Monday, September 29, 2008

pictures from soaking session

here are some of the pictures and words received by God's little darlings during soaking at our cell meeting on 19 Sep 08


we had an awesome time, thank you Lord!!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

what i learnt through a trial

something strange happened yesterday morn

it happened just before daybreak, i'd been sleeping for almost 24 hours since the evening before, the first that i've fallen into such a deep sleep, probably deadbeat from going after after a kid who was running all over the place and also sick from flu of sorts

i felt and saw huge strong hands pressing against my ears while i was technically asleep. i couldn't move, couldn't make any audible noise, knew something was not right, and tried to move away, the hands pressed harder when i moved away, and it hurt slightly, when i tried to make the hand go away, but another hand (coz the 2 hands were still on my ears) did funny things on my tummy. i panicked but couldn't make a sound, couldn't get up, nor wake up, i could see the room, but knew i was in sleep mode

it then dawned on me to call out to Jesus (how could i have waited so long to?!!) so i did and the thing went away instantly.. whatever it was, Jesus is always with us, and ready to come to our rescue, if only we'd look to Him! i came to, and put my hands in the air and praised God! and gave my heart to Jesus again

i learnt that in trials, we must look to God first of all, and not as a last resort, not to try to overcome things with our own might but to rely on Jesus in all situations, that i must always look to Him first.

i've never experienced this before, but know that i have nothing to fear, because JESUS ruLeZ and our victory is in Him,

that same morning as i came to and waited upon God, i realized i'd been healed of my terribly sore throat and sickness. Hallelujah!
Jesus rUleZ.. Jesus rUleZ.. Jesus rUleZ

***

i asked God to forgive me for not totally relying on Him, for not instinctively looking to Him, and to search my heart and set my heart right before Him, coz i dun wanna allow this to happen again, i wanna close all doors to things that are not from God and allow only God to rule my heart.

felt a breakthrough as i obeyed God and did what i sensed He wanted me to do - ask for forgiveness, He showed me this fear of man and invisible wall that i've built around myself, and as a result i've said and done things, and/or not said nor done things (eg avoiding, running away, resisting), whether consciously or otherwise, this is not right, and not what He wants, He wants an open loving giving heart, not just to Him but to all whom He love.. and He handheld me and freed me!! the act of asking for forgiveness and prayer does wonders. Thank You Lord my life is Yours.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Holy Spirit Baptism

Have you received the Holy Spirit?
When the apostle Paul met the twelve believers in Ephesus (Acts 19:2) he asked them a question - "Have you received the Holy Spirit?" They answered "No, they hadn't even heard about receiving the Holy Spirit". Paul prayed together with them and "the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied". The same thing happened to the 120 people waiting on God's promise of His Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on the day we now call Pentecost. They also spoke with tongues and prophesied (Acts 1 & 2 ).

What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit for?
Jesus said that we would "receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" in Acts 1:8. Power to live holy lives, power to witness, power to pray, to understand scripture, to minister, and to lay our lives down (Acts 9:17-20; John 16:14; Luke 24:24; Rom . 8:26). The Holy Spirit is to be received by all believers so that they can receive, with the power, certain "gifts" from God. Gifts of healing, power wisdom, power faith, power knowledge, power miracle and power to speak the truth of God. In other words , the Holy Spirit is to be received to receive power to be the active "body of Christ" ministering in the earth today. The Apostle Paul said for us to "earnestly desire spiritual gifts" (1 Cor. 12:31, 14:1)

How can I receive the Holy Spirit?
With other Spirit filled Christians or privately, raise your hands up to God in thankfulness and praise. You might close your eyes or leave them open. The important thing is to "ask" - believing God's promise is for you - and then to "receive" of your own free will the blessing of God, called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Start to praise God with your voice, tongue and lips. He will not force you to speak in tongues but you may if you wish. As the "Truth" of God's promised blessing fills you, let it set you free. Step out in faith. Try to say something in a language that only God could understand speaking mysteries to God (1 Cor. 14:2). Maybe you will only be bold enough to speak a few syllables but as you boldly repeat them God will bless you with more . Like a child, your new language of prayer to God will grow. Don't be afraid. This language is not for the benefit of other people it is between you and your Lord and Savior. You will probably not even understand what you are saying, but be assured that God says that as you use this prayer language you will be built up and become stronger in faith (Jude 20). Your private worship of God will be blessed. You do not pray in tongues with your mind but with your spirit (1 Cor. 14:14-15) you are praying with y our spirit to God who is a spirit (John 4:24).

