Closing the year on a high...

As i look back upon the year that has swiftly just swept by, I really start to think about those that has happened, the Ups and Downs, the Highs and the Lows. I know one thing is certain that through it all, God has been faithful and will continue to be. At times my faith relentlessly fights on, to that is greater than I.

Especially the month of December, it has been a hectic month but also a month of rejuvenation. We recently closed out the first of two days of our Christmas Production "The Promise". Whilst it may not be as BIG, MEGA, HUGE (any other description of similar kind) as ones in the past, it was a great success in many ways. We had in-house lightings, in-house sound, part of the script was also self produced. In the smallness of things, there is also great achievements and success.
There are many things going for us at the moment, considering where we started the year. I think God has been gracious to allow such opportunities to come our way. I'm thankful to play a role in the team, to make it a success.

On a more personal note, 17th December 2010. I shall remember you always. The day i realized that my life has a greater purpose than what I see it as. For once, it wasn't about me. It was about others and my dear Saviour.

Nothing left to say?

Just like most people (many people) we create blogs. We rant, we voice our opinions, we complain about something basically we do mention everything and anything under the sun here just so that it becomes an outlet for us. Well, I guess i'm no different from those many people too....no?

I've not been able to blog as much as I would have liked to, just finished exams and even after that I've yet to get my long desired break. However, not too sure how's that going to pan out, never really been the kind that can sit still for long and do nothing. So yeah, looks like i've to learn to do nothing. Now this is starting to sound like a boring post.

Back to what originally wanted to post. We've just reset our stage for Christmas production. It was long and tiring. Under-powered in the human force section. What do we need to do, to get people have a sense of ownership? Responsibility?

We need to give people a reason to want to do it, want to stay, want to help. At the moment I don't think we've found the right formula just yet.YET. The word is YET. I hope all the guys will stay around till that time and do not give up.

Shepherd the Flock

 ¹ The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: ² Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,^[a] not for dishonest gain but eagerly; ³ nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; ⁴ and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

   
⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 


      “ God resists the proud,
      But gives grace to the humble.”^[b]

 ⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because^[c] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰ But may^[d] the God of all grace, who called us^[e]to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Farewell and Peace

   
¹² By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 
¹³ She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. 
Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.


taken from biblegateway.com 


I guess that may not be our solution. But it's something we definitely need to continue doing.

Somethings money can never buy..

This is my 120th post. And it so coincidently landed on the day that Shermaine went off to UK. Whilst, that's much to talk about that.

But i want to highlight something else. Is the people who travelling along with me, to see her off. Thanks guys.

I think Friends are very crucial to a person's growth. Surround yourself with great people and you will get better. Place yourself in the company of bad people, and you will slowly find yourself rotting away. Good and bad however are subjective, you be the judge of your own predicament.

The people who came tonight, you know who you are. I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there for Shermaine and I. In times like these, you know that through tests that these people are those that you can rely on and they will be with you through thick and thin.

Good friends are more valuable than you think. That is why you can't put a price tag on them.

Malaysia Day

There has been alot happening of late. It's all good and all is well. I promised myself that i would blog about Malaysia Day. I just attended Malaysia Day Prayer Meeting by the NECF and it was really an eye opener. However, i'm not here to get distracted from what I've intended to do.

It has been 47 years and this is the first time that, this nation has celebrated Malaysia Day. It is something to be proud of and alike every other big festive, we get a public holiday :). I believe that Malaysia will slowly turn the corner, and i would like to think that we are very much moving in the right direction. It'll be naive to say that everything is rosy and perfect, because that is from what reality is. However, just like any other nation in the world, this country has flaws, imperfections and sometimes those are more glaringly obvious than others. As the song goes, "Today is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it". God in His infinite might has already had this in His plan. So take off the critique hat, spare the negativism, hatred and ill-feelings for just one day. It will probably do you some good in the long run.

I believe that there is hope in this land. Even though if my opinion is stacked against the odds. I know that i'm probably right. It may take a long while, it may even take years after i'm long and gone. I believe that there is a purpose for all of us to be here, to make a difference to make, to do the impossible, to achieve the unthinkable and to bring dreams to reality. I know there are people who has seen enough and seek for greener pastures. You know what? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! It's perfectly fine to go somewhere else to seek a life that is deemed to be of better quality, better standard etc. Whilst, with that thought ringing in your head, why not do that here a place, where you call home and for once it will actually feel like home. I know it feels like you're battling a loss cause, but i assure you. It is not. We can very much see that God is doing things in Malaysia, and if God is in it...surely it must not be a lost cause.

I will not know how it exactly feels to be part of the generation before me. But to my generation and the ones to follow, it's time to step up. It's time to have a say in what this country should be. I urge many of you to stay, because only together United we can make a difference, leaving without a fight makes this a lost cause. "If everyone were to step away and think that someone will else will do the job, at the end of the day we will be left with no one". For the sake of the generation, must rise up. Take the baton from the generation before us, and run with the vision. In that process we have already started on to make this a better place for the general public and those with live music.

