Church Directions for 2009 -2011: What on earth? (is)

Rev Melvin Huang preached on the Kingdom of God today and announced the directions for 2009 and 2011.

The Kingdom of God (2009)

• emphasis on a major biblical theme and the official title of the gospel
• raise understanding and awareness of Biblical teaching of the Kingdom of God/heaven in the OT and NT
• preaching series on Biblical Theology on the Kingdom
• encourage SGs to do a study series on the Kingdom
• teaching events/programmes on the Sermon on the Mount, Parables and Eschatology

The Body of Christ (2010)

• emphasis on the major Biblical metaphor for the Church
• raise awareness of the church as a spiritual organism (vis-a-vis human institution)
• preaching series on Biblical Theology of the Church
• teaching events/programmes on Spiritual Giftings (espeically Network), Christain Community
• Studies on other Biblical Metaphors for the Church, e.g. Family, Army, Bride

The Work of the Holy Spirit (2011)

• emphasis on the Biblical Theology of person and work of the Holy Spirit
• promote a clearer understanding of the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Godhead and His role in the Gift of the believer and the Church
• preaching series on Biblical teaching of the Holy Spirit
• Teaching events/programmes on spiritual formation, disciplines, Christian Character (Fruit of the Spirit)
• Studies on Wesleyan "Spreading Scriptural Holiness"

The key verse for this year's theme is from Matthew 6:33 - But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

It is once again a good reminder to attend to what matters most to God and not to what matters most to us.

God's will

Read Esther's blog and was reminded by what she learnt from church. In that sermon, the pastor said, "Most of us have got it all wrong. We do not ask God what His will for us is... we should ask Him what HIS will is and how we can be a part of His will...".

And this is what I learnt from the Experiencing God course some years ago.

It's important to know what God's will is and to obey Him. One way to start is to spend more time with Him...

PS. Just came back from B.R.I.C.K. meeting and we completed Daniel chapter 6. Daniel did not neglect to continue his regime of prayers even when King Darius imposed a new rule and thus, he was thrown into the lion's den. Daniel knew what God's will is and did his best to obey God.

The world vs the Word - on Giving

The world says: "Be sure you get what's coming to you."
The Word says: "Life doesn't consist of what you possess."

The world says: "Spend and accumulate goods."
The Word says: "Give and you will develop character."

The world says: "Wealth is a person's security."
The Word says: "Refuge in God is our security."

The world says: "You deserve the best."
The Word says: "God deserves the best."

The world says: "Give so that you may obtain favour from others."
The Word says: "Give because you have received favour from God."

The world says: "See your own gratification."
The Word says: "Offer to God your gratitude."

Prayer:
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we Your servants pray, give us an awareness of Your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may make known Your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by offering to You what You deserve, by giving up ourselves to Your service, and by walking before You in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory throughout the ages. Amen.

Hind's Feet on High Places and Adam: God's Beloved

When God created man, He created in him a need for intimacy. This need pushes man to search for something to satisfy it. He will not know true peace until his heart finds God, who is Love, and rest in Him. This search begins a long and perilous journey to attain the relationship which God wants with man, a perfect union with the Shepherd, where deformities and fears become transformed.

This blossoming relationship of love between God and man is described in Hannah Hurnard's modern allegory, Hind's Feet on High Places. It is the story of a young woman named Much-Afraid, and her journey away from her Fearing family and into the High Places of the Shepherd, guided by her two companions Sorrow and Suffering. The book takes its title from Habakkuk 3:19, "The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places."

Hind's Feet on High Places is a very interesting book with many lessons to impart. I realise that I have much in common with Much-Afraid - I need to learn Acceptance-with-Joy and Bearing-with-Forgiveness. Eventually, I hope to leap like a deer.

I also just completed Henri Nouwen's book - Adam: God's Beloved where it is evident that though we may not be physically handicapped like Adam, we are much handicapped in other ways. Through Adam, I learn the importance of communing with God and finding that perfect rest in Him.