Even if you do not have the faith to speak in tongues at this time, its important that you desire to (1 Cor. 14:1,5). One day you may just find yourself doing so. Nevertheless because you invited the Holy Spirit to come into the "house" of your life He ha s (Rev. 3:20). You will therefore find a new intimacy with Him as you worship and study God's ways. A new "fire" will burn in your life. A new fervency for God will be experienced and a new level of faith will be your. From time to time you may find the a rdor of your fellowship at a lower level. No need for alarm - just repent of your distraction and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you anew. There will always be only one "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" but there can be many fillings of the Holy Spirit of God (Ep h. 3:14) God wants you to either be hot or cold - never ever be satisfied with a lukewarm Christian life (Rev 3:14-22). As you walk in the Spirit you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:16-25).

Extracted from Holy Spirit Baptism

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

book of james

today has been an extra special day.
i received a new song while singing on my way to work

was supposed to go for an audition in the evening which didn't happen after all, and instead found out on the way home that pastor michael was teaching book of james at coos tonite! it was held at 308, and pastor michael kept saying he loved the room so much, it was so cosy and it feels like home and family, it does feel really warm in the heart when he said that. 308 is special becoz that's where we have children ministry, and we ask God to bless every corner of the room every Sunday morning :)

i wouldn't miss listening to pastor michael for the world, he is a man of God, i've been so deeply blessed by his sermons..
pastor michael has been diagnosed with cancer for the past 18 months and doctors had given him negative reports
and today, he shared that he has been totally healed!! doctor's reports show that his cancer cell count is now lower than the average person! Hallelujah!!

he and his wife (it was so so lovely to see them ministering together in partnership:)) has just returned from a long holiday in England, Jersey island, where he received a word from a man he didn't know - who told him that he is cleansed and darkness has left him, and he instantly knew he had been healed. God had given him faith using someone he didn't know. and he shared that faith is a gift from God, and it can only come from God, when God speaks, when you hear from Him personally

God works in amazing ways. obedience is so important, how being obedient to God to do the things that He want us to do can mean life or death, no matter how big (difficult) or small (unimportant) it seems to us, sometimes it doesn't make sense to us, or may even seem strange, but what matters is God's purpose and only He knows best, and we must be obedient to do what He has given us to do, whatever it may be. die to self and follow Jesus.. amen

during lunch at hawker, and the tissue auntie came by again, see her almost every week, today she said that her husband was ill and had to see doctor, asked her if she wanted prayers, but she declined, put one packet of tissue in my bag and was thankful to God that i have that pack of tissue in my bag during bible study that evening

i felt warm in that room, though i knew the air con's working and knew Holy Spirit was with me. once pastor michael's wife started praying, tears started rolling, and i couldn't stop it, and it just kept streaming down as pastor michael talked. i think i must have teared non-stop for abt an hour (the pack of tissue was really handy, as i used up the pack, i was thinking, God, how.. it's going to run out soon.. and that's my only pack.. i'd be really messy with so much tears pouring..), till i felt my eyes become puffy, but God is good, my tears stopped just before the pack ran out. what He said tonite just touched my heart so. God taught me about faith, that i can rest in Him come what may and that i can be happy and rejoice all the time because i have Him

every time i experience God, i'd wish the whole world was with me to experience the same, i'd wish i'd had invited everyone i know to church with me, how could i let them miss out on something so wonderful, yet i love to experience God alone, so that i can focus fully on him and not be distracted by the person next to me..

book of james (1:1-13) teaches about faith, trials and tribulations, the same thing (tearing involuntarily) happened to me when i read job on the plane to nepal.. i am ready God, because i have You. help me to be joyful always, no matter what comes and let me grow in maturity in ministry

God direct me, inspect me, correct me, protect me, and perfect me.

ODB

ODB today is the the same verse that crystal shared with me yesterday evening!

READ: Genesis 3:1-13

The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” —Genesis 3:12

Not long ago my wife asked me to pick up a belated birthday card for her brother. Scanning the rack, I ran across a card with a chimpanzee on the front holding a phone receiver in his hand.

This is what it said: “I better not hear . . . about how upset you are that I missed your birthday. I mean, how do you know I wasn’t in a serious car accident and lying in some ditch out in the middle of nowhere? . . . Well, I may have forgotten your birthday, but I didn’t exactly get any phone calls to see if I was okay. All I know is you better have a good excuse why I didn’t hear from you on your birthday!”

