overwhelmed : Eph 3:20

NG3B3 group photo

2006-02-02T17:17:00.000+08:00

It has always been hard to gather the whole CG for a group photo. So I've come up with this. Cute rite? Well, there are 20 of us. Can you pin point who is who?

The pictures were created from this site.
http://spstudio.linda.hosting-friends.de/spstudio.html

Meditation 5 : Simplicity

2005-10-06T18:55:00.000+08:00

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ...
(Philippians 3:7-8, NIV)

I was just contemplating the other day about acquiring knowledge & learning more and more about the world, about the philosophies & pop-concepts of the current. I'm convicted that we should keep learning - that brings us more knowledge which, if we're not careful can become complications in our walk with God. Then there is the postmodern relativism which is making everything quite subtle nowadays - nothing's really black & white, more advocating "If i deem it's right, then it's my choice." Sorta what Bon Jovi sings "It's My Life!".

So is it my life? Or is it a life that I've surrendered / given over to Jesus when I accepted Him as my Saviour, and also my LORD?

In the passage above, Apostle Paul puts it aptly : that he considers his knowledge & learnings (he is said to be equivalent of a holder 8 PhDs in our days) NOT A THING, zilch, zero, non-existent, NOTHING - compared to knowledge of Christ Jesus. There is a very wise thing he says about considering Christ as the ultimate knowledge - putting a price-tag of "rubbish" / "dumped in the thrash" (MSG) to the worldly knowledge.

In fact, in principle, it does not just apply to knowledge. It applies to our 5 C's, our desires, dreams, plans & yes... our RIGHTS. How does Christ match up when we place Him & the important things in our lives side by side?

The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the thrash - along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ.
Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firthhand, and everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - dog dung. I've dumped it all in the thrash so that I could embrace Christ...
(Philippians 3:7-8, MSG)

Throw our minds away? Our credentials away? Stop upgrading ourselves?
Nothing's wrong with these stuff.

The heart of the matter is :
Am I able to bow down humbly before God no matter what I have / achieved / gained in my life simply cos He's my King & Master & Saviour - and allow Him to investigate my life, to be a mirror, to lead me?

Meditation 4 : Pure Heart

2005-09-07T22:30:00.000+08:00

This week God has been dropping the words "pure heart" in my thoughts. Last Sunday, Ps Jeff preached about being holy, cos our God is a holy God. So God has been preparing my heart to hear His Word. I pray God has been & will be preparing yours as well.

Being holy has never been easy. Holiness is not just our actions & speech - but our thoughts, our attitudes, our "insides" - it's all about how our hearts look like to God. That's why the Pharisees have never been too popular with Jesus cos they paid a whole lot of attention to the external than to take care of their interal ongoings. Image management - that's what it is. Managing our public image but the insides are somewhat messed up.

You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind & heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world (external expressions in our lives). Matthew 5:8 (MSG)

Image management has always been tiring - cos we're trying to be what we're not when our insides are in turmoil. God knows we won't be able to do it - holiness. That's why JC gave His life to fix us up.

"..The wonders of Your mighty love..."

(Shout to the Lord, Darlene Zschech)

God's love is mighty -

enough to still our turbulent hearts,

enough to quell our fears / anger / bitterness / disappointments,

enough to see us through the pains & struggles of following Him,

enough to get us unstuck from ungodly life patterns,

enough to bring us over the wall we've hit...

Meditation 3 : Faith that Leaves the Answer to God

2005-08-28T22:37:00.000+08:00

Ps Ben mentioned this in our 1st sermon on the "God is Nearer than You Think" series on The Tabernacle (paraphrased) :

It doesn't matter what the answer is, cos we know who is answering.

Jehovah Jireh : The Lord who provides

Jehovah Shammah : The Lord who is here.

El Mauzi : God of our strength.

My musing on my God who has these 3 characteristics (and more) :

The Lord who provides for me (Jehovah Jireh) is wherever I am (Jehovah Shammah) cos He's in me, providing strength for me (El Mauzi).

We can trust in God's answers to our prayers cos we know He hears not just the words that leave our lips, but the cries in our hearts & the real needs we have in our lives @ that moment. He is omniscient & has infinite wisdom - knows exactly what we need, when we need it & how we need it...

Simply cos we are the King's Kids!

The works of His hands are faithful & just;

all His percepts are trustworthy.

