Sunday Sermon: Effective Worshippers

THE HEART OF WORSHIP

WHEN THE MUSIC FADES
ALL IS STRIPPED AWAY
AND I SIMPLY COME
LONGING JUST TO BRING
SOMETHING THAT'S OF WORTH
THAT WILL BLESS YOUR HEART
I'LL BRING YOU MORE THAN A SONG
FOR A SONG IN ITSELF
IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE REQUIRED
YOU SEARCH MUCH DEEPER WITHIN
THROUGH THE WAY THINGS APPEAR
YOU'RE LOOKING INTO MY HEART

I'M COMING BACK
TO THE HEART OF WORSHIP
AND IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU
ALL ABOUT YOU, JESUS
I'M SORRY, LORD
FOR THE THING I'VE MADE IT
WHEN IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU
ALL ABOUT YOU, JESUS

KING OF ENDLESS WORTH
NO ONE COULD EXPRESS
HOW MUCH YOU DESERVE
THOUGH I'M WEAK AND POOR
ALL I HAVE IS YOURS
EVERY SINGLE BREATH


I am always amazed at how other bloggers keyed in their thoughts and reflections with so beautiful words and creative ways of writing...but the best part is that they are so enthu about blogging....hmmm..anyway...that's not what i wanna write today...just a thought...what i am going to share is about this song "Heart of Worship" by Matt Redman.

In the first place when this song came out..it was real HOT!...but since last Sunday, this song is more than a song to me...but a song that is close to my heart...this is because I felt that God is encouraging me to spend more time with Him so that I could be more in tune with Him.

This song i picked it out to sing during last cell meeting when God spoke to us five times...truly to be a true worshipper is more than music...is knowing the heart of God...everything we do (eg. serve God) flows out from a love relationship with God, our Heavenly Father...

It is just like we can give without love, but we can't love without giving. It's true...that's why God sent His only begotten Son to die on behalf of our sins. Because He LOVES us so much that HE does not want anyone to perish....but to repent of our sins and receive eternal life....thank GOd that HE is a God of relationship....a God who is not only high and mighty but humble? gentle? i really don't know what word to use...that for those who received His Son, Jesus are being accepted by Him as His children and allowed us to call Him as our "Abba Father" or our Heavenly Father...it's so awesome and amazing...! I am not sure how come i write all these things...not sure whether it really links to what i am supposed to write....but it's okay as who knows one day some one may chance upon it and be encouraged by this few sentences...or who knows...it's myself that get encouraged during sad times...

Come back to the Heart of Worship...
From the words alone, we could sense & see which angle the composer is coming from...from my own understanding is just simply as i am before God...be it when I am weak or strong...just simply come before God and recognise that we need HIM no matter which stage we are in. I agreed with Ps. Chia that in all times or situations praise God....He is worthy to be praised! (What a simple sentence and yet a bit difficult to apply...but no excuse...by God's grace we can and we will). Besides coming to God just as we are...we also come before God with a simple faith...well anything can be complex but not my faith in God...this is my prayer to God. Just simply trusting in God...Today I listened to Ps. Benny Ho's preaching CD entitled "Walking with God" and one of the sentence he said was that if we have faith in God, He is pleased with us...nothing is more important than pleasing God. It's true...and he preached this to break those lies in our mind so that we will not live a live seeking approval from God and wondering is our lives is pleasing with God....we are...as long as we have faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

In closing, it's all about HIM...all about Jesus...all about God Almighty....
(Hmmm...God if i didn't get it right please tell me..and for those reading it and felt some thing amiss..kindly let me know...thanks).

Today (25 Aug 06) is my Papa birthday

Today, is my papa birthday....we went to Paramount Hotel for dinner (Paramount Restuarant, under Tung Lok Group). We ordered steam fish, crispy chicken that comes with keropok, fried fish slices, fried prawns and fried item that i don't know how to named it...it's nice....i also ordered salmon shashimi (hmmm...have been craving for it...the rich, sweet taste of the fish...slurp..), fried udon, lobster soup that comes with a pastry top....

When i looked back, really thank God for the good food that He blessed me with...even though i may not earn much and could indulge in expensive items now...but God in His special ways blessed me with lots of good food...i got good food during my church anniversary last week, 20 Aug 06 and now 5 days later eat at a branded chinese restaurant. Thank you Father God...You are number one!

My papa enjoyed the dinner and i think we over ordered as we did not eat the fried udon, we called them to pack it and brought it back home....PTL...my mum gave it to me for my lunch tomorrow....heeee....save money....hahah....

