One Year Christian

Hi Guys!

I know I have been gone for quite some time. But I'm quite pleased with how things have been working out for me.

By the way, I am one year Christian since March 4 and I want to thank all those who remembered and greeted me on my spiritual birthday. Although I was sick on that day itself, I am glad to say that I am on my way to recovery. I thank God who has been here for me and takes care of me. He somehow made sure that on the day I got sick, I have my sister with me to help take care of me. God has used her to show His power of healing.

I guess that is how miracle works sometimes. Some miracles may seem commonplace that we fail to recognize God's hand in it. Like the simple happening of my sister coming to Singapore to look for a job, God made her come just in time.

I know the new year bodes even greater and better things for me. I am sure and confident because my Lord is God, He is my Father and this is my Father's world (and besides this, Heaven of course!). I just have a few wishes as a one year Christian:

1 - To be fruitful
2 - For my sister and other family members to become Christian
3 - To grow even higher in my faith and devotion in God and Jesus
4 - To develop more friendships in the Kingdom

I really hope that you all can help me attain my wishes. In this case I have more than three- that's because I'm sure God is way more powerful than than the proverbial "blow the candle and make a wish."

Till next time!

Reflections on the Poor Widow

Poor Widow

Just want to share an insight about the poor widow who put in two small copper coins in the temple treasury. (Luke 20: 1-4)

Before, everytime I read this passage I always imagined that Jesus wants me to give more monetary contributions to the Church. But after being a Christian in our Church and being inspired at how insightful other Christians are when they read the Bible, I realize that there is more to this story than Jesus wanting more out of our pockets.

Certainly God appreciates a giving heart that does not hold back. To Jesus, the poor widow who gave her everything has definitely given more than the rich people who only gave part of what they can truly offer. To delve a bit deeper, I asked myself what does it mean to be a widow in those days? In 1 Timothy 5:5 Paul says "The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help." For someone to pray night and day to ask God for help sounds pretty desperate to me. And Luke says that the woman who gave the only money she had is a poor widow- being a woman in those days she probably had no work, maybe no relatives to look after her, could possibly resign herself to begging in the streets, and most definitely had no resources or property. And yet she gave all that she had and did not hold back.

Luke 21:1-4 however does not denounce the rich people who gave what what is due of them. But it certainly gives a contrast between a person who gives more than what is expected (the poor widow) and those who just gives what is required of them (rich people). This passage encourages me to give more than what is required of me. Not just monetary but in every endeavour I do for the Lord. Like by serving Him, instead of just doing what is expected of me, I should cheerfully do more by giving my time and putting in more effort. In Jesus' standards, it is simply not enough that we just fulfill our responsibilities, but we should make it a point to bring things higher and do more for the Lord.

In Church I see alot of Christians doing this. Those who use their precious time and energy to give more to God. There are the leaders, the choir singers, the ushers, those who prepare communion every Sunday morning, the disciples at Kid's Kingdom, etc. These are people who go the extra mile to serve our one true Master and Lord and Father. And I am confident that Jesus Christ is very pleased by the acts of sacrifice these people make.

Great Memories of 2007!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The Holidays have been a fantastic accompaniment to the ushering of the new year. Christians have been having a blast celebrating the ocassion of Jesus Christ's birth- sweet melodies of Christmas song filling the air, merry wishings and gift givings just warms up the heart and soul, making the spirit praise in joyous wonder.

Most important of all, is to thank the very person whose ultimate sacrifice to die for our sins gives us the reason for all our celebrations- Jesus Christ, whose birth and and human life all the way to his death on the cross has been a cause of inspiration on how we should lead our lives. His example has given us a chance of freedom from sin, freedom from the worries of this world, freedom from materiality and worldliness, and chance for eternal life.

