Loved by God

Week after week, every Thursday i will attend my church prayer meeting. However on 19 Feb 09, it is very special. I just sensed that God is asking me in my heart to attend prayer meeting and not to worry about preparing my Friday cell lessons. Inside my heart i have such peace and also feelings of being "missed" (as i skipped prayer meeting last week to prepare my cell lesson), like God is thinking of me kind of feeling. Besides that personally i also felt a longing of getting done with my work and quick go to church to meet up with God.

I really thank God for ministering to me through a song that HE helped me to memorise when I was a young Christian. The song is “I come into this Holy Place”. I felt loved by God, that as if HE is telling me that I won’t be left alone or I will not be left out. Is like telling me that He is watching over me and He will never leave me nor forsake me.  

Prayer meeting ended and I went home. As usual I will check my emails and one of the subscribed scripture verse of the day is “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Thus this really assures me that God truly is looking out for me and also He takes note of me attending Prayer Meeting.

Thank You Father God for being so loving, gracious and merciful to me. Not only that, thank You for your Faithfulness even when I am unfaithful.

28 Jan 09 Morning pic

This snap was taken after i adjusted my camera phone camera's settings. Little did i know or rather realise that a train is coming by. I knew it when the train head appearred right in front of me and that i know it's time for me to board the train and it will take me a 41 minutes ride. :)

Lunar New Year Day 2

Today is Lunar New Year Day 2 and as my grandma stays at the Kwong Wai Shiu elderly home, my family went to pay her a visit. When we reached there, we met our 4th aunty and stayed their for a while before we went for lunch at Ban Heng Restaurant at Bendemeer Road.

While having our lunch, my brother noticed a girl's standing outside the restaurant, her side view looks like Fann Wong. I take a look also and commented that "yah..really leh..." and happened that she turned her face and i said that she actually is Fann Wong herself. Moments later, she and Christopher Lee walked into the restaurant and greet the waiter and waitresses before walking towards a table where all her relatives are.

That's all for a special day.

Looking forward and reflecting the year 2008

"Church let's count down to welcome the New Year 2009! ....10, 9, 8......3, 2, 1! Happy New Year 2009!" Balloons float down from my church balcony and all the children and those who are young at heart rush to pick the balloons or hit the balloons to the front as they followed the instructions given by the emcee. This is one of the scene in my church during last Watchnight Service 08 where members attended to welcome the New Year and also to testify of God's goodness.

Year 2008 ended with a bang on the whole world's financial / economy crisis - banks went bust, people were being retrenched, uncertainty creep in...but yet i chose to resign and leave my post as a church administrator by the end of Year 2008 after much prayers and consideration plus with the shalom peace of God in my heart and mind.

God is really good. HE gave me promises to cling on and assured me with His peace and His presence that HE understands my feelings and anxieties...thus when the Year 2009 was being ushered in, is really a new step for me - like re-learning to trust in the Lord, cling on His promises and see how He provides for me along the way. It is not the re-learning that excites me but is the process of me going through the faith upgrading road, seeing how God will provides for me, encouraging me, leading and opening door(s) for me and of course not only me but also blessing others through my testimony.

God is good. He truly sticks to His Word when He told me that He will open a way for me when there is no way. I got a job as a temp data entry clerk. I just simply asked my friend if she has any news from her friends that their company needs any data entry clerks let me know. The next thing she said was that her company needed some temp workers to take over those students who will be leaving in mid Jan'09. Little did i know that this job even though is very far, at Jurong Port, is a blessing in disguise. This is because one temp worker those me that his graduates friends find it difficult to get a $7 per hour temp job and yet i am able to get one. Praise the Lord! This really proves that God is in control of every situations, even in economic downturn. (Actually a lot of people who are very concern about me and told me that i leave at the wrong time...any way no time is the right time...as long as you have the peace of God after prayers and His promises...i guess it is the right time bah....)

Year 2009 started with change that i did not expect myself to take up - i went to my friend's workplace to work at a temp worker. The venue is at Jurong Port! A distance from where i stay. Imagine that i need to travel an hour's journey from Marine Parade to Lakeside daily. Now i need to wake up at 5.30am every working day, need to get out of my home by 6.30am to catch a bus to the nearest MRT at Eunos to catch a train by 6.54am to reach Lakeside, so that i can take the company bus by 8am to reach my workplace at 8:15am. Woo! Really a big change in my travelling schedule!

The above pic was taken while i am waiting for my bus at 6.35am.