Discerning the will of God

Just read Benny Ho's book on Discerning the will of God.

5 characteristics about God's will:
Source/Type/ Action
His pleasure/ His sovereign will/ We must submit
His purity/ His moral will/ We must obey
His providence/ His providential will/ We must observe
His permission/ His permissive will/ We must avoid
His preference/ His specific will/ We must discern

God's specific will is uncovered by doing the first 3 aspects of God's will - submit to His sovereign will, obey His moral will and observe His providential will.

The underlying principle of God's guidance is Christ-likeness - Rom 8:28-30.

Below are the key factors to divine guidance:
1. the supremacy of Scriptures
- read the word of God (Ps 119:105, 2 Tim 3:14-17)
2. the spirit of the seeker
- go to God with a pure desire for His will to be done
3. the patience of prayer
- wait for God's guidance and direction
- silence and solitude needed --> demands inner quietness to listen, patience to
wait, expectancy to hear, time to listen and attention and focus
4. the counsel of Christians
- seek counsel of spiritually mature people
5. the confirmation of circumstances
- God's providence may kick in to engineer the circumstances to fulfil his will
6. the discipline of decision-making
- make sound decisions and exercise sound judgment in the light of the
Scriptures, our circumstances, what God has given to us, the big picture, and
our calling.
7. the presence of peace (Phil 4:6 -7 & Col 3:15)
- the inner witness of the Spirit
8. the supernatural signs of the Spirit
- divine intervention

Distinguishing soul-driven from Spirit-driven
sudden impulsive urge/ gradually growing conviction
originates from the mind/ birthed from the Spirit in prayer
initiated by circumstances/ initiated by God
confused changing of mind/ convicted steadfastness in the Spirit
lack of inner peace/ presence of inner peace
waning desire/ growing desire

Steps to listening prayer
1. Lay the situation and options before God
2. Ask the Lord to show if there is anything we don't know or have not considered
3. Mention specific areas of concern
4. Wait for God's reply
5. Write down what you sense you are hearing
6. Wait for confirmation through circumstances, counsel or conviction

A Sabbatical lifestyle 2-4May 08

1st time at a semi-silent retreat @Montfort Centre... lovely, serene place with a marvellous sunset..

Learnt about solitude (fasting from people) and silence (fasting from noise) in order to hear God.



Went for two morning walks (with Jesus) at Bukit Batok Nature Park aka Little Guilin...





God gave me songs every morning I woke up while I was there... In all things (Rom 8:28) and O Master Let Me Walk with Thee.

Some Key Lessons:

1. Ps 131:1-2 - to be still and quiet before the Lord, like a weaned child

1 My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.

2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.


2. Isa 61:1-3 - I will rejoice (cf. boulder - wrapped but not suffocated, plant is still growing)

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

3. Daniel 3:16-18 - shift my point of reference: it's not about me, it's about God; trust in who God is

Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego trusted God to rescue them from the furnace, knowing that the God they believe in will save them and even if God does not, they will not bow to the statue, standing by what they believe in.

4. Luke 15:11-32 - Parable of the prodigal son

God loves me. He is Abba Father who is watching and waiting and loving.
I shall let God define me.
I shall not let men define me - not what I do or have or have achieved.

Maundy Thursday 2008

Attended the Maundy Thursday  service at Sengkang Methodist at the invitation of Elaine.

It was a special service designed to stimulate all senses. 

The service was entitled "The Servant's Choice: Dying with Christ - sharing Peter's journey of faith".

We had to visit 4 stations and meditate on the scene portrayed from Peter's perspective.

Station 1 - we witnessed the washing of feet in the form of a shadow play.
Meditation: 
Why did Jesus have to do a lowly servant's task? Look into the loving eyes of Jesus 
and feel His invitation to wash your feet.
Jesus loves me so much - I surrender my pride to His love and submit my will to His will.

