LIFESHIFTER

Running is not a solution

2011-12-05T17:13:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 1:13
(ASV) Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Peter write and share about this among who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (v1). But the first question is why Peter wrote this to them? Let's dive deeper and learn about this as we pray and let God lead us into this.

as we know sojourner basically mean those who temporary stay, and nowadays we call them refugees. The run from home to find refuge or covering at other place. Because of God's grace and love, Peter's eye is open for this people and want to encourage this people to know about God's LOVE and GRACE for them as a refugees. Normally those refugees, will find no hope and grace for them. That make them keep running from one place to another.

The first thing is: girding up the loins of your mind. Peter told those sojourners to girding up the loins of their mind; which mean to prepare their mind for action! Normally for sojourners, in their mind is to keep running and moving, immigrant and running again. But Peter told them, "Hey. It's time to stop running! Prepare your mind for the real action! Gird up and stand firm!"

Peter write again, BE SOBER! Why need to be sober? In other translation says, be clear-headed. As a sojourners, again in their mind they can't think much. Problems come, they run. Move to different place, find a good hut and restart all over again. But doing this will find no good for the children, health and safety. So Peter told them, KEEP A CLEAR HEAD!

Lastly, Peter wrote that to put their hope PERFECTLY on the GRACE! Most of the time for them, there is no hope. As long as they can run as fast as the could for their life, they will be safe. But definitely there is no hope for them. When they run and manage to find good foods and hut, they can eat and survive.

Now, how about us? Are we running from our problems, and our mind is not clear about our own salvation and keep hoping that wealthiness, success come to find us? Where our hope is? What we running from?

The suggestion here is that, we don't run from our problems and let the problems master us! Three things we can do is, PREPARE our mind for the fight, when we fight keep a CLEAR HEAD which mean don't bother what other say to you your your mind whisper you; and putting our HOPE TO THE GRACE of Jesus Christ! When we fight the struggle in our mind, be clear mind that Holy Spirit is with us and helping us. Be clear that Jesus is Immanuel had promise to be with us and stay with us, fight with us and give us strength! That is His grace when he REVEAL Himself to us! That He will be with us, give us courage and strength, helping us never leave us in our fight! Put out hope to that GRACE!

Week of Phenomenal

2011-08-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

After months of preparation and hard work from all the committees, finally Musical Celebration Kuching has landed =) I mean, organized in Kuching on 29-31 July 2011 =) It was a great experience and great event with a touch of God.

During our preparation, event during the event many still questioning and asking about "Why they do this?" =) Perhaps if we don't understand the purpose and vision of it, than they wouldn't understand =) Even some write back, that don't follow the world event or be like the world, but be transform. Yes everyone, those question and comments is correct. And we don't blame or pointing finger to anyone who is right and wrong. But, all we know is if God is for us, who can stand against us! =) that is the best thing we ever know.

During the last day preparation, working together with Olive Garden church was when our invited team, Sidney and Team held the concert. We are so blessed by this team, through their Praise and Worship, and also their friendship =) those guys are really friendly and amazing!

To start all the stories, we form this committee from just a few members. Some suddenly pull out but as what we said to each other, God is with us. Than after several meeting, one by one offering them self to join and committed to the committee. We'd been struggling also with funding and finding the body or organization that can support us. After a few meeting and discussion, we finally a month before the event, a good brother and friend and also our very own adviser manage to form an Organization and to be our umbrella. =) we finally can move on with few works left.

We start from RM0 fund. But we keep on praying, do own collection and try to find some sponsor. We write letters to few churches, but we did manage to get feedback from all of them. We write to organization, but also no feedback. But we just relying on God, continue our fast and prayer despite of commitment to own local church and our own practices.

But when the even kick start on 29 July 2011, that very night is till remember; our friend Jezzy Dior as our Treasurer was calculating the money with the help of our friend Denny Chieng. I was at the back stage, coming down to floor and Sidney Mohede was singing Our God is Greater by Chris Tomlin. After finish calculating, Denny came to me and talk to me. He said, "come outside. Jezzy want to discuss with you" I said, what's up? How much is our money by tonite?" Denny than answered me, "RM17,000 plus" I was like, "Huh?" I walk straight meeting them outside the hall, and talk with them. Jezzy said, "Yes, it's true. RM17,000 not including tomorrow night and will the last night" I was so, Praise God and no other word can come out from my mouth, but in my heart was really excitement and jump unto the Lord. Than i walk in to the front stage meeting our adviser, Bro Yohanis and he was so surprise and happy too. He hug me and said to me, "Well done and Congrats" =) It was so amazing God we have. I stop and praise God, and the song is still Our God is Greater! Yes! It is and He is greater.

It is so remarkable event for us in Kuching. And we believe it that when God is with us, who can stop us =) Even until today, i can't stop thinking of God's goodness and God's work in us during the event.

Friends, sometime we can't see the small thing God did in our life. Sometime we only want to see God do the big and great thing in our life only. But, God work in many ways and great ways in our life =) I know, perhaps for us when God give us that RM17, 000 is big thing for the event, but without realizing the smallest thing God did among us is also there. Friendship among us, friendship built among us. From unknown person to very good and close friend. From never meet to always chat friend we have. That event the greatest thing God did to us..and most of all is unity among us from different churches and different background. But because of the Love and Grace of God, He made us as one body.

Hope this will encourage us and build our faith in Him! =)

How is ark of covenant of God in our life.

2011-06-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

Ark of God represents God’s presence.

1Ch 13:14 and the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.

David want the ark of God back to his land and well take care off. They know that the ark of God built as per commanded by God during Moses time and have to be kept in sacred tent. But during Saul reign, the ark had not been take care and abandoned. Many agreed.

When ark of God was kept in the house of family of Obededom in 3 months, the household was blessed. Not only bless the family but all what they had. Finance, joy, peace, love, health and all they had: household items which they already had blessed multiply, their needs such as grain and grain field, flour, foods blessed multiple, their animals blessed with good health and all that they had being blessed.

When David and Israelites carried or move the ark of God to his land, they dance, sing and play music before God.

1Ch 15:28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

There is celebration when they brought the ark of God. As we read through the book, we can see that David and Israelite are singing, dancing and burn offering unto the Lord before the ark of covenant of the Lord. In His presence, there is such a tremendous joy and peace and celebration. And as we read, the Levites are assigned to minister before the Lord with all the skills and gift they have.

BUT Who and How?

First – we need to accept the ark of covenant of the Lord. Though it had been a mistake by David when they carried the ark, but they have the intention or desire to have that ark with them. They accept it and so do the family of Obededom...to accept it in their family… =) and God bless them...

When we invite God in our “house” a.k.a heart, we don’t just invite Him and sit. When we feel the presence of somebody in ourlife meaning we can see and feel the doing of the person or that somebody in our life. Such as their goodness that we can’t forget and we can’t compare to other. Their talk, word or doing that is no compare to others.. When we miss the person, meaning we will miss the presence of their talk, walk, words or even goodness in our life.

That is how we should let God’s presence or supposed to be in our life. We don’t just invite Him in..but we also let God’s presence fill our heart and life by His words, talk, walk, goodness and everything else. We let Him to move and we enjoy His where about in our life! That is basically the meaning of His presence in our life. When He is around in our life, we feel all what He did. And He blesses our life by what He did! Awesome is He…

Than how is our reaction? Our reaction is that when we feel His presence and all His goodness, we can’t stay still, BUT we are extremely filled with joy and filled with excitement! Like what the Levites doing, they minister before the Lord, they sing for His goodness, they make music and they burn offering before the Lord. They even shout, dance and great joy fill them because of their excitement for God’s presence. They did it all in front of ark of covenant of the Lord.

That’s why when David and his commanders carry the ark, they carry it with rejoicing. I believe that is how and what it’s supposed to be when we carry the presence of the Lord in our life. We should be rejoicing. You know why? Because when we have God’s presence with us, He who is we believe almighty, He is creator and He is with us as we carry Him; why we worry? He with us, and He knows our life, problem and our struggle..

1Ch 15:25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing.

(To be continue on next post..another point..)

Don't consult from others

2011-06-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

God is not only God of grace, love and patient. But God is also God of just and law. In 1 Chroc 10 talk about Saul died in his losing battle. As we read through, Israelite is fought with Philistine in a very remarkable war. After day by day of battle, finally King Saul who lead the Israelite lose. But just before the battle, King Saul did an offerings to few idols of the local belief. He offer and seek for guidance on how to win that remarkable war. But the point here is, King Saul knows who he should seek for guidance. He know who is God of Israel and God who taking care of Israel. But still, King Saul insist to look for other than God! (v: 13).

1Ch 10:13 So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance.

This happen not only to King Saul, a king of historic nation, king of God's chosen people, a king of Israel; but also happen to us. Many of us, we know that we have God to give us advice, God who care for us, God who knows all of our needs, and God who listen to our daily cries. But still, most of the time we insist to listen to God! We listen to what the sign of stars(horoscope) tell us, we listen to a professor who learn about people's natural behavior and study them base on their blood type or month of birth, we read from newspaper, tv news, radio and internet talk about personal matter and how to overcome them, we listen to many things that not from God! Most of the time we believe it, we follow it and we guide oour life base on what that things said! We being controlled by it.

1Ch 10:14a He did not seek guidance from the LORD.

But what if i have not doing all the things mention above? Well, let's look into our daily life. During my student time, i'd saw many cases happen when friend listen to friend. Some may be good to listen but some are not. The no good thing is that, when we know it is wrong, and we listen to what our friends tell us, like "hey, teacher is boring today. Let's escape the class", "hey, let's hang out tonite. No need to do homework tonite. Tomorow we go to school early and copy from friends", "gosh, today is extra class. so boring. No need to go. Come, let us go to game station, arcade, cinema or bowling". Did we ever stop a while and ask ourself, "Oh God. What am i suppose to do?" Same goes to we working adult. Perhaps many of our friends ask us "Hey its sunday. Let's have fun today. We go to beach, hiking or jungle tracking". "Hey, is Ladies Nite this Wednesday. Let's go and watch movie" and yet we know there is church program going on which God want us to attend or involve in. Or maybe "Its ok. Its their program. I am not involve. Better i hang out with friends", "Hey come have a drink.Its ok, just a can, or a glass only. Bible didn't say it's wrong or Pastor, Elders or Leaders is not around us".

This is my experience. When i was still working part time in Ngiu Kee Supermarket, Sarawak Plaza in 2001, it was Sunday. We're about to having friendly football match with other working staff soon. That Sunday, i did not went to church. I follow my friends to football training and told myself, "well it is just one time only. Other Sunday i still can attend church. Than as we train and play, i fell and sprain my ankle. Its very hurtful and painful. I barely work, stand or go back home. In the end, i ask my friend to send me back home and waited for my uncle to sent me to hospital. Straight away in my mind, "That's why. Don't ever miss Sabbath day" That case, remind me and keep in my memory until now.

Well finally friends, its your choice. As a human i know it is very hard sometime to wait and listen to God and early waiting for His answer. We wrestle with out desire to have fast answer, fun, enjoy and to pleasing our friends. But how about God? Have we ever think what He feel? Did He enjoy seeing us enjoy with friends and not listening to His word or ask Him for advice? Do we want to wait until bad thing happen to us than we will repent and seek Him? Or will it be too late for repentance?

Zep 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

History Maker of DivingDeeper

2011-06-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Finally i made it back for this write up in this blog =) This time an interesting story or testimony to tell. Let's talk about about this famous wording in this famous song by former Christian Band, Delirious?. History maker basically is a song to challenge and encourage all people from all ages to be a history maker in their life, among their society or even starting new thing which is being different from previous.

On 6 June 2011, DivingDeeper which consist of Young People Ministry from SIB Olive Garden making their debut in Borneo Praise and Worship Festival in Kpg. Pueh, Sematan. It was a great night and very encouraging night where we can join everyone, the congregation and other bands in Praise and Worship God. We was told to bring 5 songs or maximum 20 minutes of Praise and Worship. So we brought 5 songs, a famous song by Lincoln Brewster - Today is the day, Favorite song from us Rain Down by Delirious?, and two of our own composed songs, Ku tak berhenti and My heart for You; and lastly a famous and favorite song of all time, History Maker by Delirious?.

When i was invited by a friend of mine Mike Lennon from SoulCathcez, a christian band in Kuching to join the Concert, i know it is God's will and He is giving us this opportunity to bless others and to be used by God in exalting His name in Sematan. For us, it is not about to become famous or known in all around Sarawak. As i told all DivingDeeper Generation in our church, we are call to bless others especially the youth.

During our preparation, many things happen to us and we kind of lack with practices and preparation. Everyone worry about it, for it is our first debut. Some of us may less experience in such concert. BUT, the best part is that, we always want and remind among ourself about God. Thanks to Joyce Rinai who keep encourage us before the concert to pray and acknowledge God =) We pray at backstage and unite ourself in the ministry. To forget our worry and concern, but to let God move during our session. Thanks God and glory to Him.

Without God, we can't do it and perhaps we keep on worry about ourself. Before we start our journey to Kpg. Pueh, we just finish our Youth Camp which is in Bau. We reach home at 1pm, have our nap and rest. Woke up again and depart from Kuching around 5:00pm. During our journey, it took us 2 hours drive to reach Kpg Pueh. In Kpg. Pueh, we also facing different challenges. The washroom there have no water, some of us including me was having stomach problem and the day was raining. But, we keep trusting the Lord to help us, heal us and provide us with our need. =) It was fun and interesting journey. Upon reach there And when we went back from Sematan, was also interesting and unforgettable journey.

We depart from Kpg. Pueh at 10:30pm. Reach Kuching as for me, as a van driver, after sending all members to their home was already around 1:00am =) Wow...what a memorable moment... =) It was a great night, moment and ministry together. With my sis, Janice as a Video lady and Joyce Rinai as Photographer... =)

Anyway, here is our video from that night concert. Be blessed when watching it and we hope to bless and encourage more people into worship God! We pray that you also be a history maker of your own, life, society, community and family. GOD bless you all. Here is the link for the Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEZmpj0KRIs

channel of blessing

2011-05-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

Last nite i was washing or cleaning 6 mics. Those mic purchased long time and never been cleaned and service before. I bring home those mic from church and clean it myself at home. Several ways we did to clean it. First, i open up the mic grille and took up the sponge inside that grille. I use clip to pick it out from the grille, and i put it into water. For the first time, i just put it in the normal water. And what a surprise is that that water, turn into dark! What a dirty sponge! I took the picture.

Can you see the pic and see the water? :) It is so dirty. The next thingm while i left it in the water is that, my brother help me to cleanse those grille. My brother took the grille, put it in the water and heathen it. But before that, he use n Autosol put it on tooth brush and brush the grille. The reason is to cleanse the dirt and rust. After that, than my brother heathen it and see the water turn to yellow too. :) I we took the grille and here is the Pic.

Ca you imagine, how dirty is the mic you use and can smell very terrible if you don't clean it? :) For the second time, i am not satisfied with the sponge. I rinse it and twist it properly. I put it again for the second time in water with add in some washing powder. And still the water turn into reddish and dark! :) wow...what a surprise. I tot only once, can clean it already. Here is the Pic.

Look like no different ya? :) than i keep it there for few minutes. Oh ya..i almost forgot. The mic itself. When i open up the mic...wow...tremendous dirty it is, in the mic. So, what i did is to use tooth brush and clean the mic body, clean the top of the mic, which is very sensitive. Please be careful. But i manage to took the pictures of the dirtiness and the result of the dirtiness. here is the pictures.

The brown thing on top of the mic is not a sponge...it is the dirt for years :) That is what i cleaned it and put in on the paper. Surprise ha? :p no wonder some of the singers complain that the mic is very smelly and dirty! I took this opportunity to clean it and make sure it has no dirt anymore. As a result of clean the dirt of 6 mics. Here is the Picture.

Can you see all the dirt? :) it is very, very, very dirty... :) when i think back, this mic is used by many singers, speakers to deliver sermons, songs and news from the stage. It is to help or make the audience can hear them clearly and louder.

Same goes to us! :) When we wan to be a channel of blessing, first..we have to check our innermost! Any "dirts" a.k.a sins or trespasses or wrongdoings? God is using us, especially those who upfront, singing, preaching and worship leading. God is using use. but, how can God use us more powerful if our life is still dirt. Like the mics, singers can smell the dirt and the smelly left there for years. Same goes to us. If our life is not right infront of God, our innermost or spiritually not cleanse by God and as a result our life also will be very, very, very bad example! Poeple will smell our bad life, bad attitude, bad behavior...or even people can "smell" our sins! So...to be use by God in our ministry and our life, first...clean our innermost, attitude, behavior and most of all..our hidden life with God! :) correct it! come to Jesus again, and He will cleanse us, and purify us with Living water! :) as a result...we will freshen up in Him...and smell Good... :) God bless you all friends!

i am not like you to serve God.

2011-01-14T18:58:00.001-08:00

Gal 1:23 The only thing they kept hearing was this: "The man who used to persecute us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy!" :24 So they kept glorifying God for what had happened to me.(ISV)

I've heard many people keep saying this, "I am not like you, pure heart, devoted Christian and blessed like you to server God" or "Oh..i can't. I have bad cases and i have bad background. I can't" or "People not accepting me here. People can't accept me because of my past here. Surely they will condemn me and judge me, or even question me for my past" and maybe "I had become a bad sinner. Not like you, a faithful and pure heart. I has backstabbing Christian people. I has bully Christian students. And i had mock leaders in church. God can't use me. I can't serve here" But this is what Paul in his letter to encourage people in Galatia. That God use him to minister to others and God to use Him to perform and did job that other could possibly not.

Like in my writing before, Paul had a 3 times survive in shipwrecked, Paul had been beaten by people, put in jail and his life is endanger on his way to spread the gospel! But, what did he do? He did not stop, instead...God use him amazingly and continue his journey to other places!

And with this person, God use Paul to spread the gospel to other tribe other than Jews. Isn't it wonderful how God use people? God use a failure, God use a rejected people, God use a weak people, and God use someone who rejected Him at the first place. Many example in bible that God had use. Moses rejected by his own people, Abraham rejected by his father, Joseph rejected by his family and even David rejected by his family too. Even Paul Gal 1:13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. But God use him to spread the word of God and has many journey to many places. God use them all to become a great leader, great people in bible history. But once they turn to God and let God use them, that is where God begin to perform great thing through them! That is where God draw many people through them.

All what we need to do is, be humble. God want to use a humble heart and heart that allowing Him to work. Gal 1:12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Paul was once a top person in Judaism. But that had nothing to do with his journey. He keep humble, he let God work in him and use him. He did not use his knowledge, the law he knew but he let God minister through him.

Brethren, God can use us. No matter how failure we are previously, how rejected we are in the past, how sinful we already committed, how weak we are than the other people, but God can use us. God can change the environment as He want.

QC – Quality Check – Industrial Term??

2011-01-13T17:38:00.001-08:00

Quality Control is the very important part of production department in industrial. Why? As we know the term, Quality + Control is to check the product through testing, through many more other process of the items, whether it meet the market quality or not. This QC also include the security check of the item whether it is safe to be used or not or whether it is not harmful.

I saw in TV news, what they did for QC of child product is, until they try to pull the doll, the items. I saw them tear they bear doll off it's body. This is really QC! this is to ensure if the product is safe for children or not. What if the product or the doll easily to tear off, and child eat the doll cloth, bite the sponge or the product could be harmful in term of chemical! After they check this, than the government will only approve this product to be sell in Malaysia.

2 Co 13:5 Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, do not you, that Jesus Christ lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test? (ISV)

Paul advice and encourage Corinth to always and keep examine themself. I believe this is what it is also refer to always check our heart whether we are right in front of God, if we live according to God's command or God's grace, and if we living in our faith which acknowledge God in our life. Many of us though after we are in God, when we keep ourself in ministry, busy ourself with mission trip or we keep plan many church or ministry activities; we are right before God. Let me tell us this, NO it is not keeping us right before God. It will not proving that we are living according to His will or His command even in His grace. It is not wrong to get involve in those area, but the best is...always check ourself. Always come before God and examine ourself. But why? Why have to since God already in me?

2 Co 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (ESV)

This is why Paul told them. Test if all this while we in ministry, we are restored to God's grace for others,for the leaders in church, for our family and for our spouse. Test if we are comforting others in our ministry or we tend to fight with each other, we tend to backstabbing or we complain negatively; gossip-ly about each other in ministry. Aren't we suppose to build one another in ministry? Why fight? Why compare? Aren't this is God's ministry that we are His team-mate? Instead of fighting and being so condemning toward each other; why not talk to God's our team-mate in this ministry? Some more He is the brain of this ministry, talk to Him, ask Him and discuss with?

That's why Paul wrote also "agree with one another, live in peace". The reason is very clear. We doing this ministry is for God. Fighting with each other is no use, when everything will be done according to God's own very plan.

Even not in ministry, our own daily life, social life; we should live in peace! That is what God want us to do and to live in. In harmony, in peace and in love. If we recall back God's second greatest command to us; Love others as we Love our self. In 1 Jn 3:18 Little children, we must stop loving in word and in tongue, but instead love in action and in truth (ISV).

This is what God want among us, how we should love and guide each other. Although we can't do it sometime, though we can't help the situation sometime, but Paul also suggest, "Continue agreeing with each other and living in peace"(ISV). The word here is, CONTINUE. When we fail, rise up continue again. When we can't come to Jesus, wait upon Him and He will gracefully help us, restore us back and build us.

Let's continue fellas. We tired of hearing fight among us, churches, leaders, friends and family. But in God, let usCONTINUE to live in Peace and KEEP examine ourself!

2 Co 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you!

I am weak, but...

2011-01-11T17:49:00.000-08:00

"It is good to have retreat and sabbatical leave for a while from your ministry". "You need rest a while from ministry. You had been involve in this ministry for many years, and you had not rest". "Personal sabbatical leave or retreat or rest is good to reflect back your own life, or to reflect what you had been through; but the most important is that your get to put back yourself to the track and listen to God". Those are the word that come from few friends for me when i told them that i need a break or rest a while from the ministry i involve in. Many things happen, many i'd been through and many people effected surround me.

When i read the book, "Soul Survivor" the author explain more details on how Paul's ministry and what Paul had been through. At the same time, my daily reading and devotion is from 2 Corinth 11-12 (today). Imagine in 2 Corinth 11:25 Three times I was beaten with a stick, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a day and a night. Who could probably want to survive that? Who could probably says..ahh...i won't care though my life put in danger for many times. Not only shipwreck, image that Paul had been beaten by Jews, put to jail, robbers and many more..even a false brothers! (read verse 26). When we think of our life, our answer could be... "i won't go there anymore, I won't care about those people anymore. There is no hospitality, no security provide for me, there is no good infrastructure such as transportation and shipping for apostle, preacher, and prophet like me. I won't go there anymore".

That could probably our answer! Even in Sarawak newspaper, Borneo Post; there is a news about airplane skidded in Kuching scare many people. Some already blame and pointing to who should be responsible. Some start to stop their travelling plan and journey which involve airplane. In the news, some even cry due to the skidded airplane, and four injured (a small injury) out of 100 passengers (according to the news).

But different for Paul. He even will go for another third or fourth times! This is because of his Love for the people and because of his calling by God!

2 Cor 12:9 but he has told me, "My grace is all you need, for my power is perfected in weakness." As i continue my reading this morning to the next chapter, Paul wrote and remind us that when we feel weak, when we feel down, when we rejected, when we encounter danger, when we face problems, when we put out life inline, when we put to jail, when we feel we are not strong enough; God's grace is all what we need. God's grace is sufficient for us. Because in His grace, His power is perfected in all our weakness. That is what i feel! "When we feel we are weak both spiritually or emotionally, though we are down because people reject or don't like us, and even if we fight with others, we can't continue to dwell in the situation". This is word come from my close one for me. Ya..correct! We will forever down and can't go on if we continue to be in the situation.