Psalm 111:7 (NIV)

Meditation 2 : Faith that waits in trust

2005-08-23T22:25:00.000+08:00

Faith has two parts:

one is patience,

and the other is gratitude.

Over the last few weeks, it has been a huge lesson God has taught me personally about having persevering faith. For my HCMC trip with the missions team, we had to arrange for quite a few things - from air-tickets to accomodations to dinners with our friends when we're there...

One thing we prayed for was our air-tix & accomodations budget : that it'll be less than S$400 in total. This we prayed since 12 Jul with the MCSS Intercessory Team.

11-Aug : Air-tix was priced around S$349 (inclusive airport tax)

+ Accommodations was unconfirmed at around US$5 per night per person (Total = approx S$59.50 for 7 nights).

Total Cost : S$408.50

16-Aug : Prayed again via MCSS Intercessory Prayer - for less than S$400.

19-Aug : Received email that Singapore Airlines having promotion - tickets dropped to S$218!

ie. Total Air-tix Cost (including tax) : S$297
+ Accmodations : US$7 per night per person (all living within District 1 - safe district, with aircon, unlimited drinking water, refrigerator, whole 2-storey house to ourselves, S$83.30).
Total Cost : S$380.30

God is faithful through & through! :)

... if we are faithless, He will remain faithful... (2 Tim 2:13, NIV)

...if we give up on Him, He does not give up... (2 Tim 2:13, MSG)

Lesson for the Guys

2005-08-17T16:02:00.000+08:00

Pondered about this subject this morning...
Matthew 5:27-28 You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Recently, while I was overseas, people had invited me to join them partying at night clubs & other sleazy places, even though they know that I'm a Christian. I was told that it's nothing wrong, see only, no touch... It can be equated to seeing sports cars zipping past. Naturally our eyes will follow. Or, for my case, going to a guitar shop & seeing those magnificent Taylors, Martins, with their slick rose wood, crystal sounds, curves... Is it then the same thing when a pretty young girl walks by, that our (men) eyes naturally follow? Of course there is!

Seeing a sports car, with my eyes following it, I would want to own the car. Or at least be able to test drive it. To try it out. The accelaration, the boost, the speed... In the guitar shop, I would pick up one very nice one & play on it, have a feel of it, even though I don't have the intention to buy. Seeing a girl, with my mind wondering, I would then like to......... (I don't know how to write this part without sounding crude).

Well, there is nothing wrong with wanting to test drive the sports car or testing out the guitars in the guitar shop. One can argue that that is a sin of covetous. However, testing out every guitar in the guitar shop doesn't makes me covetous. The same cannot be said about girls. It takes lots of training on the eyes, & breaking old habits. The book "Every Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, Mike Yorkey gives us tips on how we can train ourselves, and what are the downfalls that might happen if we don't.

Noah's Ark on Screens

2005-08-16T00:37:00.000+08:00

Great stuff to check out in GV Cinemas - hitting screens on 18 Aug! :)

Website for more details : http://www.gv.com.sg/Booking/movies/moviedetails_2440.htm

Think there is group booking discounts - reply to the comments if you want to book with your name + no. of tix.

Meditation 1 : Only Obey

2005-08-15T17:45:00.000+08:00

It's interesting discovery that God has used "obey" (verb / action word) 115 times in the Old Testament (NIV) alone.

Jeremiah 7:22-23 (KJV)
(22) For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: (23) But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV)
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter :
Fear God & keep His commandments,
for this is the whole duty of Man.

When we talk about being a disciple of Christ, we talk about following Him, about stepping in the footprints He left behind for us. Essentially, to obey Him fully - starting from our knowledge (brains), then our conviction (hearts), then finally our actions / speech.

It was an interesting yet the basic challenge of God for us, which Yap has mentioned during NG3A retreat just passed - "When it's God's Word, just believe, don't think / evaluate too much first, just believe first."

Not that we throw our brains away when we're God's followers. But we're asked by God to come to Him & learn from His Word with an attitude to be convinced, to have Jesus help us in our unbelief (not from the base of cynicism / disbelief / refusal to be convinced).

A child-like faith in God - that's mind-blowing for those of us who are taught to evaluate & analyse everything that comes our way.

Nike : Just do it!

God : Just believe! Just obey!

Faith that Rocks?

