"The Heavenly Man" - When we arrive at the end of our own strength it is not defeat, but the start of tapping into God's boundless resources. It is when we are weak that we are strong in God.
above quote from the book "The Heavenly Man" ... a group of leaders were praying for deliverance of a murderer possessed by a spirit of darkness. they tried all kinds of prayers but nothing worked. all were exhausted and nothing seems to have any effect. out of frustration, they all spoke out to the Lord, "Lord, we can't do anything". as they sat there in defeat, things started happening, "...the Spirit of God came upon us and the demon-possessed man started shaking uncontrollably. We jumped to our feet and laid hands on the man. Immediately the demons left him".
when i read this, it reminded me of a time when things were just happening to my dad in hospital. everytime, we thought he's better, something has to happen and we were always told to expect the worst. it became very exhausting for me. a ruptured esophagus near his left lung caused it to be filled with fluid from the stomach. they had it cleared and by the grace of God, no further damage to his other organs were caused by that rupture. a few alarms were alerted after the surgery to remove the ruptured esophagus and to clean up the left lung and surrounding tissues, but they were usually minor and thank God, the results always come back as "all ok and nothing to worry about". then we got news that his right lung may be affected!! i questioned "Why?? why when You have brought him through the operation and everything else, why must something like this happen?" that night before the surgery to clean up the right lung and to check the surrounding tissues, i was restless. when everyone's asleep, i went to the hall and started praying for answers. it was a cry of desperation. suddenly i felt so exhausted and helpless.
i cried for a long time. then i realised that though i have been praying for his recovery, i am not without worry. there was still this small percentage of doubt and news of this surgery brought it to the point of a breakdown. i prayed for the Lord to take over, trusting that as in all previous alarms, this will be just another alarm and that all will be well. immediately there was peace and i knew my dad will be ok because the Lord has been faithful ... the surgery went well and apparently, it was nothing too serious. The Lord is definitely faithful.
that night was a reminder to me to tap on the Lord for all things, to stay on His highway, to stay in prayer and to be in full surrender to His will for to do things in our own strength may be impossible but in Him, nothing is impossible.
1 Chronicles 16:11 - Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
9:34 PM;
to love You from the inside out
i have learnt to ask when i receive...for i am His steward
every posting, every contract, every amount received is given to me with a purpose. i have learnt not to assume what it is for. i have learnt not to plan it's use for myself. i have learnt to wait and let it be revealed when the time comes.
many times i have asked "why". now i ask "what" and "how".
Isaiah 55:10-11 10 “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
11:16 AM;
to love You from the inside out
was doing my reading on the bus, i prayed for a revelation, for a learning, for direction. turned the bible pages to Acts 8 and read verses 26 to 39. something caught my eye instantly...
37 Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."like Pastor said, when we're hungry - just eat, when we're thirsty - just drink, when we're tired - just sleep.
when i want to receive -
just believe.
in these verses, Philip was asked to go south - the desert. he obeyed and met a eunuch who was searching. because Philip obeyed and with his willingness to share, it led to the eunuch's coming to Christ and also his baptism. then Philip moved on to his next destination.
i want to be like Philip. i want to believe and share. i want to be led where i am needed, lead me to reach out to one in need. i want many things but are they what You want for me?
He gives for me to bless.http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%208:26%20-%2037&version=NKJV
12:21 AM;
to love You from the inside out
my first love...the "God" moment.
the first real experience that confirms His existence. i cannot explain in words how it feels...the baptism of the Holy Spirit. there were many more "God" moments for me since then. when there is pain, i feel His embrace and i just want to stay in that warmth till the pain goes away. when i read His word, the joy of knowing He is just next to me watching and helping me understand is a privilege, on the bus or in a cab or walking along the roads or just sitting on a bench in the park or reading a book in a coffee shop, knowing He is there just next to me is a comfort...to know that nothing will go wrong.
everyday, i feel His presence. His love that surrounds me makes me want to do Him proud. sometimes it is so overwhelming it hurts that i cannot do enough to give my all, to share with the world of His goodness, His greatness and His holiness. it hurts so much that i am limited by my flesh. i pray to the Lord to increase my capacity. i want to learn all that i need to learn and to touch the life of one person...to 2 persons...to 4 persons...to 8 persons...to 16 persons and to as many as the Lord wants for me to reach out to because in Him, nothing is impossible.
Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with Godhow do i know He exists? no words can explain this knowing. i know because i have experienced Him. all i needed to do was:
"Open the doors of my heart and invite Him in. Then allow Him to start working on it. Follow obediently...not blindly.my Father is my partner in all that i do.
