Monday, March 24, 2008

Freedom of choice (Easter)

As i watch the easter drama being played in church services over and over again, my mind began to race and ponder upon my life. How far have I run, and how much have i become more like Christ. Last weekend has truly been a season of breakthrough for me. I just felt like a totally renewed person after everything. Truly easter is not just a day to remember what Christ did on the cross, nor it is the ONLY time for us to bring our friends to learn the message of easter and get saved. Easter, is also a day for you and I as christians to be changed and transformed if you allow the Word of God to speak to you. Easter is a message of a LOVE so strong...that it shows the desire of God wanting more than just a salvation! Above our salvation,...our RELATIONSHIP with God means the world to Him.

As I broke through in certain areas, I began to see everything else around me in a very different perspective....and the feeling of being able to be a little bit more like Jesus and a little bit less like myself was really awesome. However, my breakthrough had brought me into greater tests in life. I can be honest with all of you that I am pure human and my heart breaks at things that intended to hurt me. But as i woke up to a fresh start this morning, there is a sudden realization that i really felt a need to blog it down. I hope it would be an encouragement to all who would be reading this. Christianity is not a bed of roses, but an assured victorious relationship at the end of the race. Yes....there are many times when you had decided that you want to do something because you love God, or you want to change in your certain areas (those are all breakthroughs, because you CHOOSE to step out)...then out of nowhere, all the trials and testings come throwing themselves at you.

A lot of times we are so eager to keep walking and running after God because times are good, blessings are in abundance. But what about those times when we are opposed for the cause of God? Will we still walk on strong and fix our eyes on the assured victory at the end of the race....or we prefer to walk on paths that will only gives us pleasure at that point of time. Friends, victory with God is eternity...but pleasures are momentary...will you keep running when all that you do is just running in circles and circles of unending road? will you keep going when going seems like the hardest thing to do? will you keep on believing even when things seem unbelievable...will you still trust when all else around u turn their backs against u...will u still stand strong, even when everyone around you wud understand if you fell....CHOICES are yours really. It is the gift of freedom that allow you to choose who you want to be. The choice to keep walking forward and be happy no matter what, does not require much of you except a decision to be what you want or need to be.... knowing that things will turn out alright for you no matter what. However, this decision requires your faith and your courage to work hand in hand in the phase of yielding the response.

the message of easter is not only about God becoming man dying on the cross for us so that we can receive salvation.The message of easter is about God loving us so much, that He gave us choice to choose...and He cares so much about us havin a relationship with Him. The message of easter is not only for those who are unsaved....but for you and i.........True enough, pressing on during tough times would seem like the hardest thing to do even when you realize how much God loves you...but truly God is not concern about the results of the things you achieve...but rather your JOURNEY as you walk on with Him. Will you still press on with God in good and also bad times? Choose for yourselves what matters most to you? The instant result? or the journey with Christ....For, to those who require much, much more is required of him.

It is never true when people say you are MADE to be the way you are...These are the words of those who are never brave enough to step out and be different in the face of circumstances...I never believe in fate. Truth is, you are who you CHOOSE to be. We can change our own destiny. And understanding this truth, will truly change your life.

So who do you want to be? CHOICES are yours =) Seize it! "Your calling is through the act of your hands."

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Revelations PAT MESITI CONFERENCE

Pastor Pat Mesiti's Conference has really been changing lives. Sometimes to me it is scary in a good way to go to conferences like these. I would feel afraid to go because  know at the end of the day i will end up feeling SUPER CHALLENGED....but yet at the same time i really want that challenge to come. And no doubt about it, the conference had left me dumbfounded and stunned. Words cannot describe the things God spoke to me when Pastor Pat was preaching. A lot of people received words and prophesy from pastor himself as well. Some people actually told me that they wished to have someone prophesying over their lives. it was cool....I used to think that too...But then I realized that the best way is always to hear from God Himself if possible. Wouldn't it be better to hear from God directly rather than to hear from the man of God, the channel? What Shirley taught me was that each time a person receive a prophesy, there are 3 reasons. 1. The person cannot hear from God directly (meaning no relationship with God), 2. The person needs encouragement, 3. The person needs confirmation...So it is always best to hear from God yourselves.