Happy Malaysia Day! It is a proud day to be a Malaysian :)

Like Incense - Sometimes by Step

[Verse 1]
May my prayer like incense rise before You
The lifting of my hands as sacrifice
Oh Lord Jesus turn Your eyes upon me
For I know there is mercy in Your sight

Your statutes are my heritage forever
My heart is set on keeping Your decrees
Please still my anxious urge toward rebellion
Let Love keep my will upon its knees

[Chorus]
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You

[Verse 2]
To all creation I can see a limit
But Your commands are boundless and have none
So Your Word is my joy and meditation
From the rising to the setting of the sun

All Your ways are loving and are faithful
The road is narrow but Your burden light
Because You gladly lean to lead the humble
I shall gladly kneel to leave my pride

[Chorus]

[Selah]
To all creation I can see a limit
But Your commands are boundless and have none
So Your Word is my joy and meditation
From the rising to the setting of the sun

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
I will seek You in the morning
I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days


By Hillsong (A Beautiful Exchange)

Stepping Up to the forefront.

¹⁹ So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.
²⁰ And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”
And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” ²¹ So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.


I think this is a familiar story to all those who has read the bible, a very well known story. What i'm trying to get across is that more than just inheriting from the generation before us, those of us who are viewed as the future would eventually supersede them but just because it is our destiny doesn't mean that we can just slack and act like it's our right. As even rights though naturally will be given but should also be earned, so that it is passed down willingly and not a forced act. 


It wouldn't be fair to just view things from one perspective. So I would look at both sides of the coin. As said there would be two sides, one being on the handing down side and the other would be the stepping up side. 


On the handing down side, as people who have been there and done that. We know what it would entail and also over time would be able to observe who are possible candidates, those who have shown capability of handling it. Nevertheless, all that is good but we're still humans and have our own blind spots. Our judgement will go as far as our experience goes, we can't impart something that we do not have. Our gifts and talents differ from others, both what we are good at and what we are not so good at. Here are some practical ways this can take happen: 


1. We must be able to release it from us
From v19, its said that Elijah passed and threw the mantle on him (Elisha). There will come a time where we would have to pick a successor, as we need to move on as well. We won't be here and there forever, doing the same thing due to our limitations and phases we encounter in life. 


2. We must later then take them under our guidance 
From v21, said that Elisha became his (Elijah's) servant. This would be assuming that we have to allow them to follow us, and provide the right/necessary guidance to help and allow them to just follow us through. 


While the stepping up side, what we know is only a fraction of what is the actual scenario. Similarly to our predecessors, we also have blind-spots. The advantage we have, is that we can see those mistakes made, but don't have to experience it first hand. Sometimes, we have to work harder when things are not handed down to our liking. Ideally, it should be a give and take situation but often it is not the case. Most of us who are vying in these positions, understand its predicament. What we usually have to do:


1. In order to succeed, we got to give up more sometimes. 
From v20, Elisha left the oxen(s) and bid goodbye to his parents. In reference to give and take, if it's 50-50. If they give us less, then it would be like 20-80. In order  to make things, sometimes we got to make our own luck. Put ourselves in the best possible position to receive from our predecessor. 


2. We gotta be humble.
From v21, Elisha became a servant of Elijah. A servant is someone who starts at the bottom, and sometimes even though we know more than others. We gotta be humble and willing to learn, be open and take in the opinions of others. 


Conclusion, it is not impossible but possible :)

Your grace is enough...

Great is Your faithfulness oh God 
You wrestle with the sinner's heart 
You lead us by still waters and to mercy 
And nothing can keep us apart 

So remember Your people 
Remember Your children 
Remember Your promise 
Oh God 

Your grace is enough 
Your grace is enough 
Your grace is enough for me 

Great is Your love and justice God 
You use the weak to lead the strong 
You lead us in the song of Your salvation 
And all Your people sing along 

So remember Your people 
Remember Your children 
Remember Your promise 
Oh God 

Your grace is enough 
Your grace is enough 
Your grace is enough for me (x2) 

So remember Your people 
Remember Your children 
Remember Your promise 
Oh God 

Your grace is enough 
Your grace is enough 
Your grace is enough for me 

Your grace is enough 
Heaven reaching down to us 
Your grace is enough for me 
God i see your grace is enough 
I'm covered in your love 
Your grace is enough for me 
For me 

*I remember what You placed in my heart 2 years ago, it is still there. 

It's been awhile...

It's been awhile since I've been here. It's been awhile too since i felted like this. It's been awhile since You've woke me up at that kind of ungodly (punt intended) hour to tell me something. Though most often than not, I only always understand a portion of what You're trying to say, but that's good enough for me. You are more than enough for me.

