why?

today's prayer meeting was ushering in the new theme for the church: "Abounding Love".

and of cos, as ps mark and angela shared about what does abounding love entail, i asked myself what does abounding love means to me as well.

still thinking. :))

all in all, i know for sure, that Love=God and vice versa. pure and perfect love. and through Christ, His children learns how to show love as well.

and as i think back, i thank God for people who graciously showered me with love with the power of Christ, and how i really taste the goodness of the Lord, and the sweetness of love through their lives, their acts of service.

and i heard something interesting from 89.9 as well, that it takes Strength to love; it takes Courage to be loved.

and it dawned upon me that it can be pretty true at times. often talked about are on how to love people more, how to show and express love, how to demonstrate unconditional love et cetera et cetera.

however, to give love, we must first know our identity in Christ, and boldly receive Love from the true Source, and that is Jesus.

many times, we feel unworthy of His love and grace, and we hide away from His loving kindness. to replace that feeling of condemnation, we try to do the 'right' things by attempting to show others love, and trying to bring Christ's love to others in the midst of dryness within our hearts and souls. and just like a car that stops refilling its tank, a car without fuel is obselete. hence, a vessel without Love grows dry, weary and discouraged.

Hence, only when we allow Jesus to add upon us with the abundance of love, can we freely give, and not only do we have enough to give away, we have more than enough left for us within our souls. it will be overflowing!

also, only when we have the courage to be loved, can we know how to love others personally, deeply and wholeheartedly.

Teach me how to love, and be loved, Lord.

amen. :)

today, i had various 'conditions' of the heart again. and, indeed, it felt very real, and very intense.

it had its very ups, as well as moments where i almost felt my heart wrenching. this week had been a very emotional week. and i wonder why.

and i thank God, for being God, for being the One that i can seek after anytime, anywhere. i thank Him for His encouragement, assurance, and comfort.

today, a few verses spoke to me very much, when i was praying thru the day. many times, i was reminded that my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the STRENGTH of my heart, and my PORTION forever (Psa 73). and i know fully well, that obedience to His ways, and trusting Him and not myself, will always lead to blessings.

just like this morning. i really thank God for a divine meet-up. and this taught me that God really takes your prayers seriously. i recall praying for the Lord to give me another chance to talk to the 2 columbian girls which i have missed exchanging numbers few weeks back when we were on the same bus back from preston market. i remembered asking from God to add an extra dosage of desire and love in me to want to share lives with people that i meet with, and to go in His name with no fear, cos perfect love drives out fear. and i remembered talking to God that, when the opportunity comes to meet them again, help me to obey the Spirit's promptings.

and true enough, today, was the day. as i boarded the bus and settled down, there were 2 last passengers who boarded the bus before the bus sets off. and i saw someone waving at me. it was luz and caro, the 2 columbian girls! :) honestly, i was fearful, and really wanted to disobey the Spirit by just smiling and waving back, that's it. but i was reminded again and again, that this MUST be the divine appointment that i was asking God for, and i cant miss it!

i walked forward to where they were sitting and attempt to chat casually, which i must admit that i am not the best at this. but i thank God that Luz was responsive and shared that she is getting tired from her assignments and exams. God is amazing in the way He works, and i knew that He wanted me to attempt to the best of my abilities, to encourage this new friend that i have in her studies. and it was nice as she said to call her after her exams to catch up. obedience to the Spirit brings blessings.

many times, my weaknesses are revealed when i do something that i am uncomfortable with, but the beautiful thing about Christ is, that thru Him and in Him, all flaws are made beautiful and perfect when you obey Him, so that you may boast of your weaknesses, that it is only through Christ all things are possible.

besides this, personally, i know God is challenging me in some areas. and i know i cant do it by my own flesh, my own effort. although it is against my heart's wishes many times, i know, once again, trusting Him and not myself, will only lead to blessings, for myself, for others. wait on the Lord for the blessings to come. this, i truly believe. :)

