God's Hand in Yours

"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand." (Psalm73:23)

The Lord holds me by my right hand. What words of truth, I am a testimony of that. Last year in June, we had an SP outing in Pulau Ubin. During the course of the outing, we were divided into groups and were tasked to complete activities around most of the island. And my group went along pretty quickly to our first station. In this first station, we were instructed to open a coconut using whatever materials we could find on the ground (ie. sticks and stones etc.). However, one of my teammate had carried a swiss army knife along with him, and so we decided to use it. I had the honour of the first attempt. During the process of trying to open the coconut, I accidentally cut the forefinger on my left hand. I'm a right hander, so naturally the knife was in my right hand. The blade had cut the skin, then went underneath the skin and came out on the other side of my finger, forming a 'V' shape cut on my finger. It probably sounds worse here, I'll show you a picture.



The accident has now left a permanent scar on my finger. But as I look upon the scar now, I am reminded not of how unfortunate I was to have that accident, but I am reminded of how God has been faithful, of how He was faithful even when the accident occurred. Psalm73:23 reminds us that God is always holding us by our right hand, He'll never let us go. That moment of the accident, the knife was in my right hand. And even as the blade went through my finger, God was still holding on to my right hand. He didn't let the blade leave too deep a cut. When I went to see the doctor, he told me that just 0.2cm deeper and there would have been implications. Now that is no joke. 0.2cm. God was holding my right hand as I was holding on to that knife. And now even as I look at the scar, I am always reminded of how God remained faithful, and I testify of His protection.

In this society, the numbers of youths hurting themselves either by slashing themselves or by consuming drugs or alcohol or cigarettes whatsoever, and if you are one of these, and you are wondering if there is even one glimpse of hope in this world, my answer to you is an emphatic yes. Whenever you held the blade to slash your wrists, attempting to shift the emotional hurt to physical pain, or even to just end your life, yet you wake up and wonder why you are still alive, the answer is God. Whether you know Him or not, He holds you by your right hand. And He will never let you hurt yourself more than you can bear, His heart breaks even at your thought of hurting yourself. Friend, if you are one who is thinking of taking your life by jumping off a building, or perhaps you have tried it already, yet somehow you are still alive, let me put it to you that God was holding you., whether you know Him or not.

Such is the love of the Father. As Asaph was writing Psalm73, he had reached a point in his ministry where he felt so dry and weary, doubting himself and God. That's why the opening of Psalm73 holds painful emotions, thoughts of giving up. But when we come towards the end of Psalm73, it's where we realise that Asaph has straightened his thinking, he writes of how God will remain faithful, of how he has a hope in God, and he expresses complete trust in God. In the beginning of Psalm73, Asaph writes of how physically rich the people in the world are. Yet when Asaph concludes Psalm73, this is how he ends, "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." (v28) Hallelujah.


Over the mountains and the sea,
Your river runs with love for me,
and I will open up my heart
and let the Healer set me free.
I'm happy to be in the truth,
and I will daily lift my hands:
for I will always sing of when
Your love came down

I could sing of Your love forever,
I could sing of Your love forever,
I could sing of Your love forever,
I could sing of Your love forever

Let the Earth rejoice
See the risen King
From the glads of praise
He's exalted forever

We will rise with Him
Son of righteousness
And the Earth will shake
In the glory of heaven

See the heavens open wide
And His glory like our God
Fill the earth with salvation
See the nations take His hand
And in righteousness, they stand
This is Jesus generation

Glory, glory, glory, Emmanuel, God is with us

Voice of a Savior

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise You
I'm gonna praise You

In the corners of mind
I just can't seem to find a reason to believe
That I can break free
'Cause you see I have been down for so long
Feel like all hope is gone
But as I lift my hands, I understand
That I should praise You through my circumstance

Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
So much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gonna lose my mind
But I know You wanna see
If I will hold on through these trials
But I need You to lift this load
'Cause I can't take it no more

Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go

Shackles (Praise You) - Mandisa

Where do you go to to fill up the void within you? Where do you go to to find a peace that you haven't known for a long time? Where do you go to to just hear someone say 'I love you'? How far would you go to find your purpose and identity once again?

This post may be for you right now, it may not, but I believe the Lord is speaking to you as you listen to the track and read this. Friend, whoever you may be, the Lord is calling you back into His arms again. I don't know what you've been through, I don't know how you far you've ran, but one thing I do know, and that the Lord is faithful. His ears are never too dull to listen to your cries, His arms never too short to reach you. Friend, today the Savior is calling you back. Broken heart, broken life, return to the Father, He'll take you as you are.

Today I sense the Lord leading me specifically to write to 2 particular groups of people.

The first group. You are afraid to look yourself in the mirror. You are afraid to stand on the weighing scale. You are afraid to open your wardrobe, in case you find yourself not being able to fit in some of your clothes anymore. You think so lowly of yourself. You are stressed up because of how you look. You are disappointed that you can't stay 'good looking' (the way the world describes it). It is affecting your daily life, your emotions, decisions, and work. Friend, hear this. It does not matter to the Lord. Y'know, when you begin to despise yourself, you are despising God. You are blaming Him for creating an 'imperfect' you. And more importantly, you are calling God a liar, because you refute His claim that you are 'fearfully and wonderfully made'. Friend, instead of taking that position, why not let your heart be full of praise and thanksgiving? Let your heart echo that of the Psalmist David in Psalm139:14. Praise God, because it is true that if God made you, took a step back to inspect you, then declared 'Very good', you are very good! Friend, learnt to see the beauty of the Lord in your life. Learn to recognise that the Holy Spirit lives in you and that already makes you special. For your outward looks matter not to God, He's looking at your heart. And it is your heart that He sees, what then does He see? Be more concerned about that.

The second group of people I write this to is those who are going through trials at this current period of time. Recently you've been through something horrible, maybe you lost a race, maybe you received a bad grade, maybe you lost something very important to you, maybe you just made a terrible mistake. Or maybe the things in school/work have been such a strain on you. You are feeling stressed, disappointed, upset, confused, maybe you just don't know what to feel anymore (numbness). Friend, one thing to you, persevere. 'Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.' (Romans5:1-5) REJOICE IN YOUR SUFFERING, BECAUSE YOU CAN REJOICE IN THE HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD! Many times, we ask God to show us His glory, to show us His will, to reveal to us His plans for us etc. But many of us really do not know what we are praying when we pray this kind of prayer. We want to see what God has for us, but we are not prepared to do what it takes. God's plan/will/ways are sovereign and holy, and it cannot be revealed to the unholy. Therefore, in order that God might reveal to us His plans/will for us, He must first prune us of our unholiness. But many of us miss the point. We think of pruning as 'suffering', which is pardonable because it truly is painful. However, we cannot treat the pruning of our lives as something dreadful. Instead of dreading pruning, we should approach it with joy and thanksgiving because we know that God will not give us too much to bear, and because of that, we will emerge victorious, and stronger in the process. Therefore, let our attitudes this day be as such, one of rejoicing, praising the Lord in every circumstance, for we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. The ultimate goal of our suffering is hope in God. Many of us go through suffering and find it pointless because we have missed the point. Suffering, instead of making us hope and trust stronger in the Lord, caused us to drift away from God instead. We began to blame God, and decided to take things into our own hands, thinking we can control everything. Or we take a different approach, we adopt a heck-care attitude. We become numb to whatever we are going through, and in the midst of it harden our hearts. We become so deaf to how the Holy Spirit encourages/comforts us, that we think God doesn't care, and then we blame God. But this should not be so! 'When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone' (James 1:13) No one should be blaming God for his/her own suffering. Instead, one should rejoice that God, by His grace and mercy, prunes and refines us for His glory. Adopt the right attitude in trials, my friend. Life is about choices. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Choose to adopt the right attitude, make the right choices and then the Lord will be on your side. (Not that God's love is conditional, but simply because He is a Holy God, He cannot take the side of unholiness)

Friend, as you are reading this, I pray that you will allow the Lord to speak to you. I don't know about you, but I for one, choose to praise the Lord my God, the very same God who gives and takes away, Blessed Be His Name.

Some people try to listen to the bottom of a bottle
Some people try to listen to a needle in their arm
Some people try to listen to the money in their pocket
Some people try to listen to another's arms

You and I are not that different
We got a void and we're just trying to fill it up
With something that'll give just a little peace
All we want is a hand to reach to
Open arms that say I love you
We'd give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior

Some people try to find it with blind ambition
Some people try to find it where no one else has gone
Some people try to find it in the crowns of victory
Some people get defeated and lose the strength to carry on

You and I are not that different
We got a void and we're just trying to fill it up
With something that'll give just a little peace
All we want is a hand to reach to
Open arms that say I love you
We'd give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior
The voice of a Savior

Some people try to find it in the shadow of a steeple
Some people try to find it in the back row pew
Some people try to find it in the arms of Jesus
That's where I found it, how about you?

You and I are not that different
We got a void and we're just trying to fill it up
With something that'll give just a little peace
All we want is a hand to reach to
Open arms that say I love you
We'd give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior
The voice of a Savior
We'd give anything to hear
The voice of a Savior
The voice of a Savior
The voice of a Savior

Voice of a Savior - Mandisa

Are you getting too busy?

Long before I watched this video on www.tangle.com, I already knew that busy-ness was one of Satan's schemes to keep us away from being in full communion with our Holy God. However, just now as I was watching this video, it was like a reminder to myself that we have really been too busy for our own good.

One part that particularly spoke to me was 3:05, which says 'Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted.' As I read this line, I wonder, what is the true meaning of rest? I was in a Tenet class last week, and Pastor Dennis said this, 'We all need to learn to rest. Many of us think that resting is sitting on the couch and watching TV is resting, but many of us do not realise that playing is hard work!' And it's true, many of us do not know what true rest is. Let me give you an example. If someone is stressed out over work, he/she takes a vacation. The vacation is supposed to allow him/her to rest. But when he/she comes back, he/she takes one more day leave from work to rest from the vacation before going back to work!

And so I can't help but wonder, what is the true meaning of rest? What comes to mind is Psalm23.

PSALM 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

V1 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want'. In school, are you found wanting in terms of results? In the workplace, are you found wanting in terms of promotions? How many of us dare to fully trust God with our grades and promotions? How many of us would be found receiving a bad grade and praising God for it, knowing full well that He is in control? Now I am not saying that we should all be complacent in our studies/work, I encourage all of us to do our best in these areas. Rather, what I am saying is this, how many of us fully understand the power of God in our lives? How many of us trust God with it? Or are we found striving? Are we found wanting? Striving for more of worldly success, or wanting more worldly riches? Again, we come back to the topic of sensuality, which I shall not say more, having written my thoughts in earlier posts. Friends, today allow me to charge you. Dare to trust God fully with your life. Dare to be strong and courageous even in wanting times, even in times of trials and confusion. Dare to trust God. Notice the term is 'I shall not be in need', but it is 'I shall not be in want'. This speak volumes of our priorities when it comes to living our lives. Te Bible tells us that as long as we have food on our tables and clothes on our bodies, we ought to be content. Everything else that comes is a blessing from God. Do not be found wanting, my friend, for you are well taken care of. Your author of your life knows your beginning and your end, and He has everything well taken care of.

V2(a) 'He makes me lie down in green pastures'. Physically speaking, does anyone have to teach us how to lie down? Does anyone have to be forced to lie down? The answer is NO. All of us were born in a lying down position, unless you were born standing up, which is highly impossible. But in the spiritual realm, do we have to be taught how to lie down? The Psalmist David wrote of the Lord that He MADE him lie down. How many of us have to be made to lie down in God's presence today? How many of us dare not even lie down in God's presence for a minute. Too busy with worldly things to do that? Friends, learn today to lie down in God's presence. Learn today to bask in the fullness of God's beauty. It's a wonder how we need to learn to lie down and allow God to refresh us. Nut nonetheless, my friend, learn.

V3(b) 'He guides me in paths of righteousness'. Righteousness is one of the names of God. Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our righteousness, found in Jeremiah 23:6. Many of us today are found wanting in our schools, striving just to be top, to gain recognition, to obtain our 'best for ourselves'. Friend, let it be known to you that your self-worth is not based on what you can do, but on who you are, and you are a child of God. Need I say more? You have been forgiven and blessed by the only one who could condemn you. Instead of chasing after worldly wealth, chase after the righteousness of God. The righteousness of God brings forth favor. And when you walk in the favor of God, you will walk in the favor of man.

It's currently the March holidays, and it's holidays for me too, waiting to go into Ngee Ann Polytechnic to start a new season of my life. And as I look back, I wonder, how have I been spending this holiday? Have I used it well to rest and be recharged by the Holy Spirit? If you are having your holiday now, use it well. Learn what it means to truly rest in God's presence. Many of us seek temporal enjoyment, going to the movies, or 'sweating it out', or playing computer games etc. Not that all these things are no good, I myself enjoy doing all these. But is this truly resting? or are these just temporal get-aways? Just something that allows you to temporarily forget reality. What's the difference between this and getting drunk, taking drugs etc.? Don't seek temporal get-aways, my friends. It leaves many of us more exhausted than before, and then we need to 'rest'.

And now onto sleep, is sleeping really resting? We speak of getting 8 hours of sleep, to ensure getting enough rest. But won't some of us testify that sometimes sleeping leaves you more tired and sleepy than before? I'm sure many of us have snoozed the alarm clock in the morning, or requested for '5 more minutes' when someone tries to wake us up. I believe if we had truly rested in our sleep, none of these would actually happen. We'd all be so refreshed we get off our beds instantly with joy, ready to embark on the new day! But unfortunately, it doesn't happen often.

What then, is true resting? Personally, I get recharged whenever I enter into the inner courts to meet with God. Every time I enter into God's presence and commune with Him, I find myself recharged and re-energised. And so, to me, resting is about waiting upon the Lord, to simply adore and love Him for who He is, and then for God to love me in a tangible way in return. Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin was a Pastor in the United States. It was known from his son, Jr Kenneth E. Hagin, that there was a period of time that Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin did not physically sleep for a few months. At night, he would be found praying and studying Scripture. And when his son asked him, Rev. Hagin would answer, 'The Holy Spirit will refresh me'. Now that is something I want to experience myself! Again, not that sleeping is no good, but when it takes a certain priority in your life, you know you better sort out your life. True resting is about basking in God's presence, worshiping Him in praise and song, about communicating with Him.

I have shared this with a few people, to whom God allows me to. I don't know when this started, but it has dawned upon me that either I just don't care, or I am just not sentimental, or that I trust God a lot, and I think it's the latter. Many people think my life has no problems as a result. Haha, not true! In fact, in recent times I have been through many ups and downs, I hardly share with anyone though. But even through these times of tribulations, I testify that I did not feel stressed/upset whatsoever. I simply felt peace. And it's a wonderful feeling, to just be at peace no matter what happens. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) I hold firmly to this verse, which says a lot about letting go and letting God. Truly, dear reader, it is so important to allow the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds. You won't fully understand this until you do it. So go do it.

Rest well, my friend.

'I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.' (Psalm 4:8)


Your faithfullness endures always
Where mountains fall and reason fails
And You calm the raging seas
And You calm the storms in me, again

All I know is I find rest in You
All I know is I find rest in You

My heart will praise throughout the night
Where singing seems a sacrifice
Your grace is all I need
Your grace is all I need

God's Perfect Will vs God's Permissive Will

"Do not conform any longer 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's God's will is-his GOOD, PLEASING and PERFECT will." (Romans12:2, caps mine)

Have you ever went to God and prayed like this, "God, I really really really really REALLY want to date this person", and then you pray this prayer for many times. But each time God says 'No', and then you pray again. After a few times, do you know what God will say? God will say this, "Okay, go ahead, if that's what you want." If God's people pray and ask for things to be a certain way, even if it is not God's perfect will for them, God will often permit it. Don't believe it? A lot of people don't. They claim, "But if God permits it, it has to be His perfect will."

Let's read 1Samuel8. In 1Samuel8, Israel asks for a king. God didn't want the Israelites to have a king like all the other nations. God wanted to be their king. But the Israelites insisted, and so God relented. He said, "All right, go ahead. You have my permission to have a king." But from that point on, the Israelites were never in the perfect will of God again, even though God blessed them and helped them as much as He could.

This is where many people have missed it. Many times God has dealt with them and told them what His will is for their lives. But they keep after Him, praying out of their natural understanding for something they want. So finally God says, "Alright, if you want it that way, go ahead." You see, God is gentle, and He will not force His way around. He will reveal to you His will for your life, but it'll be your decision to follow in His ways.

A lot of times, our prayers have a lot to do with how far we go in our destiny. Do we pray selfish prayers, whereby our wants take priority over God's will? There was a farmer who always prayed, "God, bless me and my wife, my son John and his wife-us four and no more!" Most of us may not say those exact words, but if we would examine our prayer lives, we just might find that our prayers are just like the farmer's, 'praying with our own understanding'. In other words, most of our prayer time is devoted to praying about matters that concern ourselves and our loved ones. In short, our prayers are often selfish, where our wants take priority over God's will for us. Think about it, when was the last time you prayed, "God, your will be done".

Friend you and I need to pray like Jesus did at Gethsemane. "'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'"(Matthew26:39) and again in Matthew26:42,"'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.'"

I don't know about you, but I'd rather live in God's perfect will than in God's permissive will. It's your choice to make.

Many people, after living in God's permissive will, encounter difficult situations and then wonder why God ever allowed them to go through what they did. But the thing is, it wasn't God who got them into the mess! You see, when we insist on something, God will say, "Okay! Okay!If that's what you want, go ahead", but He will never say, "This is my will, walk in it and be blessed". John15:7, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. The key to abundant living is constant abiding in God's will, not our wants/desires! That's why it's so important to get the Word of God in us first before we pray. We need to ensure that God's Word is abiding in us. We need to start praying scriptural prayers, not human-understanding prayers. Friend you and I must never get out of God's Word when we pray. Build a strong foundation of the Word in your prayer life. If you don't have that foundation, you may go off after a desire that's not God's will for you, and that is very dangerous.

I don't know about you, but I'm not satisfied with God's permissive will or with His second best- I want God's very best! His will before mine in every circumstance, throughout earth and eternity.

No eye has seen no ear has heard
The good that the Lord has prepared
For those who wait on Him
To hear His voice
I am the Potter and you are the clay

Jesus take me in Your hand
And make me all that You want me to be
Jesus help me understand my purpose
And what You can do through me
Fulfilling my destiny

God, Save Our Generation!

1 Timothy 2:3-4 'For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.'

Ephesians 4:13 'till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ'

If it is God's will that we be saved and grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, why is it so hard? If God is working with us, should this not be easy? Our first response to this is very likely, "Well, I guess it's just that I am so evil"; "It must be human nature"; or "I'm so bad God must not be hearing my prayers." Some get so weary with the difficulty that they say, "God will just have to take me as I am."

All these justifications may indeed be factors, but they are not precisely correct because most of us have some besetting sin or sins that we fail miserably to overcome time after time. Why, if it is God's will, do we not overcome them more easily?

The sin need not be easily recognizable by others, as Paul writes to Timothy that "some men's sins are clearly evident" (I Timothy 5:24). It can be a hidden sin, though we are well aware of it, know it is evil, and feel constant guilt and self-condemnation because of our weakness before it.

It can be a sin of omission and not a sin of commission, in which one is directly guilty of bringing loss or pain upon another. Perhaps the failing concerns acts of kindness or mercy that we have frequently and consistently failed to do to relieve another's burden, but we know of it and are convicted of its seriousness.

This is the key to understanding why spiritual growth is so hard. Consider one's original conversion. Why did this even occur? Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance." This happened only because God was revealing Himself and making us conscious of factors of life we had never before felt with that force. It moved us to repent and throw ourselves on His mercy. In reality, it was the only option He held open to us because we felt powerless to go in any other direction. Can we overcome death? The key is our awareness of powerlessness as the first essential element to spiritual growth.

In II Corinthians 12:10, Paul makes this point. "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." In chapter 13:4, he adds emphasis to this by saying, "For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you." Just as a prerequisite to conversion is recognizing and acknowledging our utter failure in the face of sin and death, so also is a deep consciousness of our frailty required in the face of overcoming and growth in following God's way and glorifying Him.

Without this overriding sense of dependence, we will never turn to God in the first place. Without this sense of need, we will not continuously turn to Him because our passivity in this will declare that in reality, like the Laodiceans, we think we need nothing and are sufficient unto ourselves. We will be like the confident Peter, who, boasting that unlike others he would never desert Christ, immediately fell flat on his face in spiritual failure. The secret of growth in Christian character largely lies in realizing our powerlessness and acknowledging it before God.

Perhaps John 15:5 will now have more meaning. Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." It does not mean that without Him we could never design an automobile or send a rocket to the moon. It means that we could produce nothing of a true, godly, spiritual nature within the calling of God that truly glorifies Him.

Just in case we think He is saying more than He really means, think about the following commands. Jesus says in Matthew 5:44, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." He adds in Matthew 6:31, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'" If these are challenging, try I Corinthians 15:34: "Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame."

We have a long way to go. It is time to stop playing church—realizing that judgment is now on us—and turn to God with all our heart. He promises that, if we do this, He will hear from heaven and respond. We must constantly keep in mind that God is the Potter with the power to mold and shape as He wills. As the clay, our job is to yield, realizing even the power to submit comes from Him.

To understand this from an even broader perspective, we must consider how mankind has acted in its relationship with God beginning with Adam and Eve. They said, "God, stay out of our lives. We don't need you. We will do this ourselves." Therefore, rather than choosing from the Tree of Life, they chose from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. All mankind has copied this approach down to the Laodiceans, who say they are rich and increased with goods and need nothing. It will continue even to those who will curse and blaspheme God during the final plagues in the Day of the Lord (Revelation 16:21).

adapted from The Berean

I see the King of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

Hosanna (Live) - Hillsong United

Life Without Limits Is Not Life Without Boundaries

Looking at recent news articles, browsing through different blogs, walking down the streets, observing what is going on around us in the world today, I can't help but wonder what Jesus would think at his second coming. It appears that the story of Samson has been lost on this generation. Samson, who was born with so much potential but died with such disgrace, it is as though the story is unfolding in so many lives today.

Samson was born a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, called by God to begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines. (Judges13:5) In Biblical times, a Nazirite is someone who sets himself apart for the glory of God. The Nazirite law can be found in Numbers 6. Let us go through the Nazirite law.

Numbers6:3-4 - 'he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins'. This part of the Nazirite law deals with the private life of a Nazirite. When no one is watching, do you have the integrity and will to do what is right? When no one is watching, do you still consider the law of God and the vow you made to Him?

Numbers6:5 - 'During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the LORD is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long'. This part of the Nazirite law deals with the public image of a Nazirite. When someone does not cut his hair for a long period of time, everyone notices! A Nazirite's long hair was public declaration that he/she has been consecrated to God. It was a sign of holiness and pure devotion to the Most High God. In the same way, God is still calling out for His people to boldly declare of their consecration unto Him in a radical manner! Will you do it? What will make you do it?

Numbers6:6-7 - 'Throughout the period of his separation to the LORD he must not go near a dead body. Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head'. This part of the Nazirite law deals with the heart issue. How much of you is devoted to God? Luke14:26 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.' This were the very words of Jesus. Jesus is not calling us to hate our loved ones. Rather, he is calling us to love God to the point that our love for our loved ones pale in comparison to our love for Him. Comparing your love to God, your love for your family must be as though you hate them. That is the degree of love for God to which Jesus is calling us to! Our hearts must be fully yielded to God.

As I examine the life of Samson, I find a few learning points.

1. The grace of God is abundant
If we study the life of Samson, we realize that Samson broke every part of the Nazirite law, except one, which was his long hair. Surely as a man set apart by God from birth he should know better right? WRONG. Why did Samson eventually break almost all the parts of the Nazirite law? The answer is simple. Samson only did what he did because of what his parents placed on him. What he did did not come out of a willingness, but out of falsehood. Friend, you and I, what we do must flow out of who we are. It must come out of a personal relationship with God, out of a willingness. We cannot live on someone else's spirituality. What we do must flow out of who we are, not what we must do, but who we are! A religious Spirit will kill us. We must live our life out of our love for God, not of a wanting to be blessed (Greed Spirit). We must be careful of the way we live our lives. Samson lived dangerously. He broke almost all of the Nazirite law, but his strength remained. Likewise, God's grace is abundant for all of us. It is the grace of God that allows us to be successful. The Bible tells us that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6), we must be destroyed! BUT the grace of God has allowed us not only to survive, but also to live in abundance, experiencing the prosperity of Heaven. BUT friends, we must remember the story of Samson. We cannot take the grace of God for granted. We must remember that while God is a God of grace, God is also a God of judgment. Samson lost his destiny and died together with the Philistines because he failed to embrace God's calling upon his life. The Bible tells us that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1Peter5:8). The devil prowls around looking to rob us of our 'abundance' destiny, and we must stand guard against him! Take up our spiritual weapons, and be watchful! Don't let the enemy have his way. We need to learn to hate that which is unholy.

