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“Cast me not away from your pressence, Oh Lord.
Take not, Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me, the joy of Your salvation,
Renew a right spirit within me.”
I open my eyes to the dawn of the earth.
My mind is alert, my spirit burden.
My heart is heavy with the weight of a mountain.
I need the spirit of the Lord washing over mine.
I need direction over every aspect of my life.
I need the strength, the grace and the mercy of Him.
I want to walk in righteousness.
I want to be myself for who He have intend.
Teach me, guide me and allow me.
Forget about the ‘I’, and
let the spirit of the Lord wash over mine.
I am prompted by the spirit to write this very post about my struggles & the decisions i have to make during the past few years of my life especially last year. Every time i think of the wasted years, regrets filled my heart. I wonder how i could have fallen so far away yet at the same time, i am grateful that God brought me through. He have never forgotten about me nor forsaken me. From the bottom of my heart, i thank God for His grace and love, the patience of my pastors, the endurance of my leaders & the support of my peers.
If you read through it all, i hope it will encourage you in your current situation and whatever lesson i have learnt, it will help you as you choose to walk with God.
1. Dealing with the Uncertainty
Before i leave Singapore to come on to Australia for my studies, my intention is to leave this place in 3 years. But upon the completion of my studies, whether to stay on or to go back home became a struggle for myself. On one hand, i wanted to serve and to grow more in Brisbane. On the other hand, i wanted to go back to my comfort – back to my home. Although i made a decision to stay on, it was half-hearted. I am constantly torn apart by wanting to stay and going back. It didn’t help when my family back home was constantly asking me to return. Adding to the pressure was the inability to find a full-term career. I can still remember the constant battle going on in my heart and mind. The many conversations that i have with myself.
After more than 24 months of torturing thoughts, i told myself to put an end to it all. I make a full decision. From this simple action, i discover a very important key to deal with uncertainty – Decision Making. When i make a complete decision to stay on in Australia, i also make a statement to trust God completely. I am not advocating rash decision making. I have carefully thought about it, make countless prayers and seek many counsel regarding the whole matter.
The problem i have is, letting it drag for far too long. If i had try making a decisive decision 23months earlier, it will not have affected my relationship with God. I tried avoiding the issue, giving myself plenty of excuses to make a decision later on in my life. Also, the many conversation with myself causes me to doubt God and even my leaders. If i had learn to trust wise counsel and letting them speak into my life, i will have come to a conclusion earlier. But instead, my spirit became hard & my attitude luke-warm.
Uncertainty will disrupt our walk with God. But when we learn to deal with it, we will be able to trust in God’s timing and providence completely. Make a decisive decision based on prayer, counsel and careful thinking. Do not let it drag for too long, try to resolve it as fast as you can (but remember, make sure it is not a rash decision).
More to come
2. Dealing with Emotion
3. Dealing with Unsatisfaction
4. Dealing with Leaders & Peers
5. Dealing with my Health
6. Dealing with Theology
7. Dealing with Relationship
Not on desire, nor on feel.
But on His direction for my life.
To give up, or to try.
Let His words be my light.
Point me in the right direction,
Point me to the very light.
All i want is the call of my life.
And the winner is ….
Top 5 Clicks
evelynsam.spaces.live.com ( 106 )
jeffchong.blogspot.com ( 98 )
beyondthesunset.blogspot.com ( 91 )
energizerbunny.wordpress.com ( 73 )
reflectionsofasang-marcus.blogspot.com ( 62 )
And the winner is ….
Top 5 Posts
The Girl i am looking for? ( 40 )
God’s Vision ( 39 )
Joshua 1:6-9 ( 36 )
~~ Everything is by the Grace of God ~~ ( 34 )
God and Satan ( 26 )
Sitting in the pavilion,
bowing my head,
straining my heart,
hoping to hear,
the very words of God.
And in the quiet,
with the silence,
praying and listening,
for the direction and His advise,
by His grace and by His love.
Peace take it’s place,
the soul settled,
the spirit stirred,
to the revelation revealed.
Looking from light into darkness,
saw the sufferings of mankind,
compassion arises,
to bring the light into lives.
Looking from darkness into light,
saw the beauty of a figure,
calling for His people,
to walk towards the light.
