i hope i never forget to say...

I love you Lord!

It's been sung, it's been prayed,
countless times throughout time,
It's been said, a thousand ways,
by children and kings, poets and priests...

I'd like to say it again, just let me say it... once again...
"I Love You Lord!" I just wanna say "I LOVE YOU LORD!"
As simple it sounds, in you...my heart is found...I love you!

I Love you Lord, I love you!

Where is your strength?

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Such a timely reminder! My flesh and my heart may run the range of emotions, joys and pain, mountain tops and time in the valley...yet, through it all, the unchangable I AM is still my Rock and my foundation!

The word says that we should not be anxious at all, but rather bring all our requests to God through prayer, with thanksgiving, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Those who know God’s name will trust in Him, because he has NEVER forsaken anyone who seeks Him (Psalm 9:10), If we cling to God, even in the midst of our worst, most unfathomable struggles, our faith becomes real! And that is a reward all by itself!

Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time you will receive a harvest. Remember that all our struggles are for our own good, and for the testing and refining of our faith (James 1). Do not be discouraged or without hope when everything, including your heart, fails. You know it is faith when it is all you have.

It is in the testing of our Faith that the rubber hits the road, and we finally discover where our hearts truly are, where our assurance comes from, the Person we cling to, the promises we hold true to.

Fact, Faith, Feeling.

Fact - God Loves me, Jesus died for me, and He has a perfect plan for me!
Faith - In omnipotent Lord Jesus, Righteousness, Faithfulness and His promise of abundant life.
Feelings - Not swayed by mere emotions, but finding pure Joy in the Lord who never fails! No circumstance is bigger than my God! Feelings will be put under submission to the Lord's truth.

Be a thinking, perceptive man of God!

"The unthinking Christian does not realize it, but he is dangerously absorbed into the culture about him. Because his mind is untrained and unfilled, it lacks the ability to produce the hard questions with which the world needs to be challenged. The challenge for the modern Christian in a secular society may be to ask prophetic questions before there is going to be an opportunity to provide Christ-oriented answers."

Gordon MacDonald
"Ordering your private world"

Prepare, prepare, prepare...is that why i'm such a big-picture person? ok...will process this thought when i have more time to think! =)

Ok...my thoughts, finally.
Imagine going on a road trip without a map, without money, without a destination. Just the car with its full tank and lots of dreams.

That is pretty much us if we do not bother to question the culture that we are in. Today, i heard something about culture that i never realised before. Culture is not a new thing, it has always been around, changing, evolving, always trying to differenciate itself...each culture constantly trying to be 'the best', trying to gain the upper hand. The most vivid example being the people at Babel, who wanted to reach God by constructing a tower that would reach heaven. God was so disgusted with them that he confused their language and spread them to all regions of the world!

The christian in the world has the anchor of truth, the firm foundation that is built on Jesus Christ, the Rock, and we therefore possess the only TRUE reference point. The only constant that will never change. So we HAVE TO...it is a moral duty, it is an act of Love, to point in the right direction! For us to be unquestioning of culture and to be moulded by the ideas, the hedonistic pursuits, the latest trends of fashion or gadgetry, would be forsaking a responsibility to point towards Christ. Let's not be charmed by the world, but be challenged by the Word! Growing daily as we are challenged!

Romans 12: 1-2 The Message Version
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Walk the talk

Your walk talks
and your talk talks
But your walk talks more
than your talk talks.

Poignant moment, pregnant pause...sometimes, quotes just like this just strike me like a lightning bolt!

We are all called to the great commission and for me, it has always been through my lifestyle and making sure that i'm daily moulded by the Master. And yes, nowadays, i'm very comfortable not being the life of a party, i much prefer holding my tongue, observing and praying for understanding, i realise that that posture is not a common one, but yups...i'll persevere in it and see where God leads with that! It has certainly led me to uncommon times of sweetness and insight in Him!

