Yesterday Pastor Bill Wilson changed my life again.
I guess this is the season for sure. God is reassuring me it is time to launch to my call. Kinda nervous, yet feeling that every step of the way, I have God. Whom should I fear? What should I be afraid of?
Pastor Bill Wilson is the living testimony of how being in the dangerous streets of New York City, yet he still survived and doing well now.
Yesterday marks the defining moment yet again. To rededicate and position myself for the call. Pastor Bill was right. The 700 did not leave, did not get offended or gave up when their right hands no longer serve them well. Instead, they trained themselves hard, so much so that they can use their left hands much much more better than when they had their right hands.
All because they knew how important it was to be in the significant battle, they positioned themselves and prepared themselves, because they wanted to be in it. It is a privilege. Pastor Bill is right. We shouldn't be a sissy generation of Christian. We should position ourselves. We either stay or leave. God is not hard up for anything. We should see it as our privilege to be able to be in the battle for the Kingdom of God.
So, here goes....I am in this for life.
Shirley shared something really precious with me after the whole thing. And I think it is really significant for us to understand this. We only have one life to live. Don't invest on people who will not position themselves for God to come and use them. Yes we still love them, but we must not shortchange our energy and the people who are readily positioning themselves for the works of the Kingdom of God. In other words, how our lives should be from now on, is neither in the devil's hand or God's hand. It is in our hands. Our CHOICE.
I hope to live a life fully lived. Carvings all the way up to the top of my staff. Leaving a legacy for the generation after. This is the least I could do for God. For all that He has done for me. I hope I am determined enough.
Laying down our lives is not easy.
I am beginning to pick up the habit of writing journals and blogs again. Shirley gave me a revelation yesterday. In modern days, our carvings and markings on the staff...could be our journals and our blogs. Things that we can read back and see how faithful God has been in our lives.
Gonna pick up this habit again. The best is yet to come. Settle for nothing less than that.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Walking Through Life
Recently I realized things has become very different with me. I am not sure if it is an "age" related thing. Haha. But I hope not.
Recently having many counselling cases, many people who are broken coming over seeking for help, comfort, advises etc....
Stories that were in closet not suppose to be told. But I take it as a privilege that I am entrusted with such stories. However, it all dawn upon me, the old me is no longer that dominant. And I am glad.
I used to be really judgmental, I used to want to say stuff like "I Knew it"....or "how could you hurt God like that"....or "why do you do that?"..."this is so unacceptable"....whenever I hear stories of people messing up their future, destiny that is ever so bright. At some point, I even feel cheated whenever people whom I invested my time and energy did not meet my expectation, worst probably lied to me.
Recently, I realize....I am no God. I have times in life that would need people to be gracious toward me too. So how would I expect others to respond if I were the one suffering, in need of grace today? How I hope the response to be, that is how I should be. Noticeable to myself, my recent responses became "are you alright"..."God still loves you"...."its ok lets walk this journey together. Let's stand up and walk again"...."we are a family, you can always come back to us"..."keep going, stay strong"
I used to hear comments of people who "judge" a leader for being "too" merciful for giving second chances so many time. But these days, I begin to understand why and how these mercies can exist and how they are so important. That is how true family would react. Yes their hearts are broken, but they will give you second chances again and again because they hold on to he hope that you may really repent and change. They do not put you in a shelf just because you aren't perfect.
Of course having said that, discipline has to come into place. A good parent is one who will love yet discipline. Those who do not receive chastisement from God is illegitimate! I guess this principle applies to earthly parents too (be it spiritual or biological). But never once this discipline should be done with a "haha serve you right" attitude...or "Good on you. This is a lesson you will never forget". But more of a...."this breaks my heart but I need to do this. I love you that's why I can't bear to see you fall again"
None of us are perfect. All of us need grace. Never take this grace for granted. More importantly, with the grace freely given to you, give it to other as well.
Sometimes, the result is not most important. But the process. That is what I learned from my leader recently. Seeing how she plan to be PART of the process of each person who approaches her for any needs at all. She is never concerned about the result. She is concerned about the "walking through" journey.
As long as I can, as much as I can, with Jesus close to my heart, I will give my best to walk the journey through with others too. Genuinely wanting to be in their lives, not just hoping for a certain result. :)...Not to say it is gonna be super easy, but ok...I will take the challenge and try.
