People of One Thing

Your Eyes

2012-01-27T15:33:00.003+08:00

God wins my heart over, over and over again... whenever I ponder and realise that all He wants is my heart. He cares big time to develop my heart, more than what the work of my hands will bring. He who created us in our inmost being truly knows us well and is not in a hurry.

Over the years, this truth keeps getting grilled in my work-work-work mentality -- the truth that if I don't get down to doing anything for Him, He loves me the same. Period. I still don't get it... >_< My human folly of the performance trap, entraps me and holds me back from fully knowing His heart. How can? I would protest vehemently...

But I yield... and I erm... willingly get grilled over and over again by this truth. He is more concerned with my heart...Like David, I said, "My heart was hot within me...While I was musing, the fire burned..." ~ Psalm 39:3... His eyes are on my heart... more than what I can offer Him with the works of my hands... This truth overwhelms my heart yet again... and my heart is stirred...

YOUR EYES

Your eyes

Are looking to and fro

Searching out for those

Who trembles at Your word

Your eyes

Are looking to and fro

May You find in me

A heart that's after Yours

(Chorus)

Now I know, this I know

You are near

You are with me

You are looking at my heart

(You are after my heart)

(Spont)

I will live before Your eyes...

I will walk in all of Your ways...

Wholeheartedly... My First Love

I will live before Your eyes

I will walk in all of Your ways

Come lead me, come guide me, I pray...

Forever Changed by You

2012-01-18T11:46:00.011+08:00

Someone said...we are created to be "wounded" by His extravagant love and to be "ruined" by His indescribable glory! o_O

I was meditating on Songs 5:8-16, Isaiah 6:1-6, Revelation 1:12-20, Phil 3:7-13... and it's just so 'painful'... "Painful" cos I just don't get it...And I hear once again, my own inner voice that says, "Why know all these things? It's too deep. You won't understand... it's beyond you..." Arrggh...

But I press on... and hold on to to what 1Cor2:10 says, "...but God has revealed them (the deep things of God) to us through His Spirit. O Holy Spirit, you are My divine escort into the deeper things of God... lead me, guide me, teach me, I pray..

I figured that there must be something that struck these folks - Isaiah, John, Paul - that they lived the way they lived... I want to emulate them, yet I long to see what they saw, for that is the source and reason for the way they lived.

What/Who did they see? And why did they say and do what they said and did? With such doggedness and unyielding determination they lived, never turning back...

The deep things of God...it's there, but it seemed so out of my reach...so I waited... so I squirmed in my seat... so I hummed... so I picked up my guitar... and so this song came forth...

FOREVER CHANGED BY YOU

(Verse)

Jesus, Name above all names

You are shining forth

Radiant

Jesus, My Beloved and my Friend

Your heart burns for me

Through the age

(Pre-chorus)

By Your mercy, we draw near

By Your mercy, we come close

By Your mercy, we draw nearer

To Your Throne

(Chorus)

Forever changed by Your Love

Forever changed by Your Beauty

Forever changed by Your Majesty

I will arise to love You

I will arise to pursue You

I will arise, run with You...

Samuel! Samuel! (1 Sam. 3:10)

2011-12-11T07:45:00.013+08:00

Our God is a great Leader. Fantastic. Brilliant.

He is able! Able to lead us, even when we are 'gong gong' (aka blur), in all our sincerity in wanting more of Him. Doesn't He know us well enough and see our thoughts and acts in the secret? And yet, He sees the movements of our heart, the movements of our voluntary love responding to Him, saying "I love You Lord...". Even the faintest, weakest whisper of that, He can hear and His heart is moved. Big time. Songs 4:9. I can't get over this. I don't want to ever get over this - that my Big Mighty God is moved by such a heart like mine - weak and immature as it is, but longing to know and love Him more...

Such is our God we see in the book of 1 Samuel 1-3, one who is able to lead us, even in the most dire state of our conditions and circumstances - seen in Hannah - depicting believers crying out for a breakthrough in the midst of conflict (shame, depression, persecution...); and young Samuel - depicting young sincere believers who seek to know God, set apart for Him and pressing on in faithfulness.

Hannah was surrounded with an impossible physical situation where her womb was barren, as well as a constant critic that made her predicament even more unbearable. Yet she did not turn bitter, but she turned to God... Young Samuel was raised according to God's loving plan for the nation Israel, as a prophet of the Lord (1Sam. 3:20). He stayed steadfast and faithful in the house of the Lord...yielding to God's preparation plan for Him, shutting himself from the lure of good fun that his peers were enjoying at their young age.

In the days of Eli the priest, we see the extreme contrast between his two sons, who were corrupt (1Sam 2:1), and Samuel, who was dedicated by Hannah to minister to God in the house of the Lord. It was a picture of what God is doing now - even in the midst of the darkness of the hour where sin of men abounds, God is preparing, and leading, His own chosen ones in the house of the Lord... to shine in the days ahead. He is a great Leader! My great Leader!

The Wisdom of God seen in three contrasts

Many of us would 'lose control' when the threat of evil looms near. Perhaps we may think "there is no hope" or "what do I do now?". God in all His wisdom, shows us that He is in control even before 'all hell break loose' in our lives. He not only have foreknowledge of what is to come, but has also prepared a 'Plan B'. His plan prevails!

Here are the verses which showed the three contrasts:

1Sam 2:17-18 ~ "Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod."

1Sam 2: 25-26 ~ "...Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them. And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men."

1Sam 2:34-35 ~ "Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever."

God's heart is that none should perish... He gives us umpteen chances to turn to Him. Yet man in their own smarty-pants folly often choose their own paths which seemed right to themselves. The outcome? They get enthralled in a vicious downward spiral of no return.. Yet to those who call upon Him, like the Hannahs, who call upon Him in all faith (and desperation!), like the Samuels, who say, "speak, for your servant hears", God remembers, He encounters us and raises us up, giving us an inheritance that is unparalleled, beyond what we can think or imagine! (1 Sam. 2:8)

Who are You, God?

Three observations of who God is through 1Sam. 1-3:

1) He is a God who remembers... Trust Him! (1Sam. 1:19)

Hannah was an ordinary woman in her time. She was one of the two wives of Elkanah. Her pain and shame of not being able to bear children, led her to pray fervently to the Lord. God allowed an impossible situation in her life (God closed her womb - 1Sam. 1:6) that she may turn to Him. This is unconceivable for human minds to make sense of. Pun unintended.

Yet she laid hold of God and believed that God would hear and deliver her. And the Lord remembered her (1 Sam.1:19). When she conceived, she honored her promise to dedicate her first born - Samuel, to minister to the Lord all the days of his life (1Sam 1:11). After Samuel, she gave birth to 3sons and 2daughters (1Sam. 2:21).

Whatever our predicament, as we turn to God, know that He is a God who remembers... He remembers our heart cry that seeks to love Him, honor Him and serve Him!

2) He wants to encounter us... Wait upon Him!

Hannah was part of God's loving plan. So was Samuel. Even as a child, he ministered before the Lord in the house of the lord. It is interesting to note in 1Sam. 3:7 that Samuel has yet to know the Lord (personally encountered Him). Yet Samuel faithfully stayed in the house of the Lord, ministering to Him, and that includes the opening and closing of the doors of the house too! =)... the very mundane tasks that needed to be done, daily. (1Sam. 3:15)

Many of us may 'do' the spiritual disciplines of christian living - going to church, reading the bible, fellowship with believers, pray, serve Him in ministries, bring our kids to Sunday School etc. But we all need to personally encounter God and learn to hear His voice. God wants to speak to us! May we have the "Samuel! Samuel!" encounters and those of us who have children, to pray for them to have these encounters! Pray and ask God for it. Look out for it! =) If that is what God wants to do, He will surely do speedily as we agree with Him in prayer. Speak to us, Lord! We want to hear Your voice! We want to encounter You and know You intimately...

3) God is looking for a people who will do according to His heart and mind.

1Sam 2:35 ~ "Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever."

If God is looking for a people who will do according to His heart and mind, it also means that He will make known His heart and mind to those who seek Him with all their heart! (wow!) He will do it! Say yes to renew our mind in Christ and be transformed in our hearts to be more like Him. Be so connected to the heart and mind of God that we will love what He loves and hate what He hates. Say yes to be a faithful priest - one who knows His heart and mind (wow!) and one who will do according to what is in His heart and His mind (wow!)

Rev. 1:6 "...and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

May our pursuit and lives bring Him pleasure, into all eternity. God in turn, promises to build for His faithful priests a 'sure house, walking before Jesus FOREVER'. Wow! Wow! Wow! Generations that follow will continue in the priesthood, like the sons of Zadok who kept charge of God's house, come near to God to minister to God... (Ezekiel 44:15). They will walk before Jesus. It's forever! Their inheritance is the Lord Himself! WOW!!!!

What more can I say... He alone is our wise Leader. We can trust Him, encounter Him and be near Him, forever! May we have the "Samuel! Samuel!" encounters, hearing God calling and speaking to us, as we wait upon Him. No God, I won't press the snooze button... may I say, "Speak Lord, Your bride is listening!"

What the House of Prayer means to me...

2011-12-10T13:36:00.014+08:00

1) Why House of Prayer and how did all this begin?

I remembered about 8 years ago, when our leader shared what the Lord has called him to do in building the House of Prayer in Singapore, many of us didn't really have a grasp of what it is all about. But we knew it was on God's heart, and said our weak but sincere 'yes' to God.

Over the years, we grew in the understanding of the messages of Intimacy with God and preparing ourselves as the Bride of Christ. In light of the Day approaching, what we are doing here in the House of Prayer began to make a whole lot of sense.

We are living in End-Times! And God is 'insisting' more and more on the necessity of knowing His heart so that we can prepare for the days to come and stand and not be offended or lose heart. When the darkness glooms around, God is raising up Houses of Prayer to bring His light and partner with Him in praying according to His heart and plan and not according to we we feel or what we think... In fact, the House of Prayer will be a sign pointing to Jesus' return. It will be a statement to all that we are living in serious times! The book of Joel lays out clearly how we should respond to God in such times.

If we look around us, we can see that the Holy Spirit is orchestrating a global prayer movement across the nations, as we enter into the days ahead. There will come a time where there will be no answers found in man - be it in science, technology or any invention. But God Himself will be the answer! Like the sons of Isaachar in 2Chron 12:32, we need to grow in seeking God's face, know His heart and what to do in such times, for we will be His voice and light!

2) So what is the House of Prayer all about?

In a nutshell, Isaiah 66:1-2 sums up what the House of Prayer is all about - it's both about a dwelling PLACE for God to tabernacle with men, and about becoming the PEOPLE God is looking for.

It's a dwelling place where the fire on the altar - symbolizing the offering of worship & prayer, that goes on all the time, 24/7.

In Acts 7:49, the apostolic version of Isa 66:1-2, it says

Heaven is My throne,

And earth is My footstool.

What house will you build for Me? says the LORD,

Or what is the place of My rest?

It speaks of the type of people He is looking for in the building of the House of Prayer. God is looking for a SPECIFIC type of people to partner with Him in a SPECIFIC manner - people whose hearts are contrite in spirit - poor in the spirit and always pressing in and contending for more of God, and who take God's word seriously and would do something about it because they want more of God.

So House of Prayer is both about a dwelling PLACE for God to tabernacle with men and it's also about becoming the PEOPLE He is looking for.

3) Why 24/7? What does it mean to you?

God deserves it. He deserves our all. Romans 12:1-2 says to offer our lives as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him..this is our true and proper worship before God. How does worship look like in the heavenlies? In Revelation Chapter 4, we read about the throne room of God - There is a Throne in heaven and God is sitting on His Throne. He is in control! And worship goes before Him day and night, night and day. Rev. 4:8 says, it doesn't stop!

On earth, it means a few things to me:

* Individually, it means setting my heart to live my life, 24-7, centred around God, yielding to His ways, His plans for me.

* Corporately, it means to gather in sacred assemblies and keep the fire on the altar burning day and night, night and day, 24-7! To worship here on earth as it is in heaven! Intercessory worship that does not stop! Lev. 6:12 exhorts us "And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out."

When I was a young believer, I was always very inspired by how the believers in the book of Acts 2:42-47 live - how they would gather together, grow in the word of the Lord, lay all their possessions at the feet of the apostles so that anyone in need is taken care of. My eyes were also opened to see that they gathered daily with one accord in the temple of the Lord...

I long to be in a community like that, having these three elements as seen in the New Testament Church - the synagogue (symbolising the Teaching of the Word), the fellowship of believers (church / cell group / share group) and the Temple (House of Prayer). Acts 2:43 & 47 tell us, that as they do that, fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done, and many were saved!

As a child of God, I see myself as growing in the word of God, immersed in fellowship with like-minded believers and gathering in sacred assemblies, burning for Him in the temple, as I wait and long for the day of His return.

She requested nothing (Esther 2:15)

2011-12-09T16:55:00.008+08:00

God has given us many promises - both to lay hold of (that will come to pass in that Day), as well as to claim even now (in progression)- both individually and corporately. Recently I lost heart. I could not stand up to the accusation I hear - from myself and from the enemy - where is the outcome of promise that God gave me? I knew many of the prayers I pray are received by God and collected in the bowl in the heavenlies, and in the fullness of His time, when the prayers of the saints are complete, He will act. He will surely act.

But I'm losing heart. I told God... I can't go on without seeing any fruit of my prayer in the earthly realm, perhaps not the fullness, but just a glimpse, can? I was being honest with God. Flesh and blood as I am, I was losing heart. Like doubting Thomas I needed to see some tangibles. God, I'm praying in an almost empty room... Nevermind that... I tarried for Your presence... where? when? Perhaps I lost faith, faith that comes from the word of God (Rom. 10:17). So I struggled... cos when I pray, I pray with faith and with my heart... and it is getting into low batt mode :-x

Little did I know that God was encountering me in this struggle. What?! I did not expect an encounter with God to be so 'uncomfortable'. Perhaps I boxed my own understanding of encounter with God as one that is 'nice' and 'heavenly'. And then after the encounter I would drift and cruise in faith. Ya, perhaps sometimes it's like that... but sometimes it's not >_<|||

I was reminded that the greatest reward in building the House of Prayer, in christian living... is not answered prayer. Run that by me again? I'm speaking to myself! Yes, it is not in answered prayer, so shift your focus my dear... No, I still will pray in faith, know what is on God's heart, and lay hold of His promises in all intensity and seriousness. I do it in all soberness and my might because it is on His heart and I partner with Him. Yet, I'm reminded that at the end of it all, my greatest satisfaction and reward is in the Lord - that He knows, that He hears, that He sees, that He is faithful, and He is in control! My God, He is sitting on the Throne... Dan 7:9-14, Rev.4-5. Why am I fretting?

After this reminder, the whole issue over my struggling and looking for glimpse la, answers la, faded away in an instant. I can't believe it. I am just... healed! More than that, I have no other request from God. The Holy Spirit brought to remembrance the verses I read before in Deut. 10:9 and Gen 15:1 - that those who keep watch in the House of the Lord, the Lord Himself is their inheritance. He is our exceedingly great reward all in all! No Lord, I have no other questions... I have no other request from You. I erm, just had some bad case of amnesia lately but the Holy Spirit helped guide me to Your word and the verses kicked in me and woke me from my grappling. Struggle? No issue God. Do you see my dreamy eyes of lovesickness? You are mine! I have no other request...

The book of Esther gives us an allegorical picture of how the Bride of Christ is being prepared to reign in victory with the King in the midst of conflict, spiritual warfare and persecution. Chapter 2 shows God looking for a bride and how He raised up virgins (depicting believers) and started the preparation process. When it came to the time to draw near to the King, Esther's focus was not in any requests she can ask from the King (Esther 2:15). After a lengthy process of preparation (12 months) and the Holy Spirit's guidance, she drew near, in love, and she won the favour of the King's heart. It pleased the King so much that he crowned her the queen. There is a way to 'win' God's heart. There is a way into God's heart, if only we yield to His ways...

And later in Chapter 5, the King said gladly that he would give up to half of his kingdom to her, if she would only ask. This gives us a glimpse of Bridal Intercession - God desires that we come before Him as a lover, as a Bride, in asking for the things on His heart.

My prayer and heart cry is that the believers in Singapore will say yes and walk into the preparation as a Bride of Christ. Weak as we are, with occasional amnesia (arrghh!), may we grow in the very journey He will lead us, individually and corporately, of making ourselves ready for our Bridegroom God.

His way, His timing, His plan... we say yes, we say come!

Wait Upon the Lord...

2011-11-24T15:19:00.021+08:00

The first thing I would do when I wake up every morning, is to listen out to God's voice - what He is speaking to me, His heart, what He is thinking about, what He wants me to do... On Monday, I woke up to His voice speaking a familiar verse... Wait upon Me, I will give You strength...

Perhaps this verse is too familiar. I thought, ok... this is nothing new... oops! I immediately repented and said yes, Lord, show me Your heart... Even in the familiar and mundane, God can show me new revelation, God can move my heart! Yes Lord, speak Lord, I'm listening...

As I went about the day, I picked up a CD randomly (or so I thought) and played it. My heart moved when the chinese song in the English album was played- 我想飞 . Same theme as what God has spoken! heh... Since then, it's been on the repeat mode on my CD player... p/s: I can't find the song on youtube..

Later in the day at the House of Prayer, the Lord continued to tease me..."Do you want me to show You something new?" ... knowing well that I'm still not totally over my own thought of what's-new-in-this-verse-that-I-read-so-often... I once again silenced my own thoughts... submit to God! (as if God can't hear them :p ) and said yes to God sheepishly...

In His grace, He refreshed me as I read Isaiah 40. In His love, He gave me this verse because that's what I so needed... He gave me this verse in advanced of what is to come...brilliant God! Loving God! My God!

Circumstances that brought apprehensive thoughts.. feelings of vulnerability... These just swept past me over and over again and they weakened me. I can't pretend these feelings are not there and so gung-ho over them. I wanted to face them head-on, recognise where I am, and overcome by God's strength. Even the most mighty man can become so weak... remember Elijah, Gideon? I clung onto this verse and waited upon the Lord. When the feelings are so real, He strengthened my resolve to press in as I choose to wait upon Him... Here's what I wait upon Him for...

A) Wait upon the Lord... for STRENGTH

Isa. 40:29-31

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

Shall renew

their strength;But those who wait

on the LORD

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and

not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Strength to live a life that's inside out as God strengthens me deep within...

Strength so that I can develop a strong conviction deep within me based on God's word and not how I feel or what the circumstances tell me...

Strength... just because God said those who wait upon Him, shall renew their strength! I want! I need!!

B) Wait upon the Lord for... REVELATION

Isa. 40:6

The voice said, “Cry out!”

And he said, “What shall I cry?”

As I wait upon the Lord, my heart's cry is for understanding of His heart, so that I can speak forth and proclaim boldly what He is saying. Many times, I think I know, but I really do not know... it's not in me through and through yet... Or I know it cognitively but the knowledge remains but a good concept and not reality in my life? Thus my prayer... what shall I cry?

So I wait in expectation for revelation to strike my heart... and as I diligently pore over His words for "... the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."... and as I seek to live out / apply what is in the word in all discipline and hunger.

The paradox of christian life continues to swirl in my mind - it's 100% God, and it's 100% about us doing something about it...

We draw near to Him (cleanse our hands you sinners, purify our hearts, you double-minded), He draws near to us (Jas. 4:8).

We hunger and thirst, He fills us... (Matt. 5:3-12).

We receive, treasure, incline, apply, cry out, seek, search.... then God will give understanding... Prov 2:1-5.

Yes, I strive, Lord! Yet in You I rest...I wait... in expectation, like an eager beaver... for Who is like You O Lord... to whom will we liken God? Our everlasting God, our Creator God... His power is great, His strength is immense.... Yet He, the same great God, looks upon us, and gives power to the weak.. He increases strength to those who have no might.. more than recharged, I think my fuse will blow! in a good sense ;) Now where's my umbilical chord to the Most High?

C) Wait upon the Lord... for the glory of the Lord to be revealed!

Isa. 40:5

"The glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

And all flesh shall see it together;

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

The mandate of the forerunners is laid out in Isa. 40:3-5. They are charged to rise up as a voice, preparing the people of God for His coming, for the day where the glory of the Lord will be revealed in a global dimension. Every eye will see it... wow! Like what Habbakuk says in Hab. 2:14,

"For the earth will be filled

With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,

As the waters cover the sea."

What does this mean? Simply put, we can see the knowledge of God manifesting in the way we live, the way the world is governed, the way business is conducted... every sphere of life will display who He is. Progressively, from now till the Millenial Kingdom and into Eternity...

Isaiah 2:1-3 speaks of how nations will learn the ways of the Lord from Jesus, who will sit as the literal King over Jerusalem in the Millenial Kingdom.

" The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days

That the mountain of the LORD’s house

Shall be established on the top of the mountains,

And shall be exalted above the hills;

And all nations shall flow to it.

Many people shall come and say,

“ Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

To the house of the God of Jacob;

He will teach us His ways,

And we shall walk in His paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

And rebuke many people;

They shall beat their swords into plowshares,

And their spears into pruning hooks;

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

Neither shall they learn war anymore."

So in our waiting, this is the ultimate of ultimate that we are waiting for... in that day... we press into the heart of God, preparing ourselves and the people to be ready for His coming, lay hold of God's promises in prayer and live our lives and carry out our ministries as the burning and shining lamps, turning people to Jesus!

In our waiting, may we be like the Psalmist who says in Psalm 5:1-8

Give ear to my words, O LORD,

Consider my meditation.

Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and my God,

For to You I will pray.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up.

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,

Nor shall evil dwell with You.

The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;

You hate all workers of iniquity.

You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;

The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;

In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;

Make Your way straight before my face.

Already looking forward the the 7-day Global Bridegroom Fast in 5-12 Dec... to wait upon Him!

Crowns...what are they for?

2011-10-19T09:20:00.017+08:00

I've been musing over how I'm going to worship God when I see Him face-to-face. One of the familiar activities that we read from Scriptures, and sing about, is the casting of crowns at the feet of Jesus in worship. The crowns speak of one’s accomplishments or acts done by the grace of God as a result of responding to Jesus in faith and obedience. The elders cast their crowns before God because their crowns expressed their life of faithfulness and thus their reward in eternity.

Revelation 4:9-11 ~ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

“ You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created.”

I often wonder, why crowns? I want to know... especially God does award his saints aka overcomers with crowns according to how they live and according to the things they will do for His name's sake, in this age, for the age-to-come. I don't want to enter the age-to-come poor and wretched and crown-less, when I could have done something about it. Hey, we are talking about eternity you know! Eternity!! Not just a 2-hour party, but eternity!!!

I reckon that in eternity, it will be crystal clear that Jesus is the most sought after Person by all. Every moment, people will be so consumed by Him, talking about Him... Everyone will be looking for gifts to offer to Him in worship when they meet Him. Like what we watch in those dramas, folks like to offer the most precious and premium gifts to please the king they meet face-to-face. Ooi...don't laugh! I'm trying to comprehend!! Comprehension, Lord! Strike my earthly puny little mind with Your truth!

And crowns will be the most premium stuff to bring. And... everyone will woo and wow cos they can SEE the crowns that you have... Probably you will be quite oblivious with all that attention because you will be in a love-hurry to meet your Beloved.... and when you cast the crowns before Jesus in worship, it's like saying to Him, "Jesus, remember what I (we!) went through and I (You!) kept my faith and I (You!) kept my heart pure in loving You... I remember You were there for me, I remember Your faithfulness and You gave me this crown, and now I say, it is worth it all... You are worth it all..." and then you cast the crown before Jesus... oh...mmm....

The bible talks about a few types of crowns we can receive in this age and the things we can do / walk-out to get it:

1) Crown of Life / The Martyr's Crown

James 1:12 ~ "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

Revelation 2:10 ~ "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

This crown is for those who keep on loving God through severe trials and temptations, and yes, even unto death... for the sake of the gospel. So take heart... endure! It's going to be worth it big time in eternity. Endure!! Do not fear! Be faithful...

2) Crown of Righteousness

2 Timothy 4:7-8 ~ "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."

This is for those who are faithful in the race(s) in their life, not just in completing it, but through it all, loving Jesus and thus so lovesick and longing for His coming again.

3) Imperishable Crown / Incorruptible Crown

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 ~ "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown."

2 Timothy 2:5 ~ "And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned (with the victor's crown) unless he competes according to the rules."

I'm not sure if this can be considered a category of crowns - cos I think all crowns are imperishable. Nevertheless, this verse, it teaches us to live our lives according to God's ways and not according to what we can or what we think we can. If God calls us to live a holy life, we certainly can, cos we have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God! We will be rewarded for gaining significant victories over sin in our life as we resist temptation with endurance.

Many are called, few are chosen (say yes and do it). There will be challenges and sacrifices, but aren't these God's ways to prune us so that we can be more fruitful? Both in character and in ministry... Many have given up in this race, though gifted by the Lord, because they think 'it's too hard' or 'it's not worth it' or they hold on to too many 'baggages'. May we overcome by the grace of God and spur one another to keep going!

4) Crown of Gold / Crown of Glory / The Pastor's Crown

Revelation 4:4 ~ "Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads."

1 Pet 5:1-4 ~ "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."

This goes to the ministers who themselves live overcoming lives and faithfully shepherd their flock ...God cares for His people to be discipled and brought up in the way of the Lord! There'll be heartaches and sacrifices made in shepherding the flock, but God sees and He remembers, and your labor is not in vain...(1Cor 15:58)

5) Crown of Rejoicing / Soul Winner's Crown

1 Thess. 2:19-20 ~ "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is itnot even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy."

This is given to those who faithfully witness the saving grace of God and lead souls to Jesus, turning many to righteousness (Dan. 12:3). God will judge according to our faithfulness and openness in doing this, and not so much how many would respond to Him, for God is the One who will bring the increase and conviction in the hearts of man.

God esteems, remembers and rewards our works. All our obedience is forever remembered by God, therefore, our lives have great dignity even in the midst of the mundane and routine of life. May we live our lives worthy before Him, in a manner that He has exhorted us to live, and not according to the cap we have so subconsciously set for ourselves... Till the day we see Him face-to-face... Will I be facedown? or will I be dancing?... I can only imagine...

I asked, why so many different types of crowns? Are they of a different 'function' in worship? Someone said, cos our God is a creative God! Amen!

A Picture of a Tender-Hearted God... who stoops to make us great

2011-10-18T14:57:00.010+08:00

Isaiah 42:3, Matthew 12:20

"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will

not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice."

1998...

We were all gathered in the Muar Prayer House for a retreat for the TOUCH NUS ministry leaders and interns. The Lord visited and touched many deeply one night.. The takeaway thought for the day was to keep the fire on the altar of our hearts burning - receive it, keep it (keep walking, keep obeying, keep loving, keep trusting), grow it and give it away..

When the minister walked around to pray for people, I noticed one guy sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall. His head was bowed low and he held his hands over his head as if in despair. He wore his usual jacket. Yes, that jacket... He wore it everywhere, everyday, every moment...

When the minister walked towards him to pray for him, he quickly arose to his feet. Perhaps he thought, oh, it's my turn to be prayed over, let me get into the proper posture to receive... hmm... stand up and open up my palms? That's what everybody does when they receive prayer..

But the minister gently held him and said it's ok, and he bent down to where the guy was sitting, and prayed for him.

I was frozen by the sight of the minister bending over to pray for the guy.... tears filled my eyes...

What flashed in front of me became a picture of a tender-hearted God who stooped down to us, to where we are... yes, He sees us, our struggles, and comes to where we are and touch us. It's as if God showing me that we don't have to do the things that make ourselves 'look right' or be 'cleaned up' and then receive from God, but God comes to us where we are...

He stoops to where we are and lifts us up... He knows our weaknesses and struggles deep within us... and holds us till we are healed, till we experience victory. We can trust Him! He thunders His love over us, over the one whom He loves... (Psalm 18). How not to be touched by a God whose heart is like that?

I continue to wonder why people would say "I've given my youth to ministry, now I can do my own things"... To me, these years of ministry were the best years in my life, for I've tasted and seen that He is good and He is real...

But the best is yet to be... as God, by His grace and mercy, continues to ambush me in the years ahead... May I remember what He has done and keep talking about it, for it strengthens my resolve even as I forge ahead, for the upward call of Christ in my life...

Psalm 18:35... "Your gentleness has made me great..."

Excuse me, did you say... it's a partnership?

2011-10-12T13:28:00.009+08:00

The Lord invited us as a House to enter into a period of fasting and prayer for 14 days, pressing in for a few things. On the very first day, I thought very very seriously about giving up a particular assignment that was given me in the House. So much for a good start...hmmph.. I thought over it very seriously and almost picked up the phone and made that phone call... It was quite unlike me to do that - to give up. I would at least try and give my best... nose dive or nose bleed... do first then say... but this time, I really... I really... chickened out.. :-x ah... we all have such moments, don't we? arrgghh....

Then the word of the Lord came... to my rescue!!!

I heard God gently speaking to me in my inner heart, "Did you say it's a partnership? What's with this thought about giving up?" Then I tried to hide (God is reading my thoughts!!! Run!!!! but when is He not listening? What doesn't He know about me? :-} ) but arrgghh... erm, yes.. I guess You're right, Lord. It is a partnership, I erm, sing about it too, I ya, ok... and all I'm thinking is I can't do it on my own. But I'll do it with You... yes, I need to re-configure... it's going to be a partnership... thank you Lord... for coming to my rescue!!!

Probably deep within me, I really don't want to give up....I want to give it a shot... but I just don't know how to... I had no confidence... so outwardly, I find ways to get myself out of it and meanwhile work myself really hard and then try again, but God saw the inward movements of my heart. Oh, isn't He One of a kind? =D I mean, don't our hearts move to know that God sees our heart and works the best for us? And yes, meanwhile, this partner (that's me) will lean on Him and also work very hard - not in a way to earn / prove the ability for any assignment, but in a way that responds to knowledge of how He knows and sees me and still loves me and still wants me to partner with Him! Woosh!

In Songs 2:8-13, God revealed Himself as a sovereign and overcoming King, leaping over the mountains and skipping over the hills, thus beckoning the Shulamite woman (depicting a believer) to arise with Him. He is challenging her out of her comfort zone by showing her the revelation of who He is, so that she can trust Him and run with Him. He is leading her to leap over the mountains of fear and skip over the hills of afraid-to-make-mistakes... Oh, I will leap, I will skip... just to be near You, just to hear Your voice... for I know if I stay where I am, I'll be far from you, behind the wall... so draw me away...

TELL ME [3 October 2011]

Tell me what You're thinking of

Tell me what You're feeling, Lord

My heart, it pants, for the living God

Tell me what You're thinking of

Tell me what You're feeling, Lord

My heart, it yearns for You

I'll leap over mountains

I'll skip over hills

Just to be with You

Just to hear Your voice

I'll leap over mountains

I'll skip over the hills

Just to be by Your side

And run with You

So draw me away...

Songs 2:8-13

Revelation of the sovereign and overcoming God

8 The voice of my beloved!

Behold, he comes

Leaping upon the mountains,

Skipping upon the hills.

9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

The believer sees God standing behind the wall, where she is actually the one standing behind the wall, in her comfort zone...

Behold, he stands behind our wall;

He is looking through the windows,

Gazing through the lattice.

10 My beloved spoke, and said to me:

Jesus challenges her out of her comfort zone...

“ Rise up, my love, my fair one,

And come away.

11 For lo, the winter is past,

The rain is over and gone.

12 The flowers appear on the earth;

The time of singing has come,

And the voice of the turtledove

Is heard in our land.

13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs,

And the vines with the tender grapes

Give a good smell.

Rise up, my love, my fair one,

And come away!

To Worship You I Live

2011-10-12T12:53:00.005+08:00

Have you ever witnessed a loving father or mother cooing to their baby? awww... Sometimes, I mean, most of the times, one can't quite figure out what they are singing or saying to their baby, but from the giggling response of the tickled infant, you know that it is a love language that transcends age and our human understanding...

Very often, our moments with the Lord are found to be so. Either we still our hearts and let God sing over us with love, or we sing to Him with the affections of our heart... and it goes on and on... May we have many of such endearing moments with the One who loves us deeply!

p/s: the chorus line of this song is crafted by our dear brother Darren. Simple and Beautiful! I always remember him telling me, just use your heart when you worship God, and I took heed.. heh...

While humming the chorus line to the Lord one day, inspiration for the lyrics of this song came. Truly to worship God is a response, not a doing. Worship is a response to the revelation of who God is, who we are to God and what He has done. Every time God wows our heart with revelation, we bow down and worship Him... and this goes on and on... both now here on earth and in eternity...

TO WORSHIP YOU I LIVE [October 2011]

I am Yours, You are mine

I am bought at a price so costly

I am Yours, You are mine

I'm the treasure You long for

I'm the treasure You seek

Pre-chorus: - can't decide if this sounds better as a bridge or pre-chorus... hmm...

You came, for love

Looking for a bride

You came, for love

Overcame the grave

So I'll live to worship You

And I'll live to worship You

Chorus:

To worship You I live

I live to worship You

(All my days...)

Galatians 2:20 ~ "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Romans 12:1-2 ~ "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up (Psalm 69:9)

2011-10-08T01:29:00.010+08:00

I remember the encounter vividly till this day.

As the words were spoken, there was no lightning nor thunder. There were no shaking of tables, chairs or the floor. In fact, the words were spoken right into my face by a friend in the midst of a fast food outlet, over a cuppa coffee.

I felt my whole body being flung to the end of the room (while I was still physically and calmly seated where I was as the conversation continued). I don't think my friend sensed anything amiss.

I couldn't understand what happened, or why that happened. I did not dismiss it for it was very real to me. I could not utter it to another, as yet... So I cherished it in my heart in the Lord.

Eight years on, I saw some light to that encounter.

"Take some time to feel how God feels about the House of Prayer." These were the words that were spoken over the microphone in the House of Prayer, before we gathered in groups to pray. I was like, ok, that's heavy duty stuff. Let me mull over it more...

And so the pieces began to form together...

When I continue to muse over how God feels about the House of Prayer over the next few days, that same encounter came. No, I wasn't flung this time (we should not overtly put attention on our encounters per se)... It was a similar encounter - that kind that you know it is so huge it could almost destroy you, that the encounter will burst deep within you and you just can't contain it. By God's grace, I felt 0.00000000000000000000000000000000001% of it, and knew it was something really really really big time on God's heart. An understatement! Arrghh... can't even find the right words to describe it!

Flashback to the fast food outlet... my friend was sharing with me what God wanted him to do in Singapore - to establish a 24/7 House of Prayer in Singapore. At that time, I was at the crossroads in my career - I had just applied to a two-year overseas posting that could propel me further in my career path. I was subsequently offered the job and was taking some time to make a decision.

I reasoned - two years will pass by quickly. And I could still join in building the House of Prayer when I return to Singapore. Then he said, as a matter of fact-ly, not so much to appeal for me to stay, that the starting years of the building process is a journey that nothing can be compared with. That it would be in the formative years that we grow in the Lord, with one another and in understanding God's heart for the House. This reply, was the very thing that flung me to the end of the room. Eight years on, my heart testifies that it is true...more than what the experiences and journey had brought me (including the heartaches), it was the knowledge that God sees, and that this is something on His heart and He appreciates every builder... woosh... this is enough for me...

God feels intensely towards His house. Psalm 69:9 ~ "Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up."

I want to remain ruined, undone, eaten up... I want to go on holding close to my heart what matters to His heart. It's so easy to forget. It's so easy to sidetrack. It's so easy to let it all go in the name of valid reasons. But O Lord, according to Your tender mercies and faithfulness, never let me go... let me remain... eaten up...

Beautiful God (a God of Mercy)

2011-09-29T09:37:00.022+08:00

[When we see a a something or someone who captures our attention - be it due to a visual appearance or a charisma that exudes from within, we often would stop in our tracks and say, 'beautiful', 'excellent', 'awesome', or ...just be wowed, loss for words!

When GOD catches our attention, it can very often blow us away or "break us into pieces" or we'll just stay unscrappable from the floor / wall / ceiling, if not for His mercy - an infinite God revealing Himself to finite man. Ooosh!! More than loss for words!!! Yet I long to go deeper into the cloud of glory... and just like the encounter Moses had at the burning bush, he drew near to hear, he drew near to see. Is that really You Lord? Calling my name?

Recently I got very upset... very very upset... with myself... after a teaching on the tender mercies of God... I was just so upset that I do not know and cannot grasp the tender mercies of God. Cognitively I know it as I hear about it, read about it... but I know I don't know it... and I was soooo upset... because I do not know the God that (I say) I love.. you know what I mean? Imagine you have a close friend and you don't even know his/her innermost heart and thoughts, and for so long. So I'm very upset and just kept crying and crying... crying because I don't know, crying because I feel sorry, crying because I want to know Him more...

Someone said that's the paradox of the gospel - the more you know God, the more you don't know Him... Now that is encouraging... Just like what Paul says in 1Tim 1:15.... erm, uncle Paul, may I quote you... erm... it's in the bible... so it's not a personal thingy on you... erm.. erm... Paul says in v15, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." There must be a reason why Paul would openly and gladly boast about being chief of erm... sinners O_o v16 brought some light - "However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life."

Now I know why I like uncle Paul. And I even like God more... He chooses the worst of worst to show his patience and kindness to those who will believe Him - this is really something! Woot! My confidence level to run to God when I fall just got re-charged! And yes, may I say like Paul, let Your goodness shine through a vessel like me, that man may see You and You alone! Yes God, me, me, You can use me! Just so that I may encounter Your tender mercies... please...

So I dried my tears, and continue to muse on the God of mercy... mmm....mmm... mmm....]

BEAUTIFUL GOD [29 September 2011]

There is One who sits on the Throne

His tender mercies are over all

There is One, He is in control

All the heavens and earth worship Him

Pre-chorus:

And by His mercy, we draw near

And by His mercy, we come close

Chorus:

Beautiful God

Reigning on high

We worship You, in spirit and truth

Beautiful God

You've captured our hearts

We are Yours and Yours, alone

(Take us as Your inheritance...)

Bridge

There is none as worthy

None as beautiful

There is none as holy

None as excellent

(There is none like You...)

Send Us Your Rain

2011-09-28T00:11:00.009+08:00

[I'm deeply blessed and thankful that I was grounded in the Lord since my days of youth, in the TOUCH NUS ministry. I was not only grounded in my values as a believer, but I also received much exposure in ministry - learning to live by faith, believing God for the impossibilities and seeing lives transformed by the power of God. Surely a life lived by faith is one that is not only unforgettable, but also one that made me who I am today as I continue to seek to grow in the Lord...

We have been praying lots for the youths in the House lately... for truly God is raising up the generation who will see His second coming! Even now, God is raising them as forerunners, a voice crying out in the dessert, prepare the way for the Lord! One of the unique functions of the forerunners ministry seen in Isa. 40:1-5, is the prepare the WAY of the Lord (v3)- to prepare the minds and hearts of the people:

Preparation of MINDS in understanding:

1) End-Times

- Mat. 24:6 speaks of false christs, wars, rumours of wars arising..."See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass...". God is bringing understanding and clarity of the times, and more importantly, how we should prepare ourselves for the coming Day of the LORD as described in Joel 2:11.

2) The activity of the Holy Spirit in the last days:

- restoration of the 1st commandment to the 1st place (Mat. 22:37-39)

- the release of unprecedented power to bring in the great harvest (Joel 2:28-32)

- partnership with God in releasing the temporal judgment of God (Isa. 63:1-6)

3) New idea about God (Psa. 2:11-12):

- Revelation of Jesus as their passionate Bridegroom, Sovereign King and Righteous Judge.

Preparation of HEARTS:

1) Wholeheartedness to God

2) Holiness and Fear of God

3) Fasted lifestyle

Whenever I close my eyes and sing to God to send His rain, I could almost see multitudes of youths crying out to the Lord. And... I could feel the purity and simplicity of the hearts of the youths, just like how we used to cry out to God with the simplicity of our hearts, in childlike faith, in the TOUCH NUS days! God, send Your rain! We need your power, grace and touch, like never before! ]

SEND US YOUR RAIN [27 September 2011]

Verse one:

We need Your power

Break into our lives

We need Your grace

Strengthen us within

We need Your touch

Like never before

We cry out, as we go forth

Chorus:

Send us Your rain

Renewing our mind

Send us Your rain

Transforming our heart

Send us Your rain

Into this place

Into our hearts, as we wait for You

Verse two:

Release Your power

Break into our lives

Release Your grace

Strengthen us within

Release Your touch

Like never before

We cry out, as we go forth

Come send Your rain...

Intimacy with God - a zap?

2011-09-22T10:40:00.009+08:00

Some think to grow into intimacy with God, it's a God-zap-me-I'll-be-intimate with God kind of thingy. So they go about their own life as usual and say - when that zap comes, all will be ok. I'm struggling... but when the anointing comes, I'll be fine! Sounds familiar? =)

Zaps are good but we often have 'leaks' and those moments of empowerment do not sustain very long. We 'leak' simply because we do not know how to sustain or have the walk with God that keeps the fire burning in us. Some go from zap to zap, attending meetings and conferences to 'feel good', to 'top up'.

Yet as the saints aka overcomers would share with you, it more often than not takes a deliberate and conscious setting of hearts and the lifestyle of choosing God (through all that struggling, trials of life and those untimely distractions). You know what I mean if you read the accounts of the overcomers in Hebrews 11. Read also about Daniel, who set his heart to know God - how his faith in God triumphed in his time under the reign of an evil king. Even the king acknowledged Daniel's God!

I learnt from a teaching on the keys to sustaining intimacy with God:

1) Hunger - only those who long for it gets it!

2) Keep the fire burning - consistent and regular time with the Lord

3) Fan the flame - seek to grow in the level of intimacy with God

4) Do the work of the ministry - exercise the gifts of the spirit and move out in faith

So you see, we can't get intimate with God by attending teachings, meetings, conferences only. They are not the end all of all. They are good as it could jump start us or awaken us to God and God-things, but it does not end there if we want to grow in the Lord... May we not only know the keys to intimacy with God, may we not only talk about them... may we walk the talk...

Making God Happy

2011-09-21T15:54:00.019+08:00

I admit that when I first heard this phrase - making God happy - I went like... erm... that sounds kinda foreign and er... 'foolish'. You know what I mean, new phrases and terms just come up around us here and there. They are here now and gone the next day as newer phrases and cooler terms are being invented... or they are being used casually without much meaning...

I mean, if we talk about revering God, or be serious with God, obey God, love God, praise God etc etc, I (think I) can understand. But what do you mean by 'making God happy'? I can't even quite comprehend it, let alone do it. So conveniently, out of my window it went! I threw this phrase out of my mind, subconsciously, not because I want to, but simply because it's not in my dictionary! Vocab deluge! And yes, I must say it sounds kinda... 'foolish'... definitely not my cup of tea! or so I think...