2005-08-11T14:30:00.000+08:00

Ok ok.... i'm getting a little lonely here on the blog... always blogging & receiving no comments... :P

So here's a question for all of us to think & comment (pretty please...) :

What is your definition of Faith that Rocks the boat??

(Cartoon from www.reverendfun.com)

To reply - click on "Comment" just below this message on the right & answer away! :)

Prayer Answered 4! - Hanh has crossed line of faith!

2005-08-10T11:54:00.000+08:00

Double wow! Praise God! Sarah & gang has been sowing & sharing Christ with our young friend and she has said the Sinner's prayer yesterday!! - what a great National Day gift! God is awesome!

This is God's answer to our prayers for our friends to cross the line of faith - 5 so far over the last 2 months!! (Continue to pray for their encountering God & hunger for His Word.)

(in chronological order of crossing line of faith)

1. William

2. Ronnie

3. Cuong

4. Chan

5. Hanh

Exciting expectations of God's move ahead!

--------------------------------------------------------------

Sarah's email to her CG :

I just want to share with you what happen last nite at Kembangan..

Last nite, Cuong, Hanh, Tian Cai, Michael (one of my housemate) and my mom were having dinner at Kembangan. Hanh and Tian Cai were there for a discussion on water baptism. I want to praise God that Cuong came along and we witness Cuong and Hanh said the sinner's prayer.

Some of you maybe confused about Cuong. Isn't he our new believer? yes, in fact George has lead him in sinner's prayer already. However, subsequently through Hanh I understand that there's a misunderstanding due to Cuong's limitation in understaning English. I believe last nite is a breakthrough. For him and for Hanh. Thank God for Tian Cai organising the zoo and volunteer to take care of Cuong. I believe the heavenly host and angels are rejocing for them now.

Like what Feili shared, everyone plays a part in reaching out to Hanh and Cuong and it was through Feili that we came to know about them too. If we continue to reach out to people, we shall see more and more souls being saved for Christ. =P

Let's commit ourselves to prayer and reaching out for the lost. All of you are wonderful creation of God that He chose to put us together this time for a purpose.

Thanking God for all of you,

Sarah

As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another with love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

Newsflash : God is AMAZING!

2005-08-10T02:38:00.000+08:00

(email by Joseph @ 1:25am 7/8/05)

Hi Bros & sisters

REALLY want to testify & give a HUGE THANKS to God !!! His name be forever Praise !!!
Want to Thank God for our faithful sister Hazel who has been compiling answered Prayers, hee hee she has more work now ... ...

Want to Thank Hazel, Thong Seng & her CG for hearing so much of Healing Testimonies & also 1st convert for this quarter William, much more even the presence of new friends Angeline, Edison(Malaysian) & Linh(Viet) -> A VERY Multi national CG. And more I heard the WHOLE CG went to help their young bro & sis in Christ Jackie & Roy shift house today !!!

Want to Thank Sarah, Yap & her CG for the wonderful testimony too, that our Bro Thiam Chye daringly told his parents his intention to be water baptise !! Do pray for Them to open their hearts to allow him to. Also the testimony today of our viet sister Hanh rising her hand in responses to wanting to be water baptise !!!

Want to thank Penny, Victor & her CG for the amazing conversion that we had today, that in so short a time Lydia's sister Chan was touch by their lifes & their testimony that today it became our dear sis Chan's spiritual birthday.

Want to Thank God too for helping my Christian friends from V. to be impress by our many churches around the world & our vision AND he has offered us his fullest support in planting a church.

NO words can express my gratefullness for SUCH an AMAZING TEAM - Thanks Hazel, Sarah & Penny !!!

Continue to Pray continuingly for our new converts William, Hanh & Chan (1 Thess 5:17)

God bless
Joseph

No more Rumours!!

2005-08-09T13:43:00.000+08:00

2 Pet 1:3-10

God wants of me : ENCOUNTER HIM AFRESH!

From a comparison of NIV & the Message : v. 5 list of stuff to add onto our lives (NIV - MSG) :

faith - basic faith
goodness - good character
knowledge - spiritual understanding (not just any knowledge!)
self-control - alert discipline
perseverance - passionate patience (not stoicism!)
godliness - reverent wonder
brotherly kindness - warm friendliness
love - generous love

The Message has an interesting but direct rendition of v. 8 :

... With these qualities active & growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus...

Job 42:5 resounds the importance of knowing God 1ST-HAND & personally, not 2nd-hand testimony from others :

(NIV) My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You.

