etc etc etc

Distractions, BEGONE in JESUS MIGHTY NAME

2011-02-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful for I begin to see the dimensions the way Daniel or Ezekiel see things. The understanding is not enough, but in order to get to the point of realization understanding is essential as a process of 'cooking' and so I digest by realizing.

I was so hungry for the reality of God that I read the entire book of Daniel to get the context of the message God was putting into my Spirit. He also lead me to read Modecai as a prominent man in the Babylonian kingdom.

As it says in 2 Timothy 2:

3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.

Distractions are just a tiny discomfort; a splinter or a mosquito that'll divert our attention from our focus in achieving our goals and destiny in life. Perhaps these detours will take us somewhere, within the understanding of humanity, a legitimate reason to have or to pursue...1 can live under the common grace and the sun still shines, the rain still pour, the waves still beats the shore.......but for 1 to be accurate and sensitive to the Spirit's prompting he or she cannot give in to the flesh and please the nature of Adam but to be transformed in the renewing of the mind in Christ.

Jesus ate with republicans and was found with other 'not so holy' people in the market place, but he did not associate himself with them. It is the sick who needs the doctors. If we who are called to be disciples of Christ do not come in contact with these 'lost' souls, how are they gonna know salvation? Live as though your conscience are clear with God and men.

As for now, the life of the apostles are the only examples we can imitate in living fully for God. Always giving our lives fully in the work of the Lord for we know our labor in the Lord is not in vain. Work out our salvation in trembling and fear, live as it is the last day of our lives. Live by faith and not by sight.

2010-05-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

Many say life starts at 30. I agree, as I look back at the years spent in youth was to lay the foundations for what lies ahead. If the foundations were flimsy and not rooted on unshakeable grounds, the chances are that my future would be gloomy. But praise be to God, my foundation is nothing else but Christ, the Rock of all ages. Even if those years in youth were spent in pleasure and odd jobs and much exploration, I believe they're but parts of the bigger picture and ingredients for God's plan in my life.

Looking back to evaluate how I spent my life without Christ were also part of God's plan. If I did not walk that path, I would not have known much about the dark side and the way the prince of this world operates in the spiritual realm. Thanks be to God, by grace through faith Christ made known Himself to me, I am able to discern now. There was no one who can save me, not myself, not my intelligence, not my qualifications, no not even the wealth of the world, but only someone so big that is in control of every situation, someone who is able to rebuke the storm, someone who is tempted in every way yet was without sin, someone who did not despise the adulterous women, someone who welcomed a convict into paradise. That someone is not just anyone. He is really someone. My Jesus, who keeps saving me even now and until the day I die.

To acknowledge a Supreme Being above me, life is more simple and less complicated. When I believe someone created me, I fell more secure when I know I can rely on someone who knows me better than myself, who knows the universe at His fingertips. The best part is, when I pray to Him, he answers my prayer. That marks the difference between religion and a relationship with God. Many wonder how can man have a relationship with God? People just can't comprehend the simplicity of Jesus dying on the cross to reconnect man with God. This is true because as I read a part of the Bible that says something like this: The prince of this world (aka Satan) has blinded them from this truth.

Many of my peers are starting to have their own family, some have successful story to tell, some have businesses that can last for a few generations, some have been to most part of the world and many more. When I look at myself, there was nothing much. Not much achievements, not much gains. But thankfully, I have a certain bright future ahead of me. Heaven. No eyes have seen, no ears have heard. I heard that heaven is far beyond the best things this world has to offer. Multibillionaire? mulitply by infinity, that's heaven. Driving a Ferrari? multiply by infinity, that's heaven. Holiday in Mauritius? multiply by infinity, that's heaven. The joy of having a baby? multiply by infinity, that's heaven.

I heard that Heaven is so true that God would grieve so badly if we end up in hell. Not that he created hell, but His absence is hell. I find this true every Sunday when Christians congregate to worship God, and the presence of God drives out everything negative...sickness, depression, worry, fear,..etc.

So I question myself.......

2010-03-13T02:29:00.000-08:00

All the time, generally about life and the question that arises along the way. What is right and what is wrong. Surely there is a distinct of both but how do we differ when it comes to devotion. How to measure devotion? Can intimacy be measured? Can we evaluate relationship?

The more I think about it, the more a complex person i become. I am adaptive in much situation and circumstances and behaviour and have acquired the skill of a shapechanger or a pretender. Maybe to some I have become a threat, but I am just being myself. Should I take side?

I should choose to live a genuine life. I don't live a lie. I just want to be myself, the way I was created to be. But all the more to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. This I always remind myself. That Jesus (Yes, all the Glory to God the Father and my Lord Christ Jesus) would be the focus and my example as fully God, fully Man.