2. Ownership of our destiny
Studying the life of Samson, it is obvious that Samson did not have any ownership of his destiny. He most probably knew what God had set him apart, as seen from his following of part of the Nazirite law of having long hair. But although he knew, he never took ownership of his destiny. Samson lived dangerously. As I ponder upon this point, I can't help but wonder if we in the church are taking ownership of our salvation. Are we also living dangerously? The Bible tells us that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. And faith without deeds is dead. What kind of deeds are we doing today? Are we like Samson, living dangerously? Do we understand the difference between a move of God and plain emotion? Are we plain sensual creatures, the same as everything else in the world? Many of us are not standing guard. We receive everything that the world throws at us. I'm talking about sensual things.
a)Are we being a good steward of our speech? We talk sensually, using vulgarities in the same breath we use to worship God. Don't think that God doesn't understand you just because you curse and swear in Hokkien. God understands more languages than you, He knows heavenly language, you don't. Friends we need to be good stewards of our tongue, which holds the power of life and death. The Bible tells us that what goes into a man does not make him unclean; what comes out of a man makes him unclean. (Matt15:11)
b)Are we being good stewards of our clothes? Clothes were meant to be a frame for our faces, but in this generation it is becoming a frame for our bodies. Instead of covering our bodies, we're covering our faces. And I'm talking about those in the church community as well. We dress the same as the world does! For guys, clothes are getting tighter and tighter. For girls, your blouses are getting lower and lower, your skirts are getting higher and higher! If Jesus were to come today and walk down the streets, I tremble at the thought of what he'd say about us and the way we dress, believers and non-believers alike.
c)Are we being good stewards of our technology? We visit sensual sites, watch sensual movies, watch things we're not supposed to. What do our blogs tell people about God?
d)Are we being good stewards of our emotions? The spirit of anger and hatred has consumed this generation so much that we're numb to it. We take it as okay. We even have labels like 'emo'. Why are we practicing such lawlessness? Our emotions must be brought under subjection, lest we will be controlled by them. That's what the devil does. He will play with your emotions so much till you think you cannot control it anymore and then suddenly you are brought under its subjection. Don't let that happen.
e)Are we being good stewards of our relationships? Divorce cases are increasing. Abortion stats are going up. Teen pregnancy is becoming more prevalent. Casual sex is becoming a 'norm'. There is something serious going on, and we need to do something about it!
Friends, you and I, we need to take ownership of our salvation. We need to be in the world but not of it. We've been called to be world changers, not world followers. If we are to live in the abundant life of God, we need to keep away from death. Stay away from people of death, from places of death, from foods and drinks of death, from games of death, from sites of death, from objects of death. One thing that I'm talking about is our emotions. A lot of us get emotional breakdowns easily. We get angry and feel hurt easily. We cry so much not out of conviction of the Holy Spirit but out of self-pity. And then we vent our anger everywhere, on our blogs especially. This cannot be! Our blogs desperately need to be a testimony unto God! If we are to love the life of God, we need to hate the death of the devil. The truth is, if from today we truly hate the things of death, many of us will be turning our homes upside down. We'll be throwing much of our wardrobe, throwing away our computers, throwing away some of our books, some of our games. Today we need to start searching deep within our hearts. Right where you are, do it.

Friends we need to understand that having a good start does not guarantee a good ending. Samson had a great start. But he didn't finish well. The Bible tells us that the door is small and the path is narrow. (Matt7:14) You've gone through the small door, good! Now walk on the narrow path, and be careful not to be thrown off-course. You and I have a responsibility to follow as the Holy Spirit leads, to live our lives with fear and trembling. The world has promoted humankind so much that we have grown to love ourselves so much and think ourselves as infallible. Wrong thinking! The truth is, we need to live our lives with fear and trembling before God, because the day and the hour is unknown when the Son of Man will come. We need to be good and faithful servants, watchful day and night, in and out of season. (Matt24)


Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

Mighty To Save - Hillsong United

Does Jesus know you?

Friend I plead with you, whether you have time or not, please watch the video. This 1 hour of video is going to change the next 60 years of your life. If you are serious with God, please watch the video.


Paul Washer is the founder of the HeartCry Missionary Society. This video shows him preaching at a youth conference to which he was invited. At the end of the message he was told that he'd never get invited back to the church to speak again because of his harshness and refusal to preach anything else but the truth. What is Christianity coming to? Are we only becoming sensual listeners, willing to listen to only what we like to hear? And then we condemn the pastor of heresy when he preaches something we don't like to hear, even though deep down inside we know it's true? Friends, we cannot breed the spirit of sensuality in our churches, much less in ourselves! Christianity is more than the sinner's prayer, more than the confession of Jesus. Yes, salvation is free for all. We don't have to work for it. It is a free gift to all, Jews and Gentiles alike, from God. And yes, you and I today can have it.

But what does 1 Corinthians 1:18 say? "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1Cor1:18) What is the message of the cross? Has the spirit of sensuality blinded the Christians so much that we have missed out on the message of the cross? What is the message of the cross? The cross represents not just salvation, it represents TRANSFORMATION! To stop at salvation and deny transformation is to deny the message of the cross! The day you started to believe in Jesus Christ, you were called to "not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom12:2) You were called to be transformed. To be a radical Christian is to be a transformed Christian, born again, a new creation, a person who is in the world but not of the world, light of the world, loving God and hating the world.

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Mat6:24) The Hebrew translation for 'money' is Mammon, which also means materialism. Friend, you and I cannot love both God and Mammon, which is of the world. Mammon has a personality of its own. It is beyond the dollars and cents and the figures in our bank accounts and other instruments of wealth. Mammon is a personality that poses a direct challenge to God! Those who serve Mammon will end up being slaves to Mammon. Mat6:24 clearly states that either you serve God or Mammon. Nothing in between. The Bible clearly states that there are only 2 ways to live - God-centered living or self-centered living.

One thing that I have observed in my years as a Christian. Not everyone who is willing to say the sinner's prayer is willing to pay the price that comes with it. I don't know if you have, but I have heard this saying, "Let's win the converts, then give them time and then we'll make disciples of them" and "We're winning more converts than disciples". There's no such thing as 'converts'! The Bible clearly states that either you are a believer or a non-believer, either you love God and serve Him, or you love Mammon and serve it. Either you love or hate God. There's no in between. You are either a slave to Christ or a slave to the world. I, for one, choose to serve God and love Him all my days. And friend I hope that you too, will make this choice. Complete transformation is required for the fulfillment of the message of the cross. Your confession of Christ must be both inward and outward. If you profess of Christ, then you must walk in the light, as God is light.(1John1-2) It's time to be Holy, as Jesus Himself was Holy.

It's time to stand for all we believe in. No more breeding of the Spirit of Mammon in our lives, in our churches, in our homes, in our communities. I pray desperately that fire from Heaven will come down this day and touch your heart, dear reader, that you might catch my heart in this post, that you might catch God's heart and will for you, that your eyes might be opened and that this day shall be a day of renewed commitment and conviction, a complete transformation that will last through time and eternity.

Mat7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."


Open our eyes
To see the things that make Your heart cry
To be the church that You would desire
Your light to be seen

Break down our pride
And all the walls we've built up inside
Our earthly crowns and all our desires
We lay at Your feet

Let hope rise
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light
That every eye will see
Jesus our God
Great and mighty to be praised

God of all days
Glorious in all of Your ways
Oh the majesty the wonder and grace
In the light of Your Name

With everything
With everything
We will shout for Your glory
With everything
With everything
We will shout forth Your praise

Our hearts they cry
Be glorified
Be lifted high above all names
For You our King
With everything
We will shout forth Your praise

With Everything - Hillsong Live

All For Jesus!

'Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you." But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.' (2 Samuel 24:24)

What did David mean when he said what he said to Araunah? 'I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing'. What David meant when he said it was that he will only sacrifice to God what costs him something. Friends, how many of us this day are running away from God because God is calling you to give up something that you find so hard to part with? You are running away from God because you know that God is calling you to give up something precious. I know some of us here are quite blessed financially, and God is calling you to perhaps give to God in terms of finance, that's good. But not everyone has been called to give financially or give to God what He has blessed you with. Perhaps for some of us, God is calling you to give up your CCA, perhaps transfer school, or even perhaps go into full-time ministry, or whatever it is. God bless your heart as you walk in obedience. But friends, how many times have we chosen to disobey God by not walking in the destiny that He has called us to? Maybe you feel that the price to pay is too high, and you have chosen not to obey. Now I'm not here to condemn you, for there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ. But friends I say to you this day, stop doing it. We need to learn to embrace the charge of 'God says it, I believe it, that settles it'. There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who thought and never did and those who did and never thought. I pray we will be like the latter, people of faith. God says it, I believe it, that settles it. And you walk in obedience.

My current MSN nickname states: Obedience supercedes choice. Have you ever heard, or perhaps said it yourself when you made a decision, 'No choice', or perhaps 'It's my life, my choice'. God has given all of us freewill, and that, choices. I love having choices. I love going into a shopping mart and looking at all the different choices I have. BUT there is one thing that choices are doing to this generation, and we must recognise that. The ability to choose and the privilege of having choices has made us into a self-centered generation, one which lives for self and not for others, completely against the idea that God has intended for mankind. God has intended for mankind to love each other as self, to live in communion with each other and God. But the privilege of having choices has caused us to rebel against that. The idea of obedience has become completely forgotten among us, completely shredded within our minds. Friends! When it comes to God, obedience must supercede choice! Yes, we are given many choices in life, and we are able to choose because God has given us freewill, but obedience to God must come first! It's very sad to know that in this generation of believers, there are many of us who can sing songs of the theme 'I will carry the cross', but leave it all there at the alters! It's very saddening to know that while you can sing of 'I will go where God leads me' and then your life is so different! Friends it's time to take God seriously.

I don't know what God is calling you to today, but I pray that you will obey and go. No doubt it may be painful, perhaps cost you big-time, but today let us catch God's heart for us, something which David did. Do not sacrifice to the Lord your God anything which costs you nothing. It's not going to be easy, but it'll be rewarding. Not that when you choose to disobey God you will not be able to live in the life God has purposed for you. Friends read this carefully, I'm treading on thin line here. Not that you will experience disasters or that you'll be cursed if you choose to ignore God's calling for your life. God is a God of grace and He will not force you, He will just prompt you. No matter the choices you make, God will make a way, if you will hang on to Him. BUT! When you choose to walk in the destiny that God has called you to, you will store for yourself treasures in Heaven.

As I am typing this, I just feel that this may be for some. You are afraid to embrace what God has for you. Perhaps God is calling you out of your comfort zone, to do something that you've never done before. And you feel really uncomfortable, because you do not know what to expect. You are hanging on to your past experiences, victories and failures, refusing to step out into the new season God has called you into. Friend I say to you today, do not fear. For your God is mighty to save. He knows your beginning and end, and He's already penned your life, down to the last second. Your life is in the palm of His hands, and He who started the work in you will bring it into completion. This day, my friend, fear no more, because you have a God who loves you, who knew you before you were born, who now calls you by your name. Let Psalm91 be your prayer, and know that when you take one step towards God, He takes a thousand steps towards you. Your latter shall be greater than your former, step out in faith.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be. Friends today let our hearts be in heaven, not on this earth. Let us throw aside everything that hinders us from walking in our God-given destiny. Let us shift our focus from the temporal things of this world to the things of Heaven, where we know that when we walk in our God-given destiny, we store for ourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.(Mat6:19-21)

For my readers, those of you who know me would know that I am currently waiting for my 'O' Level results, and I would either go to Junior-College or Polytechnic to further my studies this coming year. I wanted very much to go into Junior-College, because I 'feel' more comfortable going there, knowing what to expect in terms of curriculum, subjects and disciplines. But as I was seeking God on this particular area, God began to reveal to me His plans for me, bit by bit. And God directed me to pursue my studies in Polytechnic. And so right now I've decided to go to Polytechnic. I honestly do not know what to expect, because I only know a little bit about Polytechnic culture and curriculum. But I'm gonna trust God's sovereignty. That as He's called me, He will be my provider, He will open doors for me, and I'm gonna walk through them, by faith and not by sight. Because I meant it when I said 'God, wherever you lead I will follow.' I am not going with the flow, because God has called me to be in the world but not of the world. Friends I pray that you too will not shortchange yourself by not walking in the destiny that God has called you to. Remember, obedience supercedes choice. Salvation is by grace through faith. But faith without deeds is dead. Do what it takes to follow Christ.

'Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.' (Luke9:23-24)

i will run to you - hillsong

Your eye is on the sparrow
And Your hand, it comforts me
From the ends of the Earth to the depth of my heart
Let Your mercy and strength be seen

You call me to Your purpose
As angels understand
For Your glory, may You draw all men
As Your love and grace demand

And I will run to You
To Your words of truth
Not by might, not by power
But by the spirit of God
Yes I will run the race
Till I see Your face
Oh let me live in the glory of Your grace

Sensuality

IGNYTE Sunday Group, we're moving back to chapel! That is wonderful news, because it means we're growing, and God is releasing His blessings upon us to grow even further. Let us keep growing.

But even as I was pondering upon this thing of moving our service back to chapel, God spoke to my heart. This generation is a sensual generation. Are we, too?

'Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.' (Ephesians4:14)

One question that I have is this, are we becoming sensual believers? Are we living our lives based on our own feelings? Are we making decisions based on our own emotions? Are we making choices because "I feel like it"? Most of all, are our services dependent more on the "ambiance" than on God Himself? Is our worship dependent on the quality of the sound and 'nice-ness' of the lights, or perhaps on the singer's voice?

One of the questions I desire to ask is this, one day if our church building is destroyed somehow, and we hold our services underground or perhaps in a muddy field, maybe even out in the rain, would the people come? WOULD YOU COME?

One of the weapons of the enemy today is sensuality. The enemy will throw all kinds of sensual things at you because he knows once he gets to your senses and emotions he'll get you. Friends we have to know this. Our faith cannot be based on sensual things, cannot be influenced by the 'I feel like', nor on earthly values anymore. Friends it is time to tune our hearts to God, away from everything that the world throws at us. That's also what being radical for Jesus means. To stand firm on the rock of Christ despite all the waves that the devil throws at you, all the winds that he throws at you. It is about standing firm on the truth of God's Word and the power of His love despite all your circumstances.

Friends, you and I must stop allowing the spirit of sensuality to affect our worship, to hinder our commitments with God, to ultimately destroy our relationship with God. Friends, let us turn our face away from our circumstances and choose instead to focus on the face of God.

Radicalled yet?

Was looking through some blogs, viewing the different posts from different ones about IGNYTE camp. Though each one different, each post carried the same tag line: Rad(I)cal was life-changing. Rad(I)cal has just passed. And the last few days I have been recollecting what I can take away from the camp. Sure, the games were fun, the sermons were great, the bonding was awesome, but above all, what does God want us to take away from Rad(I)cal?

"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:13-14)

What does being radical mean? Living a radical lifestyle means to know your purpose in living and living for that one purpose. It speaks of complete devotion to that ONE cause and doing everything it takes to see the cause prosper. For us, it is the cause of Christ. In a world of divided loyalties, our devotion to the ONE cause of Christ is being tested every day.

BUT just as Hebrews5:13-14 states, those who trade solid food for milk is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. Solid food, when consumed, requires one to chew and break it down. It requires work, training and time. But milk, on the other hand, simply needs to be swallowed. It is easier to consume compared to solid food. Just as in our spiritual life, many times we'd rather trade our trials and sufferings for something easier. Many of us today only accept the blessings from God, but refuse the service to God. We only want the 'easy' part of Christianity. Come On! It's time for us to stand for all we believe in. If you know that your God is mighty to save, then why are you afraid to accept the 'solid' trials and sufferings, of which you know you will emerge stronger, because the joy of the Lord is your strength?

Recently at a cell-based Christmas Party, I SALTed an 'Anti-Christ'. As I was SALTing the person, it came to my knowledge that his 'Christian' friends wanted me to stop. They were afraid that because both of us are quite strong headed, they were afraid that quarrels might ensue. Come on! If your friend is skeptical about Christ, all the more you should SALT him! The enemy has taken a foothold in your friend's life, and you, in your fear of the unexpected, refuse to SALT to him, what does this tell God about you? Would you rather trade the solid food for milk? It's time to war! It's time to accept more than just the 'easy' part. SALT even the hardcore people!

Friends, like it or not, we have been called into spiritual warfare. Sure, it isn't going to be easy, and there is only 1 way you can fight this war. Fight as a strong soldier with your allegiance for God clear, or you will be destroyed when the war is fought.

"It was he who gave...until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming." (Ephesians 4:11-14)

Friends, radical living requires us to be mature. No more 'infant' behaviour. No more being afraid of anything else besides God alone. Sure, childlike faith is to be applauded, but childlike thinking and behaviour is to be admonished. We cannot be infants anymore. When our allegiance with God becomes clear, we will no longer be like infants, tossed around by what the world throws at us. Instead, we will stand firm on the rock of Christ. Friends, it's time to grow up. IT'S TIME TO ARISE FROM OUR SLUMBER. To live radical lives involves being mature in our speech, life, love, faith and purity. To be mature involves learning how to walk in obedience to God. It is making the choice to live by God's viewpoint rather than your human viewpoint. Galatians 5:16 and 25 give the key, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature…Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." The word "walk" in verse 16 is from the Greek word peripateo, which means "to walk with a purpose in view." The word "walk" in verse 25 is translated from another Greek word stoicheo and it means "step by step, one step at a time." It is learning to walk under the instruction of another. That person is the Holy Spirit. And since we are indwelt by the Spirit, we must learn to walk under His control.

Radical living involves moving out of our comfort zone, and while being clear of our purpose and allegiance with God, going all out. In camp we talked about taking our nation for Jesus. And the time has come. Rad(I)cal camp has ended, radical living starts now. As a believer, you are not to be milk-fed. Instead, you are called to chew on the "meat" of God's Word. Friends, THE TIME HAS COME.

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:11-12)

The Time Has Come.wma - Hillsong

Found love beyond all reason
You gave Your life Your all for me
And called me Yours forever
Caught in the mercy fallout
Found hope
Found life
Found all I need
You're all I need

The time has come
To stand for all we believe in
So I for one am gonna
Give my praise to You

Today today it's all or nothing
All the way
The praise goes out to You
Yeah all the praise goes out to You
Today today I live for one thing
To give You praise
In everything I do
Yeah all the praise goes out to You

All we are is Yours
And all we're living for
Is all You are
Is all that You are Lord

A Broken Heart, A Contrite Spirit

PSALM 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.


Oh Lord I have sinned. I gave in to temptation, well knowing I shouldn't have. I knew, yet I did it. I ignored you, Holy Spirit. My heart is broken, my bones crushed, my spirit dried, my soul lost. Lord I need you. Do not turn your face away from me. Have mercy on me, Lord Almighty. Renew my mind and transform my entire being. I know I have sinned. I know my mistake, and I come to you. Lord I pray that you will come and fill me once again. Holy Spirit come and take your place. I am a sinner, but you Lord, are a Lord of grace. I cheapened your grace, but Lord you never let me go. In your love you watched me as I fall, but you never left me. In your mercy you watched as I succumbed, yet you made a way. Lord I'm sorry. I am a sinner. Forgive me. Rebuke me, Lord, that I may learn. But also make a way. That I may return to you just as the prodigal son did. Now I truly know the story. Such grace, unheard of. Such love, unspoken of. Oh, if I could have just a portion. That would satisfy. Lord Jesus, only you can satisfy. I need you.

At the Table

"Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected" (John12:1-4)

This scene from John 12 presents us with different characters, which I will study.

The first character is Jesus. In John 11:45-57, the chief priests and the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus, and Jesus, knowing this, withdrew to the village of Ephraim, a region near the desert. And so my question is this. If Jesus knew of the plot to kill him and thus withdrew to a remote village where no one recognized him, why then did Jesus, especially only less than a week before the Passover, return to Bethany, and hence into civilisation? In John 11:57, the Bible tells us that if anyone saw Jesus, he/she was to report him to the authorities. Bethany, as told in John11:18, was less then two miles away from Jerusalem, which would have had a huge population at that time. So, when Jesus returned to Bethany, it was suicide! Why, of all places, did Jesus go to Bethany? The answer is simple, OBEDIENCE. Jesus definitely knew that by going to Bethany, he would be in a position of danger. But he knew he had to do it anyway. Jesus knew he couldn't stay out of civilisation forever, that wouldn't be accomplishing what he came to do! And so he went. And because he went, we have the rest of the gospels. And because he went in obedience, Jesus ultimately accomplished what he came to do, and you and I are saved today. Jesus act of obedience was his worship unto God. And friends, we need to catch this Spirit from Jesus. We need to imitate his obedience. How many of us have procrastinated writing the rest of the gospels of our lives because we have chosen to reside in wilderness? How many of us have not accomplished what we came out to do because we have been so afraid of the what goes around us? We feel intimidated by what the world is doing to us and so we run into remoteness, where no one can find us, and we refuse to get out because we're afraid to go out and face what the world has for us. Friends if all of us are going to stay in our own remoteness, in our own comfort zones, the world is going to die! Without us, God will not! Friends, the gospels for our life need a strong finish. Leave a strong legacy, not a wimp's account, but a warrior's legacy. Finish the gospel of you life, and finish it strong. Allow God to use you, by stepping out and availing yourself to God. This day, worship God with your obedience.

The second character John presents to us is Martha. At this dinner, Martha is serving. The church needs people like that. Marthas ready to get their hands dirty for the cause of Christ. Marthas ready to go wherever their service is needed. Marthas who will go the extra mile just to make the place cleaner, the shelves tidier, the food tastier, the chairs neater, the atmosphere more presentable. Marthas are the ones who keep the pace of the church. Marthas don't live off the applause. They don't live off the applause. That’s not to say they don’t need it. They just aren’t addicted to it. BUT Marthas have a weakness. They tend to put their mission over the master. In Luke10 we find a seated Mary and a fuming Martha. Martha is angry because Mary is, horror of horrors, sitting at the feet of Jesus. How impractical! How irrelevant! How unnecessary! I mean, who has time to sit and listen when there is bread to be baked, tables to be set, and souls to be saved? So Martha complained, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (Luke 10:40) Suddenly Martha has gone from serving Jesus to making demands of Jesus! "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42). Martha got the point, and we find her serving again in John12. In John12, is Mary helping out in the kitchen? No, she is worshiping Jesus, this is what she loves to do. But this time, Martha does not object. She has learned that there is a place for praise and worship. When Mary brings the perfume in and poured it on Jesus' feet, Martha does not object. The old Martha would have. Such an act was too lavish, too extravagant, too generous. But this mature Martha has learned that just as there is a place in the kingdom of God for sacrificial service, there is also a place for extravagant praise. Marthas need to know that worship is service.

The third character John presents is Mary. Marys are gifted with praise. They don’t just sing, they worship. They don’t simply attend church, they go to offer praise. They don’t just talk about Christ, they radiate Christ. The church needs Marys because all of us, we tend to forget how much God loves worship. Marys don’t forget. They know that God wants to be known as a father. They know that a father likes nothing more than to have his children sit as his feet and spend time with him. Marys love nothing better then to sit at the feet of the Father and enjoy His presence. Whenever you find a Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, don't ask them to leave. Much better to ask them to pray for you. The church desperately needs some Marys. We need them to pray, to inspire, to worship and to radiate Christ. But Marys must be careful to meditate on Luke6:46, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?”
Marys need to know that service is also worship.

The fourth character John presents to us is Lazarus. Lazarus knows that not everyone can play in the band or contribute with his hands. As the dinner, as far as we know, Lazarus did nothing at the table. He simply resided at the table. But Lazarus was simply saving his work for outside the house. "Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came , not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him." (John12:9-11) Lazarus worshiped with his testimony! He testified of God's grace and mercy when he was raised from the dead, and because of his testimony many Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him! Lazarus had a testimony, and he worshiped with it. God gave Martha a heart of service, Mary a heart of worship and Lazarus a heart of testimony. Friend if you have a testimony, then share it. Remind the rest of us that we were once lost but now found, dead but now alive, blind but now we see. Your testimony does not have to be dramatic, it simply has to be real.

The fifth character is Judas. Everyone had their place at the table, except him. He couldn't find his place. Although Judas had been with Jesus longer than the rest, his heart was furthest. His heart had grown cold to Jesus. The miracles didn't amaze him anymore. The parables didn't impact him anymore. The teachings didn't inspire him anymore. His heart had grown cold. And more than that, Judas was a thief.(John12:6) When Mary poured her perfume onto Jesus' feet, Judas feigned spirituality, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."(John12:5) But Jesus knew Judas' heart, and Jesus defended Mary's worship. Judas had been taking money out of the money bag, and he wanted the perfume to be sold so that he had access to more money. And very sadly, there are many Judas' in the church today. In every church there are those like Martha who take time to serve. There are those like Mary who take time to worship. There are those like Lazarus who take time to testify. But there are also those who are like Judas who take, take and take but never give. Friends my question is this. Are you near Christ but far from his heart? Are you at the dinner with a sour soul? Are you always criticizing the gifts of others yet seldom, if ever, giving your own? Are you benefiting from the church while never giving to it? Do others give sacrificially while you give miserly? Do you take, take and take but never give in return? If honestly, it's a yes, then you are the Judas in this story. Friend my advice to you today is this, return to the heart of worship. If your heart has grown cold don't dwell in that place any longer. Allow God to take your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Don't harden your heart any longer. My prayer for you today is that you will shift your focus. Shift from the money bag to the table. Shift from what you can receive to what you can give. Friend I pray that you will truly find your place at the table.

Jesus had a heart of obedience. Friends we need to catch that. To die to ourselves and follow God, no matter what it takes. It's not easy to count your cost and live for the cause, but this day, know that just as Jesus saw the heart of Judas, God sees yours.
Marthas have been called to serve. Remind the rest of us that there is evangelism in feeding the poor and worship in keeping the church tidy.
Marys have been called to worship. Remind the rest of us that we don't have to be busy to be holy.
Lazarus' have been called to testify. Remind the rest of us that all of us have a story to proclaim.

If you are a Martha, be strengthened. God sees your service.
If you are a Mary, be encouraged. God receives your worship.
If you are a Lazarus, be strong. God honors your conviction.
But if you are a Judas, be warned. God sees your selfishness.


When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made and
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

Draw Me Close To You

Just the time I feel
That I've been caught
In the mire of self.
Just the time I feel
My mind's been bought
By worldly wealth.
That's when the breeze begins
To blow I know,
The Spirit's Call.
And all my worldly wanderings
Just melt into His Love.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
To feel Your Heart and know Your Mind,
Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me,
Cries that says I want to know You
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.

