Two Ways To Be HAPPY

There was a young man who constantly complained about everything.  One day, he decided to start over and live a new life.  So he went to the wise king and asked him how to live a successful life.  The king filled a big glass of wine for him and said, "Take this glass and go around the market once and come back.  Then I will tell you the secret to living a successful life.  However, do not spill any of the wine, or else you will be punished!"  The young man took the glass of wine and did as the king said.  When he returned, the king asked, "What did you see on the streets of the market?  What kind of people did you pass?  What kind of sounds did you hear?  The man responded, "Oh king! To obey your command, I could only focus on my glass of wine so that I would not spill it.  I was not able to see or hear anything other than my glass of wine!"  The king answered, "That is the secret to a successful life.  The reason you are not satisfied with your life and always complaining is because you are wasting it.  If you have a purpose and run towards it with passion, you will not have time to complain."

[Extracted from LivingLife ]

Sorrow

According to Oxford Dictionary, sorrow is a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others.  It is an outward expression of grief or lamentation.

Times of grief and sorrow will visit on every person at some point in time.  Believers aren’t insulated from tragedies and painful situations.  However because we have the Holy Spirit within us, we have hope that keeps us one moment at a time.  Because of the overwhelming pressure of sorrow, we’re often unaware of how our coping reflects our testimony and faith in God.   We don’t weep as the world weeps.

King Solomon wrote, “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (Proverbs 15:13).   A cheerful countenance is simply an outward expression of being happy.  It’s a reaction to an inward physical emotion. 

But Solomon also notes that the spirit can be broken by the sorrow of the heart.  The heart of a man describes the mind and the thinking of a person.  What is meant by the spirit being broken?

I believed there are basically two types of sorrow ; godly sorrow and ungodly sorrow or sorrow of the world.

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.  For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner:  What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (2 Corinthians 7:8-11). 

Paul’s description here is pretty clear.   Godly sorrow will produce something in us that will change us and motivate us to be sorrowful enough to repent.

Godly sorrow will also leads to a change in our thinking, our actions and our lives.   It puts us in the right attitude so we can repent.  However, worldly sorrow is concerned more with the punishment or consequences.   Godly sorrow is concerned more with the willingness to change.

Clarke’s Bible Commentary states this about godly sorrow: “It was not a sorrow because ye were found out, and thus solemnly reprehended, but a sorrow because ye had sinned against God, and which consideration caused you to grieve more than the apprehension of any punishment” (comment on 2 Corinthians 7:9). 

If a child is doing something wrong and a parent corrects him, the child may experience regret because of hurt feelings or because he could not do what he wanted to do.  It’s not until we have the right kind of sorrow that we can begin to see that what we are doing is truly wrong.

Having a right kind of sorrow will lead a person to a changed heart.   God can then grant that person repentance.

The result of godly sorrow is a changed heart, and it will lead us to a new life—and eventually eternal life. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

There are distinct differences between godly and worldly sorrow.  As demonstrated by Peter who was sorrowful, but returned to the disciples in contrast to Judas who was sorrowful, but committed suicide [Matthew 27:5].  Godly sorrow brings us to our knees in complete surrender to the Lord.  However the worldly sorrow can only offer temporary relief at best—that will end in death eventually.

Some example of worldly sorrow include :

1 Samuel 20 : 34 Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.

Luke 22:45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

Important of Family

I grew up in Georgetown, Penang in an average household that never went hungry, but struggled at times.  We did not have much and you always thought about the things you did not have.   Instead of appreciating the meals you got to eat every day, you always though about what others are having.

I have had a colourful life.  I can't say it had been smooth sailing, but still, better than most people.   I am blessed with loving and caring people around me.  It is not easy crossing the line to go to the next half a century of your life.  You start to look back and there are so many years to look back!  From now on, there will be less years ahead of me, and more behind.   It is like a train approaching its destination; soon it has to stop on reaching its final destination.   The scenery left behind is like memories of yesteryear.

I thank God for a good and proper family.  Family is the basic unit of society.  It is a social institution that provides the framework for spiritual, emotional and physical support for a child's [person] growth and development.