Praise and thank the Lord that i have "My First Tung Lok Card" that have 84 points and can deduct $84 from the total bill...and deduct another $7 as our "new dinner" gave us some new points...thank God! The total bill cost $51.00 Actual cost: $147.00

:) yummy dinner....praise the Lord, bless the Lord...THank You Jesus!


BTW...today i am spiritually "high"...maybe is the morning praying in the spirit for about 15 to 20mins...hahaha....God continue to fill me again...till overflowing with your presence....AMEN!

After 50th Church Anniversary...Beautiful girls... 

Durian Feast after cell meeting....see the mini durian on the bottom right hand side of the pictures??? so cute hor...anyway i am not a durian lover...is not that i don't eat..it just that i choose not to...not sure why people are crazy over this fruit...for me i am a strawberry, cherry, apples...etc...hee 

An Awesome Cell Meeting

22nd August 2006. Tuesday....God spoke during cell meeting...He asked:

1. Where is your heart's condition?
2. Did we place Him as number 1 in our lives?

He spoke through Vincent during our worship time, while we are singing "Draw me nearer to You"...God is near but are we?

I prayed a prayer to God and dedicated the next song to Him - "The Heart of Worship" (Thank God for the appropriate song)....still felt no good...but thank the Lord that the Word from Luke 9. Eunice asked each one of us what is Jesus meant to each of us. Some says "Saviour", "Lord", "Messiah", etc...

Yesterday the main point from the Word was about "Deny himself, carry his cross and follow ME (Jesus)". We need to follow Jesus at all cost - no excuses. During reflection time, Ruth shared what God had impressed in her heart. I can't recall all but one point she reminded us was that "don't go to hell through Church" & "Hearts on Fire". Our hearts had gone cold. After Ruth shared, Darius began to share what God has impressed on him. He told us that most of us are in church for at least 5 years and some of us knew each other from the Youth Service...when we are young and a lot of times made a lot of covenant with God what we want to be...as i seat on the floor pondering...tears flowed...i began to recall what i want to be when i was spiritually young...i want to serve God full time, to be a Pastor or Preacher with Prophetic giftings...(if any members of mine read this please don't think that i am "how Lian"...)...thank the Lord, He led me into serving Him full time. The sad thing is that i don't think i have that close walk with the Lord...need to buck up...After Darius shared, he led us into a time of worship, singing "Love amazing so divine..."...as we sang, i prayed and told God to flood us with His love again...this is because we need His love to return to that right relationship with Him. Really thank and Praise the Lord for His grace and mercies, God spoke through Vincent again..this time telling us and assuring us that even we have failed Him, He still loves us... God did a good closure for us...forgives us and cleanse us...Eunice prayed a prayer over us and we end the cell-meeting at 10:30pm...we gave a clap to God.

During my walk to the bus stop with Vincent, Andrew and Lorraine...Vincent shared to us that he saw a picture of a water flask pouring out water and some of us are drinking that water...that water is the living water....praise the Lord for His assurance and His Love...

the last few dishes....for Bethel's 50th Church Anniversary...really enjoyed the whole thing.... 

Bethel 50th Church Anniversary

Today, 20th Aug 06 is Bethel's 50th Church Anniversary and I am so honoured that i could help out at the registration counter. I don't know why but i felt very excited, honoured that i could be a part of this significant event in my life. I did not slept well last night, woke up early and dressed myself up.

I need to reach Raffles Convention at 8:45am to prepare for the flood of Bethelites and guest. Thank the Lord that He gave me the peace and the calmness to serve the Bethelites even there are some discrepancy on the tickets.

As i am at the registration counter, i could only enter the ballroom half an hour late (that is 11am) and i missed the opening ceremony....but never mind...the most important was that i could play a part in the Church Anniversary.

The invited speaker preached a sermon that past the appointed time, everyone was hungry and when the food was being served, it was being goppled down in an "twinkling of an eye". THe cold dish was tasty, so was the soup. Normally i don't take too much fried stuff, but i was so hungry that i ate 3 pieces of the fried chicken...it was so crispy.....the chicken dish disappeared once again before our eyes....

Praise The Lord!

God is faithful. Truly He is the Jehovah Jireh. Those who knew about my lost purse will know that i lost $60+ of cash and $40+ of transport money. But God is faithful, He gave me the inner assurance that i need not worry about money as He will provide. Truly He did provide me the money a week after i found i purse. Thank God that I also have some savings that tie me through the week.

Bless the Lord O my soul! Bless the Lord! He is worthy to be praised!