlikely to stay up late and watch late night TV or browse the web. Do sports regularly with good friends. Avoid computer games as they numb the mind, lower our guard, and are an addiction themselves.

4. Get married

The Bible has much to say about this so I will not repeat it here. Sex is created for people to enjoy, but in the right context. We don't get married for sex, of course, but a married person who enjoys sex in a loving relationship with his wife, is less likely to succumb to sexual sins. When we learn to see our spouse as people, not sex objects, when we learn to love them as ourselves, we will appreciate better why sex in other context is disgusting. This is also what keeps us faithful in a marriage.

I will stop here for now. I hope the above is helpful in some ways.

Continue to grow and stay strong in Christ. The LORD bless you.

The God who Loves

2011-01-23T22:58:00.001+08:00

"Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?"

"To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none besides Him. Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire , and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power, driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is this day."

"Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other." Deuteronomy 4:33-39 NKJV.

"And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power."

"That you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none besides Him."

"That He might instruct you."

"To give you their land as an inheritance."

The Israelites were slaves in the land of Egypt. They had no hope in the social-political and economical structure under Egyptian dominion. But God was with them. He kept faith with them.

He delivered them out of bondage; revealed Himself to them; and gave them guidelines to help them live holistically, that the world might know Him through Israel's right living in relationship with Him.

What He did for Israel, He would continue to do for the rest of humanity. "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again." John 3:16-17 The Message.

This is the God who gets involved for the good of His people because He loves them. This is the God who bears the pain, sorrow, guilt, shame, hopelessness, weariness, filth, wickedness, evil of humanity because He loves them. This is the God whose original vision for humanity compels Him to become one of us so that we may know that with God all things are possible, that we may recover what was lost, our full humanity - made in the image of God. That we may know that we are made for goodness, not evil. This is the God who loves.

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The Voice of One

2011-01-15T16:12:00.000+08:00

"And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice." Deuteronomy 4:12 NKJV.

"Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, "lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, "the likeness of any animal that is on earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, "the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. "And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. Deuteronomy 4:15-19 NKJV.

Recognising the voice of God, why is it so important? Why is it critical to be able to discern the voice of God? To grasp a voice without form.

A personal encounter - paying attention. Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of GOD appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it didn't burn up. Moses said, "What's going on here? I can't believe this! Amazing! Why doesn't the bush burn up?" GOD saw that he had stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He said, "Yes, I'm right here!" God said, "Don't come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You're standing on holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God. Exodus 3: 1-6 The Message.

A still small voice - purifying our conscience. Then the word of GOD came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?" "I've been working my heart out for the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me." Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before GOD. GOD will pass by." A hurricane wind ripped through mountains and shattered the rocks before GOD, but GOD wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but GOD wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but GOD wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

1 Kings 19:9-12 The Message.

[v.9 What are you doing here, Elijah? The question implies that Elijah had come to Sinai for his own misguided reasons and not because the Lord had sent him.

v.10 Elijah did not give a direct answer to the Lord's question but implied that the work the Lord had begun centuries earlier with the establishment of the Sinai covenant had now come to nothing. Whereas Moses had interceded for Israel when they sinned with the golden calf (Exodus 32:11-13), Elijah condemned the Israelites for breaking the covenant, and bitterly complained over the fruitlessness of his own work.] The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, 1985, pp. 514.

God's direction - leading to fulfillment. When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?" Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for GOD, the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me." GOD said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 1 Kings 19:13-16 The Message.

God's validation - our protection. My sheep recognise my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind. John 10:27-30 The Message.

That we may know Him. That the truth may set us free. That we may live the real and abundant life.

---

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An Eternal Emancipation - A Lifelong Transformation

2010-12-26T10:03:00.001+08:00

The forever emancipation for mankind entered history that very night......For a child has been born - for us! The gift of a son - for us!

He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Wholeness.

His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom.

He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going with fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always.

The zeal of GOD-of-the Angel-Armies will do all this. Isaiah 9:6-7 The Message.

The first emancipation came with the birth of Jesus Christ to Joseph and Mary. God came near and began a chain of redemptive and restorative work in a broken world.

He came to put things right, set us straight, pull us together, see us through, give us strength, bring us hope, build us up, make us whole. Most of all, He came to love.

There would not be Christmas if there had been no Christ. There would be no reason to hope if not for the love of God. The world would be lost to its darkness.

Imagine a Christmas without shopping, feasting and partying; but one spent in expectation of the Christ, the significance surrounding his birth and coming.

"No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man. John 3:13 The Message.

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him,

anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was.

He came to help, to put the world right again. John 3:16-18 The Message.

"The One who comes from above is head and shoulders over other messengers from God. The earthborn is earthbound and speaks earth language; the heaven born is in a league of his own.

He sets out the evidence of what he saw and heard in heaven. No one wants to deal with these facts. But anyone who examines this evidence will come to stake his life on this: that God himself is the truth. John 3:31-33 The Message.

Just ask the woman at the well, she knew firsthand what an encounter with Jesus was like.

So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."......Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." John 4:5-7, 9-10 NKJV.

What is this "living water" that Jesus was referring to?

Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:13-14 NKJV. Source of life, source for life.

Breaking down barriers

The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:19-24 NKJV.

This is just an account of an encounter with Jesus amongst many others. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. John 21:25 NKJV. This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. (The gospel according to) John 21:24 NKJV.

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Loving Judas

2010-12-25T07:27:00.000+08:00

This Christmas, I understand what it means to wash Judas's feet. The unconditional love that Jesus gave to Judas culminated in his cowardly betrayal, that regrettably resulted in his overwhelming remorse and suicide.

We love because GOD first loved us. No one loves with the anticipation of being betrayed, much less a desire to see the betrayer come to grief. 1 Corinthians 13:7 says that love "always hopes". Of course it does. We hope for a better outcome, for an improvement, for something good. That's why we love in the first place.

But there will always be Judases. The apostle Paul encountered Alexander the metalworker. David was betrayed by his son Absalom, and Joseph his brothers. Even Peter denied knowing Christ when his life was at stake.

In the same verse in 1 Corinthians, it also says love "always perseveres". We love, Judases notwithstanding.

Thomas

Why doesn't GOD bless me???

2010-12-25T06:51:00.003+08:00

Some people ask, "why doesn't GOD bless me? Why are others more blessed? Doesn't GOD love me?"

GOD loves you, even while you were still a sinner. And He still loves you when you rebel against Him. Like a loving father, GOD doesn't disown us, despite our wilful disobedience, though some might be guilty of walking away from Him.
So if GOD loves me, why am I not as blessed as others?

Firstly, what is your definition of blessing? Are you primarily looking at material and worldly blessings? Are you looking at wealth, creature comfort, sensual pleasure, status symbols?... If so, please look at how Jesus defines blessing in Matthew 5:1-12. To Him, blessing stems invariably from a relationship with GOD and a security and assurance that lies in His presence.

King David said he would rather be a doorkeeper in the temple of GOD than to dwell in the tents of the wicked, and that a day in GOD's temple is better than a thousand elsewhere. Blessings are to be defined in relation to GOD, not to self. Blessings are never separate from GOD. If you are looking for blessings apart from GOD, there is the world and all that satan promises, if you worship him.

How dare you judge me and call me a devil worshipper!

The truth is, if satan can convince you to desire his kind of "blessing", if he can make you look away from GOD, if he can make your stomach your god, it is enough. You have chosen to worship him.

OK, so tell me, how am I blessed if I am struggling with so many challenges, when I don't have enough for all my needs?

There is only one thing you need to do. Seek first GOD's Kingdom and His righteousness. Make His business yours, and nothing else. Have no agenda besides His. He promises you He would take care of your needs.

Martha complained to Jesus about having so much to do and a loafer of a sister who did nothing to help. Jesus said that only one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen it, which was to sit at His feet.

Go, and do likewise.

Thomas

Sunday School Christmas Special 2010

2010-12-18T22:35:00.000+08:00

Christmas Special 2010

Date: 19th Dec 2010

Venue: Multi-purpose Hall, Calvary A/G church

Time: 09.45am to 10.55am

All primary and nursery level Sunday School students and teachers, please meet at the venue at 9.45am.

Names of all teacher helpers are in bold below. Please take note of your role/tasks.

For teachers (teacher Soh Huang, Henry, anyone else?) helping with food preparation, please coordinate with teacher Anna. You may be required to report earlier to help set up food and drinks at the tables in the P3 & 4 room.

Teacher Claudia, can you help ensure that there are markers and colour pencils/crayons?

Teacher Thomas to prepare:

Baby colouring worksheet
Word search
Baby in a manger craft
Lyrics - "Hark the herald angels sing"

Programme

9.45am - Arrival of children and teachers

9.50am - Opening prayer by teacher Claudia, followed by the Christmas adventure.

10.30am - Feasting time!

10.50am - Announcement of winning team for Christmas adventure by teacher Shirley
- Teacher Shirley to present prizes to the winning team
- Christmas gift packs for children (all teachers to help)
- Closing prayer by teacher Henry

10.55am - All dismissed

The Christmas Adventure

Teacher Thomas: Hello teachers and children, welcome to Christmas Special 2010. For the next hour, there will be games, food, and lots of fun! Are you ready for that?

Today, we will bring you on an adventure. This modern day Christmas adventure will re-trace the steps of the wise men and shepherds as written in Matthew 2 and Luke 2 of the Bible. Make sure you have your Bible with you as you will need it throughout the adventure.

Before we start, teachers from each class will divide their students into 2 groups. Then one group from each class will be combined into one team, giving us 2 teams. So, let's form a team now! Teachers, please help :) Now, for each team, I want you to form a line from the youngest to the oldest. The oldest from each team will be the leader of that team. S/he will help you get organized in some of the games we will be playing.

Teacher Shirley will help us with the scoreboard. Each team that wins a game or completes an activity correctly first will get 20 points. The runner-up will get 10 points. If it's a draw, each team will get 5 points. Are you clear?

Item 1 (10 mins, including above introduction & team formation)

Let's start with a game.

I want you to look into a passage in the Bible and count the number of names of people, but don't tell me the answer. Instead, pick a nursery student in your team, tell him/her the answer, and then that child will come up to the whiteboard here, and circle the correct answer. Are you clear? Ok, the passage is Luke 2:1-5.

[Answer: 5 - Caesar, Quirinius, Joseph, Mary, David]

Item 2 (5 mins)

Our next item is an activity cum game, activity for the nursery kids, and game for the older kids.

Can teacher Adeline please help to read Luke 2:6-7?

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Here's a worksheet for the nursery kids in each team. Please colour all things that a baby will need or use. For example, a baby will need baby clothes, right? So if you see a baby's shirt in this picture, please colour it. Look at this. It is a picture of a handphone. Does a baby need a handphone? No. So don't colour it.

Be sure to colour nicely within the lines, and use the right colours. When you have finished colouring, please give teacher Jess your worksheet ok? Teacher Jess will award points - 20 for the better one, and 10 for the other team.

For the older kids, you are to find words of things that a baby will need in this word search puzzle. There are 5 words altogether. The first team to find all 5 words is the winner.

Item 3 (5 mins)

The next game is a treasure hunt. Let's read Luke 2:8-12.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Pretend that you are the shepherds. What are you supposed to find? A baby in a manger. What does a baby in a manger look like? It looks something like this [shows picture].

The team that finds it wins. So, where is this baby in a manger? Somewhere in this Mighty KIDS area. Please do not go look anywhere else.

Item 4 (10 mins)

Now, let's read on and find out what happened next.

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13-14)

People usually get very excited when babies are born. They buy presents for the babies and their mothers. And when a baby turns one month old and one year old, there are usually celebrations.

Here we read that the angels appeared, praising GOD when Jesus was born. It was a very happy occasion because Jesus was not just any baby. He is the Saviour, the One who saves us from our sins.

Let's praise GOD too. We will now sing a song, "Hark the herald angels sing". I will invite the teachers to sing once for us, and then each team will take turns to sing. I will ask teacher Claudia to help judge which team sings better. The better team will get 20 points, the other team 10. If both sing equally well, each team gets 10 points.

Item 5 (10 mins)

Let's see what the Bible says next. Can teacher Adeline help us read Luke 2:15-20?

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Wow! Ok, now we have a mini-quiz. All are multiple choice questions, and the answers can be found in Matthew 2:1-9. You may read quietly by yourselves for 3 minutes. For the nursery kids who cannot read by yourselves, don't worry. We have some simple questions for you.

Before we carry on, here are the rules.

- Please raise your hand if you want to answer.
- Correct answer gets 20 points for the team.
- If you answer wrongly, the next team gets to try, and if they answer correctly, they get 10 points.
- No points for wrong answers.
- If anyone shouts out an answer, the chance to answer goes to the next team.
- nursery questions are for nursery kids only. Other kids or teachers cannot answer on their behalf.

Are you ready?

Q1. Besides the shepherds, another group of people knew about the birth of Jesus without being told by people. Who are they?

a. Chief priests
b. Magi or wise men
c. Teachers of the law

[Answer: b]

Q2. Can you tell me how many wise men were mentioned in Matthew 2:1-9?

a. 3
b. 30
c. Don't know

[Answer: c]

Q3. Who is the Son of GOD? (for nursery)

a. Jesus
b. Matthew
c. Adam

[Answer: a]

Q4. After Jesus was born, where was he lying? (for nursery)

a. On a bed
b. In a stroller
c. In a manger

[Answer: c]

Q5. Can someone tell me how the wise men know about the birth of Jesus?

a. they saw some stars in the shape of an arrow pointing to a house in Bethlehem
b. their friends the shepherds told them
c. they saw a star rose which rose and moved, and they followed it till it stopped over at the house where Joseph and Mary were staying

[Answer: c]

A Sovereign Will Unfolds in Time

2010-12-15T02:21:00.001+08:00

Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.

So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, "Why are you striking your companion?" Then he said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" So Moses feared and said, "Surely this thing is known!" When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian. Exodus 2:11-15a NKJV.

