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.

The Balancing Act for 2009

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At the beginning of this year, there were two areas- practical and financial that I felt led to prioritise on in regards to my walk with God.

There was a need to experience more of God’s promises and power in taking these two areas to the next level.

Two areas of growth

Growing practically meant that I needed to grow in my stature with my work towards being a person of value in the marketplace.

Simply because our work is also our God-given ministry and when we excel, God is made illustrious.

In terms of growing financially, I desire to be a better steward with what God has entrusted me with.

I believe as Christ-followers, we need not only need to adopt a kingdom mentality, but be faithful with our finances.

This does not mean we merely hoard or maintain our finances at a certain level, but we need to be actively mulitplying our resources.

With more, we are able to do more. We are able to readily invest and give towards worthy causes that addresses the practical needs of people around us in extending God’s love.

A shift in priorities of growth

After crossing the first-half of this year, upon evaluating, I can gratefully say that these two areas have met their set goals in an unprecedented manner with His divine and undeserving favour upon my life.

Upon evaluating, I sensed that the next course of His direction for me will be to balance the other aspects of my life by prioritising the spiritual and physical areas.

In regards to my spiritual growth, I have made a firm decision to start serving more regularly in my cellgroup’s worship team.

I believe this will further anchor my spiritual roots and keep me under His divine covering as He launches me deeper into the marketplace.

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

Mahatma Gandhi

I also believe that servant leadership is only best cultivated and understood  by actually doing it.

No amount of reading or knowledge of servant leadership can transform you into a servant leader. You must just do (serve) it.

Racing towards the end

Physically, let’s just say that I recently discovered that I am in bad shape.

I think my body’s condition has dropped to a state of lethargic-ness or even ‘sloppiness’. Ha ha…

To get back in shape, I have signed up for the Singapore Marathon 21km run in December. Doing this, I’m now ‘forced’ to embark on my personal weekly running regime.

I’m confident with God, this year will end even more glorious than the previous year. And I’m going all the way!

The Acceleration of God’s Redemptive Purpose

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Since the beginning of this year, almost every fortnightly I’ve been meeting with a bunch of awesome and faithful fellow-Christians.  

The two unique things that I enjoy about this fellowship are: (1) we are from different local churches, and (2) we share the same passion on new media  in order to serve the purpose of God.

Through this, I’m given a wider viewpoint on what God is doing around us and I’m also able to learn from the different parts of the Body.

God’s acceleration

Lately, we shared a similar observation that God was accelerating the pace of His work which reminded me of a prophecy made through Phil Pringle early this year.

“Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ “

Ezekiel 12:27

Just to elaborate what this means is that God is releasing His blessings and favour to His Children of faith in an exceptional measure than before in this season (and YES! Even in a recession).

In other words, God is going to bless us profusely; in abundance or more than we can contain.

God”s vision to be fulfilled

God is accelerating His work towards a tipping point of His redemptive plans for the world in this 21st century.

For instance, what would take 10-30 years will now take a fraction of the time. 

There will be breakthroughs after breakthroughs in every aspect and every frontier. Expect salvation for the lost to stream into His kingdom in throngs, rather than in trickles.

He will allow us to meet the right people suddenly; linking us with connections that will shed years in fulfilling our dreams.

And in this greater scheme of things, it is obvious that the phenomenal growth of technology and the emergence of new media is playing a big role in accelerating His purpose.

Now is the time for us to position ourselves in faith and to be ready to sow big time in order to receive big time!

Sharing of a Lesson Learned

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Without much of a warning, six months of 2009 has gone by like sand in an hour glass.

I won’t be writing much about my reflections or my thoughts in going forward for the rest of this year for now.

But I just want to share a lesson I’d learned from some stuff that I had gone through for the past week.

A week of positioning

The entire of last week, I was fasting and seeking His face as prompted. The focus was on “positioning”- getting myself ready spiritually for things that He might be doing ahead.

Interestingly, almost immediately along the week many things happened in particularly in the aspect of my work and career (again!).

In any case, I’m do not think I’m in the liberty to divulge anything as yet. Not at least until the path ahead is more certain and clearer.

A life lesson learned

However, back to my lesson learned. From what I have gone through from the past 1-2 weeks, I’ve learned that God enjoys springing surprises when you least expect.

