Category His & My Story

Spirtual insights and my daily reflections with God in my life. My life is now a shared journey with God. My story is His story.

God’s affirmation: keep writing

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Last month, my writing ‘career’ received a boost with an award- “Most Outstanding Writer” by City News.

This was my first ever such accolade since I started writing (and blogging) passionately and professionally some four years ago.

It definitely came as a pleasant surprise as I’d never expected to receive anything in return for my voluntary service.

But more significantly with the award aside, I saw this as an affirmation from God for my faith and obedience in using what I’d thought is His gift to me to serve.

This has also encouraged me to embark on a personal project that has been closed to my heart for a long time.

And all that can be revealed for now is that it will involve more writing and more writing. Haha…

Lastly, did I mention that the award included a prize of an all-paid trip plus accommodation to Sydney?

Yeah!! God is AWESOME!!!

His Church moving forward

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Over the last weekend, City Harvest Church finally held their first service at their new worship venue, Suntec SICEC.

In my viewpoint, this move was celebrated not so much because of a physical building more than the spiritual building of the body of Christ.

Besides this being another historical milestone for this church, more significantly to me, this represented a breakthrough for a progressive Christianity in Singapore.

For too long, Christianity has been on a retreat mode and boxed up by the world. However, another more guilty perpetrator had been (and still is) the corporate spirit of religion emerging among the Christian fraternity.

These have resulted in the presence, power and love of God mainly confined within the four walls of the church without much transformation made in the key areas of our marketplace.

But I strongly believe this is already changing.

In this new day and age, the Holy Spirit has never been more ready than before to release His gifts and anointing over His people and to present Christ in culture with the gospel in its totality.

The question is: “Are we ready and open to receive (as new wine skins)? Or are we unknowingly clammed up (as old wine skins)?”

 

Ten years on…

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Ten years ago or a decade back, my life was a huge heap of a mess.

Back then

I was wasting away on party drugs.

On almost any given night, I was popping ecstasy and snorting ketamine just to chase that next thrill.

I was also delusional about the whole concept of love especially after my family broke up.

That left me incapable of love and commitment. Hence, one-night stands were my preferred way of relating to the opposite sex.

I was just some young, wayward and uneducated kid on his way to total destruction. 

I felt alone and saw no hope in life.

Here now

Ten years on, my life is full of renewed hope and purpose!

I am set free from all the vices that had a grip on me including smoking and drinking.  And the thrill I now chase is being in the presence of God.  

Now I’m committed in marriage with a beautiful lady. And the whole concept of love makes perfect sense.

God is love and only in Him can we experience and offer that true unconditional love.

Unfortunately, now I’m  no longer that young. Haha…

But He has made me forward-looking as I know that I’m an empowered child of God on his way to live his life to the fullest of his potential according to His promises.

And now with Him, I know I’m not alone as I’m part of the Church- my spiritual family and I see a great future lying ahead for me. 

God is good!

Getting ready for Him

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Hello folks! I’m back!

For most of last month while away from blogging, I had been fasting and praying.

Initially, I’d planned on 7-day fast. But nearing the last day, I was led to stretch my fast to 21 days instead.

I was hesitant at first, but eventually obeyed (willingly and cheerfully… haha).

Two main reasons why I had obeyed: First was to seek Him and to be in tuned to His will in this new year; and the other was to consecrate or purify myself for His kingdom purpose.

During my fasting period, I discovered I had unknowingly picked up some ‘dirt’ which had affected my spiritual life. So it was a great time of cleansing of my soul and renewing of my mind as I drew closer to Him.

In this 2011, I’m upbeat about expecting more of God and for Him to move in an unprecedent manner. How? When? I honestly don’t know.

What I do know is He is faithful and true, I only need to trust and follow Him by faith. And that’s enough for me.

I just want to be ready when He moves and opens whatever doors of opportunities for me.

My 2010 in a Glance

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1. My unforgettable answered prayer

“When your mind is open, the teacher appears.” In this instance, my mentor (someone who is ahead of me in experience- done that, did that) appeared.

This is unforgettable because of the divine manner and timeliness that God answered this prayer which led us to crossed paths in this season of my life.

2. My greatest trial

This has got to be the unpleasant incident that happened at work. In any case, I know I’ve passed the test and trial. I didn’t react but responded with love; choosing to put my trust in God.

3. My greatest breakthrough

My ministry with City News. I’ve been shown great favour by my editors who have entrusted me with ‘high level’ tasks.

I’m really thankful for the God-given opportunities to serve in a greater capacity. And how can I not mention my maiden full (42km) marathon run?? I did it! Yeah!!

4. My most impactful decision made

Saying “I do” to my wife before God, our family and friends. What other decision could be more significant than that? Especially with the wife sitting right beside me while I’m blogging this. Haha…

5. My happiest and elating moment

It has to be the moment when I first set my eyes on my wife on our wedding day. This was at her home during the part of the day where I had to fetch her. My eyes welled up with tears of joy and gratitude. She’s a gift from heaven!

6. My lesson(s) learnt in 2010

Just let God be God. Know your position. He’s the Commander-in-Chief, and I’m the soldier. So I ought to leave the strategising and orchestrating to Him and not try so hard in taking over that role from Him.

I seek His lead and just follow. It’s His battle and His dreams, not mine. He’ll bring about victory with me at rest. 

