Be With You in 2012

Be With You

Savior of my soul
I confide in you
Through all my darkest moment
In you I find my peace
My comfort when I'm weak
I trust in You, through storm and raging sea

Faithful, You're my God
You're the Glory and the Lifter of my head
Your light it fills my days
It leads me in Your ways
Forever I surrender all to You

Chorus
And I live to worship You
My Jesus You're the only one for me
Nothing will ever take Your place
My precious Savior
Who can stand between my Lord and me

Lord I live to honor You
And I long to bring my life an offering
Take me higher
Draw me deeper
I give all to be with You

[Translated from "Selalu Menyembahmu" by Sendy Stepvina]

One-Third in World are Christians

A major study (Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life) released on Monday puts the total number of Christians worldwide at 2.18 billion, or 31.7% - nearly a third of the estimated global populaton of 6.9 billions while Muslim comprise the second largest group, with about 1.6 billion people.
I wander how many of those 2.18 billion are truely followers of Christ - or are they just Sunday Christians.

According to Wikipedia - A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament.

The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to describe anything associated with Christianity, or in a proverbial sense "all that is noble, and good, and Christ-like."It is also used as a label to identify people who associate with the cultural aspects of Christianity, irrespective of personal religious beliefs or practices.

Christians must examine themselves regularly to see whether they are living as Christians (II Corintians 13:5, I Corintians 9:27).

The Bible describes a Christian as one who is a new creation, having put to death the former sinful self (II Corintians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:6). Because of our love for and responsibility to God, we strive to follow the New Testament pattern for Christian living.
However, because we all sin, we never reach the perfection for which we strive (Romans 3:23, I John 1:8). If we will follow in Jesus' footsteps, His blood will continue to cleanse us of sins (I John 1:7, II Corintians 5:7).
Nevertheless, we are not saved because of any of these works of righteousness of ours, but through the grace of God (Acts 15:11, Titus 3:5).
Let us continue to please God and "walk worthy of the Lord" (Colossion 1:10).

Let us be Christians that are known for our righteousness, faithfulness, love, service, example, and self-control.

Only as Christians who are striving to serve and please God according to His will can we know and feel "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).

E.N.D.

Emotional Neglect and Depression appear to be the biggest problems among Malaysian children, if calls to the country's first 24-hour helpline for children, 15999 Childline are anything to go by. Forty percent of the children calling the helpline had symptoms of psychosocial and mental health problems. Of the 5,127 calls that Childline received since its launch on November 20 last year, 2,044 were from children who were bored, lonely, stressed or depressed, with some even having suicidal tendencies. Some were as young as 4 - most were latchkey kids.

[New Sunday Time 18-Dec-2011]

Children want our time and attention. They want to give and receive affection. They also want to play and eat together as a family, to jump and run, to climb and explore. They want to go to bed each night knowing that they are safe and loved.

The foundation of a child is how we as a parent bring them up physically, spiritually and mentally.

Parents roles are to prepare them to leave us as independent, emotionally resilient beings with a strong moral and social compass. That means being loving and kind while setting clear behavioural boundaries and consequences, positive as well as negative.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. Proverbs 29:17

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Fear of the Lord

One of the best words to describe the fear of the Lord is reverence. Reverence is a response to a revelation of God. When God reveals Himself, I believe the only appropriate response is reverence. And with it goes submissiveness. A submissive attitude towards God is an expression of the fear of the Lord in our lives. - Derek Prince

Some of the benefits of the fear of the Lord in the book of Proverbs :-

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction - Proverbs 1:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil - Proverbs 3:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understandin - Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened - Proverbs 10:27
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge - Proverbs 14:26
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death-Proverbs 14:27
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith - Proverbs 15:16
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility- Proverbs 15:33
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil - Proverbs 16:6
The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil - Proverbs 19:23
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life - Proverbs 22:4

IF WE FEAR AND LOVE GOD, WE WILL OBEY HIM.

Pondering my path....