Station 2 - we stood in cold water, feeling water under our feet just like Peter 
as he walked on water and we could hear the winds too...
Meditation: 
Peter felt a strong hand reach down and pick him up. When you experience the sickening sinkimg feeling, Jesus is present. What is the most trying situation you are facing? You are not alone. He is extending His hand to you. Give your fear and worry to Jesus.
Jesus is always there for me in the storms of my life.

Station 3 - we heard the knocking of nails after Peter's denial.
Peter tried so hard to be perfect, strong, the best disciple that Jesus would ever work with.
But Jesus told him that he would deny Him 3 times.
Maybe this was the way Jesus was telling him in advance that He understood 
how stupid he felt and how scared he was.
Meditation:
Jesus knows your innermost feeling. He is aware of your weakness and struggles.
Is there anything in your life you feel so sorry and so ashamed of? Tell that to Jesus.
Can you hear Jesus saying, "My child, it's ok. I know you. I accept you."
Receive Jesus' love for you.
Jesus accepts me the way I am and I go to Him just the way I am.

Station 4 - 5 loaves and 2 fish: we tasted the bread and smelled the fish.
Meditation:
Jesus cares about the smallest things in your life, even whether you have enough to eat. Cast all your cares onto Jesus for He cares for you. What are the worries and burdens that you want to surrender to God? Thank God that He bears them for you. Has God surprised you with a "special providence" recently? Give thanks. 
Jesus bears my burdens - I thirst for Jesus' presence, His calling and His forgiveness.

Daughter, you are precious

Attended a seminar by Chris Hayward on 13 Mar.

Below is a summary:

Why we feel far away from God?
- sin
- neglect
- cares of life
- our own earthly father

Experience with earthly father
- absent (not close to him, could be physically present but always busy with own matters) 
- uncaring/ungiving (don't feel important, couldn't feel care)
- demanding ( has expectations for you to succeed)
- discouraging
- critical (doing things to get approval, but still don't get)
- comparing (why can't you be like so-and-so?)
- abusive (emotional: hold back love, don't say or do things that show love/ verbal: cutting remarks, makes you feel small)

Our heavenly father (cf. Luke 15:11 - , parable of the prodigal son)
- reasoning and releasing
- watchful and waiting
- enthusiastic to see you ( when you draw close, he runs to you)
- honoring (part of the family, willing to throw party)
- restoring
- physically and verbally affectionate
- unconditional love ( heavenly father will not violate our wills)

When God forgives, He forgets.

God loves us the way we are. There is nothing He won't do for you.
It is not based on performance because we are His children and He loves us with an everlasting love.

Have to ask ourselves - "It's all about me. When is it about the Lord?"

Speak, Lord, I am Listening

I have to learn how to listen to God's voice.

I came across the following prayer in the church bulletin on Sunday (which happened to be Hymn Sunday & Worship & Ministry Dedication).

Gracious Lord, You speak to me at many times and in various ways through Your Word, through people, through circumstances - but often my mind is miles away and I am not really listening. I nod assent. I file away an idea, a possibility, something i need to correct. But like the hundred and one things that clutter my desk, it is lost to me. I do not take hold of it and act on it.

Lord, when You speak to me, it must seem to You as if we have a party line. There are all sorts of people interrupting the conversation, noisy bursts of static, and constant technical difficulties. You must wonder if I'm getting anything at all from what You're saying. You speak, and I'm on guard. I want to be on intimate terms with You when such intimacy is to my advantage. But if I come close,if I really take in what You have to say, it could change my life and I'm afraid of that. Lord, if I keep resisting You, Your voice may be reduced to a whisper. SometimesI'm afraid it may disappear all together. Why should You keep calling me if I refuse to respond?

But that's not how things have to be.

Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.

God is speaking and yet I'm not listening. :(

And how to listen? I want to know...