One week have past since i started work on 19 Jan 09, Monday. Actually i find it okay to wake up super early as compared to last time the latest i can wake up is 7:15am. Somehow i find that i am more alert when i wake up early and going to work super early seeing how God paint each morning with the orange glow or crimson red before it turns bright at 7am.

This pic was taken at 6:50am while awaiting for my train.

Just like The Straits Times, one journalist took picture at 7:59am daily and write some comments on what he saw during that time. I also want to take daily morning pictures at 7:50am every working day to see how God paints His daily morning.

Since i taken up this temp job, i find that i am more sensitive to God. More easier to enter into His presence. Maybe my big load of responsiblities has been taken away and now left with a small part of responsiblity to just enter data and make sure it is correctly entered.

Okay lah..need to stop here and will continue...

My First Blog Post for Year 2009

On Wednesday, 14 Jan09, while having dinner with a friend, he happens to asked how come I did not blog anymore? The reason he asked was because did visit my blog and finds that no new post entry. (Actually i am happy that at least my blog is / was being read by my friends). 

The reason i din't write for a while was because of procrastination and afterall blogging is not as important to me as other things. I will not loose my salvation over not updating my blog...haha...it is actually an avenue for me to brush up my writing skills or jot down some things that i have reflected over the period.

Half a year just flew by and today is Chinese New Year Eve and we will usher in the month of February 09 - another month where most of the business will try their best to do some catching up in their sales and profit by introducing lots of gift ideas for Valentine's Day.

This year Valentine's Day will be a special one for me. Not that i am attached, but i am celebrating in my heart that my good friend is attached and now have a good life partner. :) I am really happy for them. This is really special is because i sensed in my Spirit they will be together and even told my friend that the guy will made known to her after our Mission Trip in Aug'08. PRaise the Lord! He did. He proposed to my friend to be his girlfriend during Christmas 08. Wow! what a Christmas gift! hahah....i am so glad and happy....hummm...i think i will make a gift for the two of them....

God's Assurance and Re-assurance

I've been struggling recently. Emotionally and mentally. Really thank God for His assurance that His love for me is still there.

On Friday, 27/6/08, as usual i went for my cell meeting and was being told by Eunice that the song leader couldn't make it for cell, so i was asked upon to lead songs. I chose 3 songs - Blessed Be the Name of the Lord, Thine is the Kingdom and No Higher Calling. Really thank God that Darius came for the meeting that night and helped to be the guitarist. I began the meeting with a Word of prayer and i prayed that God will make that night meeting a special and impact one. HE did. As we could not sing well the song "Thine is the Kingdom", i asked the Cell members to skip it. Darius then proposed that each member to lead a song, a song they will sing to God during their devotion time. It worked! We praise and worship God in a beautiful manner and i sensed His gentle love and ministering in my life - assuring me that HE still loves me and I am still accepted by Him. Thank you God.

On Sunday, 29/6/08, Ps. Peter Lui preached a Messaged on "God Make Everything Beautiful in His Time" through his message i learnt that:

1. God's timing is perfect
2. God has a plan for me
3. All things works for good to those who loved Him

Thank you God for a re-assuring message.

Sacrifice-Bob Fitts- With lyrics.

To take this pic, I was being asked to prostrate myself on the floor by the camera man

and this picture really turned out great!

Hummm.... i forgotten how i posed this pic, anyway it looks beautiful too!

Yesterday, 29/12/07, Saturday, i went for a complimentary photo shoot at a studio that is located at Beach Road. The first shoot was taken using my own clothes and the second shoot was taken using their studio gown or costumes. As most of the gowns are either too small for my frame or will increased my age after shooting, i decided to wear a nice Korean han-bok (hope i spelt it correctly) I loved the light, crisp and refreshing green colour, but the photos turn out not up to my expectation. So in the end out of the almost 40 photos, i chose these two.

This photo shoot really open my eyes that my eyes are beautiful!

From God's Minute dated 20 Dec 07, Thursday

HE WHO HEEDS THE WORD WISELY WILL FIND GOOD, AND WHOEVER TRUSTS IN THE LORD, HAPPY IS HE. ( PROVERBS 16:20 *NKJV )

Never let the enemy still your joy and leave you downcast! Instead enjoy what God has given to you, for; HAPPY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SUCH A STATE; HAPPY ARE THE PEOPLE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD! ( Psalm 144:15 )

Now when we have negative thoughts it draws negative results into our lives. Likewise, when we think positive thoughts we draw positive results in as well!