(MSG) I admit I once lived by rumours of You; now I have it all firsthand - from my own eyes & ears!

Let's not live by rumours of God anymore!!

FIRSTHAND stuff with God!

Prayer Answered 3! - Lydia's sister comes to Christ!

2005-08-07T22:32:00.000+08:00

Woah! Another prayer answered! God has heard the knocking of the CG & many of us who have joined in prayer with Lydia to see her sister, Chan, touched by the Lord! And today she crosses the line of faith, during her holidays! Praise God!

Let's continue to pray for Chan :
1. That she'll stand firm in her faith.
2. That she'll encounter God more and more in her life as she goes back home after the hols. :)

More to this Life

2005-08-06T00:23:00.000+08:00

This song has been ringing in my head off & on since I last heard it a few months ago. It declares

There's more to this life
Than living & dying
More than just trying to make it through the day.

I'm glad to have found this - i'm out of the "vicious cycle"

& i can be LIVE, not just be alive. :)

Cos I'm living for a larger cause!

Listen @ qaraj215.multiply.com/music

***********************************************

Trust

2005-08-04T21:39:00.000+08:00

For a citizen in the Kingdom,

Trust is not based on the circumstances,

but on the character of the King.

"Those who know Your Name will trust in You,
for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You."
- Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

Faith for All Seasons

2005-08-02T12:45:00.000+08:00

(Excerpt from Breakthrough Devotions : 20 July, Heb 11:30-40)

Faith is not a thing that can be seen, smelt, touched or heard. The power of faith cannot be dug up by the excavator’s spade. But faith gives us a point to start, a place to go, and a way to get there.

What is faith? What kind of life does it guarantee?

Faith Conquers Obstacles
Faith sees a God who can do anything. The life examples used here are triumphant in tone and scope. They are dramatic experiences of deliverance, empowerment and miracles. Here’s the “who’s who in the hall of faith” and what God did through their faith. What’s their secret then? It’s faith.

Faith Continues to Endure
If faith can get you tortured, mocked, scourged, imprisoned, stoned and sawn in two, who wants it? It seems that faith can lead you into victory or plunge you into defeat. The writer of Hebrews records that people of faith were not delivered from difficult circumstances; yet God honoured their faith. In fact, it takes more faith to endure than it does to escape. Those who trust in God cling to their faith in His Word despite the appearance of doubtful circumstances.

Faith Counts on the Ending
Faith looks to the future, for that’s where the greatest rewards are found. The account of triumphs and trials of faith is now drawn to a conclusion by a statement that there were better things to follow. For the people who have faith in God, we count on the ending because our reward is sure!

Faith Process

2005-08-01T12:40:00.000+08:00

Thinking through my own pledges during the Breakthrough Campaign since late June - spiritual, personal, financial. The more I listened, the more challenged I was in my heart by God - I was challenged to give on a monthly basis (on top of tithe) - that it may be a memorial stone that I build regularly to reflect on God's goodness & to remember the lessons I've learnt during that 30-days journey on breaking-through in :

intimacy in my walk with the Ultimate Reality,
God's light to shine more brightly & clearly through my life to my family - that they may cross the line of faith.
expansion of perspective of God's heart for the lost world.
learning & receiving from God a faith persevering through the dark clouds surrounding situations / people - an unwavering hope cos God says "I AM & I CAN!".

Prayer Answered 2! - Ruth Ng

2005-07-24T21:10:00.000+08:00

Wow! God's healing No. 2!! Check it out!
----------------------------------------------------------------

Hi bros and sis,

Thanks a lot everyone for all your kind prayer. God is good indeed and I was discharged from the hospital this afternoon and writing this email to everyone.

This is what really happened. I was having severe stomach pain at 3.30am on Thursday and started throwing up from 3.30am till 7am. Then I struggled with my weak body the nearest clinic and the GP prescribed me some medicine. I took some and went to sleep. Then I woke up 2 hours later to continue the medication. I vomited out everything. I went back to sleep. Then 2 hours later, I took the medicine and threw out again. And not long the pain in my stomach shifted towards my right stomach. I rang my GP ro update him my condition. He dignosed me and suspected my of having appendicitis. I was immiediately referred by him to SGH. When I got there, my urine was tested with white blood count and was admitted immediately at 11pm for observation.