How many times had Moses witnessed his brethren being oppressed before he stood up in defense of justice? Yet the very act of courage on his part was met with ignorance, belittling and defensiveness of the very people he was standing up for. What a letdown it must have been for Moses. To stand up for what was right, only to be dealt what was wrong. He had the heart to save but the very people whom he wanted to save weren't ready to be saved, nor did they have their eyes and hearts turn towards what was right.

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Exodus 3:1-4 NKJV.

What made Moses respond so readily to a voice coming out of a burning bush? Had he been expecting something extraordinary? Perhaps he had been longing to hear the voice of God.

Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said, "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. "So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perrizites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.

Moses was not the only one who had wanted to deliver the Israelites out of Egyptian oppression.

"Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. "Come now, therefore, and I will send you to the Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:5-11 NKJV. Except now, Moses will do it God's way.

Forty years would have passed from the time he left the courts of Egypt as a wanted man, to his encounter with God in the back of a desert. He had long passed the peak of his life and instead of holding office in the courts of Egypt; he was holding the staff of a shepherd, tending to flocks that were not his own. He was raised in grandeur and gone through an education and training fit for a king. Yet now, he had nothing and was nowhere as a nobody. How many nights had he spent staring at the stars wondering how different his life could have been? Wondering if God had forgotten about him? Wondering if he was any good? It was at that moment that God showed up to restore to Moses his identity, his destiny and his worth.

What had seemed like a failure and a case of forgotten prince in the eyes of man; found favour, affirmation and restoration in the eyes of God. God created Moses and placed in him a heart of righteousness, a heart for justice. Despite what Moses went through, God worked things out for the good of Moses and the Israelites in His time, and brought Moses to the fullness of who He had created him to be.

El Amor (Love)

2010-11-16T00:47:00.001+08:00

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8 NKJV.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails......And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 NKJV.

If we were to rephrase each of the pronoun above, how would we fair? What is the condition of our heart, mind and spirit? Is who we are and how we are for the good of those around us? If we really have the interests of those who love and care about us in our heart, how would our words and deeds be towards them? More importantly, what would our motives be? Only God knows and He will be the judge of what lurks in our heart.

There is a limited time to know how to love, to learn how to love, to show love. Death takes our loved ones away from us, it separates the living and the dead.

I have a dream, in my dream, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrows, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4 NKJV.

Live and love truly, madly, deeply. Lest we die without realising what it means to be fully human and alive; hence failing to experience the fullness of life that Jesus gives; and as a result, missing Life completely.

Shalom,

Sv ".+

The Button

2010-11-02T09:10:00.001+08:00

This is about a miracle that happened one week ago, on 25th Oct 2010.

It was a typical weekday morning and I was with our 10-month-old baby,
Grace. I noticed a little oddity about her shirt. It was missing on
the top button. Thinking that it may have come loose, I looked around
but could not find it on her mattress or the surrounding. I told Veron
about it and even joked that Grace may have swallowed it.

When I came home from work that evening, my Mom told me a most amazing
thing. While I was at work, my Mom and our domestic helper Yumi,
searched the house for the missing button without avail. When the
little one needed a change of diaper, there, stuck to the baby's bum,
and slightly stained by her poo, was the little button!

The button was about 10mm in diameter and 1mm thick. It looked like
Grace may have plucked it off in the night, and promptly deposited
that into her mouth and tummy for safe-keeping. What amazes me is that
she managed to swallow it without choking. Even grown-ups may need
some water to go with that, if they can be coaxed to eat a plastic
button, much less a 10-month old.

Well, GOD is truly amazing. He has never failed us in times of need,
even in needs that we are not aware of. He who watches over us neither
slumber nor sleep, and we are truly safe in His presence and care.

Thomas

--
Sent from my mobile device

The angels must have carried her

2010-10-24T19:33:00.006+08:00

Type the word "miracle" into the search box of this blog, and you will see miracles of all kinds recorded over the years in my walk with Christ. There were miracles in the lives of loved ones, miracles of healing, miracles of broken relationships restored, and miracles at the workplace.

Tonight, we witnessed yet again a miracle for our family. Our second daughter Rachel was minding baby Grace in the bedroom while the rest of us were pre-occupied with our own things. I was at that time thinking about what to share for a devotional session this Thu at my workplace, while Veron was preparing the bath water for Grace. Suddenly, Rachel came out to tell me what happened moments ago.

While Grace, who is 10 months old and is able to crawl rather fast by now, was left on the bed, Rachel turned to switch on the fan. When she turned around, she saw Grace on the floor. Grace had fallen off the bed, which was half a metre high, onto the tiled floor! However, she was unhurt and she did not even cry or seem flustered. She had landed on her hands and knees, instead of the head. Praise the LORD!

Veron said, "Angels must have carried her."

I should know.

**********************************************

circa 2000.

I was in the bedroom minding my eldest girl, Deborah, who was born barely months ago. She was on our bed, which was about half a metre high, while I kept watch over her by the side. Moments later, the unthinkable happened - I dozed off!

I was a busy young executive then, working long hours, and often overnight. This was a Saturday morning, a time with the family, which I looked forward to each week. But I was also an overworked person, and by weekend, I was a spent cell.

And so it happened. I dozed off while minding my daughter on the bed on a Saturday morning. After what seemed like eternity, I awoke to the sound of a baby's cries. It took me a while to even figure out what was happening. When I saw Deborah on the floor, and realized that I wasn't dreaming, I was horrified! She had apparently rolled off the bed and landed on her back, and I presumed she hit the back of her head on the floor, which was thankfully covered with parquet rather than tiles. I held her up and prayed for her. I was hit by pangs of a guilty conscience. She was just a tiny baby, and only learning how to turn. How could I, the father, be so careless and unreliable? Can't I even summon enough energy to keep watch over a helpless tot?

But praise GOD, Deborah was just fine! She had no bump on her head, and did not vomit or appear unwell. In fact, she stopped crying after a while, and was back to her usual self. I was crying for joy! Despite the fact that Deborah was well within my reach, I wasn't able to prevent the fall, but GOD, who is ever so faithful, intervened in the nick of time and let us experience this miracle.

"The angels must have carried her," I told Veron, and I whispered another prayer of thanks.

**********************************************

Miracles, signs and wonders, are for an unbelieving generation.

Pharoah and the Egyptians were shown signs and wonders more powerful than what they could conjure up before they released Moses and the Israelites to worship GOD. The Israelites witnessed the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan River, the pillar of cloud and fire in the wilderness, GOD's provision of drinking water, manna and quails in unlikely places, among many signs and wonders. Jesus healed the man with the shriveled hand, caused the blind to see, healed the 10 lepers, raised Lazarus from the dead, calmed the storm, walked on water, cast out demons, fed more than 10,000 people on 2 occasions with bread and fish, and performed many other miracles.

Signs and wonders point us to The Almighty GOD. In the process, some believed but not all. Many experienced the miracles recorded in the Bible, many ate the manna, loaves and fish, but few believed upon the LORD or kept the faith.

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 6:20-25:

And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Miracles are for us to remember, and to strengthen our faith in GOD. Writing down and recalling miracles help us remember the LORD's faithfulness.

The Israelites were instructed to take GOD's commandments seriously, to "lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:" - Deuteronomy 11:18-20

Why shouldn't we do likewise? Because "your eyes have seen all the great acts of the LORD which he did." - Deuteronomy 11:7

Don't let GOD's miracles go to waste. Remind yourselves of His faithfulness. Share the miracles He has done for you with others to build up their faith. Tell of the greatest miracle - the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and GOD's gift of salvation in Him, to those who have yet to believe upon the LORD Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Thomas

A verse to share

2010-10-04T07:33:00.001+08:00

Hi girls,

Just to share a word before I fly off to Yangon, Myanmar.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily
burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn
from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest
for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I love the words of Jesus. It's always wonderful to read His words
because of who He is, the One and only Son of GOD.

Sometimes in the course of life, we find ourselves busy with endless
chores, be it at the workplace, in school or at home. Busy-ness is
part of life, for GOD has blessed us with capabilities to do things
that will make a difference in lives, that of ours and others.
However, GOD doesn't want us preoccupied with doing things because it
will eventually burn us out and leave our hearts cold towards Him.
King Solomon was a high achiever of his times, and possibly of all
times. He accomplished many projects, and was always motivated to do
more. Yet, he wisely said many times in the book of Ecclesiastes that
"all is vanity and chasing after the wind". Why is this so?

It's easy to see that the things we do don't last forever. Even the
greatest buildings and monuments, works of art and technology, must
come to an end one day. While we are here on earth, we do our best in
all that has been given to us. We take the very best care of all under
our stewardship, for all this is honorable and pleasing to GOD. Yet,
we must remember the purpose of our being is to honour GOD, not to
take pride in our accomplishments and hence honoring ourselves.
Therefore heed the words of Jesus. There is a time for work, and a
time for rest. Seek His face and fellowship daily.

May the love, favour and grace of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ be upon you.

The LORD bless you.

Thomas

--
Sent from my mobile device

Unique One

2010-09-16T23:14:00.001+08:00

This is what GOD said: "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you......" Jeremiah 1:5 The Message.

We are valued by the One who put us in this world. Wholeness comes about when we assert our worth through His eyes.

You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:3-5 NKJV.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:16 NKJV.

The full spectrum of life consists of both the good and the bad. Joy and fullness of life abounding in the face of adversity, failure, success, goodness, wickedness, fear, hope; for all these make life what it is. Through which we come to understand and appreciate life in its entirety.

When we are free to worship God and not follow a religion. When we are free to seek Christ, and know Him beyond doctrines. When we are not afraid to be ourselves regardless of circumstances. When fear does not hold us back from trying. When how others would view us no longer bind and cripple us. Freedom from living as a being with a God-given worth,

knowing that we have one shot at this life and we are here on earth because God wants us to experience life and encounter Him.

Shalom,

I've Forgotten Again

2010-09-05T09:50:00.001+08:00

Perhaps by now, you've forgotten all about me. And without reason, I keep waiting for you.

I haven't wanted to leave, just in case one day you decided to return, you'd find me still here.

That's why I stay here, in the same place as always, in the same city, and with the same people.

Just so when you return, you won't find anything odd. And things will be like they were, and you'll never leave us again.

Maybe I'm asking too much, I know I've forgotten, that we're already finished. That you'll never return, that you never really loved me.

I've forgotten again, that it was only me that loved you.

"Se Me Olvido Otra Vez" ("I've Forgotten Again") by Juan Gabriel, 1974.

To love; is to risk pain; to understand fear, loss and hope; to experience oneness. To love is to be overwhelmed, to lose oneself in another.

To love is to breathe the very essence of life. To love is the first step to wholeness, to have a home, to feel rested, sheltered, completed.

To love is to be at the juncture where science does not make sense, and magic takes over. To love is to be human.

To love is to have a glimpse into the divine, a taste of the sweet perfume of God.

For God is love. 1 John 4:8 NKJV.

+++

The Faith-Life

2010-08-22T22:55:00.001+08:00

Living by faith is a bewildering venture. We rarely know what's coming next, and not many things turn out the way we anticipate......That God-followers don't get preferential treatment in life. Habakkuk speaks our word to God. He gives voice to our bewilderment, articulates our puzzled attempts to make sense of things, faces God with our disappointment with God. He insists that God pay attention to us, and he insists with a prophet's characteristic no-nonsense bluntness. The circumstances that aroused Habakkuk took place in the seventh century B.C. The prophet realised that God was going to use the godless military machine of Babylon to bring God's judgment on God's own people - using a godless nation to punish a godly nation! It didn't make sense, and Habakkuk was quick and bold to say so. He dared to voice his feelings that God didn't know his own God business.

But this prophet companion who stands at our side does something even more important: He waits and he listens. It is in his waiting and listening - which then turns into his praying - that he found himself inhabiting the large world of God's sovereignty. Only there did he eventually realise that the believing-in-God life, the steady trusting-in-God life, is the full life, the only real life. Habakkuk started out exactly where we start out with our puzzled complaints and God-accusations, but he didn't stay there. He ended up in a world, along with us, where every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. - Introduction to Habakkuk, The Message.

GOD, how long do I have to cry out for help before you listen? How many times do I have to yell, "Help! Murder! Police!" before you come to the rescue? Why do you force me to look at evil, stare trouble in the face day after day? Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place. Law and order fall to pieces. Justice is a joke. The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head. Habakkuk 1:1-4 The Message.

What's God going to say to my questions? I'm braced for the worst. I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I'll wait to see what God says, how he'll answer my complaint. And then GOD answered: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches for the coming - it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time. Habakkuk 2:1-3 The Message.

A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk, with orchestra: GOD, I've heard what our ancestors say about you, and I'm stopped in my tracks, down on my knees. Do among us what you did among them. Work among us as you worked among them. And as you bring judgment, as you surely must, remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:1-2 The Message.

Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen, though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I'm singing joyful praise to GOD. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Saviour God. Counting on GOD's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain! Habakkuk 3:17-19 The Message. (Father, may You bless the reading of Your Word).

Death can wait. Pour out your energies into life. In this imperfect world that we live in, there will come a time when God's justice will prevail!

Shalom,

Sv ".+

Life Story

2010-08-16T01:44:00.001+08:00

Every life has a story. A beginning and an end. Thereafter, eternity.

For those of us who believe in the truth of the gospel, death is not an end in itself but a journey one takes toward heaven.

Losing a loved one is hard. Sometimes it breaks us and we lose our grip on life and give up the desire to go on.

But that will do us no good. Those who are alive have to learn to come to terms with the death of a loved one. Mourn and grieve, then pick up the pieces and learn to live well.

For the day will come when we too will leave this world, and those whom we love behind. But we will be joining our loved ones who have gone before us as we enter the eternal life.

Life will not be the same as before. Losing a loved one changes life, changes us, but it does not change an eternal truth. Therefore those who are found in Christ do not lose hope.

In the face of death, it will do the living and the dying good to prepare for it, make those important decisions and arrangements before the time is up. That there may be no regrets.

Taking this journey together eliminates loneliness. The blessed assurance is that God is with us. That Jesus will be waiting to receive His own into eternity with Him when this life is over.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

She said to Him, "Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." John 11:25-27 NKJV.

