“Therefore I am now going to allure her;
       I will lead her into the desert
       and speak tenderly to her.

There I will give her back her vineyards,
       and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
       There she will sing as in the days of her youth,
       as in the day she came up out of Egypt.”

Hosea 2:14-15 (NIV)

Since late last week I was impressed in my mind with His word from Hosea, that God intended this period of ‘waiting’ with my impending job search for me to draw closer to Him in terms of dependency and reliance on Him.

Achor when translated means trouble, is what God brought the Israelites thru in order to gently remind the Israelites of His covenant and love for them where they were brought to the truth that God was their my sole security to be confidence and not their own strength based on their own or allies armies, not on acquired wealth or knowledge and not even social status as the Chosen people of God. 

Likewise, this period of job search for me is my Valley of Achor where I am drawn to spend time lying on His lap and allow Him to take full care of me; growing in my trust in Him despite being in this ‘valley’.

Thank God that so far during this period I have had two interviews. Both for similar positions in Marketing Communications and both yet to reply with their verdicts =p

Honestly, I had being anxious as the thought of getting off the payroll crept on me with the practicalities of living in Singapore. 

However the passed few days in deeper intimacy in fasting and praying with Him has helped me to see things in His perspectives and enabled me to feel secure in being in His strong loving Arms.

I never knew I would experience this term, “Money drop from the sky” or to be more exact in my case, “Money drop from Heaven!”

Some time last week I received a surprising sms message…

Read the text below:

God prompt me this afternoon to give u some money. If u need it, just tell me your account number. Need not be now, maybe in future. Just saw your blog, so more convicted to help if u can’t find a job or whatever. God bless.

Imagine what went thru my mind when I read the sms text?!

Wow… God really works in amazing and mysterious ways =)

Last Saturday was to be the day that this party finally became a reality!

Held at the Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA), this Unit new year’s bash was to be another first for the year as we had with us special guests- HWA members.

For many, this was the perfect platform to make new friends across backgrounds from all walks of life. And this platform was intended to have all us adding ZEST into our 2007!

Personally the party didn’t turn out the way I had planned it to be and on the same night I could hardly sleep with my mind pondering hard on what exactly was it that had failed.

However, I was reminded at the same time that regardless of the outcome, the glory goes to God. Even if it didn’t turn out the way I had planned, it went on according to His plans.

Hopefully this event would path the way for us to organise more such initiatives to serve the under-served and being an effective salt and light for Christ.

The focus on Growing disciples, Serving society and Planting churches have one similar element and that is love.

If you do not have His love, you CANNOT grow disciples, serve society and plant churches as they all involve people.

And since responding to His call to care for His people, I’ve witnessed (am still) the ‘surgical’ work is doing in my heart in respect to my understanding of true love, and my attitude and actions in loving others.

In the past, I had always thought I was a good people person, hence I assumed I could love people easily. But God was to prove me so wrong… Ha ha ha…

I can recall the earlier days when I started ‘following up-ing’ on others. What a nightmare it was!

Doors were slammed in my face, I was spat in the face and trampled upon like dirt. But of cos figuratively speaking lar… what I meant was that waves of rejections, insults and feelings of unappreciated continually hit me hard thru out the ‘follow up’ process.

Those were the moments where my initial reactive thoughts would be like what is depicted below…

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Yeah… a head butt on those people were what came to mind then… Ho ho ho… (Thanks Zidane =p)

But of cos I had never reacted like that but submitted my anger and hurt to God. Cos everytime when that had happened, the Holy Spirit did well to remind me how Jesus had graciously died for me despite my unreciprocal love to Him.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!                        Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

He meekly submitted to the will of His Father and left the rest to God like how He continued to love and forgive His enemies while He was pinned to the cross like a ragged doll by them when He could actually with just one call, wipe out His enemies with a legion of heavenly armies.

Presently I still do receive this kind treatment from people, but somehow I’ve accepted it as part of loving others and identifying with Christ in His sufferings.

What is important at the end of the day is that I love as God loves (unconditionally with no agenda), the response from others is secondary.

From this, not only I’ve come to understand better what true love is (its about giving and a choice, not based on feelings or preferences) but at the same time I’ve grown secure about who I am in Christ and not allowing what people’s opinions of me tear me down.

Today I had witnessed how my dad ministered to someone in hospital who was to be scheduled to undergo a heart bypass opreation.