I was pondering the years that went by when Deuteronomy 8 and Proverbs 4 came to mind.
In Deuteronomy, it reminded us to "remember that the Lord God led you all he way......."[verse 8] and to "beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments" [verse 11]. In the book of Proverbs, we are to be careful and choose our road in life with wisdom.

Two significant events in my life took place this year : my daughter joined NTU, Singapore in early August while my son graduated from Curtin University at the end of the same month.
Praise be to God for His presence in my family life and His promises of the life to come.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:23-27

NEVER LET THE ABUNDANCE OF GOD'S GIFTS CAUSE YOU TO FORGET THE GIVER

You Can't Be A Baby All Your Life

When a man accepts Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour, his eyes are opened to see God. His mind can perceived the Word of God and his will incline to godly life.

This is the beginning of a Christian, birthed into the family of God. He comes in as an infant and don’t even know what to say. All he knows is that he has received Jesus into his heart. Now, he is to grow out of that stage. He is to grow to a child, then to an adult, and become full grown in the Lord Jesus Christ.

God's will for us is to grow up in spiritual maturity; to become like Jesus. "For those whom God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29). He wants us to develop the character of Christ. The big question then, is how do we become mature in Christ? The answer is that we read, believe and obey. It's the application of the Word: become doers of the Word; don't just hear it and deceive yourself (James 1:22). Don't call yourself a Christian and then not practice Christianity.

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." (Ephesians 4:14-15).

The evidence of Christian maturity is not just in what we know, but how our lives and words speak to others. When we allow God complete control in our lives, we become mature in Him.

A mature Christian is one who exercises godly wisdom and does not become disillusioned by the things that people do, but, rather, stays focused on Christ.

Colossians 2:6-8 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

"God is not honored by our arrested development. The New Testament teaches that we should go on to full maturity, that mediocrity is not the highest that Jesus offer!" - A.W. Tower

Why married?

It’s school holidays soon – and we are all going to be swamped with wedding invitations to attend. I attended two wedding dinner within a week, and will be attending another in 3 weeks time. The question that is always ringing in my head is whether the marriage will last, whether there is a matched compatibility, and most importantly whether the flame of love will continue to burn despite the wind?

In today’s society, the focus is not on the longevity of the union, but on lavish gowns, adornments, gifts, gold necklaces, diamond rings and five-star hotel reception.

Marriage is the process by which two people who love each other make their relationship public, official, and permanent. It is the joining of two people in a bond that putatively lasts until death, but in practice is increasingly cut short by divorce. Of course, over the course of a relationship that can last as many as seven or eight decades, a lot happens. Personalities change, bodies age, and romantic love waxes and wanes. And no marriage is free of conflict. What enables a couple to endure is how they handle that conflict. So how do you manage the problems that inevitably arise? And how can you keep the spark alive?

I heard joke about marriage and money, because they say you can’t sustain a marriage if you don’t have enough money. But if you’re a Muslim and you have too much money, you also have the itch to expand your series of women, often resulting in more headaches than happiness.

Real happiness is overcoming our negativity and beginning to count our blessings so we can experience the mysterious beauty of life. It is about learning to surrender, release the need to control and allow our lives to unfold in its own unique and organic way. Happiness is a choice that only we can make.

Hugh Downs once wrote, "A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes".

Essence of happiness is love. You are genuinely kind, generous, open, warm and friendly. In marriage, two unique individuals are bound together in a most intimate and demanding relationship.

Successful marriages are not perfect or made in heaven but rather well managed. Accept the realities of day-to-day life, and work within it. It is important that marriages be sustained and improved upon.

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person” – Mignon McLaughlin.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. - Hebrews 13:4

Honoring our parents

Honoring parents is not the same as loving them, or even the same as obeying them. Some children who obey their parents, who say they love their parents, do not honor them. To honor is to show reverence, respect, and godly fear. Already here it is wonderful to see that the relationship of children to parents is patterned after the relationship of us to our heavenly Father. When we are called to honor God, we reverence, respect, and fear Him. We are not afraid of God, but reverence Him. Likewise, if any children are afraid of their parents, the parents would do well carefully to examine their behavior. Children respect their parents as we respect God.