Shalom,

Sv ".+

Love & Hope

2010-08-02T00:41:00.001+08:00

Love found at the lowest point in life, being loved for and in spite of oneself. Love from a pure heart.

We love while we can, not while we can't. We live while we can, not while we can't.

And we only have one chance to live this life.

People die. Hope keeps us alive.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 The Message.

We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright!

We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.

And the best of the three is love. 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 The Message.

Another miracle!

2010-07-14T23:32:00.003+08:00

Just minutes ago, a piece of hardened cotton ball measuring 1cm long and 0.5cm thick dropped out from my right ear.

[The photo below shows the cotton ball next to my 8-yr old daughter Rachel's index finger].

I do not know when it got lodged in my ear. I had not felt any pain or discomfort, and there certainly hadn't been any infection in the ear. It could have been there for months or even years as the last time I had this ear checked by an audiologist was years ago. When the audiologist checked my ear last weekend, she had a worried look on her face. She spoke with a sense of urgency, telling me repeatedly that I need to see an ENT specialist soon to remove whatever is lodged in my ear.

I prayed and asked GOD to remove this without the help of a specialist. Out of curiosity, I checked with a specialist in private practice and found out that the estimated charges for ear syringing with consultation and medication would average S$300 and above. That alone would more than wipe out my entire medical claim entitlement for a year.

Anyway, it is not about how costly a specialist session would be. I believe GOD is the only specialist I need. I started praying on Sat. By yesterday which was Tue, I felt a little pain in my ear, and the ear seemed swollen. This evening, after shower, I felt that this foreign object, whatever it is, will come out tonight. I prayed again, and about 25 minutes later, it came out! I was shocked when I saw that it was a cotton ball and I was amazed at its size. It was bigger and broader than the end of a typical cotton bud. It was also covered with discoloured ear wax, indicating that it may have been in there rather long. I shouted with joy, giving praises to GOD, for only He alone could have done this miracle. Hallelujah!

Thomas

On Reverence and Respect

2010-07-14T21:53:00.001+08:00

Reverence, great respect and admiration mixed with love.

Deeply respect GOD, your God. Serve and worship him exclusively. Back up your promises with his name only. Deuteronomy 6:13 The Message.

The next time your child asks you, "What do these requirements and regulations and rules that GOD, our God, has commanded mean?" tell your child, "We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt and GOD powerfully intervened and got us out of that country. We stood there and watched as GOD delivered miracle-signs, great wonders, and evil-visitations on Egypt, on Pharaoh and his household. He pulled us out of there so he could bring us here and give us the land he so solemnly promised to our ancestors. That's why GOD commanded us to follow all these rules, so that we would live reverently before GOD, our God, as he gives us this good life, keeping us alive for a long time to come. "It will be a set-right and put-together life for us if we make sure that we do this entire commandment in the Presence of GOD, our God, just as he commanded us to do." Deuteronomy 6:20-25 The Message.

The world would have been a very different place if reverence and respect had existed in relationships, families, communities and societies. There'd be less hurt, more warm, more trust, more shelter. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all you heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' "This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:35-40 NKJV.

An empty heart needs it. A humbled heart realizes that it will not be better without it. A puffed-up heart does not recognize its very state of poverty.

A self-centered heart does not see the hurt it causes. Reverence, a posture of the disciple before the Master. As he bows down before the Ancient of Days, his face to the ground, he finds himself in the presence of One who was, who is, and who is to come. And he is overcome by the eternal reality. For just one moment, he raises his head and understood the temporality of this life in the light of eternity. And his heart is lifted.

Reverence, a heart that has been washed over by the grace of God. It is not because we are perfect, but that we are not.

Shalom,

Self-introduction to the deaf community

2010-07-12T08:57:00.003+08:00

I first joined The Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) as a volunteer in 2005, helping with a series of Public Education projects, which were mainly deaf awareness talks and activities at National Library branches.

My interest in helping the deaf community stems from my life journey as a person with hearing loss. From the age of 3 or 5, after a bout of mumps and high fever, I started losing hearing in my right ear. This was followed by the hearing in my left ear as a teenager. By the time I was doing my undergraduate studies at Nanyang Technological University, I had to rely on a hearing aid for all my waking hours.

Faced with multi-faceted challenges at various stages in life, I learned lessons which I felt would be good to share with the deaf community so as to enable others in similar situations to integrate more effectively with a predominantly hearing society.

In Apr 2006, I gave a presentation at a forum organized by Mount Elizabeth Hospital, which was targeted at parents of children with hearing loss. My presentation was based on the theme "Deaf does not mean less", where I shared my life story coping with hearing loss from young.
Later, together with a team of hearing and deaf persons passionate about helping the deaf community, we started the Deaf-initely Boleh! campaign under the Public Education wing of SADeaf.

This campaign was built upon the earlier theme of "Deaf does not mean less" and was aimed at transforming the landscape for the deaf community, to help them integrate more effectively into society at all levels. Besides a website, online forum and blog containing helpful,up-to-date resources for the deaf and their families, several projects were launched to proactively reach out to the deaf and the public.

Two major projects were the Deaf-initely Boleh! Carnival in 2006 and the Deaf-initely No Excuses Run in 2007.

The 2-day carnival was a collaboration with the National Library Board, hospitals, hearing services providers and supporters of SADeaf. It featured talks, workshops, presentations and testimonies aimed at creating greater awareness of the help and options available for the deaf community. This inaugural event garnered positive feedback from deaf persons as well as their families and friends.

The Deaf-initely No Excuses Run , was organised in conjunction with the annual Army Half-Marathon, also known as the Sheares Bridge Run. It aimed to create greater awareness of the employment challenges faced by the deaf community in Singapore, and to broaden employment opportunities for them. The central message of this event was that there are no excuses not to employ or engage the deaf, as long as they have the ability to excel in the workplace.

I am grateful for the opportunities to serve through the Deaf-initely Boleh! campaign as well as other projects. I have been tremendously blessed by the friendships and ties forged as a result of the selfless teamwork, dedication and grit demonstrated by my fellow volunteers, staff of SADeaf and new friends found through these events and beyond. I have also discovered more of myself, and benefited from the experiences of others coping with deafness at various stages in life.

Personally, I have no regrets living life this way. Though I sometimes do wonder what life would be like without this disability, I thank GOD for showing me the road less travelled, for helping me appreciate more with less, and for blessing me with true love and friendship from the small social circle that I have. Indeed, deaf does not mean less, and this has now become a fitful addition to my personal motto of "making a difference". We can leave a meaningful, if not lasting, impact and legacy in the community where we live and serve, disabilities notwithstanding. In a world that emphasizes on perfection and outer beauty, where fleeting faces come and go and names are quickly forgotten, it is often in living and struggling with imperfection that one finds true friendship, love, and a character that endures.

Thomas

About the author:

Thomas has been married to Veronica, his lovely and supportive wife, for 14 years. They have 3 wonderful children - Deborah, Rachel and Grace. The family worships at Calvary Assembly of GOD church where both Thomas and Veronica are Sunday School teachers. Thomas presently works at a non-profit organization where he is head of information technology. He maintains a blog at http://cyberfellowship.blogspot.com, where he shares issues concerning his faith as a Christian, struggles with hearing loss, and various challenges in life as a working adult and family man. You can also find him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/twhtan or Facebook at http://facebook.com/weehuang. Thomas desires to see greater opportunities for deaf persons in school and at work, and hopes to continue to advocate that wherever and whenever possible.

A reminder of GOD's grace

2010-07-03T21:56:00.001+08:00

The topic of Cochlear Implant (CI) cropped up again this morning.

My wife suggested that I consider it. She told me not to worry about the financial aspects of the implant and all that it entails. She assures me that we have enough savings. It pains her to see me struggle with losing my hearing, and not do anything about it.

I thank GOD for a loving wife who thinks nothing of letting me spend tens of thousands of dollars, just so that I can hear better. A year ago, she encouraged me to get a new hearing aid which costs over $2000. And now she says go for the CI.

When I prayed about the CI option this morning, it just didn't seem right, no matter how I tried to justify it. A good friend and sister in Christ, J, who is also hearing impaired like me, told me that she decided against CI as she felt GOD is able to sustain her by His grace. His grace, His boundless grace! The apostle Paul says, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9. What was I thinking??? I am sorry, GOD.

I just told my wife that I will not go for CI. I thank GOD for reminding me through J that He sustains us through His grace. I will face my giants as David did, without special armour or powerful weapons. Just GOD. A BIG GOD.

Even though I know the world, especially the marketplace demands nothing but the best, I will face it with my weaknesses and faith in GOD. If nothing, this will serve as my testimony of GOD's love and power. I don't need to package myself as a perfect person, just a regular person with weaknesses who trusts in a perfect GOD who provides and sustains. Hallelujah!

In His Love,
Thomas

Going, and letting go

2010-07-02T09:07:00.004+08:00

"But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another..." -
Matthew 10:23

It was a week of DOUBLE whammy.

First, I learned that a colleague in Malaysia, L, who is a good friend, has resigned. Then I found out that another colleague J, a faithful brother and wonderful friend, is also leaving the organization.

People come and go; that's life. But when you have seen the best and the worst, the sincere and the hypocrites, the diligent and the political, you can't help but feel a tinge of sadness as more of the former leave.

They say birds of a feather flock together. I can't agree more. Can a sparrow flock with hawks without becoming lunch? While the migratory birds have flown south, those who remain face a tougher time with flocks of a predatory kind. They circle endlessly, swoop down when you barely notice, and knock you out cold.

But praise be to GOD, for "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Father GOD, give us the strength and grace that we badly need. Strength to stand up to the oppressors, grace to forgive and love them as You do. At the right time, LORD, lead us where You want us to go. There is a time for everything, as Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3:1. "A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted" - Ecclesiastes 3:2. By inference, a time to join, and a time to separate, a time to come, and a time to go, a time to draw near, and a time to walk away, shaking the dust off our feet.

In everything, let no sin be found in our words, actions and thoughts. May Your will be done, O LORD, and may Your Name be blessed forever.

Amen.

Thomas

Living Faith

2010-06-12T22:50:00.001+08:00

God wasn't attracted to you and didn't choose you because you were big and important - the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancestors. GOD stepped in and mightily bought you back out of that world of slavery, freed you from the iron grip of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know this: GOD, your God, is God indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments for a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:7-9 The Message.

He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made......

A God you can depend upon......

He keeps his covenant of loyal love......

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 NKJV

I was at a traffic light one day when I noticed, crossing from the opposite direction; a little girl drinking from a milk bottle in one hand, and holding her mother's hand with the other.

Totally oblivious to the traffic, looking up into the sky while she is led safely across the road by her mother.

Isn't that how God leads those who trust Him? Faithfully, safely, surely, as we navigate across perilous waters in life. As grown-ups, we often forget that.

It was a simple reminder of a loving truth, that it is the faithfulness of a loving God who keeps us. May we find renewed strength, hope and rest in that.

Shalom,

Sv ".+

Beyond The Veil

2010-05-22T16:32:00.000+08:00

Let the melody of my life

Be to You, a song of worship

Let the adoration of my heart

Be to You, a symphony

You are the light of my heart

Draw me close to You

Take me now way beyond the veil

Where I can see You, where I can see You, Jesus

Hold me now within Your arms of love

I want to be with You, I want to be with You

Who we are and who we are meant to be is built upon a firm foundation of who God is.

Our life, our being, our potential, are not determined by circumstances but shaped through them.

Life's lessons are not learned through knowledge but experience. Life's treasure is not found in wealth, status, title or popularity.

Life's precious is the abiding presence of God, the love and protection of loved ones, and the fulfillment of what God has laid upon our hearts.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16 NKJV.

He loves you, and love delights in seeing the beloved blossom.

Shalom,

Sv ",+

Letter to Deborah 28th Apr 2010

2010-04-28T09:02:00.001+08:00

Dear Deborah,

I understand how you felt about your classmate who refused to lend her
stationery to the team because her mother had taught her so. For those
who have yet to experience and acknowledge the love of GOD in Christ
Jesus, it is possible that they subscribe to such thinking. As a
student, my classmates and I were selfish. We were kiasu, and tried
our best to get ahead of others by every means. We were even secretly
happy when others stumble. You see, Man is inherently selfish, caring
for himself above others. That is why GOD has to teach and show us
another kind of love - love that is selfless, love that is truly love,
love that is spelt "JESUS".

When Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan, He was illustrating
the kind of love we ought to show to our neighbor, which includes your
classmate and her mother. GOD wants us to love them because He loves
them too. Your classmate's family came from China. They know they need
to try very hard to make it in this country that is not their
motherland. If we migrate to another country, we would have to try
extra hard to survive there too. What your friend and her mother do
not know is that GOD is able to help them, and that there is a better
way to live, that is, making Jesus Christ LORD of our lives.

This could be an opportunity for you and fellow Christian classmates
to show her the joy of giving and sharing, for the Bible says that it
is more blessed to give than to receive. The Bible also says "Look not
every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of
others." (Philippians 2:4). What this means is to always consider the
needs of others, just as GOD is always concerned about us. In doing
so, you are reaching out to her and others with GOD's love.

As we walk down the road of life, we will come across people,
behaviour, actions, organizations, and situations that do not align
with what the Bible says. Let those be opportunities for us to make a
difference. Even if we can only touch one person for Jesus, it will be
worth it all because each person is precious in His sight.

The LORD bless you, my child.

Love,
Papa

--
Sent from my mobile device

Through His Eyes

2010-04-24T19:44:00.000+08:00

Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour

I know for sure all of my days are

Held in Your hand

Crafted into Your perfect plan

You gently call me into Your presence

Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit

Teach me dear Lord

To live all my life through Your eyes

To live all my life through Your eyes. Living through God's eyes.

From the perspective of the Creator, LORD God Almighty, Redeemer, Saviour.

Hearing His voice. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27 NKJV.

All the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day. Psalms 139:16 The Message.