And as Pastor Pat was preaching and the presence of God on Monday and Tuesday night was moving so greatly across the congregation. It was unspeakably amazing....i received a strong word of revelation and vision from God Himself. Words that i have sometimes tried to ignore (in fear of the expectations required of me). However, this time I cannot and must not leave it be....i have chosen to receive the challenge, be bold and courageous...and step out in faith. So this is my covenant today....

and these dates are to be remembered always!

Monday, 10.3.2008 - Receive

Tuesday, 11.3.2008 - Confirmation 

Wednesday, 12.3.2008 - More mind boggling confirmation through another unexpected person.

Pastor Pat's conference have been full of challenge and goosebumps to me...A good way to push me forward to kick off the rest of the year. However, one thing that was really revealed to me this season was this. Like Pastor Kevin said, a lot of time, we go receive a good preaching, attend a good conference...coming home all charged up....received the word from God...But after awhile, fear creeps in and we began wondering if it is real or if it is really us that God is speaking to...then we abandon God's vision for us and just walk away. Alot of times we are overwhelmed by circumstances and began to lose faith halfway through....but this is the thought that have struck me when i was speaking to "Rev. Dr. Neoh" (ahhahaa) that Monday....was that...callings and visions from God are not forced upon us. We are still the ones making the choice whether we want to carry the torch and run the vision, or turn away and live a normal life. Choices are ours really. But then again, God is not hard up for us to respond to Him. If we don't want to, God can CALL SOMEONE ELSE who are more willing to run the vision.

This really struck me HARD. I was thinking to myself that night. If God calls a person and that person does not want to respond it is really not God's lost but rather that person's lost..because he or she is unable to move to the level that God wanted him or her to....Even Pastor Kong as so i heard...was not the first person that God called. God called someone else before Pastor Kong to start a church like City Harvest. Pastor Kong was God's plan B...but he responded....now today...look at how City Harvest has grown and impacted people in the world? And how Pastor Kong has grown in pursuing his calling and vision. Truly....God's calling is to no avail, for our benefit and not His. He is truly not the respector of men, but respector of principles. And the principles of God no doubt has everything to do with the magic substance word, called FAITH. Think about it and ponder this through....

Are you willing to be BOLD and COURAGEOUS, STEP OUT with faith as God calls? =)

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Stressed~

Well, midterm is officially OVER today! And i am in the library happily celebrating and blogging (due to the fact that there is no more internet line at home...sigh)...but well, don't be fooled! The ending of midterm is only the beginning of a more stressful time! With tons and tons of college projects, community services...etc etc etc....busy busy busy!

So sorry for the long "silence" in my blog. I think i need 30 hours a day to get everything accomplished. Oh well...even though times are stressful but i am glad that i have something to do...and at the same time it has been a good stretch for me...Learnt so many things! So turn to your neighbor and say...stress is good! However do learn to regulate your stress. Else according to the psychology book which i studied...too much stress will cause a certain hormone called cortisol to be released and then it will cause your health to deterioriate due to the fact that your body is always on the verge of "flight and fight" response (stress is an indication of the need to fight for something...so energy in the body will only be concentrated on gettting your body ready to fight and ignore your health!)

LOL...i don't know why i did it again...but yah...there i go again with my confusing psychological theories and yaddaa yadaaa yadaa...anyway i am happy! wee~~ cause at least i felt like i have completed my midterms. Sense of relief.. Hence, the blog! hahahaha....

a quote for all of you to ponder on when you are under any circumstances (be it stresses or any psychological or physiological torments you are going through):

IF IT DOESN'T KILL YOU, IT ONLY MAKES YOU STRONGER!

and that...applies to almost anything! Toodles!~