The tendency of idolatry is bound to happen each time should I choose to turn my attention to the created rather than the Creator. Pride subtly creeps in without notice and soon come into realization when I take glory for the accomplishment. May I be reminded always that I must give an account of my earthly life when I return to the Lord someday.

Recently, the blessings of the Lord is showered upon me and keep on showering on me because I believe that if Jabez's prayer was answered God would answer my prayer too. The desperate cry of Jabez showed me that someone unsignificant like him can be blessed proves that God doesn't show favoritism. He indeed bless me; 1st of all to set things right and setting me on the right track again. I worship the Blesser, not the blessing. When I worship the Blesser, He gets the glory. If I worship the blessing, I have committed idolatry. So I must ask for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in discerning what it meant to be enjoying the blessing and not worshipping the blessing. Holy Spirit help me.

A new job, a new lifestlye, and a new purpose. But same Gospel, same family, same set of tools, gifts and talent.(There could be an addition, at the discretion of the Almighty if He finds me faithful for the good and faithful servant will be given more.....and more will be expected of him too) Yet U choose for me, and I shall not be in want Lord. I shall not be in want.

Yesterday, the Lord reminded me at a flash of mind that obedience is better than sacrifice. Just got me thinking that we are so forgetful as humans. So what are the important things that I should remember? and so I question myself.......

2010-03-07T03:16:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I shared in CG that though I went out dinner with some good looking colleagues of mine, I would not decide on choosing a life partner hastily. She has to be a virtuous woman like the one described in Proverbs 31.

The Virtuous Wife

10 Who[b] can find a virtuous[c] wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.

15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.

20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.

25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

2010-02-18T06:44:00.000-08:00

Am I being cruel? I sometimes think that if I don't be cruel people don't learn from their mistakes and chances are that people also take for granted things that are easily possessed. Being as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove really keeps my soul from trouble and harm.

Yet, Christ has called me to love my neighbour as myself but the 1st commandment is to love the Lord with all my heart,soul, mind and might. So I shall always remember to please the Lord 1st and not seek to please men for I've been trained not to be a 'men-pleaser'. If I choose to please men and in spite of their self-indulging, self-pleasing, self-seeking attitude, they will never learn what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

No excuse for young believers, for I was taught and trained, chastised and spurred the way that I'm treating other young believers. I hope they learn quick and not to quench the Holy Spirit. They have to understand what it means to be God-pleasers, to depart from evil and to fear God.

Am I really facing midlife crisis?

2010-02-03T00:39:00.000-08:00

I don't agree with others who are trying to bombard me with the kinda thinking and mentality they own especially my dad who brags about himself of being a dad at the age of 21. But I am not happy with myself either with the current issues that are loitering in my mind and my life, and I can't always keep a positive attitude coz somehow the devil will try its way to sneak in and place some depressions. I'm just wondering if there is someone out there who I can really trust and rely in times like this, and true enough, not 1 single dog can stay by my side when I'm in deep dog shit. No, not even 1/2.

Perhaps this is what I call 'human with animal instincts'. The words in Proverbs are so true when it says you will have friends around you when you're well to do. And those who stick around you even when life is tough are the true ones you cherish in life. Not even your closest relatives deserves that kinda recognition. No, not even 1/2.

But the more I seek for someone who is out there, the more i realise that the person was all the while inside of me. How can I be so forgetful and ignorant of His presence when He is more than all the rest of 'them'. I'm referring to the 3rd person of the Triune God that I know; God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is found in each true believers.

After reading about Joseph's story all over again, I must keep reminding myself that this is just for temporary time being until the full restoration is installed. Joseph had to be sold by his blood brothers to a foreign land because of jealousy and envy, and he was also framed by his employer's(Potiphar) wife that he committed adultery with her. After doing a favor for one of Pharoah's official he was forgotten for his kindness and remain in prison for the next 2 years. But little did he know that all this had to come to pass before God restored him to what was promised in a dream, and ultimately become the prime minister of Egypt.

So, who cares what people say about me? As long as my conscience is clear before God and men, I am not living a life of hypocrisy nor aimlessly. The day of restoration has begun and it will be fulfilled by the grace of God and for the glory of the Almigthy One.

Goodbye PGC, PYP, AMP.