Spread the light into the world,
share the light with people,
enjoy the joy of salvation,
by His grace and by His love.
As all rises to the call,
walking into the light,
for the lost will be found,
in the eternity to come.
I stand amazed,
looking towards the heaven,
the beauty of His creation,
by His grace and by His love.
‘American Idol’ brings Jesus back to worship song
by Nathan Black
by Nathan Black
Following a wave of comments by Christian viewers criticising Wednesday night’s “American Idol” performance that replaced “Jesus” with “shepherd” in their finale song, Idol contestants stepped back on stage Thursday, this time singing “Jesus”.
On Thursday night’s results show, Michael Johns was eliminated from the wildly popular singing competition, shocking millions of viewers as the contest was narrowed down to the top seven finalists. But more shocking to many viewers than the boot were performances of the contemporary worship song “Shout to the Lord”, written by Darlene Zschech.
Christians were outraged Wednesday night during the television show’s second “Idol Gives Back” charity event when white-clad Idol contestants sang “My Shepherd, My Saviour” instead of “My Jesus, My Saviour” in their final performance of the night.
On Thursday night, the eight finalists were back on the stage to make sure that this time they sang all the original lyrics, including the word “Jesus”.
When the contestants sang the song again near the beginning of Thursday’s results show, many Christians were pleasantly surprised to hear “Jesus”. The religious song, however, continued to irk others who did not find it appealing to a wide audience.
“That’s their first big mistake. If you’re going to sing a gospel tune, sing it. Why change that word?” said Michael Giltz, a blogger on The Huffington Post.
Some speculate the modified version of the worship song was an attempt to lessen any controversy among the diversely religious American people. But after the charity event, the “American Idol” message board had a hoard of posts that questioned the appropriateness of the finalists singing a Christian song.
“Even if each and every one of them is born again and dying to sing the praises of the Lord, you don’t alienate the viewers like me – and most Americans are not evangelicals – who don’t identity with that particular strand of Christianity,” wrote Giltz, a Catholic. “Dropping the ‘Jesus’ from ‘Shout to the Lord’ was a big mistake. Making all the Idol contestants sing it together in the first place was an even bigger one.”
I am really suffering from the politics at work. I have been trying not to get involved at all, quietly listening and doing my own work. But finally it is now at my doorstep. There is no way i can ignore it any further, especially when it is about my work and where i should be located. When i try to help my colleague, i got knifed. It really really hurt. All i wanted to do is to do my work and help as much as i can.
Well, people i spoke to always tells me that politics are a norm in workplaces but why must there be politics. Can’t everyone work in harmony with each other. I told God that it really is painful. The trust wasn’t build on any solid foundation at all. God’s reply is to love as He have loved and to forgive as He have forgiven.
I could only pray that He will lead me and protect me. Graciously bringing me through the mess, revealing His ways through these times.
Six years and i have only been back to Singapore once. People have asked if i do not missed home. The truth is, i do. I love my family. I love to be with them. But i know that i have things to complete in Aussie land and to finish the journey ahead of me. Life is hard without my family around me. Even though i longed to take a trip back home, certain things will disrupt my plans. As always, i could only be patient and wait. Today, i just have this urge to write about my grandma and brother because they have make such a great impact in my life.
My Grandma
When i am back home, i really regret not treasuring my grandma’s cooking as much i crave for it now. It is really true how we often take for granted what we have with us all the time. With my grandma’s cooking, the most memorial meal will be the breakfast. I almost always wakes up to porridge, eggs, vegetable and meat. This is what we often call the “Teochew Muay”. It is like a mini 3 dishes lunch or dinner. Well i really miss her cooking heaps.
My Brother
My brother and i used to spend time with each other almost everyday. I remembered the days where we will go walking around the neighourhood and the times when we watch movies at Toa Payoh Cinema almost every single week. Yeah, I am quite a movie-holic and it really is memorial as i watch a movie with my bro. It has a much different feeling. Nowadays, we seldom speak to each other, mainly because of my busy lifestyle. But yeah, he is my best mate and will always be my best bro.
As the call became distinctively clearer, i begin to take steps to attend to that call – seeking to improve my stewardship in all areas entrusted onto me.