Honoring parents includes loving them. This ought to be plain to children who know that the fifth commandment is part of the second table of the law. The heart of this second table is to love the neighbor. Since parents are the children's closest neighbor, obedience to the fifth commandment is loving the parents. This is not a natural love - - loving because the parents gave them birth and feed them. This is a spiritual love that comes from a heart that loves God.

Third, honoring parents means submitting to them. This is crucial. It's not enough that the children say, "I know that God put these parents over me; I love them; I honor them; I respect them in my heart." The children must submit to them. Here is where children have a difficult time. Suppose dad must rebuke his son. Son stands with his arms on his side, defiant while dad speaks. Even though son may obey dad, he shows that he is rebelling in his heart. This is not the way we behave towards our Father in heaven. Children who love their parents will submit, with an attitude that shows it.

Fourth, honor includes obedience. If the children honor their parents, they will obey them - - both of them. The 5th commandment says, "Honor thy father and thy mother." Deuteronomy 21 speaks of a son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother. Ephesians 6:1 says, "Children, obey your parents." It used to be that when pastors gave the warning about this part of the commandment that children needed to be exhorted to honor their mother. Nowadays the warning is in order that the children honor their father. From television programs to the Berenstein Bears, father is mocked as a bumbling oaf. But disrespect of father or mother is serious business. If children do not obey both parents, they really honor neither, for the parents are one.

This does not mean that children must always obey their parents. If parents command the children to disobey God, the children must disobey them, using the same reasoning that Peter did with the rulers of Jerusalem who commanded him not to preach about Jesus: "We ought to obey God rather than man" (Acts 5:29). But children still must honor their parents, submitting to them always, just as Peter and the disciples still honored those in authority, submitting to them and not rebelling.

We parents must work our entire life teaching our children to honor us. We do this by being honorable ourselves - - by behaving honorably at home. Mother honors her husband in all things (I Peter 3:1-6). Father loves his wife by caring for her in humility (I Peter 3:7); by honoring those in authority over them, obeying the laws. respecting the president, police, judge, and employer (I Peter 2:13-18).

Why must children honor their parents?

Not simply because God says so. This is part of the reason. God says, "Honor your parents". Children often do not like to hear this, but sometimes this must be the last word: "Obey because God says so." Paul brings this out in Ephesians 6 when one of the reasons given for children to honor their parents is, "For this is right"! Indeed, this is the first reason given, but it is not the only reason.

Nor must they obey this commandment of God because they fear dad's punishment. Chastisement is a deterrent to disobedience, but it certainly is not the reason for obedience. And yet it's not infrequent that this is the reason given by children. Is it fear of punishment that drives us to obey God? God forbid!

Children honor their parents because they are thankful. Children of God honor and obey Him because they are thankful for their salvation. This is the beauty of the Reformed faith! I love God because He first loved me; therefore I honor Him! Children, honor your parents because you are thankful to God for everything He is for you.

Especially, they must honor their parents because their parents are over them in the place of God. The Reformed Heidelberg Catechism says, "since it pleases God to govern us by their hand". Parents are the "hand of God" upon the children.

These reasons show how serious dishonor is. First, dishonor shows that children are not thankful, do not love their parents. This is dreadful! More dreadful is that dishonor shows a failure to love God. For obedience to the second table of the law ("love you neighbor" is evidence of our obedience to the first table ("love God").

May God forgive our children, lest His great judgments come upon them (Deut. 21:18-21). God grant grace to our children to fight against their sinful nature, to love their parents, to love God, "that it may be well with them, and that they may live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6:3), and eternally in heaven. May God grant it. For His glory.

article written by Rev. Barry Gritters

SAD

Almost one-third of 6,540 secondary students surveyed in a mental health study showed a high level of depression, anxiety and stress. The study also showed about 40% of the students interviewed found it difficult to cope with depression, anxiety and stress, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. [The Star 6 Oct 2011].

Acronym of Stress, Anxiety and Depression is S.A.D.


Extracted from Wikipedia :

Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance. It refers to the consequence of the failure of an organism — human or other animal — to respond adequately to mental, emotional, or physical demands, whether actual or imagined.