Revisit old truths, and receive new understanding. Renew old relationships, to/and revalue their worth. Re-tune an old instrument, and let the music play on.

Come alive in Christ,

Sv ",+

Prayer for Pastor Sarah

2010-04-12T08:39:00.001+08:00

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for Pastor Sarah, for she has been a beacon shining for
you for as long as we have known her. I thank you for this faithful
servant of Yours. She has consistently encouraged us not just with
Your Word, but also Your love in action.

May You continue to bless our dear sister as she takes up this new
calling in helping churches in the region. May Your favor be upon her
as she ministers to Your people in various churches. May Your people
minister to her as much as she is ministering to them. May she work
out this calling with joy and thanksgiving, and may You grant her a
return of a hundred fold of what is being sown.

May You LORD also watch over her loved ones and provide for them even
as she travels various places to minister, and may Your protection
always be upon our sister and her household.

Thank you, LORD. Thank you for releasing Pastor Sarah to serve beyond
this church, for Your universal church, O LORD, has no boundaries. I
pray that these whom Pastor Sarah is ministering to will receive her
service with joy and thanksgiving as well and may they be an
encouragement upon our sister.

Thank you, Father. In Jesus's Name I pray, amen.

Thomas

--
Sent from my mobile device

Letter to my daughters - Thankfulness

2010-03-29T16:00:00.001+08:00

Dear Deborah and Rachel,

I write to encourage you to develop an attitude of gratefulness and thanksgiving. Often, people are easily upset or disappointed because they expect more than what has been given to them or done for them. While it is natural for people to expect more, that isn't GOD's way. The Bible says that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Greed often makes people want more, that's why GOD specifically says in one of the 10 commandments, "thou shall not covet" which means you shall not be jealous of what others have, or desire to have them. Selfishness also makes us demand more from others or do less for them.

GOD's way, on the other hand, is to serve, be humble, and thankful. Jesus said to His disciples that the greatest among them is the one who serves. Every day that we are alive and well is a great reason for thanking GOD. And the fact that we have a house to live in, the fact that you can enjoy dancing, music and sports, the fact that we get to eat at nice restaurants from time to time, these are all things to be thankful for. I encourage you to find other reasons to thank GOD as you go through each day. Then tell GOD how grateful you are. And the joy, peace and love of GOD will certainly overflow from you each day as you live with a spirit of
thanksgiving.

May the LORD's favour be upon you.

Love,
Papa

Pockets of Time

2010-03-28T21:08:00.002+08:00

If life is a timeline, its moments would be found in pockets.

Moments of truth, inspiration, love, sadness, joy, solitude and hope.

Awakening the heart to a deep sense of mortality in the light of eternity.

Reminding us that life is not a mad rush but of living, being and perceiving.

Returning to the soul what it needs, to draw out the humanity in us - full, rich, unabashed.

Listen, be still, be quiet. Listen, be still, be quiet. For the sake of those you love, gift of yourself.

"We prove the value we attach to things by the time we devote to them." Andrew Murray, The Master's Indwelling.

For what has man for all his labour, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labour. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:22-26 NKJV.

The heart of Ecclesiastes......only in God does life have meaning and true pleasure. Without him nothing satisfies, but with him we find satisfaction and enjoyment. The NIV Study Bible.

Labour is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Wealth, fame, popularity, success and riches if not intended for good, will become curses and trappings.

If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. Proverbs 29:18 The Message.

Life Defined

2010-03-08T03:09:00.000+08:00

Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot". Luke 12:15 The Message.

'Our happiness and comfort do not depend upon our having a great deal of the wealth of this world. The life of the soul, undoubtedly, does not depend upon it.

The things of the world will not suit the nature of a soul, nor supply its needs, nor satisfy its desires. Even the life of the body and the happiness of that do not consist in an abundance

of these things.' The Matthew Henry Commentary.

As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labour which he may carry away in his hand. Ecclesiastes 5:15 NKJV.

Naked we come into this world, naked we depart. The only thing that we can leave behind is love. Only love is larger than life. And it remains in the hearts of those whom we have loved.

Shalom,

The Rock That Is Higher Than I

2010-03-08T03:08:00.000+08:00

When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy, I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Psalm 61:2-4 NKJV.

I can cry with You because You are my God. I pour out my heart to You because this You will not despise. When I am alone, You cover me.

I stand naked before You with my fears, pain and disappointments.

You understand my frailty, struggles and anguish. You see the desires of my heart. I can be weak before You. Oh Lord, I am tired and my heart is weary.

I find rest in You. Sleep gives rest to the body but hope restores the soul. And it is love that endures. So help me God.

Gift of Love - Fruit of Sacrifice

2010-02-21T23:19:00.001+08:00

I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more.

You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine,

you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. John 15:1-4 The Message.

The life of the Vine is "not of pleasure nor of ease." Almost before the flower fades the fruit begins to grow, but instead of being allowed to grow where it will, it is tied immediately to a stake, forced to draw out of the hard hillside its nourishment. When "the fair shoots begin to wind and wave in the blue air, and feel how sweet it is," along comes the gardener with pruning hooks and shears, "and strips it bare of all its innocent pride...and cuts deep and sure, unsparing for its tenderness and joy."

When the vine bends low with the weight of the grapes,"wrought out of the long striving of its heart." But ah! The hands are ready to tear down the treasures of the grapes; the feet are there to tread them in the wine-press "until the blood-red rivers of the wine run over, and the land is full of joy. But the vine standeth stripped and desolate, having given all, and now its own dark time is come, and no man payeth back to it the comfort and the glory of its gift." Winter comes, and the vine is cut back to the very stem, "despoiled, disfigured, left a leafless stock, alone through all the dark days that shall come."

While the vine undergoes this death, the wine it has produced is gladdening the heart of man ~ Ugo Bassi

The gift of love is the outpouring of self. The fruit of sacrifice produces life. As we grapple with this, God is at work in our lives; pruning us, moulding us into what we can really be simply because it is good.

Shalom,

Sv ".+

The Curtain of History

2010-02-08T01:02:00.001+08:00

Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of age, and the reapers are the angels. Matthew 13:36-39 NKJV.

Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had bought it. Matthew 13:40-46 NKJV.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." Matthew 13:47-52 NKJV.

The end of age, angelic reapers, treasure of the heart, regeneration of the Word. There will come a time when the world as we know it will cease to exist, even as there will come a time when life as we know it will end. Angels, as the holy agents of God and faithful aides to the saints will carry out the apocalyptic task of separating good from evil. No one knows when that day will come, and no one knows who will be considered good and who, evil. For the only one who truly knows the true intention of our heart is God and God alone.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 NKJV. We become what we value, we are transformed by what we cherish. We become what we harbour. Are we brave, strong and honest enough to pay the price for what we cherish? Or is status quo good enough? What will the kingdom of heaven be like if it really infiltrate our hearts? Would it result in a strict adherence to the law or will it give us new eyes to regard the world that we live in and those who share our lives?

Every word that has been written will remain as they are. But "every student well-trained in God's kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it." Matthew 13:52 The Message. Renewing truth and grace of ancient text. Perhaps, just perhaps, that is what the kingdom of heaven is about.

Make GOD number one in your life

2010-01-18T12:12:00.000+08:00

Dear Daughter,

I am sorry for losing my temper last evening. I don't enjoy being angry, certainly not against my own children, whom I love, and you
know Papa loves you.

My child, I need you to believe in and understand one thing - GOD deserves the first place in our lives. If you put GOD first, you do
well. By this, I don't mean you will be successful in everything that you do. Rather, I mean that you will remain in GOD's will and His
love, peace, joy, favour, wisdom and all shall always be upon you. The devil and the world will fail against You. The Bible says in Romans 8:31, "if GOD is for us, who can be against us?"

You see, my child, apart from GOD, we are nothing. No matter how talented, rich, or successful we are, apart from GOD, we are nothing. That's why many rich and famous people who live without GOD find themselves having no peace, joy or love despite having millions of dollars. They turn to drugs, cosmetic surgery, people, career, entertainment and things to satisfy them, but are never satisfied. They are like bottles that are broken and leak. No matter how much water you pour into them, they will never be full, and will one day be empty and dry.

As a child of GOD, what makes you different is the love of Christ. In His love, you have been restored. You are no longer a broken, leaking bottle. As GOD fills you with His love and Word, they will fill you fully, then overflow into other people's lives! That's how we can be a blessing to others with the blessings we receive from GOD. That's how we can love others with the love we receive from GOD.

Come daily before GOD, my child. Talk to Him and read His Word. For His words are "life to those who find them, and healing to their flesh" - Proverbs 4:22

My child, I pray and believe you will grow up to be a woman of GOD. Start by doing small things faithfully, such as reading the Bible and doing daily devotional. You are already praying to GOD regularly so keep it up. When you see the goodness of spending time with GOD daily, I'm sure will want to share the same with your children in future when you are grown up and have your own family.

The LORD bless you, my child.

Love,
Papa

Letter to Rachel 150110

2010-01-15T20:03:00.001+08:00

Dear Rachel,

I want to let you know that I'm very touched by your gesture of love
and concern towards Ye-Ye and Nai-Nai last evening.

When you shared with me that you bought 2 crosses, one for each of
them, you showed your love, especially towards Ye-Ye, with whom you
have been trying to share the Gospel. Despite your young age, being
just 7 years old, you have done more than what I have, even though I
should do more for Ye-Ye, who is my father. The night before, you even
asked Ye-Ye why he doesn't want to go to church. Although he did not
answer you, you took it in your stride.

Rachel, you taught me how a follower of Christ ought to see things. I
am ashamed that I lectured you for paying too much for the crosses.
Even if the crosses cost $100 each, what is that, compared with
Ye-Ye's soul, which is priceless?

Please forgive me, Rachel, and thanks for showing me the heart of
Christ. May GOD's love continue to fill you and overflow into the
lives of others, and may you grow up to be a woman of GOD.

The LORD bless you, Rachel.

Love,
Papa

--
Sent from my mobile device

Letter to my daughters 120110

2010-01-13T09:19:00.003+08:00

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, & will preserve me
unto his heavenly kingdom... - 2 Timothy 4:18

Dear Deborah, Rachel & Grace,

Greetings in the precious Name of our LORD Jesus Christ!

This morning, I came across the above verses while doing my devotional. I find it appropriate to share with you.

The Christian's life is full of challenges, just like running a race. If you have ever run a long distance race, you will understand better.

At the start of the race, we are all excited and ready to finish with a good time, maybe even breaking a record or two. However, as the race drags on, we find ourselves slowing down due to thirst, fatigue (lack of energy) and perhaps heat from the sun beating down our neck. We may
experience pains and aches which nag us to give up or take it easy by just strolling to the finishing point. We may give excuses like "we're not well prepared" or "the weather is bad" to console ourselves. If we listen to these thoughts often enough, we may eventually even give up
the race.

However, the above verses remind us that our finishing point is the heavenly kingdom of GOD. The race isn't over till we cross the finishing line. While running towards that, there will be forces that try to distract us and keep us from walking the way GOD wants us to. Anything that discourages us from doing what GOD wants us to do is evil.

Yes, in life as in a race, we may get tired at times and may need to slow down to catch a breath or two. That's alright. Rest is a blessing from GOD, for GOD Himself rested on the 7th day of creation and blessed that day. However, we need to keep running towards the finishing line.

And GOD is ever faithful. He will keep us away from every evil work and guide us into His heavenly kingdom. So let's claim this promise of GOD from 2 Timothy 4:18.

The LORD bless you.

Love,
Papa

Under the Grace

2009-12-28T11:19:00.000+08:00

I lie awake in the middle of the night again,

I try to make some sense of it all rushing in,

There's so much I feel,within this my heart of mine,

I well up inside in my eyes, they overflow for I know it is grace

The look of love in the shape of your face I have known,

It speaks of this deep sacrifice you have shown,

And the wonder of it all is I didn't deserve this,

I couldn't have planned it so right, and so my eyes they overflow,

Let it rain, let it pour, let it go, for I know this, yes I know, it is grace

And the hungry at heart seeks for his place and a home,

It may tear you apart when you see what this grace here has done,

Fly, fly all you burdens, go fly away, till I remain, under the grace, the grace

It seems there is so little time to make amends,

If not for you that I am without a friend here

~ "Under the Grace" by Phil Keaggy

Another Christmas, another year of God's faithfulness. In good and bad times, He has always remained. Through setbacks, disappointments, heartaches, misdeeds, frustrations, turning around, His grace has been the enabling strength to complete the year's race. True love found through tough times and situations, God-created identity awakened by the fall, trust built in helplessness, and hope revealing the thirst for life and growth. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NKJV.

Shalom,

-4esia-

P.S. 1005

2009-12-20T06:52:00.004+08:00

"For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations." Psalm 100:5

The LORD is good

Indeed, I cannot agree with the psalmist more. The LORD is good, and goodness is embodied in Him alone. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD. The good that we have measures poorly in the eyes of GOD, no matter how hard we try. Yet, it is this contrast that helps us see and appreciate the good in GOD.

I thank GOD that He is not afraid to identify with me and my sins. After all, He was the One who took my sins upon His body at the cross. He is familiar with my sins, and the temptations and trials that I face. Now, He longs for me to be familiar with His love, to understand how it is sufficient to cover a multitude of sins in my life and those of others, and to apply His love over every shortcoming, every unmet expectation, and every trespass.

His mercies are everlasting

The LORD is also patient and His mercies are everlasting. Each day I come to Him in dire need of His mercies and forgiveness, and I have never failed to receive them, not even once. The tax collector "stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'" - Luke 18:13. And Jesus said, "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. (v.14). Justification for a tax collector, scumbag, public enemy, and me. Always.

The thief at the cross, condemned for perhaps a lifetime of transgressions, turned to Jesus and said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" - Luke 23:42-43

Is this fair? No, it is not, but that's exactly how mercy works. This is the mercy we receive from GOD, and it is the same mercy that others need to experience from us.

