I received this sms a couple days back.
“Hi hi, hehe, XXXXX just called me after I msged her. She said she sold off her Sunday slots (work duty) realising she’s drifted far. And she will come to church this Sunday”
Wow… it is people’s response to Him like this one that truly encourages me to press on in serving our wonderful Father and in finishing the race ahead.
I smoked my first stick of cigarette when I was 14 years old. It was a Marlboro. I chose Marlboro cos it was a cool brand. The cowboy and macho stuff. Ha ha…
So looking back, my initial reason to smoke was cos I wanted to look cool. Eventually it became a habit and cool became just one of the reasons.
Other reasons was that it provided a quick relief from stress, great companion with beer and while crapping. Hee hee…
Deciding to quit
Before committing to Christ, I did try to kick the habit becos it was becoming a costly habit. But all attempts failed lar… I had no motivation and saw no better alternative. Quitting seemed harder, so suffer for what sia??? Anyway I could still afford it and was enjoying it. So never mind lor…
My smoking habit was one of the stuffs that I was unwilling to give up for Christ before I committed to Him. However that changed.
The time after I had committed to Christ after being humbled by His forgiveness and grace over my sins, I was still smoking. But somehow the smoking grew less enjoyable and became repulsive. I believe it was the renewal work of the Holy Spirit destroying the cravings of the carnal flesh.
I think after a month or less, I decided to totally stop smoking as I desired to honor God and to be a good testimony to His name since I’ve chosen to follow Him. That was my motivation.
Taking the cold step
I went for the cold turkey treatment. The first week was bad and my nose went runny and all. But it was through this period that I kept praying and meditated on His Word to block off those tempting thoughts. God was with me.
The temptations were most alluring especially after meals and when I wanted to crap. During those times, I would either sucked on a sweet or read His Word. That helped practically.
So 1 week slowly became 2 and then a month and without realising much, I was finally free from this stronghold in my life. Christ conquered and took more hold of my life! Praise the Lord!
Quiting it all for God
To further add on, about a half a year later, God told me to stop drinking as well. That was really a struggle then too. But I relented almost right away as I knew what He was doing for me. He was tearing down every single stronghold of the devil that had a grip in my life and making sure they wouldn’t have a hold on me again.
For those who know, drinking and smoking are cousins. You can’t have one without the other. If you drink, you sure want to smoke. So for my case, I knew I better not drink =p
Now after 7 years, I am smoke-free but more importantly, I am free! Free to love and worship my dear God fully without restrain!
Quitting is harder, BUT not impossible in Christ cos He never quits on us.
I was delighted when one of my GLK buddies agreed to join me to Sentosa on Good Friday. We go way back man… 10-15 years?
I believe somehow working life has done him some good as I’ve observed that he is more open to making new friends. Christians included =p
We went for the Imbiah skyride and luge. The skyride is a must-try for everyone!
Sentosa is really transforming fast and developing into a great hangout with beautiful people, facilities and scenery.
Errr… of cos except for those sights of oil tankers and ships that are an eye-sore.
See more pictures here>>>
“And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].”
Mark 16:15 (Amplified)
“They couldn’t quite describe what was happening, but by 2000 they sensed that they were in touch with people they’d never been in touch before, were being challenged by people who had never challenged them before, were competing with people who they had never competed before, were collaborating with people whom they had never collaborated before, and were doing things as individuals they had never dreamt of doing before. What they were feeling was the flattening of the world.”
Excerpt from The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
The author’s statement sums up what many of us have been experiencing but can’t best describe. Though we know globalisation has spreaded and is spreading rapidly, but we do not really know the full extent of its affects especially us, being consumers (lowest of the food chain order).
I believe most of us do not realise that we have shifted from the Industrial Age to the Information Age. Or for that matter understand what being in this Information Age means for many of us.
In this Information Age, the playing field has been levelled as information is freely available and accessible. No longer it is just the top people who knows and can decide, but even the lower end. The Information Age has challenged hierachies from below to transform themselves from top-down structures into more horizontal and collaborative ones.
