Conversation with a fellow believer on Twitter

Apollonia_316: Lying is an abomination to GOD. - Proverbs 8:1-36 If I desire "TRUTH" from HIS WORD for my salvation then I shall do the same 4 my brethren.

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 sin came into this world through a lie that was believed. If we lie, our father is not GOD, but the father of lies

Apollonia_316: @twhtan Yes sin truly did come in this world based on lies and false love...It's so much work to do with so little time.

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 "so much work to do with so little time" Yes. Christians can't afford to rest & relax. We're not in heaven yet.

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 yesterday I shared that we're sinners pardoned by GOD's grace, powered by the Holy Spirit & propelled by the love of Christ

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 The love of Christ cannot leave us inert. It should propel us into action, for the love of our neighbors, saved & unsaved

Apollonia_316@twhtan Amen! I just wish there were more brethren whom r dedicated to really helping instead of being stuck in egos on imaginary pedestals.

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 some reminders i keep: The first shall be last & the last shall be first. Have I forgotten my first love? Am I lukewarm?

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 GOD doesn't need us in His work. He merely invited us to join Him. We can't take anything for our credit, except our sins. (afternote: this statement is directed at those with ego that was mentioned 2 tweets above, not at Apollonia_316 )

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 so what egos are we walking about, my sister? Remember: GOD is gracious to allow His perfection to dwell in our imperfection (afternote: when I asked "what egos", I did not really expect an answer. I am saying we shouldn't have any ego because we are saved by grace & invited to do GOD's work, undeservedly)

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 Jesus said apart from Him, we are only fit to be thrown into the fire. That's the size of our ego. Be blessed:)

Apollonia_316@twhtan The egos of forgetting we were all once sinners and treating others whom sin as if they are diseased and not LOVING like HE asked.

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 that ego which you have just described belongs to satan. As for us, we remain slaves to Christ. He redeemed us.

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 if we must have something as big as satan's ego, let it be our heart and our faith, filled with love & trust in GOD

Apollonia_316@twhtan It's not taking credit but simply doing HIS WILL. Not ONLY did Jesus minister but he truly reached out to people in need.

Apollonia_316@twhtan You can't reach a non-believer with HIS WORD but with HIS LOVE first. - I Corinthians 13:1-7 Ministry is nothing without LOVE.

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 amen. The love of Christ propels us into actions for others, not self. We live & serve by the example of Christ.

Apollonia_316@twhtan I am done with the conversation...You got offended in just that short amount of time. - Proverbs 18:19 GOD's LOVE conquers all!

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 no sister, sorry if I've given the wrong impression. That's the prob with saying things is 160 chars or less.

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 I wasn't offended. I was responding to yr remarks abt people "being stuck in egos on imaginary pedestals" instead of loving

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 if u read in dat context, you'll see that i wasn't offended. I'm equally upset with those who forgot their position in Christ

Apollonia_316@twhtan Missing key is LOVE for one another as well! - I John 3:11-24...I John 4:7-21....Have a good day!

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 fully agree. That's why I've been saying we need to go forth in love. Pls don't think that I was offended. I wasn't at all

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 all my tweets earlier are in support of the fact that some are too full of themselves instead of doing the right thing

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 i'll line up our tweets in order in my blog so that you can see there's no offence. It was just a misunderstanding.

Apollonia_316@twhtan Romans 12:10-21...Romans 14-15:1-33...Colossians 3:12-17...Galatians 5:22...I Thessalonians 15...I Peter 3:8-22...Ephesians 4:2-32

Thomas: @Apollonia_316 you have a good day too & the LORD bless you. Time for morning prayer & getting ready for church & Sunday School :)

A Day to Remember

6th Apr 2009 was my eldest daughter's birthday.

We had a feast, cake and all that you would expect in a birthday celebration. It was also the first time I did not take part in the feasting or eat the cake. I was instead fasting and praying for a dear brother in Christ who was scheduled to give part of his liver the next day to his elder sister who was in danger of dying from acute liver failure.

This is a dear brother whose friendship God has blessed me with in the last 10 years. He's a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

When he first shared about his sister's condition, I had no doubt that he would give of his liver to save her. He's someone whom you can feel the heartbeat of Christ. He had often placed others' needs before his own.

When I saw him at the hospital last evening, he looked tired but was mentally alert and retained his sense of humour. He introduced me to his relatives as "my boss". It was a long forgotten title as we last worked together many years ago. I gently corrected him and said that I am his friend.

Friendship is not cheap and loose, as it appears to be on social networks like Facebook. It is certainly not a stepping stone to a better career or business opportunity. Friendship is an honour and exclusive privilege. It does not come about through obligations but is birthed only when we open our hearts and lives to each other. As friends, we see each other as equal, fellow travellers in this journey of life. As friends, we love, respect and are concerned about each other.

I looked at my friend in the eye even though his eyes were shut most of the time. His hand felt cold and weak when I held it in my own. I was touched when he mustered his strength to ask me to pray for him. I would have prayed for him without his asking. What I can do for him is so little compared to what he has done for his sister. In love, he has laid all on the altar, trusting God to use him to save his sister, not just physically but also spiritually.

We shared a prayer. Nothing eloquent or fanciful. Just words from one heart to another. A thanksgiving to God for his grace and mercy, for this wonderful fellowship between friends that came amidst a challenging situation.

I'm grateful to God for a successful operation for my friend. I'm grateful to Him for sending this dear brother into my life, for showing me what it means to love sacrificially.

Tim, thank you for being a friend, and Lydia, thank you for sharing Tim with so many whom God has used him to touch, including me. May God's love and favour continue to rest upon you as you walk with Him.

Thomas

Has your soup turned cold?

Mom (when dinner starts): Ah Boy, drink the soup while it's hot.

Dinner progresses but Ah Boy touches not his soup.

Mom: Ah Boy, drink the soup lah! It's turning cold already!

Ah Boy drinks it reluctantly. It tastes horrid.

If you live in a Chinese Singaporean household, you will find this familiar. Unlike cold drinks which taste best when served and consumed chilled, most food dishes such as soup taste best when served and consumed hot. Try drinking your fish soup or "bak kut teh" cold and you will know what I mean.

Like soup, love is in its best form when warm. Love that has grown cold makes you wanna spit it out instantly. That being the case, why does love grow cold? Look no further than the dining table.

Those who have not learned to appreciate the soup will focus on the main course and other side dishes. Soup is the last thing on their mind, perhaps no more than a drink to wash down a heavy meal.

When we get preoccupied with the main business of our lives and other distractions, we have little time for love. We treat it no different from the soup, letting it turn cold, while giving attention to other things higher up on our list. Spending time with our loved ones is like consuming the soup while it's hot. It is the real thing that keeps everybody happy.

So, my friend, has your soup turned cold?