the time of singing has come!

im so tireeed. you'll have to bear with me for the next three months. This sem is going to be crazy. ):

*prays hard*

en hao introduced this song to me. I love it man! kind of touches my heart. I hope choir will learn to sing it soon. (: can go get it at http://www.defordmusic.com/becausehelives.htm download the first one by Becki Madsen and Kirk Mortensen!

Because he lives; because he rose in mighty triumph from the grave
I put my trust in him, and seek to follow him in faith
Because he lives

Because he lives, I shall find strength to stand against the tempter's power
He is my refuge and defense in every troubled hour
Because he lives

Chorus:
Because he lives I can bear whatever burden may be mine
I am encircled in the arms of love divine because he lives
Because he lives he will banish every shadow of my pain
Every sorrow will be swallowed up in him
For in his hand is healing for the weary soul
This I know because he lives

Because he lives my heart is filled with peace amid a world of fear
And through the blindness of the night, in him I rest secure
Because he lives

Because he lives there is no task so great that I cannot endure
I bear no heartache that his tender mercy cannot cure
Because he lives

(Repeat chorus)

Because he lives I will fear no darkness
Because he lives I will walk in light
Because he lives I will praise his kindness
Because he lives hope shines ever bright
Because he lives I will seek his righteousness
Because he lives I'll follow where he leads
Because he lives I shall conquer even death
And I shall live because he lives!

Because he lives I will rejoice in Christ and glorify his name
And with the willing voice of gratitude proclaim: My Savior lives!
Because he lives he will banish every shadow of my pain
Every sorrow will be swallowed up in him
For in his hand is healing for the weary soul
This I know because he lives

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:31-34

Do you truly understand the meaning of this verses?

I was debating with an old friend about life and money. Basically, he is a Christian too and believes in being a boss or investor, earning enough so that can retire early to spend more time with God. He believes in what he calls financial education, that is being aware of the financial world, how you can earn money without sacrificing your time for loved ones or God. In short, he believes in being his own boss is the right thing to do cos you can earn more money without spending too much time and so have time for God. But I saw something quite not right in that lifestyle..

What about the parable of the rich fool (see Luke 12)? being your own boss requires even more effort and time. you will be worried abt ur investments all the time.. are you sure you can really relax and serve God and let ur employees do their work? But he raised the eg of macdonalds and microsoft, saying that you just need the right financial education.. Sigh. but why be so bothered by all this money-making? He said so that he wouldnt be burdened by the lack of money when the need arise....

haii.. i have only one point. that is to trust in God to provide. Why worry if you have money for the year ahead? why worry if you have clothes for the week ahead? why worry if you have food for tmr? If God were to take your life now, everything is gone. God asks us not to worry. Seek first the kingdom of God and the rest will follow after. There are many testimonies of how God really provide for those who truly seek and serve Him. We never see them lacking anything. I also have my own testimony. I thought I couldnt last the months ahead. There was a point in time I got so poor that I didnt know what to do, how to live.. But I thank God He taught me to trust in Him. of course, i still worry sometimes.. but I try to hold my faith in my faithful God. That He will indeed provide for me and my family. and true enough, I am not lacking anything now still.

Many people think they shld earn more money now while they are young so that they may retire early to serve God. Why give your precious youth to the world when you can offer it up to the Lord? Why wait until then? What if you shld die tmr?

God demands that we make a choice between Him and Money. There can never be both, its either or. Not that money itself is evil, but the one who uses it to control man is. God doesn't want us to be trapped by Satan. Yes, we need money in this life. It is something that we uses to make transaction with. In a way, i feel that it is just a "middleman". But we shouldnt worry about not having enough, even if it is for very valid reasons, eg a sick family member or for children's education. Because our heavenly father will definitely not withhold blessings from those who truly follow in His ways.

ok but basically, my friend isn't the type to go all out to earn money and he claims that he isnt the type earning money for say luxury living, but to really earn money for a rainy day, for his family... so i just pray to God to keep him and preserve him such that he may not become a victim of the devil... (:

May God guides us always.


Here is a portion of our conversation which I found to be totally amusing how our concepts can be so different.

me: i believe in making money the down to earth way. u may say im stupid (:
him: thats not stupid
thats just the way that will bring u closer to the devil thats all
because its because of the down to earth way
most christians have lesser time
and drift away from god
and say that they will come back to god after the retire
and they can only retire when they 55-60 or some never even retire
money is already a trap liao
the devil want u to work ur life for it
and yet u want to step in it -.-
for me i rather find ways where i wont give my time to the devil but give it fully to god
because i dun have to spend time and commitment to earn money
because my money will do the job

I mean, i thought down to earth then can draw nearer to God!? you just have to learn to put God first in your life thats all... *shrugs* lol kind of weird. :P

Its back to school.

I promised myself I'll devote my three months to the Lord. Have I really done so? Well... Im glad that I am attending services regularly already, even youth service and choir fellowship. And i thank God that I've grown closer to people in church, even the younger youths. Im no longer hiding myself in a corner in church, keeping that faint smile on my face, hoping desperately for people to come talk to me. Im glad I managed to bring a few friends to church.