It is within the family that character is developed and moral as well as behavioural attitudes are formed. Strong cultural values and norms such as love, compassion and filial piety are imparted and inculcated in the family.

The family is not an institution designed by man. It was created by God for the benefit of man, and man has been given stewardship over it

F.A.M.I.L.Y.   -     Father  And  Mother  I  Love  You

When God created humans, he designed us to live in families.  Family relationships are important to God.  Even the church, the universal body of believers, is called the family of God.  When we receive God's Spirit at salvation, we are adopted into his family. - Mary Fairchild

Trip to Seoul, Korea

A holiday break to Seoul, Korea.

Motel

Airport

Dry & Wet Market

Korean Street food

Rice beverage

Dinner

Lunch

Hokkien Harvest Malaysia - Medan Trip

Worshippers

Front view of church

27 April - 2 May 2017 was spent in Medan with Pastors and leaders of Medan, Indonesia to further the work of God, especially in the area of Hokkien speaking congregation.

Praise God, was able to share and encourage God's people at Gereja Injil Tebing Tinggi (2 hours drive from Medan).

Part of congregation

Part of congregation

Fellowship after service

Youth group

[Contributed by Joy Choo]

Mission to Medan, Indonesia

Hosts

Hokkien Harvest Malaysia cum Hokkien Harvest Singapore - Hokkien Mission trip to Medan, Indonesia from 27 April 2017 to 1 May 2017.






                           

House Church

Friday-Women's Ministry

Preaching

Praise andWorship

Church

Sunday Worship

Part of congregation

Pastors

Worship

Worship is the act of exalting, magnifying or ascribing adoration to the Lord.  In Scripture, the word 'worship' denotes an overall way of life, the act of sacrificing and a specific activity of devotion.

In worship our vision of God is enlarged; Jesus increases, I decrease (John 3:30)
As we worship, we find that God cleanses us (Hebrews 10:22) and gives us rest (Matthews 11:28)

Worship is appreciating God for His nature and worth.

Christian worship is always a response to God's revelation of Himself.  To worship God is to declare God's worthiness;  to ascribe honor to God;  to glorify God.

The primary responsibility of the church is worship.  Worship is our responsibility to God.

Worship is

a)  a response to divine revelation - it is something that comes about from the initiation of God.

b)  something we give to God as a community of believers.

c)  worship with all that we are and have (in spirit and in truth)

d)  worship must be something which is carried over to our everyday lives.

Worship cannot be compartmentalized.  It is integrated and active.  It is giving God the room to infiltrate the deepest recesses of our souls and, with His help, responding in kind.  Worship is a two-way street.  God being the initiator, we being the respondent. [LIVING Life]

Kim's Korean Restaurant

This outlet, Kim’s Korean Restaurant in Georgetown is fairly new, having been in operations since 2015.  We’ve dined there a few times over the years since their opening but I never got around to blogging about Kim’s.  Their fan base has grown steadily and they also currently have another branch in Bayan Lepas at Arena Curve.

Side dishes

It is more blessed to give ...

The most unbelieved beatitude in the Bible is :  “It is more blessed to give than receive” [Acts 20:35].  The giver happier than the receiver?  Surely some mistake?  That goes against all our intuitions and instincts.  So let me help you to believe it and act upon it by giving you ten reasons why it is more blessed to give than to receive.

1. Giving obeys God’s command

The Old Testament has way more commands about financial giving – who, when, and how much – than the New Testament.  Maybe the New Testament writers just assumed that as God had given far more to us in the New Testament – giving Himself to death – that our giving should follow fairly logically and easily.  But, just in case we might miss the link, there are clear New Testament commands also (e.g. 1 Corinthians 1:2).   As all of God’s commands are given to enhance our lives, obeying this command will increase our happiness.

2. Giving submits to God’s Lordship

Every act of obedience recognizes that there is a higher authority in our lives, that there is a Lord over us who is entitled to honor and respect.  Due to our temperament, personality, or circumstances, we may find some commands relatively easy to obey.  Our submission is really tested in the areas where our own nature and situation make obedience more difficult.  For most of us, money is one of those areas.  Our wallet is often the last citadel to fall to God’s rule, and even when it does fall, it gets rebuilt and re-secured again all too quickly.  If only we could remember that Divine Lordship is not a threat; rather it’s the place of greatest safety.