After all when we are downcast it brings on depression, worry and anxiety. All of those things are known to cause health problems. So always think positive for: A MERRY HEART DOES GOOD, LIKE MEDICINE, BUT A BROKEN SPIRIT DRIES THE BONES. ( Proverbs 17:22 ) Now I know that: MANY ARE THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT THE LORD DELIVERS HIM OUT OF THEM ALL. ( Psalm 34:19 )

So again, do not let the enemy steal your joy on any day. For you know that: YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL WALKS ABOUT LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR. ( 1 Peter 5:8 )

Enjoy what God has planned for you, and show that beautiful smile of yours. For when you smile it shows God's joy within you! Amen.

From God's Minute dated 19 Dec 07, Wednesday

BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER, FORGIVING EACH OTHER, JUST AS IN CHRIST GOD FORGAVE YOU. ( EPHESIANS 4:32 *NIV )

It is easy for us to ask God for forgiveness, but we often find it very difficult to forgive others. Therefore when you find yourself angry with someone and thinking about revenge, remember that it is written: DO NOT TAKE REVENGE, MY FRIENDS, BUT LEAVE ROOM FOR GODS WRATH, FOR IT IS WRITTEN: "IT IS MINE TO AVENGE; I WILL REPAY, SAYS THE LORD!" ( ROMANS 12:19 )

After all our Savoir Jesus Christ gave us this warning as well: "FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN WHEN THEY SIN AGAINST YOU, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR SINS, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS." ( MATTHEW 6:14-15 )

Therefore, FORGET THE FORMER THINGS; DO NOT DWELL IN THE PAST. ( ISAIAH 43:18 ) For the past is gone and no one can change it anyway! All we can do is make today the best that we can by forgiving our enemies, just as God has forgiven us!.

So why not make peace with those who may have angered you, remembering the Words of our Savior Jesus Christ: "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD!" Amen. ( MATTHEW 5:9 )

An attempt in baking ginger breadman

Today is my first attempt to try to bake the ginger breadman. As for looks it's great. As for the piping of the icing disaster. But in the end i still can consume the cookies. Hmm will improve on it.

Sermon on 28 Oct 07

Sermon by Ps. Chia Beng Hock
28 Oct 07, Sunday
Ephesians 6:5-9

5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; 6not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, 8knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free. 9And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality. Ephesians 6:5-9, NRSV

SLAVES
· They are owned by rich people.
· They are treated badly and owner don’t care about them.
· Paul wrote to them and tell them to obey their master. (To listen to their boss with a right attitude).

1. Employee – Attitude of Obedience

How to have a right attitude?
We must RESPECT our Master as they’re being placed there by God to be our Boss.

Respect: in fear
Excel: do your best
Sincere: in what you do (your heart must not be divided. Eg. Daniel)
Personal Conviction: not to tell lie for boss.
Exuberant: Serve wholeheartedly.
Christ Representative: Serving Jesus in your place of work.
Tenacious: do your best even when boss is not around.

2. Employer Attitude

Encourage employees: Don’t threaten them.
Apply the golden rule:
Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Treat them well.
Submit to the greater Master: God who is the ultimate boss.
· 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NRSVA) Therefore, my beloved,£ be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Impartial: to be fair to employees.

Sermon on 21 Oct 07

God’s Mission For Everyone
Ps. Pang Ek Kwan
21 Oct 07, Sunday

A message with TWO COMMANDS and ONE INVITATION.

The mission of every local church is MISSIONS!

Matthew 9:38, ASV “Pray ye…” (1st Command)
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.

a. Cry out to the Lord for pre-believers.
b. God’s compassion is Love & Truth in action.
· Compassion means God’s deepest yearnings for the poor and the afflicted and flowing from these yearnings, compassion is the release of God’s power to transform lives and situations that look otherwise impossible to change.
c. More Purposeful Bending
· We tend to bend to do the things that we like.
· Purposeful Bending means to bend of our own will, ways, our self-dependence to God.

An Invitation by Jesus to Peter to “Come!” (“你来吧！”)

Matthew 14:29, ASV And he said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus.

a. God allows us to go through heavy storms because He wants us to learn a lesson of faith, putting our trust in Him.
b. May the Lord help us to exercise our faith.

Obey Him absolutely, and even to do the ridiculous! (2nd Command)
Mark 16:7, NRSV But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”

Summary:
1. “Pray ye…” to the Lord of the Harverst.
2. Come (invitation)
3. Go & Tell!

That in essence is God’s mission for each and everyone of us.

Sermon on 14 Oct 07, Sunday

Today is Mission Sunday, Rev. Dr. Robert Lim do more sharing then preaching. But two things that caught my attention:

1. His (Rev. Dr. Robert Lim) persistent trust & prayers in the Lord to provide for $1.4 million to pay off the building loan (Day & Night he “pester” God).

