Tuesday, March 31, 2009
today
Went to walk around tecman, then to SKS (a warehouse, and there is this room where they sell a lot of Christian books and materials) It is cheaper, so far I believe…
Bought Piercing the darkness and am very determined to finish it by this week. Help Nicholas bought a few more other books… Roy wanted a bible commentary but think twice… Maybe he will get it next time. I want 1 too, but next time too… ha-ha.
Speaking about spirituality, I felt a direction by God last weekend.
For the month of April
2 things to grow in
1) Spirituality (Anointing, discernment, worship, flow)
2) Breakthrough mentality (Anti-“nua” or laid-back attitude, be on cutting edge)
I think some of us have come to a point in our lives that we are getting very used and comfortable with things and get laid-back at times. Well, it should never be enough or even be that way…
Our worship life should be breaking through to the next level!
Our prayer life should touch heaven in the higher level!
Our revelations should be must closer to God’s character and nature.
Our selves should be feeling different every time.
This is breakthrough!
So I want to have this aggressive spirit, be on the front, cutting-edge, to breakthrough, to touch God, to encounter supernaturalism.
I also need to grow in the Spirit. It links…
I am doing a few things:
1) Read “Piercing the darkness”
2) Read “This present darkness”
3) Read “spiritual leadership”
4) Pray and worship every morning and night.
5) Prepare for every meetings by praying and asking God.
6) Join in any of my leaders’ meetings where there are a lot of spiritual things to learn.
7) Don’t lean on chair, or wall so often… Train myself to have a stand firm, breaking through spirit. =P this is a bit funny. But I feel that first instinct of a human being makes a lot of the person’s character.
Lastly, I must say that I am getting a bit more spiritual and able to flow already. It really thanks to music and worship and prayer. Music really can make something out of a person.
Music can make one feel more, either emotionally, mentally or even spiritually
Music can definitely make someone emo… Ha-ha!
Well… It was so interesting that I was kind of craving for music just now when I realized that I have a few things yet to be sent in… It was so “not me” if you know what I mean. I never used to have that habit… Nonetheless, things have changed my life. I believe everyone has that experience somehow… So this responsibility change your perspective about life, how that incident brought a change, how a person has a impact on your life, etc… etc… And MORE!
Well… got to sleep…
Ciaos… (got it right this time round :P )
Saturday, March 28, 2009
awesome!
well....
today was great!
had a great service!
Lets have the spirit of faith more...
lets say "yes" more!
Les say "can" more!
God is a permissive God!
God is a Yes God!
He says yes to millions of things
BUT - He says "no" to a few that are bad to us...
I love my God. He gives us the best!
Memorize a verse today!
Shall put it into my heart later on as I pray!
Blog again! tomorrow will be great!
Friday, March 27, 2009
photos..
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Isaiah 43:29
If you read the last part of Isaiah 43, verse 22 to verse 28 is about "pleading with unfaithful Israel".
It is like crying out, complaining, troubled...
And Chapter 44 is about "God's blessings on Israel", or rather, deliverance, and prayer comes true...
So what is 43:29?
As I look... I felt this sensation rising up inside my Spirit.
verse 29 is the connector from Chapter 43 to Chapter 44... And it is called strength.
Before your prayer gets answered, you need strength to hang on...
Simple... no fancy tricks... no ultra-exciting story...
Just a simple word from God - "Strength"...
Be strengthened...
But if you need a real verse for strength - look up Isaiah 40:29... =) That was what I wanted to say at first...
Loves getting revelations from the Holy Spirit!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Reality is here
What motivated me:
1) The recent grumbling voices of peers. You would have hear many people saying "we are turning 20 soon!" Some of them "21!"... That really bring some feelings though the age itself does not make any diff... But as you talk about it long enough, reality kicks in... You are entering into a new phase of life... Trust me... If you don't see it yet, you need to talk to me! ha-ha...
2) Followed Pastor How to a conference. I had the privilege to follow Pastor How around and interact with some pastors and older people. There is something about older people that they think more, as they hold responsibility of things, particularly when they are serving full-time in church. They really are doing something, compared to any other other people in the world. The things they talk about, the concerns they have, the things they ponder upon... It just expanded my mindset, and stir up my growth juices. I need to "up" my thinking... hearing how Pastor evaluate and explore thought-flow pattern and scenarios just interest me... I need to go up to that level, MAN!!!