Life can be made beautiful again for the broken.....It only takes ONE who would be in the process, getting their hands dirty. Not waiting at the other end only with hopes that the person will do well and hoping they will come through. Walk through life together. It can be so much more sweeter that way :)
Recently having many counselling cases, many people who are broken coming over seeking for help, comfort, advises etc....
Stories that were in closet not suppose to be told. But I take it as a privilege that I am entrusted with such stories. However, it all dawn upon me, the old me is no longer that dominant. And I am glad.
I used to be really judgmental, I used to want to say stuff like "I Knew it"....or "how could you hurt God like that"....or "why do you do that?"..."this is so unacceptable"....whenever I hear stories of people messing up their future, destiny that is ever so bright. At some point, I even feel cheated whenever people whom I invested my time and energy did not meet my expectation, worst probably lied to me.
Recently, I realize....I am no God. I have times in life that would need people to be gracious toward me too. So how would I expect others to respond if I were the one suffering, in need of grace today? How I hope the response to be, that is how I should be. Noticeable to myself, my recent responses became "are you alright"..."God still loves you"...."its ok lets walk this journey together. Let's stand up and walk again"...."we are a family, you can always come back to us"..."keep going, stay strong"
I used to hear comments of people who "judge" a leader for being "too" merciful for giving second chances so many time. But these days, I begin to understand why and how these mercies can exist and how they are so important. That is how true family would react. Yes their hearts are broken, but they will give you second chances again and again because they hold on to he hope that you may really repent and change. They do not put you in a shelf just because you aren't perfect.
Of course having said that, discipline has to come into place. A good parent is one who will love yet discipline. Those who do not receive chastisement from God is illegitimate! I guess this principle applies to earthly parents too (be it spiritual or biological). But never once this discipline should be done with a "haha serve you right" attitude...or "Good on you. This is a lesson you will never forget". But more of a...."this breaks my heart but I need to do this. I love you that's why I can't bear to see you fall again"
None of us are perfect. All of us need grace. Never take this grace for granted. More importantly, with the grace freely given to you, give it to other as well.
Sometimes, the result is not most important. But the process. That is what I learned from my leader recently. Seeing how she plan to be PART of the process of each person who approaches her for any needs at all. She is never concerned about the result. She is concerned about the "walking through" journey.
As long as I can, as much as I can, with Jesus close to my heart, I will give my best to walk the journey through with others too. Genuinely wanting to be in their lives, not just hoping for a certain result. :)...Not to say it is gonna be super easy, but ok...I will take the challenge and try.
Life can be made beautiful again for the broken.....It only takes ONE who would be in the process, getting their hands dirty. Not waiting at the other end only with hopes that the person will do well and hoping they will come through. Walk through life together. It can be so much more sweeter that way :)
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Song Writing Attempt
Recently just bump into some of the old songs I wrote. Felt like posting them up for memory sake. Haha. The vocals are a bit cacat. And especially some of the lyrics for the first few songs are not very fresh. But I figure it is nice to have some of these memories kept somewhere. Maybe my grandchildren will discover them someday. Hoho.
And on my baptism day, the most significant day of my life (after waiting for 10 years) I wrote this song:
Here is my first song:
My Only My First - 2008
Guitarist: Hunter Leow
Wrote this second song when I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night and felt the overwhelming presence of God. Its my first and only time feeling that overwhelming presence who urge you to wake up and just worship in the middle of the night. Felt really good.
Complete - 2008
Guitarist: Hunter Leow
Cannot find the file at the moment. Will upload when I find it
Third song: Wrote it in the midst of the circumstances. Wanting to be a bolder witness for Christ
Closer - 2010
Cacat Guitar: Hazel Saw (haha.Think Guitar string was a bit too loose)
Finally, this year I wrote my fourth song. When Abel asked the worship team to write a song. I asked myself what inspire me. So here it is:
Everything - 2012
Guitarist: Sebastian Teoh
And on my baptism day, the most significant day of my life (after waiting for 10 years) I wrote this song:
Today -2012
Guitarist: Sebastian Teoh
Need to continue writing to work on this skill. Toodles~
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