2. He quoted 1 Sam. 25 – the account of how King David’s men went to ask for food from Nabal. Instead of getting some food, Nabal sneered at them saying “who is David?” It is just like in the current times where people say to us “who is Jesus?”

3. Always remember that we cannot out give God.

An inspiration story to share...

One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah the beauty of God’s creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord’s presence with me. He asked me,
“Do you love me?”
I answered, “Of course, God! You are my Lord and Savior!”
Then He asked, “If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?”
I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn’t be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered, “It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You.”
Then the Lord said, “If you were blind, would you still love my creation?”
How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, “Its hard to think of it, but I would still love you.”
The Lord then asked me, “If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?”
How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God’s Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, “It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word.”
The Lord then asked, “If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?”
How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered, “Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name.
And the Lord asked, “Do you really love Me?”
With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, “Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!”
I thought I had answered well, but God asked, “Then why do you sin?”
I answered, “Because I am only human. I am not perfect.”
“Then why in times of peace do you stray the furthest? Why only in times of trouble do you pray the earnest?”
No answers. Only tears.
The Lord continued:“Why only sing at fellowships and retreats?Why seek Me only in times of worship?Why ask things so selfishly?Why ask things so unfaithfully?”
The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.
“Why are you ashamed of Me?Why are you not spreading the good news?Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on?Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?”
I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.
“You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all.”
“Do you truly love me ?”
I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, “Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child.”
The Lord answered, “That is My Grace, My child.”
I asked, “Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?”
The Lord answered,“Because you are My creation. You are my child.I will never abandon you.When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you.When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.When you are down, I will encourage you.When you fall, I will raise you up.When you are tired, I will carry you.I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever.”
Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God “How much do You love me?”
The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior. And for the first time, I truly prayed.

Sunday Sermon Notes dated 7th Oct 07

Speaker: Ps. Chia Beng Hock

Ephesians 5:1-21
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us£ and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 5:3But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. 4Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be associated with them. 8For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Sleeper, awake!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.


As Christians we are to walk in love.

“Walk”
· the way we conduct ourselves & lives: “Be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (verse 1)
· “Be” is a command
· “as beloved children” – dearly loved by God.
· there’s progress when we walk

“we are to walk in love”
· Because our God is love and we’re God’s children.

1. How do we walk in love?
· Giving – love is about giving (to build others up)
· Serve one another – give time to God
· Don’t take advantage of others
· Show little kindness to people to let others know that you care.

· Love is not a chemistry but a choice to choose to love those who are unlovable.

1.1 What does it means to walk in darkness?

Verses 3 – 7 says: “5:3But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. 4Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be associated with them.

· Sexual immorality
· Course jesting
· Greed / Covetousness
· Impurity in our lives
· Empty words


2. How do we walk in the light?

Verses 8 – 11 says: “. 8For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

· Let the Spirit of God to work in us.
· Find out what pleases God and do those things.
· Do not be partners with Gentiles

3. Walk in wisdom

Why?

Because the days are evil:
· meaning of the words changed (eg. gay used to mean happy but now homosexual people)
· morals changed (sex before marriage is accepted; pre-nuptial contract; no commitment in
marriages, etc.)
· blame others when you do wrong things (eg. a sex offender when being charged told the
judge why he commit the crime was because someone sexually abused him when he was
young and grew up with a psychology defect that cause him to commit crime. Because of
this reason, he was let off or got a lighter sentence).

We walk in wisdom by:
· Taking responsibility of our weakness or sin, recognize it, seek help (talk to a Pastor) and
overcome it.
· Know the season of the Lord and take opportunity to do it. (Eg. CCIS)
· Know what the will of the Lord is.
· Let the Holy Spirit take control of our lives.
· Speak to one another in Psalms, hymns & Spiritual Songs.
· Submit to one another – respect them because everyone is being made in the image
of God.

Sunday Sermon Notes dated 23 Sept 07

THE ETHIOPIAN PRINCIPLE – REDISCOVERING EVANGELISM
Ps. Nicholas Choo

Acts 8:26-40
26Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south£ to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) 27So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”£ 38He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

The greatest reviva Al in the New Testament is when God sent a great persecution. (Acts 8 & after). Where the church members brought the church to the people (non-believers).