That is what i did. when i retreat, when i rest, and when i have my sabbatical leave; i will still look for God, rest in Him, listen and wait upon Him. Read His word, prayer everyday and continue to motivate myself through talking with friends, Pastor, books and listening to preaching, worship songs and Christian movie.

So friends and mates, though i feel you are the worst, you are rejected and you are hopeless. Remmember, there is few people already been through that situation. Paul did, I did, and so many more others did. Even, Jesus did feel rejected by His own people in Nazareth, all the way to Calvary, and Jesus been disown by His own disciple.

"Focus to Jesus. Focus to Heaven. We all will soon go to heaven. Why think so much of earthly things that distract our attention from God? Focus and see Jesus." A word from my friend to me and to us all. Jesus surely will take care of our problem. Cos He interested in our problems, He interested in our issues, and He even interested in our weakness.

Again, if we take the sabbatical leave, rest or even personal retreat positively; it will help you. As long as during our retreat and rest find God, meditate on Him and wait upon Him!

**By the way..people in my office still worry of the airplane thing and still talk about it** :-)

LifeShifter is to making a different in our generation

2011-01-09T22:08:00.000-08:00

While was writing this, i was preparing an event of Musical Celebration Kuching 2011. I email few friends regarding this event and most of them give a good feedback and really support toward this event. and in the morning too, i was shocked by the news from one place we intend to rent, can't cater our needs and application. But, i told myself i know i'm doing this for the kingdom of God, in our generation. Why should worry. When God is please with our plan, and when God is with us there nothing to worry about the event location.

i heard before this, there are few people don't really agree the event like this. Well, there is nothing for them to think such ways and disagree of this event when they don't really know the motive behind it and they didn't probably see the benefit and product out of this event.

As i continue my reading today from 2 Cor 10, that is what happen to Paul too. People reject his work and people don't see the benefit of his work. And during that time, i believe many church didn't agree with Paul and even some of the apostle also didn't agree and argue with Paul.

2 Co 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (ESV)

We read this verse that, Paul purpose of ministry is to take every thought captive to obey Christ! Whatever it take, whether Paul need to destroy argumenst and every lofty opinion raised from Christian those day which is againts the knowledge of God; Paul just proceed! What Paul concern about is, to bring Jesus to them and to guide them to not pride or boasting on their own. (read verse 5, 16 and 17).

Musical Celebration we planned here is an event that making our generation a different from other generation. Musical Celebration is a night or event to acknowledge our generation in music and dance interest. Its a time to raise a generation who writing song for God, who make own music for God, who express their gratitude to God in own choreographed and most of all.. to bring Glory to God through this Celebration or event for God.

Many had against this competition of music and dance, but i believe if our motive and our objective is right before God, i don't think it is wrong. People say there is many ways to do this or making the different, but i believe this is one of it. I have faith on this event and i have faith that God will use this event to raise up Generation who making new music and tune for Him!

This is my pray, that God will use us through this event to bless our youth generation through music and through dance. For God, there is no limitation for God to work tremendously or amazingly in our generation. This will be a way for God to shake our generation for Him.

I know Paul wrote this to us all too, 2 Co 10:7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we (ESV). When we taught ourself in right infront of God, we can simply say other's life. The other's too.

God may use you in different way to bless nation or generations, but God may use us or the others in different ways to bless nations and generations too. I like one of Delirious song, History Maker.. The lyric mention about, I'm gonna be a history maker in this land, I'm gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind. Let's become a history maker of our generation in our special way and gifted way. If we are gifted in music, let's use it. If we gifted in dance, let's use it. If we are gifted in writing songs, let's also use it!

Be a history maker in our land and our mankind. 2 Co 10:17 "The person who boasts must boast in the Lord." (ISV)

Becoming a LifeShifter begin

2011-01-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

Last night i'm meeting up with three friends. We were talking about many things, future and plans ahead of us. As we share our dream and vision among us, suddenly everyone is talking the same issue. Our vision is that our generation and our self will be change according to God's image and that the generation will be in one unity. Sometime, i'm asking and thinking, why is it so hard to change. Just stop from what you doing now, the wrong doing and switchfoot to a better person. That happen to me also, why is it hard for me to change in my life from the thing that i'm holding too and from the thing which is long enough in me?

Take this as an example. I was in my journey from Kuching to Miri and back to Kuching again, my car and my dad's car; location for the signal panel is situated in different place. All the way from Miri down to Kuching took 14-16 hours drive. I was driving my dad's car along the way to Kuching. And i already get use to it, all the signal location, wiper and the clutch. When we reach Kuching, i quickly start my own car, heat it and prepare myself to settle the youth camp. When get in my car i step on the clutch an accelerator, feel very different! Even it is my own car! During my driving, i suddenly switch the wrong place for signal light! I move the wiper! i laugh at myself while driving.

The thing is that, to change is take time. To change take time to adapt to the new way, new life, and new self. The changes can't be in one night or straight away to a big changes in someone life.

That is where i like this term. I thought of this term and create it my own few years back. LifeShifter basically mean we as an influencer to shift or bring impact to change other's life. We all know that only God can change others, only God can soften other's heart and mold them according to His plan. But what are we here for? Why God said "You are the light and salt of the world", "Be a lamp that placed on the table to brighten the room" or even "Shine like stars"? Are we not playing our role to bring impact and changes to others too?

This morning, as i continue my reading from 2 Cor 8 is about Love ministry. How and what is love ministry? 2 Cor 8:7 But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you--see that you excel in this act of grace also. (ESV) and in other version 2 Cor 8:7 Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness (ISV). We look at the verse here, Paul suggest to people in Corinthian, that as they excel in everything (we can see the list from the verse), or even the more they increase in all those what people know of; ACT OF GRACE or THIS WORK OF KINDNESS.

So do us. This verse also refer to us and that is probably also me. All this while we are known as active in Church, in every single ministry we are well known, among the musicians, among the singers or among the dancers; we are know of our expertise, experience and our enthusiasm! But one thing we lack of, ACT OF GRACE or WORK OF KINDNESS, i mean most of the time, most of us. This time, as i check myself, as i read myself and all those comments from peoples or friends about me, it is true. Sometime we lack of this area. We tend to ministry and want all things done with perfectness. Done with less error and even done with hope people remember our ministry and event. That is nothing wrong, but what goes wrong is when there is no Grace, Kindness or LOVE in our ministry.

2 Co 8:24 Therefore, give to the churches a demonstration of your love and a reason for why we boast about you (ISV). That is the answer for my question here, why is it hard to change or becoming a lifshifter? It is love that we should demonstrate of. A little showing love in us could change or bring impact to others' life. That is why Jesus came too, is to show love to us (John 3:16), so that we can be change and be transformed, and so that we can have eternal life.

What should i do next?

2011-01-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

i was sitting at my desk and reading the word of God from my e-Sword. I continue my reading to 2 Chorin 7. Before that, i ask God, "God tell me what to do now. Teach me from Your word and reveal to me. Speak to me." as I read this chapter, i slowly begin to understand what exactly this Paul letter to me. My situation currently, i am in the midst of retreating from my ministry and seeking God for guidance. I can't just sit, and cry or sad in my retreat, but i choose to seek God and away from ministry focus.

2 Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)

Paul wrote this and strongly advice the people to focus on their life and spirit. What is the body here mean for you? is it, to cleanse dirtiness from our body like mud, scars (hardly to cleanse i guess), or tattoo? Well, i believe Paul referring this to our attitude!

Body = Attitude

In my ministry, i am one of the selfish person (Probably and i can't say im the most one, due to i don't want to condemn myself too much). I receive that from some of my friends and youth complaining about me and my beloved close friend did advise me many time. But, most of the time i try to change using my own strength, movie example i follow, actors' lifestyle, and artists. We are most of the time influence by this, especially those we look up, respect and acknowledge. But, i fail! i hurt people every time, i spoil the situation, i make people surround me effected by my madness and selfishness. People begin to complain about me.. I can't, hardly i can't.

But, this is Paul advice. Cleanse us (ISV) meaning to be cleaned (obviously) and none of this "dirt" seen on our "body". Defilement (ESV) meaning from our "file" or our life attitude where we always kept our attitude and behavior, throw it away! Defile them! Don't keep them! "Menyucikan" (ITB) bererti, menjadi kudus, tiada cacat cela, tiada kekotoran dan semuanya tidak nampak lagi pada jasmani kita atau hidup kita! And in KJV, "Cleanse us from all filthiness (in Cambridge Dictionary mean the quality of being very dirty)" meaning..ALL jerk, dirt, and unintended behavior, attitude, thinking, lifestyle and action/reaction! Take it away, ALL of it!

That's it! That's the key! We have all the promises, (Since we have these promises..." that's how it should be! Change! Throw it all away! That's what God want to speak to me as i pray and i pray before i read this. And i believe this is not only for me, but also for all of us! God can't give us the promise and allow us to His kingdom if we still have this and not throwing it away. People says, God is Grace so don't pressure yourself too much on this. Yes, God is Grace. And His grace is now, to all of us to change, to throw those dirt and jerks. And He said, none of this liars, cheaters, adulterers and etc will enter my Kingdom. Ever since now we have that Grace, yeah don't pressure when you can't throw it away. He is grace and always waiting for us to change, and while we have time on earth, He always give us chance to change! That's why after we correct our Body or Attitude, than it come Spirit!

Secondly from this verse, Spirit also mean our unity with God. When we are with God, our spirit is one with God and His spirit is in us. When God's spirit is in us, how could we let the dirt and jerks in our spirit. Those dirt and jerks spiritually mean that, everything that we have in us, that effecting His Spirit and His will. Effecting His doing in us, that all should be thrown away. In 2 Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. That's why we can't let our spirit in dirt and cleanse!

Body or attitude important because it will affect people around us and cause people around us probably stumble or run away from God. And when our attitude is not right, meaning our Spirit is not right too. Our spirit is full or struggle and not in-line with God's or not unite with God's spirit. Our Spirit need to be cleanse and transform because, only our spirit will enter the kingdom of God. And to enter Kingdom of God, none of this filthiness should attach with us.

so.. Thats what i am now :) i am sad, i am down..but i believe as what Paul write, 2 Co 7:10 For having sorrow in a godly way results in repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets. But the sorrow of the world produces death(ISV)..and now, im in Godly grief and sorrow. Totally sad..but i believe this is what God want from me. He want me to take a step and change, but some of the thing i need to let go. Some of the things i need to throw, so that He can use me.

I am sad when people say like that, when people behave like that, and when people treating me like that. But I accept this for this is from God and He want to show what right and wrong in me; so that i can change and throw what is not right. And my spirit have to be united with Him. though how long you had been Christian, doesn't mean that your spirit is correct or attitude is correct. We need to daily check and refer to our manufacturer. We need to align all those alignment, adjust our steering or wheels or lights or our exhaust. Than we are driven by Him and we are always perfect by Him. Live in Spirit, and let be filled with Spirit. Lead by Spirit.

2 Co 3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? :) Change what need to be change!

Youth and Music

2010-09-22T02:21:00.000-07:00

As shared by Sidney Mohede, topic on Youth and Music in WorshipGod 2010 Conference at Dream Center DUMC, K.L

What is worship to you? Basically worship is not about music. Not about song that we sang, or the tune of the song. Not about the fast and slow song. True Worship is about What God want to do in our life. What is God's will in our life. Worship is about our sacrifice and His will in our activity or our Worship Leading and music.

Worshipers are meant to lay down their live, and it's not about just want to be on stage cause we want to be cool, look cool but to lay down our life entire in our daily life.

We can't lead audience to the place we never been there. For example, in worship leading we are to bring the audience and lead them to worship. But most of the time the issues is W/L tend to lead the audience and create the atmosphere by our self. We can create the atmosphere of God's presence. The meaning of what it is mean by "we never been there" is that, God's presence can be in any form, any where and work in different way. We can't simply create it in our worship leading. All we need to do during our worship leading is that we will let God lead His presence during our worship leading. We can't let audience to God's presence cause God's presence is omnipotent. That is what as describe in Worship Leading is the Art of Disappearing.

The art of disappearing is that once we worship leading, we suppose to lead the congregation into worship and join us to worship. As a worship leader, we can't only worship alone but to lead the congregation into worship together with us. Once we lead them, and the worship is on than it is our time to disappear and let God take over and handle the our worship leading. Let Him to take over and move in His own way during our worship time. Worship leader is not like a cheerleader, but to let go once God's presence begin to touch among us. This art also simple mean that we are to make God known in our worship leading.

Our worship leading on stage is just a platform of our self offstage. The real worship is off stage and we reflecting God in our worship leading when we on stage. That's mean on stage is not about we try to be cool or look cool, but we leading congregation into worship together with God.

Another tip:

to be success is SUCCESS=Opportunity + Preparation. Meaning we want to be success in our worship leading, we need to prepare every time and any how. Preparation is our humanly part. We need to be prepared. But, Opportunity is God's part. God will provide that oppurtunity for us and if we prepare enough, we will success. Conclusion, To SUCCESS have to be God's part and our part together!

What is it mean by putting God first?

2010-09-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

By Glen Packiam in WorshipGOD 2010 Conference, Dream Centre CUMC - 16 Sept 2010.

Is it about time, where we should put God first in every time we had? or is it about our devotion; first thing in the morning and than the rest of our day we can do our own thing?

Putting God first is not only about our time, where we put Him first in every single time, why or what we did; our worship, singing, lifting our hand or reading bible; but how we act in our daily life, how we pleasing Him or acknowledging Him.

1 Sam 5:1-2 talk about Dagon. Dagon basically mean in Arabic language, Jews and Hebrew is "grain", "rain", "powerful warrior in war victory". This term or meaning also synonym to increase, victory, and success.

A fast question is this thing have a room in our heart? Are we pursuing Increment, victory and success in our life, career and in our relationship? If yes, that's mean we have that "Dagon" god in our life. Can we pursue or after the richness, success, or victory to rule our heart which make less or no room in our heart?

If in our career we are pursuing increment, richness, promotion and success; meaning we give our heart a room for Dagon. If we meant to put God first in our life is that the way we live our life, whereby in our work or in our career we do it for God! We present or show God in our career.

Are we pursuing god of success and hoping Jesus to give us success or are we serving Jesus to give us success?

Jesus do not want to be the first in our life! We cannot simply, "Oh God, i put you first in my list. So now i can put other as second, third and so forth..." Jesus want to be center of our life! Jesus want to be the place where we refer too in our decisions!

When the ark of covenant was placed together in the room with other gods, especially Dagon. That Dagon fell on the ground, with the face facing ground. After the other time that Dagon fell, it broke off!! Al the head, hands and body broke!

Jesus want to reshape, rearrange, redo or redirect our life! Eph 5:21 - If Christ is the center, He will change our life or transform us. He want to be the death of us, selfishess, ego, pursue and He want to get rid of it!!

Are we ready or really want God be the center? We may say in our worship or in our ministry, I love Jesus. But God see our heart. What are we after, pursue and He want to rearrange, redo and get rid off our pursue, dream and other things!!

Putting God First is not about we put God first in our daily time, putting our devotion or putting Him the first in our list, BUT putting God first is about how we live, how our life and how we shows/represent God in our normal daily life!!!

John 2:8

"I Shall be single NOMORE!" part Deciding a Life partner

2010-08-26T02:21:00.001-07:00

The second part..here we goes.. :)

This deciding part is really interesting. The first thing we should know about before deciding a life partner is Zealousness and Spiritual. This two type of person in Church is totally different. What the different? Zealousness is a type of person who enthusiast, fire up, passionate devotion to or interest in a cause or subject. But Spiritual person is the one who is filled with Holy Spirit lead by Holy Spirit. Doesn't mean also the one who is passionate in ministry will be good husband, wife or life partner. To admire someone in ministry is good if just admire. And the feeling grow from that admiring have to examined and tested with several perspective or view. Thus, Pr. Prince suggest few things we can consider to tested if the person is the one we flexible with, or spiritual to us.

To determine spiritual guy we can refer to Prov 20:6...Who can find a faithful man... Proverbs suggest to us that the faithful man is the one girl or women should consider of. But faithful in what? In original word of Hebrew this word actually "Imun" mean Faith and trustworthy. Proverb suggest to us that girls should look for the "Imun" person.

1. The guy have to be faithful to his finance. Why finance? Girls (though i am a guy here, but this is a sharing from Pr Prince and want to share to you all), check deeper to the guy finance. Check if he always owing, if he simple spend his money, if he purchase things more than his salary. If he does, be careful. you might be the one who is supporting him after marriage. If we want to survive and enjoy happy marriage life, before that check the guy first. But REMEMBER. Though the guy is not rich, doesn't mean he is not good in handling finance. Doesn't meant the person rich is also good in handling finance too. Though they not rich, but when the have a stable work, they will be able to handle biggest finance and can become rich too. As long as they know how to handle their finance.

2. Loyalty to Ministry. Why loyalty? In ministry, check if the guys is faithful to his ministry, or responsible to it. If he did not responsible to his ministry, he might also not responsible to his family life. If the person truly spiritual not zealous to ministry, the best way to see is how he treat his parent. How he treat his friends, how he act in workplace and how his devotion life.

3. Kindness/Grace. The kind guy is the guy who knows how to forgive and how to react in time of failure or imperfection. The Christian guy should love with agape love, love that forgive and know how to forgive when girls make mistakes. By examining this first, for sure now you can decide what type of guy you want and love you more. Don't just simple look by his involvement in ministry, that maybe he is either zealous or spiritual.

4. Girl also have to make sure that the guy is teachable. Teachable in everything. This wil create a situation where the couple will learn to tolerate with one another if the are teachable.

Now for guy to find a girl. We refer to Proverbs 19:14...wise wife... in Hebrew wise is "Saka" mean wisdom, wisdom by meditating the word of God. That is the wise wife. To look for the wise wife, there is few things need to consider or check on the girl too to determine the future wife from the girl we like is "Saka" or not.

1. Prudent - mean the girl should have the "Saka". "Saka" here mean the practical wisdom. Practical wisdom is the wisdom which can encourage the husband later about anything. She can give advice to man, can encourage and suggestion to man. This prudent women will very gentle and supportive. But again, though the girl is less prudent, don't worry. She nor prudent enough or "saka" enough, take her. Guide her and teach her. She will after that, living a marriage life will grow to very prudent wife and "saka" women.

2. Virtuous girls conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright. This refer to the attitude of the girl. If the girl is not virtuous, we may have trouble in our marriage life. We can refer this to Prov 21:10. The reason we say this is that the christian spouse will be a happy spouse, less arguing and divorce. This talk about character too. Is the girl teachable or not. If this girl is not teachable, than in marriage life, we will have problem with this type of girl. But if the girl is teachable, though it is less teachable, don't worry. They still can be taught.

3. Gracious is same like how girls looking for kind and graceful girl. This refer to how gracious that women will be when the husband make mistakes.

4. Don't ever look base on man's hormone. A lot of cases when guy at the first sight saying they attracted to the girl. They attract because of the body, the beauties (outside) and friend's persuade them. Hormone only temporary, but base on the real fact or inside of the person is lasting. If we decide base to hormone, that is not a love. When that love fade, it could be a chance you leave them.

How to find that someone?

First, don't ever find someone base on others measurement. Sometime our decision effected by friends measurement and comments or persuasion. We may also seek advice from parent. Ask them their opinion about the guy or the girl if they is teachable or not.

Well, Abraham's servant went to the well of water and sit there. The young lady come and pour him the water. Now, we refer well here as place where people gather and get drink. This is as outwardly. We are suggested if we still single up till now, don't just sit, pray and wait for God. We need to make something. Go to the place where normally many young man and ladies e.g Ministry, church and Christian event. Find Christian friends there, get involve in ministry. Don't expect God to drag our leg and pull us to where many ladies are.

Well also referring to inwardly. When Jesus sit at the well talking to the Samaritan lady, after talking Jesus feel satisfied and Jesus also said, who drink from me will be satisfied. Inwardly, drink from the Well of God, which is to come to Him. Enter to God's rest. Pray for "Cara", pray that God guide us to decide and tell us which one to choose rather than depending to dreams, signs and prophesy for other people. TAKE A CHANCE!! MAKE OUR STEPS.

Hope this will help us all and give us some advice. :) Thanks for your time and please do comments and don't hesitate to ask for more. GBU All!!

"I shall single NOMORE" part choosing a life partner

2010-08-26T01:01:00.000-07:00

Last night i was staying at home, and suddenly my mum past a very old and long cassette-preaching by Joseph Prince. My sister took the tape and suggest to us all, "eh..come. Why not we listening to this tape". I know about the existing of this tape for years but never listen to it. Since yesterday, i was in situation quarreling with my best friend (which i shouldn't). We were quarreling since noon, pointing to each other and arguing with each other until evening. Than, i decided to give up the fight and just sit down in our living room, listening to the preaching.

Here is some points, key points i manage to jot down while listening to the preaching. Maybe i miss some of it, i am very sorry; but i hope with this few notes, i could help us all in our BGR and in our decision making. Pastor Prince was preaching about BGR:

When Abraham tell his servant to find a wife for Isac, the servant pray for "Kara", which is in Hebrew mean being in the right place at the right time. So, as a Christian we should pray to God for Kara. We pray that as we search for life partner, pray for Kara which is we may be in the right place at the right time for life partner. Many of us when we look for life partner is very desperately and sometime we simply decide and end up with broken heart. So, What the servant did is to pray for "Kara" (and not the women by name Kara). So, the servant went to the place, obviously not the Canaanite as per instruct by Abraham.

The question normally asked by few people, why can't we marry the non Christian? Well, God surely and want the best for you and the best for non Christian too. If we couple or marry with non Christian, we hinder them to come to Christ. It is not that we did not love them, or God did not love them. Instead, God love non Christian. God come and died and resurrected is for non Christian, and they become Christian. If we marry the non Christian we will lose their respect to our God and to our self. The risk when we marry non Christian is, if they did no respect and love the beautiful and lovely god we have, what more we which is not beautiful and not lovely? when they hate us, or don't agree with us, surely they will dump us. So, don't ever put spouse, BF or GF above God. The main reason we are urge to find partner which is same faith and also a Christian is we have that Agape love. Agape love is on everyone who is already accepting Christ and have the Holy Spirit in them.

Some may say, a non Christian also have a love. Wait! Remember, Love consist of many type. Stoge, Eros, Phileo and Agape. The non Christian may love us, but it is not an Agape Love. It is Stoge or Eros or even Phileo. Agape love is different compare this three. Agape love is the Father's love, Godly love, incomparable love and love which is not selfish. Find a Christian partner! Doesn't matter they from which church or so call denomination. As long as they are Christian, for Holy Spirit is for Christian and live in all of Christian. That's what Abraham mean by "do not take a girl from Canaanite for my son" which also refer to different faith or belief.

Few thing we need to know and aware of. Never let Dreams, Sign or Prophesy to direct us to marry someone. The truth about Apostle ministry in new commandment is "Confirmation" not directional. Meaning, sometime we believe dreams, prophesy and signs direct us to this girl or guy. And we believe is he or she is the one! Pastor Joseph Prince ever encounter this issue before. Before he married his wife now, attach to two girls and ask for the main of God that time to decide which one is for him. But the truth is, even after that he did not marry either one of the girl, but the one came after, which is his current wife. When we speak about dreams, signs and prophesy we tend to hear it from some one else, rather than we listen to God our self.