And guess what? This morning, I happened to pick up this bookmark in Chinese that had all along been staring at me when I use the PC. (Usually I ignore looking at Chinese text.)And I was amazed at the prompt response to my question.

It reads (as I translate it):

God loves you and He awaits an intimate relationship with you. He would like to communicate with you daily. You may use the following steps to listen and respond to God's voice.

1. Ready your heart to listen to God
Invite God's presence and ask Him to reveal Himself and His Truth.

2. Read the Bible and meditate
Read the Bible passage slowly and aks God at the same time: " Lord, what do you want to tell me today? This passage tells me something about

- God: who is He? what kinds of attributes does He have? What has He done?
- myself: Who am I? How does God view me?
- a believer's life:
Sin - repent and avoid sins
Promise - accept and claim God's promises
Attitude - have godly attitudes
Command - obey God's commands
Example - learn from examples given
--> what pointers does the acronym SPACE have on my life?

3. Respond to God
Earlier you have listened to God's voice, now, use a prayer to respond to Him:
- apologise: confess your sins, repent and accept God's forgiveness
- give thanks: thank God for His abundant blessings and promises
- make a request: pray for yourself or intercede for others
- express love to God: sing praise to workship God

4. Record your conversation with God
- Read: write down the Bible verses
- Meditate: what did God tell you?
- Respond: what must you do?

John 14:15 (New International Version)
If you love me, you will obey what I command.

James 1:22 (New King James Version)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

I will learn to obey! I must act on it!
Help me Lord!!!

Tree planted by streams of water

A few days ago, a vision of me being like a tree with emerging young leaves was told to me! I was greatly encouraged and was reminded of Psalm 1:3:

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose

leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

I want to be like this tree! To do so, I know I must be near the living water and seek first the kingdom of God.

A step nearer to being like this tree was made when I attended the New Life Encounter Retreat from 6 to 8 July. I learnt the importance of forgiveness - forgiving others, God and myself and not let my past hinder my personal growth.

Felicia, the one who invited Jeany, Drina, Winnie and I to NLE, also took a step of growth and faith when she was baptised today at Riverlife Church. We rejoice with her!

Meeting Pastor Moses and Esther

Pastor Moses and Esther come from Nagaland, India. Winnie and I got to meet them on 23 July and I've learnt a couple of impt lessons from them.

1. Esther shared about the conversion of Lydia, a businesswoman in Acts 16 - how Paul spoke to the women gathered by the riverside, instead of doing what he intended to do - pray; the Lord opened Lydia's heart (it's the Lord working); she told her family members about God (she spread the good news to her family first) and they were baptised and she extended her hospitality to Paul and his companions (as a result she further prospered in her business).

At the close of her sharing, Esther asked us to reflect on how many souls have we saved. I must confess not many. She challenged us to not just live a life of busyness but one that is for God.

Once again this reminded me of my availability - would I have taken the opportunity to share whenever and wherever God placed me, like Paul? We are not merely adding numbers to God's kingdom but to save people from the fiery flames of the lake of fire and eternal suffering, separated from God.

2. Pastor Moses shared about God's presence and protection from the life of Daniel and his 3 friends. Daniel and his 3 friends stood up for their faith. Daniel was thrown in the lions' den but God sent His angel to shut the lions' mouths. (Daniel 6) The next morning, the king was overjoyed to find him unhurt and Daniel prospered in his reign. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown in the furnace (Daniel 3). In the furnace was a fourth person who looked like "a son of the gods". They emerged unharmed and they were promoted.

This reminded me that whatever situation I am put in (particularly at work - where there are more challenges for me), God is with me and will protect me and at the end of it, I will be "promoted". I take this promotion to be mean that I'll be at a higher level of growth.

Found - Tribute to Grandma

I happened to find the eulogy I wrote when my Grandmother was called home to be with the Lord more than 3 years ago. So, once again to remind myself that I need to make the best of the time I have on earth, preparing for heaven, making a difference, I attach what I have written below .....