Years on... I find myself not only understanding this phrase (a little) better, but also realising that there's nothing else I really want to do except... to make God happy. Dead meat. I can't even recognise myself now... so what has caused the change? I pondered...

I can only say that God does wonders with our weak but sincere heart that keeps saying 'yes' to Him. Little by little, how He reveals His heart and led me to encounter His truths as I respond to His word. What is God looking for? I want to be. What does God like? I want to become. What is God saying? I lean over to hear. What is God doing now? I sign-up and get myself involved in it. Not self-manufactured (I know how to do that, and, I somehow can detect it, within myself, if it's of the flesh :p and repent!); but a change that only He can bring...

It often starts with a divine dissatisfaction (poor in the spirit..Mat.5), leading one to a painful realisation (hunger, thirst, mourn..) as one presses in for the things of God. Painful as one dies to self, shakes off every weight and sin that ensnares, and this is the hard part - keep walking, keep trusting, keep pressing in, keep gazing at Jesus, keep going... till God breaks in.

Now, I don't really care whether I appear foolish or am doing something foolish... I just care.. I just care that... I just care very much that... I am found... making God happy...

1Cor. 1:25, 27-29 ~ "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men...But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
Be acceptable in Your sight,

Halleujah [20 September 2011]

2011-09-20T16:04:00.003+08:00

[May this be the musing in my heart... always...]

Hallelujah

Our God Reigns

There's gonna be a day

Of reckoning

Where we will stand

Before His throne

There's gonna be a day

Where God will dwell with man

Here on earth

Through all eternity...

I can only imagine...

God of Wonders

2011-09-20T15:51:00.002+08:00

[When apostle Paul preached the gospel to the Church in Corinth, he "determined not to know anything among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified". ~ 1Cor. 2:2

Jesus Christ... the power of God and the wisdom of God (1Cor. 1:24) and the message of the cross...to those who are being saved, it is the power of God (1Cor. 1:18).

My heart cries out to God for the demonstration of the Spirit and of power in our lives... and through our intercessory worship and teachings in the House... it cries out even more when I see situations and lives around me that are just waiting for the touch from our God of wonders... Break in, Lord! If this longing is put into my heart by You, come! If this is of myself, show me and teach me in Your ways... Yet Lord, You are a God of wonders, miracles and might, manifest your power and glory, that all men might put their faith in You!!! ]

GOD OF WONDERS [16 September 2011]

C G Am F

You walked into a wedding

Turned water into wine

And manifested Your glory

A man born blind

Received his sight

Revealing Your works in him

(Chorus)

God of wonders

God of might

Show us Your glory

Reveal Your might

God of miracles

Glory and might

Revive Your works

In our days... make them known...

Restoration - The Chiastic Structure of the Bible

2011-09-14T08:05:00.012+08:00

Reading this verse is uplifting in itself - 2 Cor. 4:16 "...yet the inwardman is being renewed day by day..." - that deep within us, we are renewed daily by God's working power and grace.

Renewed daily... but don't just stop at 'sounds good, feels good'.. What does it mean to be renewed day by day?

As I recently discovered and keep discovering... the very heart and eternal plan of God - to restore all things to its original and perfect state - God dwelling with man and man with God (Rev. 21:3) and to those who overcome, they will have access to the tree of life in the Paradise of God (Rev. 2:7; 22:2). There will be no need for a tree of knowledge of good and evil, for they will have perfect knowledge of God! Also, see the chiastic chart on Israel, the Church and the kingdom of God above by One Thing Ministries.

Heb. 12:25-26 says, "but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven. Now this, “Yet once more,”indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain."

God is shaking all that can be shaking - even doctrines according to man (that are flaky) and not according to God's heart and His word ... that only what remains is a kingdom which cannot be shaken.

Newer and newer each day... truly a hope worth living for!

Revelation 22:14 - Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

A God Who Hides

2011-09-02T11:00:00.005+08:00

[If you look closely at people who are after God's heart, you will find that they are a bit... er... slanted, inclined, leaned over... You see, most of the time, in fact at all times, they are found inquiring the Lord, inclining their ears to hear Him and leaning on God even in their weakness.

Yes, leaning... and who told you that man after God's own heart have no worries and problems in life? Look at David, most of his life, he was being chased by his enemies... yet he carried his heart before the Lord with distinction, leaning on Him.

As Proverbs 25:2 aptly puts it:

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

But the glory of kings is to search out a matter."

God hides from us. Why? So that we will search Him out. And you know what... He longs to hear our voice and be gracious to us! Isa. 30:18-19

"Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you;

... He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;

When He hears it, He will answer you."

So take heart, call out to Him and call out to Him in faith. For without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6)

A GOD WHO HIDES

It's Your glory to hide Yourself

That I may search You out

And You wait to hear my voice

And You wait to hear my cry

So I cry out to You in faith

And I call out Your name

Show me Your face

Show me Your mysteries

Show me Your face

For You satisfy, You satisfy

You are a God who hides

So I'll search You out

You are a God who hides

It's my glory to find You...

This Beautiful Man

2011-09-02T10:35:00.004+08:00

This Beautiful Man

Why should it be so
That He bore the shame

On the old rugged cross

This Beautiful Man

Who knew no sin

Came and paid it all

Saved us, cleansed us and gave us new life

From the cross to the grave

From the grave to the skies

It's not the end

For He is coming again

From the cross to the grave

From the grave to the skies

He's coming again

To marry His bride... to rule and reign... to judge the earth

So watch and pray

For the hour is coming

Where all will behold

This Beautiful Man, once again...

[8 years on...] This is my pledge O my Lord, my Love and my Friend...

2011-08-31T08:47:00.013+08:00

What Time is it Now?

It's spring time! as I suddenly awake to this realisation...

I do not particularly label the season I'm in all the time, but recently, while I was spending time with God at home, I was impressed that I'm in spring time! I broke down in tears, as I thanked God for the sweetness of His presence that this season brings, and also vividly remembering how He walked with me through the season of winter some years ago...

Spring is the season of disclosure. God is near. His presence is sweet and it's enjoyable to just do anything - even when it is tough, laborious and stressful; winter reminds me of the bittersweet experience - though outwardly wasting away, inwardly renewed and sustained by our loving God. Pain is often our friend- in a way that makes us all the more appreciate the important things/people/God! around us. It is a stepping stone to reach out, to cry out, to press in and taste and see that God is good. For when is He not?

What caused me to be more amazed by God, is that in His loving grace, He opened the eyes of my heart to realise that in both seasons, though strikingly different as they are, there was a commonality through it all. There was a familiar presence of God that I experienced in both seasons. I can't find the words to express it. It could be what the bible calls 'pure joy' - joy of the Lord, joy from the Lord, despite the circumstances..

James 1: 2-4 ~"... count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Spring is an intermediate seasonal phase in between winter and summer. Spring signifies the emergence of new life. Times of spring are the blossoming seasons that bring meaningful growth and rejuvenation in its wake.

Verses I am claiming:

1) To move along with God in what He is doing in and through my life, for His kingdom come

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Do not remember the former things,

Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert."

2) To speak forth His word with clarity and boldness and intercede in agreement with His word and promises.

Isaiah 22:22

The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

A New Song from my heart -- my pledge to You

This song came while I was worshipping God on a Sunday. The song was completed two days later with a bridge. This is my pledge to You O Lord, my Love, my Friend... 8 years on... only You can keep my heart burning... only You can keep my heart ever pure and devoted to You..

I'm not quite sure what the road ahead lies for me, whether I will do well in keeping the fire going, both in my heart and in the House... But one thing I desire, this is one thing I seek... to dwell in the House of the Lord... to gaze upon Your beauty... to inquire You...O God, all the days of my life...

I POUR MY LOVE OVER YOU

[28 August 2011]

Verse 1:

I pour my love over You

My Beloved and my Friend

I pour my love over You

My Joy, my Reward

Chorus:

Like Mary who took the alabaster jar

And broke it at Your feet

Like Mary who wasted her life

Loving You

I'll pour out my love over You

For You first poured out Your love over me

Loving You, is what I'll do

All my days...

Bridge

No matter what the world may say

I'll waste my life on You, seek Your face

No matter what the world may say

I wana be found at Your feet, loving You

Ending chorus:

Like Mary who chose the good part

And worshipped at Your feet

Loving You, is what I wana do

All my days...

Writing Songs to Him...

2011-08-24T14:44:00.013+08:00

It's such a wonderful experience to be able to write songs that express your heart to God. I've had many 'accidental' encounters when I was just practising on my guitar and the songs would just come... and I'll quickly reach out to my handphone and start recording.

I would get so addicted to such encounters that I would pester God to give me more.. especially melodies from heaven. I would listen out to Him constantly and be an eager beaver to pick up any new melody that He would put in my thirsty heart.

I recently played my latest song to my guitar coach and asked him for feedback and possible areas of improvement. He said the song was ok and suggested a chord change which made the song sound more right (I actually played a chord but sang in another pitch! haha). He also showed me how he would sing a certain portion of the song. Gosh, with his vocal power, he could pull off the song in a different dimension. I also want!! So much to learn!!

He also said that if it's a song for personal devotion, the song I wrote is ok. But if it's for others to sing along, say in worship, or slated to be a recording on a CD, songs generally will have to be improved / packaged quite differently.

Then he said, usually people would write about ten songs or so, and then a good one may come out of them. As in it's a 10:1 hit. Then I started counting the number of new songs I've written... and it's about 10! Most are closet songs, some are not quite 'there' yet and some I just can't pull it off with my vocals. I especially like the latest one on "Be magnified", as it aptly expresses what's on my heart. I'm sure God likes it too. Quite sure. ^_^ I like to sing it till I'm lost in love and I'll play those mysterious chords that I don't even know what they are, but they sound (quite) ok.

Oh God, may You keep my heart ever pure and simple in devotion towards You... even as I seek to improve my vocals and guitar skills... may I not become so 'sophisticated' that I forget that it's all about You... You are all that I want... You are all I seek to worship and please... And I'll sing to You, from my heart to Yours..

Painful Stage

2011-06-26T22:33:00.012+08:00

No pain, no gain... and just how long can I sustain in this pain?

But thanks be to God, who reveals just what I needed to press in... pain... the pain of knowing that I have not got it (deep things of God) yet, the pain of knowing that I need to stretch to get it, the pain of knowing that it's just round the corner but you don't know how long more...

Err... let me see, how do I utter "thank You Lord" in all sincerity of my heart in the midst of it all? But all I really want to say is "forgive me Lord... I want more..."

The pain I'm talking about, is the realization that I've been shortchanging myself in my pursuit of knowing God. I've often stopped short at the 'revelation' stage and have never really pressed in deeper. I have subtly allowed myself to 'overstay' in the revelation stage, cos it feels good!

Revelation is necessary, as it inspires us to go deeper. It awakens us deep within in our pursuit of knowing God. Like a carrot ^_^. Yet it will be 'wasted' on us if we do not treasure it by responding to it. What is God saying to us? What is the message on His heart? What does He want us to do? We need to respond with our heart, for negligence to do so will reap a dead-sea syndrome - full of knowledge but no life...

Perhaps I have been pressing in for more, but vaguely, 'hoping for the best' kind of pressing in. >_< why do I feel so wretched? It's like it's mine (my portion and inheritance to know God deeper still) yet I forfeited it out of my own human folly and I-think-I've-had-enough-for-now mentality.

The Three Layers of going deep in God

1. Revelation - often the 'feel good' stage where God strikes one's heart with a truth.

2. Wisdom & understanding- ability to make sense of the revelation and live it out progressively.

3. Insight & clarity - knowing the heart of God and ability to pull together the word/message in a big picture / scheme of things, bringing conviction to self and others.

This kind of pain, I don't really want to 'pray away', but I will ask God for grace in the pressing in. My confidence is that if I ask according to His heart for me, God will surely answer it. Praise God for sacred assemblies in prayer & seeking His face (night & day, Lord!), nudges from like-minded community of friends in this pursuit and godly teachings.

Matthew 5:3-12

Blessed are the poor in the spirit

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Blessed are those who mourn

For they shall be comforted

Blessed are the meek

For they shall inherit the earth

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

For they shall be filled...

How You move my heart...

2011-06-15T22:34:00.005+08:00

[I was surprised out of the whole set of songs, it was this one that choked me to tears. Oh man, it was only the second song. I got to hold it... composure please!! I learnt from Ryan Seacrest of the American Idol that to stop the tear tap, just breathe in deeply. So I took a deep breath, and blew...erm... straight into the mic!! LOL!

No matter how small our ALL may be, I'm giving it all there is to me.. what touched my heart was God's response to me as I sang this line in this chorus line in the prayer room. He said it's precious. Small? It's precious to Him BIG time. Oh, how He moves my heart!

After two deep breaths, I continued singing... oh God, this all I have, I want to multiply it, I want to give you more, just like how with a few ingredients, I can cook many dishes, in all creativity and love. Yes Lord, with what I have, I give to You. I want to give You more...]

C G Am F

You’re beautiful

Worth it all

You're beautiful

Worth it all

Beautiful (My Beloved)

No matter how small my all may be.

I'm giving you all there is to me.

No matter how small my all may be.

I gladly waste it at your feet.

My heart will go hard after You

All the days of my life

My soul it longs for You

In a dry and weary land

My soul it thirsts for You

In a place where there’s no water

I LIVE FOR THE DAY

2011-06-08T16:48:00.006+08:00

[Meditating on the whole counsel of God has caused me to be speechless, blown away and erm... plastered to a wall. I am left dumbfounded, in pieces (and wanting) and un-scrappable (from the wall, that is). And I'm just at the tip of the iceberg... I'm so waiting for myself to get over it, in a good sense, and go deeper, seeking more understanding and revelation.

The whole counsel of God, as what I recently heard from a teaching, speaks of what God has done for us, what He is about to do (shortly) and what will happen in eternity. My whole mindset of Christianity has been so skewed to knowing "one-third" of the good news of the gospel that I'm prying my mind and heart to seek the other "two-thirds" of the good news. Not that I have attained full knowledge and understanding of the one-third.. but seeing the fullness of the good news is simply awesome... beautiful!

Praise be unto God who Himself is revealing more and more of the good news to the Church. He who changes times and seasons, removes kings and raises up kings, gives wisdom to the wise, knowledge to those who have understanding (Dan 2:21) is unravelling His beauty... May we behold this beauty... all the days of our life.. This song is a heart-response to the whole counsel of God, as I heard it... may I live for the day of His coming...]

Intro: D E

King of kings, Lord of host

He's coming in the clouds in that day

Jesus, our Bridegroom God

His searching eyes are looking for His bride

(So) I live for the day of His coming

I rejoice, be glad, make myself ready

And enter into the joy of the Lord

And reign with Him eternally

I live for the day of His coming

I rejoice, be glad, give Him the glory

Forsaking it all, be found at His feet

O Lord, keep my heart burning

The Spirit and the Bride say 'Come'

Come Lord Jesus....

(And) I live for the day of Your coming

I rejoice, be glad make myself ready

And enter into the joy of the Lord

And reign with You eternally

I live for the day of Your coming

I rejoice, be glad, give Him the glory

Forsaking it all, be found at Your feet

O Lord, keep this fire burning...

Burn

2011-06-04T00:45:00.004+08:00

[What more can one ask when our heart moves at the sound of His voice... oh that my heart always move, when I hear His voice. May knowing God be the one thing I seek, all the days of my life....]

C G C G D

I want my heart to burn within me

I want to love You like You love me

I want my heart to burn within me

Awaken love...

Come light the fire within me

Come fan the flame

Come light the fire within me

I want to burn for You

So draw me away

Draw me away to Your secret place

Draw me away

To see Your face, hear Your voice

For when You speak

My heart it moves

For when You speak

My heart it burns

For when You speak

My heart it yearns... for more of You

Extravagant God

2011-05-14T23:43:00.002+08:00

My God, who walks with me, He is extravagant...

My God, whom I run with, He is extravagant...

He is extravagant in His commitment to me. He is extravagant in His provision. He is extravagant in His jealous love over me, His bride.

My God, who loves me, He is extravagant...

It's not as hard as it seems, or is it?

2011-05-12T14:38:00.000+08:00

Took a minor leap this month, and led two devotional sessions over a period of two weeks. You see, doing ONE devotional session per month is BIG deal to me - in terms of how seriously I would prepare for it and execute it. Doubly serious, simply because I'm still new to it and it's to the audience of ONE you know... I'm saying yes to the stretching to keep myself on the edge yet not stretching till I burnout. Through this experience, I've come to one realisation - it's not as hard as it seems... but...

For one, I'm technically challenged - both in skills in playing the guitar and in my vocal power. I digress. I was often on the reserve team for the sports I took part in during my school time. I remembered training hard on my knees, hitting that ping pong ball against the wall for every practice. Albeit being on the reserve team, for obvious reasons, I took the training seriously. Never despise humble beginnings!

Back to the techniques. Honestly, I don't see myself improving over the next few months or significantly over the next year or so, not that I don't want to, just that it would take time. Yet month in month out, for now, I'll do one or two devotional sessions per month. After this month's attempt, I realised that the 'doing' is not hard - there are glitches here and there, and yes, totally not-perfect, but it's not 'impossible hard'.

The realisation is my 'oil level'... The 'but' in the "it's not as hard as it seems, but..." is the 'oil level'. Am I acquiring the oil of intimacy with God aka jealously keeping my chamber time with God, as mentioned in the Parable of Ten Virgins? I'm trying to manage my walk with God in ministry without neglecting my chamber with God time. I admit I haven't got 'it' yet. But the principle is - to go wide, I have to go deep... to do more, I have to buy oil... Going deep in the Lord is NOT automatic nor replaceable by ministry. Our walk with God will NOT automatically become better but it will surely automatically decline if we don't keep the diligence and delight in drawing close to Him!

Before you think buying oil is a strategy for ministry, which we sometimes subconsciously do at one time or another, take a step back and 'reformat'! 'nuff said.

Many ministries seek to grow wide without the foundation of going deep in the Lord. This is akin to putting the cart before the horse. The detrimental outcome can only be salvaged by our gracious God if we realise and turn... When our heart gets more excited about ministry than with God, it's a sign to re-examine our priorities, and our heart! Ministry happenings can be exciting - especially if we see lives changed under the power of God, miracles, breakthroughs etc. Yet may our hearts be utmostly (I invented this word :) satisfied with God and God alone.

Let's buy oil... it's really not that hard, yet it is hard work for the wise who choose to buy oil and set their hearts to know and love God as the priority in their lives...

Songs 1:4

"...draw me away, we will run after you..."

Till... each appears before God in Zion

2011-05-09T14:06:00.018+08:00

Psalm 84:4-7

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;

They are ever praising You. Selah

Blessed are those whose strength is in You,

Whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baka,

They make it a place of springs;

The autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength;

Till each appears before God in Zion. (NIV)

Nothing gets us up on our feet and living our lives with focus, better than knowing "WHY-are-we-doing-what-we-are-doing?" and "WHERE-are-we-going?".

Knowing the answers to these questions deep within us sharpens us, aligns us and strengthens us to "what" we are going to do and "how" we will do it. Are we going to just-meet-the-requirements or live our lives with excellence and even beyond the requirements? ... and all out of voluntary love...

It sharpens us because we will be intentional in our efforts in our pursuit of God, with more intensity. David was intentional in his pursuit of God - he sought to go hard after God all the days of his life. His life is marked out by his intentional inquiring of the Lord in all the matters of his courts. He sought out the way of the Lord above the ways of man. Apostle Paul says in Phil 3:12-14, the one thing he does - forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. He is focused on what is ahead and presses in - good days, bad days, mundane days... toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. What discipline! Such passion and doggedness!

It aligns us because we will prioritize our lives accordingly. We will not be caught up with petty issues and will keep on track in running this race. We will rearrange our lives and CHOOSE what is important and what is not. Christian living is measured not over one or two good days or years, but the posture of our hearts, over decades, that keeps saying yes and choosing the good part. Like how Mary of Bethany chose the good part, and put seeking God as the priority all the days in her life.

It strengthens us because God satisfies. Living for God satisfies and gives us joy deep within as we feel the pleasures of God. As we burn for God, doing God-things, staying focused and aligned to Him, it gives us strength. A life lived out of conviction and passion for Jesus is one that is vibrant and never dull. We may get tired physically but inwardly we are renewed day by day.

The Psalmists in Psa. 84 set their heart on pilgrimage - a journey of knowing and loving God, overcoming all odds, until they see God face to face. They overcome it all because they have decided and set their hearts on God and count all things as rubbish for the sake of knowing Him, for the sake of living to see God face to face in Zion. To us, this means a life whose goal is to see Jesus in His second coming, that will transit us from this (earthly) age to the age-to-come (Millenial Kingdom) where He will make all things new and dwell with us, forever...

May we take time to ask ourselves... why are we doing what we are doing... and where are we going? God is inviting us to draw nearer to Him and run further. May we say yes... An invitation, an occupation and our love obsession! of going hard after Him all the days of our lives!

Weak, sincere as we may be... a people whose traits are not what we can do or say, but whose strength is in God, whose only boast is that we know Him intimately... Let's ask for grace for this new season... More of you! Less of me...

There is Joy... by Your side

2011-04-26T00:27:00.006+08:00

As a House of Prayer, we went into a season of seeking the face of God (Hosea 10:12) for 40 days. We were moving forward as a House to a new season and therefore, we wanted to hear specifically from the LORD so that we may align ourselves according to His heart in order to move “from Hebron to Jerusalem”.

