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.

Memoirs of a Marketplace Minister

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Some time ago I had been praying for God to use me more at my workplace as His minister.

An answered opportunity

An opportunity presented itself when one of colleagues wasn’t feeling too well. I knew this was an answered prayer.

I plucked up my courage, and offered to pray for healing for her. To my relief and joy, she agreed!

I prayed for her and we committed her recovery to the Lord’s Hands.

Looking out for others

My desire is not just to do well at work , but also to be a friend to my colleagues.

In regards to that experience, I believe she was healed as she was able to carry on her work for the rest of the day. Glory to God!

I am also thankful that I could exercised my faith and love in being “a church without walls”.

Like Jesus, I pray that I will become more caring and sensitive to the needs of others around; finding a need to meet it, and to finding a hurt to heal it.

Reunited after Six Years

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Meet another Andrew a.k.a “Siao Kiat”.

In one of my entries in my old blog, I  shared briefly about his story and his inspiring song that won him a Yellow-Ribbon award.

Saved by His grace

Some time ago, he was finally released after six years of imprisonment. We met recently and were reunited.

Over our meet-up, we managed to update each other and fill up those missing links between us. It was a very meaningful time.

I found out that he had dedicated his life fully to God.

He shared with me how the grace of God melted his cold heart and broke him down like a weeping baby as he listened to some carols. That was during Christmas in 2006.

In short, that’s how he gave his life to Jesus.

Comrades in Christ

The other delightful news was realising he was also worshiping in City Harvest Church!

Just yesterday, I attended an appreciation dinner by City Harvest Community Services Association (CHCSA) upon his invitation.

As he was a grateful recipient of their prison outreach, he was there to testify and also perform his self-composed song- Because You believe. I was there to show my support.

The verdict? I can only exclaimed that he sung extremely well. He is a gifted singer.

In the past, we were comrades for a wrong purpose. But now, we are comrades in Christ and shining along side for His eternal purpose!

 

 

 

 

My Experience with Prayer that Works

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Last week, I participated in a week long of corporate prayer.

This was an hour session either in the morning (from 6:30am to 7:30am) or in the evening (from 6pm to 7pm).

And of cos, I went for the evening sessions. Ha ha…

Prayer works

I must admit that embarking on this corporate prayer meet was a very energised experience. I could almost instantaneously feel the difference as I immersed myself more into prayer.

The more obvious changes were at work where I noticed how I found favour with my work. My relationships with my colleagues also improved.

I believe the change started with me as I drew nearer to God through prayer that renewed my heart and spirit.

Prayer at work

One remarkable incident that happened during one of the mornings when I was on my way to work.

As I was approaching my office, I prayed to God that He might used me at work to touch lives with His love. I did not know how He would do it, but I told Him I was willing to be used.

Less than a minute later, I saw one of my colleagues who was waiting for the elevator waving cheerily at me.

I didn’t expect that from her as she is usually in a dull mood. And though we were on friendly terms, but we were not on that level of friendliness.

But what surprised me was what she asked after we exchanged greetings.

“You go to church right?”

“The next time, can I go with you?”

Wow… really didn’t expect God to answer almost immediately! Amazing!

Now my next prayer is for her to experience the presence and love of God with the congregation. Amen!

God is a Natural Giver, not a Taker

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Last week, I was greeted with a pleasant surprise from my mum when she told me of her intentions of blessing me with a certain amount for my marriage plans.

The Arise & Build

Prior to this news from my mum, I had actually pledged to God an amount for the Arise & Build project by City Harvest Church (CHC) in last November.

I recalled I was contemplating on the prompted amount (by the Holy Spirit) to give. Apart from this being the largest one-time giving I would ever be giving, I was also weighing the practical aspect of my marriage plans.

But in the end, I decided that God’s kingdom had to come first, not mine. Thus, I gave in faith to His vision.

The divine surprise

Moving back to last week. I found out that my mum was going to give 50 per cent more than what she had originally intended. And the surprise was that the increased quantum was exactly the amount I had pledged!

How coincidental can that be?!

In fact, this is not the first time I have experienced God’s blessings through my giving in faith. But I will save the others for future sharing opportunities.

Finally, I would like to say that this experience has shown me another aspect of who God is; that He is not a debtor to man.

With this deeper understanding that His nature is that of a giver and not a taker has increased my level of trust in Him.

Found Faithful

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Below is an excerpt taken from one of Kong Hee’s daily devotions. This particular entry spoke to me- now I’m in a period of preparation. I have to be faithful. Amen.

“Many are called, but few chosen” (Matt. 20:16). It is one thing to be called of God, it is quite another to be chosen by God.

But Revelation 17:14 says, “Those who are with [the Lamb] are called, chose, and faithful.”

Moses wasn’t just called and chosen by God, he was found faithful in everything he did for the Lord in His house (Heb. 3:2).

