Monday, February 28, 2011

Hi guys,

Haven been hearing much from you. Hope all’s fine and you’re excited about the things to come in Suntec. Do reply to this thread and share your revelations with one another, even if you think that yours might not be as ‘interesting’ as Mr Caleb’s sharing! We welcome all!

For today’s sharing, it’s actually a word shared by Johann during our Sat CCH morning prayer meeting and I thought it was really good that I wanna share with all of you too! It’s taken from Joshua 3.

Jos 3: 5 – And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

Even as we prepare to enter into Suntec, God is preparing to do great works and wonders among us. There is a sense of excitement and expectancy in the air, but let us not be overtaken by all these. It is very important for us that at this very point of time, that we will make the effort to sanctify ourselves, and prepare ourselves for the things ahead. A revival is unfolding, just like something is going to burst forth.

So no matter where we move into, what matters most is still the presence of God! Just like the children of Israel when they are crossing the river of Jordan in Joshua 3, God commanded them to cross the river TOGETHER with the ark of the covenant. The ark of the covenant speaks to us as the Holy Spirit. Even as we cross ‘rivers of Jordan’ in our lives, we need to constantly go with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Place your eyes upon Him.

And most importantly, I want to assure you, that as you fix your eyes on the object of our faith, Jesus, we learn to treasure His presence, and His presence will go before us, with us and after us. Just like how it went with the children of Israel as they crossed river Jordan.

• Jos 3: 11 – Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into Jordan

• Jos 3: 17a – Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan,

• Jos 3: 17b – and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.

Friends, I want to encourage you that no matter what you are going through, when you begin to look to God and seek Him, His presence will go before you. His presence will be in the midst of everything that you are going through. And most importantly, His presence will be with you till you have gone through everything, to ensure that you’re alright. Our God is a God who cares. Like what it says in Rom 8: 28 that all things work out for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose!

And as we prepare to move into Suntec, let it start with us that we begin to sanctify ourselves and be prepared not just physically, but also spiritually. God is looking for hearts that are ready, that are after Him. I want to challenge you, take some time to fast and pray this week. I’ll be fasting today, join me if you can. 

Amen!! 
L1v1nG 4 JeSuS at Monday, February 28, 2011

Hi guys,

I hope that you had a great start to your week. Hope this week’s devotion will encourage some of you.

As I was worshipping in my Quiet Time this week, I just sense the peace of God in my life. The bible says that God speaks to us in a still small voice. Not only that, there’s a assurance that God gives to us, to “be STILL and KNOW that I am God”!

Very often in our daily lives, we may meet with people who are difficult to handle or insensitive. Or maybe, our plans are going awry and things are just not right no matter what you do. Our very first instinct is to REACT and try to work things out. Instead of trusting in God, we tend to trust more in our own abilities to make things work. This may often lead to frustration. But as I was worshipping, God just reminded me to learn to be STILL in every situation, because of a simple fact. He is my God and if God is for me, who can me against me? Every step of my life has already been directed by Him, for all things work out for good to those who love Him!

It’s not easy to be STILL, but it’s very important for us to cultivate this habit. Learn to REACH out to God, instead of REACT-ing to your situations. Though it tarries, but God’s Word will never return to Him void. Knowing God is an acquired experiential knowledge, and not simply head knowledge. Make an effort, to seek Him and receive a daily encounter, a daily Rhema Word from Him to start your day!

The bible says in 1 Thess 5: 16 – 18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

3 things that we need to learn to do:
• Rejoice ALWAYS
• Pray WITHOUT CEASING
• In EVERYTHING give thanks

That’s all for this week! Be blessed and in the week ahead, let’s practice these 3 things in 1 Thess 5: 16-18! Amen!
L1v1nG 4 JeSuS at Monday, February 28, 2011

Dear all,

As I start today’s devotion post, I just wanna say Happy Friendship Day! It’s a bit late, but still, I really appreciate each and everyone of you for giving me a chance to be your friend! 

We are in the season of LOVE, so for today, I want to share with you from Rev 2: 4-5.

Rev 2: 4-5
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent.

Even as we celebrate V-day or Friendship Day with our loved ones, let us also take some time to evaluate our LOVE for our God who so loved us that He gave his only Son to die on the cross for us. As one preacher said, it’s ok if God had many sons, and He just have to give one of His sons to die on the cross. But God loved us so much that He gave His ONLY Son for us! So how much do we love God?

In these 2 verses, it talks about the church of Ephesus who have left their first love. In the same way, let’s also ask ourselves if we have left our first love for God. In the midst of our busyness, in our struggles with our FYPs, projects, assignments, work politics, work stress, have we also left our first love? Do we still enjoy spending time with God? Does this phrase still mean the same to you – “One day in Your courts is better than a thousand days in the world”? Have we forgotten how to trust and believe in God for His promises to us?

It’s very easy for us to leave our first love if we do not guard it well. It applies to me as well. But we must LEARN to remember where we have fallen, to repent and do the first works! If you ask me, what are our first works? It might differ for each one of you. Maybe it’s to pick up the guitar and start to worship. Maybe it’s to serve God more by availing your time for Him. Maybe it’s to seek God in the morning daily when you wake up. But let’s make it a point that we will come back to our first love and do the first works!