When my daily deeds
Ordinarily lose life and song,
my heart begins to bleed,
sensitivity to Him is gone.
I've run the race but set my own pace
and face a shattered soul,
But the Gentle Arms of Jesus
warm my hungering to be whole.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
And I would give my final breathe
To know You in Your Death and Resurrection,
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more

My focus has been wrong. I had been placing my world on the wrong things. I kept building, the materials were right, but the foundations were wrong. A house was built, but on sand and not on rock. And when the waves came, the sand gave way, and my house came crumbling down. But Lord, You knew better. Through the seasons, You always held me by my right hand, and you never let go of me. You are forever in my life, You see me through the seasons, cover me with Your hands, and lead me in Your righteousness. I was like Job, complaining and never listening to You. You kept quiet, waiting for me to stop complaining, to stop grumbling, to move from speaking to listening. And when I did, there You spoke. Oh, how little You spoke, but how powerful Your words. And Lord, I have learnt to trust Your sovereignty. To trust You in Your death and resurrection. To know that Your foolishness is wiser than my wisdom. Oh Lord my God, how wonderful Your name is. No love greater than this, the love of my Father God to me. And in You I find my peace, in You I find my strength. In You I find myself, my self-worth, my everything. And I know that I am not defined by the things of this world, not by my failings or successes. I am defined by You, and You said that I was fearfully and wonderfully made. I am nothing Lord without Your grace. Let everything I say and do be founded by my faith in You. In Your sovereignty, Lord, I put my trust. And I am confident that You will never fail me, because You have never did.


Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

I Will Go

You've called me to places I can't see
Lord open my eyes
You've called me to people I can't reach
Lord stir within me
A hunger to see Your Kingdom come
A passion for Your will to be done

Give me a heart for this generation
Set me apart for Your great commission

And I will go
Wherever You lead I will follow
And I have counted the cost
I will carry the cross
So take my hands
All that I have they are Yours
And You have laid out my course
I will live for this cause

Heaven and Earth will pass away
But Jesus You're eternal
Kings and their kingdoms will fall one day
But Your glory's forever
All of creation will bow to You
The time will come for all to see
God You reign

No turning back
No turning back
And I will follow
No turning back
No turning back
And I will carry the cross
No turning back
No turning back
No turning back
And I will live for this cause

Lord You have spoken, and I will heed Your voice. I'm not fighting, I can't and I shouldn't. You've called me, this is my response: I'll go. No turning back, because I know that anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for service in the Kingdom of God. And so I'll go, Lord lead me. I know this is not about where I'll be after O's whatsoever, but where I'll be for the rest of my life. It doesn't matter, because You Lord hold my world in the palm of Your hand.

Give Unto The Lord

Oh what truth! Indeed, the little that we have, when we give it to God, God will multiply it for the extension of His Kingdom.

Friends how often do we look at what we have and then wonder if it's enough? My question to you today is, when you question, are you doubting the power of God? If you dare say that God is your provider, then surely, even what He wants you to give, is from Him. Why do you worry that it is not enough when everything comes from God? What do you worry about? That it's too small for God to use? That it won't make a difference whether you give or not? That you won't have enough left? Friends we have to stop looking at what we have, instead we have to look at what God can do. Many a time, it is too easy to forget that it is not about what we can do, but what we can offer. It has never been and never will be about us. It is written that the clothes we wear and the food we eat are given by God, anything more is a blessing, and we ought to bless others with it.

One of the things that stop us from giving our all to the Lord is our selfishness. Our selfishness has resulted in us doubting the power of God, it has corrupted our child-like faith, it has contaminated the very essence of Christianity, it has blinded our eyes from focusing on the very purpose God has called us to. We need to awaken from our slumber and open our eyes, to see that Christianity is all about giving. The life of Jesus was one of giving. From the very day he was born, Jesus Christ gave. He gave forgiveness, unconditional love, amazing grace, unexplainable healing, and traded his holy life for our filthy ones. From the manger in Bethleham to the cross of Calvary, Jesus never stopped giving. At the very core of his heart was the art of giving. Jesus never asked, never demanded, never begged for anything, but most of all, he never refused to give what he could. Jesus never held back anything. Why? Simply because he knew that he had everything for him in Heaven. He saw Heaven before he saw Earth. He knew that God who gave could take away. He recognised that everything he had belonged to the Father. And unless he gave, he had no purpose on Earth. It is written that Jesus knew the Father, he was constantly in intimate relationship with the Father. In the same way, we need to have a constant intimate relationship with the Father, we need to focus on Heaven before we focus on Earth.

We need to realise that Christianity is all about giving. Only when we give to God, can He use it according to His purpose. Whether in terms of finance, or in terms of service, or perhaps just the simple action of prayer, let us never underestimate what God can do with what we give. How wonderful to know that when we go to Heaven one day, the Lord will say those marvelous words, "Well done, good and faithful servant...", and all because of the simple act of giving. How wonderful to know that whatever we sow on Earth, we reap greatly in Heaven. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew6:19-20) Friends what for we hold on to what we have on Earth and forfeit the things that await us in Heaven? Today, know that as you give unto God, you store up for yourself treasures in Heaven. And that is what matters most. Start by the giving of your life once again.


All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I'm making them yours

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, alll of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we're living
That's what we give to you, Lord

Believe It Or Not

Someone once told me that there are about 32,000 promises in the Bible. That's an amazing number. Who in their lifetime has ever made 32,000 promises to one particular friend, and kept every single one of them? I think I can quite confidently say that nobody has or ever will be able to do that. But the fact is, God has. Each and every promise, all 32,000, that God made in His Word, He will fulfill them.

But some of you may say that when you went through situations in your life, you tried to hang on to promises, but God never answered. My question to you today is, did you really fully believe in the promises of God? The Bible tells us that God is gentle, and He will not force us to co-operate with Him. And to co-operate, we need to fully believe in the promises of His. Without us, God will not. Every person has both a heart and a mind. The heart is one of God, belonging to God. The mind belongs to the world, it contains your carnal thoughts. You can believe in the promises with your mind, because it will just do whatever you tell it to. Say to yourself that you will believe and your mind will believe. But your heart works differently. Only by believing with all your heart are you truly believing in the promises of God. It's amazing how many promises can be found in a comparably small book, but what's more amazing is that even us as Christians, some of us do not believe in the promises of God.

We say we are Christians, but do we dare believe the promises of God. Or do we think that they are only false hope portrayed in the Bible? False ropes to hang on to in difficult situations? The Bible tells us that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing., but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1Cor1:18) By not believing in the promises of God, you are rejecting His grace, you are refusing His love, you are denying the fact that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross. That makes you an atheist, someone believing that God doesn't exist. Harsh words, but which we cannot and must not run away from.

Remember the disciples on their way to Emmaus? In Luke24 two disciples are on their way to Emmaus. Their hearts are heavy because Jesus had been crucified. The one they thought was Messiah was crucified on a cross. The one whom they called 'Lord' and thought he was indeed the Son of God now lay in a tomb. And so they began to doubt the Scriptures, they began to doubt everything that Jesus had said to and taught them. And so when Jesus met them while they were on their way, they could not recognise that it was Jesus. Because of their doubt their eyes were covered and they were kept from recognising Jesus. And Jesus said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!' Jesus called them FOOLS! And after that Jesus began to explain to them the Scriptures beginning with Moses and all the prophets. And that night when he had dinner with the disciples their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus at once. Because once again they believed, their eyes were opened and they recognised Jesus.

Friends are we going to be fools in our Christian walk? Are we going to declare that we are Christians yet do not believe the promises of God? We cannot be fools any longer if we are going to walk this journey of faith. If we want to progress in our relationship with God we have to believe in His promises. A relationship is about trust, and we have to start trusting God for all His promises.

-God promises that His grace is more than sufficient for you(2Corinthians12:9), do you believe it?
-God promises that in everything all you have to do is be still, and He will fight for you, and you will be victorious.(Exodus14:14) Do you believe it?
-God promises that His plans for you are to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.(Jeremiah29:11) Do you believe it?
-God promises that if you truly seek Him you will find Him.(Deuteronomy4:29) Do you believe it?
-God promises that He will give you wisdom, all you have to do is ask.(James1:5) Do you believe it?
-God promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you.(Joshua1:5) Do you believe it?
-God promises that if you trust in Him, He will make your paths straight.(Proverbs3:5-6) Do you believe it?
-God promises that if you commit all your plans to Him, you will succeed.(Proverbs16:3) Do you believe it?
-God promises that if you call on Him, He will answer you.(Jeremiah33:3) Do you believe it?
-God promises that His love for you is everlasting.(Psalm103:17) Do you believe it?

There are so many more promises in the Bible, but the point is, are we believing? When Jesus comes again, will he call us fools for not believing? Let us not be like the disciples at Emmaus.

-God promises that He will be faithful(1Corinthians1:9). Do you believe it?

'For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.' (2Corinthians1:20)


In Christ alone will I glory
Though I could pride myself in battles won
For I’ve been blessed beyond measure
And by His strength alone I’ll overcome
Oh, I could stop and count successes like diamonds in my hands
But those trophies could not equal to the grace by which I stand

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone

In Christ alone do I glory
For only by His grace I am redeemed
For only His tender mercy
Could reach beyond my weakness to my need
And now I seek no greater honor in just to know Him more
And to count my gains but losses to the glory of my Lord

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone

Billy Graham- Just Say NO!

A powerful truth by Billy Graham. Do take some time to watch.

Cry Out To Jesus

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They've lost all of their faith in love
And they've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

In times of trouble, pain and weariness, all we have to do is cry out to Jesus. For the Lord has promised that in our weakness, we will be made strong in Him, and His strength is all that we will ever need to tide us through our circumstances. Whether it's from loneliness, death of a loved one, addiction, sickness, financial trouble, shame or perhaps problems in the family, or whatever else that you may be experiencing, know that God wants to love you. Though at times we feel that we are not worth the love of God, or at times we struggle to believe that God is with us, the matter of fact is, God loves us, and He wants to love us deeper and deeper. Friends whatever you are experiencing, I want you to know that you can and you should cry out to Jesus. For His grace is more than sufficient for us.

In times of plenty and in times of want,
In times of sickness and in times of health,
In times of joy and in times of sorrow,
In times of failure and in times of triumph,
GOD SEES YOU AND HE LOVES YOU.
JUST CRY OUT TO HIM.

Never mind what people say, or whatever your carnal mind tells you, just cry out to Jesus. And witness how He delivers you.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew11:28-29)

It's Time To Be Accountable

'Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.' (Ecclesiastes4:9)

One of the schemes of the devil is to keep the church disunited. The devil knows that when he can keep the church disunited, he can bring down the church easily, because the church will not be able to withstand his attacks, not when they are individuals. God's commission for the church is to be united. He ordains the church not to be a bunch of individuals, but to be a team, a family. One that encourages each other, leaving no man behind as they advance together. But obviously the devil is objective to it. He wants to keep the church disunited, because he knows that there is strength in unity, and one of the ways he keeps the church disunited is secrecy.

Secrecy is one of the worst weapons of the enemy. It is impossible for the church to be united when people are not accountable to each other, because when there is no accountability and people start to become suspicious of each other, there will be internal strife. Gossip will form, insults will be hurled and people will be hurt. And ultimately, the church is more focused on 'correcting' people than carrying out the will of God, which is to grow together as one.

'All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.' (Acts2:44-47)

God never meant for the church to be a group of individuals. Only through unity can the church share a common vision. And only when the church shares a common vision can they progress together in the way that God meant for them. And only when the church shares a common vision and when the church progresses together can the Lord add to the growth of the church, not just departmental growth but personal growth as well.

God didn't put us in church by accident. He puts us in church because He never meant for us to go through life alone. 'Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work' and 'A cord of three strands is not easily broken', because 'one may be overpowered' but 'two can defend themselves'. God didn't put leaders and friends over us for nothing, but God ordained for us to be accountable to them. Your leaders are accountable for you, and must account to God for you. Therefore, be open with them, because God put them over you, that they may help you and walk with you. Remember, God never meant for us to walk alone. He sends people to walk with us. Disunity is akin to rebelling against God, and it can only mean disaster! Friends let us not live our lives in secrecy, because God has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. If we continue to be secretive about our lives and situations, we are refusing to step into His light and we are rejecting the grace of God.

Therefore, friends, let us start to be accountable for ourselves. Never be afraid to share about your life, because God has promised that in our weakness, we will be made strong in Him. He never meant for us to walk our lives alone, He meant for our lives to be the light of the world, transparent before God and before man, so that all may see God in us and praise our Father in Heaven. May we today step out of the darkness we've covered ourselves in and step into the light God has called us into.

'Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.' (Matthew18:19-20)


Let my walk speak loud
And my words be true
Let my life be whole
With my eyes on you
Lord I'm stepping out
From the comfort zone
Letting go of me,
Holding onto You

Freedom comes
When I call You Lord
You are Lord my God

You are the centre of it all,
The universe declares in awe
Your Majesty
I surrender all
I make You
The centre of my life
Lord, I respond with all I am
you placed in me the song
Of Heavens melody
Your Majesty
I live to sing Your song

I have found Your peace
It replaces any fear
You have done it all
I can trust in You
So I'm stepping out
From the comfort zone
Letting go of me
Holding onto You

This is Your song not mine
It is Your song that brings healing to this land
This is Your song not mine
It is Your song that brings freedom

Freedom comes, when I call You Lord
Freedom comes, when I call You Lord
You are Lord, my God

You are the song
You are the Majesty
I live to sing Your song
Your Majesty
I live to sing Your song

Isaiah 6:8 (KJV), “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then said I, ‘Here am I; send me.’”

Dwight L. Moody was a poorly educated, unordained, shoe salesman who felt God’s call to preach the gospel. Early one morning, he and some friends gathered in a hay field for a season of prayer, confession, and consecration. His friend Henry Varley said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with, and for, and through, and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.” D. L Moody later said, “I want to be that man. Here I am; send me.”

Recently, I watched the film, Schindler’s List. It was amazing to see that one man can make a difference. Just one man, can do so much. Take for example; the doors of history are swung on small hinges. It is the small things that cause big things to happen. When we say, “Yes, Lord here I am; send me.” it may be just a small sentence, but it is power-packed with eternal implications. It is the rudder that changes our direction. It will change our history, and the eternal history of others.

Doing it, is just doing it! To make that choice, to say, “Here I am; send me,” is to say; “Lord, here I am, wholly available. As for me I will serve the Lord.”

We don’t have to be a Harvard University graduate, or win a Noble Peace Prize, or have a great job, or be an Olympic champion, or even be a great leader, to serve God. If you want to be great in the Kingdom of God , then learn to serve. In that way, everyone can be great, because everyone can serve. Here I am, send me, I am willing to serve the Lord.

My friend, just one man can make a difference. All it takes is one person to say; “Yes Lord, here I am; send me,” that the world may see what God can do through one man who is fully and wholly consecrated unto Him.

The book of Acts is called the book of Acts, because the Disciples acted upon the Lord’s calling. Doing it, is just doing it! Do you hear the words of Jesus speaking to your heart from our text today? Isaiah 6:8 (KJV), “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then said I, ‘Here am I; send me.’” What is your response to His calling? Will you say, “Here I am; send me”?

Remember, God is more interested in your availability than your ability.

'By faith Abraham went, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.' (Hebrews11:8-10)

credits: http://peebles.wordpress.com/

I, the Lord of the sea and sky,
I, have heard my people cry.
I, who made the stars of night.
I, will make their darkness bright.
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am , Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain
I, have borne my peoples pain.
I,will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.

I have wept for them.
They turn away
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am , Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
Finest bread I will provide
Till their hearts be satisfied
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am , Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I'm In A Team

"Stained Glass Masquerade"

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay


The last time I posted with this song, it was a rather 'emo' post, but it won't be today. Not long ago I began to dislike this song, because I felt it wasn't really edifying, considering the lyrics. But just a few days back this song came on, and God began to speak to me. God put a new revelation in my heart, telling me that there are people outside who are like what the song describes. They long for an acceptance, many of them are broken inside and they put on a mask to hide it all. Many long for forgiveness, for a friend, for somebody to relate to them, for an acceptance. But many a time they do not find it. As a result they begin to despise themselves and put on a mask, to hide it all, to look 'perfectly normal', just like the rest. And God followed this up by saying that in this season, encouragers need to arise. Christians need to arise and be healers of this generation. In these modern times where everyone is so busy with themselves, a group of people must arise and start being encouragers, to be healers with words, to be motivators with actions, to be impacters with time.

Just recently I was going through some tough times, struggling with God over certain issues. And I kept it from everybody, thinking I could handle it myself. Maybe I could, maybe I couldn't, God wasn't going to allow me to find out. He sent people to approach and ask me if everything was alright. Initially I refused to share, but I knew that wasn't God wanted, so I began to share. It began with Sis Raine, via email. Then Nathanael, a conversation after service that week. The next day it was Bro Andy and Sis Kim. And then an email came in from Benavon, she had read my blog and sent me an email. And after that it was Pastor Gary, over MSN Messenger. God began to send people to encourage me, to teach me, to guide me, to show me support. I really thank God for doing it, and for the people who availed themselves to the service of encouragement. But there was something else that happened during my conversations with them. Of the six people, four of them said the same thing at one point of time, 'It is worth it'. I don't think they collaborated in what to say to me, rather I believe God was using them to answer the questions I asked Him. It just amazes me how God can use people. One thing Pastor Gary reminded me, 'to ask God not from a position of doubt but from a position of His child', really got me thinking.

That's what a team does. When a team member is down, the other team members know it. Somehow they sense it, and they know. But they don't just know it, they do something about it. You see, your words are powerful. Words of encouragement are like an oasis in a desert, a lighthouse in a storm. When people go through tough times, sometimes they long for encouragement, for guidance, and many times all it takes is for people to arise and start allowing God to use them to be healers in this generation. In this modern day where people are self-centered, friends as believers we cannot allow ourselves to become so.

Recently I had a dream.In this dream the Bible was opened to Exodus12, which states God's instructions to Moses on the Passover. The Passover was a celebration among the Israelites, and it came after God had brought different kinds of plagues upon Egypt. The Israelites were to celebrate the Passover to commemorate the day God brought them out of Egypt. When I awoke I began to ask God what it meant. And God began to reveal that He is bringing a season of healing. God is bringing a season of restoration. Emotional scars, physical wounds, spiritual bondages, mental disabilities, God is going to bring about a great healing. But God will not do it alone. He is going to require us to be His tools. To bring about words of healing, to be His medics through faith. Friends it requires you and I. If God is going to bring this season of healing, it's gonna take you and I, we have to catch His heartbeat.

Just like the song, there are people who long for a hint of God in their lives. They need a 'Jesus', to heal them, to guide them, to forgive them, to assure them that everything's alright, who else but us?

Maybe you're reading this and you yourself need healing of some kind. Perhaps you need a physical healing. Or maybe you need an emotional one, perhaps you've been angry or depressed. Maybe you need a Spiritual healing, you've been caught in sin. You cry out to Jesus, because in him there is hope for the hopeless, rest for the weary, strength for the weak.

Remember, we're a team. When you know a team member is down, you don't just leave him behind, you pull him along. Sometimes I wonder if we all really care. Many times it seems that we fail to care until we see a problem. It's like we never intentionally care for a person for as long as we can remember, then the moment we know something's wrong, only do we start caring. This is not caring, this is self-centeredness. Don't care just in problems, people need support in good times too. Like they say, a team celebrates in victories together and fights in defeats together. Whether in times of victories or defeats, we need to start caring for each other. Whether by an email, prayer, text messages, encouraging notes or whatever form of encouragement, people need it. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.


Thanks Be To God Who Always Causes Us To Triumph In His Name
Thanks Be To God Who Always Causes Us To Win, Yeah
Thanks Be To God Who Always Causes Us To Triumph In His Name
Thanks Be To God Thanks Be To God

We Have Overcome, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
We Have Overcome, By The Power Of Your Name
Jesus You’re The One, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The One Who Made A Way For Us To Triumph In Your Name

We’ve Got The Victory, Everything Will Be, Alright, Alright
We’ve Got The Victory, Everything Will Be
Alright, We’re On The Winning Side
We’re On The Winning Side

3 hours of worshiping God in the middle of the night, being soaked in His presence right where I was, in bed, was not what I had expected. But those 3 hours were what I needed. In the 3 hours God simply renewed me, brought out the past, the failures, the weariness, everything I held on to for so long, God took it all out, and put His signature on it. In the midst of all the questioning, all the doubts, all the confusion, all the loneliness, all the brokenness, a whisper, "Be still." For too long I've been holding on to so much, and it's all accumulated, too much, all the anger, all the hurt, everything. It's been too long since I took refuge in my God. It's been such a long time since I allowed Him to embrace me. It's been too long since I've allowed Him to tell me how much He loves me. For too long I've ran with my own strength.

Many times, when God calls you to surrender something big, something so important, it requires so much of you. For 2 years God's been calling me to surrender, yet time and again I've ran away. I refused to surrender. I kept trying to deceive myself that it wasn't God, that it was just me. When God said, "Trust me", my faith was shaken. Still I continued running away, I tried to hide, but God caught me, and time and again He said 2 simple words, "Trust me". It wasn't about the issue of believing that God knew best, it was about the issue of doing the things that came with that belief. Surrender was a no-no, I knew if I surrendered a big part of me would be gone, I would be 'incomplete'. I cried out, "Why?!", and the whisper came, "You don't have to know why, you only need to know how." Basically there was no running away. Sometimes what seems so right can be so wrong.

Surrender. Now I know. How painful, how empty it leaves you, how desperate it causes you to be. Yet in the midst of all this, I know that my redeemer lives. I know that His grace is more than sufficient for me. I know that when Jesus gave his life for me, he expected me to do the same for the Father. And I also know that through this, God is my healer, He'll patch up the holes, fill the emptiness, meet my needs, satisfy my wants, piece the brokenness, bury the doubts, resurrect the faith, raise the hope and above all, be the Lord of lords, Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Rophe, Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah-Rohi.

To where else can I go? Only to the Father, who makes all things new.
In what can I put my hope? Only in the Lamb, who is worthy of all praise.
On what can I base my confidence on? Only on the Father, who holds my life in the palm of His hand.

'And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,"Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested.' (1Chronicles4:10)


Jesus I am thirsty
Won’t You come and fill me?
Earthly things have left me dry
Only You can satisfy
All I want is more of You

All I want is more of You
All I want is more of You
Nothing I desire Lord
But more of You
More of You

God, Shake Me Again

My faithful Father, enduring Friend
Your tender mercy’s like a river with no end
It overwhelms me, covers my sin
Each time I come into Your presence
I stand in wonder once again

Your grace still amazes me
Your love is still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
Your grace still amazes me
‘Cause Your grace still amazes me

Oh, patient Saviour, You make me whole
You are the Author and the Healer of my soul
What can I give You, Lord, what can I say
I know there’s no way to repay You
Only to offer You my praise

It’s deeper, it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
It’s deeper it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
Than anything my eyes can see

Oh Gracious God, once again you remind me of your grace. Once again you remind me that you're in charge. A thousand times I've failed, yet your mercy remained. A thousand times I've stumbled, yet your grace it lifts me high. Jehovah once again you've brought me back into the inner courts. In the midst of the storm you whisper that it's not about me, it's never about me, it's about You. I've held on for far too long. It's time I learn to let go. It's time to let You take control. It's time to wait and see. And so I surrender to you, not in defeat but in victory. Oh Lord, surprise me.

'The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.'
(Psalm18:2-3)

If You Have Not Love...

'"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverence. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place' (Revelation2:1-5, Bold and Italics mine)

Why the tough stance? Friends, many of us think that as long as we lead 'holy' lives, we will gain entry into Heaven. And so everyday we spend time with God, we stay away from evil, we go to church and all. This is good. But something is lacking. That is love. Revelation2 reveals to us that we can do a lot of things, but unless we have love, we will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.

1Corinthians13 is the only chapter in the book dedicated to the topic of love. Apostle Paul ended 1Corinthians12 with this: 'But eagerly desire the greater gifts.'(v31) And then he starts chapter 13 like this: 'And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.'(1Corinthians13:1-3, Bold and Italics mine)

The most excellent way of desiring the greater gifts is to have love! Apostle Paul wanted the people of Corinth to know that unless they have love, they will be unable to run the church. They will be unable to use their gifts to serve the church. Friends, in 1Corinthians13 we see that we can do a lot of things to "ensure salvation". We can speak in all kinds of tongues, we can have a lot of gifts and wisdom, we can have a lot of faith, we can do a lot of charity work and even willing to be put under trial for the gospel. But something is lacking. Love, that is. We forget that salvation comes not by our own works, but by grace. (Ephesians2:8-9) Because God loved us first even though we did not deserve it, therefore we must extend the same kind of love to others. Because Christ died for us while we were still sinners, we must extend the same kind of grace to others. For in the same way we judge others, we will be judged, and with the measure we use, it will be measured unto us. (Matthew7:2)

Revelation2 tells us that we can do a lot of things, but unless we have love, we will be refused entry to Heaven. Friends, do you realize the extend of power of love? 'Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.' (1John4:8)
Unless you have love, the fact is this, you are not acknowledged as a heir of the Kingdom. Because God is love.

In this modern dog-eat-dog world, it is getting increasingly difficult to love people. But friends, that's why we're here. As Christians we have been called to be the salt and light of the world. (Matthew5:13-16) We have been called to lead the way. We have been called to be examples in/to the world. And in this world where 'hate' is such a common word, what better way to do this than to love?

One of the most common thing that leads to hatred is anger and bitterness. I know, you would want to correct me because that is two things and not one. But friends, I refer to anger and bitterness as one because they come hand in hand. With anger you have bitterness. And with bitterness you have anger. Anger and bitterness is one of the most destructive thing. Anger and bitterness are dangerous thoughts that can, and most of the time will, lead to destructive actions. Therefore friends, as believers, let us learn not to harbour anger and bitterness, because 'The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.' (Proverbs15:26) 'See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many' (Hebrews12:15, Bold and Italics mine) This verse tells us again, that if we harbour any anger and bitterness, we will miss out on the grace of God. That's right, your anger and bitterness and lack of love is right up there among the other sins such as adultery, murder, hypocrisy etc.