Similarly, there will be three distinct divisions in your life. You must have the call of God. Then there will be a preparation period.

If you pass that preparation period, there will come a time when God will choose you and put you into a ministry. But for that ministry to flourish and bear great fruit, you must be found faithful in serving God in His church.

Crossing the Two-Year Mark

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This week, I’ve crossed the two-year mark in being with  my present organisation.

Though two years doesn’t seem long, but it does feel very long.

Since my first day, I have been through many turbulent phases with the organisation.

Presently, I am relieved and thankful that we have turned the corner and are climbing to prominence.

The turn around truly taught me what a difference a committed and competent leader can do for an organisation. And the reverse being also true with an undedicated and incompetent leader.

Connecting the dots

It has been a very fruitful two years. God has used this particular environment to stretch my vision from a “B2C” to a “B2B” mindset.

Being thickly involved and in tune with the business community has also enriched my perspective in what God is doing in the marketplace and enhanced my business acumen (c.f. Matthew 10:16)

From the social service sector, then to an e-commerce set up and now in this business federation, each working environment has provided me with unqiue experiences, aquired knowledge and honed my skills.

Upon analysing, I do see a pattern or the dots that are connecting each one of these phases of my work life towards my vision.

Being where God wants me to be

Though from a worldly standpoint, I can honestly admit that my resume or portfolio may not be classed with the “elites” in Singapore, but I know I am where God wants me to be and that’s my definition of success.

I think being given a vision beyond what I can see has helped me see my life in His perspective in the light of His plans for me. And knowing God gives me the confidence to face my tomorrows.

At where I am now, I am more excited than I ever was about the future ahead with Him, even in this downturn.

Moving forward, my prayer would be for me to learn patience and stillness in waiting upon God even more; that I may be faithful in all I do and also rely fully on Him. Amen.   

My God Sees Me Up

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I believe many can identify with me when I say that I often question God on “why my life so difficult?”

When I compared myself with my peers, it seemed as their lives were far more rosier or blessed.

Mine seemed to be constantly peppered with obstacles after obstacles. Negative thoughts were not uncommon too.

Why bad things always happen to me only?

Why can’t I have a stable relationship?

How come my family must be in this divorced state?

Why wasn’t I born in a rich family?

When and why can’t I have a stable career and earn more money like others?

But all these negativity have gradually become a thing of the past as I grew to embrace my identity and found my security in Him.

God loves me and believes in me

Recently,  in a light-hearted small-talk session with the Holy Spirit, the same question about “why my life is so difficult?” popped up again.

This time, I got a reply.

“God sees you up.” (Woooowwww…)

In other words, He believes I can make it to where He wants me to be simply with me fully relying on Him.

Any ‘special favours’ apart from God’s favour would have or could robbed God of His glory in my successes.

Yeah… God, let your love and power shine through me! Amen!

Growing Irreligiously

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It’s been almost three months since my move of church.

I must admit that there had been ‘wobbling’ experiences as I detached myself from the ‘comfortable environment’ and ‘safety structures’ of my previous home church.

Spreading out

But like how it is necessary for a butterfly to break out from its cocoon state in strengthening its wings for flight, that is how I would describe this phase.

God-incidentally, that was the prophetic vision He gave to me amid my decison-making.

I know He is preparing me for the challenges that lies ahead. And I need to be close to Him; plugged in with Him to flow with His plans.

In a relationship, not religion

Launching out from where I was has taken my faith in God to another level of trust and reliance in Him towards His will for me.

This transitional phase has somewhat strengthened my relationship with God. I am more secured in who I am as His child based on my relationship with Him and not only because of my involvement in ‘spiritual’ or church-related activities.

“We live by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

This new ground with its uncertainties that He has led me has activated my faith even more where I can further exercise my faith in leaning on His principles, not methods; led by His Spirit, not routines.

The Amazing Love of God (上帝)

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During last weekend’s Chinese New Year church service, we were introduced to the origins of ancient Chinese characters.

Interestingly, Chinese characters have been around for more than 4,500 years and are made up of picture symbols called radicals.

When examined, the different combinations of the radicals point to biblical truths, and suggest the ancient Chinese ‘Shang Di’ (上帝), who was referred to as the Ruler above all, was the same God (Yahweh) worshipped by the people of Israel.

Find out more on Chinese characters- God’s language here>>>

上帝’s love has no boundaries

With Christianity commonly regarded as a western religion in Asia, tracing back this roots of Chinese actually debunks this notion. And I believe this notion is particularly adopted by our elders or baby boomers.

Personally, I am really bowled over by the amazing love of 上帝. I was reminded about His common grace for mankind and was moved for His pursuing love for me.

No one loves me like He does. Even when I did not acknowledge Him as my God during my pre-believing days, He never stopped loving me.

Just like how He left His imprints of His unwavering love through the timeless Chinese characters to reach out to us, He also did the same to me with the various events that had happened in my life.

I love you 上帝.