3. Giving exhibits God’s heart

God is THE giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).  As His image-bearers we are called to copy His giving, to be mini-pictures of His infinitely large heart.   The larger our hearts (and the wider our hands), the larger the picture we paint of God’s character.  What do people think of God when they think of the way you use your money?

4. Giving illustrates God’s salvation

At the heart of the Gospel is sacrificial self-giving (John 3:16).  That’s why when the Apostle Paul wanted to encourage the Corinthians to give more, he pointed them to the person and work of Christ.  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 2:9).  Yes, you abound in faith, love, etc., but “see that you abound in this grace also.”  When we give sacrificially, painfully, for the benefit of others, we are faintly and on a small-scale preaching the Gospel message.

5. Giving trusts God’s provision

The biggest deterrent to giving is fear, the fear that if I give away too much I won’t have enough for this or that.  When we give sacrificially, above and beyond what is comfortable and easy, we are expressing our faith and trust in God to provide for us and our family.  This is not an argument for folly, but for faith.   Many Christians have discovered the joy of casting their crumbs of bread upon the waters and multiple loaves returning after many days (Ecclesiastes 11:1).   It’s such a joy to see God fulfill His promise of provision when we obey Him.

6. Giving widens God’s smile

The Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 2:7). It delights Him to see His people gladly opening their hearts and hands to provide for the needs of His Church and indeed of all His creatures. Through Paul, God repeatedly commends and praises those who gave of their funds and of themselves to Gospel work (2 Corinthians 8:1).  There’s nothing that makes a Christian happier than knowing that she’s made God happy, and happy giving means a happy God. 

7. Giving advances God’s kingdom

Many of us have contributed to Apple in one way or another.   We have helped to grow the company from a garage operation to the worldwide empire it is today.   And I’m happy about that, as it’s a company that has brought many blessings to the world.   But think of what blessing results when we fund the mission of Christ’s church.  We are paying salaries of ministers and missionaries.  We are funding resources for outreach, evangelism, and discipleship.   But above all we are investing in the spiritual and eternal welfare of people from every nation, tribe, kindred and tongue.  Our dollars are changing homes, relationships, countries, and even the eternal destiny of many souls.

8. Giving promotes God’s sanctification

Giving not only promotes God’s work through us, but also God’s work in us, our sanctification.   Giving money, especially when it pains us, requires much self-denial and self-crucifixion.   However, as every act of giving weakens and even breaks our sinful and selfish nature, the more God’s grace spreads in our hearts.   Yes, money leaves our pockets, but sin also leaves our heart.   And that’s a great deal.  Priceless actually.

9. Giving testifies to God’s power

Although we are not to let our left hand know what our right hand does, it’s pretty obvious that Christians give a lot to their churches and Christian charities.  Even secular observers have noticed with amazement how generous Christians often are with their money.  They may not say it but they surely must think it :   “This must be the real deal for people to give away so much of their own money.  They must really believe this stuff.   The God they worship and serve must be incredibly powerful to make people so generous.”

10. Giving praises God’s character

Giving in a right spirit is an act of worship.  It is rendering Him a tribute of praise.  It is saying.  “You gave me everything and here is a small expression of my gratitude and praise for all your good gifts.  It’s only a token, a sample of what I really feel, but you know the heart that lies behind it.   As David sang :  “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me?” (Psalms 116:12).

By David Murray

God has no granchildren

As author and Christian activist Corrie ten Boom once said,  "God has no grandchildren."  We cannot inherit salvation from our parents.  In God's eyes, pedigree counts for nothing.  Who owns your faith?  Is it our country?  Your parents?  Your church?  Or is it your own?  If you come from a Christian family, praise God for the legacy of faith that taught you to discern truth early in life.  However, beware of the trap of complacency.  Remember that belonging to God is always rooted in a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit - never in one's ancestry.

[Extracted from  LIVING  Life  - September 2016]