May of us may say, "I got a sign this girl wearing red shirt too!" and Pr Prince explain, that is just a coincidence that many people like to wear red shirt. If we believe too much in dreams, we tend to not fall in love with the girl, but to our own dream. God says, Let no one give you new commandment which is against the teaching but Him alone. This refer to false prophet. False prophet tend to give new commandment which is against Him or the truth! Let us come to Him and listen to Himself, rather than we listen to so call prophet who give us dreams, sign and prophesy that direct or decide for us who to marry! If really God giving us that dreams, signs and prophesy He should work in the other side, girl or bf. God is gentleman person. He will not let us have the dreams, sign and prophesy only without He also work in the other side, the girl or guy of our dreams, sign or prophesy. That is why the ministry of Apostle is to confirm if our choice is correct or not, if it is according to God's heart or not, and if really the dreams, signs and prophesy is valid or not.

It is also shared by Pr. Sam Surendran in his section on BGR. He agree that all the signs, dreams and prophesy have to be tested deeper to affirm and confirm it. We can't straight away believe in it, and go to the person and say "Hai. Last night i dreamt about us. And God say you the one for me" What if the person already have a girlfriend or boyfriend? What if the person is already engage? What if the person is someone's wife? What if the person is non Christian? So we better pray for Kara to find a truly and life partner.

This is the first part of my writing regarding Choosing a life partner. I will soon update with the second part, Deciding a Life Partner. Maybe this is short, well; i still have 2 more cassettes to listen to tonight and will share it all to us later. Any comment and question regarding this, please let me know and i try my best to provide you the answer.

i should have love

2010-08-11T23:59:00.001-07:00

I was in my office, have nothing to do but to wait for call. I sat on my desk, trying Facebooking but seems like not much can do. So i decide to watch video posted in Youtube. Straight away come across my mine to watch preaching video from Joyce Meyer. I click and listen to two videos. This is the synopsis of both videos.

Joyce Meyer mention that, the biggest mistake we make is when we always look at our weakness. When we always look at our mistake, we tend to did not appreciate who we are, knows the best out of us, and thus hate our self. This is what it's meant by loving others as we love our self. We can't love others if we can't love our self. We hate others when we also didn't love our self. That is God greatest second command, to love others ad we LOVE OUR SELF. People always try and struggle to achieve something or becoming like someone, doing what others capable of. But never tend to do what we can do, what we capable at, and most of all let GOD mold us! This is real life! Real life not what people see us, what and how we live, or what people say about us. Real life is what real thing happen or going on in us! Our struggle is our real life! Joyce Meyer suggesting that, STOP COMPLAINING our self. Pray and love our self. God will transform us and made us individually unique!! Not as the other person is, but OURSELF! Special one, capable in our own capabilities! So love our self!

Second video is about FAITH. Again what an interesting topic. Faith is believing in things that unseen. For instance, we did not see Sunday, but we believe there is Sunday. We wait for Sunday, prepare, most of all EXCITED about Sunday! When people organize something and tell us about it, we are so excited! We prepare, we yet talk about the event! BUT yet, we did not see the event! When come about God, we tend to hardly believe. We did not excited, yet we begging. We did not prepare about it, yet we worry. BUT He is God! He is man of His word! If we can trust there is Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and if we trust in person's word that there gonna be big event or special one; why not TRUSTING God too!! The One who create us and know the best for us?

In God, we should expect HIM! Meaning, we look and long for God!

Faith is an active mode, not passive mode. Faith have to be released. Faith needs action, that's why in the Bible mention, faith without action is dead! Employ our AFFORD in exercising faith! BUT HOW to release Faith?

The minute we encounter or have problem, go to God! Pray, Seek God! But also remember, while exercising Faith don't forget about love! It have to come together with love (Gal 5:6).

In ministry, or in doing God's business, attitude also plays important role. That is why we see many people, easily break down, tired and event few days or months after that, can't be located! This is due to attitude too. Why attitude? There is Hope, Faith, Love and Joy. The word of God says, the Joy of the Lord is my strength! This strength we're talking is physical strength! Those who wait upon the Lord, delight in the Lord shall renew their strength. This happen when we have not enough joy of God in doing our ministry for God! We tend to force our self, tend to push our self doing it. Wait upon the Lord and delight in Him simply made us receive a Joy of the Lord! We will receive that joy! In Psalm mention that He is our Joy, He is our Strength! When we delight in Him, we will receive Himself. We will have Joy and Strength to control our life, for He is that Joy and strength!

This i encounter it personally. This year is totally a pack year for me. I have so many preparations to be made and involve in so many events that need commitment and involvement. But when i do it with joy, i start to love it. I start to enjoy it. When i'm driving, i pray about it. When i think of it, i pray about it. Pray for all events i involve in. When i lean and focus to Him, I totally renew my strength! Doing this is not only about what we capable or experience in, but also to experience new thing in God! But to lean on God, depend to God and have FAITH only in Him! Our attitude have to be right also.

Thanks and GBU!

I Don't Understand

2010-08-05T20:54:00.001-07:00

Many things in our life, we could never understand. Many times we struggle and find someone or something to be blamed. Well, normally who will we blame? Some of us may blame ourself, "Oh..what a life! Oh...My life is suck. Ahh...My life is terrible, i never being accepted or success as them!" or the familiar one, "I don't have luck. What to do, this is not my luck" Ehm... Why actually? As i read Psalm 119, i study that psalmist wrote this and most of his word is that, "I want keep Your Words, i want to dwell in Your promises, I want to obey your commands, Your command is my life, and i want to meditate on your Words day and night" Let see this,

Psa 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. (KJV)

Than the psalmist describe that he want that God make he understand the way God's work, God's way and God's precept so that he can knows and enjoy or so that he can understand God's wondrous works!!! Wow...that's the point! We don't understand things happen to us, because that we didn't understand God!! Yeah..some people may say, God is very hard to understand. Well, honestly guys the best way to understand God is to follow His ways. When we did not follow His ways, we never will see what He is doing and never will enjoy the miracle He is doing in our life!!

That happen to me too. Sometime i don't understand why God lead me in this situation, why God put me in this environment, why God not yet answer my prayer. Because i never follow His ways or walk together with Him! I always want to work in my own ways, follow my own demand and fulfill my own purpose!

Psa 119:49 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.. (ESV)

The point is, to follow God's way and understand Him is to pray all the time. Ask God, seek Him and tell Him our needs. Many times we fed up, give up, dry and force things to happen according to our own ways, but we never ask and pray. In my ministry, most of the time we encounter this. When things did not goes as we plan, we tend to sad, grumble and find someone or something to be blamed. The was a time when our church celebrate 15 Anniversary, the preparation goes well. But when the day come, suddenly someone step on the cable, cause the cable spoil and the sound did not come out! I was very mad, and very upset with the situation. Than i go back to my sit and with mix feeling. When i think back again, that is not how it suppose to be. That is not how i should react towards the situation.

This is because i did not follow God's way. There is time when i lead a worship too, i tend to use all my creativity by myself. Talk this, say that during the worship. Sing this, sing that and in the end, i can see people tend to feel very boring with the worship. The worship tend to feel so dry and make myself fell exhausted too. I thought i would lead it with all experiences i had and things that i study. But, i can't! It doesn't help me at all! Can we understand that God did not look at all of it! God look at our heart! We said, "when we do the best, God will honor it". Yes God will honor it. But not only by our own strength and creativity, it OUR HEART!!! God looking at our heart, our desire when we prepare things, our focus, and our motive when we do things!! That is the best out of us! The best for God simply mean that the thing which is beyond ourself!

To give our focus fully, to give our heart, to set our motive and eyes to God is not an easy things to do! We may distracted with other things, such as our personal life, works, and feeling. But when we give our best from all of this, God will honor it! The other thing on how we can focus is to pray to God! Always pray in any decision. Previously, most of the time i do things because of my determination, desire only, hardwork and creativity. But it is not enough when i did not pray and ask God if that this is pleasing Him, Okey for Him or should i change it?

Psa 119:81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word

Breakfast in McDonald

2010-07-21T23:12:00.000-07:00

I receive this story from my email:
"This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.' The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions..I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.....

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'. His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.....

I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford.. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something.. He just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.' I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.'

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope..' We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers..... That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?' I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to:

LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

An Angel wrote:
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart

To handle yourself, use your head..
To handle others, use your heart.
God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A box of gold
With a secret inside that has never been told
This box is priceless but as I see
The treasure inside is precious to me
Today I share this treasure with thee
It's the treasure of friendship you've given me.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Please....I want to fall in love with You

2010-06-17T00:23:00.000-07:00

I want to fall in Love with You..i want to fall in Love with You...This is a famous chorus sang by Jars Of Clay in Love Song For Savior. Well, the question is do we really know God!! No matter who we are, a Pastor, a Reverend, a Minister, an Elder, a Worship Leaders, a Youth Leader, a musician or an ordinary Christian, ask our self this true question. Do i know God?? One simple God's character which is missing in most of Christian's life is.."LOVE". Do we? Do we? Do we? We said we know God, but do we really know and have love?!!
"1Jn 4:8 The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love"
True...in other word, if we love mean we love God, and we know Him. If we did not love, mean we did not know God for God is Love!
Do we know that actually the purpose of God's coming to this earth is because He love us?! Have we forgotten that? John 3:16 says, God so much love the world...You and me!!
But why love is important?
2 things i just want to stress on here, 1.) God is love, 2.) God command us to Love. This two things appear very clearly in the bible. Again let's see if this is really God's commandment.
Mat 22:37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the great and first commandment.
Mat 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Wow...Great...now we know and realize again God command us to love. Who should we love? The one we know only as a noble and truth? The one in same ministry? The one in same hobby with us? The one with same interest with us? NO!!! ALL!!! God didn't want us to love selected person only! Clearly He said, your neighbor...in other word neighbor either we know them or not..even we friend with them or not including our enemy!! Love people equally! That is why God come and teach us to love people equally just like how He love the people in His time, equally!!
Whether that person perfect or not, share same interest or not, fall or success, knowing Christ or not, Love as we Love our self.

That's why we heard so many critic towards christian, "Hypocrite, liar, no action and did not practice the word" For some of us loving people not equally! How to love people equally?? How..tell me? 1.) No judgment for God is the only judge. 2.) No condemnation for we have no right to condemn others!

This happen everywhere, back stabber and so many judge around us. Many have being hurt through our attitude. We showing no love, no mercy and no grace to them? Who are we until we did not shows them all of that, eventhough God Himself shows that He have LOVE, Mercy and Grace?! Are we more than GOD?!

Guys...If really we know God, do we know LOVE. If we said we have God, do we have LOVE in us? we are a liar if we are not loving others (1 Chor 13).

A miracle happen through Faith

2010-06-16T23:13:00.000-07:00

For this two months we studying about Faith in Youth Saturday. The issue arise in many of us is that, how can we really see the miracle happen through Faith?. Early this year, we plan to arrange a trip to Lawas and Limbang. And we have really big challenge in front of us, as a youth which is "Money". A big amount of money needed for this trip especially for our grouping passport and for our petrol too.

We plan and propose few activities to raise fund for this trip. In our account, we only had less than RM200 and in our budgeting we need at least RM800 for the trip. Week by week as we doing this raising fund, God bless us with enough and reaching target. And we held every Thursday prayer from house to house. And in our faith, God can use us as a youth to bless other from this trip. We pray also that God provide us our needs.

A week before we depart, suddenly during the service, the elder announce that we are going to bless this Youth trip and second collection will be for them! Wow..honestly, we did not know this, and did not plan for this. We also did not urge the church to do second collection but i believe through our prayer and faith in God that He will bless us through many ways!

With that collection, i calculate it at home and wow...its more than we need!! Amazing and how great our God is for us who trust in Him!

During our trip we thought that the money that we had, is enough till we get back to Kuching..But again, the money left less than Rm300. Again we put our trust in God..That God will bless us with all our needs. We pray with the congregation before we left both Lawas and Limbang. And again, after become blessing to other we thanks God and God make the youth in Lawas and Limbang become a blessing to us too!

They bless us with great friendship, great joy, great and delicious food and hospitality! And you know what, we never feel less and we always had enough during the trip.

Guys, base on our testimony we trust, we pray and have faith that God will provide for us! Who said He will leave us, who said that not providing. All we need is trust, pray and totally Faith in Him!!

I have corrupted mind!

2010-06-14T22:19:00.001-07:00

Just imagine the spiritual battle is like a Spartan time, where all warriors with muscle and big arm holding a strong sword, long and huge striking with loud steel sound. Just imagine we're fighting with them, a small body size, not long and huge enough sword and weak. When the enemy strike us, we try to protect ourself with our sword, but we fall! Again one more waving from the enemy, we try to hold the strike by defending ourself with our sword, again we fall down to the ground. Than we try to run from our enemy, we turn back to them and they pull our leg, try to kill us and we strike back..but their shield is more tougher and solid than ours.

The question is how can we fight them? How can we defeat them when we are not strong, not enough muscle and no strategies in fighting? This battle happen in our mind! The enemy strike to our mind while try to control our mind so that we're losing. The answer is in:
Pro 30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

The Proverb give us one simple and best solution, Word of God! Word of God! Word of God! No matter how and what we try to do to defeat or fight the enemy, we can't! Possible! Cause we are weak, we have only small sword and we have no strategies!

Than let's refer to the Word of God. Tips to grow stronger and win the battle base on the word of God:
To have strong shield and armor:
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Eph 6:15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Eph 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

To have solid sword, strong and huge sword is:
Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

As we let Spirit of God lead our life, that's why He said in Proverb 30:5...take refuge in him... In Him there is protection! In Him, He is fighting for us. Just imagine that God is like the power that live in us. Once we are weak, we have to come to God again and ask for the fresh new anointing, that we may be filled again so that we have the power (Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." )

Than, when we already have the power, what we can do is to activate that power and let God control us with the Power and Fight for Us! To win the battle we have to use the strength and power from God! We can base on our own power only!

Thats why God said, Joh 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you..

Than, we already have few solution to win a battle in our mind, so that we will not get corrupted and influence to evil ideas, spirit and evil hobby. Fed our self with the word, with the spirit and let God control our mind! Rise Up! Let's activate the power that God already gave us, use the power to fight and let the Spirit in us fight for us!

Finally i Met Faith

2010-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, we organize our youth housekeeping. That morning we were cleaning our friend’s house and it was very wonderful moment after it had been quite some time already we did not organize it.

Than at 2pm we had our Youth fellowship as usual. Our pastor calls me and informs me that he may be a little bit late due to another fellowship he had that morning too. But I told him, we will wait for him. During our Praise and worship, I feel that God touch my heart and want me to prepare the sharing in our fellowship. I began to open my bible and look for the topic I wanted to share.

Finally I met this beautiful and pretty Faith. God want me to speak about Faith. The wonderful thing about this is that one whole week God speak to me about Faith and Belief. I was reading a book call Soul Survivor and it also about faith. I strongly believe that God want us to learn about Faith! We were preparing our self for a trip to Lawas and Limbang and we need money, budget in our trip. I pray every morning and tell God our needs but at the same time I feel worry too. But I do not want to worry. I do not want to struggle too much in my ministry, but leave it all to God.

I still remember a friend share to me that if God tell us what He wants us to do, do not worry of our needs. Do it. Cos when God say do, that’s mean He already prepare everything including all of our needs! Why worry if God the creator instruct us and he create us know everything about us!

And we go on with our housekeeping, with trust and Faith that God will provide. Sunday morning, I was sharing in teenager from Abraham’s testimony when he listens to God’s voice and wanted to sacrifice his own son. This teaches me to hear and listens to God’s voice; do not doubt God, and He-
Will-Provide! Wow…this one whole week really, God is stressing to mea regarding Faith!

I finally met this beautiful and pretty Faith! I finally know Faith! All this while, we worry and questioning God, but we never really trust and have a strong believe in God! That is F.A.I.T.H! Faith mean to trust God in something that one eye barely see or touch but believe He will provide.

All this while we know about Faith, we learn about Faith and we have Faith. But question is, how many? What is the percentage? How do we keep the Faith? Do we have the Faith but still doubting God’s help? When God say “Do it” but our answer is “Wait God. Not now. I need more time. I need to settle this, I need to finish this and I need money” Or we follow like Abraham, first thing in the morning, straight away bring his son to the mountain and prepare the altar to sacrifice his son?

Now I finally met Faith! I finally really understand Faith, love Faith, keep Faith and bring Faith wherever I go. How about you? The challenge is Faith is to not doubt what we hear from God.

Finally I met Faith in my life.

I'm tempted again

2010-04-21T22:13:00.001-07:00

Normally when we thought we can settle the things or can perform the work, we call it as a capabilities. That what happen to most of us when we are tempted and probably we fail. Have we ever thought of this, that the thing we can do, is the thing we always tempted to make the same mistake over and over again. When we repeat the same mistake over and over and over again, didn't it mean that we actually already face it once, and we suppose to know our mistake and we should also manage to avoid the mistake and thus we are actually capable of dealing with it? Wow...i get it..we are too ignorant to understand it or ..nah...i love this way...or...ehm...let it be..we are human, make mistake and wait till the right time for me to stop it...until i'm ok..

Well, let's see Jesus example. Satan know that Jesus is capable to change the stone to food, call the angel to catch Him from the highest ground when He jump and satan knows that with only one word Jesus say to the whole Jerusalem, He can be King! But that is temptation for Jesus. What did Jesus do? Ha..ha...common and popular short form..WWJD? Jesus did not fall into it and because He knows that He is capable doing it, He did not follow it. But Jesus RESIST, REBUKE, or "MENOLAK dari MENDENGAR pujuk rayu Iblis".

Same goes to us! Many time we are tempted and capable of avoiding it. But question is, are we? Previously i was tempted many ways..even now too. Internet? Ha..ha...as an IT person, Internet provide me a lot of temptation..but because i capable of avoiding it and God knows He already educate me with that IT background and allow me to work in IT field, He knows and trust me that i am capable to stop those temptation...

But remember, all of this we need STRENGTH from above. In Psalms said, God is the wisdom. He own the wisdom..Come to Him and get the wisdom. He said to Adam and Eve, don't eat the tree at the middle of the Garden, it's a tree of wisdom and knowledge. God know that is the tree of Wisdom..Cause He own and create it. Why need to find solution from other "guidance"? And even God come to this earth, again He Himself personally mention to the people, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life". He said He is the only WAY!!! Because He OWN the WISDOM!!

Bros and Sis, we are capable. Cause God is with us. He promise Immanuel, God with us. That's why we are capable. So don't let the temptation begging us anymore and causing us to nails another nail to Jesus. Be free! Be free!

i want to be rich! What's your secret?

2010-04-21T00:43:00.000-07:00

Last night when i was texting with friend, i was struggle with few things in my life. struggle with a lot of things that delivering my focus and attention sometime or most of the time away from the Cross. Than, i was told that again, we need to be refresh and drink from the well of God. We will always dry day by day. Even Jesus pray and spent time with God everyday, early in the morning and listen to the Father's voice. What about us? When i was drag into certain problem, i will be weak and lost my focus. I believe most of us like that too.

Than i continue my reading on Eze 37, and in verse 26 said "I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. Let ask, who wan to be rich? Everyone want money to buy cloth, car, guitar, piano, drum or laptop. But the question here, how many of us again asking God..."God...bless me today, so that i will have more income, money and better life" or how many of us pray "God...please find me a better job with high pay and suitable job" It's not wrong to pray and ask. Or how many of us struggle to find extra income, or buy a Toto, 4D, Magnum, Cash-sweep or invest in "hoi" maybe? The answer is not outside there...it's in God. Understand the verse, V 26.

Question : How can i be rich or being blessed abundantly?

Secret in v 26 : God already make a covenant, a promise to us...an everlasting covenant or promise some more. Don't believe it?

Prove in v 26 : God will set us in our "promise land" (a.k.a better and successful area of life, jobs or relationship; and MULTIPLY us!! God everlasting promise to us is that He will multiply us!

Answer in v 26 and v 27 : He will set a sanctuary in our midst, and He will be our God, we will be His people! This is the secret and answer! Let God's presence be in us everyday! He want to be our God, in our car, in our office, in our house, in our finance, in our study and even in our washroom...Remember God is not a God in the bible only, in Church only, or during Sunday only..But He want us to acknowledge Him everyday..DAILY!!

That is what it mean by daily come and drink from God, get our self refreshed and renewed!! Don't wait till Sunday than we find Him, don't wait till Youth Service, Convention or Seminar than we will get refresh! God is waiting everyday for us. His stock of water is a lot more huge and wide that the biggest sea or ocean we have here.

Don't let down grab our focus from the Cross.. don't let worries to take over our focus...we struggle cause we have not put our total trust in Him. When we let Him be our God, and when we let His presence be in our life, why worry? His presence is already with us..surely He will take care of our worry.

Got your answer now for your struggle? Know the secret already? Find the prove already? It's your call now..

Hubungan yang berhasil

2010-04-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

Yehezekiel 36:27-28 “Roh-Ku akan Kuberikan diam di dalam batinmu dan Aku akan membuat kamu hidup menurut segala ketetapan-Ku dan tetap berpegang pada peraturan-peraturan-Ku dan melakukannya.”

Melayani adalah satu ketetapan yang Tuhan amanah dan amanat kan kepada kita. Melayani juga merupakan satu kesempatan apabila kita sudah dipenuhi oleh Roh Tuhan. Melayani diibaratkan bagaimana reaksi kita terhadap KASIH Tuhan itu.

Jelas sekali dalam Yehezekiel ini mengatakan bahawa, kita akan tetap berpegang kepada peraturan-peraturan dan melakukannya apabila Roh Tuhan diberikan kepada kita. Apakah ketetapan Tuhan itu? Ketetapan Tuhan adalah, Mat 28:19 “Karena itu pergilah, jadikanlah semua bangsa murid-Ku…”, juga dalam Kisah Para Rasul 1:8, “dan kamu akan menjadi saksi-Ku…..sampai ke ujung bumi.”

Persoalannya, adakah kita yang dikatakan menerima Tuhan sebagai Juruselamat dan adakah kita yang sudah dipenuhi oleh Roh Kudus sekarang ini menjadi saksi atau melayani? Melayani seperti dalam Yehezekiel adalah satu ketetapan Tuhan kepada kita. Maka, setiap kita sudah dipenuhi dan diurapi oleh Roh Tuhan, harus melayani. Tetapi apakah pelayanan saya? Saudara-saudari, Tuhan tidak pernah melimitasikan pelayanan itu. Pelayanan yang sering kita maksudkan adalah pelayanan di dalam gereja. Tetapi, bagaimanakah apabila di luar gereja? Pelayanan merupakan satu bidang yang luas. Memberikan minuman, membrikan pakaian kepada orang yang tidak berkecukupan dan membantu dalam kewangan juga merupakan pelayanan. Pelayanan itu meluas, dan dengan melakukan pelayanan sebegini, kita menjadi utusan-utusan Kristus (2 Kor 5:20). Ingat, pekerjaan kita juga merupakan satu pelayanan dimana kita dapat menyatakan kesaksian hidup kita kepada teman yang lain serta prestasi yang baik!

Dalam pekerjaan kita, jika kita meletakkan Roh Tuhan bersama kita, maka kita akan diberkati. Apakah ayat sokongannya? Rujuk kepada Yehezekiel 36:28, “Dan kamu akan diam di dalam negeri yang telah Kuberikan kepada nenek moyangmu dan kamu akan menjadi umat-Ku dan Aku akan menjadi Allahmu”. Dalam English dikatakan “promise land” dan “promise land” ini boleh diibaratkan sebagai keberhasilan dalam apa yang kita lakukan atau sedang kita miliki. Apabila Tuhan menjadi Tuan diatas segala yang kita lakukan, apa yang dia janjikan kepada kita, akan dia genapi!