Therefore, friends, let us not harbour any anger and bitter thoughts. Instead let us learn to lift up these thoughts to God. Let us learn to love others, simply becaue our God is all about love.

'Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.' (1Corinthians13:4-7 NKJV, Italics mine)


You hold the future in your hands
You know my dreams and you have a plan
And as you light my way, I'll follow you

My eyes on all of the above
My soul secure in all you've done
My minds made up
And you are the only one for me

Jesus, Savior, in my life you are everything
My future decided, I will praise your name
And I know that I am, I am yours
Yeah, I know that that I am, I am yours

You hold the earth in your command
You are the rock on which I stand
And as I live each day, I'll follow you

Aren't afraid, aren't ashamed Lord we know who we are
We are your people and we won't be silent
Unified hear us cry at the top of our lungs
You our God and we will not be shaken

Verse:
Thank You for the cross that You have paid
For all my sins You've sacrificed Yourself
I am nothing Lord without Your Grace
You were there to lift me when I failed

Bridge:
As I lift my hands
Pour Your mercy o God
I'm longing for Your presence now

As I lift my hands
Pour Your mercy o God
I'm longing for Your presence now

Chorus:
I surrender all and I will follow You
I surrender all and bring my life to You
I surrender all and live my life for You
I surrender all, I surrender all
To You Jesus


I just feel that this song is for this season of my life.

What Do You See?

Anthony DeMello once saw a starving child shivering in the cold. Angrily he lifted his eyes to heaven and questioned, "God how could You allow such suffering? Why don't you do something?" There was a long silence and then DeMello was startled when he heard the voice of God answer him, "I certainly have done something-I made you."

'I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last.' (John15:16)

I MADE YOU. I CHOSE YOU. I APPOINTED YOU. What powerful truths these are. Friends, God has made all of us for a purpose.

Many a time we know that God has placed in us a higher calling, but there is a problem. Too often we think that this higher calling cannot be achieved 'today'. We think that our calling can only be achieved by endless tomorrows. We give excuses like, 'I'm not ready', 'I need to know some more' etc. Some of us feel that our higher calling is to start a church, some of us feel that we were appointed to be ministers, while others feel that we were made to impact the world through sports. Now there are many others, but I think you all would agree with me, that these callings can't be achieved just like that. It requires time and effort. The result? We who feel this way slacken now, we think that when it's time to heed the calling, it will come naturally, right now, just lay off.

Friends, this is wrong thinking. Yes, there is a higher calling for each one of us. But our lives don't only have one calling. I believe God has called each of us for many purposes. The fact is, your callings are all around you! Just like in the above story, DeMello's calling at that moment was to care for the child. DeMello probably had great dreams for himself, he probably knew what God had called him to do. And most likely it wasn't to take care of a child. So DeMello never saw himself as God's solution to the suffering child. But God saw differently. God had made DeMello for a great purpose, but along the way God put a suffering child along his path to teach him. Friends, in the same way, let us open our eyes and take a look around us. We will realize that wherever we are, there are callings for us anywhere, anytime. Perhaps it's the sick child, perhaps it's the homeless teenager, perhaps it's the depressed girl, or the thug around your neighbourhood, or maybe it's the quarreling family, maybe it could be the worried-looking person sitting next to you on the bus. Friends if only we would take a look around us, then will we realize the different purposes God has made us for. If we will open our eyes and see, we will realize what small differences we will make to this world. Yet small differences, when added up, become great testimonies for God.

Your higher calling is important, you must recognize it and persevere towards it. But until then, friends, do not be self-centered. Look around you, and you will find different purposes that God has called you for.

There was once a man who dared God to speak: Burn the bush like you did for Moses, God, and I will follow. Collapse the walls like you did for Joshua, God, and I will fight. Still the waves like you did on Galilee, God, and I will listen. And so the man sat by a bush, near a wall, close to the sea and waited for God to speak. And God heard the man, so God answered. He sent fire, not for a bush, but for a church. He brought down a wall, not of bricks, but of sin. He stilled a storm, not of the sea, but of a soul. And God waited for the man to respond. And He waited...and waited.
But because the man was looking at bushes, not hearts; bricks and not lives; seas and not souls, he decided that God had done nothing. Finally he turned to God and asked,Have you lost your power?

Friends do not be like this man. Many a time we see the situations around us, and we know we must do something, yet we do not. That's not for me, let someone else do it, we say. Friends it is important for us not to be blinded by our own feelings. Let us learn to look at things through the eyes of Jesus.

Why is it so important to look at things through the eyes of God? Let's look at Numbers13-14, which was when Moses sent 12 spies to explore the land of Canaan. This is the report 10 of them brought back: 'We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are'(13:31) and 'We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them'(13:33) These 10 spies obviously were not looking at the land of Canaan through the eyes of God. They had a defeated mentality. But look at the report of the other 2 spies, Caleb and Joshua: 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it'(13:30), 'The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.'(14:7-9) Caleb and Joshua both learned to look at their situations through the eyes of God. They had a victor's mentality. While the other spies saw giants, Caleb and Joshua saw themselves as 'giants in God'. And what was God's response? 'Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun'(14:30) The reward for a godly perspective was entry into God's promises.

One of the things I love to do among my peers is this. During service, I'll go to individuals and ask them to scan the service hall. I ask them to look at every face, and then I ask them this question, "What do you see?" I get all sorts of answers. Some are common, such as, "People", "Life" etc. But there are some interesting ones, such as, "Opportunities", "Testimonies", "Desperation" etc. When asked in return what I see, my favourite answer is, "Potential". Now get me right here. There is no right and wrong answer. The only thing is, friends, we have to always look at things through the eyes of God.

When we see hopelessness, God sees revival.
When we see people, God sees opportunities.
When we see incapability, God sees potential.
When we see crisis, God sees testimony.

Friend, what do you see today?


I want to let Jesus love me
Put his arms around me
Touch my eyes so I can see
That I am beautiful

I want to let Jesus love me
Put his arms around me
Lift me high so I can see
The beauty of the Lord

By now, many of us would know that Michael Guglielmucci, the artist who wrote the song 'Healer' is in fact not suffering from any form of cancer at all. 'Healer', if you do not know, is one of the songs in Hillsong's latest album, This Is Our God. Yes, the initial story was that he had been fighting cancer for two years, and he wrote the song 'Healer' during the period of battle. The video testimony even showed him going out on stage with an oxygen tank during the recording of the album. Now, the latest story is that it was all a fabrication. He was not suffering from any form of cancer at all. Rumours are spreading all over cyberspace that in fact, he was battling a 16 year ponography addiction.

Friends this latest twist is indeed a blow to many. Nonetheless, this news brings grieve rather than anger, it brings alertness rather than shock. As Christians let us not be taken aback by this kind of news. Let us even in this season cover Michael Guglielmucci and his family, as well as the entire church population in the world in prayer. I know after learning of the news, many of us are beginning to have doubts, some of us may even begin to despise Michael Guglielmucci. But hey friends, let us hate the sin, but love the sinner. Even in this situation let us begin to live our lives as testimonies for Christ. Let us continue to love the church. When non-Christians question us about this episode, then can we testify of the love of God. Let us not condemn, for it is not for us to do so, rather let us continue to love. We are living in the last days, and as the enemy begins to attack the Christian population many of such things will surface, let us not be shocked. Instead let us as witnesses of Christ begin to war in prayer. Friends we have to start taking up our positions and fight.

As for what the truth about Michael Guglielmucci is, whether he is battling ponography addiction, it is not certain yet, friends lets not be too fast to condemn him, rather let's keep praying for him. Let's pray and believe that God will turn this situation around and honour the church population. Friends let's be found praying.

As for the song 'Healer', many of us may wonder if this revelation negates the song. My answer is no. When a non-Christian sings 'Amazing Grace', I don't think it lessens the power of that hymn. If anything, it becomes even more poignant because it reflects the need for grace all the more—whether the singer knows it or not. The same could be said of 'Healer'. Just because the worship leader didn't actually overcome cancer, that doesn't negate the fact that he—like all of us—is in need of God's healing.

How Great Is Our God

Have you ever wondered about the greatness of our God? Have you ever wondered about what the word 'God' means? Through this week I was just contemplating, we always say that God is good, we sing the song 'How Great Is Our God', we call upon the name of God in our circumstances, but what do we know about the name of God? And so I did some research on the names of God, and these are just some of what I found. Credits to http://ldolphin.org/Names2.html

JEHOVAH: LORD

JEHOVAH-JIREH: The Lord will provide.(Genesis22:14) God will always provide, more than enough in the right season.

JEHOVAH-ROPHE: "The Lord Who Heals"(Exodus15:22-26) God is the Almighty healer.

JEHOVAH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner"(Exodus17:8-16) When you are on the battlefield, glorify the name of God, and He will fight for you.

JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies"(Leviticus20:7-8) The Lord has set you apart to be holy.

JEHOVAH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace"(Judges6:24) The Lord gives peace to all who are in right relationship with God and with one's fellow people.

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness"(Jeremiah23:5-6,33:15-16) Only by following God through and through can you attain righteousness.

JEHOVAH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd"(Psalm23) God is your shepard,and you are His sheep. He knows you throughout, and you will know His voice. He watches over you, and He will not allow harm to befall you.

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There"(Exekial48:35) Commit your plans to God, and He will be with you.

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts"(2Kings6:13-17,Psalm46:7) God is the commander of the angelic host and the armies of God. When you are in need, God will be your everlasting constant, and He is more than sufficient for you.

There are a lot more names associated to our God, but I will not touch on the rest of them. If you are interested, here is a link to help you:
http://ldolphin.org/Names2.html

Why should we even study or bother to know the names of God, you may ask.

The Bible tells us that those who know the name of the Lord will trust in Him(Psalm9:10). Those who know their God put their trust in Him. Those who know God to be of infinite wisdom will trust Him further than they can see Him (Job35:14); Those who know God to be of almighty power will trust Him when creature-confidences fail and they have nothing else to turn to (2Chronicles20:12); Those who know God to be of infinite grace and goodness will trust Him even in depressing circumstances (Job13:15). Those who know God to be of inviolable truth and faithfulness will rejoice in His word of promise, and rest upon that, though the performance be deferred and intermediate providences seem to contradict it. Those who know Him to be the everlasting Father, will trust Him as their main care and trust in Him at all times.

The more God is trusted, the more He is sought unto. If we trust God we will seek Him by faithful and fervent prayer, and constantly approve ourselves to Him in the whole course of our conversations.

God never did, nor ever will, disown or desert any that duly seek Him and trust in Him. Though He afflicts them, He will not leave them comfortless; Though He seems to forsake them for a while, eventually He will gather them with everlasting mercies. (Psalm9:10) We never trust a man till we know him. The mother of unbelief is ignorance of God, His faithfulness, mercy, and power. Those who truly know God will trust Him in everything.
"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (2Timothy1:12)

Friends today seek to intimately know the God whom we serve. Seek to know His name, that you may be able to trust Him in all circumstances. Today forth, pray upon His name with purpose, knowing that the God whom you serve is more than sufficient for you. Claim upon His name in everything, simply because His name holds incomparable power, and simply because He is Lord over everything.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." (Proverbs18:10)


Because of who You are, I give you glory
Because of who You are, I give you praise
Because of who You are, I will lift my voice and say
Lord I worship You, because of who you are,
Yes I do, I do worship, because of who you are

Because of who You are, I give you glory
Because of who You are, I give you praise
Lord, because of who You are, I will lift my voice and say
Lord I worship You, because of who you are,
Lord I worship You, because of who you are,

Jehovah Jireh, my Provider
Jehovah Nissi, you reign in victory
Jehovah Shalom, my Prince of Peace
Lord I worship you, because of who you are
And I worship You, because of who You are

Jehovah Jireh, my Provider
Jehovah Nissi, you reign in victory
Jehovah Shalom, my Prince of Peace
That’s why I worship you, because of who You are,
And I worship You, because of who You are

Jehovah Rapha, you’re my healer
Jehovah Shammah, always with me
Jehovah Sabaoth, strong deliverer
And I worship You, because of who You are

Jehovah Jireh, you're my provider
Jehovah Nissi, you reign in victory
Jehovah Shalom, you're my prince of peace
Because of who you are
Jehovah Rapha (when I’m sick in my body, you’re my healer)
Jehovah Shammah (you’re always with me)
Jehovah Sabaoth (you’re my strong deliverer)
Because of who you are

Jehovah Jireh, provider
Nissi, victory
Shalom, prince of peace
Rapha, healer
Shammah, with me
Sabaoth, strong deliverer
Because of who you are

Because of who You are, I give you glory
Lord I give you praise
Lord it’s because of who You are, I will lift my voice and say
Lord I worship You, because of who you are,
(We honor you, everyday of my life I worship you lord)
Lord I worship You, because of who you are,
Who you are

Follow On

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord." (Hosea 6:3 KJV)

FOLLOW ON. Two simple yet equally complicated words. Following God is a commitment, not a one-moment thing. Christianity is not about crying out for revival on Sunday and then being unable to find your Bible on Monday. Following God requires your life. It requires your all. To know the Lord, one must persevere and press on after the heart of God.

Just like a hunter. He's got his aim at a deer. But unless he follows on and pulls the trigger, he's not going to get his hunt.

In the same way, friends, if you truly want to know the Lord, press on after Him. Many times we think it's just about a prayer, or about an hour of worship. Yes these things are good, but they are not all. God requires you to give of your everything unto Him and hunger after His very own heartbeat.

Jesus was such a man. The night before Calvary, he was so stressed that the Bible tells us his sweat was like drops of blood. He didn't want to take the cross. In fact he prayed for God to destroy the plans of Calvary.(Matthew26:39) But Jesus knew one thing: That he was called to be Savior of the world, and unless he followed on with Calvary, there was no way for the world to be saved. So in the very next sentence Jesus prayed,"Yet not as I will, but as you will". And again during his arrest, Jesus confirms his following on, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew26:53) Friends because Jesus followed on, today you and I are saved, and heaven is made available to us simply by believing.

But there is another story about a man who did not follow on after God. Samson was a very annointed man. God had set him apart to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines. However, Samson failed to follow on in God's will for him when time and again, he fell into sexual sin. Because of sin the Lord left Samson and Samson lost his call to be the deliverer of Israel. Eventually he died together with the Philistines.

Friends, today I want to encourage you to follow on in doing God's will. You have plans, good. But follow on, and continue to do so, and then you'll see fulfillment. Maybe you were once on fire for God, but halfway through when tiredness set in, when the things of this world became too tempting, you got distracted and you lost the fire. You failed to follow through, and in the process failed to truly know the Lord. Friend if this is you, I want to encourage you to return to the Lord, because God hasn't given up on you, and He still has great plans for you. Don't be like Samson, who rturned to the Lord only when circumstances became desperate and eventually he died together with the Philistines. Maybe some of you are halfway there, you've set up a prayer group in school, you've become a cell leader, good. But follow on. When the things on the world set in, persevere and follow on, and eventually you'll see fulfilment and ultimately, come into knowledge of God.


IGNYTErs this part is for you. 'EXIT' was a great event. 600+ people turned up, 39 salvations, hundreds of seeds planted. But is this all? IGNYTErs don't let 'EXIT' be just a two-day thing. The turn-out was great, the salvations were awesome, but what next? Just let it be passe? No, it's time to care and connect the new found souls into the Kingdom. God has given us the harvest, we must be careful not to lose it. IGNYTE we must never lose the harvest. It's time for the different ones of us to step up and nurture the young souls. Not just the leaders, but each one of us must play our part. IGNYTE is a youth ministry, for the youths, by the youths. Yes the leaders have a job to do, but we as the youths of this ministry must take ownership of this ministry and do our part. The truth of the matter is this: Unless we retain the harvest God graciously gave us, there is no point rejoicing over the salvations.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians3:12-14)


God Your unfailing love
Holds me by the hand
You'll never let go of me
No matter how far I've ran

God You knew my name
Before I came to be
And You long for me
Just to stay in Your arms
So I want to sing

It's Your love
That I'm holding on to
It's Your face
That I look upon
It's Your strength
That I can lean on
I won't let go of You

In my trials
I will praise You
In my fears
It's You I will run to
And I will sing
Of how You have loved me
Lord I can't let go of You

Power of Prayer

For some time now I've been wondering about why we should pray. Not that I doubted the power of prayer or doubted God Himself, rather I was wondering that if the Spirit intercedes for us on our behalf, as said by the Bible, then why should we still take time to pray? And so I did some research, from the Bible, from the Internet etc., and I soon realized the true power of prayer.

Acts 12 tells us about Peter's miraculous escape from prison. But the escape didn't come just like that. It came because people were praying. "but the church was earnestly praying for him."(v5) and again in v12,"many people had gathered and were praying". Because the church was praying for Peter while he was still in prison, God intervened. And thus Peter's miraculous escape from prison.

Luke4:1-13 is the famour story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. Satan didn't tempt Jesus just 3 times, as most of us think, rather "for forty days he was tempted by the devil"(v2). Imagine being tempted for forty days. Imagine not eating for forty days and someone keeps tempting you with food every hour, while you are getting hungrier and hungrier by the minute. You might say,"But he is the Lord Jesus Christ, of course he can", but you know, friend, Jesus was a man, an ordinary human just like you and I. He could feel hunger too(v2). But you know why he could resist the devil? Because Jesus remained focused. Focused on his ultimate destiny. And the key to his focus: Fervent prayer. For forty days in the wilderness Jesus did nothing but prayed. And God intervened.

Genesis 20 is a story about how Abimelech took Sarah as his own wife, not knowing that Sarah was in fact Abraham's wife, because Abraham had chosen to hide the fact from everybody. And due to that incident God closed up every womb in Abimelech's household. But when Abraham prayed for Abimelech and his household, God opened the wombs of the women and they all could have children again.

There are a lot more stories in the Bible about how God moved through the power of prayer, but these are mainly the stories that I'd like us all to learn from today. Friends do you realize the power of prayer?

1. Prayer brings about freedom.
From the first story of Peter's escape from prison, we see that because people were praying, God brought about freedom to Peter's life, and to a larger extent, the church. God first took off the chains of Peter(v7), then opened doors for him to walk out into freedom(v10). Friends today if you are bounded by something, a sin, a burden, a broken past, a broken heart, or today deep inside you you long for a breakthrough in a particular area, start praying. Because God wants to set you free.

2. Prayer brings about strength and sustainence
In the second story, we see how Jesus managed to resist the devil even at his physically weakest. I use the phrase 'physically weak' because Jesus was strong spiritually. And his strong Spirit enabled him to draw strength from God. Science tells us that a person is unable to survive without food for more than 5 weeks, or 35 days, much less 40 days! Yet Jesus survived forty days without food. God sustained him through the forty days of prayer and fasting. Friends today if you are feeling weak, physically, mentally, spiritually or in any other area, pray. Because God wants to sustain you through your prayers.

3. Prayer brings about fruitfulness.
In the third story about Abraham and Abimelech, we see how God brought fruifulness back to the household of Abimelech through Abraham's prayer. Friends today know that your prayers on earth stir the heavens, and through your prayers God wants to release fruitfulness into your life. But He cannot do that until you start praying. Friends if today you know you need fruitfulness in something, perhaps in your exam results, in your work, in your CCA, in your family, in your school, or in any other area, start praying. Because through your prayers God can release fruitfulness into your life.

I know there are IGNYTErs who view my blog. Today even let this post be for you. I know many of you were fasting during this week prior to "EXIT", good. But I want to encourage each of you to continue praying fervently for the event. Because I sense and I thank God that He wants to release a open heavens into IGNYTE ministry. But friends we have to keep praying. As we pray, we believe that God will release and bring into freedom our oikos. Their chains will be removed and God will open doors for them to walk through into the salvation that He has for them. As we pray we also believe for strength and sustainence. Many of them will be tired from the past week, and many of them who walk through the glass doors of both the chapel and the red rooms will be bringing with them the problems from the past week. IGNYTErs as we pray we believe that God will release strength and sustain them, allowing them to be a testimony of a God they have yet known. Lastly as we pray we also believe for fruitfulness, that during the event we will see the kingdom of Heaven truly forcefully advancing, and we will witness many souls being released into the kingdom of Heaven, and it will be one big party in Heaven as the angels are rejoicing over new found souls, for they were once lost, but they are now found. IGNYTErs can you hear the sound of revival?

But friends more than praying for your oikos, let this post also be for yourself. Today there is only one message: make prayer the principle of your life. Remember, As we close our hands in prayer, God opens His.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliciotn, faithful in prayer" (Romans12:12)
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1Thes5:16-18)


What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let satan have one more

What if the church for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God's promise
And stormed hell's rusty gates

What if His people prayed
And those who bare His name
Would humbly seek His face
And turn from their own way

And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of day

What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do

He said that He would hear
His promise has been made
He'll answer loud and clear
If only we would pray

If my people called by my name
If they'll humble themselves and pray
If my people called by my name
If they'll humble themselves and pray

Greg Outlaw's Testimony

Greg Outlaw was involved in drugs, alcohol, sexual addiction, materialism, hedonism, and a lifestyle of debauchery etc from a very young age, and his life seemed to be spiralling completely out of control. It seemed he was plunging straight to hell. But read this: God had a better plan for him. Watch the video about how God transformed his life around and turned it around for good. What the devil meant for evil, God turned it around to make it perfect. Friends as you watch this video allow God to speak to you. If you think you don't need God you're wrong. If you think your life is too rotten, you're wrong again. God can transform you and use you for His glory. But friend, you have to start living for Him, don't live for yourself, live for God, and you'll see the best testimony ever in yourself. Watch the video, and I pray you'll be blessed.

"God, I recognize that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. I need You in my life; I want You in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of Your Son Jesus Christ in giving His life for me on the cross at Calvary, and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my Savior. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow You all the days of my life. Those days are in Your hands. I ask this in Jesus' precious and holy name. Amen."

Running back

I've been running, trying to be one who sees
I've been working, salvation out on my knees
There is nothing better than knowing
That we are redeemed
Unbelieving trusting in creative hands,
I am praying for our world to bow to your plan
And this one thought is unmistakable
I take up my cross and follow you Lord


Chorus
When you stand the tall trees and mountains bow
When you speak the fiercest of oceans is still
And I see the sinner seek devotion
The lost become chosen, and I fall to my knees


Unforgiven, my savior who did not deserve death
He was blameless and I was lost in shamefulness
Undelivered, but it doesn't seem right
Unless I keep my eyes focused on the Savior who gave his live
In the middle of a world that denies it believes
It is breaking apart at the very seams
There is one thing to be alive for
And it's to take up my cross and follow you Lord


Bridge
I will take up my cross and follow Lord where you lead me
And I will take up my cross and follow wherever you go


I've been running too much. Not away from God, but ahead of God. I've been serving faithfully, giving everything I have to God, but sometimes I've moved too fast. Instead of doing things with God, I went ahead and did things for God. I did things too fast and failed to listen out for the voice of God. Instead of allowing God to pave the way for me, I've set my own pace and went ahead. As a result I tired out, became weary. Suddenly the things that felt so right became like burdens. I realized that what I thought I could handle alone I actually couldn't. So when God caught hold of me and whispered, 'Son, slow down', I knew He meant for me to obey. No more setting of my own pace. No more running ahead of God. Instead I'll allow the Maker to carry me, I'll allow Him to pave the way for me, because He knows what's best. I'm running with Him, because I know I'll soar on wings like eagles, because I know that His love and grace is more than sufficient for me. Simply because He knows my beginning and my end, and He promised that my latter will be greater than my former.

Test of Love (for People)

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor 13:13)

Friends today I end my series of Tests To Be Like Jesus with this test, the test of LOVE. Maybe you have read each post in this series, but you know what, the greatest test of all this is love.

It's simple to love someone who loves us. Simple to love someone who makes us happy. Simple to love someone who gives us what we want. In other words, it's simple to love materialistically.

However, today my point is, are you able to love someone who hates you? Are you able to love someone who makes you upset, angry, hurt or simply, makes you want to hate him/her? Are you able to love unconditionally? Regardless of how the person treats you? Regardless of how hostile the person is towards your love?

Jesus was someone who chose to love unconditionally. He loved the people society loved to hate.
He touched the lepor and healed him.(Matthew8:1-4) Lepors are people with a skin disease, and during that time when anyone contracted leprosy, he would be quarantined until death. Everybody would move away from him. Simply, he was a reject, an outcast. But Jesus chose to go near the lepor and even touched him. He could have healed just with words, but Jesus chose to go further than that. He chose to touch the lepor and accept him, and then healed him. Jesus loved him.

The adulteress woman.(John8:1-11) Everybody wanted to stone her. But Jesus chose to love her. Everybody looked down on her, but Jesus edified her. Everybody condemned her, but Jesus chose to forgive her. Jesus loved her

Zacchaeus.(Luke19:1-10) He was a tax collector. In those days everybody hated tax collectors, because most of them were corrupt and often charged the people more than they were supposed to. Society hated them, but that day Jesus chose to reside in Zacchaeus' house. Society hated Zacchaeus, but Jesus accepted him. Society charged him, but Jesus forgave him. Jesus loved him.

The soldiers.(Luke23:33-34) Who were they to deserve the love of Jesus? Yet Jesus chose to look beyond them and chose to forgave them who crucified him. The soldiers mocked him, abused him, flogged him, stripped him, yet Jesus chose to look at them through the eyes of God and forgave them.

There are many people recorded in the Bible who felt the love of Jesus personally. Friends today can you comprehend the love of Jesus? Are you able to understand the love of Jesus? Are you able to fathom the depeth of his love for you? If you are unable to, it's only because Jesus' love is more than you can ever imagine, and you can be rest assured today that this love wants to reach you.

However, God does not want us to just receive His love and then do nothing about it. God wants you to love His people, the people around you, just as He loves you. (John15:12) The people who hate you, those who hurt you, those who reject you, those who persecute you, those who condemn you, those who take your love for granted, God wants you to love them nonetheless, and even more so. Friends sometimes it's very difficult to love certain people, and you're asking me,'How?' How can you bring yourself to love these people?