The extent to which people avoid legitimate responsibility is almost laughable, but it is nothing new. When God confronted Adam for eating the forbidden fruit, he chose to blame his wife and God: “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate” (Gen. 3:12).

When we have done something wrong, we can either accept legitimate blame for what we have done or shift the blame to others. The way that pleases God and results in spiritual growth is to accept personal responsibility for our actions. Irrationally blaming others is no laughing matter. — Dennis Fisher

His eye our secret thoughts behold,
His mercies all our lives enfold,
He knows our purposes untold,
You cannot hide from God! —Ackley


A good test of a person’s character is his behavior when he is wrong.

Bible in one year: Isaiah 25-27; Proverbs 24:13-22


Extracted from facebook today

Monday, September 8, 2008

new song

God gave me a new song this morning for a dear dear friend
and it goes like this

All day
Everyday
soak in Your Love
soak in Your Luuurrrve..
o..
soak in Your Love

i pray that God soak Eng in His amazing love and grace and watch over her and protect her and guide her in all that she does. God is so good and has only the best plans for her, and will teach her to hear Him and see Him and feel Him in her own special way Amen

Sunday, September 7, 2008

special prayer

was asked during morning prayers today whether anyone received special prayers during the Father's blessing (at dinner last friday), i almost blurted out that i did (receive a prayer that was really special).. i've never received such a prayer before.. pastor asked me if i was single or had a family, and i knew he was referring to whether i was married / had children etc, i shook my head and told him that i was actually divorced.. must have sounded guilty saying that, it's not been easy dealing with it especially when God explicitly says that He hates divorce.. even though God had reassured me again and again that He loves me and knows my struggles, and answers my unspoken thoughts

the responses i got for my hesitant reply were really encouraging.. pastor's wife said that i should find another (she also prayed for me to be a mother) and pastor said he wanted to pray against feelings of rejection and for a husband for me! a godly man who loves me and would take care of me..

been telling God lately that i want to love only Him, and i do not want anyone or anything to distract me from Him, and been resisting relationships for a long time, now i just wanna do whatever that pleases God, and will be open if God tells me that is ok, that it is what He wants me to do. i know God loves little children, and i do want to raise up children who will love Him and serve Him and follow Him. i do want to be obedient and do anything that God wants me to.. i really do want to be free from the past and to hold God's hand and go wherever He leads, and not fear the unknown

God reminded me during today's service that He is always with me, that i won't ever be alone, no matter what happens, and that i can always run to Him, and He'll be there for me, i was weeping so hard i couldn't even sing, i could only worship with my tears and silent cries from my heart. thank you Lord for sitting me beside this kind lady who gave me tissue. i love you God

Thursday, September 4, 2008

old pictures

colleagues were looking for dance costume ideas, rummaged & dug up old pics from dance, particularly liked this underwater slideshow.. :)

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

children absorb like a sponge

didn't know the games that we play and songs that we sing together (with my nieces and nephew when they were abt 3 years old) had such impact..

..was happily shocked when my 3 yr old nephew started singing "Lord i love You so" spontaneously by himself after i left the room for a while after singing to him some other new songs from our Lord (this is my 1st new song from God, been singing it to him irregularly since June, but didn't know till today that he actually remembers it and can sing it on his own!! coz he's always been just listening quietly and at many times seemingly distracted with his toys or twanging randomly on my guitar as i sing..?!) God is so awesome!

..just realized that my niece still remembers original word games that i had cooked up and played with her when she was younger (~4yrs old) - when we went out today, she initiated the same word game using different words..

..also learnt that it is important how things are done the first time with kids.. they remember it without reminders and they'll keep doing it the same way the next time.. the games we play at the pool and sequence of play follows the way we did it the first time i brought them to the pool.. and they will consider the routine as complete and that it's only okay to leave, when we've done everything as we did the first time.. (although they'll be flexible if it rains halfway through etc)

..fell asleep telling stories to my niece today and woke up with stickers on my face and arm :)
wonder if it's the punchinello story (you are special by max lucado) that started this.. i remember when i first told it, my nephew (just 2 yr old then) started putting star stickers on me as i told the story, without me telling him to..

Hallelujah! my niece designed this beautiful card yesterday all by herself for Jesus! i only passed her the blank card and she instantly figured out how it worked, and also immediately knew what she wanted to do with it.. make a card for Jesus :)

Thank You Lord for teaching us and blessing our days with love for You and fun and laughter, there's so much to share!