A tribute to my grandmother, Mdm Wong Choon Sim,
called home on 16 February 2004

Although my grandmother had not been well, all is definitely well with her soul.
I would like to sum up her life in three words: faith, hope and love.

Faith
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.

My grandmother had great faith. It is her faith that has greatly encouraged me. Even in her sickness, in her pain, she had always prayed for God to heal her. Never did she once blame God for what was happening to her.

When she was hospitalized in May and then in July last year for pneumonia, we were worried that she could not make it for my sister’s wedding in August. But by her faith, she did.

When we asked her where she’d like to go upon her discharge, she said she would like to visit my sister’s place which was on the fourth floor, with no lift landing. We were worried about how she was going to make it. She told my brother-in-law, “I will walk” and by her faith, walk she did.

When she was hospitalized again in January this year, she badly wanted to go home to celebrate Chinese New Year. She was disappointed when the doctor said she was not well to do so, especially when she had a very bad breathless episode lasting about 2 hours. After that episode, she told my sister, “ I thought I would never see the sun rise again”. It was that serious and much later, the doctor hinted that that episode could have been fatal. But, by her faith, she did manage to go home for 4 joyous days in the midst of Chinese New Year (from the 9th day to the 12th day – 30 January to 2 February).

My grandmother truly had great faith.

Hope
1 Timothy 4:10
And for this we labour and strive that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the saviour of all men, especially those who believe.

My grandmother put her hope in God. She had the peace of God which surpasses all understanding and she knew that she would dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6). She once joked that her house in heaven was ready, the only problem was that her passport was not ready yet.

Almost everyday at the hospital, I would sing one of her favourite Hokkien songs to her. The title can be translated as “hold my hand, my Lord” and the last line of the song goes something like: “As I walk before the gate of God, I hear God’s voice calling me, his child to enter into His presence”. This line holds a special significance for us as we know that we are all children of God, called into His presence.

Now, my grandmother has been called into God’s presence. She is now in heaven, with God, in a much better place, where there is no pain and no sorrow. There is only much joy and rejoicing there.

Love
1 John 4:21
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Upon my grandmother’s death, I had people coming up to me, nurses at the hospital, neighbours, strangers… basically they told me my grandmother had been very nice, she was always smiling, she was sociable…

I witnessed this “niceness” myself. On Saturday morning, the nursing manager on finding out that my grandmother had difficulty swallowing her medicine, took it upon herself to pound the medicine and mix it with orange juice and fed it to her. It was a horrible concoction but my grandmother drank it up bravely and was gracious enough to say “thank you very much” in English to the nursing manager who was non-Chinese.

She never wanted to trouble people. She even apologized to our maid for causing her so much inconvenience. The maid told me that my grandmother had been very sweet to her and she feels her loss greatly. It is as if a knife had pierced through her heart.

I share the same sentiments as our maid. Although my grandmother was never rich materially, she was rich in the ways of God. And this is the legacy she has left behind for us: to have faith, hope and love. She had made a difference in her life. She had been M.A.D – making a difference in her life and this has prompted me to think how I would like to live mine.

Christian websites....

There are so many useful Christian resources online:

For example, when I read the news, I sometimes wonder about what I've read from a Christian perspective - like what does the Bible say about it... issues like homosexuality, middle-east developments...then there's the following website which does a good job of providing a Christian perspective on current issues, except that it's mainly American:
http://www.onenewsnow.com/

Then sometimes, I look for bible studies, devotions, Christian broadcasts, and there are:
http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml
http://www.backtothebible.org/

Then...http://www.crosswalk.com/ is a combination of both types... news and devotions etc

And there are also Christian webzines:
http://boundless.org/
http://christianmirror.com/

Then..sometimes I have questions about evidence in the world confirming Biblical events, and there are websites like:
http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/
http://www.christiananswers.net/archaeology/home.html