As the author explains, “The genesis of the flat world platform now enables more people to author more content, and to collaborate on that content. It also enables us to upload files and globalise that content- individually or as part of self-reforming communities- without going thru any of the traditional hierarchial organisation/institutions”
And adding further, he explains that , “we now have access/power to upload/ send out products/ ideas for free rather.”
Personally as a blogger, I have to agree completely =p
The questions that beg to be answered by us:
Last night during CG time we did something out of the ordinary. We ministered to one another prophetically through our prayers led by the Holy Spirit.
“In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy. “
Acts 2:17-18 (NIV)
It was really amazing witnessing my brothers and sisters prophesising and communicating visions for one another. We were really flexing our spiritual muscles in faith and obedience with God’s love and power.
This experience together not only allowed God to encourage us but also brought our faith to another level in knowing how God could actually used ordinary people like us supernaturally to be His witnesses!
Now we can more bold and courageous for Him!
“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, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (NIV)
Seated comfortably, I took my eyes off my book to see who was this huge person that was hovering in front.
I looked up and found this person very familiar. I squinted. Unsure, I called out his name.
“Richard”
No response.
“Richard!”
This time, he turned. It was really Richard!
After 7 long years, finally we bumped into each other. He was one of the bosses that I worked with and we lost touch after we left the night scene. And that night, we were reunited. Unbelieveable.
By right I was supposed to be watching a movie at that time, but I had decided not to. If I had, I think I might have to wait another 7 years to see him again =p
Thank God.
Through him, I also got another contact (also named Richard) whom I was looking for as well. And we met up just two days ago to catch up on loss time (see picture above). And amazingly, through him, I got another contact again. Next week I intend to catch up with him. These are my DJ friends.
I strongly believe that this is no coincidence but God’s Hand and leading which is His response through my fasting and praying.
It is just incredible to experience what God can do when we yield to Him and seek His will.
In retrospection of my life in Christ, I got to say that God is good.
7 years ago, I came into His Family with nothing- no proper qualifications (secondary school drop-out), no career prospect (failed DJ business), no home (estranged family relations), no close friends, no character and no life purpose.
Now after 7 years…
To me these accomplishments are not just achievements, but more importantly to me, they represent and testify of God’s power, goodness, faithfulness and grace working actively in my life.
It is like God’s nimble and careful Hand piecing together the pieces of my shattered life for these passed 7 years.
I remember when God first spoke to me then, to quit my work as a DJ in the nightscene. I struggled…
What else can I do God? I got no paper qualifications and being a DJ is my bread and butter. You sure or not?
Little did I know that then, that was very call from Jesus to be His fishers of men. (c.f. Matthew 4:18-21)
(To be cont’d…)
“Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
Psalm 127:1-2 (NIV)
Yesterday was Terrence’s last day with us in Singapore and thank God for the extended opportunity that He provided for us to further explained the Gospel to him before he departed.
Now can only pray and await for those sown ‘seeds’ of truth to grow in His time.
There was a moment in our conversation where he threw me a question, “What is the difference now that God is in your life?”
To be honest, I was caught off guard. Not becos I was unprepared, but there was just too much to share and wasn’t sure where to begin and the aspects to which would have been relevant to him .
Anyhow I plucked up and shared very briefly…
THE DIFFERENCE:
(1) Addiction: Back then, I was bounded by an unhealthy addiction to alcoholism and smoking, just to name a few. But now, I am addicted to the reading of His word, His love and work. Maybe the only unhealthy one I have now is my morning prescription of brewed aromatic coffee =p
(2) Values: Back then, anything goes. I wasn’t even aware of the word ‘values’ or what I even stood for. But now, love, integrity and holiness are just some of my new found values that have been re-defining and influencing who I am and shaping my life.
(3) Purpose: Back then, just happy, enjoy my life and dun back-stab people can oredi… But now, He has given me an exciting, global and eternal purpose to live for! Making a difference in the lives of those around for His Great Commission. Now everyday is an adventurous journey in trudging forward towards His goal for me- my destiny/calling.
Yeah! Sure glad that I could have been a part of God’s saving mission for Terrence and to be used by Him. Now just have to await and see how God will do His part =)
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
Read another related entry here>>>
Andrew: Inside & Insights 