Simple. Look at them through the eyes of God. All of the people around you are God's very beloved, and until you recognize that can you begin to start loving the person. When you begin to understand that God has a plan for the person, you'll begin to see beyond who the person is right now, and as you begin to see the person as how God can use him/her, you'll begin to love the person for it. Therefore friends, today I want to encourage you to love the people around you, not because you have to, but because you know that God can work in that person and use him/her for His kingdom. Because you weren't deserving of His love either, yet God poured forth His love into your heart. Therefore love people the way God loved you.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1Corinthians13:4-8)

Here is a link to a website I found whch may be useful to help you understand more.

http://www.xenos.org/teachings/nt/hebrews/gary/heb13-1.htm

Test of Truth

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,a dn to the ends of the earth." (Acts1:8)

Witnesses. That's what we are. And like all witnesses in court, we are called to testify, to tell of what we have seen and heard. And we are to speak the truth. We are not to candy-coat the truth or twist it, our task is simple. To tell the truth. Period. The witness for Christ never steps down from the witness chair, he is always on trial and under oath. Friends, as witnesses for Christ, deception is never an option. It cannot be and shouldn't be. It wasn't for Jesus.

"though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth" (Isaiah53:9). Friends, to be like Jesus, first and foremost, is to watch our tongues. God is very serious about the issue of honesty. He seeks not to decrease or minimize our deception but to completely eliminate it. "No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence." (Psalm101:7) Throughout the Bible, the theme is the same. God cannot and will not tolerate deceit. He hates it. Lying stirs the same heavenly anger as adultery and aggravated assault.(1Cor6:9-10) In fact, God views lying as worship to other gods.

"The Lord destests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful." (Psalm12:22)
"The Lord hates...a lying tongue...a false witness who pours out lies" (Proverbs6:16-19)
God "destroys those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the Lord abhors" ( Psalm5:6)

Why does the Lord hate deception so much, you might be thinking.

1. Deception destroys.
The Bible tells us that God has an excellent plan for all of us. The last thing He wants is for us to be destroyed prematurely. And the thing that will destroy us all? Deceit. A lie from Satan was all it took to cause the downfall of men. Satan didn't discourage Eve. He didn't seduce her. He didn't sneakily attack her. He just lied to her. "Did God really say...? You will not surely die..." (Genesis3:1-4) Friends the last thing God wants is for you to perish because of a lie. A lie, simple as it may seem, is detestable to God, and He hates it, not because you did it, but because it'll destroy you.

2. Dishonesty is completely contrary to the character of God.
"it is impossible for God to lie" (Hebrews6:18) It is not that God will not lie or that He has chosen not to lie, He simply cannot lie. And if God's ultimate purpose for us is to shape us in His glory, how then is it possible for us, as His children, to lie? God always speaks truth. When He makes a covenent, He honours it. When He makes a statement, He means it. And when He proclaims the truth, we can believe it. Friends if it is impossible for our heavenly Father to lie, how can it possible for us? If you want to be continually shaped in God's glory, you have to renew your mind and start testifying to the truth. Sometimes it may seem to be the best choice, but it'll be the right choice. And warriors of Christ do what's right, not what their feelings tell them.

Friends always remember that we are all woitnesses of Christ in this world. The court won't listen to the testimony of a perjured witness. Neither will the world. Do we really think our coworkers will believe our words about Christ when they can't even believe words about how we scored extraordinarily high marks for that test? Even more significantly, do we really think God will use us as a witness if we won't tell the truth?

Friends it's time to ask yourself some tough questions. Am I completely honest with my family? Is my school school environment streaked with dishonesty? Am I honest with my undertakings? Am I a trustworthy person? Do I tell the trth...always?

If not, start today. Don't wait till tomorrow. The ripple of today's lie is tomorrow's wave and next year's flood. Be like Jesus, always tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Test of Availability

"And I said,'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah6:8b)

Availability. A big issue among us humans. Especially in these times where everybody is so busy with his/her own schedule and tasks. You see it in lots of society’s little dramas:

The teenage girl who’s trying to decide whether to say yes to the offer of one prom date or hold out for an offer from someone higher on the popularity food chain.

The young man struggling with “commitment issues” who can’t make up his mind whether to marry the one girl or stay available for the many.

In sports, the high school coach who is “totally committed” to his team…until the right offer comes from the right college.

We all deal with issues of availability all the time. Many a time it's about who being available to whom and for what.
Christianity is a call to stewardship and that call places demands on us. But what does it take to be a profitable steward in the Kingdom of God? The answer: Your availability. God does not rely on your ability as much He demands your availability. Throughout the Bible we see that God does not seek for the able but for the available. He called Moses, David, Gideon, all the youngest in their family, to be His great leaders. He called Paul, a former christian persecuter, to be His greatest author. He used fishermen to start the revolution. He used an adulteress woman to bring salvation to her hometown. He used a pebble to bring down a giant. Each time, God did not call for ability. Rather, He called for availability. David availed, and he become the greatest king ever recorded. Noah availed, and he was credited as the father of faith.
Friends the message here is this. You might think you are the weakest around. You might think you've sinned too much. For whatever reason, you think you are the least likely to be used by God. You can't be more wrong. Today know that no matter your situation, no matter your position, no matter what you have, God can use you. And He will use you. But on one condition: You make yourself available to God.
When God was looking for a man to send to the children of Israel, Isaiah made himself available. And because he made himself available, today he is known as one of the greatest prophets ever used by God.
When I made a commitment with God to be available for Him whenever, wherever, I allowed Him to disrupt my schedule whenever He wanted to. I told the Lord that if ever He needed me, just stop me. And many times He has. My serving attendance is 100%, and I've always intentionally made an affort to be available not just to service or cell, but to my SBs and friends whenever they needed. And many times I've seen how God has used me to impact and influence. Now get me right here, I'm not here to boast or anything, what I want to say is this. Friend if you have not been making yourslf available to God, it's time to do so. True disciples make themselves available to serve the King of kings.
Your availabitlity is your first step to your fulfillment. Maybe some of you lead really busy lives and you are saying you have not enough time even for work, much less God. Only one thing to you my friend: Prioritise. Think about this seriously: What for you strive on for the things of this world and hold back on the gospel? What for you commit your whole life unto God and then compromise on your salvation? Your results are not going to get you a ticket to heaven. Your money is not going to be of any worth when God comes.
All the great men that you read about in the Bible didn't come about at the snap of a finger. No, availability was the essence of their cause! Many of them weren't able, but all of them were available. And so God used them to impact their generation. Simple because they were available.
Friends today if you know this post is for you, then you start making a commitment with God. God wants to use you, but you have to make yourself available to God.

"the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). When God's eye falls upon you, and me, will He find us available?

Instead of boasting of your ability, register your availability and allow God to use you greatly, raise you and establish your destiny!


Let Your kingdom come on earth. Let Your will be done
Let every kingdom of this earth bow.

Let the sinners sing for joy, we are saved by grace
Let every saint break through these doors and shout

You’re calling out, “Who will go?”

I will go. I will live the life. I’ll give it all for Jesus Christ.
I’ll tell the world that You are God.
I will go. Hear my battle cry. Give me wings so I can fly
And tell the world that You are God.

Here am I, here am I, I will give all that is mine.
Here am I, here am I, Jesus come and spend my life.

I will go. I will live the life.
I’ll give it all for Jesus Christ. I’ll tell the world that You are God.
I will go. Hear my battle cry.
Give me wings so I can fly and tell the world that You are God

The Test of Surrender

" 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeard to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." (Luke22:42-44)

The night Jesus was arrested. The night before the cross of Calvary. Jesus was under enormous stress. Jesus didn't like the idea of the cross. In fact, the book of Luke records for us that he was so stressed about it that he literally sweated blood. Scientists have proven that when a person is under enourmous stress, it is possible for him to drip blood. Hear this friends, Jesus was under tremendous stress. He didn't want to take the cross. Not that he didn't want to be Savior of the world, he just wanted another way. Hear his heart cry out for an easier way. Hear his heart cry out for God to save him,"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me!"

But Jesus didn't run away. No, he didn't take the shortcut of backing out, instead he surrendered. He knew he couldn't fight God. He shouldn't. So he surrendered. "Yet not my will, but yours be done." That was his heart. He knew it'd be difficult, but he submitted anyway. He knew there was no turning back, but he followed anyway. He knew what was going to happen soon, but he was looking further than that. Jesus submitted his whole life unto God. He saw the life after death. He saw that the promise of God was bigger than all his problems.

Friends how many of us are under trials now. You're crying out,"Lord take it away!" Let the cry of your heart be that of Jesus' today. "Lord, it hurts, if it is not of your will then please take it away. But if it is of your will then Lord let your will be done." Friends this day let your heart put God first. Not what you want, but what God wants for you. Don't fit God into your schedule, you fit your schedule into God's. In the midst of your trials, look up into the face of God and see the rainbow He's prepared for you after the storm. Because He loves you more than to see you perish in your trials. Because He rather died than let you go. So friends, in spite of all your trials, submit to God, because He has your end in mind, and He promised that your latter will be greater than your former. Allow God to speak to you on this today.


This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

All of my life, in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow

The Wilderness Test

Focus. How many of us need need it. Many of us fail at this test. We get distracted easily, and bit by bit our focus shifts. And soon our original purpose gets put aside, and a new one takes it place. And sometimes it's the same with God. We start off strong, but soon, when the thngs of this world begin to eat at you, when studies begin to take its toll, when friends become too hard to decline, when the computer becomes a better choice to spend your time, we begin to lose focus, we become distracted, and we start to compromise. Friends all of us have a purpose on this earth, and that purpose should be our focus. Many times it will be very difficult to persevere, to be able to put aside everything and just walk by faith in the journey God has called you to. Many times it will be difficult to pursue the God-given vision. Obstacles will come, people will rise against you, even your own friends. Situations you least expected will suddenly occur. But friends this is all part of the enemy's plan to destract us, to derail us from the journey by which we have been called. I want to encourage you that in spite all that happens, continue to focus on God and His plans for you. The devil's 'no' cannot compare to God's 'yes', and when the devil sees that he can't do anything to stop you, he will have no choice but to shut up and crawl back to hell. But for this to happen, you must make a choice. You can choose to be distracted and allow the present to kill your future, or you can choose to focus on the future and follow God. Salvation is free, but following Jesus comes at a price.

Jesus was never distracted. From the day he was born, he could have chosen to put aside his purpose and choose to be a successful person on earth, one that chased money and did evil in the eyes of God. But no, he chose to remain focused. He knew he was to be the Savior, and so he walked in the path God had destined for him. He chose to put aside the riches of the world to be a fugitive and ultimately the Savior. He chose to be seen with beggars and fishermen and lepors than be seen with kings and high teachers of the law. From the day he left the carpentry shop in Nazareth he had only one ultimate aim-the cross of Calvary. While starving in the desert for 40 days, Satan tempted him with food, with riches, with power, but not once did Jesus buckle. He was starving, and I believe he was desperate, maybe at some point he wanted to give up, and along came Satan with everything he could ever want. But friends, NOT ONCE DID JESUS BUCKLE. He remained focused throughout. Even when the soldiers mocked and whipped him at Calvary, he remained focused on his purpose as Savior and he prayed for them. Jesus disallowed the things of this world to distract him. He disallowed his emotions to derail him. He disallowed his situations to hold him back. He disallowed his sacrifices to disourage him. He disallowed anything to take away his purpose from him.

Friends today do you catch the heartbeat of Jesus? Do you see what God is doing in your life? I remember once during an SP empowerment Pastor Gary asked us to go around and talk about God. Anything about God. And then I began to think. What has God been doing in my life? What is God preparing me for? And these questions began to bring me back to my purpose. What has God intended for me? Friends today as you read this I'd like to encourage you to ask yourself these questions. What has God been doing in your life? What is God doing currently in your life? What is God preparing you for? As you began to ask yourself these questions begin to see your purpose. Begin to see the path God has destined for you. And when you see it, remember it. Guard it in your heart. Write it down somewhere. Don't forget it, because friends, many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. And until you begin to walk the path God has set apart for you, you'll never see the fruits of your labour. The key word: Focus. Because God has destined you for something great. Something so great you'll never be able to comprehend, because God's ways are not your ways, and your simple mind can never comprehend His plans. Therefore friends, focus and begin to walk that path to fruitfulness.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has caled me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians3:12-14)


Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

(Verse 2)
Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, alll of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you


Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we're living
That's what we give to you, Lord

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
Lord I offer you my life

The Test of Love(for God)

Sometimes we get too caught up with what we are doing that we forget what we are doing it for. Many times we embark on projects without even knowing its purpose. Many times, we end up being human doings instead of human beings. And that's when you know you've drifted away from God. Your purpose on Earth was not to be a human doing. Rather, your purpose here is to be a human being. A human being is weak, and that's why we need God. A human being is imperfect, that's why we need God. A human being is never and never will be strong enough, wise enough, fast enough, tall enough, rich enough or basically perfect enough. And that's why we need God. Because only in His love can we be found perfect, only by His grace can we be delivered, only by His strength can we soar, only in His ways can we ultimately prosper.

What has this got to do with loving God, you ask? Plenty. Nowadays, listening has becoming an overlooked thing. 'Let him who has ears, hear'. Jesus uses this phrase more than once. In fact, a quick check reveals that eight times in the Gospels and eight times in the Book of Revelation we are reminded that's it's not enough just to have ears, it's necessary to use them. A relationship is not just about one person speaking, it's about both parties speaking and listening to each other. It's the same with God. How often do we really sit down to seek the voice of God? How many times do we really sit down to listen to God, while putting aside the constraints of time? Or have our prayers been just about us? About us just coming to God, laying all our requests before God and then shutting off without waiting to listen to Him?

There are two questions I'd like to ask you the reader today.
1.How long has it been since you let God have you?
I mean, really have you? How long since you gave Him a portion of undiluted time, uninterrupted time listening for His voice? How long since you put aside everything, and just shut in with God? Jesus did. He made intentional efforts to be alone with God, seeking God and listening to Him. Every Gospel accounts for us at least once that Jesus spent regular time alone with God. He withdrew from the crowds, from his disciples, everything, and went to a faraway place to pray, to seek God. Besides praying, Jesus also spent time reading God's Word. Time and again, we see that Jesus knew the scriptures well, and he also knew how to use them. A very familiar example is when Satan tempts him in the wilderness. Jesus used the scriptures three times, and three times he made Satan shut up. Friends two keys: Prayer and Bble reading. If Jesus, the Son of God thought it necessary to do these, shouldn't we do so more?

2.How long since you let God love you?
God isn't a genie. Don't come to God and tell him how what you want from Him. Don't come to God with earthly requests and expect all to be fulfilled because that's not what we need God for. Instead, allow God to sit you on His laps, to embrace you with His arms and allow Him to tell you how much He loves you. That's what God wants to do with you. To tell you much He loves you. "The LORD your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah3:17) Read this verse over. Notice who is active who is passive? Who is singing and who is resting? Who is rejoicing over His loved one and who is being rejoiced over? Many times we think we are the singers when we worship. But there are times when God would rather have us be still and allow Him to sing over us. God loves you and He wants you to know it. He wants to rejoice over you. Feel like you're not worth it? Surely Judas wasn't, but Jesus washed his feet anyway. Neither was Peter, but Jesus loved him anyway. Neither were the Emmaus-bound disciples, but Jesus took time to sit at their table. Friends who are we to determine if we are worthy? Our job is to simply be still long enough to let God have us and let Him love us.

Friends I want to encourage you this day forth to let God have you, and let God love you.


I will never let go of your love, your mighty love
I will never let go of your love, your mighty love
You'll never fail me, and you'll never let me go
I will never let go of your love

"The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.' "(Jeremiah31:3)

Test of Faithfulness

"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing" (Job1:22)

"...In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." (Job2:10)

The second test to being like Jesus is the test of faithfulness. To be faithful to God no matter the circumstance, to hold on to Him no matter how high the impending waves are, no matter how much the suffering is, that is true faithfulness.

You see friends, Job was a man who knew what faithfulness meant. He was tested many times by the devil, albeit allowed by God, but nevertheless he stood firm in God, never doubting God. His wive persecuted him, his friends mocked his beliefs, but not once did he waiver in his faith.

There were many tests that Job had to go through:
1)Loss of property (Job1:14-17)
2)Loss of family members/loved ones (Job1:18-19)
3)Loss of health (Job2:7-8)

Job went through many tests, yet not only did he not compromise on his faith, he grew even more faithful. And sometimes when I just look at this phase of Job's life, I begin to think of how easy we give up nowadays. How easy we blame God for little things nowadays. Friends this day I pray that your heart will be like Job's. To become just like Jesus, faith is required. The Bible tells us that without faith, it is imposible to please God. Many of us think that as long as we remain good, innocent christians, quiet and all, God is pleased, but no! WITHOUT FAITH, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD! God is looking at your heart today friend. If you truly want to be like Jesus, if you truly want your life to be like a sweet fragrance to God then you must start having faith. The Bible tells us that all it takes is faith as small as a mustard seed to move mountains. This day I pray that as you read this post, may your heart start to hunger after the great things of God. Friends following God is never easy, but it is going to be worth it. In times of trials, though it might not seem the most logical thing to do, submit to God. Allow Him to take control of your life. Because God has seem your beginning and your end, and He knows your latter will be greater than your former. Always hunger after the promises of God, because your problems will never equal your promises. This day I pray for faith to arise as you read this.


He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' " Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice. Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." (2 Chromicles 20:15-20)


Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion -
For more than conquerors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.

His Word shall not fail you - He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.

The Test Of Fruitfulness

"Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' " (Luke13:6-9)

God desires for you to grow. Sure, you've received Christ. You're asking me,'I've already received Christ, I'm going to heaven, why should I grow?' Yes, you've received Christ, but receiving Christ does not mean you're going to heaven. Receiving Christ does not mean receiving salvation. Receiving Christ is about receiving a purpose. It's when your life takes on new meaning. The seed is planted in you the moment you accept and receive Christ, but the seed cannot grow until you make the effort to set the conditions right.

God doesn't want you to just receive the seed and leave it there. No, it'll die if it does not exist in the appropriate conditions. And that's what hurts God most, when your seed dies. God desires for you to receive the seed in your heart and then set the conditions in your heart right, so that only He can make it grow. God desires for that seed in you to grow into a mature plant and eventually bear fruit. You have a purpose, God has appointed you to bear fruit, fruit that will last (John15:16)

Friends, God has a purpose for your life. Not just to receive the seed He gracefully gave to you, but to boldly stand out from the crowd and fearlessly live your life according to His ways, and to ultimately grow that seed. God desires for you to live a life that speaks volumes of Him and for Him.

Friends the first step to becoming just like Jesus is to get your life right before God. The first step to growing that seed is to set the soil. Only then can the watering and the caring work. Only then can the seed start its growth. God doesn't desire for you to be perfect, He knows you can never be, but God desires that you become conscious of your identity, to know what you should and should not do, to be aware of your purpose and to make conscious efforts to work towards that purpose. God desires for you to live your life worthy of His. When He gave His life for yours, He desired for you to do the same.

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God." (Philippians1:27-28)


Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for you Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for you my master
Ready to do your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sins
Deep within

Refiner's fore
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for you Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for you my master
Ready to do your will

Just Like Jesus

Recently my MSN pm read like this: God made you and He loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you there. He wants you to be just like Jesus.

And it's true. God loves you just the way you are, but He's not contented to leave you where you are, simply because He's destined you for greatness. And until you fulfill your potential of greatness, God's not goiing to leave you alone. He's going to come and knock on the doors of your heart everyday until you respond. He's gonna shake your faith everyday until you make Him your only pillar of strength and confidence. He's gonna keep moulding you until you are willing to allow Him to expand your territory. Simply, He's gonna keep going at you until you become like Jesus, your ultimate purpose.

Becoming just like Jesus. Yes,that's right. The Bible tells us in Philippians that God's ultimate purpose for us is to possess the attitude of Christ Jesus.(Philippians2)

But what does it mean to posess the attitude of Jesus? Simple. It means to have the heart of Jesus. David was written as man after God's own heart. Moses knew God on a personal basis, he too knew the hear of God. Many of the characters in the Bible knew what it meant to catch the heartbeat of God. Friends catching the heartbeat of God is good, but God wants you to go one step further. God wants you to catch His whole heart. The Bble writes for us that out of the heart comes thinkings and actions. In other words, your heart shapes who you are. That's why of all things, God wants to deal with your heart first. And who else to model after but Jesus? John,who followed Jesus for 3 and a half years, described Jesus as blameless and pure. That's why until your heart is like Jesus', God's not going to rest.

But to be like Jesus is not going to be easy. There are several tests we have to go though as believers to ultimately fuflill the call that God has placed in our lives. We will explore these tests in the next few posts.

Tests are:
1)Inevitable. Jesus himself was tested many times, by the devil, by the pharisees, even by his own disciples. Basically if you want to grow, you have to grow through tests.
2)Continual. They occur throughout your whole life, until the day you meet the LORD and receive the eternal crown He's prepared for you.
3)Necessary. I believe I've stressed a lot on this point. Beasically if you want to grow, you have to grow through tests, because that's where you'll come out stronger each time and that's how you grow.
4)Productive. Obviously. God will not test you for no reason. He will not bring you through something just for the sake of doing it. He has a purpose for each and every phase of your life.
5)Influential. This is what many people don't realize. When you are being tested, do you know that you can actually influence people? The testimonines that you bring with you after each ordeal are essential and powerful tools to impact the people around you. Therefore do not think that what you're going through is just for yourself, no, God meant for you to testify of Him even during each ordeal, because that's where you can bless and infuence others when they see how you can stand firm in God even when your whole world falls.
6)Crafted by God. Every test you have gone through and will go through has been specailly crafted by God. He will not give you soemthing that you cannot sustain, nor will He give you something that doesn't bring out your fullest potential. That's how He knows what you are going through, but that's how He knows that you will emerge stronger.

Tests are just some of the things that God uses to mould us until we eventually become like Jesus. Friends in everything rejoice, because you can be sure that in whatever you are going through, God will be your constant, He will be your pillar of strength and comfort, and He will indeed fight for you in eveything. IN THE STORM, DARE TO WALK ON THE WATER WITH JESUS, THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL TRAMPLE ON EVERY WAVE.

How Far Will You Go?

'The LORD said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's houshold and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." ' (Genesis12:1-3)

A great promise. But an equally daunting condition. The call of Abram involved a huge sacrifice. I believe it was a test from God to Abram, to test if Abram would follow God wholeheartedly. God could have blessed Abram right where he was, yet God called him out, so that God could use him. And Abram passed the test perfectly. After he got the call from God, the Bible records for us that he immediatly went.

The call of Abram spells one word- SUBMISSION. It is one of the most hated words in the dictionary. It spells of surrender, of defeat, of humiliation, of pain and many other undesirable things. But friends, in the heavenly realm, submission is the most wanted thing. Our Father God is looking for people who are ever-willing to sacrifice their whole lives to him, people who will follow him wholeheartedly, because these are the only people that he can use.

You see friends, God could have used Abram right where he was to bless the people, but God called Abram to another land. God had to strip away from Abram everything, all his earthly thinkings, all his worldly principles, all his comfort zones, everything, so that Abram wuld only rely on God alone.

Friends is there anything that God is calling you to surrender to him? Maybe it's your CCA, God wants you to give him your time, maybe He wants to use you mightily in another CCA. Maybe it's a relationship, God wants you to give your best years to him. Maybe it's your lifestyle, God wants you to live your life according to His ways. Maybe it's something else, but no matter what it is, it is all for only one purpose. So that God can use you much more than before, to bless His people, to impact your generation, to live out His purpose. Someone once told me, 'God cannot use you until you're dead'. No, not physically dead, but dead to yourself, your earthly thinkings, your worldly values, your human principalities, and even to your rights. God cannot use you if you don't die to the world. You cannot please both God and the world. You can only serve one master. Friends are you living to please yourself or God? The Bible tells us that what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.(2Corinthians4:18) You have big dreams, yet God is calling you to give it all up. You have big plans, and God is calling you to give it all up. Nobody said following God is easy, but God made it very clear that following Him would be the most rewarding thing. When you surrender to God, you do so not in defeat, but in victory, because now you include God in your plans, and now God is on your side. Who now can be against you? (Hebrews13:6)

Sacrifice and submission are the most painful things around, yet these are the things God is looking out for. Our Commander is looking for people who will dedicate their whole lives to the cause, who will give everything to fight for the Kingdom, soldiers who know what it means to die for the Kingdom. And right now God is looking at you. He sees right into your heart. Is there anything you are holding back deep down inside? Is there anything you can't let go off? Is there anything you are refusing to surrender, because you think that your whole life will be destroyed if you let go?

Friends the question is this, are you willing to sacrifice 80 years of your life and dreams in exchange for the reward of eternal life? The next question is this, how far are you willing to go for the Kingdom of God. Remember, God doesn't want lukewarm Christians(Rev3:15-16). God wants all of you. How far will you go for Him?


Hope has found its home within me.
Now that I've been found in You.
Let all I am be all You want me to be.
'Cause all I want is more of You.
All I want is more of You.

Let Your presence fall upon us.
I want to see You face to face.
Let me live forever lost in Your love.
'Cause all I want is more of You.
All I want is more of You.

I'm living for this cause.
I lay down my life into Your hands.
I'm living for the truth,
The hope of the world.
In You I'll stand.
'Cause all I want is You.

All I want is,
All I want is You, Jesus.

Fighting For Our Generation

As I was watching these videos,tears began to fill to my eyes. It struck me,are we doing enough for God? We always say that we are a part of God's army,but are we doing enough? Are we standing up for who we are and be counted for what we believe in? Or are we being laid-back Christians who prefer to play it safe and keep God inside? Are we Christians who prefer to lie back and be silent about what God has done for our lives?