As I went about seeking the face of God in solitude, I asked the Lord two questions - "Who are You, Lord?" and "What am I to do?" for we were encouraged to hear God for ourselves as we forge ahead.

On the 35th day, the word of the Lord struck my heart. It gave me courage in the next season ahead. It answered ALL my questions... can't believe it (out of amazement and not so much disbelief)... He did it AGAIN. I just can't believe it that it is so simple for God to 'fix me'. LOL... if you know what I mean. One word from Him settles it and answers all my questions and fears and anxieties...

THE JOURNEY OF THE PAST SEASON

All through this past season, my own report card aka evaluation for myself is one of 50-50. So-so. Hits and misses. Aha-cum-ah-ber-thens. In other words, as I looked back retrospectively, there was not a clear ummph in propelling me to move ahead with confidence - that I have completed what God has in store for me in the past season and moving on with great resolve to the next season.

If I were to paint a picture of myself, it will be one of a person carrying a bag of rocks, holding a walking stick and plodding on despite the dirt-on-the-face and blood-on-my-knees. What a sad state! >_< Maybe a close-up picture would reveal something more encouraging - an unfazed determination to want to keep going, albeit the need to stop and rest and consolidate. It's almost like God saying, "Hey beloved, get rid of the rocks, gear yourself with faith and perhaps you can go higher."

God sees and knows best.

As I sought His face, seeking to inquire of Him and hear God for myself, I faced many "dark night of the soul" moments - depression, uncertainties, fears, anxieties, self-doubts etc etc... Evey time I get down, I just keep getting up, hoping that I will not run out of strength to plod the uphill climb... again and again. I admit I was living in fear... in fear that I would give it all up...all... including God...

God knew and He was not offended, for He knew me...

Perhaps He is allowing all these, so that I would know me...

Whenever I went before the Lord, it was out of the poverty of my spirit. I had no medals to flaunt (God, I read ten chapters today), I had nothing spiritual to say. All I had was a cry in my heart. It was a cry for help. It went on like this for weeks...

And God heard. He hears even the faintest whispers that no one hears, not even ourselves.

"A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench..." ~ Isa 42:3

THE BREAKTHROUGH

It started with a song that I was singing to the Lord. That afternoon, I could hardly read the bible (except out of duty), but I could worship, which I'm thankful for. As I sung the lyrics, I flipped the bible to read up and meditate on it.

"My beloved is white and ruddy,

Chief among ten thousand.

His head is like the finest gold;

His locks are wavy,

And black as a raven." ~ Songs 5:10-11

I never really got past this verse. The word of the Lord so struck my heart that I broke down and responded to Him in tears.

"WHO ARE YOU, LORD?"

Through the verse in Songs 5:10-11, God gave me the assurance that He is DEDICATED and COMMITTED to me. His dedication is His nature, His trademark. Nothing could change that, not even my failings and faithlessness.

It struck my heart because it's all I need to know as I forge ahead. This revelation silences all my anxieties and fears, for if God is dedicated and committed to me, what is there to be afraid of? Who are you o great mountain?

Again in Phil 1:6, we read, "...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.." and in Songs 1:11, "

We will make you ornaments of gold, w

ith studs of silver." i.e. The Triune God is committed to us - both in molding in us the very character of God and our ministries to shine forth in the righteousness of God.

THE JOY AS I FORGE AHEAD

There is an indescribable confidence as I forge ahead - not of myself or what I can do. There are still some (technical) questions here and there but their presence did not leave me doubting or in want. There is a peace deep within that as I continue in this new season, I can face them - ups and downs and come-what-may.

That I may just keep leaning on Him...

May I hold dear what this 40-days of seeking His face has brought. I could do without all that jitters but oh well, the journey's well worth it! For the joy of the revelation of the Lord outweighs all the temporal 'sufferings'.

Truly, there is joy in the House of the Lord!

A SONG UNTO YOU (BY YOUR SIDE)

I want to be

By Your side

I want to be

Close to You, Lord

To hear what's on Your heart

To know what's on Your mind

To hear what's on Your heart

And run with You (by Your side)

For only You, can satisfy

For only You, can see the movements of my heart

For only You, can hear my cry, for more of You

My beloved is mine

My beloved is radiant

He's dazzling and excellent

(He's committed to me)

Open up the door

2011-04-22T00:37:00.001+08:00

My current favorite worship leader!

My favorite chord progression!

C G AM F

Oh if we could only see the Man

With the eyes like a flame of fire

A fire

He is the sign,

He is the wonder

You're fairer

Than the

Sons of men

The Chief

A...mong

Ten thousands

My beloved is mine

My beloved is radiant (ruddy)

He's dazzling and excellent

I believe that there's an open door for me

I believe that You delight in showing mercy

So take me away

To where You are

You are the King of Glory

2011-04-02T13:06:00.003+08:00

C G C G Am F

You are the King of Glory

You are the Lord Almighty

You are the King of Glory

Lord of all

Jesus take Your place in our midst

Jesus take Your place in lives

Jesus take Your place in our midst

We say "Come!"

The Importance of Preparation

2011-03-29T02:51:00.030+08:00

[This story was inspired after hearing from my friend's kid, who is in Primary six now and taking part in inter-school track and field. Hey, I took part in one before too! More than that, the experience was totally unforgettable...]

The $5 "rooster challenge"

In the beginning, there was a rooster...

Well, not a real rooster, but a piggy bank rooster. It stood tall on our form teacher's table, right in front and in the full view of everyone in the class. The rooster was made of transparent plastic and stored all the coins that the pupils in the class had donated since the beginning of semester. It was about two-thirds full of one cent and five cent coins.

I gazed at it one day and challenged myself, "If I win the A-girls individual champion, I'll donate not one cent or five cent, I'll donate $5!!" 'A-girls' means all the girls in Primary 6 in my School.

A few months later, a crisp $5 note sat comfortably in the rooster piggy bank, in the full view of all, especially in the full view of the one grinning from chin to chin, because what she set out to do, she did it! I came in first in my division for 100m, 200m, shot put, high jump and four by one relay. And hey, $5 was quite a big sum for a 11-year-old then.

The after-glow or was it the after-math?

If you think this blog post is to show off the trophy, actually, that's only half of the story... This trophy also reminded me of my subsequent failure, and an important lesson behind it.

After winning the individual champion in my School, I was naturally chosen to represent my School in the inter-school track and field events. I was totally ignorant of the HUGE challenge ahead and did not take the trainings very seriously. Well, I did turn up for the trainings and did my best. Perhaps I wasn't mentally prepared or did not have any exposure to inter-school events to realise the challenge that was ahead of me. I don't have vivid memories of the trainings, which goes to show that these trainings did not really matter big time to me. Sigh... ignorance is not always bliss >_<

That fateful day came. I took part in the 200m heats. The energy I felt at the event that day was tremendous. Ok, I'm talking about the energy around me, not that I just drank some energy drink or something O_o The athletes were so... were so... in good shape and full of confidence. They have that look of "this is it - the day I've been training for". I felt so out of place! I must be out of my mind and lost sight that it's a competition I was going for, not a walk-a-jog funamania. I think I was defeated even before I started running...

After the gun shot, I ran with all my heart, only to see my fellow competitors fly past me. I think I vomited after the run. Too much pressure and too much butterflies.. >_<

Turning failures into lessons

Yes, I totally flopped. The champion flopped.

Curtain.

Oh, it's not over yet... I must reflect and glean lessons from it. "I did prepare for the race what...", I pondered... But yes, I realised I did not prepare in a way to win the prize. I did the 'sloppy' preparation of turning up and thinking I am preparing but really I'm just going through motion...I took it way too casually... I did not train in a way to win the prize!! The training is the hard work, but the greater challenge was my mentality and outlook towards the competition...

There is something called, "it's too late". What can I do on the day of the race when I am so ill-prepared in the face of the challenge? Can't go back in time and salvage myself... I can only learn from it and do better the next time. I was given time to prepare yet I did not treasure it. Ok, learn and move on with greater resolve and wisdom!

Learning forward...

The extent such lessons hit me is the extent I will learn, do something about my life as I move forward. If I still don't get it or gloss over it, or worse, justify and push the responsibility to others (the sun was too hot, my leg was painful, the coach is too laid back etc), I will surely face the "it's too late" realities again. If I live my life numb to "it's too late" realities, it will be akin to drinking poison myself but hoping someone else will die from it!

Interesting how simple life experiences can dish out nuggets of truth... if only we learn and take heed... As we grow older, we do not have many more years to learn... the window of life gets narrower and narrower.... we can't count on 'next time will be better' because we lose some things (possessions, relationships, opportunities) permanently in the course of it... Some losses can't be reversed... So may we give our best in every situation! 8-)

Time passes by quickly. Events come and go. It is human to forget and get drowned in the hustle and bustle of life. I guess that's why some people are not so mature as they should be at their age because they let life's precious lessons pass by them without really learning. They will need to be responsible when one day they realise it all, if that day comes at all. Perhaps they might say, "How come no one told me so?" or "I should have known better..." or perhaps they are just happy to settle with a 'primary-six-trophy-mentality' and not reach higher.

Whenever I see a rooster piggy bank, may it be a kind reminder to myself of life's precious lessons- that of preparation- to live my life in a way to win the prize!

Until You come... how long?

2011-03-29T01:37:00.004+08:00

One year...

I remember the day when my cell group leader challenged me to pray about taking up a leadership role in my church. We were sitting on a double-deck bus and she popped the question. I gave her the classic goldfish-eyed look. Who me? I cleared my throat and ensuring no disrespect in the tone of my voice, I replied,"Oh if you need help to organise events, I could help..." (I thought I stood out in her eyes because I was the one who would organise outings lah, makan lah etc). I paused, leaning to hear her response. Did she just said what she said?

Smiling and in all calmness, she repeated, "no, no, I'm talking about challenging you to rise up to be a leader." I squirmed in my seat and gulped. After some talking through and praying, I said a feeble yes. Afterall, there were two other interns who said yes and jumping into this with me. I'm not alone! >_< I went through formal internship classes and if I remember correctly, I was put to lead even before my internship classes were over, as the cell group was "too pregnant" with eager members =D

We multiplied from two groups into three groups. The cell leaders graduated from campus ministry and moved on. Three green green cell leaders said yes, rose up and led the newly formed groups. What a blast!

Two years... and then Five years...

So I led the cell group for two years... when it was time to graduate, they needed more manpower, or so I thought :p. I was challenged to be a cell supervisor. I still remember sitting at the sofa seats at YIH. My pastor talked to me about rising up to be a cell supervisor and shared his heart for the campus ministry. I listened intently and remembered asking him a crucial question on my heart...

I said, "But I do not have a calling, is that ok?" He asked me, "Do you have a heart for the people? for the young undergraduates?" I brightened up. I said yes and was quite relieved that this works too - that I don't have to have a 'calling' - I guess I was still growing as a believer and couldn't quite figure out this calling thingy. Sometimes calling is as simple as having a heart for where God wants you to be...

It was something to say yes to one or two years... it's quite something to say yes to five years of commitment to serve. I prayed and thought about it VERY seriously.

Until You come...

Well, my past encounters with the one year, two years and then five years sorta prepared me for what I am into now. Sorta...

The time frame now is not one year, not two or five years, but until Jesus comes... not leadership or internship - but becoming... becoming the Bride of Christ before Jesus my coming Bridegroom God, son of God before God the Father, engaging my heart in intimacy-based intercession as a House of Prayer... for I was made to relate with God and partner with Him... I can't get over this! I was made to relate with God and partner with Him... I can't get over this!! I was made to relate with God and partner with Him...

That's it. And I'm going for it! May I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus...

Go Higher

2011-03-29T01:07:00.003+08:00

I was tossing and turning... on my feet... thinking over the issues of a friend. In the midst of the grasping and pondering, I heard a still small voice prompting me... "go higher"...

Truly this is the lesson I am to learn through what I see. Before I sink myself to the point of drowning myself in people's issues - people I care so much for - God whispered into my heart... go higher...

Got obstacles? Got trials? Don't stoop so low and so fight for your own rights. Take a step back... and go higher... not so much sweeping things under the carpet, but learning to carry one's heart.

O Lord, teach me Your ways I pray... and to You who can touch even the coldest and hardest of all hearts with Your love, I cast all my cares...

A Voice crying out of the wilderness

2011-03-23T15:15:00.004+08:00

Did you know.. the text of chapter 40 of the Book of Isaiah (Isa. 40:3) corresponds to the text of the 40th book of the Bible, which is the first book of the New Testament (Matthew 3:1)

Isaiah 40:3 -
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

“ Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God." "

Matthew 3:1 -
"In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘ Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’”

These are the words spoken by John the Baptist who announced the coming of the Kingdom of God and the Gospel.

WOW!!!

Can't get over this...

2011-03-23T09:42:00.009+08:00

The God who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him (Zech 12:1) ... He wants to show you what is on His heart... He wants to share with you what He is thinking about...

Can you get over this?

The Lord GOD says He would do nothing, that's right, nothing... unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7) I suppose God is looking for people who would hear His voice and be courageous enough to speak it forth. Why? Because God wants us to know! We can know! He wants many many of us to know! Prophets are people who would speak forth what is on God's heart.

We see God's heart, once again, in Jeremiah 3:15, written in the context of the last days where He wants to make known His hearts, His ways, His thoughts to us by raising up shepherds according to His heart - "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."

Have we seriously thought about what this means? God wants us to know!!! We can know!!

To those who would take God and His word seriously, He shares the secret of His heart. (Psalm 25:14) Can you just imagine that a divine God wants to show you what is deep in His heart, His thoughts... 1Cor 2:9-10 makes it even clearer:

“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.

CAN YOU GET OVER THIS???

"...in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets." (Rev. 10:7) The LORD mighty in battle, the sovereign One who sits on the throne and reigns over all, shares every of His thoughts and plans with earthlings...

CAN YOU GET OVER THIS??????????????????????

To me, this is ultimate... In Gen 18:17, "..the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing..." God, that you would say, 'shall I hide from [fill in your own name here] what I am doing..."

Blown away.....

Five Questions Forerunners need to answer in the last days...

2011-03-21T00:44:00.005+08:00

1) Who is Jesus at His second coming? Psalm 2:10-12

We need to develop understanding of who Jesus is so that we will welcome Him and not resist Him (out of ignorance).

2) Why is the judgment of God so severe?

In Matt 24:6, Jesus says that "these things must come to pass..." and many will die through the tribulation in the End-Times (Rev. 6:8; 9:15). We cannot 'pray these away'. Do we understand why the judgment of God is so severe?

3) How does God administer His justice?

Do we know the way of God as the righteous Judge and thus partner with Him?

4) What does God want (as He shakes the nations in the last days)? Haggai 2:6-9

Are our lives aligned to what God wants and is looking for? God will use the least severe means of judgment (shake all that can be shaken) to bring about the greatest amount of revival on earth (turning to Him).

5) What will happen to the Church? Can we endure?

There will be great deception and tribulation and revival in the last days. Isaiah 2 talks about the glory and the terror of the day - glory for the saints (overcomers in Christ) who stand with God, and terror for those who are not on God's side. There will be great demonstration of God's power (Joel 2:23, 28-32; Hosea 6:2-3). Will we stand?

Thank You for giving to the Lord... I am a life... that is blessed!

2011-03-03T00:17:00.003+08:00

A heartfelt tribute...to the people who came, who stayed, who stayed, who stayed... and made a difference! All of us need friends and family who stick by us, work through with us, and yes, endure with us in the ugliest moments of human imperfections, or should I say earthly untimeliness... whatever...

Blessed is he who has a friend, for he has struck toto!... i mean, for he has found gold... Here are some of my favourite friend-verses: Proverbs 27:6 - "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."; Proverbs 18:24 - "...But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

// A certain prophet reminded us to honour you. Many were spurred to action... for love without deeds, what for? Some gave you a water bottle, others offered loving hugs. I stood at one corner of the room and kept the word close to my heart. God, I asked, and kept asking at various junctures all these years, “Show me how to honour her..again and again...”

It was not difficult to see that you are one who loves God dearly, for He opened my eyes to see what only He could see most clearly. And He said, “She is the one who loves Me, and she loves those I love, that includes you!” And so I know you love me... more than words can show, more than actions can tell. Today, and every time I lift up my heart to praise Him for you... I honour you, for you are the one who loves God. I honour and thank you, for loving God and me, and I am one who is blessed!

We have our ups and downs, sometimes not fully being understood. Yet before the clothes get dry in the sun (aka issues resolved), I could feel the love in your heart beaming through you...For you are one who loves God and loves the ones He loves. Thank you!

// You ever told me I meant a lot to you. I never really fully understood what you meant. I guessed I just accepted it and feel gleeful, for I believed your words. Really! Why should I doubt... You are not a chummy sort of friend, and I would even sometimes, as I shared with you candidly, find it hard to relate with you. One moment chatty, one moment sitting beside me and shutting your eyes to rest. At times it’s perplexing, but I just know that I’m going to miss all these traits about you that just make you who you are, if you ever stop being just who you are (I know you won’t change :)

In your household, there is a king, and you are the subject =D (internal joke). Both of you have an one-of-a-kind love story – one that we often relate to in that comic strip. I remembered both of you came up with a love project to bless some of us (see photo!). Your husband proudly told us, “My wife sewed those buttons, couldn’t be me!” He added smugly, “I did the words.” I cherished this gift, even after all these years, for our loving God is still completing the good work in me. He surely has a huge storehouse of buttons for a sheep like meeee! Thank you, and I do remember and am grateful for times you hanged around to talk and cry with...

// Usually one would have the least to say to the one whom you are closest to. So that explains why every paragraph gets shorter and shorter. If you are king David, perhaps I’ll would want to sign up to be one of those mighty men around you. Mighty men don’t need to talk too much. They just do it and think nothing of it. No big deal. Erm, so far, my hit list is full of duh-stunts and nothing near to mighty deeds... someday...someday...Thanks for staying true to God’s calling in your life, and not giving any partial treatment to us but honing us as God would for we are God’s.

To all of you, thanks for staying in the ‘heat of the pan’. You are like the pillars that did what you did because you stayed true to what God has called you, by His grace! I’m one who is blessed. Thank you!

I Will Pour My Love

2011-02-25T12:06:00.007+08:00

[Every time when my voice can't hit the challenging notes in the songs I want to sing, God puts a new melody in my heart, a new song on my lips... You did it again! You are my song!]

C Em F G7

I will pour my love

I will pour my love... on You

This is my song

I'll meet You there

In the secret place

Hear Your voice

And see Your face

Draw me away

Understand the Purpose of God for Egypt (Isaiah 19)

2011-02-19T01:23:00.005+08:00

What a blast!

I had such a good time at the teaching session at the House of Prayer yesterday. I was one of the victims of the flu virus and drugged with a cold tablet. I geared myself up to take in whatever I can despite my screen saver mode cum oh-come-on-it's-been-a-week-since-I've-been-coughing-when-am-I-going-to-get-well-mode... O_o Furthermore, I must admit I am pretty detached from the topic that was going to be shared - erm... God's purpose for... Egypt... There's been much news about Egypt in the media and I happen to be one of those who couldn't engage my heart with what's going on there. To me, it was "one of those political stuff" - not that I am apathetic about the situation, but I just can't seem to get it, let alone be affected by it or pray for them. And I repent!

I need to get the teaching CD to the Senior Writer to write an article on it...

Here are some lessons I gleaned from the teaching:

* It's about God's will and what He is doing... not just about Egypt or my one-week cough..

* Are we concerned about our Heavenly Father's business first and foremost?

* Getting the order right - seek to know God's big plan and fit our lives/ministries/career/etc around it. Revelation -> Alignment -> (more) Revelation -> (more) Alignment... and it goes on..

* God has set many things in place since the beginning of time and He Himself is going to make it happen!! It's awesome! assuring! totally cool! Egypt's gonna play a major part in God's End-Time plan (ultimate fulfilment of Isaiah 19) and what's happening now could be a partial fulfilment and we need to pray for God's will be done in Egypt!

* Now this is something:

- Egypt is the most talked about gentile nation in the End-Time

(which means God wants us to pay attention to this).

- The Scripture has the most number of biblical End-Time prophecies about Egypt.

(Why? Simply because, I repeat, Egypt is going to play a major part in God's End-Time plan! And what does this mean for us - the church/people of God in Singapore? We need to seek understanding and partner with God in prayer to bring it to pass! I skip any elaboration here on why God needs us earthlings to pray...)

* Throughout history (time of Joseph, Abraham, Moses, Joseph), Egypt has ALWAYS stood with Israel. Gen 12:10, Gen 46, Matt. 2:13-15, Acts 3, Deut. 18.

* In modern day Egypt, we see them standing with Israel.

* In the End-Time (final 7 years of human history before Jesus' return), which is the context for Isaiah 19, Egypt will provide a place of refuge for Israel! There will be 5 cities of refuge and Houses of Prayer in Egypt set up for such a time as this! Isa.19:18-19

* And because of Egypt's faithfulness (behind it all is all God's doing!), Egypt is going to be the FIRST nation to turn completely to Jesus and FIRST nation to enter into the Millenial Kingdom! Now this is ultimate!!!!

* On a more sober note... Egypt will go through really really tough times, in standing with and defending Israel. In the End-Times, antichrist will overcome Egypt (God allows that to refine her - it's called redemptive discipline) and Egypt will come under the temporary rule of antichrist for a period of time (God allows it. Yes, you get the point). Dan.11:32, 40-45. All these must happen so as to prepare Egypt for her End-Time purposes.