This was my first to see my dad minister in God’s name and I believe it was his first as well, especially since recovering not too long ago from a similar operation.

I was deeply moved by the Spirit of God as he prayed for the uncle. Wow… God’s presence was strong! 

I concluded from this encounter that God mainly calls His people to ministry based from their own unique experiences which saw them through with God’s love and power.

For example, a disabled may reach out to others that are disabled as he/she can unique identify and the others might see God’s power in him/her when they see how differently this person responses to his/her disability.

Or someone who underwent sexual abused and has yielded him/herself to God, would be able to effectively comfort those who are also victims of sexual abuse.

So for my dad’s case, he had experienced first-hand how God had brought him through unscathed from the operation and also salvation to my step-mum when she witnessed God answering her prayers too.

Hence, my dad’s unique experience of surviving a heart bypass operation has led him to this ministry of serving others like him- to give encouragement to those heart bypass patients.

Hmmm… Now I am thinking really hard, what is my true calling and ministry?

I can’t really recall my resolutions for 2006 but I would think (giving the benefit of a doubt) that I have more or less fulfilled most of them if not all =p

Hmmm… let me see… Resolution 2006:

1. Save money $$$ – Passed (technically only)
2. Give allowance to parents- Failed (beginning of the year only)
3. Jog regularly- Failed (only really regular for the last quarter) 
4. Gain more body mass- Passed (but the mass ended up mostly at my tummy)
5. Complete Degree- Passed
6. Serve as His CL- Passed
7. Spend more time with my family- Passed

Total score: 5/7

Not bad… at least got more passes… Ha ha…

For 2007, here are my main NEW Resolutions:

1. Run Standard Chartered 10km
2. Take up Hope Seminary courses
3. Be a better leader
4. Raise up a CL
5. Finding my ‘fit’ in my career
6. Brush up my Mandarin
7. See one of my GLK brothers in our fellowship

 

* Picture taken on 5/1/2007 at Vivo City

Here’s a toast from us (NG5A1) towards a blessed 2007!!!

New year’s eve was spent very differently from the passed 6 years since coming to Hope.

For the first time, I was engaged to be an emcee cum dee-jay…

Despite being exhausted, I was amazed how I was able to pull the night off and enjoy myself at the same time. By His grace… 

What was more amazing was that the skills and trade that I had ‘abandoned’ never left me!!? =p

However what was more memorable that night for me was to truly know what great brothers and sisters I have around me.

That night, though they were suppose to be enjoying the party as guests, but most  voluntarily helped the organisers when they saw support was needed.  

You tell me where to find such good people??

Boy am I much blessed! =)

The whole year of 2006, especially the second half with the birth of NG5A1 caregroup, had been awesome with meaningful friendships forged.

2007 awaits for these meaningful friendships to grow deeper in His love!

 

My unforgettable answered prayer

Having my step-mum and step-sister receiving Christ!

My greatest trial

The last term of my studies where I had to complete the final assignments. This was on top of what I had to manage with my care towards the CG and attention at work.

My greatest breakthrough

Being able to take criticism in stride or correction and using it constructively for personal growth.

My memorable experience

Partnering with the Holy Spirit in leading Joe (Mynmar) and Uncle Tiong to Christ. It was memorable especially with Uncle Tiong as God used my limited mandarin to communicate with him the gospel and to pray the sinner’s prayer =p

My most impactful decision made

Putting God and His people first before my own needs. Its a all-powerful decision made everyday.

My happiest and elating moment

After receiving my final term results and knowing for sure that I could graduate after 4 gruelling years of studying. Yeah!

My lessons learnt about God

God seeks to partner with us; and we need to partner with God. Hence we need to be persistently seeking Him for His ‘blue prints’ in every areas of our lives even in the marketplace.

Victory is ours to take, we just need to claim it.

My lessons learnt about my ownself

Realising more my need to feel in control of my life from my insecurities. I need more patience with God in being still and trusting.

I had spent the day indoors just to rest and think with God what would be expected in this new year- the goals, threats and expectations.

As you might know by now (from past entries) that since my studies had ended, I found myself in a loss of my direction which was kinda unexpected.

However much had to do with some ministry proposal that sprung up right before my last exams. Hence I was thankful that over the weekend, that part had been discussed and finalised so that I could have a clearer mental picture what laid ahead and what was expected of me.

Upon reflection of my loss-ness for the passed two months, I came to a conclusion that though things didn’t happen according to my plan, but it was and is happening in His plan.