12:27 AM;
to love You from the inside out
does He know my heart's desires?
yes He doeswill He give them to me?
yes, when i can manage themhow can i prepare myself to receive?
learn ALL that He wants to teach from His word and the experiences He brings me through
there are no shortcuts to anything. obedience...is the key to learning all that needs to be learnt for the Lord to prepare me for what He has in store for me.
many things may happen that are beyond my understanding and i just need to know that the Lord has His agenda. something i learnt when reading
"The Heavenly Man" is that our folly and disobedience may bring harm to our loved ones but in faith and trust, all will be well. However, when we repent with all our heart, He will work to make things right again because of His love for us.
Dear Father, I stand before You now in repentance of all my sins. Forgive me if I have been disobedient. Forgive me if I have made You sad. I pray for Your mercy and Your grace and I want to thank You for loving me each and every day. Dear Father, lead me and guide me that I may walk on Your highway and not stray. Lead me where I am needed and grant me the anointing to touch the lives of all whom I am led to meet.
Amen
7:32 PM;
to love You from the inside out
bring joy where there is no joy
bring His presence where there is no hope
2 Cor 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
11:24 PM;
to love You from the inside out
Luke 10:19-2019I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."when i walk with Him in full surrender, authority is given. however, do not take pride in what i can do but understand that it is my privilege and honor for it is not me but the Lord's hand at work ... stay humble.
Luke 23:35-4335The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38There was a written notice above him, which read:sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."persecution in the modern world comes in all forms. is there a need for me to prove myself? bad testimonies on christian behaviour - i hear of that all the time. reading this, i realise there is no need to get upset or react to a "dare". stay still and listen for He knows all and the truth will be revealed. reading this in the morning on my way to work prepared me for a conversation i had over lunch. what can i say to someone who has given up on the human race because of what some close Christian relatives say and how they behave? nothing i can say to change the way he thinks and feels but being there, showing care and concern and keeping him in prayer is what i can do. i am a messenger, an intercessor, a servant for the Lord's work. He will do the rest in His time.
i pray for the bitterness and anger to be taken away and replaced with love, understanding and forgiveness, to soften his heart that he may receive the goodness of all that the Lord has for him. Amen.
1:16 AM;
to love You from the inside out
"The Heavenly Man" - in the early part of the book, it tells about how a family was saved when the father was cured of some health problems. they were hungy for God's word. however, when the missionaries were taken away and persecution made life tough, many forgot their first love when there were no opportunities for fellowship and there were no bibles for them.
got me thinking...am i ready for persecution? am i strong enough in the Spirit to be away from the church and fellow Christians? i want to be well prepared for when the time comes.
throughout the book, with persecution rampant in China at that time, many Christians had to be really strong spiritually. many were in close union with the Lord because there was a reliance on Him. the blessings and grace and mercy poured out on them were tremendous. miracles and healings and revivals were abound. of course all these came with sufferings but many felt joy and peace in all the tribulations they face. humility, full surrender and reliance on the Lord is all one needs.
was chatting with a friend and got this revelation...
He knows everything and wills all things. It is His will but our choices that determines the path we take to reach our destination.
i see this in every page of the book. no matter how much we resist His will, we are always brought back to His path. let Him lead...
11:45 PM;
to love You from the inside out
"The Heavenly Man" - a book recommended by my cell group member. it is a true story about the life of a brother in Christ, Brother Yun, and his walk of faith. one quote from the book to share -
"...the grace of the Lord poured out on his life, overflowing as a blessing to many." how many times have we asked for God's grace and mercy? i ask for it all the time. it was a revelation for me that the grace of God is not for us alone. it is for us to receive and bless others. i have never thought of it that way though. this is one quote i will always remember. wow...imagine the grace of the Lord pouring over us so abundantly that it overflows to bless all around us. i want to be the vessel for this to happen. Amen!
"It is not great men who change the world but weak men in the hands of a great God."- in God all things are possible.
2:54 AM;
to love You from the inside out
friday, 23 oct 09 - message at cell group was a reminder to me
have i built my tent outside of the camp? yes, i have. however....
i have not been visiting it for awhile. it's been days of getting from one place to another on time and making the most of the time that i have and i have forgotten my most important appointment everyday - my appointment with the Father who has given me everything. deep personal time and conversations are now casual remarks and weather talk.
the camp is the place where all will gather to praise and worship and pray. the Lord hears me but can i hear Him? what happens when i leave that place? go back to my routine lifestyle and gets wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of "time" - own time. the joy that was experienced at the camp is left there. the joy doesn't follow out of the camp. the joy will be visited again in another week. go back to the "flesh" of existence and wonder why it is so tough and wonder if the Father knows. of course He does but if i do not make time to listen, who am i to complain and wonder?