* The sober note is the realisation that the higher the destiny God has for you, the greater the refiner's fire will come your way. Gulps.

* Isa.19:1-15 talks about the negatives of God's plan for Egypt - God's redemptive discipline on Egypt so as to prepare her for her End-Time purposes.

* Isa. 19:16-25 talks about the positives of God's plan for Egypt - there are 5 "in that day" prophetic declaration of Egypt... can't wait to internalise this and start praying for them!

If this has set you wanting to know more, email OneThingMinistries@yahoo.com.sg to get hold of the teaching recording! Or watch this space for an article on this!

Of Incense, hope and love...

2011-02-14T13:51:00.004+08:00

Smoke filled the air... I peeked out of my window and saw pockets of people burning incense at the void deck near where I lived. I hurriedly closed the windows a little bit more to avoid the smell from sticking on to my clothes that I just brought out to dry.

As the smell of burning incense drifted into my house, I thought of the days I participated in these very same routine - how I would help my granny with all the preparations and just as any kid, watch in excitement as I watch all that stuff burn. Whenever my granny was not watching, I would throw in a few branches and leaves to keep the fire burning. What a sight!

Although I observed this tradition of burning incense and offering food sacrifices, I was often curious why my granny did what she did. These experiences opened my eyes to how humans relate to their gods. Some do it out of fear - better believe in it than not believe in it. Some do it for blessings and protection. Others do it out of gratitude to their gods. While some others follow the tradition in a hope for better days to come.

My granny has since passed on for almost 30 years now... When I encountered Jesus in my life in my JC days, I felt that I was betraying my granny if I were to follow not-her-god, for she loved me. My friend assured me that if my granny loved me, she would support me in the decisions that I would make in my life. With that, it freed me to make that personal choice to follow Jesus. Since then, I never looked back.

Years on as a Christian, I realised more and more that the practices that come with each faith often becomes a religious routine if we do it without understanding the heart of it. If our faith spells a conviction, come rain or shine (both literally and figuratively), we will still do it. If our faith becomes a convenient good-to-have faith, we will only do it when it is convenient to us (aka we become our own god). The key is to have a heart-check and do something about it.

As the smell of incense burning subsides, I opened my window wide to let in some fresh air. As I breathed in deeply, I reminded myself that the next time I offer up incense to my God, in worship and prayer, may I quieten my heart in solitude as I engage it with God's heart, seeking understanding - His ways, His thoughts... and walk in it. After all, what does God require of us... "but to revere the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it..." Deuteronomy 10:12-14

Who is this?

2011-01-28T09:14:00.005+08:00

Dm C Dm B

Verse

Who is this

Coming out of the wilderness

Dm B

Leaning on her beloved

Chorus

Dm C

Her eyes are fixed on Him

Dm B

Her eyes are fixed on Him

Dm C

Her eyes are fixed on Him

She is unstoppable

(She is immovable... in love)

Bridge

Dm C

With a seal in her heart

And a seal on her arm

She's risin' up

We Wait for You (Shekinah Glory Come)

2011-01-27T09:15:00.002+08:00

We wait for you

So walk in the room

Here we are standing in your presence

Shekinah glory come down

Here we are standing in your presence

Shekinah glory come down

C G

Release the fullness of your Spirit

Skeinah glory come

Shekinah glory come

C G

Release the fullness of your Spirit

Skeinah glory come

Shekinah glory come

When you move, we want more

And when you speak, we want more

When you move, we want more

We want the fullness

When you move, we want more

And when you speak, we want more

When you move, we want more

We want the fullness

I AM

2011-01-25T14:00:00.000+08:00

[Sometime last year, I gave myself a goal to read the book of Revelation once through every three or four months... to be more familiarized with what is written in it and take heed to what God says in Rev. 1:3. Yet I find myself revisiting the book 'before time's up' to read it again. I reckon I have much slack to cut and want to instead fill my mind with scenes in the book of Revelation and let the Spirit of God direct my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I'm humbled to say that my current favorite book in the bible is the book of Revelation... So if you see me spacing out, it could be that my mind is stayed on some scenes that are depicted in the book... It's captivating! Best Director! Best picture! Totally fascinated! More than filling my mind with the word, I pray it will overflow within and out of me, resulting in understanding, clarity, boldness to testify of my Jesus and grace in taking heed to what is written in this book...]

Scene 1

Director: Holy Spirit

Cast: Yaweh God, Jesus, Holy Spirit

John, angel of God who showed John the things which must take place

Passage reading: Rev. 1:1-8

Meditation: Why did John speak of the One who sent Him before he went on to tell the seven churches what must shortly take place? This reveals God's heart... He wants us to know the One who is about to bring to pass the things that are about to take place...

(Narrator reads...)

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.

And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."

(Narrator pauses and prays)

"Oh Lord, give to me the revelation of Jesus Christ, just as You gave John...clarity and understanding of Jesus Christ and what is on His heart... the things that will shortly take place... give me grace as I bear witness to Your word, as I testify of Jesus Christ, as I testify to all things that You would reveal to us! I say yes..."

(Narrator ponders...)

John was not in a hurry to tell the churches "the things that are shortly to take place" as we read in Rev.1:1 that he was commissioned to do. Instead, he first gave glory to the One who has sent him. In today's language, it's almost like hearing John saying excitedly, "You know who sent me? Oh I am so in awe that I must first tell of the One who told me all these things! You must know Him!" John spoke of the Father who is and was and is to come, the Spirit of God and Jesus Christ:

From GOD (the Father)...

WHO IS (He exists in the present, His name is Yahweh, as revealed in Exodus 3:14) AND WHO WAS (He has always existed throughout the past) AND WHO IS TO COME (He will always exist throughout the future...

and from the SEVEN SPIRITS

or, the sevenfold Holy Spirit, who is before (God’s) throne in Heaven...In Isaiah 11:2, Holy Spirit is described as “The Spirit of Yahweh, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the spirit of the fear (reverence and spiritual intimacy) of Yahweh.”

and from JESUS CHRIST (the Messiah)...

THE FAITHFUL WITNESS

THE FIRSTBORN OF THE DEAD - He is the first – and, so far, the only – human being to be raised from death to immortality; see 1 Corinthians 15:20

AND THE RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
TO HIM (Jesus) WHO LOVES US (see 1 John 4:10)

AND WASHED US FROM OUR SINS (see Psalm 130:8 and Titus 3:5)

BY HIS (Jesus’ own) BLOOD (his death on the cross)

AND HE (Jesus) MADE US (Christians) TO BE A KINGDOM, PRIESTS TO (serve) HIS (Jesus’) GOD AND FATHER

TO HIM (Jesus) BE THE GLORY AND THE DOMINION (the authority to rule the world) FOREVER AND EVER

BEHOLD (This word means “Look!”), HE (Jesus) IS COMING (back to Earth) WITH THE CLOUDS

AND EVERY EYE WILL SEE (and recognize) HIM, INCLUDING THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM, ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN OVER HIM

Revelation 1:8

“I AM THE ALPHA (the first letter of the Greek alphabet) AND THE OMEGA (the last

letter of the Greek alphabet),” SAYS THE LORD (Yahweh) GOD, “WHO IS AND WHO WAS

AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY (El Shaddai).”

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

More Than Words...

2011-01-21T15:49:00.002+08:00

[How do we carry our hearts when we come into God's presence? If we are 'God-struck', we will realise that there is no song and there are no words that can aptly bring across what we really want to sing or say. It is out of this 'God-struck-ness' that this song is written..]

G Em C Am G D

Verse 1

I come into Your courts

Looking for a song I can bring

A song I can sing to You

I come into Your courts

Longing to draw near to You

And see You face to face

Chorus 1

More than words

You look into my heart

My heart that's deep within

More than words

Is there a song I can bring

A song I can sing to You

Repeat Verse 1

Chorus 2

More than words

You are looking at my heart

My heart that's deep within

More than words

You are all that I want

Lord have Your way in me

Chorus 3

More than what my hands can bring

You are looking at my heart

My heart that's deep within

More than what Your blessings may bring

You are all that we want

Lord have Your way in me

Bridge

Until the day breaks

And the shadows flee

I will wait

Until the day breaks

And the shadows flee

I will pray (cry out to You...)

Verse 2

So I lean on Your love

And rest in Your grace for me

Your grace that is sufficient for me

And I lean on Your love

For You will never leave

You watch over me

Chorus 4

More than words

I give my heart to You

Take this offering

More than words

This is my pledge to You

I will love You Lord

If...

2011-01-18T14:16:00.011+08:00

[In the secret, in the quiet, He sees, He knows... oh how our hearts are so prone to leaving the God we love... Yet no matter how many times we find ourselves at God's feet in sincere repentance, He receives us, for He knows the frailty of men. Yet He has given all things, all power, all authority to those who hope in Him, that we may be like Him, reign with Him and be with Him now and through all eternity... This is our hope... This is our God... more than words can express, this is a psalm from my heart, this is my offering...]

If my heart is a muscle

I want to engage it

With the Spirit of God

To train it, to hone it

To love what God loves

To hate what God hates

That it may beat after God's heartbeat

That it may endure the afflictions life may bring

That it may burn for You continuously through all seasons

Selah

If You are my God

I want to know

What's on Your heart, what's on Your mind

To be close

To be near

To lean and be just at Your side

That I may love You more and more

That I may run with You

That wherever You are, there I'll be...

Selah

If I am Yours

I want to agree

I want to say yes

To Your ways

To Your plans

To Your destiny for me

That I may shine for You

That all may see

That all may know... You are my God

Selah

If we are to be together in eternity

I'll wait in expectation

Yearning and hastening... the day of our wedding day to come...

To Him my eyes will gaze upon

To Him my heart will sing

To Him alone I will offer up my life

That when He returns, He'll find me faithful

That when He comes back, He'll lift me up

That we'll be together through all eternity...

Ask for the Fire

2011-01-11T11:37:00.007+08:00

Love is an innate nature in us - the ability to love and receive love. That's how we are wired. Just as we grow up biologically from a babe to a teenager and then to a young adult and so on, how do we grow on the inside of us? The diet for the babe and adult is different. Stay with me on this... cos many of us, including myself, take for granted that things on the inside of us grow 'automatically'. It's got to be intentional. Can you imagine that as an adult, we still eat baby's food? We got to change and move on to solid food, and thus grow physically. In the same vein, can we grow in the Lord on the inside of us if we still drink (spiritual) milk and reject solid food? (Heb. 5:12-14)

Has love matured in us? There is one divine way to mature this love. Lovers know this well. When they go through the trials / fires of life, can their love withstand? Does their love get stronger or simply fall apart? The key lies in how we face the fire and 'use' it go higher and grow stronger, both as a person and as lovers. Some things have to go, some things stay, some things change. But most of all, this love grows, and matures... like wine... it gets better!

When I think of asking for the fire of God to refine this love in me (for Him), I think of myself as the clay in His hands. May I stay in the centre of the potter's wheel, in the centre of His will, as He lovingly shapes me and mold me. May I cry out like the Shulamite woman in Songs 4:16 - asking for the north wind (winds of testing) and south wind (winds of God's refreshing and sustaining grace through it all), that love may mature in me, that I may live a life pleasing to God, a fragrant offering to Him, transformed by His grace...

C Am F G7

Verse 1:

You are the Potter

And I am the clay of Your hands

So come and mold me

Mold me and make me like You

Chorus:

(So come and) Test me, Refine me

With Consuming Fire Lord

Till I'm pure and holy

Set apart for You

Till I'm pure and holy

Transformed by Your grace

Bridge:

You are a good good God

Your boundary lines have fallen

On pleasant places

You are a good good God

This heart of mine

Will trust in You

Verse 2:

You are the Potter

And I am clay of Your hands

I am Yours

I belong to You...

Come seal me, seal me

Seal me with Your love

(I never want to be apart from You..)

The Great Need of This Hour...

2011-01-11T11:01:00.004+08:00

[I'm looking forward to a Seminar on "The Great Need of This Hour". It's going to be a condensed version of a series of 3 messages - People who Understand the Times; Hear what the Spirit is saying; What the Spirit is saying about the Church. We are getting the full blast of the extended version at the teachings on Fridays now... Full blast indeed... it's the kind of message that causes your heart to tremble. A good kind of trembling...

I'm praying that I will respond in faith and not just stop at the trembling and erm... hide... or get in a frenzy of sorts.. or worse, internally running away (cos it's gonna to be hard or impossible in my sight) yet externally functional as a believer... know what I am talking about? Oh how I want to overcome my weaknesses...May I burn and shine in such times - a feat that is only possible if I keep looking at God, not at myself or what I can do... Give me dove eyes! Give me understanding! clarity! courage! strength in my inner man... that even when there is fear, I have the courage and utterance to speak!]

CP: Am F C G

Verse:

Your word has striked my heart

And I tremble

Pre-chorus:

And I looked within myself and I stumble

And I looked within myself and I fall

So I lift my eyes to You in the heavens

And I lift my voice to You and I cry...

Chorus 1:

Your grace is sufficient

Your love sustains me

I gaze upon Your beauty

And my mind it stays on You

(And my eyes they're fixed on You)

Bridge:

Until until... Your word lives in me

Until until... Your love burns in me (wholeheartedly)

Chorus 2:

I will love You Lord

With all my heart

I will love You Lord

With all my soul

I will love You Lord

With all my strength

This is my pledge

Come reign in me

This is my pledge

Take all of me

Your grace is sufficient for me, for me...

I'm Coming Back...

2011-01-06T09:38:00.008+08:00

[My favorite parable for many years.... the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15.. a scene so poignant... a love of a waiting God that so touched my heart... To me, it captures the essence of our loving God who never gives up on us. Not only that, He waits for us to return to Him... When this truth enters deep within my heart, it allows me to let go of people and circumstances knowing that God does not give up on them (so must I), knowing that He not only does not give up on us when we stray away, but He waits for us... wow! He waits for us with a heart burning for us and longs for us to return...]

You must be waiting for me

With eyes looking out for me

You must be longing for me

With a heart that's burning deep within

I remembered Your love

Your love for me

And I arise

And find my way to You

(Chorus)

So I'm coming back

I'm coming back

I'm coming

To Your arms of love

I'm coming back

To Your loving embrace

Jesus, my First Love

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

You must be waiting for me

With eyes looking out for me

You must be longing for me

With a heart that's burning deep within

And from afar

You saw me return

With a heart of compassion

You stretched wide Your arms

(Chorus)

And You ran to me

And embrace me with love

And You ran to me

And restored with joy

You took all my shame

And received me by Your grace...

Closer. Nearer. Deeper. Higher.

2011-01-03T14:42:00.009+08:00

Zechariah 3: 7

“Thus says the LORD of hosts:

‘ If you will walk in My ways,
And if you will keep My command,

Then you shall also judge My house,
And likewise have charge of My courts;
I will give you places to walk
Among these who stand here."

Many of us want to encounter God, experience His power and authority, receive revelation of Him and what is in His heart. That is good. Yet we often overlook that there are pre-requisites to these blessings. Not that God is being bureaucratic or particular (I'm speaking in human terms). There is a divine protocol in entering into God's heart that He taught us in the Scriptures. The book of Esther is an excellent example of how Esther (bride of Christ and/or individual believer), went into seasons of preparation before she entered into the courts of the King (God).

The preparation process teaches us about two things - firstly, we need to prepare, and secondly, there is only one way - God's way and not our ways...

In every of God's invitation for us to grow in Him, He has provided a way through His word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Have you heard His invitation and prompting? If yes, open your eyes, ears and heart to seek His face and the "how to's", for the answers to that are right there for the ones who search Him out...God is once again inviting us to a higher level of knowing Him. He wants to give us a greater authority and power in our ministry and lead us to divine encounters that will empower us to grow from faith to faith, from strength to strength... for His glory.. until we see Him face to face...

Zechariah 3:7 gives us a glimpse of the pre-requisites of experiencing God and having more of Him in our lives - "if you will walk in My ways, if you will keep my command..". To those who seek to walk in His ways and keep His commands, He will give unto them these blessings: judge My house (partner with God in leading in matters pertaining to the worship of God) ; have charge of My courts (function as priests in the house of the Lord, like the sons of Zadok in Ezk. 44:15-16) ; places to walk (angelic / divine encounters).

An invitation from God for partnership is a privilege and honor. Yet it wows our human hearts because we do not have anything to offer Him except for what He has first given to us, yes, even this life that we live.. Will you say yes to walking in all of His ways and keeping His commands... they are for our good... Worship Him!

CLOSER... NEARER...

C Am F G7

To be close

To be near

And know what's on Your mind

To be close

To be near

And feel what's on Your heart

I want to seek Your face

Seek Your face

And go hard after You

I just want to hear Your voice

You are my joy

You are my (great) reward

So I stand in Your courts

Watch & Pray

I stand in Your courts

Rising as Your voice

So draw me away

Draw me away

Just You and me

to the secret place

I want to be with You

Jesus draw me closer... nearer....

DEEPER... HIGHER...

C Em Am F G

What is this longing in my heart

That only You can satisfy

It is longing for more

It is burning for You

There is a place I'm searching for

Where I will see You face to face

And draw near to You

Dwell in Your courts... and behold

F G7 Am Em

(Chorus)

You have captured my heart

I am in love once again

Take me deeper in love with You

You have shown me Your face

I am never the same

Take me higher O Lord

Am F Am G7

(Bridge)

I will walk in all Your ways

And go where You lead

I will walk in all Your ways

And follow You...

Until the day breaks...

2010-12-22T17:54:00.003+08:00

Until the day breaks
Until the shadows flee away
I will go my way
To the mountain of myrrh

Until the day breaks
Until the shadows flee away
I will go my way
To the hill of frankincense

I will sing the songs
That awakens the dawn
And I will usher in Your appearing

It is Your face that I crave
And it’s Your presence that I long for
Your Kingdom come!

With Your seal on my heart
Stronger than the grave
Set me ablaze!

And from the ends of the earth
We hear this song
Glory to the Righteous One

And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come!

And we say come....

Until the day breaks
Until the Day I see Your face
I will go my way
To the mountain of myrrh

You said it. We believe it. Come!

2010-12-22T17:17:00.003+08:00

[The pre-requisite of saying this prayer 'Come', as I later come to realise, is a divine dissatisfaction that only God can put in open hearts. For how can one ask of God's presence to come unless 1. We know that it's what God says He'll do 2. We are totally dissatisfied, utterly inconsolable until His Word comes to pass...]

You said You would come

And so we wait

You said You would break in

And so we tarry in expectation

We lay hold of Your promise

And seek You early in the morning

We lift up our heads to You

And sing a new song to You late in the night

You said You would come

We believe... Selah

You said You would break in

So we press in with one accord

Casting off every weight

And sin that so easily entangles

Running this race

Fixing our eyes on Jesus

When we grow weary and faint

When we lose sight of You in the waiting

He who holds the seven stars in His hands

Holds our hearts

Ever Faithful

Ever True

This shall be my confidence

You said it, we believe it

Come, Holy Spirit, come

Break in

Why not now

Why not here

Come like You've never come before

Let Your glory fall

Let Your presence come and bear fruit

And not return to You void

Until the day breaks

And the shadows flee away

I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh

And to the hill of frankincense..

Am I Destined for Greatness?

2010-12-09T13:57:00.006+08:00

I get inspired whenever I hear anecdotes of people whom I look up to as successful. They've been there, done that and made it and are telling their stories, again and again. And each time, there's just this zest in them that you wonder where that came from, and stay amazed at what keeps them going.

In each of our worlds, we all have different heroic figures from whom our constant source of motivation comes from. Some we know personally, some we hear about them from afar. Some are still alive, some have departed. Be it near or from a distance, they are the ones who have blazed the trails for many to take courage and follow suit, to lay it all aside and pursue no-matter-what.

Have you ever wondered... were they destined for success and greatness right at the start? Have you thought... how about me? Am I destined for greatness? Could that be even possible?

No qualms that our heroic figures have worked hard, perhaps harder than most people to become who they are today. In our world view, they seem to just have it - that can-do attitude and never-say-die doggedness, honed through the numerous episodes of failures and hard knocks. Some secretly wished to have these traits overnight, or better still, just in their genes. I confess I do! Yet how wrong we are if we think that such an overcoming mentality and outlook can be simply inherited or easily gained!

In non-fiction book written by Malcolm Gladwell entitled Outliers: The Story of Success, Gladwell examines the factors that contribute to high levels of success. Throughout the publication, he repeatedly mentions the "10,000-Hour Rule", claiming that the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours.

Granted that hard work and endurance are the main ingredients in the recipe for success... In the same vein, I am of the opinion that it is not the outcome that makes one great or successful; it is the pursuit and setting of the heart for greatness that gives one the sparkle in their eye, the spring in their steps and a countenance that turns heads. For if the pursuit and setting of the heart is there, it's a matter of time the fruit of the labor comes... don't you think so?

Although one may not be another Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I believe there are many unsung heroes who stand in the hall of fame, relentlessly pursuing their greatest potential. We can't quench or deny the desire to be great, to be successful, each in our own right, for that is how we are created. Dismissing the desire to be great will cause one to live life without zeal and thus go through motion in life. Life without a zeal... living-dead...that's not how it's supposed to be!

We are great when we are passionate about something and go hard after it - be it a goal in life or a dream. For believers of God, the fact that we can love God and continue to love Him makes us great. Think about it... we are successful if in our lives we love God wholeheartedly! For that is what we are made for - loving God... If you really understand this, it will propel you to love God even more!