His truth endureth to all generations

GOD's Word is truth, truth that lasts, truth that makes a difference in a corrupt and degenerating society. In a world where lies are openly paraded as alternatives, and moral truths compromised for convenience or selfish gains, GOD's truth is the only one that remains, the only beacon shining out of the intense darkness that has enveloped this world. It is our only hope, the only foundation that stays strong when others are being eroded.

The psalmist says in Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path". And again in v24: "Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors". GOD knows the way and His Word shows the way. His Word directs us above the confusion and confounding of moral values. It will expose the lies plainly as lies. Hold on to GOD's Word for life, for "for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body" - Proverbs 4:22

Love,

Thomas

2009

2009-12-19T02:21:00.000+08:00

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn; and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones,

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to tear, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit has the worker from that in which he labours? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 NKJV

These verses underline seasons and changes in life, and resonate a confidence that the Spirit of God is continuously laboring in us for us, even if we only realise the purposes of God at the end of it. Death marks the end of a person's life which was first given by the Creator as a gift. Plant so as to harvest. Without experiencing the pain of loss, how would one rejoice in having found. To be broken down is to be built up. Sadness will be comforted by gladness, even as grief precedes joy . Unless the LORD builds the house, man labours in vain. There is a time to be together, and a time for solitude. Through each season in life, God watches over His own from here to eternity.

Shalom,

-4esia-

I Will Shelter You

2009-12-13T23:44:00.000+08:00

I'm in your corner, don't worry about a thing.

If you should ever need some comforting,

I'm as close as the air you breathe,

I'll be the faith you need to believe.

Put your head on my shoulder and rest a little while,

Cos I'm here to hold you when your world turns wild.

That's just what love should do,

When times are tough I will pull you through.

When the hurricane blows against your heart,

And the skies' on fire and you don't know where you are,

When you've done all you can do,

And there's no one else to turn to, I will shelter you.

(No matter where you are, I will guard your heart)

It doesn't matter what tomorrow brings,

Cos together we can weather anything.

When you can't seem to find your way,

I will push back the storm, I will stop the rain.

"I Will Shelter You" recorded by Bob Carlisle on the album Stories from the Heart 1998 Diadem Records, a division of Benson Records, Inc.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV.

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. Proverbs 18:24 The Message.

Surely GOD knows what you are going through, what your heart is experiencing, how your days have been. And surely He cares about you.

Won't you turn to Him for a little rest? Won't you turn to Him for love, hope and direction? He knows. And if you'd give Him just one moment, He'd give you a lifetime.

His scribe ",+

Rediscovering Life Through Adversity

2009-12-06T19:25:00.000+08:00

Life is like a long distance race. Sometimes the only thing that stands being us and completing the race is giving ourselves the opportunity to experience the journey and see if we cannot come out richer from it.

Yet the journey is also about the people in our lives, whom life reveals what is in their hearts, even as it reveals what is in ours; through trials, adversity, sickness, brokenness, fears and hopelessness.

Ironically, it is only through adversity that the true nature of man is revealed. Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not ~ Henry Fielding.

2009 has been a year in which friendship, career, character, faith and resilience have been tested to the limit. Looking back, I am thankful for the moments that threw out the inconsistency and shallowness in the these areas, as they revealed falsity and at the same time, what they could be. I have lost heart but by the grace and love of God, I have received a new breath of life to carry on with the journey of life. In the words of Psalmist David, "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen you heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!" Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV.

Sv ",+

Siang, thank you for running the race with me today. Ten months in the womb has given me a brother for a lifetime!

Prayer for a brother

2009-11-21T06:23:00.002+08:00

Dear GOD,

I pray for my brother Cecil. LORD, You know what he is going through.
Please be with him and strengthen him, O LORD. Surround him with Your
enduring love!

It isn't easy dealing with breakdowns in relationships, but LORD, You
can empathize with my brother. You experienced denial and betrayal
from Your beloved disciples. You know how it feels to have your
beloved turn upon you.

LORD, grant my brother wisdom and understanding. Help him deal with
the challenging situation of working through a divorce, while having
to meet his wife at her brother's wedding. It isn't easy dealing with
emotional hurts like this but You are able! You are willing and You
are faithful, LORD. I cry out to You, Father, that You help my brother
and his wife. LORD, I still hold out to the hope that they will
reconcile. Father, when all else seems hopeless, we have our unceasing
hope in our LORD Jesus Christ. Please hear our prayers and heal this
relationship. Let the open wounds heal, Father! Bind them together
again in Your love. Your love is a reconciling love. You reconciled us
unto Yourself. Please reconcile my brother and his wife.

Thank You, Father.

In Jesus's Name,
Amen

The Answer

2009-11-15T23:50:00.000+08:00

I believe you are the answer to every tear I've cried

I believe that you are with me

My rising and my light

Give me strength when I am weary

Give me hope when I can't see

Through the crosses I must carry

Lord, bind my heart to thee

That when all my days are over

And all my chores are done

I may see your risen Glory

Forever where You are

Lyrics by Corrine May Ying Foo

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:25-35 NKJV.

The day will come when we will be laid to rest. When our eyes will shut one last time and our body will stir no more. When the rhythm of life as we know it will cease. No more role playing, no more dreams, no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain. Our soul will be released from our body. What then remains? Things of eternity: faith, love and hope. Faith in God; love for one another; hope for the day when we will reunite in the world unseen.

For my friends who walk with me when I was weak. For my family who love me for who I am. For the LORD my God who knows me by name.

Agape,

Sv +

AD 1973 - AD 20xx

Because He Lives

2009-11-11T16:50:00.000+08:00

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, All fear is gone

And because I know, I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives

The day before I turned a year older, I woke up wishing for three things in my life - peace in my heart, a simple life and staying rooted.

Nothing overly ambitious I guess, nor outwardly progressive, nor financially viable. What is wrong with her? Some would implore.

Life is not defined by what we have, even if we have a lot. Life is defined by what we become in the Potter's hands.

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am.

Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.

What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for? Matthew 16:24-26 The Message.

I am not saying don't work hard, give up your dreams or aspirations. But I am saying in the midst of being caught up in busyness and complexity of making a living,

don't neglect your soul and not negate the worth of the soul of others, be they good or evil.

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best - the sun to warm and the rain to nourish - to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. Matthew 5:43-45 The Message.

We would be merely existing if we had nothing to believe in, nothing to sustain our soul. No one to stand by us, no God to turn things around.

Times when we give our darnest, only to be damned. When we speak the truth, only to be marginalised. When what happens in our lives gives us no reprieve.

As we try to manage, things get out of control. And we come to the end of ourselves. At the end of our natural ability, we become aware of God's divine intervention.

He turns the ordinary around. He restores the soul. You find yourself having the strength to go through an ordeal. The unexpected happens and you are filled with gratitude.

In the midst of realigning yourself, God is realigning your life. If not for faith, love and hope; there would have been no reason for living, for believing that God works for the good of those who love Him. There's where faith is built, strength is found and hope is renewed.

Shalom,

Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less.

~ Rabbi J. Gordon

Mistakes We Make

2009-10-26T00:30:00.000+08:00

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned. And done this evil in Your sight - that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Psalm 51:1-4 NKJV.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart - these, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:10-13,17 NKJV.

David, whom God regarded as one after His own heart, had committed a grave offense against a man under his charge - he had committed adultery with his general's wife and later masterminded the man's murder. However, when confronted by Nathan the prophet, David acknowledged his misdeed and remorsefully sought forgiveness in the face of God.

Like David, we are all capable of wrongdoing everyday. Ironically, it is when mistakes are made and when misfortunes have befallen that we are made stronger, wiser and kinder.

The mistakes we make help us recognise our frailties and grow from them. Unless we have fallen, we would not truly appreciate the chance to get back on our feet.

Until we know how it feels to be brokenhearted, then can we be filled with thanksgiving and wholeness for being loved, cherished, honoured and accepted wholly, unconditionally.

Had it not for His mercies, loving-kindness and love; mankind would not have lasted. God in totality has found completion in the person of Jesus Christ.

Shalom,

Sv ".+

Valley-forged Faith

2009-10-18T17:12:00.000+08:00

Valley, an area of land lying between two lines of hills or mountains; also used symbolically to refer to the difficulties in life.

It is easy to pay homage to God and get on with life when everything is going well. It is a totally different story when things fall apart.

Assailed, plundered and left wounded in the valley; it is easy to give in to exhaustion, to give up, to stop believing, to curse God, to harden our hearts.

Yet, it is when the night is the darkest; when pain is the sharpest; when hurt is the deepest; that the heart wails its mourning.

At the end of road, life becomes ironically clear. On the brink of despair, the condition of our heart underlying the substance of our faith is abashedly exposed.

The last strand of faith that fights on to trust God on the final outcome. To remain on the anvil, until steadfastness is smelted into a valley-forged faith.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NKJV.

Shalom,

Sv ".+

So You Would Come

2009-10-15T06:42:00.000+08:00

Before the world began
You were on His mind
And every tear you cry
Is precious in His eyes
Because of His great love
He gave His only Son
Everything was done
So you would come

Nothing you can do
Could make Him love you more
And nothing that you've done
Could make Him close the door
Because of His great love
He gave His only Son
Everything was done
So you would come

Come to the Father
Though your gift is small
Broken hearts, broken lives
He will take them all
The power of the Word
The power of His blood
Everything was done
So you would come

("So You Would Come" by Hillsong United)

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Matthew 27:46 NKJV.

Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?" Matthew 27:46 The Message.

The pain of separation. The source is love. That you'd be loved.

Sv ".+

The Heart

2009-10-10T14:32:00.001+08:00

A fragile heart was broken before
I don't think it could endure another pain
But there's a voice from deep inside of you
That's calling out to make you realise

That this new bond gives inspiration
To all who feel no love appeal no more
So how can I break this wall around you
That's aiding both our hearts to grow in pain

So forget your past, and we can dream tomorrow
Save our hearts for care and loving too
It's hard I know, but oh
One thing for sure
Don't go and break this fragile heart

("Fragile Heart", Westlife)

I read somewhere that a heart can be broken, but it goes on beating just the same.

Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing that I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?

Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." 1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV.

So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him!"

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.

For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:6-7 NKJV.

So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."

Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." Then Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel.

And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." 1 Samuel 16:8-11 NKJV.

So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:12-13 NKJV.

If God had intended to please the people with a king, he'd choose a man pleasing in appearance; but, if he'd wanted one after his own heart, he should not be chosen by the outside.

God looks at the heart, and sees the thoughts and intent. He judges man by it. True beauty is within, and man is judged by his mind and not his expression or appearance.

At the end of the day, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

Shalom,

Sv ".+

To Make You Feel My Love

2009-10-05T01:09:00.000+08:00

When the rain is blowing in your face, and the whole world is on your case

I could offer you a warm embrace, to make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear, and there's no one there to dry your tears

I could hold you for a million years, to make you feel my love

I can make you happy, make your dreams come true

Nothing that I wouldn't do, go to the end of the earth for you, to make you feel my love

("To Make You Feel My Love" by Adele ft. Paul de Leeuw)

Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. Genesis 29:9-11 NKJV.

Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?" Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." Genesis 29:15-18 NKJV.

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her." And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. Genesis 29:20-23 NJKV.

So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?" And Laban said, "it must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. "Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years." Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. Genesis 29:25-28 NKJV.

Here we see Jacob's tenderness, affection and passion for Rachel, he had set his heart upon her right from the start. He desired her so much that he gave time and labour for her. Jacob's honest performance of his part of the bargain. The base cheat which Laban put upon Jacob. He wronged both Jacob and Rachel. The frivolous excuse Laban made. He drew Jacob into the sin, and snare, and disquiet, of multiplying wives. Jacob did not design it. He could not refuse Rachel, for he had espoused her; still less could he refused Leah, for he had married her.

From being a conniver who stole his brother's birthright, Jacob turned into a man of wit and honour. He stuck it out for Rachel, the love of his life. Likewise, God's love for us saw Him came near in the person of Jesus. It was love that sent Jesus to the cross. God loved us even before we understood what it meant to be loved by Him. But He knew, He was sure of His love. It was a love worth giving, it is a love worth receiving.

Shalom,

Sv ".+

Love - A Four Letter Word

2009-09-27T22:20:00.000+08:00

You are here, I feel your embrace.

You are here, I am safe in this place.

You are here, now everything's changed.

You are here, in Your presence I will stay.

Strong enough to protect. Real enough to transform. Love enough to remain.

Hosea son of Beeri prophesied about the middle of the eighth century B.C. Hosea lived in the tragic final days of the northern kingdom, during which six kings (following Jeroboam II) reigned within 25 years (2 Kings 15:8-17:41). Four (Zechariah, Shallum, Pekahiah, Pekah) were murdered by their successors while in office, and one (Hoshea) was captured in battle; only one (Menahem) was succeeded on the throne by his son. These kings, given to Israel by God "in anger" and taken away "in wrath" (13:11), floated away "like twig on the surface of the waters" (10:7). " Introduction to Hosea, NIV Study Bible.

Hosea is the prophet of love, but not love as we imagine or fantasize it. He was a parable of God's love for his people lived out as God revealed and enacted it - a lived parable. It is an astonishing story: a prophet commanded to marry a common whore and have children with her. It is an even more astonishing message: God loves us in just this way - goes after us at our worst, keeps after us until he gets us, and makes lovers of men and women who know nothing about real love. Introduction to Hosea, The Message.

This is God's Message to Hosea son of Beeri. It came to him during the royal reigns of Judah's kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This was also the time that Jeroboam son of Joash was king over Israel.

The first time GOD spoke to Hosea he said: "Find a whore and marry her. Make this whore the mother of your children. And here's why: This whole country has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, GOD."

Hosea did it. He picked Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She got pregnant and gave him a son.

Then GOD told him: "Name him Jezreel. It won't be long now before I'll make the people of Israel pay for the massacre at Jezreel. I'm calling it quits on the kingdom of Israel. Payday is coming! I'm going to chop Israel's bows and arrows into kindling in the valley of Jezreel." Gomer got pregnant again. This time she had a daughter. GOD told Hosea: "Name this one No-Mercy. I'm fed up with Israel. I've run out of mercy. There's no more forgiveness. Judah's another story. I'll continue having mercy on them. I'll save them. It will be their GOD who saves them, not their armaments and armies, not their horsepower and manpower."