I can say that practically sums up my three months break. other than my work at NOSH. Nope, no partying all night long. no overseas trip with friends. didn't learn driving. didn't take up any course. Most of the time my mind was on the matters of God, how to care for His flock and how to bring people back to His fold.

So much so that I forgot how to communicate with friends outside church? The start of the school term has not been fantastic. It was alright.. I can feel God's abiding presence... but I feel somewhat lonely. As usual, I went along with my own decisions, taking up the modules and tutorial slots that I want and not letting peers' choices affect me too much.. Ha.. Am I a loner? Maybe.. But who isn't lonely on this planet? I do feel myself drawn further away from my friends... while I draw closer to God? Is it supposed to be this way? I am not so sure myself. Many might think I am weird, strange, eccentric? Am I really so? Am I abnormal? Maybe I dun belong to the norm.. Anyway i dun even know whats the norm nowadays. I try to live by God's standards and ways.. haven I? But it is hard.. when the people around you are living their lives by another standard, the worldly standard. I guess I dun open up easily to people. It isn't that I dun want to talk or share about things and thoughts. I just dunno how to start! And Im not good with large groups actually. I was never a clique-person, more a one-to-one person. And so if you were to really come to me and talk to me, you will be surprised by how much I am willing to share with you about me.

I think I need time to adjust. Perhaps the past three months I have been hibernating within God's presence. Now that its back to school and the mad rush till the end of the semester, I think I need to readjust myself back to be "in this world but not of the world". So friends, give me time if I dun seem to be myself.

Hallelujah, praise the Lord!

I'm so happy my friend finally came my church again!! after like 2 years since she first came...

The parable on the persistent widow and on the man asking for bread from his friend at midnight (Luke 11:5-8, 18:1-5) gave me the courage to continue. Although each time, having to ask her to church again after the last rejection, was hard, thank God that I managed to esteem God's work to be better than my own "face". I really didn't want to close the path for her.

I'm so GLAD she came! And even happy for her that she got her doubts and questions answered quite adequately. Indeed, she had gone one big round before coming back to God. She had gone to other churches during these two years, had her hopes high on God but later dashed by the things she observe as well.

Truly, God makes everything beautiful in His time. Perhaps the two years was for her to learn more about herself and her own faith. Perhaps God wanted to give her time to mature before showing her the way again.

Two years may seem long to us. But two years is not too late. It is probably just the right time for her to come to know God all over again. God knows when is the right time. I'm so glad God preserves her and continues to watch over her all these while. Every doubts she raised, and every questions she pondered over while attending those churches were probably God's prompting. To move and guide her in the correct direction. I am just so happy that she was directed back to True Jesus Church again!

On a more personal level, I really hope that she can come worship God together with me of course. But let's not rush things.. pray that she may continue to seek God and grow in His grace. quite excited and overwhelmed by emotions when she responded positively today. I am so touched by God's grace and mercy and marvelled at His wonderful plans!

Oh God, now that You have opened the way, open the eyes and ears of our hearts. Let us see and hear You.

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23-24

(1.) With God, consisting in the knowledge of his will (Job 22:21; John 17:3); agreement with his designs (Amos 3:2); mutual affection (Rom. 8: 38, 39); enjoyment of his presence (Ps. 4:6); conformity to his image (1 John 2:6; 1:6); and participation of his felicity (1 John 1:3, 4; Eph. 3:14-21).

(2.) Of saints with one another, in duties (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:1; 1 Thess. 5:17, 18); inordinances (Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:46); in grace, love, joy, etc. (Mal. 3:16; 2Cor. 8:4); mutual interest, spiritual and temporal (Rom. 12:4, 13; Heb. 13:16); in sufferings (Rom. 15:1, 2; Gal. 6:1, 2; Rom. 12:15; and in glory (Rev. 7:9).

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary


I love fellowships.

As long as its fellowship with church brethrens, I like it. Even if I may not be exactly close to any of them. Even though I may not know what they are talking about, what secrets they share, what programmes they have later.....

But I guess, knowing that we are all of God and for God, this is a beautiful thing to me. And knowing that God watches over us is another wonderful thought! We need no words to bridge the gap between each other.

And I usually dun mind just listening and observing people. And if they are church brethrens, wouldnt it be even better? Hopefully, I can understand these people better and care for God's flock better.

Im glad they asked me out. Cos' I usually murmured why I am excluded from such fellowships. :P Today's prayer was good too. May God continue to strengthen me in the spirit.

I burst into tears after reading my brother's blog. I think I was praying after reading it and somehow, I just couldn't stop the tears anymore. so I let the tears flow. I realised that I dun cry in front of people anymore. I cry only to God.

I asked for God's mercy once again. His mercy on my family. I heard testimonies before about how God seek you to save your whole family as well. I believe in that and I look forward to that day. But what can happen when I dun even have the courage to share with them my faith and testify in front of them? I dun talk to them regarding God. I am weak. I justify my (non)action by thinking that Im waiting for the right time that God will prepare. But most likely it is I who is not making the effort. I can only cry in the silence of the night when all had fallen asleep, thinking about their souls and about the last days.

