Recently, as I look to God as the source, I also dwell more and more in the truth that he is the Center of it all. I've been hearing testimonies of how God works in the life of those around me, and I'm real encouraged by it. It shows how God truly is the provider, and that he is Sovereign, and how Jesus leads us as we go through life.
Today's great :) And I just spent time with God. As I was praying, he revealed to me how much he has been moving, not just in the lives of my friends and LG, but even very recently in my life and the life of my family. He also answered me on the spot, about a dilemma I was facing when I committed it to him in prayer!
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My dilemma was whether or not to extend my Surgery MC when I go for my surgery follow-up appointment tomorrow. It was a dilemma for me because my nose might be infected, as it still bleed sometimes and I'm smelling this nauseating smell 24/7 all the time. Furthermore, due to my rib, I still can't exercise. However, if I wanted to I can walk about and do light duties in camp. I want to go back to camp so that I can fellowship with the new section mate Elisha more, and also continue to work with and love the rest of my section, so that they may come to know God in the future(Some of my section mates are willing to visit my Church soon). Then as I was praying and presenting this dilemma to God, at that very moment, the lyrics from Planetshakers - I'm Forever Yours spoke to me:
I give my all to you
Send me and i will go for you
To the ends of the earth
I'll follow after you
I want the world to know
Your love endures forever
Tell me and i'll obey
This is far greater than sacrifice
Trusting you and not myself
Will always lead to blessing
Lord have your way in me
Not my will, yours be done
Here i stand within your presence
Longing for your touch
A thousand days cannot compare
To one day in your courts
God answered me, that I want the world to know his love. That trusting him to lead me will always lead to blessing, not my will but his be done. And that I long for his presence more than anything, and his presence is not when I stay at home all day, or in Church all day, or at work all day, but wherever he leads me. And so, if the doctor doesn't give me MC, I won't ask for it even though I can. And if the doctor thinks I need MC, I will tell the doctor not to give me a long rest as I want to go back by next week. God's will be done.
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Today I'm meeting my sheep Ben. And our appointed time was shifted earlier to 6.30 as we are watching Spiderman 2 at 8.15. I was about to be quite late, but it just so happened that my dad is coming home to bring my bro for shopping near town. I hitched the ride and was able to get there a bit later than 6.30, which gave Ben sufficient time to buy a new Journal before we meet.
I passed Ben the book called The Grand Weaver as it speaks about how God weaves all the events that happen in our lives, and even disappointments and pains we face. Ben was notified to be Pes F and is excused from NS. He wants to stay on in the NS Ministry to serve and grow in character even when he moves on to Uni this year; but he wants God's will to be done. I felt that this book would speak to him more and unveiled God's direction for him.
We ate at Ichiban Sushi, and I was worried about my budget. This was because I took a step of faith to give a month worth of my NS pay for the Church Hope Center Building Project for the youths in Kampong Glam. I was left with about $25 in bank LOL. But even in this area of finances, I can see God's fingerprints in it and will share more later in this post.
I also shared with Ben about how God is the Center of it All, and the HS empowered and guided me in speech and in phrasing to share more effectively than I could imagine, and I shared it real quickly! It was the first time I gave a sharing so detailed yet so quickly (30-40 minutes whilst munching on dinner).
Then came the movie. I was reluctant to watch at first as it would be my 2nd time watching. However God prompted me to just go ahead even when I did not have much $$$ and just join in to fellowship with my LG. This was mainly because Tjun Sern my sheep was coming, he rarely gets to join for service/LG due to NS and commitments. When I watch it again, I didn't regret it :) Especially because of the graduation speech Gwen made, which reminded me of Hope (Our Church, and how we are a city on a hill, the light of the world, and that God is our Hope). Check the speech out below. And I also thank God that after the movie, Tjun Sern says he could make time for service this weekend.
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Ok so now to the area of my finances, when I gave my NS pay as an offering, I didn't give it simply with the faith that God will bless me more beyond what I would expect. But I gave because I wanted to partake in the joy of giving to God's Kingdom, just as Jesus delights in his bride (The Church). Also as how the Macedonian Churches delighted in giving even in poverty:
"And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people." -2 Corinthians 8:1-4
Then I remember that among those who watched the movie today, each person owe me $5 or more, so I could cover for my dinner and movie and had spare. I also got the good news today, that I'll be refunded $45 for my Conference registration, as I accidentally paid for working adult fee when I registered a few months ago. Furthermore, I've been praying for my mum's business daily that God would pour in financial providence as she was really in a pinch; the business required lots of funding to start up and further develop on. And today, she just received the news of receiving government funding, and its just in time, so that she could pay for her employees, further fund projects and pay for my brother's air ticket as he is flying off this Saturday. I trust that God will continue to be my unlimited source, and that I will never go completely bankrupt. Jesus said not to worry as God will provide it all as I seek him first, his Kingdom and his righteousness, amen.
Also, I thank God for arranging for me to send off my LG year 1s to Tekong. Through it, I got to participate in Project Hard to ❤ talk and was blessed. And also through it, further discuss and plan for an upcoming NS ministry event that cannot be disclose here yet :P
Lastly, my mother agreed to join me for Mother's Day Service this weekend. And I thank God for how he weaved everything together even in this. It just so happened that my brother's flight time was 8pm on Saturday. So I could go for SEAL training till 4pm, and then send my brother off with my family. And even though I'll miss the usual 2nd service, I get to go for service on Sunday with my mum. What a blessing! God you really are watching over my whole family :)
So, brothers and sisters, God is indeed the Grand Weaver. You may not see his fingerprints clearly, but he is doing a work even in the small events of our daily life. And it will be revealed to us more clearly if we pray and continually look to him!
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Lastly, there's been this news about how a 1500 year old "Bible" was found, and there's the gospel of Barnabas that claims Jesus was never crucified and that the Apostle Paul is an impostor. I have no idea how this book came about. But I'm certain that Jesus is my Savior and Lord. He is the way, the truth and the life! Why? Because God's love, grace, providence, wisdom, guidance, joy has been so abundant in my life, and I have this intimate relationship with Jesus and talk to him daily. Furthermore, the old testament always points towards Jesus as the Messiah and God. David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and many others saw Jesus or received visions of who Jesus was, is and will be. Today as I read Psalms 1&2. Psalms 2 really drove this point home:
Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
“Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,“I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
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