After Gomer had weaned No-Mercy, she got pregnant yet again and had a son. GOD said: "Name him Nobody. You've become nobodies to me, and I, GOD, am a nobody to you. "But down the road the population of Israel is going to explode past counting, like sand on the ocean beaches. In the very place where they were once named Nobody, they will be named God's Somebody. Everyone in Judah and everybody in Israel will be assembled as one people. They'll choose a single leader. There'll be no stopping them - a great day in Jezreel! Hosea 1 The Message.

Would anyone marry a whore, an adulteress? How much pain, hurt, rejection would one experience in such a relationship? How much misery? How much sorrow? What would make one wait for a whore?

What would make a person choose to remain in a relationship that is unequal, unrequited, unappreciated? How does one remain sane under such conditions when treated like dirt?

If not for commitment, it would have been unbearable. If not for the future, the present would have killed the frailest of hope. If not for a love that endures.

Would it not be enough for Hosea to be GOD's voice? Why did he have to go through all that in his life to make GOD's point known? What went on inside him? How did his friends and relatives view him?

We don't know. The Bible didn't say. I suppose he hung in there, he remained faithful, just as GOD did and He still do. I hope he found reprieve and happiness in his marriage and family life at the end.

Perhaps we can take a lesson or two from a love such as this. One that endures. One that remains.

Shalom,

Sv ".+

Lasting Faith. Faithful GOD.

2009-09-13T18:56:00.001+08:00

And I will lift Your name on high

I choose to lift Your name on high

I'll lift Your name like a banner in the sky

I choose to lift Your name on high

A moment of jubilation. Six hours one Friday. A greater purpose.

In the eyes of men, it appeared as if Israel's long-awaited king, messiah, liberator has finally arrived in the person of Jesus the Nazarene.

A Moment of Jubilation

When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: "Go over to the village across from you. You'll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you're doing, say, 'The Master needs them!' He will send them with you." This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet:

Tell Zion's daughter, "Look, your king's on his way, poised and ready, mounted on a donkey, on a colt, foal of a pack of animal."

The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, "Hosanna to David's son!" "Blessed is he who comes in God's name!" "Hosanna in highest heaven!"

As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, "What's going on here? Who is this?" The parade crowd answered, "This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee." Matthew 21:1-11 The Message.

Six Hours One Friday

The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He saved others - he can't save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We'll all become believers then! He was so sure of God - well, let him rescue his 'Son' now - if he wants him! He did claim to be God's Son, didn't he?" Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.

From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?" Some bystanders who heard him said, "He's calling for Elijah." One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink. The others joked, "Don't be in such a hurry. Let's see if Elijah comes and saves him." But Jesus, again crying loudly, breathed his last. Matthew 27"41-50 The Message.

A Greater Purpose

After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God's angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were sacred to death.....The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place he was placed. Matthew 28:1-6 The Message.

Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus has set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshipped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally. Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorised and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." Matthew 28:16-20 The Message.

It is the overriding purpose of God in our lives that elevates us in faith to continue in the race of life.

Shalom,

Sv ",+

The Fire Behind Struggles

2009-09-08T04:59:00.000+08:00

THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES:

"Say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts be faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them.

And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? Let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in battle, and another man eat of it. And what man is there that hath

betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? Let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her."

To not be afraid, negligent, or ignorant to enjoy the fruits of one's toil brings about completion of mission, vision, or desire. God created man, surely He understands that desires and longings will only find rest in fulfillment. It is the man or woman who persists at every age who finds life. In and out of battle; at work and at play; in the arms of a lover; at the foot of the Cross where man implores God.

Still anyone selected out for life has hope, for, as they say, "A living dog is better than a dead lion." The living at least know something, even if it it's only that they're going to die.

But the dead know nothing and get nothing. They're a minus that no one remembers. Their loves, their hates, yes, even their dreams, are long gone.

There's not a trace of them left in the affairs of this earth. Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 The Message.

Who would struggle with GOD? Who would be honest, naked and earnest enough to confront the LORD his God with all that he is, with all that he is not?

Who would love GOD enough to be real with Him? Who could grasp GOD enough to dare to believe that what we see is not enough, that there is more?

Who would ask GOD to prove Himself if He says He is really God? Who would tell GOD that it is unfair? Who would bear his heart out before GOD?

But Jacob stayed behind by himself, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he couldn't get the best of Jacob as they wrestled, he deliberately threw Jacob's hip out of joint.

The man said, "Let me go, it's daybreak." Jacob said, "I'm not letting you go 'til you bless me." The man said, "What's your name?" He answered, "Jacob."

The man said, "But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it's Israel (God-Wrestler); you've wrestled with God and you've come through." Genesis 32:24-28 The Message.

He was named Jacob at birth. The name Jacob means schemer or conniver. And he lived as one right up to that daybreak, where he faced up to who he was. Yet lying behind his acknowledgement of his identity as Jacob, was a deep-seated desire to be blessed for who he is; no more stolen birthrights, no more fear of repercussions and pain of being deceived. He wanted more, but first he had to confront himself. Jacob chose to wrestle with his ill-gotten destiny, and because he did, God was pleased to make him anew, baptising Jacob into a new name, new life, new destiny, of Israel. A name that carries the promises that GOD made to his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac; and one that would define his people who would come after him. Underneath our struggles lies the next dawn, if only we do not become resigned to fate.

Sv ".+

Transformational Relationships

2009-08-25T00:09:00.000+08:00

Just before GOD took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on a walk out of Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. GOD has sent me on an errand to Bethel."

Elisha said, "Not on your life! I'm not letting you out of my sight!" So they both went to Bethel. The guild of prophets at Bethel met Elisha and said, "Did you know that GOD is going to take your master away from you today?" "Yes," he said, "I know it. But keep it quiet."

Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. GOD has sent me on an errand to Jericho." Elisha said, "Not on your life! I'm not letting you out of my sight!" So they both went to Jericho.

The guild of prophets at Jericho came to Elisha and said, "Did you know that GOD is going to take your master away from you today?" "Yes," he said, "I know it. But keep it quiet."

Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. GOD has sent me on an errand to the Jordan." Elisha said, "Not on your life! !'m not letting you out of my sight!" And so the two of them went their way together.

2 Kings 2:1-6 The Message.

When they reached the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, "What can I do for you before I'm taken from you? Ask anything."

Elisha said, "Your life repeated in my life. I want to be a holy man just like you." "That's a hard one!" said Elijah. "But if you're watching when I'm taken from you, you'll get what you've asked for.

But only if you're watching." 2 Kings 2:9-10 The Message.

And so it happened. They were walking along and talking. Suddenly a chariot and horses of fire came between them and Elijah went up in a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it all and shouted, "My father, my father! You - the chariot and cavalry of Israel!" When he could no longer see anything, he grabbed his robe and ripped it to pieces. Then he picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen from him, returned to the shore of the Jordan, and stood there. He took Elijah's cloak - all that was left of Elijah! - and hit the river with it, saying, "Now where is the GOD of Elijah! Where is he?" When he struck the water, the river divided and Elisha walked through. 2 Kings 2:11-14 The Message.

Elisha pathetically laments the loss of that great prophet. He rent his own clothes, in token of the sense he had of his own and the public loss. Though Elijah's departure made way for Elisha's eminency, yet he lamented the loss of him, for he loved him, and could have served him forever. He gave him a honourable character. He himself had lost the guide of his youth: "My father, my father."

While Joshua had Moses, Samuel had Eli, and Elisha and Elijah; we live in a day and age where discipleship is shallow and misunderstood; and shepherding is loose and takes the form of protocol.

The LORD is my shepherd,

Do you desire GOD?

2009-08-11T18:45:00.005+08:00

- Isaiah 64:8 "We are the clay, You are the Potter. We are all the work of Your hands."

- If a lump of clay has a mind of understanding, can speak and is grateful, it would probably say "Thanks!" to the potter from the time the potter sets his hands on the clay.
- Why? Because we know a potter sets out to create something beautiful out of an ordinary, formless mass. That is his single-minded purpose.
- In the Bible, GOD has often compared Himself to a potter, and His people the clay.
- It portrays not only GOD's sovereign will over our lives, but also His devotion to us.
- He sets out to make us beautiful from our former sinful state of life.
- At other times, GOD's devotion to us is illustrated in the context of a loving relationship between a husband & his wife.
- Ephesians 5:25-27 says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless".
- GOD loves us as a loving husband loves his wife. What ought to be our response?

- If you have already tasted the love of GOD, and are assured of your identity in Christ Jesus, redeemed and loved by GOD, which I have no doubt many of you are, I would like to ask you one question now: Do you desire GOD?
- We often ask people when sharing the gospel, "do you want to go to heaven?". If heaven is as beautiful as the Bible has described in part & the consequence of not choosing heaven is hell, well, most people would say "Yes". But that isn't the question that needs to be answered. Salvation in Christ Jesus is not about going to a place; it is about making it right with GOD.
- You see, before knowing Christ, we were all hopelessly dead in sin.
- Ephesians 2:1 said it well, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins..."
- It goes on to say in verse 4 & 5: "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

- Salvation is only the start of a relationship restored between us and GOD in Christ. Because of His great love, mercies and devotion, we have been made ALIVE in Christ.
- What are we to do with this new life, if it isn't to desire GOD, to please Him, to do His will, and to seek His face?
- If you tell someone who doesn't know GOD to love GOD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind, he will most likely laugh it off.
- That is perfectly normal for anyone hasn't tasted and seen that the LORD is good.
- For those who know GOD, who have tasted and can vouch for His goodness, what are we doing about the first and greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37?

- Does the desire for GOD show up in our lives daily, or only on Sundays when we are with our church friends and pastors?
- Do we go to church expecting to be served or to serve? Mark 10:45 says "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
- Do we realize that the church of GOD is not the building where we gather to worship once a week? WE are the church, right here at our workplace, in the neighborhood where we live, in places where we meet people. When people see us, they see the church. Do they see us serving & loving GOD where we are?
- Does the desire for GOD permeate every area of our life and interaction, in our words, thoughts and actions?
- Do our colleagues who work at least 8 hours a day with us see Christ in our life and a constant hunger and thirsting after righteousness?
- Do they see us seeking to do our Father's will as Christ demonstrated during His time on earth?
- Do they see us pray without ceasing?
- Do they see us praising GOD, or do they see us murmuring, complaining and getting into all kinds of argument which do not honor GOD?
- Do they see the beauty of Christ in our life as we are being molded by GOD?
- Are we fruitful in Christ so that we please GOD the Father? John 15:1-2 says ,"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
- Do they see the evidence of the Holy Spirit in our life, since we are "marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance" as stated in Ephesians 1:13-14?
- Are our lives overflowing with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, or do we only honour Him with our lips but not our heart?
- Do we carry each other's burdens, thus fulfilling the law of Christ as stated in Galatians 6:2? Or are we only too happy to be minding our own business while fellow believers struggle to serve, build up the body of Christ & reach the lost?
- Do people see uncommon love, compassion and mercies in us or do they see hatred, apathy and vengeance instead?
- Do they see us giving GOD His rightful place in our life?
- Exodus 20:3 says, "You shall have no other gods before me." Do we take this seriously, or have work, family or even the love of money displaced GOD in our life?

- I don't know about you, but I cannot answer these questions honestly in a manner that pleases GOD.
- Let's not excuse ourselves as GOD's work in progress.
- We all need to repent, ask GOD to forgive us, help us get back on track, and put in our heart an overflowing desire & love for GOD.
- If we can't love GOD wholeheartedly, we can't possibly lay claim to being a child of GOD. Look at Matthew 22:37 again. Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
- Jesus certainly wasn't joking when He said in Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
- Again Revelation 2:4-5 says "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first."

- GOD's love for us demands a response from us, which is an overflowing love and desire for GOD.
- We will long for heaven only because we want to be with GOD where He is, not because heaven is a beautiful place or because we want to escape from hell.
- Truly I tell you, if we sincerely desire GOD, we would be seeking Him and looking intently into His Word daily, and doing His will.
- We will come before Him daily, confessing our sins, and asking Him to purify us from all unrighteousness.
- We will put GOD first, saying as John the Baptist said in John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less."
- We will, as Romans 12:1-2 says, "offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
- We will do GOD's work, which, as John 6:29 says, is "to believe in the one he has sent".
- Moreover, we will also obey GOD's call to proclaim the good news of the gospel and making disciples of all nations.
- Sharing the gospel, sharing the love of GOD and making disciples are not the exclusive duties of pastors, evangelists and missionaries; these are the duties of every Christian, for Jesus said in Mark 8:34 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me". What does it mean to follow Christ, except to do what He did?
- We will then be, as John 5:14-16 says, "the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

- Brothers and sisters, whether you are a new or long-time Christian, I urge all of us to at least appreciate and take our salvation seriously.
- Jesus didn't die on the cross so that we can get comfortable after booking a place in heaven.
- He certainly didn't die so that we can get an insurance policy while continuing to live as sons of disobedience.
- He died on the cross so that we can experience the love of the Father as He does, adopted and accepted into GOD's household, uphold the Body of Christ, magnify & glorify GOD's name, and proclaim the LORD Jesus Christ until His return.
- Let the Word of GOD take root in your life, sow generously towards the things of GOD & His kingdom, and yield a return of 100 fold or more as in the parable of the sower.
- This was what Jesus meant in Matthew 6:20 when He said to store up treasures in heaven, and where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Thomas Tan

Strength to Love

2009-08-09T00:04:00.001+08:00

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." Matthew 5:44 NKJV.

"Probably no admonition of Jesus has been more difficult to follow than the command to love our enemies. Some people have sincerely felt that its actual practice is not possible.

It is easy, they say, to love those who love you, but how can one love those who openly and insidiously seek to defeat you...?

Far from being the pious injunction of a Utopian dreamer, the command to love one's enemy is an absolute necessity for our survival.

