Thursday, July 31, 2008 @ 7:45 PM
Spoilt for choice.

I shall post about fasting and prayer for today.

SPOILT FOR CHOICE ( Matthew 6:25-33)

KettVerses: 33-34

33 But seek first his kingdom and rhis righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Do not worry, God will provide just the right amount for us ; no more, no less. We should not be slaves to the notion of choice.

Let me have childlike dependance on God.

Things I will not worry about:

I will not worry about global warming in the world.

I will not worry about the oil prices and inflation.

I will not worry about the 2 month's to O's.

I will not worry about my parent's relationship.

I will not worry if I am not the person the world wants me to be.

I will not worry about obstacles that may come when I'm at my best.

I will not worry if the world doesn't like me.

I will not worry what others may think of me.

9 More day's of fasting. Press on!

God bless those having exams!

Thursday, July 10, 2008 @ 10:25 PM
Youth Day Cell Outing Pics.

Labels: Cell Activities

@ 6:21 PM
No time.

I got this poem from a chain mail:

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.

I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord, I came,
I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
'Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time'

---
Algae's comments:

While this story is soul searching, I dont think it quite represents God's position towards us.

Psalm 103:10
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

In terms of salvation, God does not treat us as what we deserve (death), giving us 2nd chance after 2nd chance (through Jesus' atoning sacrifice).

Jeremiah 17:10
"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

Yet the principle of reaping what we sow applies. We will get the positive or negative consequences of our actions.

The theology behind the story is wrong, because we are saved by grace through faith, and not works (pray, reach out to people etc).

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Yet on the other hand, in James, the author challenges us to show the reality of our faith through our deeds.

James 2:17-18
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

In short, yes, let's examine if we are really praying and reaching out to people, because these are indicators if we truly love God.
But let it not be a comparison or condemnation session, but a yardstick to gauge where we are and work towards obeying God more.
(ie. If I am not praying, start to pray! If I not not reaching out to people, start loving people!)

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 @ 9:54 PM
Updated July-Sep Plans.




Hi all,

Take note of the changes (not much), due to clashes.
Just take note that TPE volunteer meeting and enrichment is not for you.
TPE only applies to Bryan, who needs to confirm with me when he can make it.
Fabius, you have transited to study mountain. You can come to study together with Jarrel, Yong Hong, Kenneth Pang and gang in another room while we game.

Labels: Cell Activities

Thursday, July 3, 2008 @ 10:07 PM
Week 1 Reflections: Get Real.

Mark 7:6-7 (The Message)
Jesus answered, "Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull's-eye in fact:

These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn't in it.

They act like they are worshiping me,
but they don't mean it.

They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy,

Ditching God's command
and taking up the latest fads."

How would you feel if someone pays you lip service, saying that they will get the things done, but not actually wanting to do it.
As a teacher, I have students who pay me lip service, even in a good school, and I get pretty upset with them. Like promising to do their homework, but come back uncompleted and giving excuses they are "too busy" and "forget".

I get upset because I feel they do not take my words seriously.
Sometimes, I think that's how God feels towards us.
Very frustrated because we dont take Him seriously.

What is true worship? When our attention is solely focused on Jesus.
What is true fasting? When the reason we fast is to please Him and deny ourselves.

To be honest, every time I come to church, every time I attend cell group, and even every time I lead you guys, I have to confess that there are times it's a drag / chore / burden / joyless event / wish that time pass quickly so that I can go back and do my own things / (fill in your own blank ________).

In reading these 3 days' prayer and fast devotion, God caused me to examine the basics of my faith.

1. What is the state of my love for Him.
Am I still in church because it has became a routine and a duty, or am I passionate about Him?
In the same way, are we doing QT out of routine or being serious about knowing God?

2. What is the motivation why I serve.
Is it to maintain a facade of being a "pious person" or is it reciprocating out of abundance of His love?
In the same way, are we coming to church regularly because our parents want us to, or are we allowing God to transform us through the church services?

3. When I approach my work (teaching), is it out of a calling or has it degenerated to a livelihood?
As I am spending the majority of my time working, is God the lord of my Work, or Work the lord of my God? Who is sitting at this major throne of my life? Am I surrendering and seeking His direction?
Who do we serve? God or the world?