He always has a way (especially through circumstances) to give new meaning or revelation to things that we might have a certain opinion or perception about.

For instance, it can be like how we may interpret as His plans or His will. Hence, along our journey of faith, things happen and may add more clarity that will astound us and shift our paradigm.

Ultimately with the purpose to draw us closer towards Him in how we relate with Him and also how we may align our will with His will; our plans with His plans.

“We live by faith, not by sight”

2 Corinthians 5:7

Well, this is such a scenario that I am going through again, but it is expected. Life with God is after all one big adventure!

 

Some Personal Updates

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For quite awhile, I’ve been pretty tied up with work and some other stuff that explains my erratic absence of entries in this site.

Furthermore, Facebook and Twitter have also become my other favourite online channels.

This aptly illustrates why man should only have one woman in his life, cos one is all that he can really handle. LOL…

In regards to what I had mentioned as other stuff, part of it is my involvement with City News and another big part is my marriage preparation.

Yes… you read correctly. I’m getting married, but I will save that part for next time. Ha ha…

Back to the part of City News. Last week, my debut news report was finally released. It was an interview with not just one, but two Miss Earth Singapore beauties!

Since then, I have done two more assignments. I must say that I truly enjoyed the entire journalistic process.

I’m equally grateful for the opportunity to meet and interview some of the nicest people from celebrities to one of our founding leaders, Mr S.Dhanabalan.

Pertaining to work, let’s just say that I’m going through a steep learning now.

Though its tough and rough, but I know that my God has given me everything I need to succeed since it is He who led me to where I am in the first place.

Because I know that where my God leads, He also anoints and provides.

My Miracle Breakthrough

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I have another testimony to share about a miracle breakthrough in regards to my career.

If you recall, last year I shared briefly about some of my ramblings at work.

Since then, I was praying that this year would be the year that God would give me a breakthrough in my career to take me to the next level of growth.

After five months, He made it happened. And it was nothing short of a miracle.

The breakthrough

Without boring you with the full details, my direct boss who moved to join a private education organisation (PEO) unexpectedly offered me a job position to join him.

The role that I was offered was marketing and communications in nature and required me to oversee and execute the advertising and promotion of the PEO’s offerings.

Needlessly to say, I recognised it as God’s timely answer to my prayer and gratefully accepted the offer.

I am now in my second week with my new job.

The journey through

This miracle breakthrough brings back memories of my relentless search for my initial desired job upon my graduation some years ago.

Yes you guessed correctly, it was marketing communications. However, all my attempts led to closed doors then.

Now after a long and tedious journey of equipping, the door has finally opened. And it opened in such fashion that it gives full credit to God.

He has done it again; making things happen in my life in spite of the odds that are stacked against me.

Thank you God.

Miracles Do Happen When You Believe

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Two months ago, I met Fabien.

At that point of his life, he was at the brink of depression and was suicidal.

He had already attempted suicide four times and was eventually warded at Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

Facing pressing problems

Fabien is divorced with two kids- 5 year old daughter and 7 year old son. Both of them are under his ex-wife’s custody.

Being unemployed for two years, he has never been able to keep up with the alimony payments.

If you think that is bad, it could only get worse.

His dad had also passed away last year and left a huge pile of bills from the housing unit for him to shoulder alone. He’s the elders and both of his siblings are currently serving their jail terms.

Understandably, he was hard pressed and cornered by his circumstances.

But that was two months ago before He decided to hand over his life with its problems to God.

The miracles that happened

Now and most recently, he is gainfully employed. It was an answered prayer that saw his specific request of the salary package and working schedule met.

Prior to this employment, he had experienced several miraculous incidents within two months. But I will just recount two of them on his behalf.

The first was when the PUB decided to terminate his water supply after failing to make due payment. On that same day, his neighbour whom he barely knew and who had just moved into the neighbourhood two months ago, approached Fabien.

His neighbour had kindly offered to pay the entire utilities bill. That amount was about $500 and was paid in full without conditions.

That day, his water supply was re-connected on the same day it was terminated.

The second miracle happened two weeks after that.