John 5:1-21 (New King James Version)

John 5

A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda

 ¹ After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. ³ In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴ For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. ⁵ Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
⁷ The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. ¹⁰ The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
¹¹ He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
¹² Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
¹⁵ The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Honor the Father and the Son  

¹⁶ For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. ¹⁷ But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
¹⁸ Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. ¹⁹ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. ²¹ For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

Good morning , Jesus =). Even on a Sabbath day, You still work. And so shall I.

Doors of life..

I felt like I had something to blog about, and i still think that i have something to blog about. Just can't seem to piece it together. Nevertheless, i'm leaving the outline here.

There are things (which could be anything from situations, people, etc) that enters our lives knowing or unknowingly. These things all go through doors, which points out the title as the doors of life. Here are some doors of our lives.

1. Automatic Door

2. Sliding Door

3. Locked Door

4. Open Door

Directed without any directions....

Whoa! Alas! I am here. It's been too long, just absolutely way too long. The last time i posted something was approximately 3 months and 17 days ago. Ever since the arsonist attack on the church, I've yet to find the time to blog about anything for that matter.

Well, time waits for no man, that's exactly the case for myself. I'm not going to blog about the past events in those past 3 odd months. The opportunity was there and I did not do anything about it nor did i want to do anything about it.

Something I felt God impressed upon my heart, so therefore it's something that I've gotta pen down as reference. I spoke to someone today about a unique situation and how to cope being in that particular predicament. Even though I've been assuring myself of late, there's always still a niggling doubt, it may not be a big thing(niggling doubt, the situation is big), but I wouldn't want even a bit of doubt to be lingering around.

I was asked "am i absolutely sure?", "what am i doing to prepare myself". I briefly answered that I've yet to hear further on what to do, so the only thing that I can do is just go on with what I'm doing now. These particular questions really got me thinking,whether do i know what i'm doing despite not having a clear path of direction.

This verse came about
⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. - Hebrews 11:8-


I feel that this is my inheritance, a sense of ownership. And no one can take that away from me. 


Faith is believing that God has something installed for you, and all you have to do is just obey Him and Go....even without knowing WHERE. 

What would Jesus do..

"What would Jesus do" a very famous Christian "question" with the initials W.W.J.D (looks familiar...) that we see very often on car stickers, wristbands and even posters. But, seriously, what would Jesus do? It just dawned upon me this morning, and honestly I think many of us would not do what Jesus did or at least would not be willing to do the same things he did. A popular phrase so commonly used that it has been embroided in our sub-consious that whether we follow it or not, doesn't seem to bother us all that much.

If we don't carry out W.W.J.D, who's to show Christlikeness to those who have yet to know Him? Even worst should we not only don't show Christlikeness but act like we're of a more superior kind, when once upon a time we were not different than them, it was because of someone else's inatiative that brought us to the stepping stone of Salvation. Therefore, that doesn't make us a good judge to anyone.

13. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

- Matthew 5:13-

1. Show your difference, if not you are no different from the world
I'm not saying that unsaved people are to be trampled underfoot by men. But saying we Christians are supposed to be God's representation to others and if we fail to do, then we would have failed to achieve our objective which is to be the difference in this world.

 14. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.15. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

-Matthew 5:14-15-

Then you maybe asking, how to show that difference? C.A.M presented a song by Jeremy Camp "Speaking Louder than before" earlier last year. Precisely this is how it's going to be done, by speaking louder...letting our faith be made known. Say it loud and say it proud. Do not be afraid to state your faith! Of course, do not be forceful and vigilent till the extent of annoyance and scaring people off before they even get near, but be bold about it, make your stand evident..do not bend just because circumstances force you to.

2. Do not be shy about it
Realize that people are not shy of things that they are proud of, or are happy about. So this is how others will perceive it. When you are shy about it, it becomes an automatic turn off when a lack of confidence or boldness is shown. For the lack of examples, but look at a salesperson by the street, the salesperson promotes it's product like it's the only thing that works on earth, even the person know it doesn't.

 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

- Matthew 5:16-

3. Acknowledge God in your life
As just keeping along the line of the Church's vision that this year will be the Year of Empowerment. God has empowered us to be His channel in this world, so for God has done to bless you, propser you, Flaunt it...not in a show pony kind of manner but Proudly, send the message that "if God can go this for me, He can do it for you too" In a student term, do not plagarize God's work. He did the great works, we're just his representatives. Amen!.

Year of Empowerment, 2010

As for my 110th post, and appropriately on new year's day it is. This year like every other year, there will be a lot of new things to adapt to, but it's just a matter of being prepared for it.

I've heard what God as been saying for the past few months, and apart from that there are others things that I know He wants me to fulfill as well.

I believe that God will make this year, not just a good year but a Great one!...To everyone Happy New Year. May God's blessings be with you through out the year. :)