The Four-Fold Framework:

1. “Get-up” (Arise)
· If you don’t get up, you do nothing.
· The Bible talks about it 160 times (in NASB)
· When you get up, it will lead to the call of destiny (Gen. 12 shows us that Abraham left his comfort zone)

3 key terms associated to the word “arise”
a. Call of destiny
b. Call of miracle (Mark 12) – the four men who carried the sick men and broke into Peter’s house and ask Jesus to heal their friend.
c. Call of commission (Matt. 28)

2. “Get out and Go”
· Some need the alarm to wake up
· Some need the ALARM to wake up
· Never hear ALARM

· But God wants us need no alarm to get-up and get out.
· In the midst of what we’re doing, our ears must be sensitive to God’s voice. As God is the One who sets the opportunity for the saints to meet the sinner.

“Behold” (verse 27) – close enough for Philip to see

3. “Get Near”
· Only when Philip get close he saw a stranger, who is a seeker, a sinner with an eternal soul, who needs to be saved.

4. “Get Into”
Verse 30b says: “…“Do you understand what you are reading?”

· Convince
· Convict
· Confess
· Commit

Sunday Sermon Notes dated 16th Sept 07

VICTORY OVER OUR HANDICAPS
Ps. Peter Chng

1 Chronicles 4:9-10
9Jabez was honored more than his brothers; and his mother named him Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!” And God granted what he asked.

3 things Jabez did to overcome his handicap

1. He faced his handicap

- He didn’t live in self-denial.

- He didn’t run away from his handicap, problems or struggles (by running away does not help you but is killing you)

- He faced his handicap manfully by not pushing the blame to others.

- He faced it spiritually by crying out to God to bless him in his life.

- He faced it courageously

2. He fought his handicap
Verse 10 says: “10Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!” And God granted what he asked.”

- Jabez called upon the God of Israel – fight it with real (relevant) prayer in his life. He didn’t beat around the bush.

3. He forgot his handicap
- By overcoming it and not sweeping it under the carpet.
- If sweep under the carpet it’ll surface one day through dust or smell.
- Refused to let others or the devil distract him (you).


God works through people with the following qualities:
Faithful
Available
Teachable

Sunday Sermon Notes dated 9th Sept 07

LOOSING TO GAIN or DYING TO LIVE
Ps. Peter Lui

John 12:20-28
20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. 27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

1. The Process: The Lesson of the grain
Verse 24 says: “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

A grain (Kernel): a very small & insignificant seed.
- It must be willing to fall off from the plant to the ground and stay, even when it meant to be trampled upon (even death).
- Deny rights & own desires – “not my will but Your will be done.”
- The kernel must be buried (must be willing to be hidden completely from view).
- “Let go & let God”

2. Product
Verse 24b says: “…but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
- At the end of death, is a product that is new and able to reproduce itself.
- Unless you follow this principle – “life through death” or “die to self”, you will not be fruitful.

3. The Proposition
Verse 25 says: “Those who love their life lose it (destroy), and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

“Life” represents the desire of who you want to be yourself.
- Don’t be what you want to be but what God wants you to be. Surrender your life to God’s disposal, it will not be lost but will live.
- We must follow Christ’s example.
- Don’t selfishly hold it, but give it up for God to reproduce it, the things that please God.

4. The Promise
- On our part we need only to be willing to fall onto the ground, be buried (shows ourselves as the servant of God).
- Final destination: God is pleased with us.
- Only one life will soon be past, only what done for Christ will last.
- Don’t live as though earth is forever but heaven is about eternal, everlasting & forever.

Conclusion
Would you give up your personal desire to be who you are, who you want to be? Let go & let God make you to be what He wants you to be.

September 07 Memo

Sept 2nd - Bethel Family Day at Jurong Bird Park. I enjoyed the trip despite the early bus ride from Geylang East Central to Jurong. The church also provided us with a goody bag that consists of wet tissues, tissues, a fan, a pair of sunglasses (which i gave it to my colleague's son), a bottle of water, umbrella. In the middle of the programme, sweets were passed to us. After the whole programme, me and Fioeve walked round the park and went home at 2pm using Church transport.

Sept 4th - Celebrated Weiling's birthday. Both of us went to Parkway to have Japanese dinner and she gave me a bag for my birthday on the 5th. Thank God for the blessing.

Sept 5th - My colleagues celebrated my birthday. Grace gave me a bouquet of flowers, they brought me to "Botak Jones" at Toa Payoh to have a sumptuous lunch. See the pictures below:

the bouquet of flowers

my leftover lunch - too big portion of turkey sandwich - it's US size.

My present from my colleague is a hot coral red sling bag.

I ended the day by going shopping! Get two new tops from Club Marc at 70% discount! So worth it! Hmmm...actually i want to buy a pair of shoes but did not find one that i like...it's okay...who knows when i chance upon a good comfy pair it will be on sale. Yeah...better pray...