He received a letter from the North West Community Development Centre (CDC) that included a cheque of $250 as part of a financial assistance scheme to help him through this period.

In the letter, it stated that he would be receiving this amount for three months. On top of the that, CDC would also be subsidising a substantial amount for his housing bills such as utilities and maintenance.

The miracle was that Fabien did not apply for any financial assistance scheme and the cheque appeared at a time when he most needed it.

More miracles ahead

Fabien now carries a totally different countenance; one that is hopeful.

Last Saturday, he witnessed yet another miracle when his ex-wife whom he invited to a church service with him, responded in becoming a Christian.

I truly believe that there are more good stuff that is heading Fabien’s way now that he has decided to follow God. Because He is a God that truly loves us and has the best plans for us.

Not sure about you, but I believe in miracles and the God that performs them.

If you’re presently in a trying situation especially with the recession, I hope Fabien’s miracle story will encourage you. Because your situation could be an opportunity for your miracle to show up.

The question is, “Would you believe and trust God enough to hand it (your situation) over to Him? “

How We Make Others Feel Matters

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In the midst of this month, I have attended two funerals.

The first funeral was a friend who died in an unfortunate and tragic accident (see inserted picture).

The other was my step-grandma who passed away because of old age. She lived a full 86 years.

I believe we have been through enough funerals to observe that one of the important things that we leave behind when we depart from earth are memories.

Leaving behind memories

Memories are the traces of marks that are left behind from the encounters and experiences  that family and friends accumulate with the person while still alived.

Ideally, these memories  should be pleasant for others to remember fondly.

The truth about this observation is that people may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Therefore, how we relate and treat people around us matter more than what we know or say to them.

For instance, I may not be able to recall what my primary school teachers taught me more than 20 years ago, but I have impressions of them from how they related with me as their student.

Making that difference each day

So what am I saying?

Resolute to deposit lasting memories to those around us by treating them with love and respect; little acts of kindness to others will go a long way in making an impact and leaving a legacy.

The small daily differences we make towards others, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.

An Illumination of His Word & Love

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Some time ago, God encouraged me with His word from Psalms.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”

even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:11-12

Though these two verses are not unfamilar to me, but I never quite made sense of what the psalmist meant.

But that day, the word was illuminated. I understood the essence of it.

The illuminated word

Despite being surrounded by the doom and gloom from the global financial crisis to my personal challenges in life, there is reason to be at peace.

God is bigger and above everything in this world. He is sovereign and is in my life. He lives in me. I need not fear as He loves me.

My confidence does not come from the economy, my job or my capabilities. It comes from walking with God and knowing his deep love for me.

I am discovering more with each new day that this intimacy with God helps me put life in its proper perspective.

In Him and with Him in control, I know that I am well-taken care of. Amen.

Another Answered Prayer

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Last weekend, three of friends joined me for service.

Never would I have imagined standing with my friends in the House of God!

These were friends from my delinquent days. In the past, we grew up fighting side by side,  but now we were standing side by side worshiping God with lifted hands!

Wow… God is pretty amazing!

After eight years of praying, ‘sowing’ and waiting, He is showing me what He has been doing behind the scenes all this while.

It is so awesome to see one by one of them reconciling to Him! But I know there are still much left to be done.

In the meantime, I am really excited  about the other surprises God has under His sleeves for me for the rest of this year.

Yeah!

An Unread Eulogy

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Last Friday, I attended a funeral service. It was my dad’s ex-boss.

The deceased was a Christian. And for the last 15 years of his life, he was battling with the Parkinson disease.

A little about him

I heard for most of his battle with this incurable and degenerative disease, he had questioned God countless of times on why he was made to suffer like this.

For a person who didn’t smoke, drink or gamble and being a person of high standing in society, it was understandable difficult to accept the reality of his plight.

In spite of this, he held on and fought on.

My eulogy to him

Though I do not know him, but I salute this man and brother-in-Christ for his resilience in his faith that has also kept his family together through the tough times.

On his departure, he left behind his wife, only son and three beautiful grandchildren. But more than that, I believe he left behind a spiritual legacy for his next generations to follow in his faithfulness to God.

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

James 1:12

His battle in life may have ended, but in truth, it has only just begun as he has gone to receive his eternal reward from our Maker.