I want to share this real life example with you. Pst Bill Wilson – If you have not heard about him, do pick up his books and read. Pst Bill started his children’s ministry with driving the bus around to fetch the children to church. He believes in staying where the action is (he stays in a ghetto, with all the drug addicts, the outcasts of society etc), to stand in the gap between the living and the dead. Over the years, even as his ministry begins to grow, he never leaves this first work of driving the bus to fetch the children to church. To him, this is one thing that keeps him sane, and remind him of why he is doing and continuing this work of God. To put things into perspective for you, last Christmas, Pst Bill’s church had a total attendance of 150,000 children, in 3 different locations. Despite all that, he always chose to make it a point that whenever he can, he will drive the bus around to fetch these little ones to church before he rushes off to preach.

In a lunch that he had with Pst Eileen and some of the staff last Monday in Singapore, he was asked what kept him going all these years (and he’s already 60 years old, survived 3 gun shot wounds coz he was mugged, while staying in the ghetto, beaten up, thrown off a building, survived a plane crash before). Something he said really made an impact on me.

“Our commitment must be STRONGER than our emotion!” – Pst Bill Wilson

And this is so true for us. Our commitment to God must always be stronger than our own emotion. As much as our flesh tries to come against us, we must learn to crucify our flesh and be committed to God, to do the first works and come back to our first love! And friends, I want to encourage you, let’s choose to be committed to God in everything we do! Amen!
L1v1nG 4 JeSuS at Monday, February 28, 2011

Hi guys,
For this week, I just want to share with you this chapter that I’m meditating on. I feel that in our daily challenges, this is a good reminder of how God wants us to live our life and handle situations in our lives, especially in Vs 9-16. We always say that “it’s easier said than done”, “you wouldn’t understand what we are going through”, “you can’t believe what happened” etc, but I want to assure you that God knows what you are going through. And God says in verse 3 that He has given to each one of us a measure of faith. And with this faith, we can learn to trust God that He’s in control. We simply need to obey and play our part (Vs 9-16). And Vs 21 sums it all, let’s be OVERCOMERS in Christ!
Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20 Therefore

“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Be blessed!
L1v1nG 4 JeSuS at Monday, February 28, 2011

Hi all,

For this week, I would like to share with you 1 Pet 5: 2-4. I’ve been thinking what does this really mean to be a shepherd. All of us can be a shepherd if we choose to be. Who are our ‘sheep’ then? For some of you, it’s the people that you’re leading in your service, in your visitation. For the helpers, you are a teacher/shepherd to the little ones. And we know from Pro 22: 6 that we are meant to be the one that leads the child in the right way.

Pro 22: 6 – Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

So what does it mean to be a shepherd? It’s takes maybe about 6-9 months to be a leader (serve regularly, be faithful, accountable and willing to be discipled), but it takes a much longer time to be a shepherd! We are not perfect and it’s not easy to be a good shepherd, but we have our Chief Shepherd, Jesus. And we can learn from Him.

In Vs 2 -3, it say, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gains but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock”

Focus on the sheep that is among you first, even if it’s just 2-3 kids, be faithful in the little things, and God honors that. Most importantly, as we serve as overseers, as their shepherds, we should not do it out of compulsion, but willingly. To me, this is the most important criteria of being a shepherd. We were sinners, but Jesus our shepherd died on the cross for us willingly. Did we deserve it? Definitely not, but He still did it willingly. I pray that in all your works, that you will do it out of a willing heart.

“Not for dishonest gains but eagerly” – In all that we serve/do, we are not seeking to gain gratitude, favors or blessings. But in all that we do, serve eagerly, going the extra mile. That’s being a shepherd! Serving beyond expectations!

“Being examples to the flock” - To be a shepherd, we need to lead by example to our flock!

Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works, too! – Robert Half

In the same way, if we do not lead by example, how would the flock know how to follow? Thus, I would like to challenge each one of you, be a good role model to your flock! It’s easy for me to tell you to study the Word more this year, but I must first challenge myself to do it. That’s the very reason why I choose to commit to writing devotions to you!

Finally, in Vs 4, it says “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away”.

Every often, when we serve, in our own natural mind, we wish that there will be people who appreciates what we do. I always think in this manner too. But deep down in my heart, I know that even if no one appreciates me, God does. And I know as long as I continue to do what I can to be a good shepherd, one day, I will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away!

I pray that you will be blessed by this sharing! Looking forward to hearing from you guys! 
L1v1nG 4 JeSuS at Monday, February 28, 2011

Hi guys,

Just want to share with you guys from 1 Pet 4: 7-11 this week.

Vs 7: But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

How’s your prayer life? Is prayer an integral part of your life? Like what Pst Phil preached over e weekend, let’s not just ‘pray’ every now and then, but set aside a time to seek God amidst our busyness daily.