As i undergo training now, i know it is going to be a challenge for me, i'll going to be tested....but i'm going by faith, trusting that His Love would compel me, and it would conquer any fear/trepidation that i have. I know the greatest Joy and i want to spread the word around about my Jesus, my saviour!

Walk the Talk! that's gonna be tested in street e and in my lifestyle, but yes...by faith, i know that perfect love casts out all fear! So...i'm gonna walk fearlessly! =)

Capture me with grace...i will follow you! GLADLY!

Rescue - Acquire the fire conference
You are the source of life
I can't be left behind
No one else will do...
I will take hold of You!

I need You, Jesus, to come to my rescue
Where else can I go?
There's no other name
By which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow You...

My heart is Yours...for life
I need Your hand...in mine
No one else will do
I put my trust in You

I will follow You...This world has nothing for me
I will follow You...This world has nothing for me

I need You Jesus
To come to my rescue
Where else can I go?
There's no other name
By which I am saved
Capture me with grace...Capture me with grace...
Capture me with GRACE
I will follow You
I will follow You...no turning back...No turning back...

NO TURNING BACK!

Jared Anderson© 2003 Vertical Worship Songs/ASCAP

Unlike in other times, i just simply cannot find the words to express myself today...except through this song...

I really need you Lord Jesus, come to my rescue! My heart is crying out for you...i know you see the pang, you feel the searing heat, that gnawing anguish that is just ravaging within...I WILL TAKE HOLD OF YOU! I want to be apprehended by your love, your majesty, your greatness, to be wholly consumed by your refiner's fire...i CHOOSE to respond in worship to you, even in the trials, ESPECIALLY in the long, arduous testings...because I KNOW i'm not turning back...

child-like wonder...back...=)

Lovely statements! I like! =)

Dear God: I saw a kangaroo and a buffalo today at the zoo. I like the lion best. What is your favorite? I think the ostrich is funny looking - did you do that on purpose?

Dear God: We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday School we learned that you did it. So I bet he stole your idea. Sincerely, Donna

Dear God: I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool! Signed, Eugene

The joys of looking at things with child-like simplicity! =) More joy, more laughter, everything is enjoyable because it is you we delight in!

Lord, i'm glad that you give us the grace to be child-like in our trust and in our faith! I'll be foolishly naive and simple because of my hope in you! May your glory be my rearguard, and may your love guide the way! I love your outrageous love!

If you want me to...

For my friends...first, a death and secondly, something with symptoms exactly like a sudden death, the gut-wrenching hurt, the searing pain of loss, the specter of loneliness, a lack of direction, a confidence broken...

This is for those who are in pain and struggling...if i knew how, i would post the song up. But since i can't, please allow the words to minister to you.

JSJM and EC, please, allow the Lord of love to enter and provide that comfort and that love that you need. The Lord does not waste any experience, He captures each drop, each tear in the palm of His hands, and He will be there to point the way out. Painful as it may be...do not run away from His Love, do not run away from the lessons He is teaching, trust our gentle Jesus to complete His work no matter how painful it might be. He will NOT let you be crushed by this! Put your trust in Him, place your hope in Him, you can stand firm on the Love of God which never fails.

The road is not easy, we may never totally understand why, but grieve when you need to...allow the Lord to lead you deeper into intimacy with Him, the answers are found in Him. May Psalm 37 speak to you...continue to place the Lord first, put on His righteousness, vengence is the Lord's, do not let anger, bitterness or resentment to set in, release, surrender and trust in the Lord.

If you want me to – Ginny Owens

The pathway is broken…the signs are unclear
And I don’t know the reasons…why you brought me here,
But just because you love me…the way that you do
I’m gonna walk…through the valley, if you want me to…

No, I’m not who I was, when I took that first step,
And I’m clinging to the promise…you’re not through with me yet,
So I follow these trials, bring me closer to you
And I will walk through the fire…if you want me to…

And it may not be the way, I would have chosen.
When you lead me through a world, that’s not my home
But you never said it would be easy,
You only said…I’d never go alone…

So when the whole world turns against me and I’m all by myself,
And I can’t hear you answer…my cries for help,
I’ll remember the suffering…true love puts you through,
And I’ll walk through the darkness…if you want me to…

Cause when I cross over Jordan, I’m gonna sing, gonna shout,
I’m gonna look into your eyes and see…you’ve never let me down!
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to you
And I’ll walk through the valley…if you want me to…

Yes, I will walk through the valley, if you want me to.

soon to be busy beyond words!