2009-10-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

Thanx guys for the Saturday cave excursion. (AMP)
Thanx guys for the Saturday farewell late lunch. (AMP)
Thanx guys for the Saturday farewell steamboat dinner. (AMP)

Thanx to my true brothers, who chat with my dad on Sunday morning. (PGC)
(You know who you are)
Thanx to all His little sheeps for the Sunday farewell lunch @ Gobi. (PYP)
Thanx to a brother and sisters, for your company at the cinema. (PYP)
Thanx for having dinner with me, both of you. (PYP)

The signs were clear for me to move on.
My particulars are not found in the directory (red booklet handed out during family camp).
I no longer can log into the church website (with my log in n password).

Glory to Jesus

2009-10-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday I had to work late to hurry a church building expansion project in Setapak and I told 2 brothers that I couldn't make it for cell group that night, so I just text them my prayer item that I'd like to bring my family that had just flown back from Guangzhou for just 10 days.

When I got back I popped the question to my dad, "Dad, wanna visit church on Sunday? He just asked me what time until what time and I said 9 - 11/1130? He was quite reluctant at 1st coz he planned to go to my 4th aunt's place in section 2 of Wangsa Maju. But then my young stepmom said, "Since we are going to church better stay until the last session. I, of course am more than glad that they would but my dad was showing face already. I still give thanks to God for the opened door....

On Thursday bible study and prayer meeting again I present my request and petition to God and my intentions that this opportunity to sow the seed into the hearts of my 'new' family from Guangzhou would not be missed. Coz I remember this verse:-

Ephesians 6:18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

When I got back from work on Friday night, dad just uttered in an authoritative voice saying, " I won't go if there's no transport." lol...At the back of my head, transport has never been a matter at all in my vocabulary. Yet I still didn't wanna take things for granted and kept praying that Jesus would continue to open the way.

After Saturday's excursion to Gua Tempurung, me and a bunch of young working adults went out for steamboat dinner and before leaving I told them that my family would come to church. The idea was to let them know so they can pray with me too. A brother who is also my introduction to Christianity class teacher agreed to fetch me coz the other brother's car was already full with my dad, mom and grandma and little sis.

So finally my family made it on Sunday morning! lol....Satan and 1/3 of the fallen angels defeated again!!! This is another testimony that the most powerful weapon ever made known to mankind particularly Christians is PRAYER!! Nothing by human effort, no need to cheat or scheme or con our friends or relatives to church, but just by praying and all will fall in place.

Of course this is not the end but only the beginning coz the seed is sowed. Hopefully and prayerfully someone else will continue to water the seed in China but ULTIMATELY GOD makes it grow. I've done my part, my brothers and sisters had done their part.

Luke 10
Jesus Sends Out the Seventytwo
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

Legions of angels encamping around us!

2009-10-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.

17 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.

19 But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!

This is another recent testimony of God's faithfulness. Last Sunday as I was on my way to meet my family for dinner I dropped my wallet in a cab I took from Leisure Mall. I only realised it went missing when I wanted to get myself a top up coupon in a nearby 7 11 at Taman Connaught. It wasn't so much of the cash inside my wallet but my I.D. and License which is very troublesome for me to make a police report, then to the IC office and getting a new license from JPJ...imagine the hassle. Well at 1st I thought God was trying to teach me a lesson or something, but then I just let this burden away from me and cast it to the Lord. I just didn't want this incident to affect my dinner with loved ones. Later that night I called a sister complaining to her of the 'mafan'ness of getting a new IC and I just hoped that the cab driver would call my boss coz I had a few of his name cards in my wallet or if he would really be kind enough to drop my wallet in my mail box.

So the next morning I just carried on with work and as my boss and I arrived at GEPC I went down to the sundry shop to grab a quick breakfast (bread and water). When I got back in the van, he was talking on the phone and I thought he was on the line with the client but it turn out to be the cab driver and he said he will drive over from 9th mile, Cheras. Immediately I lifted up my hands and sung Agnus Dei. LOL...The Psalm above was actually the passage for consideration that morning and the verse that illuminated to me was the last verse;Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Faithful and True

2009-09-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

A few years back as we (Jason, Ernest, Dillon and I) were busy serving the Lord, we didn't have time to stop for dinner. So when we stopped by at my place, my neighbour Mrs. Phua gave us nasi kunyit and some curry chicken. Though it seems little to us, we ate and had our fill and ready again to serve again. This reminds me of Elijah:

The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

When I got back from hanging out with Weng Cheong, Jen Ruw and Loong and as I got down from the car I can smell an aroma like that of a fried chicken. My stomach made some noise but I just took a sigh. As I was browsing my phone on the called number list, I heard my neighbour calling for me. This time Mrs. Phua gave me a plate of 'tong yuen' and a cup of pure orange juice.

Jesus proved himself faithful again when He told me through Matthew 6:33.