And thank God for everyone's prayer, I was healed on next evening completely. My sister from another church told me that her cell group prayed for me fervently and got a word from the Lord at 7pm that 'Ruth is healed already'. I remembered at that particular hour, I was having light dinner with Jospeh and Andrew (I was finally allowed to eat solid food after fasting since admission). And the pain as I can recalled is totally GONE!!!

I was thankful for God is indeed Our Healer. We need to put out Faith in Him in any situation and not let out carnal minds tell us otherwise.

Thank you once again with all your prayers and the care shown.

Thanks Victor, Penny, Joseph, Cara, Dorcas and my loving husband for your company.

See everyone in Sunday service tommorrow.

God Bless U!!!

Agape Love,
Ruthie

Prayer Answered 1! - Caiyen's Mum

2005-07-22T00:30:00.000+08:00

God has protected Cai Yen's Mum as we interceded to see God's power in her life! Continuing to trust God for Mum's recognition of God in her life!

Below is an email sent to all her friends in CG & eventually the unit & some friends within the sub-d were roped in to concerted intercession as well over the last few days. The unity in asking God for protection & healing was inspiring!

It is our response to God's promise of healing sweeping through the church during & after the camp!

************************************

From: Chai Yen

Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 10:41 PM

Dear All,

Excuse me for being lengthy but I share it in glory to God.

First of all, I really thank God for all of you. As I read the exchanges below, I am very touched by you who prayed for my mum whom you've never met.

The past week leading to the surgery was rather unnerving for me and my siblings. Particularly so because 6 years ago, my dad was diagnosed with liver cancer and passed away swiftly in one month and I was also the one to hear all the shocking diagnosis alone helplessly. That time, we managed to share Christ with him and just have to trust in God that he was really given the chance.

This time, again, disturbing symptoms began and won't go away. Mum rarely fell sick but suddenly she can't eat and was bloated and the pain won't go away. Colonoscopy was recommended by GP but changed to CT scan as recommended by GP's surgeon fren (another crucial thanksgivings point).

Before scan, I prayed with mum in Mandarin after which she asked, Jesus can understand mandarin meh? and...prayer so fast one meh?....so I prayed with her again...hee....

After CT scan yesterday, the radiologist told me to see doc with the scan immediately because of suspected tumour mass.

Only got to see original GP this morning. The intestines were inflamed. Had colonoscopy been done, its walls would be perforated by the fibre and worsened. GP referred us to his ex-classmate who happens to be a colorectal surgeon (thanksgiving pt) in Mt Alvernia and we got an appt right away (thanksgiving pt). Prayed with Mum again before seeing the doc.

Surgeon saw the CT Scan and said 2 possibilities, of which higher chance is cancer given her age (growth in intestines at her age can't be benign). Immediate operation was recommended.

While waiting for the operation all alone in the hospital. I felt so small and vulnerable and it's the knowledge that all of you are praying for me that gave me the strength. Thank God, as I prayed in the hospital's chapel, I could feel God's presence and reassurance (unlike in my dad's case) but can't completely chase away human fears. Please don't let it be cancer.... I really prayed that this sickness will result in glory to God and not death like my dad's. If you had only one parent left, and unsaved, you'd understand what I meant...

When the operation was completed at 6pm and I was halfway through my dinner, the surgeon called me and again needed to talk to me right away. My heart was in my mouth....so fearful on my journey to see the surgeon, but when I opened the ICU door, the surgeon came and said "I've got good news for you".... the appendix burst, caused part of intestines walls to burst and fused into one clump with pus and if delay operation may cause blood poisoning. No cancer.

I told my mum that "All's well, thank God, and all my church friends prayed for you" and I could see her relief despite her shivering.

Can't express the burden off my heart, my tears gushed out uncontrollably in the ICU in gratitude to God and to all of you... God has given my mum another chance, and us, another chance to share Christ with her and we will treasure it.

In case you wondered, most of my siblings manage to see her after her operation too.

I just really want to thank God for His mercy and faithfulness and all of you for being there for me in prayer when I was so helpless. Your prayer moves God's Hands when human hands can't do anything more.

It's good to be back

2005-07-21T17:58:00.000+08:00

Just came back from Philippines yesterday. Of all my overseas working trips, I would say this is by far the most fruitful trip. For a start, an essential software in my laptop somehow got corrupted & I couldn't use it. As it turned out, there wasn't any hiccups on the portion of the project that requires me to use that software.