Persoalannya, adakah Tuhan itu Tuan dalam hidup, perkerjaan, pelayanan, atau pergaulan kita? Banyak yang akan mengatakan, Tuhan saya sudah lama melayani, tapi kenapa saya masih tidak diberkati banyak seperti “dia”? Tuhan saya sudah melayani, semua usaha untuk membangunkan pelayanan, mendapat pekerjaan yang baik, gaji yang lumayan dan hubungan yang baik tidak pernah berhasil. Persoalannya lagi, adakah kita meletakkan Tuhan sebagai focus dalam apa yang kita lakukan? Dia menjanjikan keberhasilan itu di setiap “promise land” kita KALAU Tuhan itu menjadi Tuhan atau Tuan kepada apa yang kita lakukan.

Maka, untuk memiliki keberhasilan itu dalam apa jua bidang kita, biarlah kita melakukannya dengan ketetapan Tuhan, iaitu dipenuhi oleh Roh Tuhan dan menjadikan Dia sebagai Tuhan dan Tuan dalam apa yang kita lakukan!

God Bless You!

I need LOVE!

2010-02-22T18:34:00.001-08:00

I need LOVE! Wow...what a real post. It can't be real for me. Or arrghh...i am desperate. Well, true enough to say that everyone need love. Can you tell me u do not need love in your love? i bet you can't.

Well as we prepare in January during our retreat for our youth ministry, we found out that love is the main topic we going to stress on or focus on this year, again. But why love? isn't it last year already talk about love? or a year before that? Currently i'm reading a book call The Love Dare, as featured in Fireproof the movie. Well, honestly it is a book for marriage couple. But i don't think it's wrong for non-couple to read it. I was really touch when watch fireproof the Movie. Thanks to Sherwood Picture. On the first day or day 1 it talks about Love is Patient. The author strongly agree that our heart needs love like the lungs need the oxygen. In other word, everyone need love. Maybe it's love for God, love for parent, Love for education, love for partners, love for spouse or love for friends. The world is in disaster if there is no love.

the reason why God come to this earth is because He love the world as stated in John 3:16. Even in Old Testament, God already shows how much He love the world, and most of the time God actually cancel His punishment for the people. And finally the King, or the Lord or the Creator Himself come down to earth to show His love and even perform many miracles of healing, raising the death and even heals the sick one, just to show how much He love the nation and want them back from their wicked ways. Isn't God is wonderful?

If God the one we say the Creator of the Universe can love us and be patient towards us, why not us? Can't we show our love for others and be patient to others? In my reading on The Love Dare describe to us that Love build on two pillars; Patient and Kind. Love is patient because patient is how we react to minimize a negative circumstance, whereas love is kind; because kind is an act to maximize a positive circumstance. True! Can we argue on this? If we say we need love, but we need others to show to us their patient towards us and be kind to us; means that we are selfish too!! Love not selfish. Selfish here mean when we think of our self and expect others to show it to us only. But how about ourself? If we say we love them, isn't it we are not suppose to be selfish too by also shows our love for others?

I am thinking how can we live in this world without love, where everyone is killing each other, hurting each other and backstabber to each other! Can we imagine that? Love one another. It is not just a religious teaching, but also a moral value that we should love one another.

Even the Love Dare book is for couple, but we can learn a lot through the book as a young one or non-married person. I strongly suggest that get to store and grab or buy this book! in 40 days reading only. To learn about love and to exercise love in our daily life.

We all need love!!!

Hope in Failure

2010-02-02T23:08:00.000-08:00

This is a message my friend past to me. This is his sharing regarding Hope in Failure. It really touch me and remind me of my failure...and This also teach me to not looking to my failure, but stop doing thing that fails ourself and look to Him..Please read it.

"Failure. Everyone can relate to it. I failed a couple of time in my love story, i failed my papers, i failed to help people and see their needs, I failed some of my promises toward my friends and family. I failed to be a good son toward my parents and a lovely brother toward my elder brother. (Maafkan aku ibu... he2)
We all fail, and we all know how does it feel. We all had done it (some are still is), we all had met someone did it. Some people take it as an excuses for more failure; take it as a measure to stop themselve from getting further then they can become. Thus, some maybe success but it wont take long for them to fail again and again. Some people take their failure as an oppurtunity to see the greater things to come: they see hope!

Peter, whom Jesus call 'the Rock', did more damage than good for Him. Peter failed to stay awake when Jesus asked him to stayed with Him to pray on the very hour He needs them the most(Luke 22:45-46); Peter failed to live my the Word, instead by the sword when he try to stop the soldiers from arresting Jesus. (John 18:10-11). And the most failure moment in his life taught in Sunday School (I never been to Sunday school) was when he denied knowing Jesus 3 times...

Day past by, Jesus was dead and they never see Him again. So he said, 'I am going fishing.' (John 21:3) That's to say, 'I'm going to my previous work! I'm useless, this is who am I, I'm a fisher of fish not a fisher of men!'. But on that fishing boat, one of his fellow friend told him, he saw Jesus!
So Peter jumped and swim toward the Lord. Like he saying,'This is my last opportunity! I must not hold on to my failure!'. The moment he got to
the dry land, he saw 'charcoal fire' (John 21:9) Jesus was there smiling, but i bet Peter was not, charcoal fire remind him of his failure! It was by charcoal fire that night when he warmed himself (John 18:18) and denied knowing Jesus.

Don't stop reading please...

After finished breakfast, Jesus asked Peter 3 times, 'Do you love me?' (John 21:15-17) That question also reminded Peter when he said 3 times, 'I am not' (John 18:18) knowing Jesus. Suddenly all changed, instead of rebuking Peter's failure, Jesus said, 'Follow me... You follow me!' (John 21:19-22)

What had happen if Peter saw his failure as his stumbling block in his life? He maybe would end up hanging himself like Judas. But Peter instead of clinging to his failure, he saw an opportunity for forgiveness. Jesus provide Hope.

Instead of all this, Jesus keep remind us that we need to see our failure (when He prepare 'charcoal fire' for us) in a different perspective; that is to
see that He can change our failure into success. Jesus gives us Hope.

People can live 40 days without food,
4 days without water,
4 minutes without air,
but only 4 second without hope!"

Thanks for this friend who share with us about this failure and hope. And i post it here so that everyone may see and learn that Jesus is Hope...

What a bad day or what a bad luck?

2010-01-25T16:42:00.000-08:00

What will you say if suddenly your car’s tyre tears off? What will we say when we walk during the rainy day, and a car past by. That car drove so fast and splash you water? What will you say when you out of money, when your friend is about to buy you lunch and when you want to reply them, you phone suddenly out of credit? Will we say, “What a bad day, what a bad luck, I am not lucky today, I am hopeless or God is punishing me”?

Basically this is what happens to me. The day before, I was reading from Ezekiel 20, and I stop at verse 17. What touch and verse that speak to me is from verse 17.

Eze 20:17 Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness.

Than next morning (25 Jan), I woke up and it was late. I left house 5 minutes before 8. Wah…what a late. Than when I reach office, I hope and pray that God will make the day rain so that the parking attendant will no need to walk and check my parking coupon. But when I about to go out for lunch at 1215, the parking attendant just arrive and check my parking and fine me for over parked. Huu… Then I went out to meet someone to buy me lunch. When I text that someone, and when I was just parked my car and text to tell that I’m arrive, suddenly I’m out of credit!!! Wah….i thought, just leave and it’s ok no need to lunch..But also I decided to went to the office and meet the person. So grateful, I meet the person while about to go to the office. Thanks God, we having lunch and so full that afternoon. And at the same time I was reading a newspaper regarding a tyre problem. The question, when I drive my car at 60km/j and I feel my steering shaking, what could be a problem? The expert says, could be the “arm”, or the tyre is not properly screw. And in my thought also, could be a tyre, which is not balance when you pump the air and if the tyre is already bold.

When I reach to my office and about to park, I don’t have any more parking coupon! Ahh..Another thing is about to trouble me. Without that parking coupon I might be fine RM5 for not displaying my parking coupon. But I just decided to use back the previous parking and park and the parking space. I pray a funny pray again to God, “God please make the day rain so that I will not be fine” haaa…I keep on checking my window and see if the day is raining. I went to the other window to check if my car had been checked and fine for over park. It was nearly 4pm and I saw a lady (parking attendant) went from car to car and check the parking. She already pass through my car!!! What should I do? I was be fined already for over park for that very long hour.

Then I just decided, just leave my car and let it be. That right after office hour, I went to my car and saw nothing!!! No fine or compound for over parking. Wow!!!! The other car, they got it!! And I am parking at the parking space some more. What is happening??!!!

Then I drove back, I feel my car shaking, my steering seems like not normal. I straight away think of the newspaper I just read. But, couldn’t be, because I just pump my tyre and the “arm” couldn’t be an issue. Is it a puncture? I checked already and look fine. Then I reach our church and park my car. I check my tyre, and step on it. Looks ok, fine and no problem. Then I go to the back of my car, and check my back tyre. Ahh….the back tyre is almost time to tear off!!! No wonder I feel not right during driving.

What should I say to my day? Bad, unlucky, or punishment? When I reflect back what God speak to me through the verse, it says that God actually want to punish those people, but His eye SPARED them and did not punish them!!! Isn’t it God is actually great and wonderful?! I feel God is actually blessing me that day and He is showing that He could work in my life and not necessary to listen to our prayer only!! He has His own ways to work in my life so that I will not be fined instead of pouring a rain! His eyes is always upon us, even I dun have anymore credit to text that someone to tell that I already arrive and waiting, God let the person meet me while on the way out from the office. Wouldn’t it great God’s work in our life!! My tyre could just spoil during my way back home, but still God hold the tear and make sure my tyre did not spoil during my way back home. He waits for me to just reach a comfortable place for me to change my tyre.

Guys, think of what happen in our life. Perhaps it’s a bad thing. Is the thing happen and we always say or think that God is not looking for us? Most of the time we disappoint for what happen and blame God because we always want thing to happen according to our own will and desire or what we want. We never let God’s work, will and what God want to happen in my life. God is not a robot or a machine so that we can just ask, ask, ask and He will do it for us. No!!! God know what the best for us and He created us. He knows what He wants to give and do to us!!!

My strong suggestion to us here is, learn to appreciate what we have now. Though it is not perfect, learn to be silent and ask God what He actually want us to do or how to act towards what happen. Learn to be calm, patient and don’t want to make thing rush according to our own will.. If God can work like this in my life, He also will and always can work in your life too. Just trust God for what happen and let His will be done every day in our life, not only ours.. Then we will know and see that God do exist, everyday watching us and His eye SPARE towards us. God feel Love seeing us….

GBU...

Are we just a conversion or receiving true salvation?

2010-01-10T17:26:00.001-08:00

Yesterday morning i was reading My Outmost for the Highest. I'd finish reading this book in 2004, and this year i start to read it again as my personal motivation reading. Beside, in this reading i have a bible verse to read and memorize too. Yesterday the verse and topic is about receiving salvation.

According to the famous writer Oswald Chambers; when we move from darkness to light is not a salvation. I agree on that too. It is only a conversion, which we convert from darkness to light. We are just transforming! The real salvation is when we receive something from the giver of salvation it self, which is Jesus. What is the thing that we should receive to prove that we really receive salvation? It's forgiveness!!

That is a greater gift and grace from God, is a forgiveness! God come to this earth to forgive us wrong our sins, wrongdoings, and trespasses; from our wicked way to the way of Life!! He forgive us cause He want us to not only transform but to really have that salvation. I believe if we just transform, it is just a matter for changing our morale value, attitude, and the way we behave before to the way that pleasing other or the way that not become offender to others!! Everyone can have that changes and transformation. Which mean everyone can change from become thief and to become no longer thief but a giver.

But for Jesus, transform is not enough. To have that salvation and receive forgiveness is what we should own. When we transform, but we not receiving forgiveness from God mean we still not saved yet. Jesus said, I am the way the truth and life. And He also said, whoever receive this Son, will receive life. When we receive Son; which is Jesus Himself we will receive life and we are forgiven. When we receive that forgiveness, mean we have the salvation in us.

When i drive this morning while i pray, i was reminded too regarding this forgiveness. Holy spirit remind me again regarding how Jesus forgive the prostitute. He said, he who not sin first throw the stone to this lady. No one is throwing! He also said to the man who is lying on his bed and cannot walk for several years, "get up and pack your bed. Your sins has been forgiven" Jesus first action to them is to go to them and show His love by forgiving them!!

Wow...what a wonderful God we have. He himself is coming to us and offer His forgiveness. Question is, are we receiving that freely forgiveness or not? Are we accepting His grace or we just let it go? Or if we already receive that forgiveness, are we follow how Jesus act, to go to the person and say "I forgive you"? or are we just wait and till God struck our heart and probably strike us to go to their person and forgive them?

I would rather go and say "i forgive you" rather thatn i wait till God struck my heart for not forgiving or who knows who knows what will happen tomorrow if we are too late, isn't it?

The true salvation, if we read in Act is when we receive the forgiveness, we also open their eyes by teaching them to forgive or to forgive those our debtors. The world will become peace if everyone learn to say SORRY and war will no more if everyone is receiving that forgiveness too.

God is real

2010-01-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

When we break up with someone or fight with someone normally we will cry; even though there is no tear or cry in heart. But we do cry and probably we tell God, “God, You are not real. I always pray for this but why this happen to me? Why? If You real and exist out there to help me, solve this for me God!” Sound familiar? Last time when I really mad of certain situation in my life, I sometime say this pray or tell God that He is not real cause He is not helping me. I always tend God to answer my prayer like what I expect and want. But never want His answer or His way in our life or situation.

Eze 7:27c … and they shall know that I am the LORD."

In this chapter God is about to punish the people for their wrongdoings and when God show or send the punishment to them, they will know or make them know that He is Lord!

God is real!! We see here, if God can punish those people for their wrongdoings isn’t it show that God exist and He is real?! And if He can punish to show that He is real, isn’t it He also can pour out more blessing to us and speaks to us to that He is Lord?

It’s the matter of how we would like to listen to Him. Do we want to see His existing and He is Lord by follow His will and word; or to follow our frustrating demanding answer and get nothing in the end to prove that He is real??! Sometime when we follow too much our own desire or demand, and we will easily get frustrated. When we get frustrated we will say God is not real. The question is whose will should we follow so that we will not frustrate? Isn’t it our creator will who knows everything about us and our future?

Lean not in our own understanding, but His will. God is real!!! Trust Him, His answer and His decision that we will know He is real!

He not speak in vain

2010-01-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

Eze 6:10 And they shall know that I am the LORD. I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them.

In NIV mention ….I did not threaten in vain to bring this calamity on them.

God is God of truth and promises. When He said, thing will be done accordingly and exactly! That is why in verse 10 He said, He will not said those thing in vain or in other word to threaten those people; but to show and to prove that He is God!

We tend to give us and stop when we did not receive answer for our prayer. But in verse 10 here mention that when God or if God can speak not in vain that He will send disaster or do this evil to them; also meaning He can do and pour blessing, more blessing to us! Isn’t it great! God not speak in vain to those people regarding the punishment and He also not speak in vain regarding the blessing He want to pour on His people!

Let’s pray for our nation, country and life. God will surely not speak in vain to pour blessing and to answer our prayer! God is God of truth!!!

We are the Watchmen

2010-01-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

Eze 3:17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.

As a leader, God has appoints us to be a caretaker of our “Israel”. Israel here is the city, or a place where Ezekiel belong. Place where there are the same tribe, practice and custom.

As for us, God chose us and appoint us as a watchman in our “city” or “Israel”. The question is what is our “Israel”? This could be our family, ministry, and our spiritual life! Whenever or whatever we hear a word from God’s mouth or His word; remind them! Give them warning.

As a leader, we have to concern and are responsible for their life and soul or our own soul for sure.

Eze 3:19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. :20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand.

Clearly when we appoint as a leader or caretaker for instance here is our ministry, and every person that we ministered; their soul is our responsibility. WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE!! We have to be good watchmen, and don’t treat or minister in our entrusted ministry for granted. What God want from us here a loyalty and seriousness is in handle our responsible.

When I continue my reading on this word, it reminds me again on my responsibility as a Youth leader and as a Worship Leader. No matter which leader we are in, we still watchmen. I’d been reminded that someone, that all this while sometime I am not serious in handling or taking care of my ministry. And when I start again my devotion and true; God lead me to this verse and remind me again of my responsibility. Maybe all this while, us responsible because the church’s leaders entrusted us and want us to take care. Sometime we just fulfilling what people expect from us and we don’t want to disappoint our leaders. But still, isn’t it shows that our heart is not there for the ministry? Isn’t it just like our ordinary work or assignment from our boss our lecturer? When we always listen to what people expect from us or comment us, and we fail; we may hurt our self and disappointed.

The truth is, including myself I would like to encourage us to change our mindset to focus on person’s life or souls. And focus to God’s voice!!! Whatever we listen from Him, tell it to the people and encourage them (not judging them), for their soul and life is our responsibility as a watchman!!! Stop from hearing what people around us tell us what to do, but listen to God voice. Stop listen to their comment or judgment, but listen to our God’s voice telling us what to do and where to start.

What if I move...

2009-11-04T20:58:00.001-08:00

Jer 42:10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you.
Jer 42:11 Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the LORD, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand.

If we through this whole passage, it's about how people in Judah did not trust God even after the asking Jeremiah to seek God. After ten days Jeremiah seeking and asking God about the future or people in Judah, God want them to stay in Judah! But what did they do?

Jer 43:2 Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, "You are telling a lie. The LORD our God did not send you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to live there,'

This story or passage can be referred of two things, our ministry and our spiritual life. Let's talk about spiritual life. People in Judah can't stand to live in Judah anymore due to disaster, wars, and afraid to the enemies around them destroying them. But God clearly speak through Jeremiah and telling them to STAY!!

This happen to most of us in our spiritual life. God clearly speak to us directly or through the sermons we heard or read, but still we want to go to our "better" place to satisfy our desire! This what happen to me too. For me, sometime we hate our situation, our life our sickness, our failure, our families perhaps and probably hate of what happen to us. And we tend to leave God or leaving our committed life and our ministry, our Christian life to ordinary people level (hope you understand what i mean here). We hate this thing happen because even we closer to God and read God's word everyday, and we pray every moment or we actively in church ministry, still bad thing or "disaster" happen in our life. (I know it's pain).

This is what happen to people in Judah. They serve God, burn offering and listen to God but still they live a worry or scaring life. So they decided to move to Egypt. They thought maybe in Egypt they will have a better life, and no army dare to kill them. But God say... NO!!

Sometime we think, the best way or the best solution we can have or do is to leave our active christian life or committed christian life since even we serve, we face the same hardest time like non-believer do. But when God make a promise, He want us to stay and He Himself will build us, STAY!!!! Jer 42:10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you.

But in early stage, Jeremiah already told them to obey God's voice but they didn't. Jer 38:20 Jeremiah said, "You shall not be given to them. Obey now the voice of the LORD in what I say to you, and it shall be well with you, and your life shall be spared. When i continue to read and study the chapter, this is actually what happen to them. Even most of them burn offering and committed to God, but secretly most of the wives burn offering to other idols and worship them.

Let's check our life and confirm it. Do we worship or obeying or stuck with other idols in our life that we can't leave it? If yes, that is why God want us to leave it all. I believe that is what Jeremiah want to tell them, people in Judah but they don't want to listen to God's voice. Thus they want to keep the idols, bring it with them and depart to Egypt.Maybe some of us is like that. We want to live our christian life or committed life and bring the idols with us, and ignoring God's voice. The disaster is not because of God want to punish us, not that God want to test and destroy us too, but because of our own life, our SECRET life.

God want us to stay, so we stay. But God also want us to throw away the idols in our life and the things that we SECRETLY do that against God.

GBU.

David’s wish list

2009-10-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday during our youth fellowship, we suppose to have our creative ministry. I been praying and seeking God on what should we do for that creative session. Some suggest we do a group study with those who will sit for the exam; but we feel it’s a bit late already for preparation because we need to study the subject and open a book again. As I prepare myself I told God, “God I surrender this week activity into Your hand and You speak to us what you want us to do.”

During our worship session, a voice in me told me to do History session and to study it. So I open up my bible and turn to 1 king 2:1-12. It’s about David’s advice to Solomon before he passed away. So we study the verse one at the time and question our self the famous way to study the word or history; which is Why, Where, When, Who, What and How (5W1H). After that we also learn how to meditate on the verse.

For me, there is few main points that David wants Solomon to remember before David’s pass away; verse 3 and verse 12.

V3 : And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself,

David is a humble and faithful servant of God. He advice his son so also follow his footstep and be faithful to God. What we can learn and know about this verse is that, when we keep charge of the Lord thy God and when we walk His ways we will be PROSPERS!!! Yeah..That is true! This is the secret to be PROSPERS in our life, work, study, friendship, and anything. KEEP CHARGE OF THE LORD!! Many of people nowadays looking for better way to prospers or success or rich. But God said, KEEP CHARGE TO HIM AND WALK HIS WAYS!!! Don’t believe me?

V12 : So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.

Yea…Solomon sat on the throne of David and his kingdom was FIRMLY ESTABLISHED!!! See it. When God promise us thing and if we KEEP CHARGE OF THE LORD AND WALK HIS WAS, we will prospers like Solomon did!!! So, there is no need to look for other solution but come to Jesus and He will prospers us!

What I learn here is that, when we make our life right in front of God, He will surely make us satisfied and fulfill our need. He will make us prospers in everything just like Solomon’s kingdom is widely known.

If we want our study to be success, come to the Lord and make our life straight. If we want our business success, come to Him, if we want our ministry established come to Him and make ourself right and if we want our life success, keep charge of the Lord and walk His ways. That is His promise.

GBU.

I can bypass a FERRARI!!

2009-10-26T18:43:00.001-07:00

Last Friday during our Home Group Fellowship (HGF) Elder Baru Tai share to us regarding God’s presence exists in our life. We study from John 6:15-21 where Jesus and His disciple on the boat while a strong wind was blowing, and the sea was getting rough (v18). If we read the whole chapter, Jesus is walking on the water, and He calms the sea. After He calm the sea, we know that Peter want to know if what He saw is Jesus or Ghost walking on the water (Matt 14:28).

Most of us know about this song and what we understand us our life is like that ship and the wave or the rough sea and the wind that blow is just like a problem in our life.

Let’s see other verse, “Joh 6:21 then they willingly received Him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” What we understand from this bible translation is that the disciples willingly received Him into the ship, BUT the already land whither they went!! In verse 19 says that they had rowed about three or four miles when they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat. They became terrified. Just imagine, you just rowed about few kilometers but when JESUS enter you boat, suddenly you reach your destination. Wouldn’t it great?!

Another reference we learnt is in 1 King 18: 41-46. Elijah was on the top of Mount Carmel and his servant is checking up by looking to the sea if there is any sign of a rain. The servant has to check the rain for seven times. On the seven times than He have the sign of rainy day. When there is a sign, Elijah asks the servant to go to Ahab and tell Ahab to make a move with his CHARIOT (v44) (My friend call it Ferrari, a traditional and probably first version of it). So Ahab rode on the CHARIOT and makes his way to Jezreel.

The best part is this, in verse 46 and the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. Isn’t it amazing!!! Elijah bypasses Ahab who is already on the chariot!

What we want to learn here is that, in 1 King 18 and John 6 whenever the hand of God upon us or God’s presence in our live or Jesus is invited willingly in our life; miracle happen in our life!! Miracle will happen to us in whatever we want to do, as long as there is God!!

Isn’t its amazing God promise to us? Wonderful!! So if we expect miracle in our life, make sure God’s presence exist in our life, God’s hand is upon us and we receive God willingly in our life. Wonderful!!