Anxiety (also called angst or worry) is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components.

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless. They may lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable, experience loss of appetite or overeating, or problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions; and may contemplate or attempt suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains or digestive problems that are resistant to treatment may be present.

Stress is expected in our life and are usually due to academic pressure, peer pressure and family pressure. Likewise, a little anxiety is normal, but constant worry is not. Peter encouraged believers not to be filled with anxiety but to cast all their worries upon God (1 Peter 5:7).
Recognising that the challenges of life can be both overwhelming and suffocating, Jesus urged us to take matters in hand by simplifying. He said "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:34

In our sadness and devasting loss, we have this hope : The Lord Jesus provides joy in the midst of grief. So let us learn to lean and trust God as the Psalmist David recorded in Psalm 62:8 - "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6

Priest, Prophet & King

Father's Day was celebrated on the 4th of September in Perth, Australia. We attended Sunday Worship at Faith Community Church at Winthrop Baptist College, Perth. Pas. Benny Ho, the Senior Pastor, was sharing the role of a father that include :- PRIEST, PROPHET and KING.

The role of a priest as Job carried out in the book of Job 1:5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

A priest to pray and intercede for the family and loved one.

[representing his family to God]

A prophet is to teach and guide as the Lord speaks to the father.

[representing God to his family]

Only when you are a priest and a prophet, then you earn the rights to lead as a king.

[governing his family on behalf of God]

Just like Jesus, playing His role as the High Priest (Hebrew 4:14-16), Prophet (Matthew 13:57) and King (Luke 1:32-33)(Matthew 25:31).

God is good

Just came back from attending my son's convocation in Curtin, Perth, Australia. God is good and is always good to us. As I recall the time my son started his university life in Curtin, Miri campus, I was worried how we are going to provide for him financially.

Well, today he not only finished his degree in Curtin, but he was able to spend his last semester in Perth under a student exchange programme.

God also provided us the opportunity to spend a family holiday in Perth while attending his graduation. The only peoples missing in our group are; my dad [when back home to be with the Lord in November 2009], my daughter [studying in Singapore] and my brother and sister-in-law, work commitment in Singapore.

We were very bless while in Perth as the weather is kind to us when we were out travelling. We met up with good host and managed to cover many interesting places. God is great and most worthy of all praises.

Alone or Loneliness?

Mother Teresa said : "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty".

My daughter, after being away from home for 3 weeks came back to Penang to her familiar surrounding - cozy room, comfy bed, friendly people and delicious food; for 3 days. She was feeling alone in an unfamiliar place where there is no old friends, to shares and laughs.

Loneliness has been termed the most desolate word in the English language. It is no respecter of age, race, economic status, or intelligence. Albert Einstein said, "It is strange to be known so universally, and yet to be so lonely."
What circumstances make you feel helpless or hopeless today? Poor health, broken relationship, a family member in great need? In Jesus Christ, God has pierced the dark winter of our world in a daring rescue through His redeeming love. He is therefore able to reach us and calm our fears in the most desperate circumstances. If you feel unloved, don't run from your pain or try to get love through wrong means. Instead, devote yourself to knowing God and loving Him. Allow Him to meet your deepest needs. Then give Him all the praise !
God made us for intimacy and companionship with others. Even before sin entered the world, He declared that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2 : 18). That's why many people often feel so empty inside.
In such moments, I am thankful to have a heavenly Father who knows what it is to be separated from a beloved Son. I am thankful to have a God who is described as "a father of the fatherless, a defender of widows" (Psalm 68:5).
Those who know Jesus are never alone. THOUGH PEOPLE MAY NOT LOVE YOU. GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.

LONELINESS COMES WHEN WE FORGET ABOUT THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS WITH US.

Discipleship

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

From the above Great Commission, we evangelize unbelievers, and after that, we disciple them to have a desire for holiness like Jesus Christ.