Yes, we are all destined for greatness... Do you have a passion in your life? Find it, go for it and live it.

Carpe Diem!

Friendships

2010-12-06T15:15:00.005+08:00

One can have many friends, family members, business associates in their life. Yet alone. Does this thought strike a chord in you? Many numbers in your contact list, many friends in your FB account, many emails to check in a day... yet the feeling is not as buzzing as it should be. Perhaps people around put on a mask when relating to people... Just functional... superficial...So I asked myself - do I use my true heart when I relate with people around me?

Sometimes people put on a guarded heart. Not because they want to, but because they think they have to. Perhaps they have used their true heart before and people have not cherished it or even trampled over it. That's why they need the space for their wounded heart. It's safer to relate with people at a distance, at least they do not get hurt, yet they may not experience true hearts around them, including their own... but they'll choose the 'safer' choice or so they think?

Time passed... have hearts healed? Perhaps it's not time that'll heal... Perhaps we need a right perspective about carrying our hearts and growing friendships... Friendships don't always go the way we hope they'll go, or do they?

With some, it takes 10 days to strike up a good friendship. With others, the friendship stays at a functional or superficial level even after 10 years... yet with some others, despite the silence of 10 years, the hearts still connect at a perchance moment...

So do I continue trying, putting in the effort to make friends and make existing friendships grow? I remember someone telling me... in friendships, one should not be 'calculative' on how much each other has given to the friendship...in relationships, it's about giving and receiving, with open hearts. I guess that's true... how to quantify expressions from the heart? Also, sometimes friendships go through a journey... they hit at 'cap' or reach a stalemate at some point in time, and may or may not progress from there.

If we measure friendship from what we can get from people, we may be disappointed. If we measure friendship with the extent people have poured out despite all our human imperfections, we should be contented. If we measure friendship with how far we can go in this journey of friendship, I'd rather not think about it... for who knows?

So what is my resolve and what is my conclusion?

I asked myself... When I'm happiest and saddest, who would I want to talk to? I'm just glad I thought of some friends in my mind. Not many, just some... and I guess that's enough. Yet surprisingly, they are not my chummiest buddies of all... they are people who care for me and will be there for me. History has proven it, fights have pruned it... they are the ones who have seen my weaknesses and imperfections, love me enough to speak into my live and chose to see the flowers that are blooming in my garden, vice versa.

I thank you, my friends... I strive to be a friend to you too!

Closure... or is it another Chapter?

2010-12-01T16:07:00.005+08:00

[And I thought it was easy... I mean not as in easy-easy, but no sweat... or so I thought.. Yet closures, be it a working or personal relationship, or a project of sorts, impact our emotions in some ways.. if only you let yourself feel it. Is there a way I can express it? How do I identify with what is going on inside of me, understand it and move on with a stronger resolve, having learnt new things from it and ever so thankful for the kind souls who have touched my life... Is that really You O Lord? Yes, I believe... I believe You are watching over us...]

Start, from where?

Begin, and how?

Many ideas, One passion

Full of excitement, full of anticipation

Many hands, One heart

Onwards into the untrodden grounds

Mistakes made, lessons learnt

Ever learning to carry our hearts well

Friends made, blessings bestowed

Hearts refreshed as we worked and served as a team

Pause....

Is it a closure

Or just a beginning of another chapter?

Is that really You O Lord?

You provided and opened the doors

Yes I believe

You are watching over us

I will wait upon You

I will be strong and wait upon You...

My hope is in You all day long

You are the Lord of hosts

Oh my God

In whom I love and trust with all my heart...

I believe

I believe in You...

God is jealous for three things...

2010-10-20T10:51:00.004+08:00

Do we know what is burning on God's heart? Have we ever wondered what God is thinking about, and even jealous for? God's jealously is unlike our human jealousy that is often based on petty grounds. When Scriptures say that God is jealous, it points to His intense zeal and fervour, out of a holy desire.

House of Prayer
Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46
"It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.' "

Israel
Zechariah 8:2 ~This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her."

His Bride - that's us!
2 Corinthians 11:2 ~ I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

One of my friends posted on her Facebook status, - My 6-year-old daughter taught me how to reply to God when He said what do you want? Just say: "I want whatever you want, God." I've been praying that since... and my heart always melt when I say that, and I believe it moves God's heart. May we desire for what God desires.. may our hearts burn with godly zeal for the things he is zealous for!

Even then... my heart shall sing

2010-10-15T00:32:00.003+08:00

[A Psalm of Praise unto to the Lord in times of trouble]

Why so downcast oh my soul
Put your hope in the Lord
The glory and lifter of your head

When your heart cries
He who collects your tears in a bottle, hears...
When your heart aches
He who watches over you, understands...

Even when your heart condemns you
Know that you are the rose
You are the lily of the valley, His inheritance

Who is there like You O Lord
Who can compare with Your majesty
King of kings yet befriending hearts that are after You

Your searching eyes
Looking for the poor in the spirit and contrite in heart
Looking for those who tremble at Your word

Arise oh heart, arise and sing
Sing with all your might
For blessed is the name of the Lord

Your name is like a tower I run to
And find strength
Your love is like a banner over me
And I am safe

Scripture references:

Psalm 42:5, 11

Psalm 56:8

Psalm 121

Songs 2:1

Isa 40:12-26

Isa 66:2

After Your Heart... After You...

2010-09-15T18:46:00.006+08:00

[What is God looking for? What would someone like God who created heavens and earth, knows all things and has everything possibly desire? We are created in His image, to be like Him. Titus 2:13-15 puts it succintly.. ... that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

We are created by Him, in His image, for His glory and purposes. Alas, we have fallen away... yet He who is before all creation is at work to redeem us who believe from every lawless deed through grace, to purify us... for Himself - a pure and blameless people, in partnership with Him for His purposes.

Touching this truth stirs a response in my heart to want to live in relentless trust in Him, to lead and to transform me... to live a life of radical obedience out of a heart of love that fears God, walking in His ways and not mine... like Mary, to pour out my life in reckless abandonment before Him (more and more), even breaking the alabastar jars that seems costly in my eyes... and most of all, to live my life, always, in rapt adoration before God, pursuing Him with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength... May I burn for You O Lord all the days of my life...]

More than a song I sing
More than a prayer I speak
I bring You a heart
That beats "I want to love You deeper... I want to know You more..."

People of One Thing
People of One Desire
After Your heart
After You

I want to be known
Not as one who is wise in the eyes of men
Not as one who is strong in my own might
But as one who knows and understands You

That You are the LORD,
Exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth
Great and unsearchable are Your ways O Lord
Yet You make Yourself known to man

When Your searching eyes range throughout the earth
Looking for those whose heart are loyal to You
May You find what You are looking for
When You set Your eyes on me...

After Your heart, after You
I'll burn, I'll watch
Standing, ministering to You
My Beloved, my inheritance...

Verses
Psalm 27:4 ~
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.

1 Samuel 13:14 ~ The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people..

Act 13:22 ~ And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David[a]the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.

Jeremiah 9:23-25 ~
This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,

but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 48:10...The sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the center. 11 It shall be for the priests of the sons of Zadok, who are sanctified, who have kept My charge, who did not go astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.

^{Ezekiel 40:46} The chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; these are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the LORD to minister to Him.”

^{Ezekiel 44:15} “But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord GOD. ¹⁶ “They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge."

^{Ezekiel 44:28} “It shall be, in regard to their inheritance, that I am their inheritance. You shall give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession.

Seven Commitments of a Forerunner: A Sacred Charge to Press into God

2010-09-06T16:57:00.003+08:00

http://mikebickle.org/resources/series/sacred-charge-seven-commitments-of-a-forerunner

The Sacred Charge is a prophetic call to refuse to settle for anything less than radical pursuit of God and His purposes for this generation. This teaching challenges us to live in wholehearted pursuit of Jesus as forerunners who operate in the power of the Holy Spirit today, as we prepare ourselves to prepare others for the Lord's return.

Mike Bickle identifies seven foundational commitments to walk out this sacred charge in everyday life, with insights and practical steps on how to do this.The Sacred Charge is a prophetic call to refuse to settle for anything less than radical pursuit of God and His purposes for this generation.

This teaching challenges us to live in wholehearted pursuit of Jesus as forerunners who operate in the power of the Holy Spirit today, as we prepare ourselves to prepare others for the Lord's return. Mike Bickle identifies seven foundational commitments to walk out this sacred charge in everyday life, with insights and practical steps on how to do this.

Pray Daily: Connecting with God while Changing the World

Fast Weekly: Positioning Ourselves to Receive More from God

Do Justly: Being Zealous for Good Works that Exalt Jesus

Give Extravagantly: The Joy of Financial Power Encounters

Live Holy: Living Fascinated in the Pleasures of Loving God

Lead Diligently: Taking Initiative to Minister to Others

Speak Boldly: Being a Faithful Witness of the Truth

Why Am I Here?

2010-08-10T14:55:00.005+08:00

I remember sitting in an intern class at the Clementi clubhouse. It was a session for interns to be equipped on how to grow into a leader.

One of the most poignant moments for me was when the Pastor taught on the topic - Why are you here today? Or simply put, why do you want to be a leader? Gulps... squirming in my seat.. looking around... who me, I asked myself? erm erm... because my cell leader asked me to be one... erm erm... because I can organise events for people... erm erm.. I really don't know.... just can't put a finger to it..

So we flipped to our notes...

First reason - because you have an godly ambition to become a leader. Wow, you mean it's actually ok for one to have an ambition to be leader? Of course. We cannot deny the desire within us to do great things, especially if it is for God. Some express it in their response to do great exploits for God. Oh because God deserves our all!

Second reason - because you have a call of God on your life to be a leader. God spoke to you personally. You just know it. People confirmed it. Some even have signs to confirm it. That's it.

I could almost hear a needle fall in the room. Why? Because the above reasons were not my reasons. I neither had ambition or a call to lead. I eagerly leaned forward to hear what the third reason was...

The heavens opened and the angels rejoiced. The trees in the fields clapped their hands and shout hallelujah! Alright, I'm exaggerating... but that was just about how I felt when I heard the third reason. Simply ecstatic! mixed with feelings of much relief, of course =) Third reason - because you are grateful to what God has done in your lives. Yes, this is it... for me.... and it is good to know...

Years down the road, here I am, re-visiting this question - not out of doubt, but out of finding the resolve within me as I forge ahead. Why am in the House of Prayer doing what I am doing? Why am I here?

Again with three reasons, I searched my heart...

1) Responding to the Call to Build the House of Prayer
Have I heard the call to build the House of Prayer? God is looking for both a place and a group of people to dwell and partner with. Isa 66:1-2; Acts 7:49. If I have heard this call, what is my heart response?

Let's also get over this thinking that "I did not hear from God personally". Do you want a personal post from God on your facebook to invite you or the heavens to open and the clouds arrange themselves in a way that spells your name? I confess I do, arrghh...sometimes... to qualify that "Yes, I got THE call. God visited me powerfully yesterday. He sent angels to confirm it." I learn to laugh at myself and move on. O me of little faith! No wonder Jesus taught His disciples in Matt. 18:1-5 to be childike in their faith and stay humble, just like the little children. Unless we put aside our spiritual and human pride, we cannot receive what God says with a teachable and open heart, let alone heed His call.

Check.

2) Skill / Talent
The expression of how the House of Prayer is built is based on the "Harp (worship) and Bowl (intercession)"model as seen in Rev. 4 & 5. It depicts the heavenly worship in the Throne room of God, where intercessory worship goes on day and night before the One who sits on the Throne. Approximately 1,000 years before the birth of Christ, King David set the Ark of the Covenant in a tent that became known as the Tabernacle of David, a place of continual prayer and worship. He appointed 288 skilled prophetic singers and 4,000 skilled musicians to minister before the Lord in intercessory worship. (1Chron. 13; 15-16; 23; 25; 2Chron. 29; Neh. 12)

What skill and talent is needed to build the House of Prayer? It'll be great if I can sing or play a musical instrument skilfully. Even if I can't, I think I can be a doorkeeper, or find myself useful. Oh yes, I can pray. How can I forget that... And also with the administrative gifts He's blessed me with, I can serve.

Check.

3) I am ambushed by the Lord
Somehow I am here. I was seeking to grow to know the Lord deeper. I was seeking to grow as a believer. My seeking led me to the wilderness. Where am I? What am I doing? How come this is so different from what I used to know and do? Yet I know I am growing in the Lord. And then I realised that there is nowhere else I'd rather be, there is nothing else I'd rather do. For God has so ruined my heart with His great love and I just want to do what is on His heart... I just want to be the kind of people He is looking for and be in the place He dwells.

Check.

So this settles why I am here. Whatever your reason is, one or all of the above (list of reasons not exhaustive), it counts!

As I forge ahead, I seek to do the following:

1) Grow in the messages that God has given to us as a House:
(A) Intimacy with God, Bride of Christ, Sermon on the Mount, Song of Songs)
(B) Forerunners Ministry, Understanding End-Times, Book of Joel and Revelation, Understanding Israel..
(C) House of Prayer

We have to keep digging and growing deep in these messages as God unravels more to us progressively. Let the word grow in the good soil of our heart and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Many have heard these messages but because they did not go deep (no root system) or are choked/distracted by life's demands, there is no fruit produced (either the wicked one came and snatched away what was sown in their hearts or they stumble because of there is no root system in their lives). Matt. 13 - Parable of the Sower. Wide is the gate that leads to destruction. We have to strive to enter the narrow gate. (Lk. 13:24)

2) Develop the I-H-O-P Lifestyle
This is non-negotiable if I were to forge ahead. To live a life of Intercession (agreeing with what is in God's word), Holiness (wholeheartedness), Offering (living a life that is poured out extravagantly unto God and others) and the Prophetic (be the voice of God in such times). To ignore cultivating this lifestyle will be like trying to run a marathon without training for it. Either I'll get injured (my sports doc told me that some injuries can last really long and thus 'cripple' me in the race that I run) or not finish the race (yikes!) that God has marked out for me.

3) Learn the Harp & Bowl model
To understand the biblical model of intercessory worship and engage my heart in it, setting my gaze on the One who sits on the Throne.

Meditations....
Titus 2:11-14 ~"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (oh how I love this verse) looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

The Perhaps of God... Who knows?

2010-07-30T16:11:00.002+08:00

When the answer to your prayer is not the reward of your prayer... how to pray? I mean, you pray to God for something, yet knowing that it may not happen... Like that how to pray?

I'm sure this strikes a chord in any genuine heart that seeks God and lays hold of His promises. You yearn for a miraculous healing to break through, yet you know it may not come. You press in for God's promises to come to pass - be it in your life or in your ministry - yet knowing that it may not unfold... How then to position your heart, especially before God when you go to Him in prayer? Oh God I believe, but how to deal with the questions in my heart?

Confidence in Approaching a God who is Gracious...
Whatever the situation you are facing, know that we can approach God in confidence, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Oh how we need to touch this truth of God and deeply encounter what is in His heart towards men, even when we have sinned and fallen short of His glory. If we encounter this truth in our inner man, we will not only run to God in confidence at all times, but also pursue Him wholeheartedly and live for Him in abandonment...

King David was one who had confidence in approaching God, at all times, yes, even when he has sinned. Remember what David did when God told him that his son would die because of his sin (2Sam 12:11-23)? He fasted and pleaded with God not to take his son's life away. David knew God, for He is gracious and longs to relent. He says in verse 22, "Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?"

In the end, God did not spare David's son even though he sought the Lord in fasting and weeping. Yet king David pleased God in that he was confident in approaching God who is gracious. The dying of his son does not show us God's un-graciousness towards David, rather it showed us the confidence David had in approaching God - that even when he knew the consequences of his sin, he has a God who is gracious and he can go to Him. David was not offended with God, as we later read how after his child has died, he got up, went into the house of the Lord and worshiped and went about his daily activities. David fully embraced the consequences of his sin, yet keeping his heart tender before God. Even though God did not relent, deep inside, he was rooted in the knowledge and faith of who God is.

I remember a testimony of someone whose mother was dying of cancer. One day, God said to her, "What if I do not heal your mother? Will you still believe in Me?" For the next two weeks, she could not answer the question truthfully from her heart. When she went about her worship and prayer before God, she knew she was being superficial with God, saying, 'Surely God you are a God who heals..even..." On the night her mother died, she turned to God and said, with the spirit of God stirring the seed of faith sown deep in her heart, "God, You are not only a God who heals, You are a God who provides, You are a God who is my Good Shepherd, You are a God who is my Peace, a God who is here with me..." and she continued to proclaim the name of the Lord... "for nothing can take away this truth of who You are, not even what has happened to my mother... for You alone are God." She could not believe her own utterance at that moment. But one thing she knew, that living a life of faith believing in God despite it all, is what saves her, is what keeps her sane in this world, is joy unspeakable! The two weeks of being superficial with God, as she recounted to me, was unbearable. That going through motion without really believing felt terrible. Praise be to God for this trial, for He has led her to higher ground, overcoming her lack of belief and becoming victorious in Christ.

The Perhaps of God...
Remember the story of how God sent Jonah to preach a message of repentance to the wicked Ninevites? And how the Ninevites (and their animals!), fasted and turned in repentance and desperation to the God who alone can spare them (Jonah 3:9). In Joel 2:14, we see again how God appealed to His people to turn and rend their hearts that He may relent and leave a blessing.

Before God brings about His righteous judgment upon the people, He leaves a window called the "perhaps of God". He makes known that He is going to judge, so isn't that final? Yet before that happens, He hearkens His people to turn and repent. For God is looking at our hearts - He is looking for repentant hearts. This "perhaps of God" does not suggest that God is fickle-minded that He cannot decide or that He is playing a game with us. Rather, it shows us the very heart of God - that He wants to relent, and the condition of that is repentance. God is just and will judge, yet He longs to relent and promises to leave a blessing for those who turn to Him in repentance.

In the book of Jonah, God relented when the Ninevites sincerely repented, showing fruits of their repentance. "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it." (Jonah 3:10).

In the book of Joel, God not only calls the people to repent, He also gave them the specific guidelines on what to do if we were to turn to the Lord. More than that, it is an instruction manual for the Body of Christ on how to prepare ourselves for the coming Day of the Lord! The book of Joel is probably the clearest passage in the Word of God that describes what God wants us to do in times of crisis and how the people of God should respond - both on a local and global scale.

Let's also take a leaf from the book of Daniel - who said even if the Lord will not deliver him, he will still not bow to other gods (Dan. 3:17-18). Be inspired by the men from the hall of faith in Hebrews 11 - men who knew they would not receive any reward in this age, for they desiring a heavenly country... They all lived their lives striving to enter the narrow gate (Lk. 13:24), striving according to the working which works in them mightily (Col 1:29).

Fret not... you are not alone! God has given us His word to encourage us in times like these. Let those who has an ear, hear what the Spirit of God is saying and doing! For we need courage in such times - to press in, to lay hold... despite it all... and to press in to the "perhaps of God"...

Are you listening?

2010-07-27T14:43:00.002+08:00

"If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!" This sentence appeared 7 times in the gospels and 8 times in the book of Revelation. The meaning of this sentence? That what God is saying in these passages of Scriptures is extremely important and urgent. If we operate our lives based on the quadrant of importance and urgency, what God is saying in these passages of Scriptures should fall into the most important and most urgent quadrant. It deserves nothing other than our immediate attention, constant pre-occupation until... and the prioritizing of our lives to give ear, take heed and respond. For wisdom is justified by her children (Matt. 11:19).

The Need To Hear...
Do we hear what the Spirit of God is saying to us now? As believers, we need to attune ourselves to what the Spirit of God is saying - both to us personally and also on a corporate level. Perhaps I have made an assumption here. The assumption that God is the most important Person in our lives. Is He? We got to get this settled in our hearts before move on. Cos if He is the most important Person in our lives, what He says not only carries weight, but deserves our full attention, to give ear... to press in for understanding... to lay hold...

Also, can we also don't hide behind the "I don't know enough, I am not spiritual enough to make sense of things, I'm not sure if what I hear is true, I'm not like this and this person who is closer to God and etc etc..." I am speaking this to myself first and foremost! Surely if I cannot hear or understand clearly, my confidence is this - if God wants me to know, He will make a way as I press in for understanding.

John 16:13 says, "...when He, he Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth...and He will tell you things to come.." The Holy Spirit is the Helper that God has sent to us to guide us into all truth. Many of us, including myself, hope to know everything instantaneously. However, we cannot bear the many things God wants to make known to us. Thus He sent the Holy Spirit to help us. Matt. 16:7 says "it is to our advantage" that Jesus went away. Jesus has completed what God the Father commissioned Him to do on earth. It is finished, at the cross. Jesus had to go to the Father so that God's plan for the Holy Spirit to take over from there will effect the next phase of His plan for us. Oh how great and marvelous are your works O Lord God Almighty! It is well with my soul...

Searching the Scriptures...
May God give you wisdom and spiritual understanding as you pore over His words in Matt. 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; 7:17; Luke 8:8; 14:35; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22 and Rev. 13:9. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!

Growing Pains...

2010-07-26T01:01:00.008+08:00

"Grow up!" This was one of the best advice from a friend... Out of nowhere, these two words sprung up. It kind of silenced my ‘but this but that blah blah blah’. With a firm locking of arms over my shoulder, my friend said in a loving and assuring way – grow up. Although that was like more than ten years ago, I could still remember it vividly. We all need friends who would say that to us, even now!