'I sing because I know that what I have inside of me is real. It doesn't matter who protests,and it doesn't matter who asks questions. I know that what I have inside of me is real and he changed my life. It's a man and his name is Jesus Christ.'-Jodie Dickens
The childlike faith of this girl really shook me. She doesn't care about what anybody thinks of her,she sings in public anyway,because she knows she cannot keep inside her what God has done for her and in her life. Friends we cannot hide any longer. We have to stand up and be counted,for who we are and what we believe in. If the kingdom of heaven is to advance,its army must be forceful,it cannot be laid back. It cannot be silent. It must be prepared,always on the offensive,ready to take the promise land anytime. If this generation is going to be taken for Christ,friends we cannot hold back any longer. We always say 'All out for God',but do we really mean it? Do we really go all out for God? To go all out for God is to strip away everything,your pride,your confidence,your comfort zones,your rights,your habits,your desires,everything,and stand 'naked' before our God and still be able to say,'Lord,your will be done'.

In the second video,the girls,young as they are(11 years old),they are spiritual giants. They carry the burden of God,a heart of compassion for their generation. Friends if this generation is going to be remembered as a God-fearing nation,we have to start the fire burning. We have to learn to look at people through the eyes of Jesus. We have to realize that there's no more time! The girls made a commitment to God,and they are going to honour it. Friends what is your commitment to God today? Are you going to honour it no matter the circumstances? Are you able to put aside everything and keep God's will for you always in focus? Will you not be silent any longer and now start to be a mighty warrior for God? Friends,there is no more time! Unless we stand up and be counted for who we are and what we believe in,this generation is going to hell. I know it's uncomfortable to accept but it's a fact. Unless as a warrior in God's army we choose to be at the forefront of this spiritual battle,unless we stop being laid-back,this generation is going down!

Many of us know that God is coming soon. Many of us know that the culture eating at our generation now is filthy and evil. Many of us know that everyday youths are cutting themselves,they get drunk every night,they contemplate suicide everyday,they have sex with multiple partners,everyday they are moving closer to hell,and we know that! But what are we doing?! Friends unless we take the battlecall upon our lives,this generation is only going to be perverted everyday.

What is your stand today? Are you going to continue to be laid-back or are you going to truly go all out for God? Are you going to continue to be silent or are you now going to open your mouth and proclaim the good things God has done in your life?

'As long as we keep our mouths shut they keep perverting this culture. It's time to speak up! WHoever speaks up most gets to shape the culture.'-Ron
Are you going to allow the devil to continue to speak into the lives of our generation and lead them to destruction? Or are you going to speak up and lead our generation into the salvation God has for them? I choose to speak up.


Sovereign King of heaven, You are hope
Hope for every Lost and weary soul
Jesus, our salvation, You are God and God alone

We'll tell the world of You
We'll tell the world of You
Your infinite grace, Your furious love
We'll tell the world of You
We'll tell the world of You
We'll tell the world of You
Your infinite grace, Your furious love
We'll tell the world

Holy Savior, awesome and untamed
History maker, You remain the same
Who are we that You would give Your life
And bear our shame

We will not be silent
We cannot be silent
We cannot be silent anymore

Walking The Maze Of Promise

In my previous post I wrote that following God is like walking in a giant maze.There are a thousand different illustrations that you can easily find if you search,but this is my illustration.Now why do I say that Christianity is like walking in a giant maze?

Imagine with me.You're walking in a maze.Are you able to see the different paths available?Are you able to see the right path that ultimately leads to the prize?No.But God from above sees the overview of the maze.God from above sees the path you should take and the paths you should not.And God wants to guide you.

But you have to open your heart to Him.God doesn't force us.He simply taps gently at our heart,waiting for us to open the doors of our hearts and allowing Him to lead us. 'Whether you turn to the right or to the left,your ears will hear a voice behind you,saying,"This is th way,walk in it."'(Isaiah30:21)

God has prommised the Holy Spirit to be our guide.He wants to guide us,but friends unless we open our hearts to God,He cannot come in and guide us.The voices of this world come at us in full force.They tell you to swap your integrity for a new sale.To barter your convictions for an easy deal.To exchange your devotion for a quick thrill.They whisper.They woo.They taunt.They tantalize.They flirt.They flatter."Go ahead,it's ok,no one knows," they say.The voices of this world ram at your door.But Jesus taps at your heart.This world screams for your allegiance,but Jesus softly and tenderly requests it.This world promises flashy pleasure,but Jesus promises a quiet dinner,with God himself.This world tells you which path you'd wish you hadn't taken,Jesus points to you the path you'd be thankful for.Friends which voice would you listen to to complete the maze of Christianity?The Bible tells us that when you choose to follow the footsteps of Jesus,the maze would become one straight path(Proverbs3:5-6).

Friends you see,the path to salvation will never be easy,but God has promised that it'll be worth it.But God can't do it alone.It's gonna take you.God,by His grace,doesn't force you.He simply waits for you to turn your face to Him.And until you do that,you will not be able to see or hear from Him,because your face is tuned away.It's not that God isn't there.It's simply your face that is turned away.Friends I want to encourage you to turn back to God.

When God promised David the throne,God had to bring David into the desert,so that He could strip away everything David held close to Him.God had to strip away David's confidence in worldly things,God had to strip David's pride,God had to strip David's life,in a way David was dead to God,David had to die to his thinking and rights,and only then could God bring Him from a position of most wanted man to most celebrated man.

When you are down to nothing,it's only because God is up to something.

God and science

'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.' The atheist
professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his
new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely.'

'Is God good?'

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes.'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a
moment.

'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you
can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if
you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He
doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even
though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can
you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of
water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?'

'Er...yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student : 'From...God...'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there
evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything,
correct?'

'Yes.'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created
everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to
the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues:
'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things, do they exist in this world?'

The student: 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his
question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the
lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is
mesmerized.

'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in
Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you
use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen
Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or
smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus
Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes.'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable
protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that,
son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem
science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a
question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.
The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.

'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat,
mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we
don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below
zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is
no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the
lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when
it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have
or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.
You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of
heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units
because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,
sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as
darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night
if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the
absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright
light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have
Nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to
define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able
to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him.
This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is
flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.
'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student
explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good
God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something
finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a
thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much
less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life
is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive
thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'

'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they
evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young
man, yes, of course I do'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he
realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work
and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you
not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a
preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the
Commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other
student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'

The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class
who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into
laughter.

'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain,
felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No
one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of
empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no
brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain,
how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the
student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I
guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists
with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as
evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We
see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.
It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.
These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at
least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God.
It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe
the absence of God.

God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when
man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold
that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there
is no light.'

The professor sat down.

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Following God can sometimes be like walking in a giant maze.Many times you think you have found the right path,you think you have found the right thing,you think you've reached the centre of the maze,but just then you realize,you're even more lost than you were before.Many times you think that perhaps God has given you something,and you hold on to tightly,you refuse to let go,and after some time,God says,'My child,give it to me',and then you say,'No!' You refuse to let go ,and then you start to question God,'God you said this was for me,why do you take it away now?!' It feels horrible,to treasure something so much,and then one day find out you have to let go of it,to find out you have to give it all away.It feels horrible.
And that's how I feel right now.In truth,this week has been horrible.Not because school just started again,but because God is calling me to let go of certain things.It hurts a lot,I've broken down many times,felt I was all alone,needed someone to talk to but everyone seems to be busy suddenly with school work.I don't blame anyone,everybody should be busy now.And it is in these moments that God teaches me.He breaks me down so he can piece me again.I struggle with him,and by his grace he does not insist,he gives me time,but he comes knocking again.And he says,'Adriel,my son,would you give it to me?' I continued to struggle,and it carried on.Until last night,God came again.And again he asked,'Adriel,my son,would you give it to me?' I knew I couldn't run away anymore.I stopped fighting.I stopped struggling.I let go of myself,and the next thing I knew I was on my knees and crying out to God.I surrendered.
God you've taken so much from me time and time again,this time you're taking away something that you gave me.I treasure it so much,and now you're taking it away.You promised,said it was mine,but you're taking it away now.I can't understand,but I'm going to surrender it to you anyway,because I know you're have a plan for me.You see my future,and you know what's best for me,so Lord I'm trusting you on this.It hurts big time,but I know if I don't give it to you it'll hurt even more.You hold my world in the palm of your hand,and I'm yours forever.Everything within me belongs to you.Take me and use me as you will.Lord I made a commitment,and I'm not buying out.No way.Not when you know my beginnning and end,not when you know my past and present and future,not when you know what's best for me,not when you know me inside out,not when you love me.Not when you made a bigger sacrifice 2000 years ago and my sacrifice now seems so small.No way.I'm not buying out.Lord because you love me I'll give it all to you.Everything.
It was painful,yes,it felt horrible,it felt like there's an emptiness deep inside,but somewhere deep inside I knew I was doing the right thing.Somewhere deep inside I knew that heaven was rejoicing.And somewhere deep inside I too,felt a joyful feeling,something different from everything else I had felt before.And I felt how that woman by that well felt when Jesus broke her to piece her up and restore her.I knew I had surrendered not in defeat,but in true victory.
Simply because he loves me.

"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;may the name of the LORD ever be praised" (Job1:21)


For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak

You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

It's Time

I came across these shocking stastics not too long ago.

25% of average believers never pray.
30% never read their bibles.
40% never give to the church.
20% never attend church.

50% of church members attend special services.
60% have never given to world missions.
25% never assume a position of leadership or devote their time to serve in any area of ministry in the church.
80% have never attended a midweek service.
95% have never led one person to the Lord in their lifetime.
97% have never tithed.

In other words,only 3% of the church are faithful devoters to God and his cause.Only 3% of the entire church community know what it means to be truly devoted to God and his cause!Effectively,God's army is made up of only 3% of the entire church population!And that honestly,is a depressing statistic.

This statistics are taken from America,I don't know about Singapore,but I don't think it is much different.People if we really want to advance God's kingdom,we have to learn to pick up our crosses!If we really want to take our generation by storm for God,we have to learn to walk in God's ways!

Matthew7:22-23'Many will say to me on that day,"Lord,Lord,did we not prophesy in your name,and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly,"I never knew you.Away from me,you evildoers!"'

If there ever is a time that God needs an army of mature believers,it is NOW!If not now,when?If not you,then who?

Friends many are complaining of a lack of breakthroughs in their lives,but out of all these,only a few look at their lives and realize that the problem lies with them,not with God.Friends if you want to see breakthroughs in your life,you have to make a commitment with God.Not just a promise,but a commitment.A commitment to obey and submit to the King of kings,a commitment to be Christ-led,a commitment to be devoted and love him before everything else.Unless you make that commmitment,there is a wall around your heart that prevents God from coming in and doing a greater work in you.When you make that commitment,that wall is broken and God is able to come in and lead you according to his will.God is waiting for you.He is waiting for his people to start picking up their crosses and follow him through and through so he can enlist candidates for leadership in this strategic hour.He is waiting for mature christians to arise and take position in his army.He is waiting for commited soldiers to be equipped for his limitless outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Friends now is the time.No more waiting.The time has come for us to stand for what we believe in.Let us as one committed army advance the kingdom of God.

Lord you have spoken
And I will heed your voice
Humbly returning back to you my Lord
You're calling me to your truth
So here I am running to you

Under the shadow of your wings
Under the shadow of your wings
Lord I hide myself
Safe in your arms
Your grace will be my covering
Under the shadow of your wings
Under the shadow of your wings
Lord I give myself
To your will I'll abide
Your grace will be my covering

I choose to stand for my generation

Your heart,not your skills

As I was asking God what he wanted me to post about today,he reminded me of a movie I watched not long ago,'Kung Fu Panda'.Maybe now you are like,'Huh?',yeah that was how I reacted too,but as I asked God further he began to reveal to me certain things.

I'd like to share from 2 characters from the movie,Po and Tai-Lung.
Po is the panda that does not have any kung-fu skills,but has a heart to learn and somehow,courtesy of an accident,he is appointed the dragon warrior by a martial arts master.In the movie,the dragon warrior is expected to be one who is an expert in kung fu and is going to fight off Tai-Lung,an evil character who is going to bring dstruction.Po did not fit any of the criterias set by the villagers and many doubted his ability.Po himself,at one point of time,doubted his credentials.But he believed in himself and trained hard and as the story goes,Po eventually defeats Tai-Lung.And this was achieved although Po did not have the skills required,but he had what many others did not,a heart of wanting to strive for the best.

Tai-Lung,on the other hand,was a martial arts expert.However,he was not appointed a dragon warrior because the martial arts mester saw that his heart was not right.And so although Tai-Lung met all the criterias the villagers set,the martial arts teacher did not appoint him simply because of his heart.

The villagers saw what was on the outside,the skills.But the martial arts teacher was looking at the inside.And although many doubted Po's ability as a dragon warrior,Master Wu-Gui said these two phrases continually,'There is no such thing as accident' and 'Believe'.He had relentless belief in Po.

Today I'm speaking to a few groups of people.
You are like Po.You have a heart that wants to serve God,that wants to give more to God,that wants to strive for the best for God,but because you think you do not have the skills required,you choose instead to lay low and prefer to stay where you are because you think that's the furthest you can go.If you are a person like this then I want to tell you today that it is not true.You might not have the skills,but God is not looking at your skills,God is looking at your heart,and God sees your heart.You want to serve,and God wants you to serve him.Friends you might not think God can use you because of certain reasons,that's what the enemy wants you to think,because it's not true.God wants to use you and can use you.God is not looking at your weaknesses,God is looking past your present into your future.Friends do not allow what you see as your weaknesses to hinder you from giving your best to God.With God your weaknesses will be turn around into strengths.

The second group of people I want to speak to is this.You are like Tai-Lung.You have the skills,you can serve God in the different ways very well.But somewhere deep down inside you,you know you're not doing it because you love God.You're doing it out of convenience,for pride,for recgonition,it's all simply for display.You have the skills,but your heart is not right.Friends if you know I'm talking about you then it's seriously time to ask yourself your motives for serving.I'm not askiing you to stop serving completely,rather I'm asking you to question your motives for serving.What kind of vision do you have when you are serving?You can do your assignments excellently,but all these is your hands,and God is not looking at your hands,God is looking at your heart.When your heart is right before God and your motives become aligned to God's will,your hands will automatically do things according to God's way and this is true serving.

The third group of people I'm speaking to is the leaders.You are leading a group of people,and this group of people may appear to be in a way,hopeless.They can't do things properly,their serving posture is wrong,their attitude stinks.But today God is saying to you,'Believe,there are no accidents'.Your people are where they are not by accident,but they have been strategically by God to be used mightily.As a leader you have to believe that one day,they will come to fulfill the vision you have for the ministry.You have to believe that they will grow and come to take ownership of the ministry and forcefully advance it.It's going to take time,but it's also going to take you to believe in each and every one of your people.Look at them through the eyes of Jesus.Dare to have relentless belief in your people.

Friends if currently you are not serving in any ministry,I want to encourage you to join one and start serving God.God wants to use you,he can use you and he will use you.If you are already serving in any particular ministry I want you to know that you are not where you are by accident.You have been strategically positioned by God where he can use you most mightily,but you must have a heart that wants to give God only the best.

Constantly live out the value of passionate honour even in your serving.

Manna Not (Good) Enough!

The rabble with them began to crave other food,and again the Israelites started wailing and said,"If only we had meat to eat!We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost-also the cucumbers,melons,leeks,onions and garlic.But now we have lost our appetite;we never see anything but this manna!"
Numbers11:4-6

The Exodus led by Moses was a victorious sight-the mass escape from the slavery of Egypt and their deliverance to freedom!However,soon after the Israelites left the bondage of Egypt they began to crave for the food of Egypt.The provision that God gave them:manna-was not good enough.They were bored with it and began to look back and yearn for the tasty,delicious,attractiveness,sinful of their past.

Friends as Christians we have made a decision to follow Jesus.But following Jesus is a long journey.The manna God provides for this journey may taste good initially,but after some time do we begin to look back at our past and long for the "leeks,onions and garlic" of our past?God has broken us free from the bondages of our past,but do we still allow oiur past to dwell in us by longing to go back to it?Do we after a long time following Jesus,realize it a long and sacrificing and then start to long to go back to our past?

Friends today I want to encourage you never to return to the Egypt God delivered you from.You have made a commitment to follow Jesus,don't turn back.Feed on the manna,that is God's Word,it may sometimes seem boring,but let us press on to feed on it-to read listen and obey.It will give us the spiritual strength to take the next step,to go that bit further,to walk that one more step to fulfilling the destiny God has for our lives.God never said it was going to be easy,but he said it would be worth it.Your earthly sacrifices are nothing compared to your heavenly salvation.


I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back,no turning back

Though none go with me,I still will follow
Though none go with me,I still will follow
Though none go with me,I still will follow
No turning back
No turning back

The world behind me,the cross before me
The world behind me,the cross before me
The world behind me,the cross before me
No turning back
No turning back

Will you decide now,to follow Jesus
Will you decide now,to follow Jesus
Will you decide now,to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back

My Testimony

Yesterday I posted about testimonies,so today I shall post my testimony here.I've pondered for a long time whether I should do this,because posting about this on public domain can get mixed receptions.After reading this some of you readers may start to look down on me,think twice about believing what I've written in this blog.Some of you may be "You got to be kidding me,the guy who wrote so much about God has such a past,tsk,what a rip-off".I don't know what your reaction may be after reading this,but I choose to testify here anyway because I believe God wants to use me,and the internet is the fastest way to get people connected.Whatever your reaction may be,I want you to lok beyond me,and instead focus on God,his love,his grace,his mercy,his reverence.

Two years ago,I was addicted to pornography and masturbation.I've never told this to anyone,not even my leaders or pastors.Pornography was so easily available on the internet,and almost everyday I would sit in front of the moniter and go through some videos.This continued for a few months,and mind you,I was a christian,but a rotten one.Until one service,I remember it was pastor Gerald,in camp,who suddenly called for prayer.Anyone who was caught in the chains of sexual sins,go up to their leaders and confess,and then get prayed for and be freed.I didn't go up,but that moment caught me.I knew there was something wrong with me.I knew I needed help.But I was afraid and ashamed of going up to my leaders,and so that night in my room I fell on my knees and cried out to God.God didn't respond the first night.I continued to fall reverent before God and tried hard to stop my activities everyday,and God didn't respond for a few nights.Until the day I finally got serious with God and completely stopped all my activities did God respond.He said to me,'Adriel,if I break your chains now,would you go and get yourself caught in it again?' My immediate response was,'No'.My life was a mess,and I desperately wanted to get out.God replied,'My son,be free.I've broken your chains.Now go,and live your life as a gift to me.' Today I can testify that I am free.Amazing grace caught hold of him,broke my chains,resored me and brought me to a place of submission.Today I can testify that I remember none of th pictures I saw for that few months.God had,in a way,brainwashed me.I was lost,but now I'm found.I was blind,but now I see.I was headed for destruction,but God wouldn't allow that to happen.His grace caught hold of me and brought me back into his embrace.

Like I said earlier,you the reader can choose to take this in a lot of ways.You can go,'Despicable!He has downgraded women!I'm never coming back to this blog.' Or you can go 'Tsk,whatever.' Or you can choose to look beyond me,my past,and choose to instead to focus on God's grace and mercy.Two years ago,I was a mess.Today I can testify that I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and I am free.

Today I'm speaking to one group of people.You're caught up in sin.You know it's wrong but you cannot stop.You think you have too many wrongs in you that God cannot forgive you.You think you are so ruined that you cannot come close to God,because God will go away from you.You think that your life is so stained with sins that God cannot use you.I tell you,you cannot be more wrong.I was in a gang,tempted into drugs,very nearly went into smoking,got into fights,almost got busted by the police,but when God came,he stripped all of it away and today I can very thankfully and confidently say he's using me for his glory.Friends today God is saying to you today,'Come into my presence,come as you are.' God wants you to draw near to him,and he will draw near to you.God is saying to you,'You are my child,of course I forgive you.' God is saying to you today,'When I took that cross 2000 years ago,you were on mind,and I paid the price for you.' Friends today if you are caught up in sin,God wants to forgive you.But you have to confess and repent.Confession is not telling God what wrong you've done.God doesn't need you to tell him.He already knows.Confession is agreeing with him that you've done wrong and you need forgiveness.Friends today if you are serious with God,you get down on your knees and you confess.But don't just confess.You make a commitment with God to repent.God wants to use you.He can use you and will use you.
1Corinthians1:26-30 'Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.Not many of you were wise by human standards;not many were influential;not many were of noble birth.But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,so that no one may boast before him.It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,who has become for us wisdom from God—that is,our righteousness,holiness and redemption.' God can and will use you,but you need to come clean before God.

Second group of people I'm writing to today is those who know God has done something powerful in their life.If God has done something powerful in your lif and you know it,you testify.Just like the demon-possessed man who was healed by Jesus at Bethesda,God wants you to testify about him.Surely our all powerful God has done something wonderful in your life.Don't keep it to yourself,share it,be a blessing,impact others with your testimony.Your life is God's gift to you.Make it your gift to God.


Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbid to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Cardboard Testimonies

Friends as you look at the video,don't let it just fly past.God is serious about this.No matter where you've been,no matter what you've done,no matter what decisions you have made,no matter what you've been through,God can change your life.And God will change your life for the better.What if the people in the video are your welcoming committee in the kingdom of heaven?Want to be part of this committee?Then be serious about God.What would your testimony be?

Practice What You Preach

1Corinthians2:4-5 'My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,but with a demonstration of of the Spirit's power,so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom,but on God's power.'

Persuasion:To induce to undertake a course of action or embrace a point of view by means of argument,reasoning,or entreaty

Demonstration:The act of showing or making evident

Persuasion:Man's way
Deonstration:God's way

Friends today if you want to make an impact in your friends' lives,don't persuade.Yes,words are effective,but only to a very small extent.People today need to see,not to just hear.So people,if you truly want to make an impact in your friends' lives,you start setting an example,and when they see you practicing what you are preaching,they will begin to realize that you mean business,and they will soon follow.Initially they will not even care,but when they see you seriously living out the Word,they will be impacted.Jesus himself did not just use persuasive words to impact people.Yes,he used parables,but he had to live out the Word to impact.He was kind where he needed to.He was serious in the temple of God where he needed to be.He was compassionate to everybody he saw.He spent time with his heavenly Father and made sure his disciples did too.Jesus could have just came to earth,preach a few about his love for the people,and then go back to heaven,but he did not.Instead,he took the cross as a demonstration of his love.

Let's look at Apostl Paul.Many of his writings call for the people to be joyful even in affliction.Apostle Paul was a prisoner because of his faith.Yet he could write about his joy in his people even in prison.

These people constantly lived out the Word that God had put in their hearts.Surely God has put something in your heart.Don't just preach it,live it.The best testimony you can give is about yourself.


Everliving God
Maker of all the earth
Everlasting Prince
Our eternal praise
Belongs to you

All of the honour
All of the glory
To you

You are wonderful
Marvellous forever
Beautiful Prince of peace
Faithful one forever

Take the place of all honour
Take the place above all thrones
Take the place of all power
You are the one glorious

Come

God's favourite word.'Come'
"Come,let us talk about these things.Though your sins are like scarlet,they can be as white as snow."
"All you who are thirsty,come and drink."
"Come to me all,all you who are tired and have heavy loads,and I will give you rest."

Our God is a God who invites.He invited Mary to birth his Son,the disciples to fish for men,the adulteress woman to start over,and Thomas to touch his wounds.God is the King who prepares the palace,sets the table,and invites his subjects to come in.Isn't it amazing how the God of all the earth who invite us on a personal basis to commune with him?Isn't it amazing that the everlasting God would care to invite sinners to his embrace?Isn't it amazing that the mighty God we worship would invite us to his dwelling place?Indeed we serve an inviting God,a God who overlooks our past and sees our future,a God who,by all grace,will invite us to tap on his power.Praise be to him.



My life is not my own
A steward in this world
Looking into the mirror
I see the image of my King
Deserving not a gift
But He gave His Son for me
To set me free,to set me free

Oh the Father's heart amazed me
Beyond my wildest dreams
He said,"Come into My presence,come as you are."
Oh the Father's heart amazed me
Calling me His own
I may not see the reason why
But He's always by my side

Empty hands and heart
Nothing I can give
To Him who turned my life
Into a treasure in HIs sight
His love surrounded me
Like a precious creation
I'm captured by,His love for me

Test Your Faith Daily

I believe this picture speaks for itself.Test your faith daily.Not just weekly during service,but every day.When you face situations where you have to make an important decision,test your faith.When you know it's either God or friends,test your faith.When you have to choose between the computer and spending time with God,test your faith.When that begger comes to you and asks,test your faith.When you see someone who can benefit more from the money you are going to spend needlessly,test your faith.When you get the urge to shout back at your parents,test your faith.It may be difficult,but it's only then that you know where you stand with God.Test your faith daily.

What Should We Pray For?

Just last night I was asking the Lord what he thought of my prayer life.He pointed me to Philippians3-4,which reads,'I thank my God every time I remember you.In all my prayers for all of you,I always pray with joy.' When I read it,honestly,I was deeply disgusted and disappointed with myself.My prayer life pales in comparison to Apostle Paul's!As I examined Apostle Paul's prayer life,I began to notice something which was lacking in mine.And I believe it's lacking in many lives of christians today.You see,whether it's the book of Romans or the books of Corinthians or the book of Philippians or the books of Timonthy,Paul's prayer life is very evident.Every book that Apostle Paul wrote records that he prayed and he prayed and he prayed.Whatever circumstance he was in,wherever he was,he was praying.And Apostle Paul never prayed for a change of circumstance in any way.What he prayed for in everything was for a change of character.You see friends,many of us today are continually praying for a change of circumstance.'Lord,please help with the bills','Lord please send healing to this person','Lord please take away this trial and deliver me'.I believe Apostle Paul,in his lifetime,went through countless trials and what-nots,even when he was writing the books we read of in the bible.Yet the book of Philippians records for us that he prayed with joy!Why?Because he knew that whatever he was going through,it was to allow God to bring him to spiritual maturity,to bring him to completion.He believed that God was the author and finisher of his faith,and he was willing to allow God to mould him.(Philippians1:6 'Being confident of this,that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.')
Friends today as we pray,let our prayers be like the Apostle Paul's.Pray not for a change of circumstance,but for a change of character.And let us pray with joy,whatever situation we are in,because let us understand that God is always moulding us into completion,and let us will ourselves into his hands and into his will.Amen.