Exodus 33:7-11 clearly describes the purpose of building our tent outside of the camp and to obediently visit it everyday. it is a place of meeting for the Father to be with His child. it is a personal meeting for Him to speak to me, a personal encounter with Him, a personal connection.
it's time to rebuild my tent, to seek Him with all my heart, my soul and my mind and to humble myself before Him, to listen and obey, to be an example for God's kingdom. His love and faithfulness is my joy and rest. let it be for His kingdom first.
Exodus 33:7-11
7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.
8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.
9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses.
10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent.
11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
4:31 AM;
to love You from the inside out
to be baptised by the Holy Spirit ... is something i will always remember ... my first love encounter. it was at sunday service, 6 july 2008. Rev Mike Connell was preaching. i have been told to expect the unexpected at his sermons and there certainly were many many encounters and i was one of the numbers on that day. i have described it in my personal blog and could not find the words to repeat how i feel again so here's the link for you.
http://star-creations.blogspot.com/2008/07/moment-so-personal.htmlrepent all sins, surrender fully and receive Him with open arms. he will come and fill you with joy, peace, love and hope...nothing compares.
Ask and you shall receive.
6:07 AM;
to love You from the inside out
16 nov 2008
a sunday to remember
my water baptism
the anticipation of going underwater, the uncertainty when in the water, the happiness of coming out of the water feeling refreshed.
was something supposed to happen when we come out from the water? there was no fireworks or a great revelation for me...just a wonderful sense of peace. however, when i was in the water, there was an uncertainty. a vision that was not complete. i wanted to stay in there longer to see the full picture... not possible. there was a long queue of anxious believers after me. however, i knew it will be revealed in God's time and it did in one of the services not too long ago. it was a sermon about discarding the old skin and putting on the new skin. closed my eyes and this time i saw the vision. a vision of me floating away in the waters. was that the old me?
then i remembered something else that happened a few days after being water baptised. getting ready for work and doing my makeup in front of the mirror, i looked at myself again after the final touch up and i saw a different me. it was a bright radiant face smiling at me for a few seconds and it was gone. so bright it luminated it's surroundings. puzzled over it for the whole day and remembering that face, i wanted to know who that was. i knew it was me and yet it didn't feel like it was me. by the end of the day, i was feeling scared because what i remembered as angelic had become sinister. what happened? i didn't know. however, as i lay in bed praying, a voice called my name, a "metallic" voice called out once close to me...only once. then a warm embrace engulfed me and i knew everything was alright.
little did i know that this was going to be the start of many wonderful encounters of a relationship with my Heavenly Father.
Rev 3:20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.
i have opened that door. :)
3:37 AM;
to love You from the inside out
i have always thought all i needed was to believe and have faith ... i was just fooling myself.
there is always something else i needed to do for the better of me and myself ... i was so wrong.
there were many excuses that seems to be well justified ... nothing else is further from the truth.
i didn't want to go to church because it made me feel so vulnerable. it touches right where it hurts most. i didn't want to get there. i didn't want to cry in front of anyone. i thought i could handle it all on my own. i did not need anyone to be with me. i just needed God to be there
for me. as long as i believe, He will take care of me.
He did. He took care of me real well. i have led a good life before and He waited more than 30 years ... patiently ... for me to be ready.
when my parents and sisters got baptised, i asked myself why should i and that it was not necessary. i just needed to have Him in my heart. furthermore, i was disappointed with the way some christians were behaving...i judged and my excuse was i will be baptised when i can be the perfect christian. then a revelation came at one of the adhoc visits to church - that christianity is a
personal relationship, it is a
personal decision. how others walk their christian faith is their own personal walk. i am His child and He is waiting to receive me into His kingdom. i will be perfected in my walk with Him in His time. i started tearing. there is Someone who actually really cares and i wanted to know more about the Lord and His word. there was a sense of peace and lightheartedness all the way home. made a decision to go to church regularly to learn as much as i can. i want to grow spiritually. i want to know all that i need to know. i want to be what He wants me to be. it was no more a chore to wake up early for sunday service and i look forward to it every week. i literally skip my way to church every sunday!
that is JOY... and that was in Feb 2008.
happiness is dependent on situations but joy is from within and nothing can take that away no matter what happens.
thank you Pam ... for inviting me to City Harvest. thank you ... for bringing me back home to God.
11:07 PM;
to love You from the inside out
City Harvest Church
Pastor Kong Hee
Song - Because of You
Song - Sanctuary
Song - First
Song - Beautiful
For all the wants in this world, we just need one thing - JESUS. For He is the joy, the hope and the peace. He is the way, the truth and the life.
Life is beautiful when you look upwards and outwards instead of inwards and down
Do God's work with no doubt, only faith
Let go of all your burdens and go through the eye of the needle
Colossians 1:27 - "the hope of God being seen in our world is found in you and me..and this is the way God created it.And the hope of God's love being heard is found in the words we speak"
if you remove this, i'll come after you!muahaha
wan t!ng
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