3) had a great LCA evaluation mtg w Roy and Fifi... It really helped me see where I am at now, and where I need to work on further. It was so good as I am clearer of myself now... In fact, a new thought dawn upon me... increasingly, as one rises up as a pastor, they are actually doing more administrative work than before... Even to the point of having minimal contact with people, even though they are supposed to love and pastor people... The truth is simple - they pastor people by planning better, sorting manpower wiser, making sure things happen nicely, help create opportunities for growth, teaching what is important, guiding whenever possible... It is a different ballgame. So I asked myself this question - do I want to carry on doing what I am doing now, or will I want to grow and change accordingly. There is also an invisible question as to whether you can even change or not. Some people just cannot seem to grow in admin skills. I pray that you all can, but then again... reality kicks in... You can't be sure of what happens.
4) had a insightful hang out with Charleston. Just knowing that he has ORD and is going on full-time in church made me salivate and then THINK MOre... I just can't seem to stop thinking, ha-ha... hearing his thoughts and insights and plans to work on just shows me how real this world is getting as our age is catching up.
Do you ever wonder why you don't think that much when you were younger? Like 14? or even 17? Why 20? hahaha.... Nonetheless, reality is here! I need to get serious!
So what do I want... here are some of it:
1) Know what I want. =P Pretty redundant to put this right? haha. But honestly, I want to know what I really want so I can do what I need...
2) Know what I like. Pastor Sy also mentioned about this during the seminar that from the age of 20 - 25 is when we start sorting out our likes and dislikes and having principles in our lives. I believe career is included here, fashion style tags along, passion leads the way, and increasingly becoming popular BGR is creeping up during this period too... Don't smirk, you are experiencing it. =p I can see you giggle. ha-ha... We are all... face it. reality is here. alastair, you are too young still (if you are reading this. ha-ha...)
3) Know what I dislike. This is the direct opposite. Well, it must tag along with number 2, i supppose. They are buddies. There must be boundaries, and not just 1 sided direction. So what do i dislike?
Faithlessness? Barrenness? Stagnance? over-anxiety?
4) Know what i need. Again, this is simply facing the reality. We are idealistic, but we cannot throw away the real world. We need things. Money, shelter, survival, etc... The difference is, we live in idealism, with a reality in mind. this is sustainable idealism! =)
A list of things that I want to achieve:
- Church finances. I want to move out of SingPost! pray for prosperity!
Deu 8:18 "It is God who gives us power to get wealth!" It shall be done!
- Church growth. Both quality and quantity!
Eph 4:16 "From whom the whole body is knit together, according to the effective power of each part, causes growth of the body and the edifying of itself in love!"
Growth in quantity / edifying in strength. That is why we must be in union!
- Leadership
Judges 5:2 "When leaders lead in Israel, and the people willingly offer themselves, bless the Lord!.
Psalm 78:72 "And he(David) shepherded the people with the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
God, my prayer is that you help us in this, give us wisdom, let us be strong and be of good courage, lead us by your Spirit, raise up MORE leaders! Let discipleship be the flavor of the many generations to come!
- Connection, culture.
Isaiah 54:2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.
The spirit of Pastor Lia when she led the youth AGES ago will still be dominant in the generations to come. Let there be a double portion upon our leaders and members, the same love and heart and care be of preeminence in the bountiful number of CGs we will have.
A few thoughts from Pst Sy... I will not belabor the points. he is a great communicator, clear and such great rapport! So what Im really amazed...:
- Raising Sexually healthier kids in a world of risk (4 purposes for sex, what is God's intend for our sexuality, Immaturity versus Maturity, Insecurity versus Security, how and when to tell your kids about sex) I shall not disclose them so you may go and get the CDs or DVDs. =)
Okay, what i really liked:
- Many times, its not about what people intend for you that matters, but its how you perceive it. Same goes vice versa.
- Strong immune system kicks out unknown objects. Hmmm. it definitely applies to strong conviction kicks out unknown influences.
- Discipleship = reparenting. So true....
- feelings are temporary, consequences are permanent!
- you have no control as to falling into a problem, but you can definitely choose to get out of it.
- Vision pulls people out of problems. So So so true...
- Cannot be perfect, just be effective. IT HELPS SUPER LOT!!!!
- Recognising an unpreventable risk is half the battle won.
- A good parent is one whom their children approaches for advices, in happiness, and in sorrow. How true can this get for the spiritual view... Hmmm. A lot of reflection to do....
Thank you Pastor sy for teaching.
Thank you PASTORS for inviting.
its so real...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Insights...
