Finishing 2008 and Entering 2009

Back from Bangkok, and I seriously think that I need a holiday for this holiday due to the shopping marathons that I have participated. Nonetheless, it was a great holiday spent with my girlfriend and buddies.

Anyway, coming back to my main focus of this entry, it's 2009! This is surely going to be a year of new things and new expectations. Even as we were praying and worshiping God together back in our hotel room yesterday night, I was reminded of the goodness and faithfulness of God throughout these six years. God then begun to show me about these six years, the things that were added into my life. Indeed they were resounding victories, however something really struck me. I begin to realize that although victories were sweet, but sometimes they will have the effect of blurring our lives, causing us to lose focus or distract us from our first devotion to Jesus.

Year 2009 is not just going to be a year that I am away to study, but it will be a year of coming back to where I first started this walk, it will be a year of going on a holiday with God, quieting my life from distracting noises and a year to learn to see things in the perspective of God.


Deut 8:10-18
"10 When you have eaten your fill, bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 "But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you don't forget the Lord your God and begin to disobey him. 12-13 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large, and your silver and gold have multiplied, 14 that is the time to watch out that you don't become proud and forget the Lord your God who brought you out of your slavery in the land of Egypt. 15 Beware that you don't forget the God who led you through the great and terrible wilderness with the dangerous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness (it was a kind of bread unknown before) so that you would become humble and so that your trust in him would grow, and he could do you good. 17 He did it so that you would never feel that it was your own power and might that made you wealthy. 18 Always remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you power to become rich, and he does it to fulfill his promise to your ancestors."

Through It All

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Even as I began to ask God to manifest His thoughts towards me, He started leading my imagination to a wonderful image.

In the vision, was a beautiful picture of a dad sending his boy to school. Even as the child entered into the classroom, the dad stood by the windows of the class watching his dear boy by the side, ensuring that he would be fine. To the boy, after parting with his dad at the door of the class, the presence of his dad watching by him could be felt strongly, though not seen.

With this impression, I was led to another thought. This time, I saw myself in several occasions. One was when I was in primary school, where I was so naughty, constantly being punished for giving problems to my teachers and bullying my classmates. Another one was in secondary school, so lazy, not studying all the time. One funny one was me doing all sorts of crazy things for this girl whom I thought I will marry. A depressing one was where I lost all directions in life, wandering all over the place. A joyful one showed the time when I first came to know God, critical in attitude, but touched by His love.

Though all of the scenarios look so diverse, with happy and unhappy ones but the common thing was, my Father was there looking through the window ensuring that I was fine through it all. This time round, I am assured that He will be there too.

Greater Is He Who Is In You, Than He Who Is In The World

Laminin, a protein in the human body that is vital in making sure the overall body structures hold together. Reminded me that indeed Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world. What a coincidence, anyway a wise fellow once said coincidence is when God choose to remain anonymous.

"But Who You Say That I Am?"

Recently I came across this verse in the Bible and began to start meditating and thinking about it.

Matt 16:13-15 (NKJV)
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

Jesus over here was asking His disciples about who the people think He is and the reply that they gave differed. Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, etc. Isn't this very true? In modern context, to some Jesus is their Savior, to some Jesus is someone who they look for in times of need and to some, Jesus is just one of the gods among the many gods in the various religion.

Continuing on with the story,

Matt 16:15-16 (NKJV)
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus' question back to the disciples is what He is constantly asking us. Instead of listening to the opinions of others, He is us asking point blank - who is He to us individually. Like Peter, we need to be able to identify Him as the Christ, Son of the living God. With the correct identification, the next question that should come up to us should be this:

Matt 27:22 (NKJV)
22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"

After establishing the fact that Jesus is King in our lives, what are we going to do with Jesus? To some, they still place Jesus in the same league as their worldly issues. To some, they remain indifferent.

However, my suggestion is to treat Him like a King irregardless of situation.

Promises Follow After Expansion

About 3 months ago, I had an invitation to an event where there were many successful people attending. Initially I was not exactly very comfortable to go, in fact I felt inferior. I could almost imagined the people there saying, "25 years old and you are still in Polytechnic?". Having this thought in mind, I was struggling between attending and not attending. God is good, He always brings about illumination which leads to breakthroughs. He simply spoke about the importance of knowing our identity.

Everyone of us need to know our identity.

Knowing it will give us a sense of belonging and confidence.

When we know and trust who we are in Christ, we will have the confidence of who we are now and who we are going to be in the future.

Have the mindset and capacity according to who we want to be in the future regardless of who we are right now and who we are in the past.

• Millionaire in the future? Think like one now.
• Top student in the future? Think like one now.
• Leading a great cell group / connect group? Lead like one now.