Sometimes we complicate things in life, don’t you think so? Or I should say, sometimes it’s all about ourselves. That’s what immaturity is about I guess. Me first. All me. I can only see me me me, my my my needs. What did you say? But did you hear me? Enough said.

Before I delve deeper into my own reflective mode, let’s ponder on what God’s word say about maturity in Christ. The book of Song of Songs depicts the journey of a believer, growing from immaturity (desiring God but still overwhelmed with “me-first” mentality – my hurts, my pain, my comfort etc) to maturity in Christ (she realizes that it is all about God and wanting His desires to be her desires)… It outlines in the clearest way, the progression of a believer growing from being self-centered to being God-centered…

I shall zoom in on two verses in this post, to illustrate how we journey from immaturity to (more) maturity. Is it about knowing more of God’s word? That is important. Is it about gritting our teeth and obeying the Lord at all costs? There is a place for faith. I submit to you my observation – that it is the REVELATION of Jesus in our lives that will bring us from strength to strength. Our faith is a revelatory faith – Christ revealed to us and in us. It is good to read and know (we must). It is important to live out (we should). But have we encountered God? Have we touched the truth? It takes God to love and obey God. We need to press in for revelation of God in our lives, else it would be all cognitive and functional. When God strikes our heart (inner man), we are able to see light and thus live a life from inside out. Christianity is not about doing. It’s about becoming. Becoming Christ-like!

The Two Verses... and the Progression...
“Until the day breaks
And the shadows flee away
Turn, my beloved,
And be like a gazelle
Or a young stag
Upon the mountains of Bether.” ~ Song 2:17

“Until the day breaks
And the shadows flee away,
I will go on my way to the
Mountain of myrrh
And o the hill of frankincense.” ~ Song 4:6

In both verses, the Shulamite woman (depicting a believer) acknowledges the dark shadows in her heart (until the day breaks and the shadow flees away). These are areas of her life that are not fully in the light. The daybreak (breakthrough) comes in the morning when new light appears. It is the time when the dark shadows or the gray areas in her life will be gone. Also, the darkest hour of the night is the hour just before dawn… oh how God uses nature to speak to us about pressing in when all seems so dark and gray… for the light is coming!

In Song 2:17, she asked Jesus to turn and in Song 4:6, she responded "I will go (arise)". So what, and why the difference in responses? What happened in between to bring the Shulamite woman from one who disobeyed in fear to one who rises up in obedience?

The Revelation of Jesus...
In the book of the Song of Songs, Jesus reveals 8 different facets of His personality. Each of them reveals a unique aspect of His relationship with the Bride, the Shulamite woman. As her journey begins, she encountered the Counseling Shepherd (Song 1:8), the Affectionate Father (Song 1:12-2:6) and the Sovereign King (Song 2:8-9). As Jesus challenged her to rise up in deep partnership with Him in Songs 2:14, she shrinks back in fear and refuses to obey Him. It was out of fear /immaturity and not rebellion, for God looks at our heart…

Divine Chatisement (Song 3:1-5)
The Shulamite woman understands that her compromise will lead to fruit in her vineyard being destroyed or in separation (Bether) in her intimacy with God. Jesus turns and goes away for a season.

Jesus honors our voluntary decision to draw back. Our relationship with Jesus is based on voluntary love. Because of her disobedience and yielding to her fears, God lovingly withdrew His presence, until she repents and cries out in obedience (Song 3:2).

The Cherished Heart of the Bridegroom (Song 4:1-8)
After a season of divine discipline, Jesus reveals His cherished heart and calls the Bride fair (or beautiful) while she is still maturing in her obedience and faith. In Song 4:1-5, Jesus prophetically affirms 8 “budding virtues” in the young Bride’s life. He equips us in our weakness by affirmations that overpower Satan’s accusations against us (Rev. 12:10). As Jesus affirms her, He is also saying to her that these 8 character traits are what He is looking for and thus developing in her:

1) Dove eyes: eyes of single-minded devotion and revelation.
2) Hair like goats: dedication to God.
3) Teeth like shorn sheep: chewing the meat of the Word.
4) Lips like scarlet: speech that is redemptive.
5) Kisses of the mouth: intimacy with God.
6) Veiled temples (i.e. cheeks / countenance): emotions impacted by the grace of God.
7) Neck like David’s tower: setting our will to obey God.
8) Breasts like fawns: the power to edify and nurture others.

Song 4:6 shows the Bride’s fearless and wholehearted commitment. She responds to Jesus’ affirmations by setting her heart to obey His call to come with Him to the mountains in Song 2:8-13. She now embraces the cross by going to the mountain of myrrh. She makes a firm decision to leave the comfort zone to go up the mountain by saying “I will go!” The Bride joins the King in spiritual warfare as He calls her His spouse for the first time in the Song. With her new commitment to go to the mountain, she now carries her heart as a loyal Bride.

For the next 4 chapters in the Song, we see her developing mature love for the Lord. (Song 4:8)

We are created to live in the high places with Jesus in the extravagant devotion of bridal partnership. We can trust in God's leadership and nurturing in our lives. So what are you thinking about now? Let’s take the leap.

The Power of Agreement

2010-07-20T09:59:00.002+08:00

Have you ever gone on a trip, all excited, with a group of friends, and when one suggests a particular itinerary, the rest respond with a spontaneous YES(!) ? Immediately, the place where the group is will be filled with energy and more excitement! Of course, when the reverse happens, it's called a wet blanket and it would be such a drag!

Such is the effect of agreement, and dis-agreement.

What is intercession? It's about agreeing with what God has said in His word, what God promises to do and laying hold of it to come to pass. Intercession is not an inclination (i.e. I feel like it, then I intercede) nor does it belong to a special group of trained people. It is one of the godly disciplines for believers that as we walk in it, we grow in the Lord.

The Power of Agreement with the Lord
As we walk in agreement with the Lord in our lives, we will experience His power in our lives. It's more than the verbal saying of 'yes' to God's word. As we understand God's word progressively, we engage our heart in laying hold of what He first laid hold for us.

I heard a personal testimony of someone who went through a slight depression because she couldn't understand what God was doing in her ministry. And because she could not understand, she could not agree with God in how His hand was moving. As she sought the Lord for understanding and coveted for prayers and godly counsel from godly friends, God brought revelation of what He is doing... She then began to praise God for what He is doing and agree with what is in His heart. It is well with her soul and she found peace in her heart. There was also no room for any depression, for the power of agreement with the Lord lifted her out of the pit and brought her to a firm ground!

The Power of Agreement with One Another
Besides developing the discipline of intercession on our own, God exhorts us to pray and agree with one another. Therein lies power that is found in a corporate setting. Our holy God has provided a way by which He will manifest Himself to men. It is the way of communion through prayer. Matthew 18:20 says, "For when two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

The Power of Continual Agreement
God promised to establish intercessors who will never be silent until He releases His presence. (Isa. 62:6-7). It is in God's heart to establish a group of people who will fully know His heart and thus usher in His promises for us, both personally and globally. Do you know that we are being accused by satan continuously? Rev. 12:10 says, "... for the accuser of our brethen, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down." Maybe that's why we succumb so easily and are powerless. May God awaken our hearts to understand the need to pray continuously and the power that is for us - both to overcome the enemy and also to usher in God's glorious promises for us here on earth!

The Cleansing Power of God's Word

2010-07-19T23:54:00.004+08:00

My friend posted this comment on her facebook status: "The boy who hates to bathe found a way to "excuse" himself. He rubs hand sanitiser all over his body and proclaim himself ALL CLEAN!! No need to bathe anymore!"

I had a good laugh!

Who can approach God? Those with clean hands and a pure heart… (Psa 24). Throughout the bible, it is made known that cleanliness of hands (our action) and purity of hearts (our thoughts, minds etc) is mandatory to approaching God, for He is holy.

The priests in the Old Testament had to go through a thorough cleansing regime before they enter into the Holy of holies, where God’s shikenah presence dwells. Any impurity would spell a death sentence. Such is the holiness of God.

Yet He beckons us to draw near. There must be a catch, don’t you think so?

In our day and time, how do we cleanse ourselves daily as we approach God in intimacy? On our own, it can be a daunting task. What do I mean by that? Don’t think of pink elephants. Immediately our minds are filled with pink elephants. You get the drift…

I have good news. The gospel is for people who say “I can’t” and who go to God to lean on Him and be empowered. At times, we overcome instantaneously, while other times it is a continual overcoming process.

So how do we sanctify ourselves? One of the ways is to lean on His word. John 17:7 says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” and again in Eph 3:26 we read, "... that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word."

It's not hard, really. It is only hard when we depend on our own flesh to accomplish the sanctification. Our part is to co-operate with God and respond to His word. Let the reading of the word cleanse our heart, mind, body, soul and spirit!

Suggested meditations: Psalm 119

Oh, how these verses move my heart...

9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

72 The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

92 Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.

127 Therefore I love Your commandments
More than gold, yes, than fine gold!

"

Random Quotes of the Day

2010-07-16T15:45:00.004+08:00

------------ Oswald Chambers -----------------------

http://www.myutmost.org/05/0510.html

"Add to your faith virtue. . ." ("Furnish your faith with resolution.") (MOFFATT.) 2 Peter 1:5

"Add" means there is something we have to do. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save ourselves nor sanctify ourselves, God does that; but God will not give us good habits, He will not give us character, He will not make us walk alright. We have to do all that ourselves, we have to work out the salvation God has worked in. "Add" means to get into the habit of doing things, and in the initial stages it is difficult. To take the initiative is to make a beginning, to instruct yourself in the way you have to go.

Beware of the tendency of asking the way when you know it perfectly well. Take the initiative, stop hesitating, and take the first step. Be resolute when God speaks, act in faith immediately on what He says, and never revise your decisions. If you hesitate when God tells you to do a thing, you endanger your standing in grace. Take the initiative, take it yourself, take the step with your will now, make it impossible to go back. Burn your bridges behind you - "I will write that letter"; "I will pay that debt." Make the thing inevitable.

We have to get into the habit of hearkening to God about everything, to form the habit of finding out what God says. If when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we know that the habit has been formed. We have to take the initiative where we are, not where we are not.

------------ Dick Eastmen -----------------------

There is no spiritual growth apart from the devotional habit

------------ Harold Lindsell -----------------------

Prayer does not come naturally to men. It must be learned. Learning to pray... includes knowledge of the laws governing prayer as well as experience gained in the practice of prayer. Prayer must be nourished and cultivated if it is to grow.

Even when all things around have not changed, we can change, from within. The greatest change that occurs is change from the inside of us.

The litmus test of our faith comes when trials comes our way - do we face it alone or do we turn to God in faith, and ride through the storm with Him...

See Me Through

2010-07-08T17:44:00.003+08:00

by Tim Reimherr, International House of Prayer, Kansas City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6iqWCr4mZo

As I wait for You

Would You come and see me through

The darkness of this side

I know its all for You

That in the end You would find

A pure and spotless bride

For I'm a stranger here with You

Struggling inside

To be a resting place for You

And I was made to be with You

I don't truly rest until I find my rest in You

So come and see me through

As I journey on

You will lead me by Your hand

And receive me in the end

Whom have I but You

And there is non upon the earth

That can save me but You

As I journey on this path of life

Let me find favor in Your eyes

To walk humbly before Your eyes

Always, always

Whom have I in heaven but You

And only what You say

Will really see me through

Send forth Your light and truth

And lead me, lead me on

Lord have mercy cause it's my only means

To find You here with me

Lord have mercy cause it's my only plea

To find You here with me

To find You here with me.

As for me I will enter Your house

By the mercy You're giving me now

Your mercy is my only means (plea)

Life is not right until You split the sky

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!"

We long for the day

When You make all things news

We want to be with You.

Carrying Our Hearts... well..

2010-06-28T16:51:00.004+08:00

As we weather through the storms of life, major or just trivial, our thoughts and our emotions are evoked. While we handle these situations / people based on our existing set of values and outlook, some incidents can impact us to view or handle things and people differently.

A consistent question I would always ask myself would be - how should I carry my heart? Surely I want to ride on the ups and downs to grow my heart, and not allow situations and people to embitter or shrink my heart. Above all else, I want to guard my heart, for it is the wellspring of life...

I've held on to a few principles in managing situations and people (including myself!):

1) Giving people / situations the Benefit of Doubt

There are ok days and there are also off days. I constantly remind myself not to take things personally and to give grace to myself and others. i.e. to overlook offenses. Quoting from Proverbs 19:11 - "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." and Proverbs 12:16, "A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult."

However, if there is a consistent pattern (of attitude or negative behaviour) that raises a concern, I will weigh the pros and cons before confronting the issue (with myself or others). Certain issues can be dealt in a 'roundabout' way. Other times, it will take a deliberate effort. I will hesitate to say or do anything if the parties concerned are not in my inner circle of influence. Why so? Because my good advice may just fall on deaf ears. Worse still, my intentions may be misunderstood.

2) What is the Main Issue?

This outlook helps me see the big picture and not be too caught up with the 'rights' and 'wrongs'. Once I see the main point or in mandarin they call it zhong dian, all things will somehow will fall into place. However, it takes two to clap - both you and the party (ies) invovled need to be open to see the big picture and not be over calculative about who-said-what and who's-at-fault etc. Of course the apt sorry's are necessary too.

3) Timing - knowing when to talk and when to be silent

There are some things that does not get better even if you work at it - talk through or explain or clarify. When we give time, events may unfold to vindicate yourself. However, sometimes things are swept under the carpet till another episode rakes it up (which is unfortunate if things are still unresolved).

Through it all, I ask God to grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference...

If Your Presence does not go with us...

2010-06-23T13:52:00.002+08:00

I did not have such audacity to speak those words... Nor the right heart to speak thus... until I fell facedown... yes I'll fall facedown... as Your glory shines all around...

God, if Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here... we will not go on... because we cannot go on without Your manifest Presence with us. We will not go on... we cannot just go on like this... we do not want to do this without Your manifest Presence with us!

For how then will it be known that we have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? For how then will it be known that what You have spoken to us is Your word for the now? For how then will it be known that this is the very thing that's burning in Your heart?

Raise up the House of Prayer in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David, 24-7! In Singapore! For You are worthy of our worship, our hearts, our all... More than a place, we ask for the I-H-O-P people, people who respond in living out a Joel 2 lifestyle. Bring in the musicians, worship leaders, singers and intercessors, to do this 24-7 and set the fire on the altar burning day and night... That all may know and see the sign of Your coming. That all may have understanding of Your heart and what You are about to do...

So we shall be separate... set apart...from all the people who are upon the face of the earth. May the worship and intercession rise to You as a sweet aroma... as we burn, stand and minister before You... as we tarry with You, for the very things on Your heart... to come to pass O Lord, in our day, in our time. We tarry in faith, believing in Your Word. We tarry in hope, holding fast to our confession that Jesus is coming soon, with His reward for His saints. We tarry in love, for the Wedding day is coming...

~ Exo 33:15-16

What is Prayer all about?

2010-06-20T17:28:00.002+08:00

1-sentence version... Prayer is about spending time with God and talking to Him.

3-point version... Prayer is about waiting, longing, hastening...

WAITING
I'm waiting... cos God told us to...we got to give hear, understand why and do something about it... In Isa 40:31, we read how as one waits upon the Lord, they are renewed. Acts 2 recounted to us the active waiting by the disciples, gathering in one accord.

The waitings were anchored in a Hope...

Isa 40 expounds on the Hope of all mankind - our everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who neither faints nor is weary, whose understanding is unsearchable, who gives power to the weak, who increases strength in those who have no might. Oh, who is like You, O Lord!

Acts 2 tells of the returning Hope, Jesus, the reason of their waiting. This Jesus, whom the disciples see taken up into the heavens and was told that in the same manner, He is coming back soon (Acts 1:11).

So they waited... they pressed in... some gave up... some continued to wait for who can dismiss the Hope that is anchored in their hearts? Though sometimes it does take a major effort in keeping with the waiting. It is not automatic. Desire if not followed through with effort, leaves us 'comfortable' and dull. O God, draw us in! Do not let us grow faint..

LONGING
I'm longing... cos I've experienced His love and know that He is coming back, for me, for us, for love. You know, it's one thing to love God, it's another to love God and be lovesick for God. The former is sweet, the latter is sweet yet totally uncomfortable. Uncomfortable cos if you are lovesick, you will do something to go deep, to pursue, even if it seems foolish in the eyes of man...
Heb 11:16 - "...but now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country..." The men of faith were longing for God and His kingdom. For they somehow know, be it from afar or from anear, that there is a better than...

A longing heart spurs a life lived by Faith...

What is a picture of a life lived by faith? ... subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,became valiant inn battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens ... erm, you may not like this, had trial of mockings and scourgings, of chains and imprisonment, they were stoned... sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.. wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted and tormented...

... of whom the world was not worthy...

I don't know what went through your mind as you read their experiences. Surreal perhaps?They probably understood what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 5:10-12, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven..."

HASTENING
I'm hastening... cos I want to rise up in maturity in love and partnership with the Holy Spirit to do what God wants to do...

Hastening is probably the biggest paradigm shift I had regarding prayer. It blows my mind to know that God needs our prayers to do what He wants to do! I mean, God, in all his almighty and divine and limitless ability, created a 'dependance' within his nature - a dependance on men's prayer! In my own puny mind, I liken prayer of men to the scoreboard in an arcade game. Some hits, some misses, and somehow it totals up to 'enough' and wham, God moves. It all counts, for the misses were necessary in getting the hits alrighty.

Just keep praying, yes, and unceasingly! Rev 8:3-5 recounts for us the awesome heavenly activities when the heavenly incense + the prayer of the saints set into motion God's trumpet-judgment series. It is my favourite passage in the book of revelation - Rev 8:1-6 - especially the part where there was silence in heaven for about half an hour... silence cos something serious and intense is about to take place... selah... *gasp*... may I be found on God's side in that hour...

I'm reminded of a chorus line from the IHOP prayer room - And I miss You Jesus and I want You to come back... oh, may we engage our hearts in Love with our coming bridegroom God, who is lovesick for us...

So in the meantime, in this time of waiting, longing and hastening, God is preparing me. As I open my heart to Him, He is yanking out the things that stand in the way (OUCH!!!). In this time of waiting, He lets me know Him more - what is in His heart and what He is about to do... Sometimes I understand, but most times I don't... which means most times I am crying out for revelation, and at the same time reciting prayers from my head, and let God do the work of letting it sink into my whole being.

Oh God, how I long to know your heart and your mind more, so I can be mature in love and effective in what You want me to do... Even when I blew it, time and time again, You never gave up on me. How can I not love You O Lord... in love and lovesick for You... Be it unto me, that wherever I am, whatever I am doing, that the one pre-occupation of my heart and mind is on You and Your Kingdom!

Set Apart - an offering that is pleasing to God

2010-06-17T13:13:00.004+08:00

[How often do we take coming before God for granted, even times, going through motion, almost forgetting why we first want to come before him? Fret not... Pause... let the searchlight of God sweep through your heart and offer your lives afresh, tell Him how much you want to bring Him an offering that pleases Him, for that is what He is looking for... He delights in the movements of our heart, not the works of our hands...]

Come into my garden

And take delight in me

Have Your way in me, I pray

Blow upon my garden

Come... north wind

Come! south wind

That its spices may flow out

Till I'm perfected in love... with You and You alone

Till I'm total in obedience... ever before You

Hearts burning

Set apart for You

To burn, to gaze, to draw near

This is Your vineyard

You tended it and caused it to grow

Come and eat of its fruits

A work of Your grace

Not by might nor by power

But formed by Your spirit

Come into Your garden

And take delight in me

I'm Yours... I'm Yours... All Yours...

Let's rejoice and be glad

See the Light in my eyes

See The Wedding that is to come!

[Scripture references]

1 John 4:18 - "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world."

Songs 4:16 - 5:1

Awake, O north wind,

And come, O south!

Blow upon my garden,

That its spices may flow out.

Let my beloved come to his garden

And eat its pleasant fruits.

I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse;

I have gathered my myrrh with my spice;

I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;

I have drunk my wine with my milk.

My Soul Sings...

2010-06-17T13:07:00.001+08:00

http://www.pharefm.be/video-7.html

[It's just a little while longer... Till i'll see You... Till I'll know You...Till we'll be together...]

Open my eyes and see
The wonderful mystery of love
Falling into You
I'm drawn to the gravity of love, love, love

We're standing still
In a moment of eternity
Where worlds collide
And I feel the breath of heaven over me

My soul sings
My so-oul sings
My soul sings
How I love You

Open the page and see
The wonderful history of love, love
I start and end with You
I'm pulled to the gravity of love, love, love

We're standing still
In a moment of eternity
Where worlds collide
And I feel the breath of heaven over me

Uncomfortable Comfort

2010-06-07T15:04:00.003+08:00

After some good months of reading the bible diligently, I felt a sense of restlessness – in a good way.

I was restless because I seem to be gaining a lot of information and knowledge (which I’m thankful for), yet my heart was not stirred in a corresponding measure.

There seems to be a ‘block’ somewhere inside of me – while my mind is being renewed and amazed with what I’m (cognitively) learning, I needed to remove the ‘block’ that will stir my heart and inner-man.

It all became clearer why I was passively ‘resisting’ the removal of this ‘block’ when I was listening to a teaching. The topic was on the global prayer movement at the End-of-the-Age. It was the message for the now! It was what the Holy Spirit is orchestrating, in bringing the church to understanding God’s heart, in ushering in the return of Jesus and the age-to-come (eternity)! It was one of the messages where there is a very clear Amen in your heart... It's of God, from God and it is now!