Been a really interesting 3 days living out Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another", it really is such a blessing to be set against the grindstone of God. As i'm getting into the hang of things in GCTC, learning more about Crusade, learning the unique character and culture, it has been a really eye-opening experience! =) It has been good to talk to people and see how pro-active they are, how quick they are to help! It has helped me quite abit! Guess no one really understands how disorientating it can be for me, since i've never been in any Crusade ministry, so haha...yups...Leslie is right, the use of acronyms is so prevalent that i have to be alert and make the connections! haha! but it's ok, i'm sure i'll pick everything up in time!

My lessons start officially on 4th Sept, and yahs...can foresee that it is going to get real hectic!haha! Along with the classroom lessons, there will probably be practical sessions with my team in NUS, and back in church, i'll be helping to co-ordinate the prayer meeting worship, on top of Youthphoria events, and LCEC responsibilities, so yes...i'm gonna be praying about it, i know that i will have to relinquish some stuff and delegate more of everything out, but still provide focus for going ahead. So it is going to get real interesting and i'll have to pace myself. And in all of it, i know that my focus on discipling people is foremost, so yes, i determine not to get distracted by activities and 'stuff', yups...leaning on God's strength so it should be great!

This prayer was in my QT material! Found it very insightful, so i paraphrased it here...=)

O Lord, whenever your ways in nature or in the soul are hard to be understood, then may our quiet confidence, our patient trust, our loving faith in you be great, and as children knowing that they are loved, cared for, guarded, kept, may we with a quiet mind at all times put our trust in you. So may we face life without fear, and death without fainting. AMEN.

Dehydration

Some of my pals are going for the army half marathon tomorrow! cheers to them! I've not had sufficient time to train and i'm afraid that my legs will fall off! haha! so yups! better get training before i attempt some milk run/10km and then work my way up! =)

Anyways...since i'm more a skills-based person, the thought of running got me imagining the mental battle and how the physical will affect the mental, and yups...an interesting thot struck me! =)

Dehydration is very real for runners, especially in hot and humid Singapore, and yes, part of the race prep is that you should consume lots of fluids starting from 48 hours before. And also, during the race, regardless of whether you feel thirsty or not, you should consume some water at every water point. Why? Because by the time thirst hits, your body is already in the 1st stages of dehydration! And it is likely that it you will continue to carry that dehydration along even if you drink copious amounts of fluid from the moment of thirst! So yups, if you refuse to carbo-load, and water-load (is there such a term? ahaha) it only means that your performance will be affected and you run the risk of getting a heat disorder...

Isn't that true also for us in the spiritual realm? If we fail to drink of the Living Water daily and regularly, we find ourselves 'dehydrating' (drying up...), we get affected by every little thing, we 'overheat' easily and everything seems so difficult to bear? If we wait until the thirst hits, we have been walking in our own strength for awhile and have forgotten how to lean on the Lord for His strength...so yup...drink up warriors of the Lord! Your battle is long and arduous, never forget that our life is a marathon, not a sprint! =) Be faithful to the end!

Parting thought
Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future. 1 Timothy 4:8 (GNB)

Ok...i'm rambling...

Today...random thoughts have been flashing through my head and i've been pondering how blessed i have been, and how much i have already.