Too many times, in so many ways, I know in areas of my life I have been self-seeking.
It's time to repent, stop treating God as a vending machine and be God-seeking and God-fearing.

May God also ask you these pointed questions lovingly, and convict you to get real in your walk with Him.

Labels: Father's Thoughts

@ 6:50 PM
Franciscan Benediction.

Today, I was blessed with brokenness from God. While I was broken, I did not fear because I know that God is working in me to shape me to be more and more like Him. There were moments when I felt great despair and hopelessness too, but I sought refuge in knowing that a broken and contrite spirit, God will not depise ( Haha everyone's saying that ).

God, I pray that you will break me more and more, for in my brokenness, there is victory.

The Franciscan Benediction in our prayer and fasting booklet is really meaningful:

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen.

Dear Lord, I want to be blessed with discomfort, anger, tears, and foolishness, in this 40 days of prayer and fasting!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 @ 9:26 PM
Love Singapore Website & 40Day Prayer Booklet.

Can check out the Love Singapore website if you need an online copy of the booklet.
I have put the links on the side.

By the way, the song that's playing in the background is very meaningful. Listen to it.

How wide is Your great love
that You would come and die for me
The Lamb that's been given
so that I may come receive

Your grace, it overflows
Your mercy fills me in my soul
Such a wonderful Saviour
who knows me like I know

What a privilege for me to come in hand
from a God who calls me by my name
My Friend

Above all else, I want to love You like You do,
Lord I will worship like I should,
I will give my all to You

Above all else, I want to live my life each day,
Pleasing in every single way,
Jesus I will offer up my all to You.

There're times when I would fall
When I cant seem to hear You call
But I know You're here, Lord
You never let me go

You always stand by me
for who I am and used to be
Dont deserve any of these
the things You freely give

What a privilege for me to come in hand
from a God who calls me by my name
My Friend

Above all else, I want to love You like You do,
Lord I will worship like I should,
I will give my all to You

Above all else, I want to live my life each day,
Pleasing in every single way,
Jesus I will offer up my all to You.

I pray that for all of us, myself included, that above all else, we will live our lives each day, pleasing in every single way, offering our all to Jesus.

Thursday, July 31, 2008 @ 7:45 PM
Spoilt for choice.

I shall post about fasting and prayer for today.

SPOILT FOR CHOICE ( Matthew 6:25-33)

KettVerses: 33-34

33 But seek first his kingdom and rhis righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Do not worry, God will provide just the right amount for us ; no more, no less. We should not be slaves to the notion of choice.

Let me have childlike dependance on God.

Things I will not worry about:

I will not worry about global warming in the world.

I will not worry about the oil prices and inflation.

I will not worry about the 2 month's to O's.

I will not worry about my parent's relationship.

I will not worry if I am not the person the world wants me to be.

I will not worry about obstacles that may come when I'm at my best.

I will not worry if the world doesn't like me.

I will not worry what others may think of me.

9 More day's of fasting. Press on!

God bless those having exams!

Thursday, July 10, 2008 @ 10:25 PM
Youth Day Cell Outing Pics.

Labels: Cell Activities

@ 6:21 PM
No time.

I got this poem from a chain mail:

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.

I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord, I came,
I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
'Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time'

---
Algae's comments:

While this story is soul searching, I dont think it quite represents God's position towards us.

Psalm 103:10
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

In terms of salvation, God does not treat us as what we deserve (death), giving us 2nd chance after 2nd chance (through Jesus' atoning sacrifice).

Jeremiah 17:10
"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

Yet the principle of reaping what we sow applies. We will get the positive or negative consequences of our actions.

The theology behind the story is wrong, because we are saved by grace through faith, and not works (pray, reach out to people etc).

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Yet on the other hand, in James, the author challenges us to show the reality of our faith through our deeds.

James 2:17-18
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

In short, yes, let's examine if we are really praying and reaching out to people, because these are indicators if we truly love God.
But let it not be a comparison or condemnation session, but a yardstick to gauge where we are and work towards obeying God more.
(ie. If I am not praying, start to pray! If I not not reaching out to people, start loving people!)

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 @ 9:54 PM
Updated July-Sep Plans.