One thing which i am challenged to change is that time is not mine to own. It has always been God’s time, and will always be God’s but i have been selfishly claiming it as mine. As i begin to change this selfish mindset, i suddenly found that i have more time available which i can put into cultivating stronger friendship and driving deeper into the precious word.
I have come to love people more with every passing days. The many different character and cultures are captivating. I am enjoying each person unique life story. Their encounter with God encourage and challenge me to grow more in God. The problems they shared motivates me to cast away my own. I really wish that i am able to help by sharing in their pain. Most of the times, i can only sit and listen, helpless in anyway. When they shared their joy and their excitment, i thank God for His providence and grace, and allowing me to share in their overflowing joy. I really thank God for them all who have allowed me to come close and learn more about your pain, your joy and your life journey.
Learning to wait patiently upon God’s perfect timing is something which i am engaging in at this moment. It is also the period where i am most lost. I could only wait for Him to provide the direction. I could only pray that opportunities will be revealed and doors not of His will be closed. Many thoughts could only stay sealed in my deepest memory bank, waiting for the right time to be shared. Indeed, only God is able to provide the peace which guards my heart and my mind. Only by trusting in His ways could i ever continue to walk in righteousness.
Whenever i look back at the years before me, i am filled with regrets. How i wish i could turn back time and change the many things which i have done and not done. But there is simply no turning back. I could only look forward and walk towards change – actively changing my character, attitudes, perspective, lifestyle and being faithful to God’s entrustment. Basically, to walk like Christ walks and live like Christ lives.
As i seek His glory and His grace, i could only ask that He reveal more of Himself to me. Slowly but surely, i am beginning to see His plans unfold before my eyes. I could only wait a little more and trust Him a little more every single day of my life.
Warren’s challenge to pastors: ‘What has God put in your hands?’
by Michelle A Vu, US Correspondent
by Michelle A Vu, US Correspondent
Internationally revered Pastor Rick Warren slipped into the conference hall unnoticed Tuesday night, comfortably mingling with the hundreds of pastors gathered at the 19th annual National Conference on Preaching, before stepping on stage to deliver a sermon that reminded the audience why Warren is one of the most popular pastors in the world.
In his sermon entitled “Growing Spiritually,” Warren recounted the runaway success of his book The Purpose Driven Life – the best-selling book in history behind the Bible – to the audience gathered at Woodbridge, Virginia, in the US. The sermon was based on the story in Exodus 4 about the scene where God tells Moses to throw his staff on the ground and it transforms into a snake.
“That question, ‘What is in your hand?’ is one of the most important questions in life. What is in your hand?” Warren asked his audience, citing God’s question to Moses in Exodus 4:2.
God tells Moses to throw the staff in his hand on the ground and “something that was dead comes alive”, Warren emphasised. The pastor of Saddleback Church in southern California then made two points: God never does miracles to show off and God never asks questions that he does not already know the answer. God asks questions for our benefit, said Warren.
He went on to explain the significance of the staff which represented Moses’ identity as a shepherd; symbolised his income because wealth was tied to livestock back in those days; and symbolised his influence – Moses used the staff to pull or push his sheep.
“‘Lay it down and it will come alive, but Moses every time you pick it up it’s going to die,’” said Warren. “That simple little experience was the turning point in the history of the world.”
After that scene in the Bible, it was never again referred to as Moses’ staff but always called the Rod of God. The Rod of God was used to part the Red Sea, to turn the Nile River into blood, to perform miracles in front of pharaoh and to make water come out of a rock.
“It was just a simple stick. There was nothing magical about it, but once Moses surrendered it to God, it became the Rod of God,” Warren noted. “Pastors, what is in your hands?” the speaker challenged.
Warren then shifted gear and started talking about the success of The Purpose Driven Life and how he dealt with the fame and fortune that followed. He had to ask himself what has God put in his hands – tens of millions of dollars and enormous attention.
“If I wanted to after the book came out I could have bought an island and retire and have people serve me little drinks with umbrellas the rest of my life,” Warren joked. “But when you write a book and the first sentence of the book is, ‘It’s not about you,’ then you kind of figure the money is not for you and the fame is not for you,” he said drawing laughter.
Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, after prayer decided to not change their lives “one bit” even though they now had millions of dollars at their disposal. He said he still drives an eight-year-old Ford truck, lives in the same house before he wrote the book, and wears a watch from Target.
In addition, he stopped receiving salary from Saddleback Church in 2002 – the year the book was released; repaid all the salary he ever received from the church; set up foundations; pays for all his own travel expenses; and practises reverse tithing – where he gives 90 percent of his income and lives on 10 percent.
“I don’t want anybody doubting why I do what I do,” Warren explained. “I know with this book God has put me under the spotlight and I didn’t want anyone doubting why I do what I do,” he said, noting his main goal in life is to simply save one more soul.
The best-selling author said it was easy to resolve the money that God had put in his hands – simply give it away, but the influence was trickier to deal with. But after reading in Psalm 72 about King Solomon asking God to make him more influential so he could help the needy and oppressed, Warren understood that his fame was meant to be used to help the voiceless.
So following that model, Warren and Kay advocate for the poor and oppressed by sometimes speaking to politicians and businessmen, or by mobilising the church to help the weak and poor, especially children orphaned by Aids.
“What is in your hand? What is your identity? What is your income? What is your influence?” Warren concluded. “If you will take it and give it to Jesus he will make it come alive. He will do things in your life you would never imagine,” promised the renowned Christian pastor.
Warren spoke at the conference right after stepping off a flight from Kenya, which was one of his stops during a 12-day trip to Africa. There, he met with church, business, and political leaders. The three-day 19th annual National Conference on Preaching concluded Wednesday.
I miss the many people i have once taken care of. Everyone of you played a part in my life. Each one knows something about me that the others doesn’t and each person have encouraged me in some ways. All of you are unique. Some older than myself, some much younger. Some from cultures which are so different to mine. I have learnt from you and you have helped me in my spiritual journey. I haven’t spoken to some of you for ages, but i will never ever forget any of you guys.
I pray that i have played a part in your lives in someways as you have done in mine. Please do continue to walk with God, journey with Him and share your lives with me.
I was just having a chat with someone about the some of the upcoming weddings and was surprise to learn about drive through wedding. A couple can drive up to this station and a priest will conduct the wedding from the window (imagine driving through Macs and replacing the person with a priest). Well, the marriage certificate will then be given for a price and off you go to the casinos to spend your honeymoon. Well, it is actually kind of sad to see something so sacred to be taken so lightly. Truly, the idea is fresh but it kind of defeat the whole purpose of marriage.
Anyway, i have never been to Las Vegas, but here is an abstract which i found off the internet.
Las Vegas is officially called “the entertainment capital of the world.” Along with this title, it is also designated with a secondary title of being “the wedding capital of the world,” which is more apt than the former. The reason being, Las Vegas has over 100,000 couples getting married every year. Not surprising then that it has a considerable number of wedding chapels too. The most unique wedding chapels in Las Vegas are the drive through wedding chapels sometimes also known as gazebos.”Drive through” is a term that is mainly used in relation to restaurants and fast food joints, which serve customers who pull up in their vehicles. This drive through business goes very well with wedding chapels in Las Vegas.
Read the first few pages of a book and had a good laff out of it. This will make an interesting read. Well, God makes us unique in our own ways and that is why we communicate our thoughts, our lives and our emotions so differently. The way we processes ideas and the way we solve problems are different. No one is right or wrong. It is just different. Words take on a whole new meaning if you are who they are. But that, we will never be. Therefore, exercise grace and relax. Be positive and take it all in good fun. Try this joke,
“Why did God gives us two ears and only one mouth?”
Answer: So we can listen more and talk lesser.
It have been years since i completed the reading of a book. Most of the time it will be half read and laid along my many other half finished books in my bookshelf. But following a call from God, i was awaken to the fact that i need to read much more than ever before. I need to study and develop eternal principles from the Word of God for the benefit of myself but more so for the benefit of others. It really is refreshing trying to finish reading the book which i started last Friday. It took me 6 days but the journey was good. Times when i want to give up, but pushing through those thoughts bring great insight to what God wants to share with me. The renewal of promises that He have given to me and the conviction His words left in my heart. Refreshing.
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