Love even for our enemies is the key to the solution of the problems of our world. Jesus is not an impractical idealist; he is the practical realist...

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction...

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of enmity.

By its very nature, hate destroys and tears down; by its very nature, love creates and builds up. Love transforms with redemptive power."

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

The burdens they carried were, at least initially, the result of other people's prejudices and hatreds, not their own. In a sense, they had every right to feel the way they did.

Yet as soon as they were able to see themselves as fallible human beings, they were able to lay aside their self-justification.

And in making the conscious decision to break the cycle of hatred, they discovered their ability to forgive.

~ Johann Christoph Arnold

"It is also necessary to realise that the forgiving act must always be initiated by the person who has been wronged, the victim of some great hurt, the recipient of some tortuous injustice,

the absorber of some terrible act of oppression. The wrongdoer may request forgiveness. They may come to themselves, and like the prodigal son, move up some dusty road, their heart palpitating

with the desire for forgiveness. But only the injured neighbour, the loving father back home, can really pour out the warm waters of forgiveness.

Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship.

Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning...

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

What will we leave behind for our children? What kind of a life do we want to live with? Love? Hate? Hope? Fear? Goodness or evil?

Ain't easy, the journey never is. But the answer is crystal clear. Freedom is a choice away. Now, don't hang me just yet. I struggle as you do.

~ Sv ".+

Beyond Yonder

2009-08-02T19:45:00.000+08:00

I think I've heard that voice before

And I've got to hear You just once more

'Cos the dreams that You've been building deep inside

Lie broken now before me and I cry

I don't want another plan

'Cos Lord, You know I've made my stand

That I only do the things that You command

So please help me now to hear and understand, Oh......

Is that really You, O Lord?

Calling my name out now?

Is that really You, O Lord?

Showing me higher ground?

You say to gain my life I must die

To all the dreams I've held inside

And as I give them up and lay aside my pride

Somehow I can hear You calling me to bigger dreams and higher heights

Is that really You, O Lord?

Calling my name out now?

Is that really You, O Lord?

Showing me higher ground?

I've never gone that far, I'm just afraid to start

But O Lord I know it's true, that voice is really You

Calling me, calling me, I hear You calling me

Yes, that's really You, O Lord

Calling my name out now

Yes, that's really You, O Lord

Showing me higher ground

("Is That Really You, O LORD" by Bob Fitts)

Gone were the days when he would stroll down the majestic halls of the palace. When in a fit of righteous anger, he killed an Egyptian slave master who was beating one of his Hebrew brethren.

From the prince of Egypt, he became a man wanted for murder. When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian.

Exodus 2:15 NKJV. Through the years, the vastness and silence of the desert would swallow up his hotheadedness, and impregnate him with sensitivity and watchfulness of his surrounding and for his flock.

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses! Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Exodus 3:1-4 NKJV.

"Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." Exodus 3:9-12 NKJV.

Moses would have thought that tending sheep would be his lot for the rest of his life, until God appeared on the scene and declared otherwise. Moses' charge changed from tending sheep to leading his brethren out of slavery in Egypt, across the desert, and into the promised land. He was not qualified to challenge Pharaoh but the many years spent in the desert, looking after sheep, would more than qualify him to shepherd an entire population of slaves across the desert. He would know the sources of water and the dangers hidden in the desert far better than anyone else.

More than being equipped for the task, the task in itself held the broken dreams of Moses. It reached deep into Moses and awakened the desire of his heart, which was for justice, for liberty of his people, the children of Israel. God knew that, but He couldn't use Moses nor fulfill His purpose until Moses was no longer full of himself but ready to be led, filled and moved by the Spirit of the Living God.

Only the Author of Life knows what He has planned and purposed for each of His creation. Learning to hear His voice prepares us to respond when He calls.

Keep walking,

Sv ".+

Prayer for brother Tom

2009-07-28T09:02:00.002+08:00

Father GOD, I thank you for my brother Tom, and Your love for him.
LORD, Your love is good and it endures forever.

You peer into our heart & see our innermost needs. You hear our cries,
even the silent ones, & you see our tears. You have not taken your
eyes off my brother, neither have You left him. Let him feel Your
arms of love. Let Your peace guard his heart & mind in Christ Jesus.
Comfort him, O LORD! Provide for him as You did for the widow and her
son through the prophet Elijah. For underneath my brother are Your
everlasting arms, O GOD!

Thank You, Father for loving my brother and all of us adopted children
as Your own. We deserve none of the love which You gave us so
generously through our LORD Jesus Christ. This is love that never
fails. Hallelujah!

O thank You, Father! We love you and we lift up Your Name. In the
precious and everlasting Name of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ we
pray,

Amen.
Thomas

The Measure of a Man

2009-07-28T06:59:00.001+08:00

Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this,

that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV.

We pat ourselves on the back, relishing with great pride and satisfaction at what we have built for ourselves, at what we have made of our lives.

Careers, flashy automobiles, real estates, right behaviour, self-righteousness, intelligence, academia, riches and wealth.

We think so highly of our achievements, our holiness; so much so that everything and everyone else falls short! But that's not what GOD says. Read again.

"Don't let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don't let heroes brag of their exploits. Don't let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only:

That you understand and know me. I'm GOD, and I act in loyal love. I do what's right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things.

These are my trademarks." GOD's Decree. Jeremiah 9:23-24 The Message.

The present form of the world passes away, and there remains only the joy of having used this world to establish God's rule here.

All pomp, all triumphs, all selfish capitalism, all the false successes of life will pass with the world's form. All of that passes away. What does not pass away is love.

When one has turned money, property, work in one's calling into service of others, then the joy of sharing and the feeling that all are one's family does not pass away.

In the evening of life you will be judged on love. ~ Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love

Sv ".+

Christian witnessing on Twitter

2009-07-25T18:05:00.001+08:00

A dear sister in Christ, Juanita, whom I came to know on Twitter, wrote an article entitled "Are Christians wimp?". In it, she asked if Christians are actively witnessing to atheists and if they do support one another in online witness, such as that which often takes place on Twitter. I encourage you to read her full post to better appreciate the context of this article. My response to her was as follows:

Hi Juanita,

This is your fellow Twitterer, Thomas (twhtan).

The Bible says in 2 Tim 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Many Christians are sadly, Christians in name only. They are saved but have yet to bear fruit or experience the power of GOD beyond salvation. They are the spiritual babies the Apostle Paul spoke about in Heb 5:11-14. They are not ready to even testify of the hope they have in Christ Jesus. The growth of a Christian comes about by giving & making ourselves available to GOD, which many Christians struggle with, citing family, personal commitments, etc as reasons. As the rest of us who serve give through our service to GOD, our faith in Him grows, and we receive even more from Him in response to the challenges we face in ministry. We learned to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to drink of the Holy Spirit daily, and to go forth "by His Spirit". We also appreciate the importance of & need to seek GOD daily, spend time in His Word so as to understand His will for us, and to equip us with the right words for the occasion.

In the process, we grow to rely on Him & to share His heart for the lost. We are gradually conforming to His image. We now know His voice as the sheep recognizes the Good Shepherd, and we trust in His rod & everything about Him as David described in Psalm 23. These are the ones who will go into the crowds as Jesus & His disciples did. They are not afraid to stir up controversies by their proclamations or actions arising from their faith in Christ. They are ready, in season and out of season, to share the eternal hope they have in the LORD. These are the ones who will rise up to the challenge, but herein lies the question. Where are they when you need them?

Not all are on Twitter. Some are witnessing offline as I am sure. Some are on Twitter as you can discern. Yet again, not all are online when we are ministering. I have personally had a sister on Twitter pray for me as I ministered, and I believe you did too. Another responded directly to the atheist I was witnessing to, while I slept due to timezone differences. Some prayed and told me so. In a way, these have supported me as far as they could, and I know that even beyond that, they are praying for the lost & those among us who are witnessing to the lost.

I have been sending out calls to brothers & sisters on Twitter to support each other in all ways possible. For those who are not ready to engage the lost verbally, they can always pray and in the process build up their faith as they witness how we witness to the lost. I see this as mentoring via Twitter. Others will come forward with prayer support. For the pastors & Bible scholars out there on Twitter, I would encourage them to play an active role in reaching the lost for Christ. Ministering to the congregants is one thing, reaching out to the lost is another thing which pastors need to keep abreast with, and for which Bible scholars come in handy, since we don't have all facts to respond to the myths that atheists put forward.

Above all, the love of Christ in us must propel us forward to reach these lost ones. We must weep as He wept when He surveyed Jerusalem in Luke 19, and see the lost as He sees them. We are but many members of the same Body, each with his/her own gifts in Christ. Let us exhort one another to grow in Christ first, so that they may join the rest who are serving on the front line.

In His Love,
Thomas

I want to focus on the paragraph in bold above on how Twitter can be effectively used for Christian witnessing today.

I am a new but fairly regular user of Twitter, having started in Mar this year. In the beginning, I used it along the lines of Ephesians 5:19 which exhorts believers to "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs". It was the perfect platform to encourage & lift up the Body of Christ with GOD's Word, and I know I have been encouraged many a times from scriptures tweeted by fellow believers.

Soon, I discovered another use for Twitter - its "soapbox" potential to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since Twitter has a large and growing user base & I linked it to my Facebook account, it provided just the right opportunity for me to share nuggets from the Bible & personal thoughts, aimed at provoking a response from unsaved souls to GOD's salvation plan for them. In fact, it was my tweets on atheism, hell, GOD's judgment and homosexuality that elicited strong responses from unsaved souls, and which first revealed this potential.

As I witness on Twitter, I came across other believers doing the same, like sister Juanita mentioned above. Once, when Juanita was witnessing "live" to an atheist, I prayed and sent her verses in support of her sharing with the atheist, whom I subsequently also witnessed to. On another occasion, I was witnessing to a couple of atheists when I tweeted for prayer support, and received more than that - a brother in Christ actually helped me respond to an atheist while I rested for the night due to timezone differences. Yet on another occasion, a fellow believer helped follow up with an atheist I had ministered to earlier.

These are but examples of how Twitter offers Christian witnessing a whole new dimension. It allows Spirit-filled Christians from around the world to come together as informal teams sharing GOD's Word with non-believers, as the Holy Spirit directs them. Team witnessing also strengthens the bond between members of the Body of Christ as we support one another in prayer and in love. As mentioned above, it also allows Christians to learn from one another as we witness online.

Having said that, we should keep in mind the whole objective of witnessing, that is, to share the love of Christ with the aim of leading the lost to Him. This should never be used to run down unbelievers, especially atheists and gays who often claim to be victims of hate campaigns, or be perceived as bullying. Always pray in the Spirit to ask for directions & wisdom in team witnessing. Also consult & clarify with one another privately, either via Direct Messages (DM) or email when working together. Team witnessing doesn't mean 2 or more believers concurrently tweeting the person being ministered to. Although more than 1 atheist and gay person have ganged up on me & other fellow believers on Twitter, this isn't the behaviour we want to encourage here as it will put the person being ministered to on a defensive mode.

From my experience, it's better to have one person witness at any one time, while the rest pray or offer scripture/domain knowledge support, eg. facts surrounding evolution, flood, interpretation of scriptures, as they can follow the tweets being exchanged. We can, however, take turns to witness to the same person.

It is my sincere desire that mature & Spirit-filled Christians will tap on this opportunity to evangelize on Twitter, and by extension, Facebook and other social networks which accept status updates from Twitter.

In His Love,

Thomas

Greater Things

2009-07-19T16:19:00.000+08:00

The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing.

You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son.

I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do. John 14:12-14 The Message.

"Whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it." These words were spoken by Jesus before his arrest. In assuring his disciples, he also commissioned them to a life of faith, hope and trust in him; which will usher in breakthroughs in works that will testify to the heart of God for the world. Visionary, instructive, empowering, definitive. The Lord proclaimed the reality of God's kingdom breaking into our fallen world.

It is an empowering not derived from ritualistic religiosity, but from intimacy with God. It is only when we have a glimpse of God, then will we see what it means to be created in His image, that man was created to reflect the goodness of God. Then breakthroughs birthed from within, will be lived out. The seed of transformation comes about from relishing the truth revealed by the Word of God, drawing the surrendering of the self to live out the truth as lived out by Jesus.

When that takes place, changed lives will change the fabric of our society, our country, our workplace, our family, our relationships. It is an advancement, a work-in-progress, passed on from one person to another, which will only come to completion in the coming of Christ Jesus.

W.I.P.

Sv ".+

Letter to a sister in Christ

2009-07-15T11:17:00.003+08:00

Hi Mindy

Thanks for the impromptu sharing and fellowship. I've been richly blessed. GOD convicted and spoke to me on several areas last evening.

I realised I was critical of ABC Church mainly based on the behaviour of those who are not walking rightly with the LORD. I know Pastor Hosea and the leadership of ABC Church are God-fearing people and they seek to glorify GOD. Their messages of affirmation are important in a hurting world, and I'm glad you shared how they ministered to you in your times of need. There will always be people who are just there to listen to the messages, feel good about themselves, and do nothing else, but this does not in anyway imply that the church is not doing right. It can however help to encourage people to take root somewhere. Supporting a church is not just in terms of tithing. GOD's work needs GOD's people & His people's time, not just their money, and it will do well to have these who are straddling between churches be told in a loving way that they need to demonstrate love through actions and commitment.

I don't understand the part about the church going into business, but I believe Pastor Hosea must have sought & obtained GOD's approval and blessings. In any case, time will tell. These are new things happening in a new era, and we don't know whether GOD wants churches to be run like businesses and conglomerates. That's really between the church leaders and GOD, and we are in no position to judge. It will however, do well for all of us to always go back to the Bible and seek the Holy Spirit's counsel at all times, not only when in doubt. In this way, we will be able to discern what we see and hear, because no man or pastor is infallible. Above all, always pray for the leadership in church because they are constantly under attack.

It's my prayer that those who have left my church & other churches to worship at ABC Church take root and walk wholeheartedly with the LORD. Only a tree that's planted by the waters and bearing fruits in season brings joy and nourishment to the weary traveller and to the One who planted it.