In affluent Singapore, we talk alot about 'our rights', 'good service', and all this pseudo-civilised stuff...it just makes me remember the simpler times in Thailand and Cambodia, where people have had so little and did not talk about 'rights' or 'service', they just banded together in a community, and got down to caring and sharing...a family problem was a community problem and they treated everything with the same kind of respect. Instead of talking about it, they put their love into action and HELPED! Sometimes makes me wonder who the really civilised ones are...

yups...just truly makes me wonder, especially when people are trodden upon in the name of 'service'...hmmm...isn't true service an act of humility? do we actually have a right to judge someone else's act of service? Some of us give gifts, some of us give words of encouragement, others give a smile, some lend a hand, there are SOOoooOOO many kinds of service, why can't we be thankful even for the feeblest act of love? If a baby were to give a broken twig, wouldn't you still be greatly happy, grinning ear-to-ear and giving the dear infant the biggest hug and encouragement! Sometimes...that is what us 'civilised' people need too...to see everyone as a child and appreciate their gifts!

But i guess that it will never be understood if our lenses are unfairly tinted...Just like the woman who emptied perfume on Jesus' feet...Judas immediately put a monetary value on the perfume and proclaimed that it would have been better used to sell it and give the money to the poor. How poor in spirit and deluded in mind we are sometimes...

Do i see as Jesus does? or as Judas sees? *ouch!*

Just wanna be thankful for the people who blessed me today...God sends blessings daily! So yes...wanna thank you all!

Leslie for helping me out with the GCTC lock, Debbie Lamster for the nice choc before prayer, Wendy for the really fragrant apple ( i love smelling it so much that i can't bear to eat it!), Pastor Bernard for the ride to Azhar, and Jaime for the Ricola and the ride back home...Thanks for blessing me in the little ways. Each of those acts blessed me, i remember them still and they made my day! I appreciate it lots! and more importantly, i treasure you! Thank you for showing Christ to me this day.

Live to the hilt!

Wherever you are, be all there.
Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.

~Jim Elliot~

Many times, especially in our busy everyday lives, we are so a-hustle and a-bustle, that we forget to be 'in the moment', enjoying the present.

Our mind is racing ahead, planning for the next activity, the next person, the next meeting...we get distracted by our handphones, an sms, the television, the computer...it is so dangerous when that happens, and it is tragic when we allow it to happen.

I'm a laid back kinda guy, and i love long, unhurried conversations, sharing of hearts, sharing of desires, looking someone in the eye, connecting...thank God that more opportunities to do that have arisen. He truly works in amazing ways! =)

Wherever you are, live to the hilt, be present every moment, give someone your full attention, don't do anything you'd regret, express all you need to, be the best testimony of Christ so that you are 'love in action'.

a broken connection?

Sometimes, reliance on the internet is a bane...
Does your connection 'drop' sometimes? or sometimes, it is awfully slow? and do these things happen when you need the internet the most? haha! Such irony! =)

Well...isn't that what happens in out lives sometimes? In the times when we need the Lord most, we do not seem to 'hear' His still small voice, when we are most desperate, we find that WE are furthest away from God. (It is NOT Him who is far away from us...)

That is the importance of our daily communion, our times of quiet reflection, prayer, worship, time spent with the Lord, reading His word. Little things that creep in to steal our joy, and our times with the Lord must be pushed aside, because if we do not...those little things will snowball into larger and larger obstacles, and soon we will find our connection with God is 'broken' and He 'feels far away'...and that is usually when a crisis hits.

I've been learning to guard my time with the Lord daily, spending time, learning to be devoted to Him, and training my ears to hear His voice. That way, in my interactions with the people i meet, the words exchanged will not be spurious and meaningless, i can be patient and listen, there is a calm within my heart even as i honour the other person above myself and seek to serve them first. I'm learning that it is difficult to be a servant in conversation...to serve someone else's needs, to be a humble listener, to allow the other person to pour out all their troubles, it is just not that natural to be a servant because we always want to 'provide help' prematurely, but yes, sometimes, it is best to wait for the Lord to prompt when to speak...

Be humble, cherish time with the Lord, guard it jealously, when devoted to the King, a servant heart will be cultivated. A heart that serves in humilty, knows how to serve in deeds, in conversations, in interactions with others, knows how to esteem others greatly, lead by serving and build others up through service to them.