Do you believe in Supernatural?

2009-10-06T00:45:00.001-07:00

For those who close to me, they surely know and always hear that i am a big fan of Supernatural. I watch supernatural from season 1 and till now (currently season 5). In supernatural it shows us many ways of evil spirit can distract and posses us. They can even go into our body or just outside the body and try to steal our soul. The question is, do you believe in that supernatural power thing? Do you believe there is power outside there wanting our soul, body and mind?

Last Saturday, after our sunday service practice i sent my friend back home. On our back home, i share to him and tell him about supernatural power thing. They exist and really can go into our body and distract us. This happen to some people who going through this and saw this thing (evil spirit). After i sent him home, i was asked to join them to pray for another family nearby. At first i was ask to lead by i pass it to his sister. We went and pray and Pr. Samuel (from Bidayuh ministry) was invited to share for them. And we pray for the family and that night three family members accepted Christ!

Last night also, we went to my sister's rented house in Bau with Pr. Henry Padin. The night before my family when there and saw a lot of "barang" hanging on the wall and belive was spell before. So my dad took all of it and burn it to cast the evil spirit from the house. After that my sister want to go to sleep, but she hear a voice outside the house saying, "Ouch, Ouch! It's painful!" Non stop! Than suddenly my sister feel her's leg was pulled by someone, but no one in the room!

The day before also she couldn't play a mp3 in her's laptop and try to run the e-Sword software, and it couldn't! As an IT expert i check my sister's laptop, from the event viewer, there is no error. She complain that the laptop hang almost most of the time! What a supernatural thing.

And last night we went again to the house and i can feel the evil spirit is in the house especially upstairs. And we begun to pray, and pray. From downstairs to upstairs. We gather at downstairs, as we pray for her's roommate, i saw a black figure coming down the stairs but disappear as soon as we continue to pray. I went to the stairs and hold the stairs holder pray and claim the blood of Jesus to wash and cover the stairs!

What happen after that is, everyone in the house feel joy and peace after we pray for the house and cast out demon.

What i'm trying to tell here is that, we believe the evil spirit is out there and or maybe some of us already let the evil spirit live inside us. But unlike Supernatural series, we can't resist or cast out demon like how Dean and Sam did; but by the power in the name of Jesus Christ!! Remember when we invite Jesus in our life, there is no room for satan anymore and His spirit is stronger than the spirit outside us!

If our answer is we believe in supernatural thing, keep on praying and ask Jesus to cover us with His blood! Don't scare to them and loose to them, but keep on praying!! Eph 6:18 says....Keep on praying!! Satan will use a way by giving us a hallucination of them, and cause we scare to them; but always remember we have the authority from Jesus that He gave us to resist demon and cast them far away from us.

Supernatural do exist! Few more story i can share to you regarding this; maybe in the future.

God bless you.

I receive this mail from a friend…(That’s God)

2009-10-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel
like doing something nice for someone you care for? THAT'S GOD talking
to you through the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you
to talk to? THAT'S GOD wanting you to talk to Him.

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask
for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been
cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen
something you needed, but couldn't afford? THAT'S GOD knowing the
desires of your heart.

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it was going
to get better, how the hurting would stop, how the pain would ease,
but now you look back on it...
THAT'S GOD passing us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

Dear God...

I know you're watching over me
And I'm feeling truly blessed
For no matter what I pray for
You always know what's best!

When i receive this email and i read it till the end i am so touch and so bless how wonderful and loving God is to us. It is just the matter of our self, whether we hear Hm or not, whether we want to let Him manifest in our life or not, or whether we trust Him or not. My close one always SMS me and remind me again and again to keep on trusting God. Sometime we always think that when we are in trouble, we tend to asking "why this happen, why not this, and why i am such a bad in this?" The question always why, why and why.

But as we read this mail, now ask God when things not right happen to us. Ask God, what God really want us to know or do in our life today and to thing that happen to us. Ask God what He want to show us and correct in our life.

For everything happen, there is a reason. Trust God in everything we do. Together we learn, together we support and build one another, and together we grow spiritually in Christ.

GBU.

Today is the Day-My View

2009-09-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

When I prepare myself to lead before the youth convention, I listen to Today is the day by Lincoln Brewster. I’ve been listening to Lincoln since 1999 and really enjoy his music. Today is the day really speaks to me and touches me. It’s not about Today is the day song, but the lyric is prefect! Today is not the same like yesterday! Today is the day, special for us!

This post I feel like I want to write about this song. I love this song not only because it’s music, but the true meaning behind the song. When I listen to the song, the main focus for me is the lyric. The theologies of the lyric have to be correct and reflect about God. This song is one of it.

(verse 1)

I’m casting my cares aside,

I’m leaving my past behind,

I’m setting my heart and mind on You Jesus

(verse 2)

I putting my fears aside

I’m leaving my doubts behind

I’m giving my hopes and dreams to You Jesus

The verses talk about worries and our past life. How many of us worry? Do we worry many things in our life? Do we know worries which end up to not trusting God our provider is sin? That’s why I believe what Lincoln want to stress out here is that regarding our worry!! Let’s check the bible. While I continue my reading from Phil to Col, few verses regarding the song speaks to me, and I know God want to speak to me through this song again and to want me share to you all.

Php 4:6 Never worry about anything, but in every situation let your petitions be made known to God in prayers and requests, with thanksgiving.

In Paul letters to Philippians, Paul wrote and advice them to not worry about anything but to PRAY!!!In our petitions, pray and request with thanksgiving! I’d been worry too and down this few days. But what I normally did is, I told myself to retreat from my ministry. This retreat is not to leave my ministry, but to rest and to seek God in my quite moment. All this while I was so busy with my ministry, practices, and work; never had time to really settle down and seek God. I believe request mean is to ask God in very correct way of what He want us to do. Ask God what He want us to do in our ministry our in our personal life first!

Mat 6:34 so never worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

If we continue to read to the end of the first and second verse, Lincoln suggests us to set our heart and mind also our hopes and dreams to Jesus! Clearly in Matt 6:34 saying that there is no use for us to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. If we worry about tomorrow, can we fix it? My entire life, I involve in many events. From school events, church, state and national level; we’d been practicing hard but still mistake will happen and we need to cover up the mistake and continue the show. Or the best thing is, after practicing so hard our show or performance better than our practicing that we never expect!

(Pre cho)

I’m reaching my hand to Yours

Believing there’s so much more

Knowing that all You have in store for me is good…is good…

Php 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it. But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

When we reach up our hand to someone, our focus or our eyes is to the person. In body language lesson eye contact can determine whether we are truly honest or not. That happens when we reach out our hand to Him. Our focus is to Him, and our trust is in Him. That’s why Paul gives testimony to Philippians, to forget what lies behind and straining forward to what is ahead of us!

Col 3:2 Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.

That’s why Paul wrote to Colossians also to keep our mind on things above. Believing and knowing that God has stored something better for us. When we said we are reaching to God, don’t look back and look or keep our mind to thing which is above! This could help us to not worry about things that happen to us.

Joh 14:2 There are many rooms in my Father's house. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going away to prepare a place for you?

In john Jesus said to us He is preparing a house for us. That is His promise! He is preparing something for us. I believe this is not only heavenly house in New Jerusalem, but preparing a better future for us and better plan for us. So reach out our hand to Him, look and focus to Him!!

(Cho)

Today is the day You have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it (2X)

I won’t worry about tomorrow

And trusting in what You say

Today is the day

Psa 118:24 this is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

We all know that what ever happen yesterday is a history, today is a life we living, and tomorrow is a mystery for we don’t know what will happen next, a minute later or few hours later. Lincoln again telling us to rejoice and be glad today just likes the psalmist suggests us in his book.

We will surely be happy and enjoy our life in Christ if we

Leaving our past behind
Do not worry but putting our trust in Him
Reaching our hand and focus to Him
Enjoy today’s life by do good to other while we have the opportunity!

That’s why in this song we read about, “Knowing that all You have in store for me is good”, “And trusting in what You say” because God don’t want us to worry!! He wants us to trust Him!! If we worry and don’t trust Him in everything we do, it’s a sin!! Trust God in everything we do.

When I’m down, I look for my close one and few advice for me. Kill myself and learn to lean and trust Him. How to kill?

2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and-look!-all things have become new!

Killing means to leave our old life behind. If we still not trust Him, isn’t it me and we still not trusting Him and we just like unbelievers? A true disciple ways is to trust their master. God said, my sheep will know and recognize my voice when I call them. We should know our master or our God voice. When we live in Him, in 1 & 2 Cor until Col speak about to leave our lust and our own desire behind. Even though we live in this world and in humanly body, but our spirit is new. Rom 12:2 says be transform not according to this world but by renewing of our mind.

Finally, Php 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

If you continue to listen to this song, you will know why I like this song and don’t forget to listen clearly to the lyric too.

GBU all!!

When opportunity comes...

2009-09-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday something shocking happens to me. After I fill my petrol at the petrol station, I drive out of the station and suddenly a car drive so fast and nearly ram me by the driver seat. We both break emergencyly and look at each other. I was shock a while cause I didn't expect to involve in any car accident. This thing happen in sudden and alert me of my driving that I have to be aware even stopping at the petrol station. Thanks God for His goodness.

Than I open up my e-Sword software in my notebook and begin to continue to read Gal to Eph. Few verses God shows me regarding to what happen to me in my life nowadays.

Gal 6:10 So then, whenever we have the opportunity, let us practice doing good to everyone, especially to the family of faith.

Friends, Paul wrote to Galatians, whenever we have the opportunity do good to other. Like what happen to me, I never expect the car would suddenly appear and almost ram at me. We never know when we could lose the opportunity to do good to other.

Eph 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, along with patience, accepting one another in love.
Eph 4:3 Do your best to maintain the unity of the Spirit by means of the bond of peace.

Sometime like for me, I always says that "ohh..Tomorrow still got time. Tomorrow than I say sorry or reply and forgive" What if there is no tomorrow? What if the thing happen between us or our friendship will just end because of our own selfishness? Last week something happen to me. I thought by that small matter I create can just be solved in few hours. I thought by a small issue or matter can be solve by just saying sorry or quite for a while. But nothing happen. Things for me go really bad because of my own selfishness. What I learn here is that, while we have opportunity, avoid any fight. If possible like in Eph 4, be humble gentle and patience accepting one another in love. We need to maintain the unity of the spirit.

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred.
Eph 4:32 and be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in Christ.

My close one is someone who understands me most and always tells me if I’m wrong. Everyone have probably a small anger in themself. That goes to me too. While I given a chance or an opportunity before, I still have that anger, quarrel and easy to get mad. And now I realize that I totally control by my own desire. When I continue to read in Eph, this verse speak to me that I should put away the bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling and slander. While we have opportunity before it's too late or we don't get the chance, be kind to another.

One real story happen to my big family I need to share too you all. My dad's cousin (my uncle) always selfish and don't care about his dad (my grandmother's brother). His dad is a master in cock fighting and selling cock for fighting. My uncle always quarrel and mad at him. One day, his dad was admitted to hospital. Still my uncle mad at him and told him that is because his dad own fault, care so much about the cock and not his own health. Until around 11 something at night, his dad becomes more critical. He is laying on the hospital bed unconscious. Until by past midnight, his dad past away.

They all crying especially my uncle feel the guiltiness because he didn't manage or have the opportunity that night to say sorry, but keep on mad at my late grandfather. But it is too late. Learning from what happen, it taught me also while we have opportunity, do good. What if by the time we treat other so bad and the end time is here. And Jesus asks us, "Did you forgive them? You did not! You did not follow my command to show you love. Depart from me" Where will we be?

Same go to me. I also need to recheck myself, my selfishness and my ego. Thanks to my close one who always guide me and remind me with the word of God. We need each other to build each other and to guide each other. Not only to Christian friends, but also to whoever around us. God is love, so show we love.

GBU all friends.

Show you Love

2009-09-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

We all know that this life we live in is full of wave, trials and circumstances; i settle down and begin to continue my reading. The night before, when i had an emotional breakdown and depressed; i read the entire letters from Paul to people in Corinthian, 1 and 2 Corinthian. I learnt that situation in Corinthian is similar to our life. Family issues, unity, power, and love among them. When i finish reading Corinthian, which is 2 Cor 13, this verse struck me.

2Co 13:11 Finally, brothers, goodbye. Keep on growing to maturity. Keep listening to my appeals. Continue agreeing with each other and living in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Live in peace! That is what Paul suggest and want the people in Corinthian to do. Than, according to Paul the God of love and peace will be with you.

Maybe some of us face the situation where a lot of un-Christian around us. Un-Christian mean those who call themself a christian, but did not act like one. They call themsel a follower of Christ, but did not follow what exactly Christ told us to do. That's including me! I begin to recheck myself, whether i act like a true disciple or not. Or i just proud of myself, for i was well known in music or in youth ministry? Or did i just pride of my life or ministry experience?

I tell myself, don't be hipocryte!! God did know want to know what we did for Him! God want to know where our heart is! "For not all who call Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of God, but those who do the will of my Father!" The will!! The will!!

In mission in action i know, God's will is not only to win the life for Him; but also to live in unity with one another, to love one another, to accept one another, and to build up one another. I share this, because this is what i'd ben through. The diffculties i'd been through, the ministry i involve in, the circumtances i engage in and the relationship i had; is all oppurtunity God gave me and i shouldn't neglect it.

That's why i really love Jars of Clay song, Show you love. The chorus is "i'm gonna show you love in any language, i'm gonna speak the word that need no font". Meaning that when we care for someone, like Jesus did; love or care have no words. Even we try to explain in any language, Love is more than that. Care is also more than the word we use to explain, until we find no font to write it down.

Bro and sis in Christ, to live in unity is to love and care for one another. God come to this world to His love; that whoever believe in Him shall not perish but will have eternal life!!

GBU all.

Why im not dead by now?

2009-08-12T00:10:00.000-07:00

Last Monday we have a Youth Kuching District meeting. All the way, during driving I was thinking about one thing. Why did God say we will be judge when the judgment day comes? Why have to wait during judgment day? Maybe we always listen to people, friends or our Pastor or Reverend or Bishop or Father or even Brother mentions to us this. But, did we ever think of what is the exact meaning?

From my interpretation, if we read in Old Testament when God want to judge and punish the people of Israel; He did not wait. He straight sends the punishment. Of course He will say it or mention it through His prophet. But, He did not wait. When He said be curse, or let the land dry or let the enemy kill the nation, His will definitely be done.

But, God is not that judging. God always have mercy and grace. When the people of Israel listen to His command through the prophet, He withdraws the punishment. He loves His people.

That’s why He came down to earth, in human form, human body and the name given to Him is Jesus Christ from Nazareth; He give His life. At first He came down because He wants to teach the people about Love, peace, forgiving and to bless and care for other people. If we refer back all of His teaching, He touch on this issue. He even was being rejected by His own people. That’s why at the end of His life, He give His life. People call Him liar, and hate Him. But still Jesus faithful and finish His mission in this earth, to die for us and rise up again on the third day to defeat death and bring eternal life to us!

Isn’t it wonderful Jesus did for us?

Heb 10:26 For if we choose to go on sinning after we have received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Heb 10:27 but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God

In verse 26 mention that if we already know the truth, continue to keep our faith and the truth till the end of time. Because we will receive the “prize” and the prize is the eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Try to think, why my friend past away at the age of 20 and why I live till this age or 25? Why? Or why my friend accident and passed away, and why when I accident, I still survive or still live till today? Isn’t it obvious God still love us and before anything happen to us and we meet Him face to face on our judgment day He wants us to be saved! That’s why God let us live till today, so that all the opportunities we have now, and to use it wisely! That's why we are not dead yet by now, and still have the opportunity to live another day and blessed with many thing in our life.

Forgive one another, love and care one another, guide one another, share the blessing we receive from God with one another, and keep our faith in God till the end of time. This is the time, this is the opportunity and this is the only chance we have before it’s too late. We don’t even know what will happen next or tomorrow. This chance s in our life today, God grant to us so that we will look perfect during the judgment day and it’s an opportunity for us.

Have a blessed day!!!

Who want to change?

2009-08-10T19:33:00.000-07:00

Well, this one sounds interesting. When I post this topic to my wall in my Facebook, I’m so glad actually many friends agree to what we call changes. I want to change too. And I need changes in my life. Read through their comment and suggestion.

Me: “Everyone change...bad to good...good to bad...even tree change too.. We need to learn to accept changes in everyone's life..but when we accept it, guide too. Maybe hard to accept changes, but be quick to listen and slow to act. Don't rush in everything we do. Owest listen to the good side in ourself..”

Agustina Balan, Esther Lika Awie and Cara Gilbert Taylor like this.

Indro Ebin: true true...sa se7....(mean, “I’m agree”)

Me: u accept changes? hehe..ya geng..hati2 ko sana IPTAR..(mean, “carefull in IPTAR”)

Indro Ebin: bad to good..not good to bad..ok ba kalo ko...(mean, “if you, should be no problem”)

Me: haha...ya la bah kan...bagus lagik bad to good..ya sa setuju..cuma...changes bring a lot of different..(mean, “True, better from bad to good..i’m agree”)

Cara Gilbert Taylor: Ya...agree wit dat...:-)

Me: u like changes Cara..? or u oso facing difficulties ppl accept changes in us?

Agustina Balan:changes also make us mature and wise but sometimes ppl dont understand it. when we try to guide or explain they think we are hiding something.

Me: hehe..true augustina..agree with u..

Cara Gilbert Taylor: Yup..agree also wit her...:-) changes make us grow in faith oso..

Rome 12:2 stated that, be transform not according to this world, but we transform because of your renewing mind. When I had a bad moment where the my spirit getting weak, I always think that I’m not that worth to be involve in ministry. When I think of all the mistakes I did in the past, this thought always controlling my mind and saying that I’m not worth, useless and stop what u involve in. This conflict within me make someone close to me, “slap me in the face” and actually make me think about it. That someone, taught me to always recheck myself and seek what is not right with me.

The other problem is, sometime or most of the time people around us didn’t understand us and hard to accept that we change. According to Agustina comment, people will think that we are hiding something. Personally I will feel hurt when people around us think that way about us. Especially when that person is someone close to us such as our parent, sibling and probably our friends. Slowly we face it, like Cara’s comment it make us grow in faith.

When we think of the past, and never let the past cause us to weak. Keep showing up the changes, but not to fanatically or aggressively. But with God’s love and God’s grace. Jesus was push in His own city. Not accepted by His own people because people not agree that He as a son of carpenter is someone in Old Testament prophecy as a Messiah. He was rejected because people didn’t accept of who Jesus is. But what He did is, slowly He minister to them, show them love, passion and grace. And we know after that, many people follow Him and listen to His sermon.

Jesus also gives opportunity to the thief who is crucified with Him. When that thief admits his wrong and acknowledge Jesus, Jesus said “…u will be with me…”. I think we should take Jesus as an example. He came to this world not only to prove to people that God exist and God care about people. But God come to this world, in human form who we call Jesus Christ to teach us how to love in this world and get along to each other, so that we will love as a happy community and enjoy our life as a Christian in this world.

Changes are the best thing ever happen to someone’s life and in our life. When we change already and when we look back to the past, most probably we will smile remembering our mistake or silly thing we ever did. J Have a nice day and stay blessed!Bottom of Foren

Tithe...

2009-07-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

One of my friend share me this. This is a testimonial from her, and she is very thankful and praising God. She's working and doing part time study her's Master course. She keep her's tithe for two weeks because didn't manage to attend the church. She have no money, because need want attend the Rainforest and back to Bintulu to interview. What touch me is that she keep the tithe until she manage to attend the church and put it in. She share to me, sometime she worry also because staying from family and less money..ehm...i can imagine that.

I share this testimony because, the most important part is God bless her with two interviews! What a wonderful God did to her life! One interview is near to her's own hometown, and the other one is Government post. Because of her faithfulness in giving a tithe, God keep His promise and bless His children.

Mal 3:10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Claim the word of God friends. The tithe could be many things. I could be our money, life, time, and talents. Give 10% of our salary, 10% of our time, 10% of our life, 10% of our talent to God. Surely He will keep His promise. He will open up the windows of heaven, and pour out more blessing to us.

Be faithful and be confidence in the Lord. God Bless you all!

Appreciate what you have now....

2009-07-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

Last week i travel to all big city in Sarawak, from Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Sarikei. It is because of work also actually. I had been traveling for 10 days to finish my task, a project with one Insurance company. While i was away, i actually thinking of my car which the road tax is almost expiry and hoping when i reach Kuching i will manage to settle it.

When i reach Kuching, on the next day i straight went to the Insurance agency. Was surprise that i can't renew!! It's all because of the workshop where i sent my car to repair to, haven't submit my police report, outcome and all those related documents! Until today, i keep push the person in charge but still can't manage. To cut the story short, i waited till now.

Than, someone told me this. Maybe God want to show me something and and want me to see what i have now and appreciate it. True! Than we chat and talk more about how God have did wonderful work in our life.

Last time, for those who knows me for ages; we were staying in Petra Jaya (only Kuching people know the location). During the time, we only have motorcycle and only my dad knows how to ride it, i mean have a license. Than our church located in Kota Sentosa. For 22 years we use bus and ride a motorcycle to attend and serve in the church. I still remember, it is actual very relaxing and nothing to worry when we use bus. No worry of a road tax, petrol, servicing and car wash! During the old time, i spent most of my time using bus with my old friends. Before we attend the youth service, we met at Waterfront Kuching, and take a bus together to the church. Those are Clearance Padan, Julius James, Joefranklin and Glenn Lores. We have our meeting spot in Waterfront. That's why for me, i very understand those who use bus, motorcycle and walk by foot. I walk by foot before. Just imagine walking 2-3 Km from Pangkalan Sapi to Siol Kandis every time when i finish from school.

I'd been there! I been in the crowded bus! When i saw a single mum, carry their child going in the bus very sad and touched. When u saw young people, rushing and pushing the mum to get in the bus too, is very annoying. When i saw a father ride a motorcycle with their children in the rainy day without a raincoat, it is so cold and very sad. I been there, and i feel it when people ignore you in the bus, pushing you and doesn't care about you. I been there, riding a bike with no raincoat and a helmet with no face cover.

Friends, for those of us who have been through a very tough life before, appreciate what you have now. Don't do thing which we don't want people do to us during our tough life and even now. If we have car and working already bring those schooling friends lunch and give them a ride or do good to them.

Mat 5:42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

If we have car now, don't grumble anymore. Take care of the car and use it wisely. If we have job now, appreciate it. Think about those who don't have job. They want to be in our place, just that we are blessed with what we have now.

Think about it.

Im out from Egypt

2009-06-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

when in betong, many funny things happen to us. But the funniest thing ever appen to me during ministry trip like this is really "slap myself on the face". On saturday i handle a music workshop for them. And during Q&A, one elder stood up and ask me the question regarding entire during service for musicians. And the wierd thing happen to me that night. I had a dream and the dream come true. I dreamt that i woke up, while i prepare my self for song leading that sunday morning. I look for my pant. Gosh!! I forgot it! What a shame!! I answer question regarding entire, but me myself have to use jean on sunday?? Huhu...in that dream, i went straight to Deacon Denis and he said, what to do just wear jean.

The funny thing happen when i really woke up from my dream and after i prepare myself, to get ready for suncday leading; i check in my bag for my pant. Gosh!! The dream come true!! I have no pant!! What a shame. Huhu..to cut the story short, i get a pant from somebody.

How many of us have a dream come true like this? Maybe most of us expect that the dream is about something else which making us happy.

Jer 32:21 You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror.