You really learn how people behave the way they do, what triggered it. What can be done to resolve it.
You can’t prevent getting into a problem.
But you can prevent from staying in it.
Discipleship is like re-parenting! Its filling in the void that people missed out from their parents so they learn what they need to know.
We are not perfect, so try to be effective.
Been trying to memorize bible verses to increase my biblical knowledge to help in my pasturing if I were really want to be a pastor. So for today, lets quote this…..
If you need strength:
Isaiah 40:31: “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, walk and not faint.”
Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Matthew 11:30: “For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
It is easy! You can do it!
Grow in strength!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Revelation of problem
I was sharing this with my CG and I felt that I should share with all of you as well...
This is my revelation and I truly believe it is so real!
First of all: let me begin by saying that there are problems in life. Some people fight it, some people get killed by it. Some wins, and some fails. Well, whatever it is, there are problems.
At the end of the day, if you overcome it, you become stronger and more experienced.
What is the specific group of people that I want to target my revelation and convict them is this group who blames God for creating problems in life... Well... please, no offense, this is what I feel it is and I thought it would be good for you to hear as well...
I asked myself, "Why are there problems in life, why are there curses?" Can I change my life?
Then, I was yet a christian... I found no answers yet...
Soon after, I was saved! I was happy, and joy came into my life... Faith become a big part of my personality... And on the outside, it may seems that problems have fled from me. Well, wipe out the "phew" from your face, the problems are still around. No qualms about it.
You still frown, agitate, work up, depress, emo, whatever it takes. The problems are around.
Until one day, I was crying to God and ask Him to help me... So I was doing my Quiet Time and reading my Bible and all then God dropped this question into my mind.
You might have hear before that the devil curses us, so when bad things happen, it must be the devil. Well, its quite poor thing for the devil though he deserves it, anyway…
So I wondered, the devil always want to curse. He has bad intention, wants to draw us away from God… Then I wonder, why wouldn’t he just destroy the world? (so-called world-end) If he has the power to strike sickness (Yes, devil can do that. He is spiritual okay. Don’t play play), why wouldn’t he just kill the world since he hates us so much. I thought about it for quite some time and then GOD spoke and change my life totally from that instance onwards!
God’s first few words were “Because I did not allow it”. Then I went on to ask really? I mean God is all powerful, no doubt He has control. But this 1 is a bit interesting and exciting… Many thoughts flooded my mind.
- Was God really the one that ALLOWED problems if He says that He CAN disallow world-end?
- What makes Him allow and disallow? What are His principles?
And the answer can always be found in God’s word. I chanced upon it…!
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it
I just want to bring your attention to the bolded and underline words:
Temptation is common to man. Yes and amen. You face temptations everywhere. To lie, to hide, to slack, to bluff, to steal, to hate God, to give up… and all… the list goes on…
Will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able
God knows that temptation is dangerous, but He says clearly that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able. In other words, He will ask a dog to fly, nor a chicken to dig… Whatever He gives to us, He makes sure that we are able to do it before giving it to us.
Make the way of escape
Hence, God is a merciful and graceful that He always prepares a way of escape, or deliverance that brings us out of every problem that He brought us in… Be glad, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Be able to bear
The truth is, God make sure we can bear it… This is capacity, this is proper training. You need to be ABLE to sit on the ground, and then you can learn to crawl.
Be able to crawl, and then learn to stand
Be able to stand, and then learn to walk
Be able to walk, and then learn to run
Be able to run, and then learn to jump…etc…
Only when you are at level 1, then you can go to level 2. You don’t jump straight from level 1 to level 3 or to 10…
So how do you know you are ready to go to level 3, is when you can cope with level 2. =) Makes sense? Yup, that is why God gives us temptation that we are able to bear, so when we get use to that amount of stress, and yet still gives God our best, that means we have passed the test and can go on to the next level.
So, what I believe is that God only allows problems to come to us when we are ready, and it will strengthen us. God definitely wants to see us stronger!
I love problems! They are my stairways to growth!
Receive the revelation from God!
Renew your mind!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
precious power
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
So. enjoy both videos... =) Cherish teamwork in your CGs, and ministries or any form.
Monday, March 09, 2009
I ran around 1.2km... as warm up...
Running is so much of mental strength... It is no longer that much of physical strength! Or maybe I am just old now... oh my...
Then i did 9 pull-ups. i wouldn't say its full standard. maybe around 3/4 standard... haha.
then I did 30 sit ups,
then some legs stretchings,
then train my butterfly.. (trapezoids, the wingy part of your upper abdomen)
then another 5 pull-ups,
then died halfway in 15situps...
then I go home...