Thanksgiving Blog

2009-08-31T02:03:00.000-07:00

I will be dedicating another blog just to testify the goodness of the Lord and the continuous miracles that are still happening in my life whether they are big miracles or small miracles.
I will be tagging it on the side of the blog by the name: TESTIFY

All the glory to Jesus. oOH Yeah Halleluyah.

2009-08-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

wow. it's been a while since my last time posting for this blog. I've deleted some of my postings coz i found them not relevant anymore and probably I was too depressed over some stuffs. But I thank God for deliverance. He got me out of the black pit and there was no way I can get out without grace. Again Jesus....my Saviour...oH Glory always to Jesus....I must always remind myself that I am Greatly Blessed, Highly Favoured, Deeply Loved.

Just recently I went to visit my brother in Singapore with my dad, my stepmom and my 5 month old stepsister. It was quite a hurry for us to be travelling in only 2 days, Saturday and Sunday. So i make it a point not to miss Sunday Worship since I'm now back in the circle of grace. And since I'm in Singapore, I'd better take the opportunity to visit New Creation Church and find out for myself what it was like to be there in person. I only know of NCC through Joseph Prince's preaching, and their website and the youtube messages. Listening and watching alone have already stirred my spirit, what more to experience for myself Live!

I must confess that I was not expecting to see Pastor Prince coz he's always busy for God. From what I heard through a Chritian brother, it was quite hard to get a seat in the morning and the last time he visited he had to queue from 5 am in the morning just to get a pass to enter. And he didn't get to see Pastor Prince in person. But when I got there, things seem to work totally opposite for me. I waited for bus 70 and it turn out that effective from 23rd August the bus would skip the stand where I was waiting so I took a cab. I told the cab driver Suntec City Tower 3 which I was only guessing the no 3 Temasek stands for tower 3 i think. When I got there, I saw carrefour which I remembered it was stated in the website that it's on level 3. So I got up and there were not many people there, and the time was around 815. So I approached an usher, Mimi and she kindly registered me with the form and the rest was taken over by Joanne. The only tiny hiccup was that the security officers needed to search my backpack after the recent happening in Jakarta. Other than that, it went fine all the way.

I was lead to my seat for newcomers almost in the middle row and far left column near the exit which is in front of the lounge. Not long after i sat for a while, 3 more came towards the row which I sat and I made a new friend. Ronnie is a local and we went to the cafe downstairs to grab a drink. We talked as if we knew each other before and we shared a lot about our walk of Christianity. To our surprise he just visited KL recently and he was at USJ which I told him that I'm attending Full Gospel Tabernacle in the same area. As I claimed that there were nothing call coincidence, we discovered that we are peers.

As people started to flood the Rock Auditorium, worship started thunderously with musicians playing skillfully and singers singing like artist. I would say it felt like Hillsong and as if Jesus was decending to us. The presence of the Holy One was felt as we worshiped in spirit and in truth and in tongues like the day of the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit decended upon the 1st generation Christian after Christ ascension. The climax was 'Let all that is within me, bless your Holy name' and that was the moment tears broke out from within grieving for deliverance from captivity. After a while I realise I was singing in tongues and the peace in me increases to the level of overflowing and I stopped crying after that. I never felt this when I used to sing it in my former church. It was really an unforgetable worship moment.

I was so surprised to see Pastor Prince on stage when they announced their senior pastor. The only time I got to see him was through Youtube. Even then I was already energized after hearing the way he thought and expound the Word of God. Seeing him in person really ignited the flame in my heart of wanting to hear from God even more. The entire duration of the message really nourished my soul and set my heart on fire again for the Lord. I want to thank God for everyone in NCC and Pastor Joseph Prince for the strong encouragement.

Happy Birthday etc etc etc

2009-03-24T00:19:00.000-07:00

Good day to 1 & all. This is the officiating post for the birth of my 2nd blog. Well, the bio-activity happened during the housekeeping of my BL@CK blog which is suppose to be a gospel blogging project. I realised there was a need to put everything in place & order, organized a bit so here it is. etc etc etc; everything else about blackbeeri.

etc etc etc was on the sidebar of BL@CK, but recently there was so much to share and a sudden burst of ideas which are flowing from 'dunno' where.. and this is another avenue that I can share my experiences with my new Nokia N85 and a little touch of secularism. Not meant to boast, but to exhibit the other facades of my life which consist of my human nature. BTW, Christ was God in human form too so I should not hide what is factual and real to the eye.

As expected, I've not been getting enough criticism from my BL@CK blog so i hope the comments flood in from generous readers and critics, yes? Be my guest and be free, to do whatever within your freewill.