In my bible reading, this verse become my study verse. It talk about sign and wonders. This sign and wonders we will only can see when God brought Israel out of the Land of Egypt. Did this sign and wonders only for Israel on their way out from Egypt only? God still on bussiness today. I believe that my dream that i had is not just a dream, but God want to tell me something.

By the way base on Jeremiah, I would like to refer the verse as like this. Israel is us, Egypt as our old life. God want to work in our life. But do we allow God to work and show His sign and wonder in our life?

For us who still struglle in our life, we need to recheck our life. We pray so hard and even cry but stil no sign and wonders that we pray for. Than when i read this verse, i found out that when we out from our "Egypt" than we as the children of God, surely God will tell us and speak to us what he wan us to know. Honestly for me, Gos shows me the sign that i pray for. Many time i pray, but no sign at all. Than i found out that my life have to be right in front of God. This is God promise to us,

Jer 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

When we call to God, He will answer and shows us great sign and wonders in our life. Sometime as a busy person in church, it doesn't mean that our life is correct in the eye of God. We never know what one can possibly do when they are alone. But it is up to us to recheck our self and out from out Egypt life so that God will show us the sign that we need.

Because when we out from our Egypt life, not only sign and wonders God will show us, but His trong hand and outstretched arm will support and helping us. That is His promise.

Our challenge here is, if we really want to see the sign and wonders from God on what we pray for; our life have to be right in front of God.

Life as a Worshiper

2009-06-30T22:05:00.001-07:00

Last week on 10-21 June, we was invited to give a sharing on P&W. Only 8 of us from our church, myself, Denis Emang, Jason, Joel Pengiran, Joel Ezekiel, Ruth David, Aaron Awie and Linda Ding. If I now mistaken, this is the first time for this year we were giving opportunity to give this sharing on P&W. On the first night, i let the youth from SIBBetong to lead in P&W and Denis Emang become the main speaker. He talk about The need of P&W in Church nowadays. He stress on the importance of P&W and why we need P&W in our church.

P&W is important in the church nowadays, cos through the song one can clearly and easily touch by God. I remember Uncle Sam always taught me about P&W, and there is one day, right after the wedding ceremony i met him and talk to him regarding the P&W. He told me this, people can easily touch and cry or anything can happen when someone sing or when the music "speak" to their spirit or soul. But when someone preach, people can just simply say...that is man talking. But music is different. it's so powerful and can transform one life.

But while we're in Betong, someone who i'm close with teach me one thing too. Never leave leave own church empty. This statement really teach me one thing about the importance about P&W, while we went out to other place for ministry or workshop, never leave own church empty also. Cause if we really thought and treat P&W is importance in our church, why own church empty.

The reason why i sharing to you this is that music is very powerful weapon for us during P&W. Matt Redman teach us that music is not a reason why we sing. But the heart of worship is what we looking for. Even without music one still can worship. But that will be wrong if we focus on music only but not God. But this someone, teach me that P&W have to come with music.

My part in my sharing in Betong is musicians. I start my sharing with music is a medium we use to P&W God. Ya true we can sing without music. But when we use music and our focus is not to the music, but to God; it will be so powerful and more express about our desire to exalting God. Maybe if we just sing without music, we can't express more. But when we play music or P&W with a music, we can express more to God.

How? Through we can express more to God in our skill, music arrangement, intro and outro or instrument solo! God want us use our skill more, and use it for the glory of God!!

That's why music is important in P&W, because when David play the harp all the evil spirit ran away from Saul. When the trumpet blew after walking around the wall ofJericho for 6 days, the wall collapse. This is what happen when music comes with God's power in P&W, Satan will ran away.

So, for musicians worship God along with our instrument. Learn to worship God, not only focusing to our code or skills. That is the life of worshiper. The trick and tips to have a great a strong worship service or team, which also recommended by Sonicflood is worship along with your instrument. Every musician have to worship. Life as a worshiper is not only for Worship Leaders or singer, but we are call to worship God, all of us.

4 S Principes

2009-05-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite books about P&W, Music Ministry by Mike and Viv Herbert. One of my favorite topic is about a life of musician, which stress on 4S. What is 4S? I heard many people point to this topic before.

Sanctification

Submission

Sensitivity

Skill

As we know in Old Testament, P&W is a ministry which is chosen and set apart. Those who involve or call to be in this ministry is from Levy tribe. Levy consists of Merari, Rohath and Gershon tribes. These people are called and choose to responsible for P&W. My point here is that P&W is God’s commandment. I will elaborate this topic more in next post.

Sanctification

Is to be sanctified, holy and pure in from of God as stated in 1 Co 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. We often refer this sanctification to Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. A real spiritual worship is this that we offer a living sacrifice to God (not a dead one) and which have to be our body! Term and condition applied when we offer our body as a living sacrifice to God, which is have to be holy and acceptable to God.So to worship in Spirit is also an act that we need to focus on.The act is that we offer our living sacrifice.

What is a living sacrifice?

As we refer to Romans 12:1, living sacrifice have to be our body which is holy and acceptance to God.How to be holy? We can do it by admitting our sins, surrender to God and inviting God into our life so that we are acceptance to God! When we come before God, we have to check our self as stated in Matt 5:23-25, so if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. I believe when we come before the Lord in our condition that we are not settle, we are lying and being hypocrite in God’s presence! This result to “dead sacrifice”. A living sacrifice also refers to our body which is still alive and can be used by God for His Kingdom!

Submission

Refer to surrendering our self both to God and authority above us. Romans 13:1-3 let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Surrendering our self to God has to be the first priority in our life, because when we surrender our life to God, which mean we inviting Him to live in us and thus cleanse us and thus we fulfill the first S, which is Sanctification!

Sensitivity

Referring to Spirit-filled in our life and sensitive to His movement, and as I mention earlier in my previous post worshipper will worship in Spirit. When we worship in Spirit and be filled by His Spirit, we will know God’s movement, be sensitive and allowing Him to move in our ministry. Problem usually occurs when people tend not to be sensitive to God’s presence. This could happen when one to much focusing to his playing or skill, play with emotion without knowing that in the end they actually distract other worshippers! That’s why I suggest in my earlier post, musicians have to learn to worship during their playing; together with their instruments. When we do this, we will know during our playing if it is loud and noisy, or distracting other people. When we worship together we will definitely sensitive to God’s presence and we will not play base on our emotion but to focus on God’s presence during the ministry.

If we refer back to 1Sa 16:13, then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. This is what happen when David play his lyre with filled by Spirit, that the evil spirit depart from Saul!! Amazing!!

Skill

1Sa 16:16Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well. Saul looking for a talented and skillful musician; beside talented also remember that a person have to be Spirit-filled too. Skillful musicians or dancers needed cause when one is not really as skill as we require, this also can lead to distract worshipers focus during worship.

When I travel and went to different churches, most of the church have this problem. Skill!! Sometime I feel it is so distracting when you listen to someone play a drum with a wrong beat or late rolling. Even a distracting when you hear someone strum a guitar and suddenly to a wrong chord. You have to open your eyes to see what happen. My point here is not that I’m too much focusing to perfection but for me if we really want to serve God and glorify Him with our talent, always try to educate our self with skills and always want to improve our playing!! Give our best to God, whole heartedly and skillfully. Cause God always want us to be the best, for He is the provider. He created the music!! So don’t ashamed to ask!!I know God is looking to our heart when we play, and we often though that as long as my heart is honest in my playing, God will honor me back. But What if our heart is half-half, and we thought that, “enough. I think this is enough for God. As long as I offer Him my skill and He knows my desire, it’s enough”. Isn’t it this refer too we are not wholeheartedly. We just simply give not the best we could to our King? Always give the best we could!!

in Spirit and in Truth

2009-05-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

Hai...it have been so long for me not writing or updating my blog. This few blog i will like to write about what i has prepare for our Praise and Worship team, while we study on what is Praise and Worship. We'd been discussing on three different topic about praise and worship. For the first topic i'd prepare, is about Worship in Spirit and in Truth.

What is Praise and Worship (P&W)?

According to Bob Sorge's book i'd been reading about praise and worship, P&W is not an option. It is commandment of God that evey child of God is to be a praiser and a worshipers of God. True, so true! We all know that God created us for a purpose. Beside of His purpose to carry the call, which is to win soul for the Kingdom, we are also call to worship Him at all cost! Even since the begining of man civilisation, God's instruct man to worship Him, and not the Idols or other what we so call "god"! P&W what i try to mention here is also include music, singers and dancers.

The different between P&W and involvement.

involve basically is we just follow our schedule and play or dance. Involve usually effected by our feeling. If we feel ok or we feel like we want to dance, music, and sing we do it. If not, we just withdraw without hesitating our decision. Involve will usually cause one to murmur and not with whole heartedly!

P&W is suppose to be in Spirit and in Truth. It is written in Joh 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

In Spirit...

1 Sam 16:13 - anoint with Holy Spirit

1 Sam 16:23 - David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

In spirit bassically is like David, filled with God's spirit. To worship God is Spirit is to honor God with our skill in our music playing and be filled with God's spirit. To be filled is to accept Christ in our life and let His spirit move in us, live in us and guide us. What happen to Saul when David plays the instrument? Because David was filled with God's Spirit, when he play the lyre the evil spirit within Saul depart from Saul!! What a powerful it is in our P&W when we filled with God's Spirit.

in Truth...

Jeremiah 9:23,24 - but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."

to worship in Truth is to know the truth. The truth that we should know is the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD. We are not suppose to boast and kind of showing off our skill, but in P&W is to worship in truth, which is to server Him. That is the truth!!

We should not boast at our skills and experience in music, but the truth that we hold, which is to server our Father and boast of who He is!!

Another Issue

Another issue is that when we play music or dance before the Lord in our ministrying time, do it wholeheartedly. That's also mean, when we ministrying during our service, worship togather. Don't just focus on our music arrangement or code, but focus on the presence of the Lord. Worship with the instrument we have, the dance we have and the song that we sing.

PAPA's Love Letter

2009-03-26T00:36:00.001-07:00

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Quoted from http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html

Arrgh! To much noise!!

2009-03-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday our youth ministry is having our buddy system and quiz. This month theme is about prayer. I have this opportunity to share about prayer. Well what i did, i didn't share about directly on prayer.

During last week, i was reading a book from Rich Wagner and the last two chapters is about Adding to the noise, a song from Switchfoot. At first i was thinking too, what is this song about keep mentioning about noise, noise and noise most of the lyric. Than i begin to read till i finish the whole chapter. Here what i finally summarise about the chapter. Adding to the noise:

What's it gonna taketo slow us down

To let the silence spin us around?

What's it gonna taketo drop this town?

We've been spinning at the speed of sound.

This first verse tell us about our busy life. Jon Foreman, the singers of Switchfoot wrote this song and question us, what it's gonna to take to slow our busy life so that we have a silent moment or some time for God? What's we can do to spare our time for God.

I believe the first thing or the main distraction in our life is the "Noise". What is the noise? My description here is not only noise for sound or but a "noise" our busy life, work, activities and movies that steal our time for God! Surprise? I guess not. This modern days, we tend to busy with our life. Early in the morning we woke up. Jump out from our bed and do some stretching. Run to radio and turn it on. We listen to our favorite DJ in the morning, listen to the talk and laugh. Than we run to kitchen, make some breakfast.

Finish everything, we walk out from the house and go to work, college or school. Than we meet our friends, chit chat, in and out the room as time spinning around. Than, we feel stress by our works and can't wait for the time to leave. When we reach home, get into the house and we turn on our computer, radio and tv to listen or our favorite song again. After dinner we sit in front of the TV and watch few movies or drama. Feeling our mind is so stress out, we wanted to have some rest. laying down to our bed and fall asleep. What a busy life until we forget to fit God in!!
That's why in the first verse the singers ask us, What it gonna take to slow us down? What can we do to slow our busy life so that we can spare our time for God?!

Stepping out of those convenience stores,

what could we want but more more more?

From the third worldto the corporate core

we are the symphony of modern humanity.

The second verse is about nowadays modern people tend to fulfil their dream by buying goods in convenience store before can determine whether it is a needs or just what we want! Rich Wagner in his book describing that not only in State but the whole world is facing the same problem. Nowadays, because of the buyer's power many things have been produce to meet their want. This thing produced to fulfill their want cause people to just want to buy more, more and more. When they enjoy what their want, God become the second or less in their life. This thing such as Video game, iPod, car's accessories or even music instruments! When we enjoy our games, our time will be spend more to it.

Well i experience this. I enjoy game from 7 or 8 pm till 3 or 4 am...WOW!! Ehm...than, i don't even have a time for God previously. My focus is just to finish the match and win the title (I play PES8). Well, friend if you say you can stop a while and pray or read the bible; don't dare. Cause you will experience like me, or even you have no focus. Maybe during your devotion or prayer time you will always think of your game!

What can we do to slow this thing down?

If we're adding to the noise

turn off this song.

If we're adding to the noise

turn off your stereo, radio, video...

This chorus tell us that if those thing, our busy life, our work, our game, our tv show and radio adding to the "noise" in our list, turn it off! Maybe we can start by listing our noise in our life. In the bible mention to us, if our eyes cause us sin, pluck it. If our hand cause us sining, chop it!

Wow!! Chop? Pluck? What is it actually mean? By referring to what i write here in this blog, is actually we put away the noise that is in us. Noise that cause us fall, noise that drawing us afar from God!!

In our prayer life, hearing God voice is the most interesting thing. When Jesus prayer, he went to a silent place alone, up to the mountain and pray. He went to the place where there is no distraction and focus. Jesus is teaching us that when we pray, God is speaking to us in very soft and smooth voice. If we want to hear Him, we need to be in silent place, alone and no "noise" surround us.

Well, Rich Wagner mention in his book that this noise could be a "Christianised Noise" What is that? If we read again the chorus part:

If we're adding to the noise

turn off this song.

If we're adding to the noise

turn off your stereo, radio, video...

...we actually read here that Jon Foreman mention if their song adding to the noise, turn off this song. And if their song song adding to their noise, turn off the stereo, radio, video. Why?? Christian song could be a noise too? Ehm...what their actually mean is that if christian song become a stumbling block to us, stop the music!

Some of us, when we listen to christian music, or jamming christian music we let the music control us. In the end we let the christian music become our most priority in our life. The first Law is, you shall not have other God beside Him. When we make a christian music an idol or first in our life, God forbid it! This same goes to Christian activities. If the activities make our life unbalance and draw our attention away from God, whereby we are focusing more to the activities itself, this is wrong! This could adding to the noise in our life; Christian music, Christian activities and events if we become unbalance in our life.

Now, let us together run away from the "noise", put it away and have our very silent and special moment with God just to hear His voice.

"Be still and know that I am God"
I

reUnion KML '02

2009-03-19T00:51:00.000-07:00

Inviting all KML '02 who might know me. Please mail me or msg me. We (MelvinSigo and me) are planning to do reUnion for KML '02. Before you might sayconfirm, please email me. I will let you know all the details and location forreUnion. Inform the others.
(jadif@cmsa.com.my)

Kepada semua KML '02 yang mengenali saya. Sila email atau msg saya. Kita (Melvin Sigo dan saya) bercadang untuk mengadakan reUnion untuk KML '02. Sebelum anda bercadang untuk bersetuju untuk menyertai, sila email saya terlebih dahulu. Saya akan memaklumkan kepada semua butiran berkenaan reUnion ini dan lokasinya. Maklumkan kepada semua.(jadif@cmsa.com.my)

Chance

2009-03-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

Last night I continue my reading on Jeremiah 31. This chapter tells us about God’s grace. Here also God made a promise to Israel. This promise is God’s promise for New Testament! The new deal or agreement, so called promise made by God is not the same promise He made with their ancestors; but a new one.

Base on human nature, normally when we mad or dissatisfy with someone, our new deal or agreement will be more harsh or hard than the first one. God at first place made an agreement with their ancestors but still the ancestors break it and causing God want to punish them. God use many ways to punish them, but still God hold their hand while walk out from Egypt. Did their ancestors loyal to God? No! They craft an image, an idol to worship. As a human, if this thing happens to us, we will surely upset with their attitude, mad and want to destroy this unfaithful nation. But God choose to make a new agreement which is more hope and grace for the nation.

Jer 31:17a And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD,

God speak to the nation through Jeremiah saying that, there is still hope, so don’t lose hope. This verse I believe speak not only to the nation during that time, but also speak to us nowadays.

Maybe now we find no hope in our study because we fail or no hope for us because we was in bad disciple and expelled from college. We try to apply to many colleges or institute but still no answer and not accepted. Maybe the company we work with bankrupt, and we have no job. We try and keep on trying to apply for new job, still no answer. But God tell us, there is hope in thine end. There is still hope for us.

Jer 31:17b …that thy children shall come again to their own border.

Mean here that we, will come again to our own border, to the place where we belong and to the place where God want us to be and be blessed! Our job, study, life, family and even our relationship.

I still remember during my study time in semester 4. Every one of us in Multimedia Technology courses fails our Java paper and everyone’s pointer drop. Most of us drop below 2.00. I still remember that time when everyone was really mad with the lecture because the lecturer was so strict and not even want to give us chance. Everyone seems like mourning for a death person. My pointer also drops to 1.78 that semester. What should we do? How should we answer our parent? Will our study loan be stop for one semester? Should we reseat the paper? Should we do a petition? Can we continue to next semester? Many questions going around in our head.

I remember in the bible says that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me!” I pray to God that God help me in the next semester and I’m not going to repeat or reseat the paper. I move on with God’s promise in me that He will let me finish my study without any paper’s repeat.

Here come the next semester! I just apply any available paper. I also apply for my final project. Any being active in church ministry will not stop me from holding to God’s promise for me. That 5th semester I still continue to ministry in church while busy with my final project, plan to score as high point as I could and I become a demonstrator (Lecturer’s assistant) to teach our first year student shooting and video editing. What a heavy was that semester for me. But still, I believe God who strengthen me enable me to do those thing.

I still remember that semester our church having a trip whereby a youth conference was held in Limbang. We went there while I bring along my proposal for my final project. That proposal was a sketch of my 3D final project and some layout I need to draw too.

We came back from Limbang, and it’s time now for me focus to my proposal and my final exam. Without hesitating, God’s promise, I sit for my exam, submit my proposal, my sketch and teach the student on-site or on-set to do shooting sometime from morning till evening and inside the studio teaching them to edit the video during nighttime. What a busy day for me.

What a shock for me when I get my result. My pointer getting higher which during that semester 2.3 and a hope for me to continue to my last semester. Amazingly, my proposal I score an A for it and was accepted to do my video clip 3D! God who grants me strength receive the glory and honor in my study.

My point here is that, whenever we think that there is no hope for us either its about our job, life, relationship, family, health or study; look to Him. He who promise us strength and He who promise us hope! God never fail in His promise though we always fail in our promise to Him. Trust Jesus that He will provide us for our needs. I have been through this in my study and carrier. I experience God’s love and promises in my life. That’s why I want to share this to everyone, who ever now feel down, and lose hope, Jesus is the way.

Now with my job and expertise God’s give me, I want to continue to server Him in anything I can. As an IT person, in my church most of IT thing is hand to me. I believe this is what God want me to do with my IT cert or my expertise. And I believe God give me chance to study IT and now He given me another chance to minister through IT.

God bless you all!!

Iron Yoke

2009-03-11T01:12:00.000-07:00

Last nite i was reading on Jeremiah 27 to 29. I was reading how God want to punish the nation and want to restore them back by sending or speaking through the prophets. We read in Jeremiah, God actualy want to send sickness or destruction to the nation. But Because of God's love and grace He speak to the nation through Jeremiah so that the generation will return from their wicked way, repent and seek God.

But when i read in Jeremiah 29: 7,
(Jer 29:7)And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

As i continue to read and study on this scripture, i begin to understand and refer the city not only as a City, but city can be ou ministry, home, place where we stationed or our workplace. In Jeremiah 29, God speak to the nation that He want the nation to be fruitfull and multiply thus work the land where God place them in Babylon! (29:4)

Hananiah declare God speak to him and prophecy, saying that God will break the wooden yoke from the nation. But He prophecy a false prophecy. God speak through Jeremiah saying that He will put iron yoke to the neck of the nation. At the first place the nation feel enslaved with the yoke and want to be free from Babylon. But God say, stay where they are and work.

As i continue to meditate on the word and study, God shows and speak to me in term of ministry, city can be refered as our ministry. God has place us in various ministry and maybe at th first place we feel like we strugle for it, or a burden to us. We feel heavy and want to let go the yoke. But God say, stay and be multiply. In new testament yoke refer to the responsibility God gave us. God say, come to Him and take His yoke. In Jeremiah, God give them Iron Yoke. When we think about Iron, mean something which we can't break and it's a responsibilty to us.

An iron yoke for the city in Jeremiah is a responsibilty and task which need to be take care off. The iron yoke in our ministry is also refering to something which we should take care of. As stated in v7, "and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace." Peace among our community, peace in our ministry, peace in everything we organise or our events, peace in our personal life.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.
Jer 29:12 And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all year heart.

Today, during lunch time, we from people ministry having a small discussion with Uncle Sam Ramasamy. We talk about Youth ministy, Tertiary and Young adult ministry. We talk about how we can improve the ministry and make it more efective and a blessing to all young people in our church. Uncle Sam sugest that we have to let God manifest in Sunday service. Nowadays, most young people tend to make God as an abstract thing. But we have to bring God in our service, in our Praise and Worship and Sermon; where God's power, deliverance is manifested.

During conversation with Uncle Sam, i sudenly realise that God spoke to me last nite regarding the "City" and now, here we are all the young people leaders sit together and talk, discuss about our ministry. Uncle Sam is an Elder from FGA K.L and was blessed with our Praise and Worship. When he first attend our service, he was really touch during the P&W and upon seeing many young people in the church, he have his heart for the younger generation.

All what i want to share and tell us here is, take care of our "City". Keep the peace and carry the Iron Yoke which God gave us. Don't break the yoke with false prophesy like Hananiah, but carry it with our call and a hunger heart along with prayer. God bless you!!

Saving Grace - Mission in Action

2009-02-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

I was reading again from Rich Wagner book, Gospel Unplugged. This time topic is about Out of Your Comfort Zone. We prefer to sit in our comfort zone where we fill everything is enough for us and we like it. Why should i go out from my comfort zone? I don’t know what is there out from my comfort zone?

This section or topic is sharing based on Point Of Grace song, Saving Grace. The author stretch out that, we know and always hear people or pastors shared about Love our neighbor as you love yourself. True that we have to love those as Jesus love us. Than we tend to be good to all people around us, our next door neighbor, and we try to be friendly to everyone. Is that all? Ehm…are we out of our comfort zone?

The author believes Point of Grace sing this Saving Grace song with goal in mind which is about the responsibility that each Christian has to reach out to a lost and desperate world. And i personally believe also that this is not only about being friendly and not hating our neighbor, but to reach out to those who in need! This thought always in our mind or normally in every Christian mind, Church is a holy place for holy people. If Church is for holy people, where do we put unholy people? This topic remind me of our Convention 2009 theme and goal which is to be an agent, Mission in Action. We all know that Faith without action is dead, but how do we describe the action? By involve in church every Sunday only? By being friendly? Out of our comfort zone is to reach out, to the street, and place where people don’t dare to go!

As i read this topic, i strongly believe this is what God want us in Kuching during this convention to do. God want every young people to reach out, out of their comfort zone. When our Coordinator and i discuss at the first place last year regarding what to plan for next convention; this idea came to me that we should go and spend time with less fortunate people, disable people, Orphan Home, and Boy’s home. We should go to them to share God’s love to them! Maybe we not necessary talk about God’s love, but show the grace!! Less talk but more action for action speaks louder than word. When youth, teenager or young people have trouble, we seldom see them run to the church and seek help from Christian people. They run to secular friends, Pub, Club, Bar and disco to forget their problem.