Likewise, with our Christian life. When we were saved [converted from pre-believer to believer], we were like babies. We started growing in our faith by feeding on milk, then soft diet and then solid food. Our spiritual life slowly grow from immature baby to mature adult by having an ongoing dialog with God and a growing knowledge of who God is and who we can be with in time of need. After being matured, we started to disciple other new converts to be disciple of Christ.

Even when our journey in life is marked by confinement and limitations, we can be sure that the Lord will leads other Christians to guides us and encourage us through His Word.

Discipleship is relational and experiential. As such we not only need to communicate with one another, but also live a God glorifying life. We are also to be committed to our call to fulfill the commission to share the gospel to others.

KNOWING ABOUT GOD MAY INTEREST US; BUT KNOWING GOD WILL CHANGE US.

Right Attitude

Author Henri Nouwen, in his book The Return Of The Prodigal Son, suggests that all Christians, at some point in their walk of faith, are represented by each of the three main characters. At times we are the wayward child in need of repentance and forgiveness. At other times we are the big brother who wants to hold on to resentment and withhold forgiveness. But as we mature, we become like the father, whose highest desire is to have all his children reconciled.

The church is also a big family, we should not be split into separate parts as 1 Corinthians 1:10 records "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."

1 Corinthians 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

Paul encouraged the Corinthians in their trials: "Do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

So what's unseen and eternal that we can focus on? The character of God is an excellence place to focus. He is good (Psalm 25:8), He is just (Isaiah 30:18), He is forgiving (1 John 1:9), and He is faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9).

A right attitude with your family begins with a right attitude toward God.

Journey

Live is a journey.   We are just like a pilgrim, travelling on a bus or train.  As we move on, we will come to a cross-section where we need to make a decision - to stop or to move on.  We can make a wrong stop, or turn into a wrong direction, but if we have Jesus with us, He will guide us back into the right path and right direction.

By the end of July, my son Johnathan finishes his university life while my daughter, Audelia begins hers from first of August.  In a few months time, Johnathan would journey on to the next stage - that is working life.

As parents our role is to prepare our children, when they grow up to leave us as independent, emotionally resilient beings with a strong moral and social compass.

Being loving and kind while setting clear behavioral boundaries and consequences, positive and negative.

Proverbs 22:6 "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Faithfulness is God's requirement; fruitfulness is His reward.

Father

Fathers of today is different from the past, which could get away with just being the breadwinner of the family. They are expected to juggle work and home, just like mother. They need to be strong in the office, yet gentle, loving and supportive at home. They must provide encouragement, teach and counsel; to warn and be a model Christian life for their children.

Being a dad means that God has entrusted us with the task of training our children in the way they should go [Proverbs 22:6]. He also asked us to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord without exasperating them. [Ephesians 6:4]

"A dad is Gods love in action, He looks with his heart and feels with his eyes.
A dad is the bank where his children deposit all their worries and hurts.
A dad is the cement that keeps his family together and his love last a lifetime."

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

"To bring up" refers to nourishing children by providing resources for their physical, mental and spiritual needs. "Training" includes concern about all aspects of a child development. And "instruction" speaks of providing direction by well-chosen words uniquely suited to each child.

THE BEST FATHERS NOT ONLY GIVE US LIFE -- THEY TEACH US HOW TO LIVE.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Salvation Belong To The Lord

I am very blessed and honor to be given the privilege to lead my aunt's sister through the sinner prayer just now. I am amazed, and believed that ... grace and truth came through Jesus Christ [John 1:17b].

As usual, I was with a group of church's friends hiking at Youth Park, when my aunt called and told me that her sister would like to invite Jesus to be her personal Saviour. This aunt, aunty Yeoh shared that she saw a vision of two persons carrying a table and a book on it, asking and inviting her whether she would like her name to be written into this Book - she said she told them she was not ready, and they just turned away and took the table and book away and disappeared.
Her niece [a pre-believer], upon hearing her vision, asked her if she would like to be a Christian - and she replied three times 'yes'.
I went to the hospital and share to her that all of us are sinners (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:10). God loved us and sent His Son Jesus to died for us (John 3:16) and He was buried, and He was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4).