In 2010, I give thanks to God for…

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For me, 2010 was a year dripping with God’s goodness and blessings.

It was a year that God revealed Himself as El Shaddai (God who is sufficient).

Although an unpleasant incident at work did mar the year, but I’m still grateful to God for who He is in my life.

In 2010, I give thanks to God for my wife whom I got married to in the same year. She is a wonderful companion and confidant. A gift from God.

I’m thankful for my job too. With it, my capacity had been expanded and I’ve been able to be a greater blessing to those around me with God’s provision and favour.

I thank God for my present home church and cell group which God had led me to for this particular season of my life.

And there’s no denying that my successes experienced in 2010 are largely underpinned by the spiritual leadership and support of His Church.

Without which, I would not be empowered to be who I am and become who I should be in Christ.

Finally, I’m thankful that I could witnessed a number of my family members and friends reconciled with God and committing into His family during the past year.  

Moving forward, I can’t wait to share or testify more of His goodness in this new year of 2011. And not forgetting the sordid details of the unpleasant details too. Haha…

All praise and honour to Him alone!

My best Christmas was…

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My best Christmas was ironically my saddest. This took place ten years ago.

I remembered being overly enthusiastic about inviting my close group of friends to the Christmas service.

After inviting most of them, my final list had at least 20 of them. However, on the actual day none of them showed up. Not one.

I was utterly disappointed and devastated. During that Christmas service, I wept.

But right there, God revealed His heart to me. I was also feeling His disappointment and devastation. And I got a glimpse of His amazing love for us.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

John 1:10-11

Despite our hostility and shortcomings, God never condemns us nor does He gives up on us. He just keeps on loving us into His kingdom. 

I also understood better that the rejection that I faced was not directed at me, but at Jesus (c.f. Matthew 10:40). And like Jesus, I should keep on loving with no strings attached.

That Christmas, it was my best because God aligned my heart with His. That’s what made it special and memorable.

God is love.

Running with God

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Last Sunday, I finally did my first FULL marathon. And I barely completed it!

My participation in the Standard Chartered Marathon has somewhat evolved into a personal annual year-end pilgrimage. 

And the 42km stretch this year was definitely taking my ‘sufferings’ to whole new level. Haha…

Reason for running

To be honest, I dislike running and was (and still am) never good at it. I only enjoy it because it has been an activity that draws me closer to God. 

I guess I love the challenge it puts on my physical and mental limitations, and for Him  to takeover. 

And I also look forward to the guiding words and principles He dishes out while I run. Believe it or not, He speaks to me during my runs.

Normally, He shares with me lessons from the experiences of the passing year that would make a difference in the next approaching year. 

Lessons from running

This year while running my marathon, I was reminded that “it is not how you start (the race) that matters, but it is how you end that really matters”.

Besides serving as an encouragement during my run, these words spoke into my current phase of my spiritual journey.

It re-focused my attention towards the end goal and not to dwell on the present circumstances.

Along the way all of us will meet with difficulties and disappointments, but we need to “keep on going” (being faithful) towards finishing the race gloriously for Him.

That is what really matters- to obey Him (His will and call) and trust Him (in His word) till the end. So let’s keep running with God.

A Great Revival is Approaching

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Last Sunday, I caught up with one of my long-time-no-see friends, Alex.

We had not met since 2005 and he was released from prison only two weeks ago. That day also happened to be the first time we went to a church service together.

Over lunch, he relayed his story to me in how he invited Christ into his life and his desire to live his life right from now on. I could see the determination in his eyes.

In the past, we were brothers in a gang. Now we are brothers in Christ!

It is always heartening to witness how Christ turns someone’s life around; like an inner light that suddenly switches on and now that person is able to see clearly a better path to chart.

Since 2000, I’ve observed that many of my friends from the gang such as Alex, Thomas and Kiat have gotten saved in Christ. Many of whom I’d never expected to be converted, actually became Christians.

Much of this is due to the sacrifices and unconditional love of ministry workers who have faithfully brought the gospel of God’s saving grace into prisons over the last couple of years.

I strongly believe these are mere glimpses toward a great revival that is approaching our city and Asia as more Christ-followers unite and take their rightful positions in His kingdom.

In God We Trust

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Recently, I had a conversation with someone on the subject of tithing.

I believe that was a divine moment arranged to encourage that person to develop more trust in God, in particularly in the area of finances.

Trusting God

For certain, it is not uncommon for most of us to be preoccupied with money and practical needs (which is valid). Hence, it is always unnerving for anyone to even consider tithing.

And it does not help that our human reasoning would alert us to the fact that it seems ridiculous to part with money in order to alleviate one’s financial security.

But that’s what faith or trusting in God is. It goes beyond our reasoning. However, we can trust in our Abba God’s word to us (c.f. Matthew 6:25-34).

Tithing by faith

When we tithe by faith, we’re simply acknowledging Him as our God who provides and protects us as He has with Abraham, Jacob and Isaac and Jacob.

More than just parting with a tenth of our monthly income, it establishes our relationship with our covenant-keeping God; placing our trust in Him to sustain us and not in money.

All of us need money in order to survive and make our livelihood.  But by tithing, we put money in its rightful position as our servant and not master.

More importantly, we put ourselves in our rightful position- in His Loving Hands- that declares out loud that “In God we trust!”