May you continue to walk and grow in the LORD. You are on the right track, and I believe He's using you to be a special encourager to others, a female Barnabas of sorts. We are constantly being challenged and transformed by GOD to conform to the perfect image of Christ Jesus, our LORD and Saviour, and we need to spur each other onto love and good works, and to sharpen one another as the Bible encouraged us.

The LORD's blessings be upon you & Benjamin.

Thomas

Note: all names (except the author) have been changed to protect the identities of persons/organizations discussed.

The Better Way

2009-07-12T23:37:00.001+08:00

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives. Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 NKJV.

That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13 NIV.

I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it.

That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear. Ecclesiastes 3:14 The Message.

That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past. Ecclesiastes 3:15 NKJV.

The Teacher reveals the hand of God in all things, even though there will be times when we may not understand nor be able to handle the cards that life deals us.

In the face of despair; and the last resort is between walking away (from a relationship, situation, or even life), and surrendering completely to a strong and loving God;

I pray that we would choose the latter.

Living is hard enough. No one is born equipped to deal with every situation in life. Despite our intentions and efforts, some things are just beyond us.

And if we insist on carrying these burdens by ourselves, they will be the death of us, both literally and spiritually. We can either get busy living or we can get busy dying.

The choice is ours. It is never too late, not with God. He is always there to receive us when we run to Him. And when we do so, we will find ourselves breathing and alive again.

God is in control and He is for justice, righteousness and wholeness, even though things around us may appear otherwise.

Through every valley of shadow of death, in the midst of every storm, in the depth of hopelessness; choosing to trust GOD and let GOD be God, and He will give us rest for our souls.

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT.

My twin and I always say this every year before the yearend marathon, "If God wills, we will run another race". This one is for you, mate. I love you and I am very proud of you.

Ling ",+

Amazing Love

2009-07-05T23:23:00.001+08:00

Amazing Love, Amazing Love

All I know is I once was lost but now I'm found

I was blind but now I see, and I know He will do for you what He's done for me

~ A prayer for my niece, Vanessa

The soldiers assigned to the governor took Jesus into the governor's palace and got the entire brigade together for some fun.

They stripped him and dressed him in a red toga. They plaited a crown from branches of a thorn bush and set it on his head.

They put a stick in his right hand for a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mocking reverence: "Bravo, King of the Jews!" they said.

"Bravo!" Then they spit on him and hit him on the head with the stick. When they had had their fun, they took off the toga and put his own clothes back on him.

Then they proceeded out to the crucifixion. Matthew 27:27-31 The Message.

After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes.

Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Matthew 27:35-37 The Message.

From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"

which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" But Jesus, again crying loudly, breathed his last. Matthew 27:45-46, 50 The Message.

It must have been the hardest thing He ever done

When God the Father sacrificed His only Son

The one that He most cherished gave his life away

And by His love He made a better way

~ Bob Fitts "Sacrifice"

A pure, faithful, unconditional love. A love that breaks in order to mould. A love that pursues. A love that rises above man-made artifices. A love that sacrifices.

Sv ".+

Letter to Yang

2009-07-04T10:59:00.006+08:00

I first mention Yang in my tweets last week.

Just shared Jesus with a crippled beggar, Yang. Hesitant at 1st but allowed me to pray 4 him. Pls pray 4 his healing & salvation. Jun 27th

Where I can print a free Chinese gospel tract? I'm going back to the market to pass to beggar Yang whom I prayed for this morn. Tks! Jun 27th

Found Chinese gospel tract - Living Stream Ministry http://tinyurl.com/r7sns5 . Praise GOD! Sad that www.chick.com is banned in S'pore Jun 27th

@squeakmouse73 sad that Yang's not at the market anymore. I'll go back next Sat. If he's there, will hand the tract to him Jun 27th

@PatWKirk tks my sister. If he's there next Sat, i'll certainly pass the tract to him. Trusting GOD to reach him in any way:) Jun 27th

Greetings! Pray with me for beggar Yang whom i met last wk, that i can find him & pass him a tract today, that he'll know #Jesus Jul 4th

Yang is a middle-aged man with deformed limbs. I met him at the market last Sat, sitting next to a tree, begging. When I asked him for his name, he replied softly and asked me to call him "Yang". I gave him a little offering, and asked if he knows Jesus. He said, "No". I then asked if I can pray for him.

By this time, he was a little hesitant. Passers-by were keeping a distance from us, as if it was a strange sight that a man should squat down and talk to a beggar.

He gently asked if I meant to pray for him there and then. I replied, "Yes" and we prayed. My command of the Chinese language hasn't been fantastic from the lack of use. Yet, that morning when we prayed, the Holy Spirit gave me words to utter. We did not pray the sinner's prayer, but I told him to keep his heart open for Jesus.

When I came home, I tried looking for a suitable tract as can be seen from the tweets above. When I finally found one, I rushed back to the market but he was nowhere to be seen.

This morning, I wrote a single-page testimony in Chinese, went to the market with the intention of looking for Yang. He wasn't at the spot where I met him last Sat. I scoured the entire market where the crowds are - there was simply no sign of him.

This testimony is now in my wallet. I pray that I can pass this to him one day, and pray with him to accept Jesus.

The following is a copy of my testimony (with English translation). Should it be of help to you, please use it.

亲爱的杨兄弟，
Dear brother Yang

很高兴认识您。
I'm very pleased to know you.

我名叫伟汉。从小就失聪（耳聋）。刚开始的时后，只是一边听不到，后来连另一边也失去了听觉。慢慢地连说话也受到了影响。
My name is Thomas. I lost my hearing from a young age. Initially, I couldn't hear in one ear, but subsequently, even the other ear started to lose its hearing. Gradually, even my speech became unclear.

但是很感谢神，这些年来不断的关怀我，爱护我。所以，我想与您分享神的爱。
However, I thank GOD for loving and caring for me through these years. Therefore, I would like to share GOD's love with you.

人活在世上，总有一天会死。但我们可选择死后要去哪儿。
Everyone must die one day. But, we can choose where we want to go after death.

圣经告诉我们神爱我们，把独生子耶稣赐给我们，叫我们一切信耶稣。这样，我们就不会灭亡，反得永生。 “ 永生 ” 是指在天堂与神度过的日子。
The Bible teaches us that GOD loves us and gave us His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, with the desire that we believe upon Him. If we do, we will not perish but have everlasting life. "Everlasting" refers to the days we will have with GOD in heaven.

耶稣也告诉我们：“ 在这个世界里，你们有苦难；但你们可以放心，因为我已经胜了世界。” 这表示无论生活是多么辛苦，耶稣都会提供我们所需要的。
Jesus also said, "In this world, you will have trials and tribulations, but take heart, for I have overcome the world." What this means is that, though life may be tough, Jesus himself will provide all that we need.

钱不是万能，也永远不够。但是靠着耶稣给我们的力量，凡事都能做。

Money is not all-powerful and will never be enough for anyone. However, we can do everything through Jesus Christ who gives us strength.

因此，我希望您会接受耶稣为您的救主，让他改变您的一生。
Therefore, I hope you will receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and let Him transform your life.

杨兄弟，如果您想接受主耶稣，请您按照以下来做一个祷告：
Brother Yang, if you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord, please pray as follows: (the following text is a typical sinner's prayer, taken from http://www.the-sinners-prayer.com/)

亲爱的天父，我知道我曾经是个罪人，那些罪将你我分离。
我为我曾经的过犯向你道歉。
我希望告别我过去充满过犯的生活，而转向你的宽恕。
请宽恕我，帮助我远离曾经的罪。
我相信，你的儿子耶稣曾为了我的罪而死，又从死中复活，并一直活着。请你听我的祷告。
请耶稣做我生命的主人，从今天起掌管我的心。
请赐予我您的圣灵，帮助我去顺从你，在我以后的日子里照你的旨意行事。
以上祷告奉主耶稣名求，阿门 !

谢谢您，杨兄弟。愿神祝福您。如果有什么需要，请您跟我联络。我的电话号码是： xxxxxxx。
Thanks brother Yang. May the LORD bless you. Should you need any help, please contact me. My phone number is: xxxxxxx

伟汉
Thomas

2009 年 7 月 4 日
4th Jul 2009

Dialogue in hell No.2

2009-07-02T17:35:00.004+08:00

Cough! Cough! What the HELL is this place?
[this is hell...]

Hell is real?!?
[does this feel fake? let's see... ouch! it IS hot...]

Are you the devil?
[hell no! i'm just an innocent guy like you...]

Why are you here then?
[beats me...]

Can anyone HELP us please? I'm burning to death!!
[fear not, we won't die...]

We won't?? Can you help? Quick!!
[we hellish don't die. look over there...]

*turns to look*

Arghh!! What are those?
[they are your GAY friends...]

NO WAY!!! My friends are beautiful! This can't be!!
[yes, my dear. look...]

*whips out a mirror*

Arghh! What IS THIS thing??!
[*sniggers* That THING is you...]

Nooo...OOO!! This is a dream!!
[call it a dream if you like, but you'll never wake up from it. it's forever...]

Someone HELP me!! GOD! JESUS! ANYONE! HELPPP!!!
[god? i am god...]

No, you are not. JESUS! HELP!! JESUS!!!
[jesus? why would he be in this god-forsaken place? he is probably in heaven...]

What?! Heaven?? Heaven is REAL?!?

Don't find out too late. Heaven is real, so is hell. Jesus is waiting.
What are you waiting for?

Thomas

Dialogue in hell No.1

2009-07-01T15:17:00.010+08:00

Say, this place burns. Where the HELL am I ?
[you are in hell...]

Hell is REAL ??
[yes...]

But no one told me !
[oh, that's too bad...]

I want out !!!
[be my guest...]

.....
.....
.....

Why the HELL am I still here ?!?
[you just arrived actually. a very warm welcome to you...]

Who are you ?!?
[i'm your friend...]

But I don't know you !! Where's the door ??
[beats me. have been searching for that too...]

Is this a joke ? A dream perhaps ??
[PERHAPS? Perhaps you don't understand. hell is forever...]

HEEELLPPP ! I want out !!!
[tsk tsk tsk...]

*looks up*
Wait !! What's that thing over there ??
[that must be heaven, i think...]

What? Heaven IS REAL ?!?

Don't find out too late. Heaven is real, so is hell. Jesus is waiting. What are you waiting for?

Thomas

Letter to a brother in Christ

2009-06-22T19:44:00.002+08:00

Dear Jeremy

I believe you received my SMS this morning.

I have been praying for you since I noticed that you stopped attending the church service altogether. Initially, I did not want to broach this topic as I thought you may have missed services due to your studies or on occasions when someone in the family was sick. As it became more apparent, I can only bring this up in love, as one who was brought to this church by you, who was discipled by you during my campus days and early years at Zion. I have told Johnny, James and others whenever the opportunities arise that I owe my growth as a Christian to the encouragement & the books you gave me, and more importantly, the example you set for me when I was still a young believer.

Bro. Jeremy,

I write out of concern for you, Katherine, Bonnie, and Johnny whom I teach in Sunday School. As you probably know more than me, a Christian's lifelong growth comes not merely from reading the Bible, but also from essential areas such as corporate worship, praise, prayer, sermons, fellowship with believers, sharing of testimonies, and service to the LORD and body of Christ, among others. As Christian parents, we have an additional responsibility to be a role model for our kids to emulate in this increasingly turbulent world of conflicting values, so that we may train them up the way that should go, in the instructions of the LORD. Our children are a blessing from the LORD. The Bible exhorts us to testify to our children the goodness and mercies of the LORD, so that they are constantly reminded of, and are able to appreciate our personal encounters with GOD as first-generation Christians. I believe that Johnny and Bonnie are a heritage from the LORD, and they need to walk as they see you walk, and grow as they see you grow, in the LORD Jesus Christ, so that this heritage can continue to their children and their children's children.

I hope that I'm mistaken. I hope that you are at least attending services in other churches on the weeks that you miss the services at Zion and having home cell fellowship elsewhere if you are not able to join the groups at Zion.

As Pastor Lim has always shared, it doesn't matter that people leave Zion for other churches. We are all mature Christians and can be trusted upon to make responsible & prayerful choices which honour GOD. We know that this can only lead believers to grow at whichever church they choose to go with, and when we meet again in heaven, we have every reason to rejoice.

Being a Christian is certainly not about earthly church membership, but about honouring GOD, putting Him first, and belonging to & supporting the universal church, which is the body of Christ. No matter which church you choose to grow with, the body of Christ will rejoice as you commit your life to GOD and give Him your very best. After all, we have only a few more decades to do this before we go home to meet with the LORD. I'm sure we can put the right focus on this and that future generations will be blessed because we have been found to be faithful and obedient to GOD, as Abraham has been.

Sincerely,

Thomas

Note: All names (except Thomas') have been changed to protect the identity of the persons & church in this letter.

Her name is Love

2009-06-22T14:09:00.000+08:00

A mate of mine told me that love is about giving, not receiving. Give until it hurts. Give so that those who are loved may in return make a difference in this world we live in.

True love is unconditional. It remains even if unrequited. It risks rejection, survives misunderstandings and stands the tests of time and trials. Love is a force.

Love bears many names. More than just passion, her name is commitment, faithfulness, family, values, honour, sacrifice, courage, abiding.

Ever evolving and versatile, she takes on different forms and plays different roles in kinship, friendship, relationships and worship.

We grew up together. I met you when I was but a teenager. As you revealed who you are, I discovered who I am.

Right from the start, it has never been easy. But because of you, I have found courage, clarity, hope and dreams.

Lovers have come and gone, but you still remain. Over the years, you have replaced pain with strength; setbacks with tenacity; shame with grace.

You have transformed a child into an adult, whose life you have enriched with lessons from love and life, whose character you are still shaping on the anvil.

Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.' But You have not let me know whom You will send with me.

Yet You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.' "Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way,

that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people. " Exodus 33:12-13 NKJV.

His name is Jesus. Her name is Love.

Sv ".+