By the grace of God, I then lead her through the sinner prayer. Jesus said , “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Revelation 20:15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Salvation belongs to our God,
Who sits upon the throne,
And unto the Lamb:
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks,
Honor and power and strength -
Be to our God, forever and ever, AMEN!
And we, the redeemed, shall be strong,
In purpose and unity;
Declaring aloud:
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks,
Honor and power and strength.

F.A.T.H.E.R. in heaven

Attributes of our Father in heaven :-

F AITHFUL For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. - Psalm 100:5

A WESOME For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. - Psalm 47:2

T RUTHFUL Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. - John 3:33

H OLINESS Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. - Psalm 29:2
E TERNITY Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. - Psalm 93:2

R IGHTEOUSNESS Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. - Psalm 89:14

A GODLY FATHER REFLECTS THE LOVE OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER.

Work-in-progress

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

As we go through our life circumstances, twists and turns, God's grace and mercy will brings us closer to Him and reshape us into more Christlike persons, "conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29)

Have Thine own way, Lord!

Have Thine own way!

Thou art the Potter, I am the clay;

Mould me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still. - Polland

We all face giants in our lives - worry, doubt, fear, sin and guilt. but with limited and unlikely resources and unswerving confidence in our all-powerful God, we too can triumph over them.

"When you fall, don't see the place where you fell, instead see the place from where you slipped. Life is about correcting mistakes."

Christian's life on earth is like God's work-in-progress as written in Ephesians 2:10. It is also about Christ and relationship with Christ.

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'

First commandment is the relationship or communion with God.
God had a relationship with Adam and Eve that was based on loving trust. But when disobedience broke the trusting relationship, God added more rules to protect the wayward couple and their offspring.

In Christ, God proclaimed once more that the good life He wants for us is not about rules but a relationship or communion.

Second commandment : ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
Even as we have tasted the goodness of God, we should share it with our relatives and friends as commanded in Matthew 28 :19-20 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The gospel of Jesus Christ brings the promise of peace and reconciliation with God and with each other.

Comforter or Comfortable

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1 :3-7

Someone has written : "Sorrow can lead us into one of four lands ; the barren land in which we try to escape from it; the broken land in which we sink under it; the bitter land in which we resent it; or the better land in which we bear it and become a blessing to others." To enter that better land, we must stop focusing on our own sorrows but accept God's comfort in them, and reach out to others in need.

The best comforters are those whom God has comforted and who are willing to comfort others -- Henry Bosch

GOD DOESN'T COMFORT US TO MAKE US COMFORTABLE, HE COMFORTS US TO MAKE US COMFORTERS

Trouble

Does it surprise you that trouble is a part of life ?

When troubles come and doubts arise, I often turn to Romans 8. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? asked Paul (verse 35).
It shouldn't surprise us, therefore that God permits the added trials of ridiculed and hated because we follow Christ (1 Peter 4:12)

So why do we need to go through pains or suffering in our walk on this earth ?

As Job wisely assessed God's role in trying circumstances of loss and poor health: "He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" [Job 23:10]

As we go through trials or troubles, God uses these circumstances to bring us to our knees and to Him. By His grace, He continues to use life's twists and turns to mould and reshape our character to be more Christlike, ".... conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). It will also draw us closer to God, as we seek His strength and comfort. Trouble not only helps us experience our dependance on God but also reminded us of our inter-dependance with one another.

Much of life is about "getting through" the trials and troubles that are inevitable in our sinful world. Acts 14:22 recorded Paul and Barnabas strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Real trials in life are not ifs - they are whens. In fact, life's most profound lessons cannot simply be observed, they must be experienced. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. [James 1:2-3]

No one can predict with certainty how stormy our life journey will be. But we do know, though, that everyone will face storms. If you're anchored in Jesus, you have nothing to fear.

TOUGH TIMES CAN TEACH US TO TRUST.

Mission Recce to Betong, Thailand

The Church organised a mission recce to Betong, Thailand from 14 to 16 May 2011. We [Pas. Gideon, Adrian and Joy] started our journey at 1 pm and arrived at Pengkalan Hulu after 2 hours travelling in the rain, before meeting Mr Lo who lead us into Betong town.