This is the main issue in Saving Grace song, a girl with family’s problem run away from home, walking around at the street but not by knocking the Church’s door and seek help. Why?! This normally happen when someone feel worse and terrible of themselves, “Church?! Why should i go there! I was already feeling terrible about myself. They’d just make me feel worse” Most people tend to ignore worse and terrible person. But they are the most wanted person by God.

Maybe we thinking that the person with trouble should come every Sunday, listen to the sermon and go for altar call. Or the terrible person going to pub because mixing with wrong group. How should they know which group is good or bad if there is no one like us approach them and show’s God amazing grace?!

Few tips the author suggest us on showing grace:

We must share God’s “saving grace” with others around us.
We must focus on the needs of the Graces of the world.
We must demonstrate love in our daily lives
We must be Jesus around us
We are to give our live away

They key this here is, we should focus on the people around us. Rev Chris Manusama shared to us during our End-Time Refreshing; we should start to focus on man not to our ministry! God first come to earth to save mankind not the ministry, because God is more concern about souls.

As to promote our Convention this year, we will stretch out also on more action to be done. Instead of we attend the convention but no action to be done later; we should focus on souls for Christ and showing God’s love to everyone.

Saving Grace by Point of Grace

She had her father’s blue eyes

He left home before she arrived

Mama named her Grace

Just getting by on their own

When Grace was fifteen she ran from home

One December day Grace is lost and alone

In a world as cold as stone

God is counting on us

To reach her with His love

It’s all about saving grace

All about living love

Being Jesus to those he came to save

Sharing life

And giving our own away

It’s all about Serving God

All about saving Grace

She’d never darken the door of any church

She would say, “What for?

No one there would care for me?

We have to go where she lives

Simply show her who Jesus is

Watch Him set her free

For grace flows down from above

And faith requires a selfless love

For a world that’s dying to see

The hope in you in me

There are countless millions just like Grace

Who need a merciful embrace

They won’t believe our God is real

Until they feel his touch

Remember our Elder one

2009-02-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

First of all i would like to thank all my friends wishing me during my birthday on 18^th February. Actually, as for me i have no plan for my birthday. But after thinking a while and texting with a friend, end up i decide to invite both my grandmas and grandfather to join me having dinner at home. Wow…i couldn’t believe it. I finally decide and pick them either!

After we move to the new house, we seldom have time to meet our grand and spend time with them. When i was a kid, i use to go back village and spent time with my mother’s mom. Every school holidays and it make me missing my grandma very much. As i grow up, we stay with my father’s parent. After we move to the new house, and everyone is working i feel that we already have less time with them, and i feel that during my 25^th birthday is the best time to invite both of them.

I drove back village and fetch my grandma, and when i reach the house, she have no voice! We were wondering, what is the cause of it. I just pick her up and drove back home. Along the way back home, she keep complaining to me that our cousins at village don’t even cook sometime. I ask my grandma what she took for lunch. She answers me she doesn’t take her lunch that day. Ehm…I’m kind of mad of my cousin, but couldn’t cause i feel it’s our fault also didn’t take care of her.

During the dinner, we all eat together and talking. Everyone seems happy and enjoy the moment. Thanks to my mum who know how to cook very well. I ask my sister to get my grandma food. I saw my grandma enjoy eating and she ask to add some more. Ehm..

At first we thought to send grandma back home the next day, but my dad said no. So we let her stay for another day. Just a night with us, her’s voice is now ok and we can hear she speak out. Fuh…Thanks God. After that we all hold her with us for 3 days and she have enough food and recover from sore throat.

My friend text me, we should appreciate the elders like them I love both my elders. I appreciate them very much as my family and hope in the future i could do more.

Friends, if we still have grandma and grandpa, appreciate them. Maybe we though they are old enough to take care of themselves, but the need us energetic people and young one. Spend time with them, show our love to them. Bring them out to eat, not just at home. They need entertainment too. Maybe if they can drive than they will go out, but what if they can’t drive?

Think of what the done for us when we were a kid. It will help us to appreciate them more. Though maybe our elders are bad with us when we were kid or sometime they dislike us, remember there are our elders. God bless you all!!!

I will help thee

2009-01-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

Undeniable, everyone has their own up and down time. I was driving in my car and was praying to God. I asked God, “God, why such thing happens to me. God, i can’t stand this test anymore! I need your help. Show me what you want me to do with my situation now. I don’t know how to deal with it already God.” This is my cry to God in my car. Tears drop, heart hunger and perhaps i feel like I’m losing my hope. Sometime we tried many ways to hide our inner feeling or cry. We try to be happy with our friends, with hope we can forget the hurts. But when we alone, our mind will think back the same thing and thus make us cry. But, still we never get the answer from God by the time we cry to Him.

Yesterday night, we went to our praise and worship practice for our End-Time Refreshing Rally in church. I was playing the guitar in our prayer before we start our practice. During the worship, i start to strum the guitar and concentrating to my chord. But when i decided to worship, open my mouth and sing; God touch and move in me. I forget all those matters in my life. And the felling in God’s presence is so wonderful and awesome. Than i begin to think, i hunger and thirst of God’s presence in my life. Every time we tend to busy with our problems and issue that bother us. We use our own ways to solve it, but never come and worship God!

When i want to solve my problem, often i find my own solution and way to settle it. In the end it don’t really solve, thus more hurts.

Now i am sitting in front of my laptop while typing this blog. But, before that i was reading my devotion in e-Sword. Everything seems to be in order when God start to work in my life tonight. The topic i read is about what i’m facing now. After that i was listening to mp3. I listen to Semua Baik (Everything Good) by Franky Sihombing and Unfailing Love by Chris Tomlin. God speak to me through this song too. This song is such a nice song that spoke to me about God’s un failing love and before the world we already in His mind. And He is creating everything good in it’s place and my devotion title for this is I will help thee.

Isa 41:14Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

“This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: “I will help thee.” “It is but a small thing for me, thy God, to help thee. Consider what I have done already. What! not help thee? Why, I bought thee with my blood. What! not help thee? I have died for thee; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help thee! It is the least thing I will ever do for thee; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose thee. I made the covenant for thee. I laid aside my glory and became a man for thee; I gave up my life for thee; and if I did all this, I will surely help thee now. In helping thee, I am giving thee what I have bought for thee already. If thou hadst need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it thee; thou requirest little compared with what I am ready to give. ‘Tis much for thee to need, but it is nothing for me to bestow. ‘Help thee?’ Fear not! If there were an ant at the door of thy granary asking for help, it would not ruin thee to give him a handful of thy wheat; and thou art nothing but a tiny insect at the door of my all-sufficiency. ‘I will help thee.’“

O my soul, is not this enough? Dost thou need more strength than the omnipotence of the United Trinity? Dost thou want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit? Bring hither thine empty pitcher! Surely this well will fill it. Haste, gather up thy wants, and bring them here-thine emptiness, thy woes, thy needs. Behold, this river of God is full for thy supply; what canst thou desire beside? Go forth, my soul, in this thy might. The Eternal God is thine helper!

“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismay’d!

I, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid.”

Will you just stop and ask for the reason?!

2009-01-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

I receive this email from a friend, and i feel it so touching. The main point of it is whatever happens or ever happens there’s a reason behind it. Please just read through the story and be blessed.

“My mom only had one eye. I hated her... She was such an embarrassment.
She cooked for students & teachers to support the family.

There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to
Say hello to me.

I was so embarrassed.

How could she do this to me?
I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out.
The next day at school one of my classmates said, 'EEEE, your mom only
Has one eye!'

I wanted to bury myself.
I also wanted my mom to just disappear.
I confronted her that day and said, ' If you're only goanna make me a
Laughing stock, why don't you just die?'

My mom did not respond...
I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because
I was full of anger.
I was oblivious to her feelings.

I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her.
So I studied real hard , got a chance to go abroad to study.
Then, I got married.
I bought a house of my own.
I had kids of my own.
I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts, Then one day, my

Mother came to visit me.
She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her
Grandchildren.

When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at
Her for coming over uninvited.
I screamed at her, 'How dare you come to my house and scare my
Children!'
GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!'

And to this, my mother quietly answered, 'Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have
Gotten the wrong address,'
And she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house.

So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip.
After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.

My neighbors said that she died.
I did not shed a single tear.
They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

'My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and
Scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion.
But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you.
I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were
Growing up.

You see........when you were very little, you got into an accident, and
Lost your eye.
As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you
Having to grow up with one eye.
So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my
Place, with that eye.

With all my love to you,
Your mother. “

Always tell someone that you love them because you never know what day
Will be their last, or your own.

Always seek to resolve your problems or disagreements with loved ones
Because if either of you should pass on before, the one who is left alive will have the rest of their life to ponder those unresolved feelings but will never find closure. And closure usually brings
Peace...

I asked God, 'How do I get best out of life?'
God said, 'Face your past without regret. Handle you present with confidence.
And prepare your future without fear'.

“Serve the Lord with gladness.”

2009-01-11T23:30:00.000-08:00

Psa 100:2Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Last week i was reading my e-Sword in my laptop. Every time i open up, my daily devotion software will pop up too.That morning, i was reading my devotion on serving. Previously, i ever thought want to quit or let go my responsibility in church ministry. And up until now, i didn’t manage to drop any of it and still continue it. But when i read this devotion, it struck me when psalmist said that server the Lord with gladness! Why we most of the time feel tired in ministry? Why sometime we give up with ministry or with people we work with?

This matter we will always see in most of the church. People leave their ministry because upset with team they work with. People quit because they don feel joy in the ministry and people even leave church or “church jumper” because heart break with few people inside the ministry. “Church jumper” is people who not consistently involve in church. Few month this church, when upset or feel that it is not satisfying jump to other church.

Well, i believe along most of our ministry life experience, all of us experience upset in ministry heart break by our team in ministry. I feel that too. When i want to suggest something which i feel the best we can do, and the team didn’t listen and won’t accept it; i was really disappointing. Is it mean i have to leave and find another church which the team is more understanding? There is one speaker ever share that when we face this situation, be mature and professional. This thing happen everywhere not only church. When we say we are mature spiritually, we should know how to deal with this situation. Not leaving the ministry. Because ministry in not like a club we can resign or quit from it. Ministry is a calling we accept from God, the Higher power.

My friend told me this too, we serving not serving man who appoint us or entrusted us. But we are serving Father in heaven, our King who entrusted us to continue what Jesus left on earth. When our mind focus on serving to pleasing one who appoint us and want to make it perfect so that the person will be happy, our objective is totally wrong. In the end we will easily get disappointed in ministry and heart break, causing us to leave the ministry. But when we involve in ministry, work in team, encourage one another and most important thing is our focus is God. When our focus is God, we will always have faith in Him, trusting God and we can always serve Him with joy and gladness! Here i paste together my devotion text i would like to share you with.

Delight in divine service is a token of acceptance. Those who serve God with a sad countenance, because they do what is unpleasant to them, are not serving him at all; they bring the form of homage, but the life is absent. Our God requires no slaves to grace his throne; he is the Lord of the empire of love, and would have his servants dressed in the livery of joy. The angels of God serve him with songs, not with groans; a murmur or a sigh would be a mutiny in their ranks. That obedience which is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looketh at the heart, and if he seeth that we serve him from force, and not because we love him, he will reject our offering. Service coupled with cheerfulness is heart-service, and therefore true. Take away joyful willingness from the Christian, and you have removed the test of his sincerity. If a man be driven to battle, he is no patriot; but he who marches into the fray with flashing eye and beaming face, singing, “It is sweet for one’s country to die,” proves himself to be sincere in his patriotism. Cheerfulness is the support of our strength; in the joy of the Lord are we strong. It acts as the remover of difficulties. It is to our service what oil is to the wheels of a railway carriage. Without oil the axle soon grows hot, and accidents occur; and if there be not a holy cheerfulness to oil our wheels, our spirits will be clogged with weariness. The man who is cheerful in his service of God, proves that obedience is his element; he can sing,

“Make me to walk in thy commands,

‘Tis a delightful road.”

Reader, let us put this question-do you serve the Lord with gladness? Let us show to the people of the world, who think our religion to be slavery, that it is to us a delight and a joy! Let our gladness proclaim that we serve a good Master.

“Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you.”

2008-12-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

This morning i open up my e-Sword, an electronic bible in my laptop; i read about Isa 30:18. This verse really i believe for me personally and for those who is in struggle waiting for answer. I write before about “what if God’s will not in our BGR?” Here is also the answer for it.

We just came back from our Youth Basic Camp. It is really a blessing to all and God’s shows His love for the youth in time of troubles, misunderstanding and desperation. We pray right after we Committee had our post mortem and God start to mold us and shows us His greatness next day. God even speak to our Youth!

During the camp, i talk to my friend Joshua regarding struggle. And he said to me with encouragement, if we all feel the pain, rejected, sadness, waited and being ignored; God first going through it. He carry the cross, He was spit on the face, kicked. When He wait for us to return and love Him back, He waited for very long time for our return. When we fall to sin and rejected Him, He wait with crushed heart but He always forgiving.

It’s true when our prayer, request or what we seek and ask for is not answered. Doesn’t mean it’s not answered, just that God have it’s own timing to give the answer. When He give the answer, it will be on the perfect time and day. Very beautiful and precious moment, that we will know God knows the best.

Below i quoted from my e-Sword Reading devotion. Thanks.

Isa 30:18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

God often DELAYS IN ANSWERING PRAYER. We have several instances of this in sacred Scripture. Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day-he had to wrestle all night for it. The poor woman of Syrophenicia was answered not a word for a long while. Paul besought the Lord thrice that “the thorn in the flesh” might be taken from him, and he received no assurance that it should be taken away, but instead thereof a promise that God’s grace should be sufficient for him. If thou hast been knocking at the gate of mercy, and hast received no answer, shall I tell thee why the mighty Maker hath not opened the door and let thee in? Our Father has reasons peculiar to himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show his power and his sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order that thy desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase desire, and that if he keeps thee waiting thou wilt see thy necessity more clearly, and wilt seek more earnestly; and that thou wilt prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying. There may also be something wrong in thee which has need to be removed, before the joy of the Lord is given. Perhaps thy views of the Gospel plan are confused, or thou mayest be placing some little reliance on thyself, instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or, God makes thee tarry awhile that he may the more fully display the riches of his grace to thee at last. Thy prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but continue instant in earnest supplication.

What if God's wll not in our BGR?

2008-12-04T19:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday i was reading a book and there is one subtitle i read about Your Will Be Done. This is a story, actually, for us to learn about and reflect in our life. Your will be done. In reality many of us easily to say and confess that it is God will. But what if that God’s will hurt us or we can’t accept it? Will we stay loyal or faithful to God? Or is it hard for us to accept it and keep knocking on heaven’s door while crying out to God?

This story i read is about a mother who can’t easily confess God’s will, cause she afraid that God’s will is to take her’s only son. I personally afraid to say it too. Let say we talking about God’s will in our relationship. What if God’s will is want you to break up, leave the relationship? Will we really follow what we confess to God, “Your will God”? What if God’s will now is only we enjoy relationship but it is not our real life partner? Will you agree or run to God and force God to change His beautiful decision to follow our own will? It is not as easy as we confess to God, “Your will God”.

I wanted to write about BGR because was encourage by friends, and my own experience in life. I ever plan previously relationship with my ex-GF and planning for future. Everything was great, beautiful, and loving. But is it God’s will? How do we know it is a God’s will than? Rejected, dump and break up; heart break, tears, and losing trust is always waiting at the end. (We can read this is Joshua Harris book, I Kiss Dating Goodbye and Boy meet Girl).

Luk 11:13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

I refer to Luk 11:13 clearly God stated that Father knows better and what best for us. Though we have to break up or leave the relationship, God know what best for us. When we hurt or hard to accept God’s decision, remember this verse. Father knows much more what best for us.

Some may say and curios how do we know it is really God’s will? Well again refer to the sermon i listen to Pr. Sam; finding God’s will in our relationship. If in our relationship God’s will is accomplish, than we are in the right track. Can we determine God’s will in our relationship base on we love each other and close to each other? Well, a bit true. I can't deny that. Base on Joshua Harris book, God’s will in our relationship is that God is pleased in our relationship, honor God and holy. How do we differentiate the holiness? How do we know that our relationship is pleasing and honoring God too? Ehm…i guess you can think it if we really mature in this type of relationship.

The most important part and hardest in life to follow God’s will, isn’t it? Sometime we do not know whether this relationship is right or wrong? Sometime we tend to really sure also, about our relationship, but actually we not sure what is the end.

Why word can break a heart

2008-11-26T19:03:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I’ve not writing in this blog. Well, this morning, as i continue my reading in Jeremiah 15. God shows me this verse and feel like want to share with you all about this verse and my experience.

In my family, we are taught to not speak any false language and bad words. During my Sunday school time or children church all the aunties and sisters who taught us will scold us if we say such word. I still remember that we will get scare if we say it and get scold by all unties. We ever been taught also, when we mix with school friends and say such words; slap our own mouth. This is practically to disciple our self. Sound funny huh? But i could help for those who can’t resist from saying such word. I am very strict with those cases, i mean bad word come out from our mouth.

Jer 15:19 Therefore thus says the LORD: "If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.

Clearly through Jeremiah, God spoke that whoever not speaking what is worthless will be (direct translation from Indonesia) His mouth! It is written also in Jud 1:16 these are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. Our mouth is to praise the Lord! Not full with boast or bad words or words that “kill” someone.

That’s why in Jeremiah 15:19 said that we shall be His mouth. And when we return to God, we shall not return to them anymore. Meaning here, God want our true heart. When we return to God, we shall leave our old life behind. Leave it and never come back, crawling to our old life! What ever “they” shay return to us blasphemy, back stabber, cursing, talking behind back, what ever we shall call it as long as it is using our mouth or word that come out from out mouth; we shall never return to “them”.

I study and read about worship leading books, one which is most important key i always keep is, we cannot use our mouth to praise the Lord if our mouth is also use to blasphemy or saying bad words; either saying about people (ngumpat) or saying bad words toward others.

But God want to be strict about this, not only because our heart but because what ever come out from the mouth is from the heart. God look into our heart, if our heart is true and sincere when we praise and worship Him.

Well worshippers and leaders, be strict about this and remind all your team members to really care about this issue. If we read the whole Chapter 15, God is sad and angry about what His people done, their attitude and lifestyle which is not pleasing God.

Want our worship to reach out to heaven? Want our worship fill with His presence and all the audience being ministered? God is the focus.

Today my writing is only about mouth or word. Maybe next time, I’ll come out with other part or section. GBU.

Edited (Why listening to contemporary music restricted?!)

2008-11-09T22:02:00.000-08:00

Do you believe in contemporary music? Do you know what is contemporary music? Can contemporary music speak or preach to us like other songs and Christianize people? fuh ...sometime we do know how to answer this, and even if we read the lyric and sing it along to, we not even know the true meaning of it and what is the lyric all about.

First thing first? Do we know what is contemporary music? Contemporary music is a new age of music, modern music and what we call Gen x, or Gen y even Gen z era! It's mean that this music start somewhere mid 70' till now. Contemporary music is different genre than classic Praise and Worship genre.

Contemporary music is mostly Rock, Alternative, Punk, Ska, Hip Hop, Hardcore or many more. Do we believe this? Well i want to make a survey and opinion on this issue. Hope you all can give your comments and debate on this. Maybe we take example from long and everlasting contemporary band, U2. U2 is very famous even until now. This band was formed even before i was born! How about Switchfoot, T-Bone, OneRepublic, Jonas Brothers, Anberlin, Amy Grant, and perhaps Jars of Clay.

But what is contemporary music? Thanks to blogger @Erlinda Mikal@ for the comment that i should elaborate more on contemporary music. Contemporary music is basically a music which most people think is not suitable for praise and worship. Mostly those contemporary band play their song as performance just like other band. Most people thought this band is a worldly band or playing in secular. Well, some of them do play outside in secular area, such as U2, Switchfoot, POD, and many more; even famous. But their lyric or intention is probably like other band, to perform or to satisfied their fan to their music and speak through their lyric! This is how we specify contemporary music in contemporary band. Maybe you should try to listen to any contemporary band, perhaps i would like to suggest Switchfoot.

So, what you think of this group, their music and lyrics? What do you say about contemporary music and contemporary band?

Finding Love in Confusing Time

2008-11-05T19:19:00.000-08:00

Last Night i listened to Pr. Sam Surendran’s CD, preaching about Finding Love in Confusing Time. I take time for me to listen to all of the session since i’m quite busy and while listening i make a note thus write it here, my divingDeeper’s blog. So, this is really interesting and encouraging.

Nowadays there is many Christian pick up line when they want to first “tackle” a girl or a boy. Those pick up line take place when we see pretty girl or handsome guy pass through and we say “WOW! You have a nice bible; God show you to me, can i pray with you; You’re so cold. How about reading Ecc 4:11 to warm you up; ehm…what’s the plan tonight? Feel like bible study?” Those are some interesting Christian pick up line to start a BGR. What's Biblical way! So spiritual!

There’s also a break up line for most people, some of it is a famous one; usually used when want to break up. “I find someone more spiritual; Sorry, it is not a God’s will; I fell like dating my brother; I’m sorry, can we just be a prayer partner?” These normally used for most Christian couple, an excuse to break off or to leave a relationship.

Few points i jot down while listening to Pr. Sam’s preaching. We need to know the different between Time and Timing and acknowledge it. Read Genesis 24:21.

Acknowledging the time verses timing factor.

In Genesis 24 talk about time to find a wife for Isaac, and the servant as we know pray to God and wanted a sign if he will meet the person, right one and observe whether the person is right for Isaac. He pray so that the lady will give him water and also his camel to drink. The servant finally gets the answer and he meet Rebecca and she brings water to the servant and gives the camel drink too. What a wonderful God isn’t it? But what the servant do? Did the servant jump up and grab Rebecca by the hand and tell her that “God show you to me, and wanted you to become my master’s wife!” No! We often pray for sign and God might show who’s the exact person for us is. We pray that she might wear red this Sunday, and big round ear ring. Than we waited at the church door, become usher that special day and spotted the person and maybe we jump out to her and say, “You’re the one. God answer my prayer! You’re the one!” I guess the girl will scream and cry for help!

We need to know Time vs Timing.

What is time? Time belong to man. We all have time and in Genesis 24: 21 also state that the servant have time to look for a wife for his master.

What is timing? Timing belongs to God. God have His own timing to make sure everything work smoothly and perfect.

Maybe some of us often involve or end up with wrong or unhealthy relationship because we’re ahead of God’s timing; which is own timing. Timing here requires:

Observe – When we get a sign. Don’t just approach the person and confess or tell him/her. Observe whether she/he is the one or not. Maybe you’ll meet him/her some other day with that same sign, the right one and no argument! Pr. Sam challenges us here when our prayer answered, observe it.
Sign, but not just sign – Maybe it just a coincidence! Don’t simple jump to the person and tell them. Pray for more sign and confirmation. Maybe by coincidence we meet the person exactly matches the sign from God, but he/she might not be the one! She or he might just apparently match the sign but not the person God shows you!

Pr. Sam in his sharing shared a testimony of his friend who receives God’s sign. God shows him a woman wears the shirt he prays for. And in one meeting after God show’s him the person; he go and approach the person and tells her that she’s the one for him. God shows her to him. The woman silent and jam; thus tell him, “ehm…let we confirm this with my husband” Is this what we want or pray? In Pr. Sam testimony before he married his wife, he ask for more sign and confirmation from God. Pr. Sam had a dream, his senior pastor’s blessing, parents and many more.