We can afford to do it because of our confidence brought by the knowledge of our identity.

It is necessary for us to increase and expand in our mindset and capacity because God would never give us what we cannot handle.

• For e.g. An immature person or a child will not be able to handle a million dollars. Sooner or later he will lose it, regardless how huge the amount is. However given to a person with sufficient capacity and the correct mindset, this million dollars might become two or three or even ten million dollars.

It is always:

1. First the expansion then the inheritance -

• David had to fight the bear, the lion, Goliath and wait many years before he inherited the promises of becoming king.

2. First the expansion then the victory -

• Joshua had to first expand in his security as Moses' successor before becoming a great conqueror with many victories under his name.
  
• Gideon had to expand in his mindset and his self image before gaining the victory over the Midianites.

3. First the expansion then greatness -

• Jabez had to expand in his character first before becoming honorable in God's sight.

Run like giants today, don't hop like grasshoppers. :)

Fruitfulness

One of the important aspect in life is really fruitfulness. In my opinion, the 3 major areas that we need to be fruitful is in our relationships, the work of our hands and the kingdom of God.

Having looked around, very often we would hear of many different excuses of not being fruitful. One of which would be there is a problem with the 'harvest'.

Just six years ago, I was a person with no accomplishments and no direction in life. When others would come and ask me this question: "Why did you fail in your studies?", the first answer that I would often reply back would be: "I am not made to study. What I was studying was too hard, it would drive me crazy to get to a level to pass them.". In my mind, my failure is due to that which was given to me was an impossible task, something with a problem.

Isn't this very true, many people carry this mindset. Recently God showed me something which gave me a new perspective towards fruitfulness. I remembered clearly the phrase that was impressed within my heart: "Unfruitfulness is a mindset problem, not a harvest-problem.".

Jesus says in Matt 9:36-37

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few."

Notice, the problem was with the laborers, not with the harvest. In fact, the harvest is good, it is plentiful! Probably, the laborers have a mindset which is either lazy, cannot be done, cannot be bothered. I remembered my mindset when I approached my studies when I was younger was that even before I tried, in my mind I already given a verdict that I cannot do it well, so what for bother. Thus, it made me lazy and not willing to try at all, eventually leading to failure and unfruitfulness.

One of the essential key to fruitfulness is knowing that we are chosen, appointed and given the abilities to produce fruit in all that we do.

John 15:16-17

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. "

Just a year ago, my mentor shared a powerful truth with me, which has impacted me deeply.

Eph 1:4-5

"just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, "

God has called and chosen us even before the forming of the world and in line with that, knowing that man being imperfect having the ability to fail, He provided us a way out even before we fail.

Rev 13:8

"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

Notice, Jesus was the sacrifice for us even before anything happened. This is just like God giving us unlimited 'Get out of Jail' cards in Monopoly. He has provided a way out for us in every situation. Thus though we might fail from time to time, but eventually if we continue and not be weary in giving our best, we will end up in being successful, taking away every excuse of being failures in life.

With a renewed mindset, let's start being fruitful!

1st Quarter Evaluation

It's the 26th of March already and a third of the year has just passed by. In my mind, I can only think of one thing to describe how these 3 months have been - a Roller Coaster ride. Here's a recap of some of the highlights: -

• Ended my AY0708 with an Excellent GPA of 4.0 :)
  
• Had a traumatic car accident
• Had a wonderful Easter celebration

Indeed this year, I have went to the peak of the mountain of victory and the lowest valley of death, but nevertheless I stand tall because I am on the shoulders of a Mighty Giant.

In the midst of all these, an encouragement from my dearest Friend keeps me going.

Just 3 days after the terrible accident happened, I was feeling very discouraged and found no strength to do anything. I was waiting at the bus stop for my bus to come and was feeling tremendously edgy. In my heart, I was complaining, angry and feeling sorry for the events that turned out in my life. Then God spoke to me, " Hey, look at the sky." As March 2008 was a month of record rainfall, the sky was overcast with gloomy clouds. I mumbled in my heart, "Ya right! Even the clouds look bad. Things are definitely bad, there's no sun at all! How terrible a situation I am in!" At that instance, I suddenly had a revelation. God impressed within my heart saying, "Surely the overcast clouds are blocking the sun. Things look bad and the rain is definitely coming. However, remember the rain that falls is given the responsibility to water the harvest you are sowing for. And further more, how long can the rain last? Eventually, the rain will run out and the clouds will be gone, the sun is going to come out."

How true it is, no trials or tribulations will last forever.

Rom 5:3-4
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

I am indeed coming out stronger, with a greater anointing for the rest of this exciting year, 2008.


PS: Anyway this is my favorite birthday present from my beloved CG, N363! Thanks guys!