Oh Lord I give my life
As an offering to you
To be purified as gold
According to your will
Oh Lord
Make my life count for you
I'll go through the fire for you

The Lord's Baseball Game

THE LORD'S BASEBALL GAME

Adriel and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing against Satan's team.

The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named 'Love.'
Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because "Love never fails.".

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.

Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws.


The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Adriel and told him He was now going to bring in His starplayer.
Up to the plate stepped Grace. Adriel said, "He sure doesn't look like much!"
Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch.........

To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.
He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; the roaring crowds went wild as the ball continued over the fence ... for a home run!

The Lord's team won!

The Lord then asked Adriel if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but couldn't win the game.

Adriel answered that he didn't know why.

The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base but only My Grace can get you Home:
'For by Grace are you saved, it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.' Ephesians 2:8-9
'For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.' Psalm 84:11"


Lord I can only do so much
And I know it's not enough
I need you Lord
Bring me to completion

I give you my all
To you I surrender my life
Lord have your way in me now
Everything that I have
I offer to you
Lord only you can bring me home

It's not because of what I have
It's not because of what I've done
But it's by your grace Lord
That I see now
It's never been about me
What I do can only go so far
Only you Lord can bring me home

When God Says 'No'

When God says 'no',what do we do?What should we do?What can we do?Many times we take God for granted.We treat God as a genie.W think that as long as we pray,we will receive everything and anything we ask for.But friends,thjis is not true.Sometimes God says 'no'.Surprising as it may sound,God does refuse our petitions.Pray as we might,we will not receive it.But why would the good God we serve withold things from us.The same reason why you would,as a parent,withold certain things from your child.Can you imagine what would happen if a parent honours every request of each child during a trip?The children would inch their bloated bellies from one ice-cream store to the next.Can you imgaine what would happen if God is to indulge every request of ours?It's going to get chaotic.And that's certainly not what God wants for us. 'For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.'(1Thes5:9) God's ultimate plan for us?Salvation.God's overarching desire is that you reach that destiny.His itinerary includes stops that encourage your journey.He frowns on stops that deter you.When his sovereign plan and your earthly desires collide,a decision must be made.If God has to choose between your earthly satisfaction and your heavenly salvation,which do you hope he would choose?


Open my eyes Lord
I want to see your plan for me
To see the mission
With clearer vision
Restored the mark that waits for me

Open my ears Lord
All that you tell me I will do
To know your calling and without falling
I've set my eyes on you

Give me a heart like your heart
Beat for the lost
Give me a love like your love
No matter what the cost
Give me a road to travel
A race that I can't run
Give me a heart like your heart
To stand until you come
until you come

I will be waiting for you
I will be watching for you
I will be waiting for you
I will be watching for you

The storms came.You weren't there.The fires raged.You weren't there.The people came against me.You weren't there.But after all this,came a whisper.Simple words,"Because I love you".Lord now I realize where were you.You were there during the trials,you were there during the struggles,you were watching,standing firm,allowing them to overcome me.You stood firm,allowed them to overpower me,simply because you love me.Just like when they were mocking your Son,when they were crucifying him,you stood firm,allowed them to happen,simply because you love me.You allowed them to take place,simply because you wanted me to grow into maturity and completion.Lord your ways are difficult to accept,but Lord I surrender all to you,simply becuase your ways and thoughts are higher than mine.Simply because you love me.Simply because circumstances fade away when I look at your face.Simply because you are God of my life.

Jeremiah32:26-27 "Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:'I am the Lord,God of all mankind.Is anything too hard for me?'"


Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

I have decided
I have resolved
To wait upon you Lord
My rock and redeemer
Shield and reward
I'll wait upon you Lord

As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
Certain as the dawn appears
You'll come
Let your glory fall
As you respond to us
Spirit rain
Flood into our thirsty hearts again
You'll come
You'll come

Lord I'm tired.I'm tired of fighting.I'm tired of waiting for results which never come.I'm tired of pretending.I'm tired of believing.Lord,I need you.Please show yourself to me.It hurts.It really does.Lord please take it away.It's really painful.Why Lord?Why me?Why so big a price?I know I have to be strong.I know I have to be kingdom-minded.I know it's about your purpose in my generation.I know I have to believe,but it's so difficult.The price to pay seems so large.Lord why?Why do I feel so small now?Why,why,why?Lord if you knew,if you see,then please take it away.I know you have a plan for me,I know you believe in me,I know you will be with me,but it hurts so much.I'm so tired.Lord I don't want to give up,I want to believe,I want to trust,I want to surrender,but Lord it's so painful.God when you saw your Son on the cross,you stood firm.How Lord?How?Teach me.Teach me to surrender.Teach me to trust you in this.Teach me to be strong in this.Lord I'm tired of crying myself to sleep.I'm tired of crumbling even though I was alone through those times.I'm tired of being afraid.Lead me Lord.I'm going to lay it all at the foot of the cross,one more time...


You've called me to places
I can't see
Lord open my eyes
You've called me to people
I can't reach
Lord,stir within me
A hunger to see your kingdom come
A passion for your will to be done

Give me a heart for this generation
Set me apart for your great commission

And I will go
Wherever you lead
I will follow
And I have counted the cost
I will carry the cross
So take my hands
All that I have they are yours
And you have laid out my course
I will live for this cause

Heaven and earth will pass away
But Jesus you're eternal
Kings and their kingdoms
Will fall one day
But your glory's forever
All of creation will bow to you
The time will come for all to sing
God you reign

No turning back
No turning back
And I will follow you
No turning back
No turning back
And I will carry the cross
No turning back
No turning back
No turning back
I will live for this cause
No turning back
No turning back
No turning back

The Serenity Prayer

'Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.' (2Cor12:8-9)



Jesus,You have won me with your love
Now my heart belongs to you
You're my Savior,my king
With you I've everything
In my life there's only you

Jesus,when I look into your eyes
I know everything will be alright
Here in you embrace
I'm humbled by your grace
With my life I worship you

Only you,you died to set me free
Now I'm yours for all eternity
Only you can love me like you do
My desire,my life,only you

Dedication to the people in SiChuan

The earthquake which shook SiChuan on 12May2008 has taken 62,500 lives(as of 26May).Friends this number is continuosly growing by the minute.And this number does not include the number of people who are homeless,missing or orphaned.The number of people affected by the earthquake is counted by the millions.Christians if you are reading this then I want you right now to say a prayer for the people affected by the SiChuan earthquake.Just yesterday(25May),a 5.4 magnitude aftershock rocked China and again claimed the lives and homes of many people.

To the people of SiChuan,I know words don't work right now,and all I can do for you is to keep you all in my prayers. Lord I commit the people in SiChuan to you.Father you see the situations they are in,each one of them.Lord I pray that your hand of protection will be upon each and every one of them,those who have been saved and even those who are still trapped.God I ask that in the midst of the chaos you will show yourself so real not just to the people in SiChuan but even to the people all over the world who are watching the situation.Lord let this event be a testimony of your grace and healing power.Let our weaknesses in this event be a platform for your mighty love to enfold and be a testimony to the whole world that you are the Almighty God.Lord I commit to you the Christians living in China.Father I pray that you will open their eyes even to the confusion and lost of the unsaved.That they will see the hopelessness of the people around them and they will arise and take ownership of the country.God I take the situation and put it all at the foot of the cross.Take control of it oh God.I bind every work of the enemy and I loose the power of your love,the truth of your word and the power of your grace even into China.And I thank you Lord for what you are about to do in the country,because I know that it will be good.Amen.

Friends if you are reading this post then I want you right now to put aside everything and start intervening for the people in SiChuan.I'd also like to invite all of you to join me in fasting and prayer for the situation.Let us believe for God's intervention and let us partner with each other even in fervent prayer and committed fasting.

Matthew11:12 'Since the days of John the Baptist until now,the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing,and forceful men lay hold of it.' Friends let us be forceful even in intervening for our friends in China.


It is not a human right to stare not fight,
While broken nations dream.
Open up your eyes so blind
That we might find the mercy
For the need.

Hey now fill our hearts with your compassion,
Hey now as we hold to our confession.

It is not too far a cry
Too much to try
And help the least of these.
Politics should not decide
If we should rise
And be your hands and feet.
Hey now fill our hearts with your compassion,
Hey now as we hold to our confession.

Woah! God be the solution.
Woah! and we will be your hands
And be your feet.

Higher than all circumstances and your promise stands,
Your love for all to see.
Higher than our protest lines and dollar signs
Your love is all we need.

Hey now fill our hearts with your compassion,
Hey now as we hold to our confession.
Woah! God be the solution.
Woah! and we will be your hands
And be your feet.

Only you can mend the broken heart
And cause the blind to see.
Erase complete the sinner's past
And set the captives free.

Only you can take the widows cry
And cause her heart to sing.
Be the father to the fatherless,
Our Saviour and our king.
We will be your hands
We will be your feet,

We will run this race for the least of these;
In the darkest place
We will be your light,
We will be your light.
We will be your light
And we will be your hands
And feet.

We will run,
We will run,
We will run with the solution.

Full Reliance on God

Psalm72:12-14'For he will deliver the needy who cry out,the afflicted who have no one to help.He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.He will rescue them from oppression and violence,for precious is their blood in his sight.'

When the needy cries,what else can he do?His cry is heard by God,he does need to do anything else.When you cry out to God in desperation and you open your heart to God,He will rescue you.Don't cry to anybody,not to your friends,not to your family,not to your leaders,but cry unto your almighty God,because only He can rescue you and He will rescue you.Yes,people can help you,but it's only because God enables them to.The nearest way is to cry straight to God.Let your cries fall unto His ears.Let your plea of desperation touch His heart.Let your helplessness move His hands.Cry straight to God,not to secondary causes.
Friends I want you to know today that YOU CANrely on God.You can rely upon God in both capacities-as without supplies and without helpers. Make your double need your double plea.Even for temporal mercies you may wait upon God,for He cares for you in these temporary concerns.As for spiritual necessities, which are the heaviest of all,the Lord will hear your cry and will deliver you and supply you.
Friends learn to rely on God in everything.Proverbs3:5-6'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge Him,and He will make your paths straight.' Friends when the going gets tough,all the more you should have full reliance on God.Many times you won't understand your circumstances,you don't have to,because it is not your job to understand,your job is just to rely on God.And when you surrender yourself to God and say 'Lord take control',when you learn to let go and let God,when you have full reliance on God,your circumstances will fade away,simply because your maker is greater than any of your problems.Let your cry today cease to be 'God I have a big problem',but let your stand from today forth be,'Problem I have a big God'.

Zephaniah3:17 'The Lord your God is with you,he is mighty to save.He will take great delight in you,he will quiet you with his love,he will rejoice over you with singing.'

You stood before creation
Eternity in your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand
You stood before my failure
And carried the cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon your shoulders
My soul, now to stand

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart oh God
Completely to you

So I’ll walk upon salvation
Your spirit alive in me
This life to declare your promise
My soul now to stand

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart oh God
Completely to you

I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul longs to you surrender it all
I am is yours

I Long To Worship You

I have not come
To ask you for anything
Except for the privilege
To glorify your name

Let my singing
And my praise to you
Fill you up Oh God
That you might be satisfied

I long to worship you
I long to worship you
To stand in your courts and tell
How marvellous you are
To you I raise my hands
I want to lift you up
Here in your presence Lord
I long to worship you

Indeed it is such a privilege to worship God.It hurts when I see and hear of people who worship God only they need God.It shouldn't be this way.Worship is not about receiving,it is about giving.It's about declaring of God's greatness,about singing of His faithfulness,about embracing His majesty,about proclaiming the freedom He has gracefully given.Worship shouldn't be a 'I need God now so I shall worship and hope I touch His heart and then He'll intervene' kind of thing,but when we worship,friends let's do it sincerely.
Worship is not about a song,it's not about the time before the sermon,it's not just an act,but worship is a lifestyle,a gift.Your life is God's gift to you,let your life then be of worship,let it be your gift to God.Friends,let's not worship just because we feel like it,rather let's do it because we want to give God our best,becuase we recognise that it is by God's grace that we are where we are,and let's worship with full sincerity,with truth,nothing fake hidden within.

John4:23-24 'Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth'

One God,One man,One plan

Jeremiah29:11 '"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you a hope and a future."'

One God,one man,one plan.God only has one plan for us.That is,to prosper us and not to harm us,to give us hope and a future.No matter what we have done,no matter what we were,no matter what we will do,no matter what we will become,no matter the decisions we make,no matter the paths we will take,God has his one ultimate plan set for us already.And it is echoed in Jeremiah29:11.Many of us know this verse.Many of us live by it.Why?Simply because we can find comfort and strength in it.
God's divine purpose for us is to be prosperous.Many of us are currently caught in trials.Some of us have to make critical decisions,and fast.Some of us are enduring tough times.Some of us are going through almost unbearable situations.Some of us are desperate for help.Friends if you are one of these I'm talking about,I want you to remember that you're not alone.I want you to know that God is with you.Whatever happens,whatever decision you make,whatever path you choose to take,just remember that God is with you every step of the way.And he has only one plan for you,to prosper you and not to harm you,to give you a hope and a future.


Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace
That I've found in You
Lord I've come to know
The weakenesses I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the power of Your love

Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side
And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of Your love

Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me
Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day
By the power of Your love

And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of Your love

Power Of Your Presence

There is a peace
There is a rest
That settles here
In your presence

When your face is very near
Your love erases every fear

It's the power of your presence
It's the strength of your hand in mine
It's the glory of your greatness
That has the power
To change my life


Zephaniah3:17 'The Lord your God is with you,he is mighty to save.He will take great delight in you,he will quiet you with his love,he will rejoice over you with singing.'

Just Do It

Philippians4:13 'I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.'

A simple 10 word verse.A strong promise.But it contains more meaning deep within.When apostle Paul wrote this verse,I believe he wasn't just writing for us to read and believe and then do nothing about it.I believe that when he wrote this verse,he wanted it to contain an instruction.

You see friends,God has promised that when we commit whatever we do to him,we will succeed.This is echoed by proverbs16:3.But this promise only holds dear if we do something.We cannot just read this verse,believe it and then do nothing,in other words,take God for granted and just sit back,relax,and then hope for God to grant you success.For example,for your exams,you cannot just say you're gonna get 8 A1s,then put it into the back of your head and do nothing about it.You will not get the 8 A1s.Yes,God promises that you can do everything through Him who gives you strength,but he requires you to start doing something about it.You need to get yourself out of the couch,away from the monitor,away from the telephone,away from your mobile phone,away from anything that can distract you and go and study.When you start to do something,you will be successful,if you commit it to God.
If you want to succeed in whatever you do,you got to have the discipline,the willingness,the heart to do it.And you must have the actions,not just words.Philippians4:13 does not require you to do everything,just something.You only have to start doing something,anything,and then you will be closer to success.This promise does not just apply to what you can do or what you are good at doing,it applies even to the things you might not think you are good at doing.You can do everything through Christ who gives you strength,not just what you are good at,but everything.Only thing is,you got to start preparing for that something you want to do.Or this promise holds no power.
Friends if you want to succeed then you better start having actions.All talk and no action will get you nowhere.Not even if you strongly believe in the promise.Don't take God for granted.God is not a genie.When you start preparing for that success,you are one step closer to your success.But you have to have faith as well.Faith that this promise holds true.It does,but only if you will do something,while believing that you can do everything through Christ who gives you strength.So go do whatever you need to do.Now.

Sheer Desperation

Matthew14:28 '"Lord,if it's you,"Peter replied,"tell me to come to the water."'

This simple verse may not seem like much,but it was a defining moment in the story of Jesus walking on water.What caused Peter to cry out to Jesus like this?Surely he could have just asked Jesus to enter the boat and calm the waves,end of story.So why did then did he do what he did?

I believe it was sheer desperation that caused Peter to cry out to Jesus.He was afraid of the waves crashing onto the boat he was in.Why then did he ask Jesus to call him to walk on water?I believe at this point of time,Peter realised that huamn force was not going to get him anywhere.He learned that he had to rely on the strength of Jesus to escape the waves.He was desperate for help.And so he cried out to Jesus.Peter wasn't testing Jesus.He was pleading with Jesus.Stepping out of the boat into the stormy sea wasn't a step of logic.It was a step of desperation.He went to Jesus during his time of need.He abandoned his boat of comfort and safety and ran to Jesus.And what happened?He walked on the water.It was as if the water had suddenly turned into a path of solid ground for him to walk on.And he was saved.

Friends today I want to put forward to you that in your times of need,you can truly turn to the King of kings for help,for strength,for safety,for deliverance.When you begin to let go of all your circumstances,all your comfort zones,all your understanding of your situation,and you just run to our Almighty God,you will be saved.Just like Peter did,I want to encourage you to never fail to run to God in your times of need.Let go of your situations,let go of your comfort zones,hold on to Jesus.When you need to get out of your comfort zone,get out.And you will see God's plan for you.Get out of your boat of comfort and be shaken by the waves of uncertainty,but hold on to your faith and you will see the waves subside before your very eyes.That's what happens when you run to Jesus.


I have never walked on water
Felt the waves beneath my feet but
At your Word Lord, I’ll receive Your
Faith to walk on oceans deep

And I remember how You found me
In that very same place
All my failing surely would've drowned me
But You made a way

You are my freedom
Jesus you’re the reason
I’m kneeling again at Your throne
Where would I be without You
Here in my life, here in my life

You have said that all the heavens
Sing for joy at one who finds
The way to freedom, truth of Jesus
Bought from death into His life

And I remember how You saw me
Through the eyes of Your grace
And though the cost was Your beloved for me
Still you made a way

Different time-zone

2Peter3:8-9 'But do not forget this one thing,dear friends:With the Lord a day is like a thousand years,and a thousand years are like a day.The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,as some understand slowness.He is patient with you,not wanting anyone to perish ,but everyone to come to repentance.'

I'm an action person.When I see a job that needs to be done,I find a way to get it done before others even realize there was a need.It drives me nuts when I see other people drag their feet when there should be action in a needful situation.So waiting on God who does not operate in the same time zone as I do has been very hard.(CAN I GET A WITNESS?)

When I read 2Peter3:9,I must admit that in my mind,I was arguing with apostle Paul.I felt that God was slow in nearly everything.He waits until our lowest point before revealing his power.He waits until the people we love are dead before he reveals that he is our comforter.He is slow in punishing the wicked.He sees the poor and the weak but does not stretch out his hand.He sees the homeless but does not provide.

But when I read the verse again,I realize the problem is not with God but with me.The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,as some understand slowness.My perception of when God should act is completely different from his.My view of the world is different from his.My view is from that of a carnal,a mortal whose understanding is limited.His is from that of being an eternal,Holy,all knowing God.

2Peter3:9 reveals that God and I have the same burden,that we want the lost to be saved.But my understanding of slowness is inaccurate.I have for most of my life felt that things should happen almost immediately.However,as I have gotten older,I have learned that most often that is not even possible.I have had to learn to be patient.I have had to wait on people to change.I have had to learn to wait on circumstances to become so difficult for people that they are forced to change their thinking so change could come.Change cannot and will come immediately.

2Peter3:8 teaches us that with the Lord a thousand years is like a day.Time is not something that God worries about.God does not make decisions based on the clock,calendar or length of men's lives.He is not in a hurry.He is patient.Time is not a factor for Him.It is for me.It is for you.But it is not for Him.Previously when I prayed,I asked that God would grant me my prayers ASAP,'God reveal to me now','God show me the direction now',but I have realized that God does not work that way.God who sees a thousand years as no different from a day is not going to reveal whatever I ask to me immediately.He does not operate within the elements of time or for the purpose of time.He only operates within the confines and boundaries of a redemptive purpose.2Peter 3:9 lets us know that his purpose is not timely, but redemptive.It only has to do with souls and spiritual maturity.If we have a lesson to learn by waiting,then He makes us wait.If we will grow spiritually or mature in our faith by His delay,then He delays.It really has nothing at all to do with our immediate physical needs.It has everything to do with where we are at in the redemptive process.

Moses spent 40 years in Pharaoh's court and schools of higher learning.Fow what?So that he could be a lonely shepard for the next 40 years.Moses was put into a place where he had to learn to wait on God and release all personal understanding of time.This was going to be absolutely necessary when he began leading the nation of Israel in the wilderness.Forty more years of waiting on God in the wilderness was going to be the result of his 40 years of waiting on God in the desert.God knew that the nation of Israel had to learn the same lesson of waiting on His timing and He needed Moses to lead the nation since he had already learned that lesson.Neither was God going to give them the promised land over night.Exodus23:28-29 tells us that He would not drive their enemies out in a single year,but rather little by little until they had increased enough to take the land.

The motive for God's delay has nothing to do with purposeful impediment. He is simply waiting on our maturity level to rise to a place where we can then take the land(revival, finances, etc).If God were to give us a thousand soul revivals in a year,we would lose most of them if we are not genuinely prepared to get them rooted to the church.That is why revival does not come easily.God is waiting for us to reach that level of spiritual maturity to take the land he has for us.

Friends,God's timing is not about time.It is about the redemptive process.When we are ready,it will come.He does not delay.He is not late.He is waiting on us.Therefore let us prepare Him an habitation.


When I'm down you are there for me
When I lay my head, you are there beside me
You are there for me when I'm lonely
You are there for me when I'm alone

Humbly I come to you
So gently You speak to me

I can't always hold on to the things of yesterday
Bring me something new
Maybe we can be together
I will always come running back to you

You are holy
You are worthy
Lord you're always faithful to me
I will wait on you Lord

Confidence

Hebrews 4:16 'Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.'

Hebrews 13:6 'So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" '

1John5:14 'This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.'

Hebrews 10:19-23 'Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.'

These are some of the verses which I held on to during my recent examinations.Now what is the common thing in these verses?CONFIDENCE.Friends today what is your confidence based on?Is it besed on your friends?is it based on your results?Is it based on your looks?Or is your confidene based on God himself?

Let us look at king Hezekiah's life in 2Chronicles32.In this chapter king of Assyria threatens to invade Jerusalem,which was under king Hezekiah at that time.As I wasreading through this chapter,verse10 caught my eye.'This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says:On what are you basing your confidence,that you may remain in Jerusalem under siege?' On what are you basing your confidence? What was king Hezekiah's response to the king of assyria?Nothing.Absolute silence.King Hezekiah did not reply.He didn't have to.He knew his position in God.So what did he do? v20'King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this.' King Hezekiah had confidence in God.He didn't have to go out to the battlefield to rebutt king of Assyria,he simply went and cried out to God.In fact the bible records that he didn't keep his confidence to himself.He went and instructed the people based on his confidence for God. v7-8 '"Be strong and courageous.Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him,for there is a greater power with us than with him.With him is only the arm of flesh,but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. King Hezekiah did not keep his confidence to himself.He went to instruct the people based on his confidence in God.And the people gained confidence from what he said.And what did God do? v21-22 'And the Lord sent an angel,who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king.So he withdraw to his own land in disgrace.And when he went into the temple of his god,some of his sons cut him down with the sword.So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others.He took care of them on every side.

Friends today what is your confidence based on?
If it is not in God then I want to encourage you to pray now and repent,because God wants you to base your confidence in him.When you base your confidence in God you will be truly successful.Your battles may not be real physical battles,but you are fighting a battle of your own,then remember this.'With him is only the arm of flesh,but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.' When you have confidence in God you can be confident that he will fight for you,and you will have victory.
If you know your confidence is in God,then I want to encourage you not to keep that confidence to yourself.Spread it to others.Share it with them and let them gain confidence in God.When all the people of Jerusalem had confidence in God,God saved all of them.They didn't even have to do anything.God could have just saved king Hezekiah alone,but he didn't do that,because all the people of Jerusalem had confidence in him,and so he saved all of them.Friends if you want your friends to be saved then you start sharing your confidence in God with them.

Ephesians3:12 'In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.'


Your eye is on the sparrow
And Your hand, it comforts me
From the ends of the earth
To the depths of my heart
Let Your mercy and strength be seen

You call me to Your purpose
As angels understand
For Your glory
May You draw all men
As Your love and grace demands

And I will run to You
To Your words of truth
Not by might, not by power
But by the Spirit of God
Yes, I will run the race
'Til I see Your face
Oh, let me live in the glory of Your Grace

Hard Teachings

John6:60-68 'On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[a] and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.'