Now...that was a mighty long digression from a broken internet connection! ahaha! God works in mysterious ways! =)

Carabiner

A Carabiner...a marvelous little contraption. It was made not only to secure equipment, but also as a piece of protection during rockclimbing.

It may look simple, but a carabiner can be easily misused or used in such a way that it is ineffective in doing it's job.

First thing to note, a carabiner is most effective when it's gate can be locked (as above), otherwise, it is actually possible to open the gate in certain instances, especially if the rope or secured equipment wraps around itself and forces itself against the gate.

Secondly, the strongest and best way to use the carabiner is to secure the equipment securely along the vertical face of the carabiner, as it curves over to the gate. That is the strongest point of the carabiner. Any other place provides leverage for the secured equipment to oppose the carabiner, thus reducing it's effectiveness!

Ahhaha! why did i post this up? Hmmmm....no particular reason! just something that interested me greatly! =) Anyways, i wrote this myself, so if it is factually wrong, someone please correct me! ahahaha! DISCLAIMER: Use at your own risk!

Simple...but not easy

"All that is not eternal, is eternally useless." C.S. Lewis

I love the truth that springs forth when you read a good book, or when you absorb the wisdom of pilgrims who have walked the road before you have.

I see so many great examples of people who have walked the journey of life victoriously, and according to the principles laid down by the bible. They seemed to have no trouble with struggle or with obstacles, but in reading their autobiographies, it is clear that they have the very same struggles, just that they have constantly and faithfully turned to God in each trial, leaning on Him and learning along the way. These markers help to remind them of how to be walking in faith and not giving up...

Sometimes, the journey God has given us is simple...he who is faithful in the little things, will be entrusted with greater deeds...persevere, persevere, persevere...

Simple...but not easy...what a paradox! =)

Tribute to the ladies...

IF it had been Three Wise Women...

They would have asked for directions,
arrived on time,
helped deliver the baby Jesus,
cleaned the stable,
prepared a lavish spread,
and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

Yup...thank God for the ladies and the remarkable gifts that they bring! God made men and women to complement each other and the better we recognise that, the richer our lives will be, we can never do everything ourselves. And having a partner who complements you is definitely a blessing from God.

At the foot of the Cross...

The cross is a shining testimony to the fact that we cannot be successful in the Christian life until we find ourselves utterly unable to accomplish it on our own.

The cross shows victory through humility and brokenness.

You will never know what God can do in your life until you come to the foot of the cross completely broken and allow Him to reshape the shattered pieces of your life into something brand new.

the nails in your hands,
the nails in your feet...

they tell me how much you love me

the thorns on your brow,

they tell me how,

you bore so much pain to love me

when the heavens fade away

all your scars will still remain,

and forever they will say

just how much you love me,

and i want to say...

Forever my love...

Forever my heart...

Forever my life...

is yours...is yours...

Beauty!

Sometimes, we just have to sit back and admire beauty! This is a beautiful shot of the bridge connecting the indoor stadium to Tanjong Rhu. And nope, i still do not have a camera so yup...this is taken from a friend's digital SLR. I love the shot as it seems so surreal with the clouds lighted up and the lights reflecting off the water! Beautiful!

It is such a blessing to be able to relax with friends, having yummy food, laughing and talking, looking up into the skies spotting parachutists, helicopters, planes and of course, fireworks! And the unexpected joys of little children making soap bubbles big and small, plus beautiful orange and pink sunsets! They were the bonus subject matter for plenty of shutterbugs! =)

Reflection: Finished two 40Day campaigns this year...
Firstly, 40 Days of Purpose - wonderful time of finding God's direction and growing in faith.
Then, the 40 days of Prayer - a time that TOTALLY spoke to me and challenged me daily to trust God for the future.

Lord...if nothing else happens, this has been a mighty year of transformation already, i really have no idea where you are leading me, and i don't know why you choose work in certain ways yet not in others, i'm not sure of your timing also, but i'm diligently learning to hear from you, walking in faith even when the road is rocky and painful...