I want to thank all the christians who have made my holidays such a perfect one. Thank you to Ely and Emman who convinced me to treat myself to the Christmas lights of Orchard on the day I was feeling so depressed due to homesickness. I can never be thankful enough how the christians made me feel so loved when they showed up in Orchard to encourage me. Thank you to Patrick, Weng Fatt, Alan and Su Fen, David and Shirley, Andrew, Victoria, Sandy and Celine for being so encouraging. Special mention to Sera, who really wanted to be there but unfortunately can't- I am sure the the night would have been even more fun if you came.

I also remember the great fun my Bible talk had during our Christmas party celebration. Raymond made sure that the event went well and truly, we had an unforgettable party. As Raymond puts it "The party was wild even before we had the Bailey's out." Haha! How true. Great food, great people and great ocassion to have fun equals a really great time!

Also unforgettable is the East coast over night that Gary's and Andrew's group plus plus had. Me and Ely were fortunate enough to be invited for the hangout and boy we sure had a blast! Christmas singing that turned to a christmas concert and a localized "Twelve gifts of Christmas" with Andrews hilarious one plate of chapati! Fireworks and candlelight on the beach, and whole lot of great time of fellowship- and more singing on the beach!

Then on Decmeber 29, I had one of the best dates I have ever had. Kelvin Pang, Wilfred and I decided to cook up a feast for the sisters with our signature dishes. Shepherd's pie, carbonarra, chicken chop, brownies plus a whole lot of wine!!! What followed is a great time of fellowship. (Thank you to my date Sandy for being such a great date and conversationalist.) Then when we thought the date was over, karaoke soon took over and the food feast easily became a song and dance party! Loved every moment of it.

And of course, who can ever forget the Year End party we had at church? We had a blast and dressing up for the event was fun in itself with me Ely and Emman taking pictures all the way. The 80's retro theme was wild and it is fun to see other christians dressing up in fun and hilarious costumes. If you ask me Phua Hee, Kelvin Pang, Sera, Victoria, Gideon and Zach were the best dressed for the night. Want to thank my dance partner Rupa who was great fun all the way. The night would have been different without you.

Well, for now that's it. Another new year has come and more great memories to make and look forward to. Thank you for the many names who are not mentioned here but are equally important to the unfolding of these events. To everybody, let us start the new year with a grateful heart and happy memories to carry us through. And most importantly, let us thank God who made all these things happen.

Encouragement

I feel really encouraged lately, specially within the Church.

I felt that the discussion on "Why Do I Behave the Way I Do" really shows how our leaders give so much effort to effect positive changes in our lives. I am really grateful, specially to John and Karen, who took the time and occasion to make sure this exercise goes out well.

I especially appreciate Karen's sharing about her own lifetraps and her experiences in the past. Her making herself vulnerable to to others makes me trust her more and more and makes me want to be vulnerable to her myself.

I really pray that from all these, I would be able to figure out my lifetraps as well and do something about it.

By the way, while surfing other people's blogs, I have encountered a blog from an American disciple (who may or may not be from our Church) who has a lot of awesome insights. I put it up on my link so you all can read his posts for yourself.

Faith in God

Faith in God

My faith in God is rewarded in ways not defined by material things, but defined by simple expressions of joy, hope, love and strength in spirit. For though everything belongs to God, His reward is beyond human perceptions limited by the physical world, and instead resides in the nourishment of our souls and spirits. He means to build up the part of us that will face eternal life, and not the temporal part of us that spoils with time.

So let me work for the things that please God. For He knows what is best for me beyond all understanding. If it pleases the Lord that I suffer, that in my suffering I am humbled and conditioned to receive His reward from His word, then let me suffer. If its pleases Him that I deny myself for His sake, that in my denial of my worldly self I attain eternal life in Him, then let me deny me. But if it pleases God that I live with joy, like a bright lamp chasing away darkness, then let me rejoice throughout my days.

How can it be so wrong if it is what God requires? He who is imperfect, does he not follow the one who is perfect? For it is only by following the perfect one that we attain hints of perfection. So let our days be perfect in God, through our faith in Him through His son Jesus Christ.