I believe this was a defining moment in Jesus' ministry.The bible records for us that on that day Jesus lost 60 disciples(could have been more).What happened?Well,in the previous passage,Jesus taught his disciples a rather hard teaching,and many of them found it very difficult to accept.Hence,they left,except the twelve whom Jesus had personally appointed.Why did Jesus preach a hard to accept teaching when he knew many of his disciples would later desert him?Surely he knew that they were going to leave once he had finished preaching!Surely he knew!But why did Jesus still choose to preach it?Let us find out.Jesus knew he would lose his disciples,but Jesus also knew discipleship is not a numbers game.That is the trap many of us fall into.We think christianity is a numbers game!But Jesus proves it is not.I believe Jesus wanted his disciples' faith not to be built on just nice-to-hear teachings,he wanted his diciples to build their faith on hard-to-accept messages as well.
Today in the world many churches are found guilty of playing the numbers game.They are afraid of teaching hard messages for fear of losing their members.They preach messages that are attractive to the earthly nature,look at their attendances and then grin at the incresing numbers.But is that what God wants?No,definitely not!Yes,God wants us to get more people saved,but that does nto mean compromising on the messages!Because if we are going to build our faith on just 'attractive' messages,our faith is going to collapse when the enemy attacks,because we have been accustomed to accepting 'attractive' messages that do not shake our faith,that does not build up our faith in fear and trambling.
The man who builds his house on sand is not going to have a house once the waves come.Sand is fine and comfortable to build on,but it cannot be the foundation of the house.The man who builds his house on coarse rock would not be afraid of the waves,because his house would not collapse.Rock is hard and uncomfortable to build on,but it is the most suitable foundation on which to build a house.
While building up the numbers is important,building up the spirit is even more so.God is not looking at our numbers,God is looking at our spirits.
This is not just for the people who are teaching.This meassage is also for all of you out there who have been called to encourage and rebuke each other in love.I know for many of us it is relatively easy to give encouragement,but when it comes to rebuking we tend to shrink away a little bit,for fear of how it may affect the other person.But friends today stop being afraid of rebuking,because if you want your friend to grow,there are some necessary times when you have to rebuke the other person in love.I know there are a lot of you who may find this difficult to do,because you love your friends too much to point out their flaws and tell them their mistakes.And I want to encourage you to step up and when it is necessary,rebuke your friends,with love.Because if you want your friends to grow,not just in numbers,you have to point them the right direction.Initially your friends may take it offensively and may steer clear of you for a while,but when they begin to see that you mean well,i tell you,not only will they come back to you,more will follow,because they will see that you are a true friend who is there for them,to encourage and to correct them.But you,as well,must stay teachable and allow others to correct you as well.
Friends we must always remember that we are not in a numbers game.Never in the Word of God is it recorded that it is a numbers game.

While the 60 disciples or so left,twelve remained.And Simon summed it up perfectly.
v68-69 '8Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." ' The twelve disciples' faith stood strong when the others failed to do so.It may be hard teaching but it is words of eternal life.

Preachers never be afraid of teaching hard messages.
Friends never be afraid to rebuke when it is necessary.



Here I am, Oh God
I bring this sacrifice--my open heart.
I offer up my life.
I look to You, Lord
Your love that never ends
Restores me again

So I lift my eyes to you, Lord
In Your strength will I break through, Lord
Touch me now, let your love fall down on me
And I will be complete in You.

Here I am, Oh God
I bring this sacrifice--my open heart.
I offer up my life.
I look to You, Lord.
Your love that never ends
Restores me again

So I lift my eyes to you Lord
And by faith, I will walk on, Lord
Then I'll see beyond my calvary one day,
And I will be complete in..

I look to You, Lord
Your love that never ends
Restores me again

So I lift my eyes to you Lord
In your strength will I break through Lord
Touch me now, let your love fall down on me
I know your love dispels all my fears.

Through the storm I will hold on Lord
And I pray I will hold on, Lord
Then I'll see beyond my calvary one day
And I will be complete in
I will be complete in
I will be complete in You

Giving to God

Malachi3:10 "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse,that there may be food in my house.Test me in this,'says the Lord Almighty,'And see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Many of us read this verse and miss the condition upon which this blessing is promised.Often we expect god to bless us and honour us when we ask for it.Yes,God is good,who will provide,but there is a condition.We must first bless God with our sacrifices.We have to be faithful in the giving of our tithes.
How can we expect the heavens to be opened and the blessing poured forth unless we give and pay our dues to god and His purposes.There would be no lack of funds for holy purposes if all of us pay what is due our God.
Friends today I want to encourage you to be faithful in your tithing.Whether in terms of money or services,let us be faithful and always remember that we can give only because our God blessed us first.Let us not rob God anymore friends.I'm not saying God will not bless us if we do not give.Yes,God might still bless us,but let's not take advantage of God.That's why we go to services.To give and not just to receive.We go to services in church to be a do a service to God and His cause,so friends if we are doing it for God let's give our excellence in whatever we are doing,because what we are doing is not for man,but rather what rather what we do is to bless the name of our God.Someone once told me,"You represent the God you serve." Friends if we are going to be stingy in our tithing to God,are we not saying that the God we serve is stingy?And we know that's not true!The God we serve is the mighty provider!Friends if we are going to declare that,let us not do so with our mouths.Rather I pray that we will do so with our actions,with our lives.Let our lives indeed be a testimony to our friends that our God is Almighty.Amen.

The Fire of Your Heart

In an inteview,Max Lucado said,"As a young man I felt the call to preach.Unsure if I was correct in my reading of God's will for me,I sought the counsel of a minister I admired.His counsel still rings through.'Don't preach,' he said,'unless you have to.' As I pondered his words I found my answer:'I have to.If I don't,the fire will consume me.' "

Friends what is it that drives you today?Want to know God's will for your life?Then answer this question:What ignites your heart?Forgotten orphans?Untouched nations?Your friends?Your situations?Your consequences?

What ignites your heart today?
Is it the passion to serve?Then serve!
Is it the motivation to sing?Then sing!
Are you stirred to manange?Then manage!
Do you ache for the ill?Then treat them!
Do you hurt for the lost?Then teach them!
Do you feel for the unsaved?Then go and reach out to them!

Friends if we allow fear and circumstances to hold us back from seeking the fire within only one thing will happen.The fire will consume you,and then you will lose it.Friends hear this,you will lose the fire in your heart if you continue to suppress it and ignore what God has put in you.Don't let your heart grow numb.Don't lose God's will for your life.Friends i know many times it seems a tall order for us to get out and heed the fire within,but friends i challenge you today to forget everything and focus only on God,because it is in our weakness that Christ's power is made strong,that we can really be strong in Him.Only when we choose to forgo everyting and go to fan the flame in our hearts can we really see God's good,pleasing and perfect will for our lives.


All I am I give to you
With every breath I worship you
I pray, let your will be done

I stand before you, my heart adores you
In your hands I place my life
I pray, let your will be done

Let us see on earth
The glory of your son
May I be the one,
that you use in your plan

Bring the nations to your side
Let the Kingdoms join in shouts of praise
Let me be the one who brings,
the one who brings your love

Evermore

Lost for words with all to say
Lord you take my breath away
Still my soul my soul cries out
For you are holy

As I look upon your name
Circumstances fade away
Now your glory stills my heart
You are holy

You are holy
You are holy Lord

Evermore my heart my heart will say
Above all I live for your glory
Even if my world falls I will say
Above all I live for your glory

With all my heart I'll say
I'm living for your name
With all to give you praise
We're living for your glory Lord

Rick Warren (AUTHOR OF "PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE" )


You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now
having cancer and him having "wealth" from the book sales. This is an
absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, "Purpose Driven
Life " author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life?

And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were
made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body--
but not the end of me.

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of
years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God
wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.

We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't
going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just
coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than
your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your
life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life.
The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the
toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark
time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that
anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like
two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good
and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad
that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something
good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness,"which
is my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of the easiest ways to get rid
of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of
thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for
her.

It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her
character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a
testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For
instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million
copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with
before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or
for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety
and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide
what to do,

II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our
lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the
church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan
to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and
educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I
started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able
to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?

Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or
am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if
I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You
better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more
interested in what I am than what I do.
That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.

No Limits!

You've been pressing
Pushing just to get through
You've been praying
Believing for something new
Your time is now for breakthrough

I can see
The words that He has spoken
I can hear the sound of heaven open
The time is now for you to just receive,
If you will just believe

You've been pressing
Pushing just to get through
You've been praying,
Believing for something new,
Your time is now for breakthrough,
You've been holding,
Believing for a rebound,
You've been waiting,
Till your season comes around,
Your time is now for breakthrough

I can see,
The words that He's spoken,
I can hear the sound of heaven open,
The time is now for you to just receive,
If you will just believe,
No limits out the box,
The ceiling's tearing off,
No limits we're breaking out,
Walls come down

It's my time to dream,
The impossible,
I can do anything,
There's no limits at all,
No limits,
Mo limits,
No limits,
There's no limits now,
No limits,
Mo limits at all,
There's no limits now,
No limits!

duty vs devotion

Don't have school today,cos of some sch event. :) haha.but even as i was reflecting this morning it just struck me.How we can just call a holiday in school and stop whatever we are doing.Are we doing it in our christian walk?Are we calling rest days on our faith?Is our walk conditional?Do we serve because we have nothing else to do?


Matthew28:1 'After the Sabbath,at dawn on the first day of the week,Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.'

Why did Mary and Mary Magdalene go to the tomb?What were they expecting to get?What could a dead man give?It wasn't duty that prompted the women to go up to the tomb.It was devotion.Naked devotion.They weren't there to receive.They were there to give.To give something back to Jesus.They weren't and they couldn't expect to receive anything.It was pure service to Jesus.

Friends today why are we doing the things we are doing?Are we doing it out of duty or out of devotion?Are we expecting to get anything out of our service to God?Praise?Credit?Or are we really serving because we want to?Are we serving because we know that the God we serve is faithful and true?Are we serving out of what we have?What prompts us to serve?Duty or devotion?

Mary and Mary Magdalene's devotion to Jesus didn't stop because Jesus was dead.It didn't stop just because the person they worshipped was now stuck in a tomb.It didn't stop just because the Jesus they knew was now seemingly weak and unable.No!The devotion they had towards Jesus went beyond death.Not even death could stop them from being devoted to Jesus.So they went up to the tomb,wanting to give something,anything,to their God.They knew a task had to be done-Jesus' body had to be prepared for burial.Peter didn't do it.Andrew didn't volunteer,so Mary and Mary Magdalene decided to do it.

What if halfway to the tomb they had sat down and to reconsider.What if they had looked at each other and shrugged,"What's the use?He's already dead." What if both of them had given up?What if one had thrown up her arms in frustration and bemoaned,"I'm tired of being the one to do it.Let someone else do it.Let Andrew do something for a change.Let Nathaniel show some leadership for once."

Whether or not they were tempted to the bible does not record for us.But I'm glad they didn't quit.That would have been tragic.Friends you see,we know something they didn't.God was watching.Mary and Mary Magdalene thought they were alone.They weren't.They thought their journey was unnoticed.They were wrong.The Father in heaven was watching.

Today I am addressing two kinds of people here.
The first is the ones who are serving th Lord in whatever ways.Friends what is our motive for serving today?For our own pride?To let someone take notice?Just to spend whatever free time we have?Now serving is good,but what friends we have to constantl check our hearts as to the motives for which we are serving!Are we really serving because we know we serve a God who is faithful and true?Are we serving because we want to honour God with whatever talents He has given us?Are we doing it for ourselves or for God alone?

The second type of people I want to address is those who are currently not serving.Are you the one who keeps saying "Let someone else do it.I'm not good enough anyway." Friends that is not true.God has given each and every one of us a talent which He wants us to use to honour Him.
Romans12:6-8 "We have different gifts,according to the grace given us.If a man's gift is prophesying,let him use it in proportion to his faith.If it is serving,let him serve;if it is teaching,let him teach;if it is encouraging,let him encourage;if it is contributing to the needs of others,let him give generously;if it is leadership,let him govern diligently;if it is showing mercy,let him do it cheerfully."
Friends I want to encourage you to serve the Lord,in whatever way you can,whether big or small,because God sees it and will definitely honour you for it.


The call of discipleship is not to serve out of convenience,but to serve whether in good or bad,in plenty or in want.Let us keep the example of Mary and Mary Magdalene close to our hearts.

so,had 2.4 on tues.timing was way off my target.i was aiming to sub 9 but i did 9.21.miss by 22 secs!!argh...so i'll be going for a re-test :) heh...anyway!i'm not here to post about my 2.4 run,but rather about what i learnt during the run :) so i was running,and at about 1.6km mark i was really tired,and so i kinda gave up and slowed down a lot,almost walking...and then God spoke.Yes,God can speak to you during 2.4.anyway,we were just talking,God and myself.And then it occured to me,why do people try so hard for 2.4 to get that 'A' but when it comes to the christian run they simply don't bother or they grow complacent?and it just came to me that it's simply because we humans have learnt to live by sight and not by faith.And we have come to a point where God does not matter so much anymore,and what is in front of us,the temporary feeling of joy has replaced God.

1Corinthians9:24-27 ' 24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.'
-Friends the prizes we get on earth are good,but what's more important is our race in Christ Jesus.The prizes on earth are but temporary,but what we ultimately get from God Himself is what really counts.

Run in such a way as to get the prize:
1.Run with perseverance
2.Run not with your legs,but with your heart.In other words,run with passion.
3.Run with the end in mind.Focus on God,but at the same time do not allow anything to 'trip' you or make you stumble.
4.Fuel your run with the God-given 'gatorade'-His Word.

Ok now back to the 2.4km run,after slow jogging for about 100m or so,i decided to pia all the way,so i went 15s/100m for the rest of the way,and just made it in under 9.30mins.Not very satisfying,but i can say i didn't give up after all. :) now for the re-test.

The Magic Is Not In The Faucet

2Kings4:6 'When all the jars were full,she said to her son,"Bring me another one." But he replied,"There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.

The only thing that stopped the flowing of oil was an empty jar!

Thomas Edward (T.E.) Lawrence was a British officer who was involved in a war between Arab rebels and Turks.Lawrence Lawrence wrote about his Arabian adventures in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. During the war, Lawrence formed close friendships with many of the Sheiks of Arabia. After the war, he brought some of these Sheiks back to England to show his appreciation for their support against the Turkish domination. They had a wonderful visit, appeared before the Joint House of Commons and Parliament, had an audience with the Queen. On the last night of their visit, Lawrence offered them anything they wanted to take back with them to their desert homes. They led him up to the hotel room, into the bathroom, and pointed to the faucets in the bathtub and said that they wanted to take faucets with them that would provide them with running water in the deserts. They didn't realize that the faucets were superficial. Behind them was plumbing, a hot water heater, an energy source that heated the water, a city main that supplied the water, and from the city main went a line to an outside source of water!


-The magic is not in the faucet! It is what is behind the faucet that gives the water!
-The faucet can be 24 carat gold, but if its not attached to a water supply, its useless!
-The magic is not in the faucet, the power comes from what is behind the faucet! Things that are not visible to the human eye, but are there nonetheless!
-If the pump, or the plumbing, or the reservoir ever to out of service, the faucet is useless! It's what's behind the faucet that gives it its power!

Now I don't want to minimize the importance of a vessel,us. God needs faucets,us!God ha always used human faucets for his glory.In fact,many times he used the most unlikely of faucets.

God can use anyone:
1.Moses stuttered
2.David's armour didn't fit
3.John Mark was rejected by Paul
4.Timothy had ulcers
5.Amos' only training was in fig-tree pruning
6.Jacob was a liar
7.David had an affair
8.Solomon was too rich
9.Abraham was too old
10.David was too young
11.Peter was afraid of death
12.Lazarus was dead
13.John was self-righteous
14.Naomi was a widow
15.Paul was a murderer
16.So was Moses.
17.Jonah ran from God
18.Miriam was a gossip
19.The twelve disciples had little faith
20.Both Gideon and Thomas doubted
21.Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal
22.Elijah was burned out
23.Martha worried too much
24.Mary may have been lazy
25.Samson almost lost sight of his calling
26.Noah got drunk
27.Moses was short-tempered

But God doesn't require a job interview. He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses,because He's more our Dad than our Boss. He doesn't look at financial gain or loss. He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need.

1.God needs us to be faucets!
-John7:38 'Whoever believes in me,as the Scripture has said,streams of living water will flow from within him.'
-God can have all the plumbing in place, have the pump hooked up, ready to pour out blessings on His people, on the world, but He needs us to be vessels! He needs a faucet!
-In many cases, the only thing that stops a move of God is the lack of a vessel.
-From the scripture 2Kings4:6 we can see that the only things that stopped the flowing of oil was a lack of an empty vessel!
-Now don't ask me to explain why God chooses to use imperfect people for His work,because I honestly do not know.I do not know why God who can do all things would choose to restrict Himself to moving through imperfect, flawed, inconsistent humanity.But I do know that He is looking for people for his work,me and you!
-Ezekiel said that God was seeking a MAN to stand in the gap and make up the hedge!
-When the Lord struck Saul on the road to Damascus,He told Saul to 'Go see Ananias, he will tell you what to do" GOD USED A HUMAN VESSEL!
-In the Book of Revelation, John says that God wept because He could find no MAN to open the book of salvation, so God Himself took on the form of man to bring redemption!

Friends do you understand how important we are to the work of God!God will not move without a vessel,us!God will not pour out His Spirit without a faucet-we are that faucet!God needs us,that's you and me!

2.We are the faucet,but there's no magic in the faucet!
-We are the faucet,but unless there is a power supply,we are useless!It is what is behind the faucet that counts!We may still look good,may still say the same things, may still appear to be the same, but if our power supplies are shut off, we are of no use to anyone!

Romans7:18 'I know that nothing good lives in me,that is,in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good,but I cannot carry it out'
-Friends,we must understand that we are only the faucet,what counts is God,who is working in us!

2Corinthians4:7 'But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.'
-The power is God's,not ours!If we sing well,it's not us!If we preach well,it's not us!

Romans12:3 'For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,but rather think of yourself with sober judgement,in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.'
-Friends no matter how much God moves through us,always remember that it is God and not from us!
-No matter how many prophecies we have given,no matter how much anointed preaching and teaching comes forth from us,we must never forget that it is what's behind the faucet that makes all the difference!
-No matter how many powerful things happen through me,I am only the faucet,and if the power supply behind me gets cut off,I become useless!


Why couldn't the disciples in Matthew17:14-21 heal the demon-possessed boy?
Because they had no power!

The disciples would most probably have seen Jesus done all kinds of miracles,so now they come across a situation they think they can handle.They have watched Jesus do this, they have observed His hand motions, listened to what He said, and how he said it! They have the words, actions, motions, and everything else, but there is one thing missing! They have no power! There is nothing behind the faucet, and they fail miserably at the task at hand.

And so Jesus takes this opportunity to tell them that there is no magic in the faucet.Fervent prayer and fasting is required for that power to manifest in us.

We can say the right words,do the right hand movements,use the right tone of voice,but if there is no fervent prayer and fasting there will be no power!

3.The danger we face is when we try to duplicate only what God can do.
-We must never reach the point where we get so smart that we don't need God!


Friends the most valuable thing we can discover today is that we are a sinner saved only by the grace of God. No matter how smart we are,no matter how successful we are,no matter how rich or strong we are,we are still sinners saved only by the grace of God!There is no magic in the faucet-We need Jesus!

The King's Highway

Isaiah35:8 'And a highway will be there;it will be called the Way of Holiness.The unclean will not journey on it;it will be for those who walk in that Way;wicked fools will not go about on it.'


The way of holiness is so straight and plain that the simplest minds cannot go astray if they constantly follow it. The worldly wise have many twists and turns, and yet they make terrible blunders and generally miss their end. Worldly policy is a poor, shortsighted thing, and when men choose it as their road, it leads them over dark mountains. Gracious minds know no better than to do as the Lord bids them; but this keeps them in the King's highway and under royal protection.

Let the reader never for a moment attempt to help himself out of a difficulty by a falsehood or by a questionable act; but let him keep in the middle of the high road of truth and integrity, and he will be following the best possible course. In our lives we must never practice circular sailing nor dream of shuffling. Be just and fear not, Follow Jesus and heed no evil consequences. If the worst of ills could be avoided by wrongdoing, we should, in the very attempt, have fallen into an evil worse than any other ill could be. God's way must be the very best way. Follow it though men think you a fool, and you will be truly wise.

Lord, lead Thy servants in a plain path because of their enemies.


credits to http://bible.christiansunite.com/faithindex.shtml

An endless song

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is your love
How can I keep from shouting your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with you
Knowing you'll see me through
And sing the song you gave

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose myself
And I fall down again
I can sing cos you pick me up
Sing cos you're there
I can sing cos you hear me LORD
When I call to you in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne


This is a great song that echoes the truth of Isaiah43:1-7,where God promises His forever presence through times of blazing fires and sweeping waters.There is an endless song,because it is an endless love that God has for us.The cross stretches to the left and to the right.Wherever we are,His arms of love stretches to reach out,to embrace and to bring us back.It extends to heights and depths to empower us and to lift us up.

Are you doing well financially?
Sing of His grace and provision!

Are you happy with your family?
Sing of His mercy and faithfulness

Are you contented and problem-free(at least for now)?
Sing of His power and compassion!

Are you in pain and sickness?
Sing of His presence and love!

Are you in trouble sorrow?
Sing of His mercy and peace!

Friends,let us keep the endless song in our hearts,spirit and lips.Sing of WHO our God is.

Jeremiah31:3 'The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.'

Draw near to God

James4:8 'Come near to God and he will come near to you.Wash your hands,you sinners,and purify your hearts,you double-minded.'

The nearer we come to God, the more graciously will He reveal Himself to us. When the prodigal comes to his father, his father runs to meet him. When the wandering dove returns to the ark, Noah puts out his hand to pull her in unto him, When the tender wife seeks her husband's society, he comes to her on wings of love. Come then, dear friend, let us draw near to God who so graciously awaits us and will come to meet us.

Isaiah58:9 'Then you will call,and the LORD will answer;you will cry for help,and he will say:Here am I. ...'
Friends,let us stop hesitating to draw near.Instead let us take the initiative to draw near to God,with the confidence that He will in turn draw near to us. God is near to forgive, to bless, to comfort, to help, to quicken, to deliver. Let it be the main point with us to get near to God. When we draw near to God,the bible tells us we are overcomers of the world (1John4:4,5:4-5) . So friends,let us hesitate no more,because the King of kings wants to draw near to us,but we must first be willing to draw near to Him.



Let your Spirit come
Let your will be done
Let your presence fall on me

Christ you set me free
You're my liberty
Let your presence fall on me

Let the power of the holy ghost
Fall in this place
Come and change my heart renew me
With your mercy and your grace
Let the love of Christ surround me
Come closer to my side
Let your Spirit fall on me

I will shout Hallelujah!

I will walk
In the victory
That my God has given me
And I will live
A life that brings glory to His name
Because I have received salvation
That came at no way from myself
It came only because Jesus he came to die for me

And I will shout Hallelujah!
Because God has given me reason to praise
And I will shout Hallelujah!
Because my Savior rose from the dead

Nails could not hold him down
Death could not put him out
A stone meant to keep him in was rolled away!
My Savior lives!

So I will shout Hallelujah!
Because God has given me reason to praise
And I will shout Hallelujah!
Because my Savior,he died and rose again!

Psalm24:3-6
'Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessings from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face,
O God of Jacob.'

As I was reading this passage,the LORD spoke to me. He said,'Adriel,what do you want your generation to be remembered as?What kind of a legacy do you want your generation to leave?'

So I wrote down the following points and presented it to the LORD.
I want my generation to be remembered as:
1.A God-fearing generation
2.A God-seeking generation
3.A generation that has clean hands and pure hearts
4.A generation ready to surrender everything to advance the kingdom of God
5.A generation of faith that will move mountains
6.A generation blessed and loved by God

When I presented these to the LORD,he replied,'Adriel my son,you have forgotten the most important thing.I tell you the truth,if you want your generation to be like what you have listed,it must first learn how to love.'

And so the following points were added to my list:
7.A generation that loves God and His people
8.A generation where everybody loves everybody
9.A generation that embraces 'family'

And then the LORD spoke again,'Adriel,if you want your generation to leave a legacy,it must start from you.'

Friends,today many of us are guilty of pursuing what we think God loves.Faith,service,oikos and everything,but we have forgotten that what God really wants us to have is love.In the midst of pursuing what seems so right,we have lost our motivation of our actions.We have lost our way somwhere.But today,friends,God is calling us back to our focus.Since God is all about love,let us begin even to embrace love and let it be the reason why we are doing what we are doing.God wants us to pursue other things,yes,but ultimately if we do not have love,then we are not honouring God wih what we are doing.

'And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.' 1Cor13:13

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cos I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

This post is dedicated to all ch.some of you may read my blog,most of you may never read this,but anyway,i just want to post this on public domain.i know yesterday during debrief i was really harsh,and i sincerely apologise if i offended anybody,but my heart is really heavy for us.It's not because we were perhaps not giving our best in our serving,but because i know we can do so much more.I've heard that many of you think my expectations are really high,but hey,we are serving the Lord so let's give our best,because God has given His best,and as children of God,shouldn't we do the same?Maybe many of you were expecting me to lead this team the way sis Jerlyn did,and i know she did a great job,credits to her,but i'm not gonna lead the team the way she did,because sis Jerlyn and myself and Mei Yan have received diferent annointings from God,and we have received different directions from God,and i believe CH is going through a different season here,not just in the leadership,but I sense God is calling CH to new things!And people we got to be ready for the change God is bringing us into.don't get caught unguarded.maybe you think my expectations are really high,but hey,it's only because i believe this team has a lot of potential,and if we want God to bring us from potential to fulfillment we've got to start getting our hearts right before Him and start getting serious with God.If we are going to want a revival,a revolution,we've got to be ready,because it is us in ministry that are gonna get hit the hardest,and we've got to start aligning ourselves to God's will.Maybe i was really stern yesterday,and i apologise if you were in some way unhappy about it,and hey,i'm not perfect and i admit that,and i'm learning together with all of you.Let's do this together alright? :)
Matthew11:12'From the days of John the Baptist until now,the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing,and forceful men lay hold of it.' Guys,if we really want to advance CH,we've got to start being forceful!we have to realize that God is calling us to new things!And we have to realize that if we are gonna want to see things happen,we have to be ready for it.I know i'm tredding on thin line here,and i'm not here to criticise or stumble anybody,but i hope you'll really read through and think about what i'm saying here because it's not going to take one person to start the change.I can't do this alone,i'm gonna need all of you to support me.Likewise,we're all gonna need someone to support us.so let's do this as a team yeah?as a team.i'm not angry at anyone at all,i just felt i had to say what i said during debrief,i hope you do not take it personally,feel free to approach me if you have any comments on how i'm doing things yeah? :) i'm growing together with all of you. ;)

People if we really want to advance CH we have to really start taking ownership of this ministry and allow God to take control.I'm not saying we must be serious all the time,no play play,rather what i'm saying is,there are times to have fun,there are times to be serious with what we are doing.And really,I LOVE ALL OF YOU,EACH ONE OF YOU.