Betong is a district of Yala Province, situated in the southernmost province of Thailand in Sankalakhiri mountain range. With an area of 1,328 sq. km, it borders the Malaysian states of Kedah and Perak. Its terrain is mostly mountainous and hilly with forested plateaus. About 1,900 feet above sea level, it is 140km from Yala and 1,224km from the capital city of Bangkok.

Betong, meaning bamboo, is named in the Malay language. It has a population of around 30,000 which can be classified into two major groups Muslims and Chinese, the majority of its people are agriculturists. Climatically speaking, Betong is under the influence of the Southwest and Northwest monsoons. Therefore, there is a lot of rain and the weather is nice and cool with fog in the morning. This is perhaps how it got is name - 'A Town in the Mist with Beautiful Flowers'.

On arrival, we were given a tour by Mr Lo, where we saw the world's largest mailbox which is located at the Clock Tower Intersection in the town center. It was built in 1924 by Mr. Sa-Nguan Jirajinda, the former head of Betong Post and Telegraph Office and the Lord Mayor of Betong. Then we went to the 'hot spring' which is situated at Ban Bo Nam Ron, Tambon Tanah Merah, 5km from Betong town on Highway 410 and another 8km off this highway on an asphalt road. The heat of the spring water can hard-boil an egg in 7 minutes. Both locals and tourist love to bathe in the mineral water which is believed to cure body aches and skin diseases.

The last tourist site is Piyamit Village-Guerrilla Tunnel. The village of Piyamit located on a mountain surrounded by thick forest was first settled by a group of people called the Thailand Joint-developers in 1976. These people used it as an operation base for the Malaya Communist Guerrillas to escape from air attacks and to store provisions. The village houses a tunnel previously used as a headquarters stronghold for the guerrillas. The tunnel, which took 40 - 50 people 3 months to dig, is approximately 1 km long and some 55 feet wide, and has a seating capacity of 200. Only 6 of the original 9 passageways are left to be seen.

On Sunday, we attended a Lahu hilltribes church at Ban Bo Nam Ron area, situated directly opposite the 'hot spring'. The church is lead by a Lahu pastor, Pas. Caleb and attendance for the day were about 60 people. Presently, Pas. Peter, Pas. Jern and Pas. Wichai is assisting in training the members, and evangelism work in Betong town centre.

Presently, only 0.5% of the population are Christians, half of it being Catholic and the remaining charismatic believers. We believe “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" as recorded in the books of Matthew and Luke. Thus, the church will be going back again to follow-up and work together with the Romkloa Church as a partner.

Lahu

Population: approx 73,000, Origin: Yunnan, Myanmar
Also known as Musor, the Lahu are concentrated near the Burmese border and have five sub-groupings: Red Lahu, Yellow Lahu, Black Lahu, White Lahu and Lahu Sheleh. The Black Lahu is the largest sub-grouping, making up close to 80 per cent of the Lahu population. The women wear very distinctive black and red jackets and skirts and the men wear baggy green or blue pants. They have a reputation as excellent hunters, and survive off vegetable cultivation, with some supplementing this meagre income with opium production.

Lahu women are skilled in weaving cloth both on back strap and foot treadle looms. Lahu weaving is unique in that the pattern appears on only one side of the cloth. Lahu women also produce delicate and colourful patchwork trims. Lahu men make baskets, crossbows and musical instruments.

M.O.T.H.E.R.

M-O-T-H-E-R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.

- Howard Johnson

A good mother loves her family and provides an atmosphere where each member can find acceptance, security, and understanding. She is there when the children need a listening ear, a comforting word, a warm hug, or a loving touch on a fevered brow. - Richard De Haan

GODLY MOTHERS NOT ONLY BRING YOU UP, THEY BRING YOU TO GOD

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOTHERS NOT ONLY ON THIS SPECIAL DAY BUT ALSO ON EVERYDAY OF THEIR LIFE.