My heart stirred. But interestingly, it was uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. Uncomfortable because I know that if I were to respond to this stirring, my life will be turned upside down. You see, it was one of those messages that you clearly cannot listen and walk away living life business-as-usual. A sub-conscious block then entered my heart – it’s ok to just listen, don’t get too excited, it’s good teaching and that’s about it. And I felt comfortable again – cos nothing needs to change really, or so urgently.

That encounter with what’s happening inside of me left me astounded. Do I want an uncomfortable comfort, which has the true dose of reality or am I just contented with a comfortable comfort and just cruise in life... void of God? >_<

Oh Lord, You are a God who is faithful and full of mercy! According to your great love and surpassing mercy, blot out my blocks… I repent for passively resisting your Word of Truth for the hour, so that I can do my own things and cruise.

But in this hour, the Spirit of God is guiding us to seeing what You are doing. I do not see! I do not know! I ask for grace to strengthen my resolve to press in for understanding and live a life of obedience to Your truth and what the Spirit of God is saying, even if it is uncomfortable. I ask for wisdom in living out what You have called me to – to be and to do.

Do not let me go! Do not let me stay where I am! Until I become fully mature in love and partnership with Jesus. You are the vine, we are the branches. Even when it gets uncomfortable in this pruning, I say yes to You!

Create in me a stirring that I will watch and pray. Strike my heart like a hammer, like a fire, that I may speak forth Your word!

In Jesus' Name I pray... Amen!

It's ok to fail... but have we learnt?

2010-06-07T15:02:00.000+08:00

Many of us have in one way or another, set out to do something… but failed.

The something could be range from something on a small scale, like learning a skill or language, to something of a bigger scale such as starting a company.

Whatever the scale of the ‘something’ that we have started out to do but somehow failed, one thing remains the same – it’s about learning from our failures and mistakes.

Have we learnt from our setbacks?

What lessons can we glean from our failures that can strengthen us in our resolve going forward – be it to start another something or living out various aspects in our lives?

We’ll become wiser, if only we learn it right.
We’ll become bitter or foolish or both, if we take the ‘blame-something/one-else’ route.
We’ll become neutral, if we sweep it away and not deal with it head on.

HEAR YE CHURCH, IT'S A LETTER FROM GOD

2010-06-07T14:59:00.002+08:00

It grips my heart whenever I read the letters God commissioned John to write to the churches in Asia in the book of Revelation. The letters reflect the heart conditions of the church and Jesus calling them to respond… If it is a letter from God, we not only need to read it, but also take heed and respond…

Do you know we can be laboring for Christ’s sake, YET lost our first love for Jesus?

Do you know we can be holding fast to God’s name, not denying our faith in the very darkness of the hour, increasing in our works, love, service, faith and long suffering in Christ, YET holding on to wrong doctrines and thus falling into immorality and idolatry?

Do you know that we can be popularly known as one that’s ‘alive and vibrant’, YET in God’s eyes, we are ‘dead’?

Do you know that we can be deceived to think that we are rich and are in plenty, not needing anything, YET we are actually wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked - very much in want in everyway?

I don’t know what went through your mind as you read Rev. chapters 2 & 3. Pause and think. We could be doing all the ‘right things’ but are they right in the eyes of God?

Why is God saying all these? And even more so now?

God loves us enough not to leave us where we are. Many of us start out with a sincere heart, but along the way, we become ‘something/one else’. God in all His wisdom, knows that He needs to continue to work in us.

But to make things work, we need to respond and co-operate. May the God grant us the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of what is on His heart... that we may respond...

He who has an ear, let Him hear what the Spirit says…

When You Believe...

2010-05-23T00:58:00.002+08:00

[It's been a topsy turvy month... grasping and pressing in to what God is speaking to us individually and corporately as a House of Prayer. I could go on 'life as usual', doing my 'christian thing'... besides, my 'life as usual' is quite 'ok' - or so I think (how wrong I was!).

But there is a stirring in my heart that I cannot ignore... God has spoken... We gotta hear.. we gotta take heed.. and respond! There's an urgency cos if I don't heed and respond, I'll just 'go on business as usual' and over time, my heart will harden... Do you not know, when we hear and do not respond (thinking we got time, later... drag... procrastinate.. or think we are ok..), our hearts towards God will harden... that's the last thing I ever want to happen... passive resistance ->active resistance->rebellion...

May we press in, contending for our faith (Jude 3), hear and take heed to what God is saying... for there can be miracles, when we believe!]

WHEN YOU BELIEVE...

Many nights we've prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains
Long before we knew we could

There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe

In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
My heart's so full I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I'd say

There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe

They don't always happen when you ask
And it's easy to give in to your fear
But when you're blinded by your pain
Can't see your way safe through the rain
Thought of a still resilient voice
Says love is very near

There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
Now you will
You will when you believe

You will when you believe
Just believe
Gotta believe
You will when you believe

I Know Him So Well...

2010-05-21T00:17:00.003+08:00

[When I first heard this song, I was in my teenage years. I was attending a musical in RGS with my sister. If I remembered correctly, the concert's title was 'Climb Every Mountain'. It was a very inspiring and memorable evening. This song was one of the songs sung and it stuck in my head till today. Like it very much! ^_^. "I Know Him So Well" is a song from the concept album and subsequent musical Chess by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. In this duet, two women – Svetlana, the Russian chess champion's estranged wife, and Florence, his mistress – express their bittersweet feelings for him and at seeing their relationships fall apart... Well, my interpretation of the lyrics is different though......]

Nothing is so good it lasts eternally,
Perfect situations must go wrong,
But this has never yet prevented me,
Wanting far too much,
For far too long,

Looking back,
I could have played it differently,
Won a few more moments,
Who can tell,
But it took time to understand the man,
Now at least I know
I know him well

Wasn't it good?
(Oh so good)
Wasn't he fine?
(Oh so fine)
Isn't it madness,
He can't be mine?
But in the end
He needs a little bit
More than me,
More security,
He needs his fantasy and freedom,
I know him so well

No-one in your life is with you constantly,
No-one is completely on your side,
And though I'd move my world to be with him,
Still the gap between us is too wide,

Looking back,
(Looking back)
I could have played it differently,
(I could have played it some other way),
Learned about the man,
Before I fell
(I was just a little girl)
But I was ever so much younger then,
(Maybe, so much younger then)
Now at least I know
I know him well

Wasn't it good?
(Oh so good)
Wasn't he fine?
(Oh so fine)
Isn't it madness,
He won't be mine?

Didn't I know?
How it would go,
If I knew from the start,
Why am I falling apart?

Wasn't it good
Wasn't he fine?
Isn't it madness,
He won't be mine?

But in the end,
He needs a little bit
More than me,
More security,
He needs his fantasy and freedom,
I know him so well,
It took time to understand him,

I know him so well

Current Song Playing

2010-05-13T11:20:00.004+08:00

[It's heaven when you wake up each morning, having a song in your heart. It's heaven whenever you touch base with your heart and get into your 'inner world', there's a song playing... Just like when you walk into any music store, you'll hear the shop playing a current song track from an album. If God visited the inner recesses of your heart, what would the track that's playing on the 'album of your heart' ? mmmh.... Let's sing a new song unto Him, make melody in your heart to the Lord most high...]

Think about it... He never sleeps... He watches over us... He is the Great Intercessor... interceding for us...

Psalm 121...

YOU WATCH OVER ME

You never let my feet slip

You watch over me

There is no need to worry

You watch over me

You're the shade from the hot sun

You watch over me

You're my comfort when the day's done

You watch over me

And I fix my eyes on You

You're higher than

Any mountain

How bright You are

More than any star

You never sleep...

You watch over me

I am not God’s second choice…

2010-04-22T23:42:00.005+08:00

How it all began…

It all began with diligence in seeking understanding of the times we are in. I attempted to study the charts on the 70-weeks prophecy which God gave Daniel in Dan. 9. I seek to be like the sons of Isaachar, understanding the times and knowing what we ought to do. (2Chron. 12:32).

One of the chart traces the events leading up the Jesus’ second coming. It involves 3 prophetic (i.e. future) time frames in the last days – beginning of birth pangs (like how a pregnant woman would feel), the 7-years of the final history of mankind on earth (the final week) and the events leading to the Age-to-come.

I had lost count on the number of times I studied the chart… though I do remember quite vividly that most attempts were pretty technical and somewhat futile (leaving me exasperated) – especially when I just tried to memorize the facts, so I can get it right and well, say it right. On hindsight, they were not wasted attempts. I just had to keep re-visiting it (albeit the anguish and coming to terms with the I-thought-I-knew-it-but-I-really-don’t moments) and keep asking for the spirit of revelation to enlighten my eyes to see and open my heart to understand.

Setting my heart for understanding…
Yes, like Daniel, I set my heart for understanding (Dan. 10:12). When it’s uphill, I will press in till I am maxed out. Then I will take a break and study other topics in the bible, and revisit it (the charts) when I am ready. That’s what a friend taught me. It worked! Well, I’ll leave it to another day to blog about the 70-weeks prophecy. Studying the charts, with the help of our divine Guide – the Holy Spirit, has left me standing in awe of the certainty of God’s plan for mankind, his all-surpassing wisdom and impeccable leadership. In other words, it just means my jaw has dropped. Where's my jaw now? I can’t find it...or rather I have no time to find it because I am still amazed every time I think about it. Save the picking up. I wonder… in heaven, do the saints have their mouths wide open in awe of the beautiful One? I wonder…

Here comes the main part…
So much for the introduction… now moving on to the main gist of why I entitle this post – I am not God’s second choice.

Have you ever read Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation for everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

First for the Jew, then for the Gentile… Reading this statement leaves me with two major questions. Firstly, what does this mean? Why first for the Jew (them?), then for the Gentile (me?). Bible study tells me that salvation came to us through a people group that God has chosen. And because of their rejection of the gospel, salvation came to us who believe.

Ouch… Is this...I mean... is this the good news? How come it comes with a feeling of… well… erm... I am... I am the ...‘second choice’… They don’t want it, so here it is, it’s yours if you believe. That’s what my human understanding tells me.

Skip... Next question... So am I, are we Gentiles, thus God’s 'second choice'?

I never had a chance to fully grasp the answers. I think I just glossed over it, thinking even if I am the second choice, God is good and He is God and is ‘kind enough’ to offer me His salvation when I choose to believe, so don’t ‘complain’ or think too much. Sigh… so superficial right? Or maybe I'm too afraid to find out the answers. Or too laid back to press in to know God more. Thank God He never let me go…

When I recently studied the 70-weeks prophecy again in the book of Daniel (remember I mentioned this in my long introduction?), I asked myself, so what is this 70-weeks prophecy about? I found out that it is God’s salvation plan for Israel, where they will once again receive their Messiah into their land and into their hearts. And as I delved deeper into the events in the prophetic time frames, my heart stirred as I understood how God’s salvation plan for Israel and the Gentile nations will unfold. I was astounded and could identify with what Paul said in Romans 11:33,

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?
Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

So I was led to read Romans 9-11 again. I was intrigued and wooed by the Holy Spirit to dig deeper... That’s where the answers to my two questions (which I have long forgotten and placed on the back burner) unfolded. God, mind you, did not forget my questions. He was probably waiting for me to grow in my understanding before He can unravel more truths to me.

The (mind-blowing) answers to my questions…
You see, I have read through Romans 9-11 many times. Yes, even sat under an enlightening teaching of the topic 'Understanding Israel' where Romans 9-11 were extensively covered. I say this to emphasize that what we read, hear, take heed and keep in our hearts, God will give Eureka! moments down the road and help us understand and go deeper. And that just wows our heart, doesn't it?

It is apparent that God's salvation plan for Israel is pivotal in the 70-weeks prophecy. The Mastermind of the whole plan, had it all worked out, yes, right from the beginning. That's why it is called prophecy. The saints of old received the word concerning the future (prophecy). The word is fulfilled in our time. Some have happened, while others have yet to come.

First question answered - As Gentiles, it is critical to re-connect with God's purposes for Israel. Only by understanding and contending for God's purposes for Israel will we ourselves enter in God's purposes. Through Israel's rejection of God, the salvation plan of Gentiles came into effect (Rom. 9:25)!

Though Israel has rejected their Messiah and is subjected to judgment, God has reserved a remnant in Israel so that God will space the world of (more) judgment because of the remnant (Rom.9:28). Thus the current state of Israel's rejection of their Messiah is a picture of a group of people pursuing the law and not seeking God by faith. They have a zeal for God that is not according to knowledge or truth.

Thus God will provoke Israel to jealousy by raising up a nation (who is not a nation) (Rom. 10:19) for God has not given up on Israel. What's more... Rom. 11:12 tells us, "Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more is their fullness!"

Woa... So this is it. Recognise God's way of bringing salvation to all, through a people group. The mystery of Israel is seen here - their rejection of the gospel of salvation has led to salvation coming to the Gentiles who believe. So it explains why 'first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.' It is because of Israel that salvation came to us! This may sound the same as my understanding during bible study, but there's an exclamation mark now, because I encountered this truth in my heart!

Second question answered - The blindness of Israel (from the gospel of salvation), is ordained by God! God planned it! When I internalised this truth, I had a realisation that I am not God's second choice. Not at all! He had me in mind. All the time! He did not leave me out in His plan only to add me in when someone else vacated a space. He planned it all.

Rom. 11:8 "God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day."

Rom. 11:25-26, "... that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved.."

And what's more. It's not just about Israel, not just about the Gentile nations... but it's about God and his plan for us to transit us into the Age-to-come. It's all about God! I can't even write anymore (pause) because this understanding surpassed me and blows me away!

My response...
When these truths hit me, I cried hard... I cried long... I said to God, "Can I dwell in this truth longer? Because for so many years I felt I was like a second choice to You, when all along, I am Your choice. I am in your plan. You are thinking about me. You have me in your mind and heart, in a way that I didn't and couldn't understand. I just want to dwell in this truth..."

I am touched that God is always there for me in a way that I could not fathom. How did He feel when I couldn't understand His heart for me? Oh how He must have reached out to me and loved me in ways that I didn't know and couldn't understand why He did what He did (the left hand aka invisible activities of God!). I couldn't understand because here I was feeling like 'second choice' when He was treating me like His treasured possession. I cried hard cos I could feel the shame of being a second choice before God, and that was being wiped away in that split second, forever.

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand'

When I awake, I am still with You." ~ Psalm 139:17-18

God thinks about me... Oh how often He thinks about me... I can't even count how many million billion times... more than a cuppa sand grains I can hold in my hands... My heart just melts in the revelation of this truth...

And now I stand tall, yet humble before the all wise God. I can, like what my friend says, walk around with my chest out (ting xiong zhuo ren) because I am God's choice. It feels great. And I stand with my older brother, Israel, in yearning for and looking forward to greater days ahead, growing in deeper understanding of God's heart in His salvation plan for Israel and the nations as the Day draws nearer, and partnering with God to usher in the finest hour for the saints.

By the way, hope you don't mind my 'drop-jaw' look. It's cool you know =)

Meet Me Halfway

2010-03-19T12:18:00.002+08:00

[One of the things I enjoy most when I set my heart to spend time with God, is to listen to Him first, and talk to Him...before I proceed with my plans to read or write. For someone like me, who is totally inclined to do-this-do-that-task-task-task, it is a deliberate restraint to just listen... It turns out that I enjoy such moments of connecting... of gazing into His heart... of devotion... and at times He moves my heart in such a way that I could only express in a poem. So here it is!]

Meet me halfway

Across the road

Lest I grow weary

Lest I grow faint, I pray

I'll come near

Nearer than you thought

Just by your side

And lead you by My right hand, He says

What God is this

That He would come so near

What King of mine

Who stooped so low and lifted me up (Psalm 18:35)

He raises the poor from the dust (1 Sam 1:8)

And lifts the begger from the ash heap

To set them among princes

And make them inherit the throne of glory

I say meet me halfway

He says I'll come just for you

All the way

All for love

He is the wind beneath my wings

He is my strength when I am weak

He is my voice when I couldn't speak

He saw the best there was in me

Till I see Him face to face

Till I join Him in His glory

I will rise

And I will run

Halfway

All the way

Forging ahead, hearts ablaze

For Jesus, my Great Reward

Weak Gaze of a Lovesick Heart

2010-02-15T14:46:00.002+08:00

[Are you recently reminded of some-thing/one that meant lots to you, that you threw away from your world… just because of your One true love? While you gaze at your One true love, your First Love, the First and the Last, who walks among the seven golden lampstands and who watches over you, you find that the gaze becomes so weak… because what you threw away tugged at your heart, and is giving you second thoughts… ]

I’m gazing….
Oh but with a gaze so weak…
At the One who has captured my heart
He who holds the seven stars in His hands
And who holds my heart…

I’m hesitating…
And considering the things that hindered and easily entangled
The things that were behind me
That I clung onto
That had my affections and filled my world…

I’m crying out…
Strengthen my resolve!
Give me grace to overcome!
Sustain me O Holy Spirit!
Refresh me with the revelations of my Beloved One!

I’m lovesick…
The more I seek You
The more I find You
The more I find You
The more I love You…

I am the Rose

The joy for which You died

And this I know

I move You with delight

And when my heart condemns on every side

I take refuge in the truth

I am the Rose to You

I am the Rose

I am the Lily

I am Yours

I'm Your beauty

~ Better than ashes (Merchant Band)

Key Verses:

Song of Solomon 2:1 - I am the rose of Sharon (depicts God's inheritance), and the lily of the valleys (depicts a weak plant that is pure and beautiful to God).

Revelation 1 - Attributes of God...

Have I told You lately that I love You?

2009-12-23T10:21:00.013+08:00

[May God's love abound in our hearts this Christmas... love for Him and for one another. As we pursue the knowledge of God - who He is and His heart - may we not lose sight of His love...for so what if we have knowledge (only) that puffs up when we have not love that builds up...]

"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." ~ 1Corinthians 13:2

" Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up..." ~ 1Corinthians 8:1


"Ai," the traditional for love (愛) consists of a heart (middle) inside of "accept," "feel," or "perceive," which shows a graceful emotion. It can also be interpreted as a hand offering ones heart to another hand.

In Hebrew, Ahava is the most commonly used term for both interpersonal love and love of God

New Year Resolution? Take the Litmus Test of Maturity in Christ

2009-12-18T15:34:00.013+08:00

Are you looking for and hastening Jesus' second coming?

Jolted up in the middle of the night, I was confronted with this thought. Do I yearn and long for God to come back? Or am I just contended with 'doing church' and getting on with life here on earth?

In my heart, I knew the answer... and I shudder...

A divine revelation... a holy dissatisfaction...

Looking for... a yearning and longing for Jesus. Who? Who is this Jesus? That you so yearn for Him? Who is the object of our affection and all of our love?

"Who do you say that I am?" The Church must once again answer this question. Is He our Shepherd King, Saviour and ...? Peter answered the question correctly, with the right understanding (Matt 16:16) and on this revelation, Jesus built the Church. So even now, the End-Time generation must answer this question to usher in the greatest movement here on earth - His second coming. Who do we say that He is?

This yearning and longing is not something we can make happen. It takes God to love and yearn for God. We can set our heart to love Him, but we need to let Him light the fire in our hearts. That takes time to cultivate - both in our own prayer closet and in corporate settings. (Read the Book of Joel). We must not be mistaken that intimacy with God is something that can be obtained out of a vending machine - go get zapped and tada! Hungering and pressing in for God is not a fashionable posture that fades away. It is here to stay in our lives, if we really want Him, yes, through all seasons of our lives. We are made to love Him, all the time. Period. Some say it's hard. I like what a wise sage says - that's a normal Christian life!

At the back of my mind, is it still surreal that Jesus will return in my lifetime? Or have I awoken to the fact that His coming is very near? Even my neighbour's kid can do the Maths...Matt 24:32. 1948 (birth of Israel) + 100years (~one generation) ~ 2048. And if it is very near, am I prepared for it? Can I stand? More so, am I prepared to rise up in matured love and partnership with Jesus when He returns? Jesus...my Bridegroom! King! and Judge!

Hastening...Wisdom and spiritual understanding of the times and knowing what we ought to do. What is the Holy Spirit saying to the Church? Are we paying attention and thus doing things in God's way? The Holy Spirit is orchestrating a global prayer and worship movement that precedes the great harvest and the glory of His coming. Before His coming, there will be shakings (Read Haggai 2). There is a role for the Church to play and not just stand on the sidelines. Even now, we need to press in for the spiritual understanding of God's will so that we can live our lives worthy of Him.

Titus 2:13

"...looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.."

2 Peter 3:11-13

"...Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God..."

2 Peter 3:13-15

"Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.Therefore, beloved,looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and considerthat the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—"

So if there must be one thing that I check myself and my ministry - some call it a new year resolution - reflection and projection - this question will be asked - am I looking for and hastening His coming?

If this has set you thinking, read more here...

Prophetic Song - David Brymer, Misty Edwards, and Jacob Hanley

2009-11-25T15:33:00.003+08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1lTJUFHiOE

Us:

Everything I do, I do for You, My Love

I open my heart...

All that I do, I do for You, My Love...

My heart is open to You

My heart is forever open

I will return to My First Love

It was better (for me) there

Jealous... jealousy... come lay hold of me

God:

Mine is a love that will never let you go...

I'm married to a harlot

My love will make her pure

I will beautify her

I will make her all mine

I will make all things news

Beauty for your ashes

Joy for all your mourning

Us:

Love me, wash me, make me new...

Here I am

For I can't get away, can't get away, from Your Love