Vs 8-9: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling

Another word for “fervent” (adj) in the dictionary is enthusiasm. In our serving, in our communications with people in our workplace/school, let’s be enthusiastic in the other person’s life! Try to know and understand from another perspective.

In everything that we do, let’s do it out of love. That’s what I feel is being hospitable. One of the key thing here is also to do it without grumbling. Very often, we tend to grumble/murmur about why things are not the way we would want it to be. But we do not know the real reason(s) behind it.

For eg, if someone didn’t reply your SMS/Email, you will tend to assume the negative. Sometimes it could be simply that it slipped off the person’s mind, or something that has happened that we are unaware.

Thus, 2 simple facts about communications: Communications needs to be positive (Appreciation is a powerful tool of communication) and Communication requires repetition (It’s not necessarily a bad thing).

Vs 10-11: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

All of us have a gift from God, be it spiritual or temporal, ordinary or extraordinary, it’s up to us to minister it to one another (in other words, to be used for the common good-the people around us). And when we use our gift, let’s do it with the ability that God supplies, to do it humbly and diligently, giving all glory to Him.

Thus my challenge to you this year, is to be serious in your prayer life, to serve and do all things out of fervent love and to use your gifts and talents to minister to the people around you. And through it all, be the light that shines forth in your respective marketplace, that in all things God may be gloried through Jesus Christ!

Amen!
L1v1nG 4 JeSuS at Monday, February 28, 2011

One of my goals this year is that I want to really share the Word with each and everyone of you. I understand the busyness and time constraints that we all have, therefore, I thought that doing it through email would help. Of course, that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t meet as a zone. There will still be zone meetings from time to time! But most importantly, I want to encourage each one of you to learn to share and edify one another with the Word this year.

2 Tim 4: 2 – Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and TEACHING!

All of us can preach and share the WORD, you don’t have to be a master preacher to do that. Sharing your revelations will inspire and encourage another person! 

Here’s what I would like to share with each of you:

Daniel 1

As we start this year, I really pray for each one of us to start the year well, on the right foot and be in the right position for the year ahead! In Dan 1, we know about the story of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon who besieged and took over.

In Vs 4, we know that the king called for young men, who were gifted in all wisdom, and had the ability to serve. These young men were to be trained for 3 years before they might serve before the king.

In Vs 8, Daniel and his friends are allocated a daily provisions but yet, they purposed in their heart that they would not defile themselves with the king’s portions.

In Vs 20, when they were examined by the king, they were found to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.

Friends, as I was reading this whole chapter, God brought to me a new perspective of looking at the verses listed above. One of the key reasons why Daniel and his friends were chosen to be trained was that they had the ability to serve (gifts and talents). Each one of them had their talents and similarly, like us, we have different talents. Yizhen and Patuma is good at art, but I’m not. Valarie can save people (trained in St John) etc. We all have different talents which can be a blessing to the people around us.

But we must first be CHOOSABLE! Even if you have talents but you are not willing to use it, no one else will know. Then of course you will not be CHOOSABLE! As we start this brand new year, I want to challenge each one of you to make yourself CHOOSABLE before God. Showcase your talents and use it to glorify God! Speak to me about it if you feel that there’s an area that you think that you might be able to contribute, or even do it better! Similarly, in your workplace/school etc, only when you step out of your boundaries, and make yourself CHOOSABLE, your boss or colleagues might not know that you are capable of doing something better. Let’s not be bounded by fears as we start the year, but let’s walk each step by FAITH!

Next, what Daniel and his friends did was to CONSECRATE themselves. Yes, the delicacies might be tempting, but they made the decision to CONSECRATE themselves and be set apart for God’s work, even though they are in the ‘marketplace’. In the same way, in this year, do go back to the basics and CONSECRATE yourselves – PRAYER, WORD of GOD. Get a fresh revelation daily from God and you can use it to edify your friends, colleagues and family members.

In 2 Tim 2: 21, the bible states that if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. One of the ways that you can be useful for the Master is to edify and teach the Word of God!

Finally, as we make ourselves CHOOSABLE and CONSECRATE our lives for the glory of God, God’s blessing will be poured all over us and when we are ‘examined’, be it in the workplace/school/ministry, we will be found to be ten times better in all the realm! The God I know never shortchanges. Never. That’s the God that I know. And I believe that we serve the same God!

I pray for each one of you that 2011 will the best year YET for you! As we set ourselves apart for God and go back to the Word of God and prayer, I pray that we will receive a fresh manna daily! As we begin to make ourselves choosable in all aspects of our life, we will indeed be found faithful of using our talents and God will begin to multiply whatever we have sowed. I pray for God’s abundant blessings to come upon each on you! Be blessed! Amen!

Looking forward to hear from you as well! Will make it a point to try and share weekly! 

Cheers!
L1v1nG 4 JeSuS at Monday, February 28, 2011

This will be the 1st post of the year! And many more to come!

I have decided that I shall upload my weekly devotions with my zone, right here! But i do wonder if there is still anyone reading!

If you are, do let me know!

Enjoy the devotions and be blessed!
L1v1nG 4 JeSuS at Monday, February 28, 2011