My brain is racing with oxygen and "tired", and "keep fit", and other things... wah, for a moment I thought I had migraine. haha
so now, I am back home, searched for some information, and now preparing to go brunch... maybe...
haha... Ken!!! you are going overseas! will miss you .. haha
Friday, March 06, 2009
Sparking - Awakening
So this post is for my CG people, who have all updated their blog, so I am not lagging behind. =P
This post is also for any faithful readers...
This post is for myself to reflect about life...
This post is dedicated to my Father as He owns it all...
I did many things last week and this week already!
Let's start with last week.
We broke through! C Zone broke through
C Zone was 214 and were 56! That was awesome, considering the fact that we were only averaging 46 and 47 before Heart Fest! Cool huh...
Credits goes to so many people that I can never finish naming...
The people from C5 holding the grounds, bringing the group together and inviting the people back. Its only then that Zhong Ying is coming back, Priya is coming, and Ken is happy about. Ken is 1 crazy great GUY!!! I love him man... haha. it seems weird to say those 3 words to a guy but seriously, he is cool. haha... He can be a great leader for God!
*4D-ing in process* haha
Then also, the other CGs really brought so many new friends.
Grace Seah is a rising star! She is sparkling! She just got the LIGHT of Christ in her and she is just so happy everyday, and excited about life. She brought her sister Christine and also her boyfriend and their friend. I hope they enjoyed themselves... Nonethless, I also just found out that Grace dreams to rise up to be a leader and also wants to help the new generation get to know God more! THAT is so HEART OF GOD CHURCH! That is Pastors' dream! Grace, you will make it in the kingdom of Heaven! =) Trust me...
Then Michelle, Gordon, Bellrarie and Wee Hoe and Wei Min are the ones that are holding the forts, keeping a look out for people and messaging me here and there. Guys, I just want to say you all are so important! Without you guys, I really cannot do all these man! I don't have 6 pairs of eyes that can be at 3 places at 1 time! =) But importantly, I know you all are growing 1 level higher and carrying the burden. I AM so sure that you know what God means when He says "He felt compassion for the people" in the gospels.
Jazreel brought a friend, Victoria, and she is amazing! Although she is already 20, well-to-do and all, but she is humble to accept God and friendship into her life. I know that she will sure encounter God and know her true purpose in Christ. Her future is SECURE and AMAZING. She is going to grow strong.
Dependent -> Independent -> God-dependent.
Poh Kian and Poh Guang are the cool! They are brothers. All 3 brothers, along with the youngest Benjamin (primary 5) are in church. They have been coming 3 weeks consecutively. You know what? Poh Guang came church even THOUGH HE has a CAST on his arm! Don't play play... He is 1 serious guy for God.
THIS is what I call conviction. I am writing another post some time soon about conviction. Stay-tuned.
Poh Kian is a great brother la... Because we planned to surprised Poh Guang 12am on his birthday (5th March), so Kian had to stay up till we reach. He was really tired, and I could tell when we arrived at his house. He sacrificed for his brother's happiness! This is 1 great brother... =) You are awesome!
We also made cards for Seok Peng and Sebastian and Shu Jun... Haha... All their names start with letter "S". Hope they grow STRONG. =) hahaa.
Christopher is doing great, bringing people back. They are just picking up momentum...
C80 is 1 CG that I don't really need to worry about. they are independent people. I just need to say something and they straight away do it... just on thursday, after a breakfast, Carol straight away did something for Val Cheong. That is what I call teachability! Fast, and NOW! That is the attitude to greatness in life! So proud of ya!
E ray and Crystal from C9 is awesome... E Ray wants to live for a greater cause and do not mind sacrificing finances. But true enough, God proving Himself to be faithful and merciful, blessed E Ray back the exact amount that he gave away! God is good, because E ray is great! =) God is attracted to faith.
Crystal is also becoming more cheerful till the point that the mother actually knows and is happy that they go to church.
All these would not be possible if Zi Ling did not invite them... So their vision by end of the year is 10 secondary school people! It is easy! It is possible...
It is truly great to have ao many great people working together for the glory of God, the videos, the pastoral side, etc...
This is just for overall CG news... I am tired.continue again. =) See ya... good night.
- Wei Jie
Monday, March 02, 2009
videos
God has blessed us with this already!!
2) Pastors
3) Conviction of the people - Idealism