...dearly holding on to you, Lord Jesus!

A RADICAL MOVEMENT?!

I'm being haunted by this single word..."MOVEMENT"

Lord...you want a people whole-heartedly given to you, stewards who will make FULL use of these gifts given to us, moving in the Holy Spirit, grounded in your word, making an impact in the place that we are at. Sharing, giving, showing your divine standard of Love.

Lord Jesus...you certainly want to build a 'MOVEMENT', a radical shift in the climate that affects the spiritual and certainly the physical world. But...do i hear it correctly? do you REALLY want to use me?

You certainly see how I'm feeling...how i've been such a wreck, broken, helpless, floundering, mind in a whirl, emotions stirred...

I must admit that in this whole confusing season, i've been surviving by just leaning on your leading, fixing my mind on you so that nothing whirls out of control, praying in the most feverish of manners when i feel that call, keeping the closeness of intimacy, and a walk that desires to honour you...

there have been naysayers, doubts, discouragements, things have been so hard...and yet there have been victories! Small ones, baby steps, learning to walk again, learning to retreat and regain that child-like wonder, being released, seeing how God is faithful, how he provides (My Jehovah Jireh), makes my paths straight, how the glory of the Lord is my rearguard... the wonder and amazement i feel...puts me at a loss for words...

Though i feel so small, and inadequate...i trust in you Lord...I know you have given me gifts, and i pray that you will teach me how to use them to be the most effective for your Kingdom glory. Build up the team, the ministry, the group of people committed to you that will bring about your purposes...Lord, this is your name and your glory and i believe that your kingdom purposes cannot be thwarted! So have your way...purify, sanctify those you are going to use, prepare the way for the your work to be completed...a MOVEMENT, a people following your pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night...build that radical, friend-of-sinners, fool-for-Christ, God-seeking Jesus generation that honours you...Lord, show your glory!

All to you, to you my Lord, in you whose gentle hands never stop working...healing the blind, removing the dross, warming a cold, broken heart, demonstrating a love that is practical...working your miracles...thank you Lord.

Life through the eyes of Death

Things are so much clearer when seen through the eyes of the great equalizer - Death.

Today, our lay leader was laid to rest, and the whole event brought me back to November when i lost my granny...it was the exact same hall, the same heartache, the same release, the same Joy unspeakable. I know that they are in a better place, perfectly healthy and full, as they enjoy praising the Lord in Heaven!

I shall write my own tribute to an incredible man...
As everyone said, Uncle Thian Lye was an unceasingly patient man who really treasured his family. My interactions with him were very few, but he always impressed me with his presence. He would give you his fullest attention, look you straight in the eye, and when you had finished talking, he would drop in with his words of wisdom or encouragement. He never made me feel stupid or inadequate, and he would always ask the youth, and the younger leaders to give our input as we see things differently. He was a man who could easily command attention from anyone he wanted, but he never sought that, his humility made him accessible to everyone. Listening to the eulogies, and seeing the amount of people who came, i can only conclude that pastor is right, and the bible is right...about uncle Thian Lye, "I have fought the good fight, i have finished the race...", Thank you for showing us a life well-lived, uncle Thian Lye. You truly are a unique man, and you have blessed me with your fine example of a godly and loving man.

"...for me to live is Christ and to die, gain"

Content

What a lovely picture of the Light shining through!

Been feeling content just resting in the Lord, i realise that in Him,
i have nothing that i need, that i've not already been given!
I have nothing to be envious about, nothing to be resentful about,
As I walk this path that the Lord has laid for me,
it has brought Peace, Contentment, Joy immeasurable!
This position can never be bought, satisfied by possessions,
or fulfilled by the pleasures of life in all their forms.
It is found only in Jesus, and His gifts given to us freely!
I found one gift in that photo above!
Natural beauty, unmarred, the Lord's encouragement!

"The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble."
Proverbs 19:23

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Proverbs 14:30

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
Proverbs 23:17

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Phillippians 4:11,12