Hi all,

Take note of the changes (not much), due to clashes.
Just take note that TPE volunteer meeting and enrichment is not for you.
TPE only applies to Bryan, who needs to confirm with me when he can make it.
Fabius, you have transited to study mountain. You can come to study together with Jarrel, Yong Hong, Kenneth Pang and gang in another room while we game.

Labels: Cell Activities

Thursday, July 3, 2008 @ 10:07 PM
Week 1 Reflections: Get Real.

Mark 7:6-7 (The Message)
Jesus answered, "Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull's-eye in fact:

These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn't in it.

They act like they are worshiping me,
but they don't mean it.

They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy,

Ditching God's command
and taking up the latest fads."

How would you feel if someone pays you lip service, saying that they will get the things done, but not actually wanting to do it.
As a teacher, I have students who pay me lip service, even in a good school, and I get pretty upset with them. Like promising to do their homework, but come back uncompleted and giving excuses they are "too busy" and "forget".

I get upset because I feel they do not take my words seriously.
Sometimes, I think that's how God feels towards us.
Very frustrated because we dont take Him seriously.

What is true worship? When our attention is solely focused on Jesus.
What is true fasting? When the reason we fast is to please Him and deny ourselves.

To be honest, every time I come to church, every time I attend cell group, and even every time I lead you guys, I have to confess that there are times it's a drag / chore / burden / joyless event / wish that time pass quickly so that I can go back and do my own things / (fill in your own blank ________).

In reading these 3 days' prayer and fast devotion, God caused me to examine the basics of my faith.

1. What is the state of my love for Him.
Am I still in church because it has became a routine and a duty, or am I passionate about Him?
In the same way, are we doing QT out of routine or being serious about knowing God?

2. What is the motivation why I serve.
Is it to maintain a facade of being a "pious person" or is it reciprocating out of abundance of His love?
In the same way, are we coming to church regularly because our parents want us to, or are we allowing God to transform us through the church services?

3. When I approach my work (teaching), is it out of a calling or has it degenerated to a livelihood?
As I am spending the majority of my time working, is God the lord of my Work, or Work the lord of my God? Who is sitting at this major throne of my life? Am I surrendering and seeking His direction?
Who do we serve? God or the world?

Too many times, in so many ways, I know in areas of my life I have been self-seeking.
It's time to repent, stop treating God as a vending machine and be God-seeking and God-fearing.

May God also ask you these pointed questions lovingly, and convict you to get real in your walk with Him.

Labels: Father's Thoughts

@ 6:50 PM
Franciscan Benediction.

Today, I was blessed with brokenness from God. While I was broken, I did not fear because I know that God is working in me to shape me to be more and more like Him. There were moments when I felt great despair and hopelessness too, but I sought refuge in knowing that a broken and contrite spirit, God will not depise ( Haha everyone's saying that ).

God, I pray that you will break me more and more, for in my brokenness, there is victory.

The Franciscan Benediction in our prayer and fasting booklet is really meaningful:

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen.

Dear Lord, I want to be blessed with discomfort, anger, tears, and foolishness, in this 40 days of prayer and fasting!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 @ 9:26 PM
Love Singapore Website & 40Day Prayer Booklet.

Can check out the Love Singapore website if you need an online copy of the booklet.
I have put the links on the side.

By the way, the song that's playing in the background is very meaningful. Listen to it.

How wide is Your great love
that You would come and die for me
The Lamb that's been given
so that I may come receive

Your grace, it overflows
Your mercy fills me in my soul
Such a wonderful Saviour
who knows me like I know

What a privilege for me to come in hand
from a God who calls me by my name
My Friend

Above all else, I want to love You like You do,
Lord I will worship like I should,
I will give my all to You

Above all else, I want to live my life each day,
Pleasing in every single way,
Jesus I will offer up my all to You.

There're times when I would fall
When I cant seem to hear You call
But I know You're here, Lord
You never let me go

You always stand by me
for who I am and used to be
Dont deserve any of these
the things You freely give

What a privilege for me to come in hand
from a God who calls me by my name
My Friend

Above all else, I want to love You like You do,
Lord I will worship like I should,
I will give my all to You

Above all else, I want to live my life each day,
Pleasing in every single way,
Jesus I will offer up my all to You.

I pray that for all of us, myself included, that above all else, we will live our lives each day, pleasing in every single way, offering our all to Jesus.