The factory is located at Laguna. As it turns out, there was also a Hope church located in that province, in a town called San Pedro. I managed to visit the church on Sunday. The Church is less than 2 years old, with an attendance of about 30 people. I managed to speak to Pastor Noi before the service starts & also after the lunch fellowship. For an educated man (he graduated from a university in Australia), he could have done many other things rather than building the church. He's probably not receiving any salary as a full-time pastor, as the tithes only manage to cover the rental of the church venue, & the church is not receiving any funds from Manila.

One of the CL's in the church, Gerry, brought me around. After service, we headed to Hope Manila for a visit. They were having DMM when we arrived. In one day, I've managed to visit the 2 churches in Philippines. Also, I was the 1st person from overseas to have visited the church in San Pedro. Gerry brought me around, taking all the public transport (tri-cycle, jeepny & bus) to Manila, & then later sent me back to the Hotel. It would take him about an hour for him to get back home from the Hotel, but he took the time joyfully.

Lastly, for some unknown reason, I was upgraded to Business Class on my flight back home. Really felt so blessed.

Dream

2005-07-21T02:22:00.000+08:00

Dream (noun) = naïve imagination of the impossible?
Dreaming (verb) = reserved only for the young simple-minded, who have not seen the "real life"?

Complications + sophistication + experience + knowledge
=> adds more "logic" to our thought processes
=> dreams shrink / no more dreams?

How to dream with the wisdom of God & life?

Tourniquet

2005-07-19T08:37:00.000+08:00

One of my fav Christian rock bands - songs which makes absolute sense of meaninglessness of life, God & new life in Christ. They have aptly chosen this name to remind themselves of God being the tourniquet of our lives - to stop our lives from ebbing away into oblivion, to stop fear from plaguing our lives, to stop insecurities from limiting our potential, to stop past hurts from throbbing in our hearts with an unceasing pain, to stop our trying to find our significance & acceptance from whom we're trying to become / things we're trying to get / successes we're trying to achieve.

God says : You are SOMEBODY. You are MY CHILD.

www.klove.com

2005-07-18T23:12:00.000+08:00

Awesome web-radio for those of us who are on broadband - great Christian music & uplifting inspirational stuff! Check it out (click on icon)!

(can try with dialup too, just that it may be laggy) :)

Godly Imagination?

2005-07-18T22:34:00.000+08:00

God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply & gently within us…
Eph 3:20 (MSG)

i.mag·i·na·tion

1 : the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality2 a : creative ability b : ability to confront and deal with a problem

As a young Christian, I developed a burden for India. God has showed me a vision of Indian child prostitutes (I had not known, at that time at 17 year-old, about the reality of the plight of many Indian children) when I asked Him what His heart felt for the World. That was the first time God confided in me - about His heart for the way His creation is destroying itself. I was overwhlemed. God then started to show me over the years what He would like to see in that part of the world : that someone would wrap his/her arms around these heart-broken children, who have been sold by their parents in poverty, to feed the rest of their siblings. I told God - I want to be one of those who'll do that eventually.

This is what God has taught me : Godly Imagination - imagination with God's heart in mind, imagination with God's power & might in mind.

In a skeptical way of looking at imagination : it's a figment of our out-of-this-world thoughts, it's impossible to happen. But Eph 3:20 talks about our infinite God breaking-through our finite imagination - where impossible transformations come to past according to God's will & time!

I imagine with God :

1. My parents & grandma & siblings & aunties & uncles & cousins saying grace together over a meal, chatting about how God has blessed them over the meal, having a prayer day every month where we'll come together to pray in Singapore & Indonesia (my mum's family is in Indonesia).

- Esp for my Dad, Mum, Grandma - that their years of burden of carrying the family can be laid down at Jesus' feet - that they can rest in God's presence & not be overwhlemed by life.

2. I'll come & sit by His side, and listen to His heart as He confides in me.

3. I'll be more & more of a Jesus-commando - courageously moving ahead in the Kingdom.

4. God will lead us in an adventure in serving Him - beyond what we're doing now, beyond what we can imagine ourselves ever doing in the Kingdom.

What is your imagination for your life? Or for the world? For your CG? For your family?

Impossible hurdle / transformation? - Dare to imagine with God! :)

Now faith is being SURE of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we DO NOT SEE.

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)