Choice

Choice consists of the mental process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them. [Wikipedia]

Choice is always a good thing. And what's even greater than choice is clarity of choice - Annoymous

Every choice we make creates a ripple effect on our lives as well as on the lives of others. The choices we have made throughout life determine where we are and what we are becoming. Paul captured the same idea in the universal law of sowing and reaping. He said, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Galatians 6:7. Our choices often have a reach and impact that we could never imagine. Thus the apostle's words remind us to choose wisely - choices that emanate from a heart fully committed to Jesus. He stated that :- "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ," Phillippians 1:9-10

When choosing between options one must make judgments about the quality of each option's attributes.

MAKE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE AND WATCH THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF BLESSING.

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15

Be ye holy....

Lazy people pursuit pleasure without responsibility. As such few people today seem the least bit concerned that before their actual holy matrimony, have been living together off and on since their courting days.
We must therefore always try to take step to set ourself apart from the world as Romans 12:1-2 said.. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Given a choice, many of us are a little afraid of spiritual checkups. After all, if we check our spirit too closely, we might have to change a habit or two.
Proverbs 4:20-27 reminds us of the areas that we need to examine :-

Ears [v20] - Are we hearing God's Word clearly and with understanding? Are we doing what those words tell us?

Eyes [vv21,25] - Are we keeping our eyes on the teaching that will guide us toward righteousness?

Heart [v23] - Are we protecting our heart from evil?

Tongue [v24] - Is our mouth clean and pure?

Feet [v26] - Are we walking straight toward God's truth without wavering?

[Extract from Our Daily Bread]

Colossians 3:2 reminded us "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

1 Peter 2:9 said "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

Greatest privilege

The greatest privilege of our Christian life is to live in the center of God's Will.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Whatever and however man does, God's plan is never crippled or stopped because God is sovereign - He overrules and He reigns.

An adaptable or flexible spirit is essential to fulfill the will of God. - Watchman Nee

CONTENTMENT COMES WHEN WE WANT GOD'S WILL MORE THAN OUR OWN WAY.

Let Him Have His Way with Thee
Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.
Refrain:
His pow’r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.
Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Sources:The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/h/i/hiswaywt.htm)

"Li Zai Nyia Lang Eh Sim"

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

祢知道人的心

You know men's heart

Li zai nyia lang eh sim

祢知是假是真

You know if it's genuine or fake

Li zai shi kae shi chin

来到祢面前不必做戏

It's needless to act before you

Lai kao Li bin cheng mian choe hee

来到祢面前做回自己

I can only be myself before you

Lai kao Li bin cheng choe th’ng ka kee

给我心会清洁 灵也正直

Give me a pure heart, a right spirit

Hor gua sim eh cheng khee ling eh chia tit

外面和里面 全会真实

Outward and inwardly, to be true

Gua kao ka lai bin long eh chea sit

做每个事情 真是为祢

To do everything, as unto You

Choe mui eh tai chi chin sit ooi Li

不是为别人 为自己

Not unto others, nor myself

Ng shi ooi pak lang ooi ka kee

真是为着叫祢叫祢欢喜

It's only unto You, to please You

Chin shi ooi tiok kheo Li kheo Li hua hee

别人看不到的

What escapes the sight of men

Pak lang khua beh tiok eh

祢全知道

Are all in Your knowledge

Li long zai nyia

骗得过别人

I can deceive the world

Pian eh kueh pak lang

也骗得过自己

As well as myself

Ye pian eh kueh ka kee

我骗不过祢

I cannot hide it from You

Wo pian beh kueh Li [A song by Pas. Lim Gee Tiong]

1 Chronicles 28:9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

This is true whether the heart is pure or if it is a corrupt heart robed in false claims of innocence. We may fool others who see us only on the outside, but God sees the reality of our hearts - whether good or bad.

It is wise, therefore, to humbly confess our faults to the Lord. He desires that we admit the truth (Psalm 51:6). The only way to escape the sin and restore our fellowship with God is to acknowledge and confess it to Him (vv 3-4)

WE MAY SUCCESSFULLY FOOL OTHERS, BUT GOD KNOWS OUR HEARTS.