I am very scared. Very scared that I'll be the one to close this path for my own family. What will God do to me then? I surely wont deserve His grace.

I am very scared that I will cause my brother's downfall. He's sixteen, the most impressionable period of one's life. I wish he come to know God, come to experience His love and grace. But with each day i delay, Im afraid he might be sinking deeper and deeper into the evil, secular world. I am very scared, I keep telling God. Somemore, youths his age in church are already starting to build up their faith and serving God. Am I depriving him of this chance?

What about my sister? My mother? My father? All of them need God. They need the assurance that God can give in this world of toil and hardships. I am freely enjoying His love and grace now (even though toil and sufferings continue). But what about my family? Am I depriving them of this wonderful gift? But they are not stretching their arms out to receive it either. Can I force their arms open?

Haven I been a good testimony for God? Haven I changed for the better? Haven they see the change in me?

What must I do, God? Haven I been trying hard enough? Haven I been seeking after God's heart? Haven I tried to preach? Haven I tried to pastor Your sheeps? Haven I tried to be a living testimony for You? Yet, what more shall I do now?

I really love my family. though its indeed a big difference when I compare them to church brethrens. I had a wonderful friday service today, but when I reached home, Im like, realising how secular my family is. But still, they are my family and I pray for their souls.

How about my friends? Those who do not believe, as well as those who do believe? What must I still do? Im trying to be like Apostle Paul. but its so tough! and tiring... esp if you feel like you are walking alone on this journey.

As I pray for my family, I tried to convince myself that God will save them.. but I just ended up crying even more. Probably many had been through my current stage before. I am definitely not alone. But still, it is a tough stage.

Im really worried for my brother. want to be there for him more. want to let him know that the family cares for him. I also want to be there for my sister, wish to share her burden and have her telling me more of her troubles. For my pa as well. Although not very close to him, but dun wish to see him overworked. Dun wish to see my mom sick as well...

Need to pray for more strength from God. This is the race I have chosen to run. I have only one goal. But I pray that I can convince the people around me, especially my family, to sign up for this race as well. The closing date is nearing...

Perhaps it has also been a while since I last cried. Indeed, it is a relief from all the fatigue that has been bugging me as well.

Rest well on sabbath, meixing.

Have it your way? Or do it God's way?

What is God's way?

" "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." " Isaiah 55:8-9

So will we never know His ways then?

A sister in church was recently jobless and several attempts to find jobs in Singapore keep failing and she had to go back and forth between Singapore and Malaysia. This has lasted for a couple of months already and she just went back again today. This made her wonder if perhaps God's will was for her to remain in Malaysia as she has things to care about over there actually. I have been praying for her to be able to understand God's will and if His will is really so, to let us have the courage to accept her remaining in Malaysia for long-term.

And the question remains. How do I know God's will?

I say, by trial and error. and this would require the Spirit of God to lead us. I thank God that He is slowly letting me realise His will and His commission for me. I have almost reach the end of the pit but He picked me up again. Why do I say trial and error?

When you try to solve a maths sum by trial and error, you first choose a random number. Same thing, in the initial stages, I didnt know God and my ways were against His ways. Then as the Spirit of God rebuked me and brought understanding to me, gradually I worked hard at changing my old self and to put on Christ. This is similar to when you subsequently modify the number, shaping it so that the results will get closer and closer to the ideal one. Of course, one is bound to fail as man is weak. And that is analogous to when the maths result suddenly turn haywire!

But we still work hard to shape it so that we end up with the ideal result. and that ideal is God's ways.

Importantly, with trial and error, I dun mean we anyhow randomly sin and see if it incurs God's wrath! That would be testing God already! But what I mean is to shape your life and your ways gradually and continually, each time improving so that the result gets nearer and nearer to the ideal -- which is God's ways.

For me, knowing God's will is somewhat linked to knowing God's commission for me as well.. i realised that God's commission to me (other than to preach and to pastor his flock) is also to overcome the weakness of my flesh. I see it as a commission because I realised that overcoming weakness of the flesh is not something that can be done and put aside with. Rather, it is something we have to work at throughout our entire lives! Each of us has got our own weaknesses and God is most pleased to see us relying on Him to do away with our weaknesses.

And so, by "trial and error", I am trying hard to keep to God's will. Trying my best to present myself unblemished in front of Him. I must accomplish this personal commission well.

This is the way I have chosen, the way I am going to take for the rest of my life until the day I meet Him. This is God's way.

Today, there are many ways in the world, many paths you can choose to take. But have you considered your own ways? Are they the right ways? Where are you headed? Are they pleasing to the Lord?

" "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! "You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes." " Haggai 1:4-6

If we truly have the heart to seek Him, He will most definitely teach us His ways and help us stay on this road to glory.

" Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. " Micah 4:2

Peace to all.