Understanding of timing – meaning that we can’t decide our involvement in the relationship in short time. If the person wants us to give answer in short time whether to accept him/her becomes our boyfriend or girlfriend, it needs timing. Because God’s timing is perfect and wonderful. God’s timing did not rush up, but Pr. Sam challenges us here to understand God’s timing by Observe the sign, and ask for more signs.
Not just an answer, but success – When we receive the answer or confirmation from God, we straight away happy about it and satisfied. But here again Pr. Sam challenges us that not just an answer but success. What is success?

What is Success:

Healthy relationship – A relationship have to be healthy. Maybe we don’t like the person attitude or style but we can’t change the person. Only God can. No forcing between couple and every time have to be together.
Holy relationship – if that relationship start with the body or physical, hand starts to move all around in the dark, it is not holy. Pr. Sam strictly tells us here that don’t test God. See example in Act 5 when Ananias and Sapphira testing God in their tithe, they died. We tend to test God in our relationship. We Christian but we pray, “God bless our relationship, don’t make us fall to sin, keep us away from temptation” But we still drive our car to the dark place, in cinema or hotel room and do the thing we don’t want, even after we pray for it! We are testing God. We pray to god to hinder us from it but we still do it. It is not holy.
Very secure – not shaken or worried and no jealous. Believe and have faith in God. Secure in God first than we can feel secure in our relationship. To be secure in God is to trust God in everything and to have faith.

The servant also takes time to observe the sign when his prayer answered. He looks for more sign whether the answer is success or not. After for quite sometime the servant confirm the sign and answered prayer, than he decided to bring Rebecca back to his master.

Silence, no Rushing – Wait. Pr. Sam challenges us to wait upon the Lord. Even we did not receive very clearly and confirm very clearly about the sign or answered prayer, wait and don’t rush. Usually rushing relationship end up with disappointment or tears and hurt feeling.

Many Christian's youth end up with broken relationship because not allowing God’s timing. Most of us rush up and did not confirm many more signs and observe it.

I chat with some of my friend and even some of it married already. Some of them even fight in their marriage life, beat each other, quarrel and run away from their husband or wife. Some of them ever nearly divorce or even already divorce. When we test God, did not follow God’s timing, this thing will happen.

They are few more points but it is more on adult relationship that goes more towards marriage. Maybe i will post it later.

My Comment on This is Your Life by Switchfoot

2008-11-03T19:45:00.000-08:00

"Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken
don’t close your eyes, don’t close your eyes"

This verse for me is talk about people who are worried about many things in their life. The first line talks about wrinkle on our forehead. This usually happens to us when time of trouble, worried and making decision. 1Th 3:5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. Paul wrote to Thessalonians that he is fear that they might fall to temptation again. That’s why Paul fear is followed by prayer for Thessalonians that they might stay strong and firm in Christ.

For second verse, talk about promise we’d made and yet to be broken. How many of us decide to follow Jesus and make a vow or promise to our self but still break it? That happens to most Thessalonians. They decided and make a promise but still break it. Maybe we had promise to leave our old life and sins that keep us away from God. But this is what written in the song and in the bible too that maybe it’s hard to most of us. Sometime when we face the temptation, wrinkles on our forehead and don’t know how to deal with it; lastly end up we break our promise when we first accept or decided to follow Christ.

Jon Foreman the songwriter for Switchfoot, i believe when he write this song inline with what what Paul mention to Thessalonians that don’t close our eyes. Usually when we fall to sins, we tend to close our eyes when we sin. Mean that we usually ok with that little tiny or simple sin. We thought that after this we can still repent and ask forgiveness from God. Remember it is written, God never been lied. For He is God! We can cheat or lie to our self, but not God.

"This is your life and today is all you’ve got now
Yeah, and today is all you’ll ever have
Don’t close your eyes, Don’t close your eyes"

In second part of first verse, Foreman write that this is your life and today is all you’ve got now. When we refer to 1Th 5:2 for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Our life is precious before God and shall not waste it away. As a Christian we believe that when we sin and deceiving God, we definitely thrown to sea of fire. When Foreman writes this verse and as we refer to 1 The 5:2 clearly stated that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night; and that’s why we need to make use of our life. Because this is the only life we got now, there’s no second chance after meeting God and judge by Him. So again reminder to us, don’t close our eyes and assuming that this thing never happen or we never hear the gospel, for we got one life; do something!

"This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose"

The chorus part remind us that this is our life and the question is, is this life our what we doing now is what we want to be in the future or tomorrow or when we grown up? What is that life? A life of drunkard, gambling, drugs, gangster, or what is in our mind now? What we ever dreamed is it what we want to be? Strongly Foreman state here that to love and follow the world is useless. Rom 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. World can’t give us what we want to be. Maybe fun we have like get drunk, gambling, and become gangster is fun, but it will not fun we facing health issue, police case or end up behind the bar. That’s why this song tells us that in this world we had everything to lose. But a joy in the Lord is our strength and live in Christ is everlasting.

"Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over"

In next verse Foreman write about which is for me yesterday is a history which we need to learn from. In the first line kid in the corner, refer to our life yesterday is like a kid. A kid which is in Heb 5:13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. As we know, kid is not a mature person and tends to try many things. Yesterday we was a kid maybe in faith; like to fall to sin and can’t stand strong in faith because the basic or foundation in our life is not strong enough. But in Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. We are grown up spiritually and should be able to face circumstance and strong in faith. A grown should always train well to face difficulties and full of Spiritual’s armor to fight the evil one.

Lastly this verse talk about yesterday life or old life is already dead and over. Mean that we have brand new life in Christ and should leave all our wrongdoings behind, dead and over. In Christ there’s no more bear chain, cigarette chain, gambling chain and killing chain that binding us and make us slave to it. Christ has make we free and in Him we alive and live everlastingly.

Brother and sister don’t close our eyes when we face temptation, pray and rebuke it strongly in our faith and believe. Don’t close our eyes for our old life is gone and over. New things have come. And this is your life, life in Jesus, everlasting and no more chain.

Do i have enough faith??!

2008-11-03T18:01:00.001-08:00

Heb 11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. (American Standard Version)

This morning I’m meditating on Hebrew 11 and it’s about Faith. This chapter talks about faith of many prophet and heroes those days in the Old Testament. It is faith that save them and make them grow stronger in the Lord. Than I spotted few tips about faith when we have faith:

Basic in Christianity. (Indonesia version in verse 1, talk about basic)
To trust in things yet unseen.
Our offering or sacrifice is pleasing God.
Our live right before God.
Those who really seek God will their rewards.
Get sign and wonders from God
Confidence and believe in God’s promises
Believe in God’s faithfulness
Do not afraid with circumstances and persecution.

This usually happen to every believer who have faith in God. Faith is the main and basic thing in our live. Without faith we will become like a leave waving left – right, blows by the wind.

Many peoples said that, to have a trust it is so hard, but to lose the trust is easy thing to do. Why? Because trust in only talking about either you can believe that person anymore or trust is maybe just a word. But faith is different, for faith talks about trust + believe + confidence + things yet unseen.

World seem struggle around because we don’t have enough faith. Family fight because no faith on their children’s changes, ministry collapse because not enough faith when things yet unseen, Church fight because of not enough faith when get sign or not confidence in God’s promises and even friends turn their back to us when come to facing circumstance. May this might happen or already happen.

And this is just a simple explanation from me about faith. And if you have additional explanation or example, add it in. GBU.

Renew a right spirit within me

2008-10-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

I open up my e-Sword and this devotion pop up, and showed me the verse. It is so encouraging and i wanted to share with you all, that Jesus ever mention not the healthy person needs a doctor, but those who sick; also those sinners, backsliders and person who lost that need God. This verse teach us as we walk this life with full of temptations and challenges, God want to restore the right spirit within us.

(Psa 51:10) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let thy personal weakness, O Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for help.

Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with “renew a right spirit within me.” Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel’s strong Helper. O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life-”Lord, renew a right spirit within me.” He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works.

Be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has his own appointed ways; sit by the wayside and you will be ready when he passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish your dying graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed from him, cease not to cry, “Renew a right spirit within me.”

to Remembrance of X2G

2008-10-30T19:43:00.000-07:00

SMB St. Thomas, is a Christian School founded in 1848 during British occupation in Sarawak. For very long time, St. Thomas is strongly supported by their OTA (Old Thomian Association) and St. Thomas Cathedral of course.

X2G is a band or group of students, talented in music, singing, and famous during school time. X2G founded by group of Christian students, very active in Inter-School Christian Fellowship and youth ministry. Their first debut was in 1999, involve in school singing competition. The true meaning of X2G remain as a secret and their involvement in School singing, or presentation was well known.

The team members was Duay Jackson, Jeremy Nigel, Perry Ragam, MacArthur, Lionel, Fabian, Ezekiel, Edward, Jordan, Lincoln, myself and some other name which i can't really recall. This group was mentored by Canon. On their first debut, this group's ministry is toward Christian Contemporary Music and performing Belaian Jiwa in acapella. X2G was well known with Boy's Band group with acapella. As a result on their first debut, X2G won the competition in 1999 in school singing competition.

X2G make their second appearance in 2000 also in singing competition but with only five members. Members are Fabian Philip, Ezekiel, Ivan Cheong, Colin Wong Yek Fong, and myself. This time X2G singing Flying Without Wing and producing their own music. This music was created by team members them self in their beloved practice studio, St. Thomas Chapel. This time, X2G come out with their own t-Shirt, white shirt with X2G spray on it, blue in color. But this time is different as X2G reveal the true meaning of it, Extreme to God.

In that year, X2G won again in the singing competition was invited to perform in many school occasions. Singing in Teacher's Day, Graduation Day, and many more. One of X2G favorite song during their performance is I could Sing of Your Love by Delirious and Love song for Savior by Jars Of Clay.

Now, X2G is just a history for those teachers and team members. But for me X2G is always in my heart, un-erase memory and undisputed.

My point here is that, as a Christian we never give up Jesus. Maybe you said you don't want to go to church anymore, or fed up with church's activities. But never give up Christ who save us, give us life, and provider. For a christian, for me a ministry is always a ministry, Never hide our true identity, cause this is what Jesus told us in

Mar 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Why should we hide our identity from our friend as a Christian if we were asked? Son of Man will be ashamed to acknowledge us in front of Father. Ever since we have this freedom, use it to share the Word and tell the world about Jesus. Through papers, blogs, mails and flies. Or the best way is forum, or chat room even e-community such as friendster, myspace, hi5, facebook, and many more. Take our time to share about Jesus, or at least encourage one another.

Let's take Switchfoot as an example. They are a Secular band, but the Lyric is more toward encouraging and Christianity. Same like Jars Of Clay and Sixpence Non The Richer, yet many more Christian band. As for X2G, always be extreme to God, not only serve God in ISCF or Youth, but also in secular. Involve in secular activity but with true identity and tell Jesus to public. Thanks.

X2G always.

Dwell in this place

2008-10-28T19:02:00.001-07:00

Jer 7:3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.

As i continue to read the word of God from the book of prophet Jeremiah, God speak clearly to Jeremiah that “Amend your ways! Watch out for your deeds!” In this chapter, God is longing for Israel, God loves them and God want to be with them. But because of their ways and their deeds which is not pleasing God makes God angry, warn them and want to punish them. Israelite makes idols for them selves, practice false belief like burning their sons and daughters, placing idol in the temple of God, plans killing and immoral behavior. Is this all pleasing God?! No its not. That’s why God can’t dwell in their place

Maybe we can say or refer this ways and deeds to our behavior, attitudes, daily life and practice. In many areas in our life, are all listed “ways and deeds” honor and pleasing God? This question i ask myself as i read this chapter. What else area in my life that cause God can’t dwell in my ministry? I ask “Is it me Lord or is it some of my team members, committee or is it our activities Lord”.

My devotion’s reading pop up when i open up my e-Sword, teaching and describing about the Lord’s Prayer. Author stress on “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; lead us not to temptation, but deliver us from evil one”. The author suggest us to recheck our selves daily, to forgive and forget, and to pray that God will lead us that we might not fall to sinning again. As a Christian, Satan never stops to destroy us. Whenever Satan find a way, they will try too.

I need to check my personal life before God, may be it’s hidden from friends but not for God. Something that in our life cause God not dwell in our life or ministry which we need to recheck and pray about. I’ve been struggle for my ministry and my ambition plus hope. I always wanted to be a Christian singer, artist or band which ministry like Delirious, Jars Of Clay, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, or Switchfoot; but God strongly speak to me that i need to check area of my life that make God don’t dwell to our plans, ambitions or ministries. All of this i need to struggle and God want Him to be glorify and known in our life and ministry not us. If our ministry and ambitions about us, God will not prosper it or make it, cause we are stealing God’s glory.

Jer 7:23But this command I gave them: 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.'

Maybe for most of us, we want our ministry grow and mature. Maybe ministry like listed and respectable “big” church, like famous band, like someone, like many conventions, like many rallies or gathering. But we need to check why at this moment God didn’t dwell, and nothing seems to happen to us in our ministry day by days, week after weeks, month by months, and year after years.

Is it about our attitude, behavior, daily life and practice or ways and deeds? You and I have to answer it personally and seek God. God want to dwell, He is there for us, repent and listen to His voice, for He is waiting with wide open arm.

Maybe for us our attitude is right and honest before God, or maybe it’s our committee’s lifestyle, our team member’s attitude or activities. I might not have the answer, but God did.

God bless you!

Through Jeremiah

2008-10-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

Along my journey and while driving to work, im thinking to post another blog. But i don’t know what more. Will it be about ministry, or music, leading or BGR? Ehm..i open my laptop, and read from the word, which is my study on the book of Jeremiah. Today is:

Jer 5:1 Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth that I may pardon her.

When i refer this verse to our ministry, The Lord speaks to each and every one of us from the book of Jeremiah, “Go, look around your ministry and think about it now. Search if we can find people who do the ministry for the sake of justice and truth or His kingdom, and the Lord will bless the ministry”.

Few things we need to consider in our ministry.

Do we ministry because we’re appointed to handle it?
Do we ministry for the sake of Leaders that appoint us?
Do we ministry just to boast off we are good in such task, able to do, educate in it, talented, we are in the same age with them, we are the same education with them?
Do we ministry from our heart or strength?

Maybe your answer is because we respect the elders appointed us to do so, that’s why we just do lo…well, nice of you.

When God saw no people who seek justice and truth in the street of Jerusalem, God is upset and angry. People in Jerusalem prefer to find their own God, do their own work and forget about God. That’s why God said God will forgive them if the turn to God and seeks the truth. God will bless them.

I don’t want to judge here, but this is what i learn during my personal retreat and today too. I would like to suggest that don’t use our might, don’t do ministry because other people have the program, so we thought we should have one, don’t do ministry with our struggle, but leave it to God. How many of us do ministry just to show our talent, to get well known name and maybe we say it’s a best way to involve in various ministry and to be famous? Is it focus to God or focus to our self?

God want to bless our ministry, God want to make us grow, and God want to use us any where we go. But He couldn’t because He is angry with our way, our attitude and our pride.

Jer 5:2 Though they say, "As the LORD lives," yet they swear falsely.

Sometime we pray to God “God in Your name we pray”, “God use me”, “God i offer my life to You” and many more cries. But after God uses us, no disciple in ministry, don’t want to take the responsibility in any task given or ministry. That pray is all false! God is truly sad when look at us like that. We cries every alter call, we cries every prayer meeting, worship and devotion, but mean nothing if we never act it out! How can God uses us and make our ministry to Grow if this two things in both verses still tying us up?! Many is like that, forget their schedule, have many reason to escape, don’t come for fellowship or after being “famous” escape many task given. You decide it.

Ministry is about responsibility God entrusted us to do, not we want to do or appoint to do. Ministry is a sacrifice but less than sacrifice which God made for us, which is to die on the cross. Just a 2 or 4 hours we need to spend and to do God ministry, we can’t do it?

Put our self right in front of God, focus to Him and seek truth. He will bless our ministry, make it grow until we can’t help it anymore, and will use us mightily.

God Bless you all.

“I will love them freely.”

2008-10-22T18:50:00.000-07:00

When i open up my e-sword software in my laptop, i configure my daily devotion in this software and last night this verse and article pop up to me. It’s really encouraging and blesses me. Please take your time to read and meditate on the word.

Hos 14:4I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.

This sentence is a body of divinity in miniature. He who understands its meaning is a theologian, and he who can dive into its fulness is a true master in Israel. It is a condensation of the glorious message of salvation which was delivered to us in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. The sense hinges upon the word “freely.”

This is the glorious, the suitable, the divine way by which love streams from heaven to earth, a spontaneous love flowing forth to those who neither deserved it, purchased it, nor sought after it. It is, indeed, the only way in which God can love such as we are. The text is a death-blow to all sorts of fitness: “I will love them freely.” Now, if there were any fitness necessary in us, then he would not love us freely, at least, this would be a mitigation and a drawback to the freeness of it. But it stands, “I will love you freely.” We complain, “Lord, my heart is so hard.” “I will love you freely.” “But I do not feel my need of Christ as I could wish.” “I will not love you because you feel your need; I will love you freely.” “But I do not feel that softening of spirit which I could desire.”

Remember, the softening of spirit is not a condition, for there are no conditions; the covenant of grace has no conditionality whatever; so that we without any fitness may venture upon the promise of God which was made to us in Christ Jesus, when he said, “He that believeth on him is not condemned.” It is blessed to know that the grace of God is free to us at all times, without preparation, without fitness, without money, and without price! “I will love them freely.”

These words invite backsliders to return: indeed, the text was specially written for such-”I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely.” Backslider! surely the generosity of the promise will at once break your heart, and you will return, and seek your injured Father’s face.

God didn't pick up His phone.

2008-10-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

When i’m still in our old house many things happen to me. Bad and good; sad and happiness. I involve in BGR for three times so far.When i wanted to broke up, i cry every morning; even in the middle of the night. That happens to most of us. I heard it also from some of my friends saying that having hard time when break up. I cry and pray to God many times. Why God? Please God? Help God? So many cries but most of it is to force God to change His decision in our problems. Did God answer we on the spot? No. Did God change the situation which make me don’t break up? No. God is not on the line. He is not picking up His phone.

When things happen like this to us, we begin to doubt God. We begin to tell our self, there is no God, God won’t listen to me, i am not God beloved children or i have no faith with God. For your information God listen. Just that He did not give us the answer that fast.

Isa 40:28 hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding (American Standard Version)

In Psalms 13, the psalmist also facing the doubt; but remain true and trusting to God. In Isaiah 40 also talk about doubt. In the end in Isaiah 40 tell us that, Isa 40:31 but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint (ASV).

Though we doubt God, He actually listening to us and wanted us to wait and remain faithful to Him. God know what the best for us though us want the urgent answer. As i continue reading Gospel Unplugged written by Rich Wagner, he suggested us to confess our doubt to God honestly. In 1 John 1:9 said if we confess our sins with our mouth, He is faithful and just will forgive us. Doubting God is a sin. When we doubt God mean we have no faith in God. Don’t listen to Satan the liar that causing us to doubt. Continue to remain in God and we will soar like and eagle (Isa 40:31).

When i’m in that situation that night crying and asking God for help, God didn’t answer me immediately. He let we gone through all of this and show His love to me, slowly and show we He actually care for me. When i pray and cry for the broken relationship with those girl, i always thought that they are the right person. I actually wrong. As i slowly grow in God and let God handle this situation and relationship, i start to believe God’s plan in my life and trust His decision. Honestly if i continue my relationship with those girls, i might having broken relationship with my parents, arguing, quarrel, not enjoy my ministry, probably still in ministry by i lost my focus and did not ministry according to God’s will, i might fall into sinful and lusty life, finally i definitely not writing this blog.

When i study and meditate on this word, i doubt of my decision too. I ask God and shout to Him regarding my choice and decision. God didn’t answer me when i first ask Him. He didn’t really speak to me personally or appear in my nightly dream. He answers me through the book i read, verses i meditate on and friends around me. I ask Him “God is my decision right? Tell me what you want me to do? Tell me and lead me how to deal with my situation and struggle now God.” Truly, all this while works and “busy” with lot of things around me make me deaf to God’s voice. But now, when i tell my self to retreat and recheck my life, clearly God teach me about many things Healthy ministry, God love us freely, and to not doubt God. Every night i begin to spare my time for Him, meditate to His word, begin to read encouraging book and study on His word make me free from my struggle and relieve from my busyness.

Many of us maybe been through this situation too, but if we learn to spare our time for God, remain still in Him, prayerfully and live in Him; He will shows what is it like to follow His will. His spirit will show and correct us in our life.

Healthy Ministry

2008-10-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

Last night i read Gospel Unplugged written by Rick Wagner. This book is about music that will rock your soul; a book elaborates lyrics on few Christian bands such as Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, Caedmon Call, and many more. It is a nice book and for me, this book teaches us not only singing a song but to understand the meaning behind every single line of the lyrics. At the end of every chapter in the book or every lyric exposed, there is verses provided and reflection to personal life. This verse touches me and i decided to take my time to study on this verses.

Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Most of the time our perspective of this word is not everyone who probably call themselves humble servant and serve Lord will be saved. Who is the one which probably not saved? Is it the person who always on their knee and cry out Lord, Lord!!? Or is it those who involve in church ministry, maybe with 5 or 10 ministries in hand??!! Or is it the one who does not do the will of Father in heaven?

Clearly in this verse said that those who does the will of Father who in heaven will go to the Kingdom of Heaven. What is the will? One of the will is that referring to Go, therefore and make disciple…be witness in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and throughout the world. Real ministry is outside the church building. Ministry among unreached peoples, broken hearted, drug addict, killers, smokers and many more; that’s the real ministry. Maybe in Church we might involve in Youth ministry, true and no doubt about it is a ministry. But What happen outside the church? Do we ministry to the youth we met or our non-Christian friends? Or we feel piss off with their attitude and we judge them. We dislike them. Do we really accomplish the will of Father? That the will of our Father in heaven, which is to see this type of people accept and know Christ; receive salvation in their life thus become His disciple.

Do i scare you. Well, i'm not trying too, but that's the verse. I believe God have many more will for us. This is just one of it.

Mat 25:15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

God already give us talent and before He leave the earth he leave us with two things; Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth a.k.a Word of God and ministry. We will be guided by His promised helper, which is the Holy Spirit. We see this example given by Jesus that, God entrusted us to take care of His ministry, to Grow but not to keep the ministry. We can see example from the servant which only receive one talent. Only one! But he keeps it. Not improving it. I think and believe that if the person with five talents did not improve or ensure the talents grow, keep it to himself or maybe in the earth, God surely punish him too. What happen to that person?? Finish reading the verse your self.

We read here that the person with five talents didn’t keep it to himself, but make sure it grow and return back the benefit with five more talents. So do us too. We can’t keep it to our self work on ministry entrusted to us and ENSURE it grow and based on Father’s will which is to bring more people to Christ. Refer to Mat 7:21, God’s will. Look for God’s will in your life and ministry.

Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

In one ministry, or life we can evaluate by seeing the fruits. Good ministry, bear good fruits. Good life also the outcome will be good. We can’t keep our ministry to our self. Learn how to improve it, expand it and make it grow. Same thing also if we too active in ministry. Probably we hold many tasks in ministry or involve in; but if we not doing it according to Father’s will; don’t event think that He will listen to our cries.

Sometime we have to check our self in our ministry life. Are we doing it according to Father’s will or My will?? If the ministry didn’t grow, do something. There’s probably something wrong in our ministry that we need to adjust and make it bear more healthy fruit; bring more outcome from one talent become two talents. Five talents become five more talents.

Amen!!!