God counts every tear shed. for His will. and in obedience to Him.

i can't help but re-read the notes on Prayers that i prepared for caregroup earlier this week. there are few keys to experiencing breakthroughs in prayer life. and one particular key that hit me today was about total surrender. Through the prophet Isaiah, God tells us; "But on this one will i look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word. (66:2). just like when Jacob literally wrestled with God, i felt like i was wrestling with Him today too. many thoughts, many uncertainties, only He can understand. the time of communing with Him at the soccer field tonight was one that i truly treasured.

many are the plans in one's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that will prevail (prov 19:21). a man's steps are directed by the Lord, how then can anyone understand his own way? (prov 20:24). all a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart (prov 21:2).

ah. only YOU know best.

:)

God knows what's in your heart
and what you need before you ask
Even when you don't know for sure, God knows
because He knows you.
He knows the outcome of every situation,
and He's guiding you
even when you might feel
that you have lost your way.
He knows how much you can bear,
and He will give you strength
and fill you will His grace and blessings
as He walks with you
every step of the way.
He is surrounding you with His love
and holding you gently
in the palm
of His hand.

-Sharon Valleau.


random: expectations. it makes, and sometimes, it breaks.

hence God is far-sighted, He has spoken to us through His Word always.
that is, to please Him, and Him alone. this requires faith too, cos without faith, it is impossible to please God.

and through that, you will receive joy, and much blessings.

attempt to see it from His lenses. no matter how hard, try.

amen.

(:

Product Testing
by Os Hillman, November 17, 2007

His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" - Matthew 25:21

Testing allows one to discover how well a product is made when placed under extreme stress. Increasing the pulling pressure between two objects reveals the amount of tension that can be withstood in a chain link. Eventually, the "choking" point occurs. In sports, we ascertain the "choking" point for athletes by putting them into a pressure situation. At what point will the athlete lose concentration and collapse under the pressure? It is under these stressful times that we discover how well we have been trained to withstand the pressure and make right decisions regardless of outside influences.

In my younger days I played sports. I came to observe that we fail under pressure usually because we reach a point where our ability to focus on execution yields to concern about outcome. This worry about outcome forces us to lose our concentration. The fear of failure begins to rule our emotions and actions, which ultimately results in our failure. What we fear has come upon us. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In life, we see giving in to pressure in the form of compulsive behavior, withdrawal, anger, abuse, moral failure, and dishonesty, to name just a few manifestations.

Jesus never yielded to pressure. He never made decisions based on outcome. He always made the right decision. He always performed the same no matter what the circumstance. He lived a life based on absolutes, not circumstances. He never gave in to "situational ethics."

As God entrusts us with more and more responsibility, He brings more and more pressures into our lives to "test the product," to make sure that He can give even more responsibility to us. This process helps us see where we are in our maturity and determines our level of future responsibility.

Are you a product that can withstand the product test? Will you perform as the Maker designed no matter what outside pressures come? Know that you cannot perform well unless you are continually in relationship with and obedient to the one who made you. Trust the product developer today. He has made you to perform well under pressure.

"I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together. "
-Psalms 135:1-3

in this Psalms, King David said "I will".

He did not say, I can, I know I got to, I think I will, I need to..

He said "I will"

its already 3.30am. but yet, i know its not the coffee i had that kept me so awake at this hour.

really, really had a blessed time with the Lord.

it's the time spent singing, worshipping, listening to the worship teaching, to the songs, to the testimonies, playing the 3 chords learnt on guitar again and again with the strumming i used to learn.

and, i know these are my humble offering to my Lord Jesus Christ.

now, i can fully understand the feeling of, having being pumped up with the adrenaline of just dwelling in His presence.

its really sweetly amazing. how i desire such kind of surrender from myself to you everyday Lord. and i know, how easy it is to just walk away tomorrow and forget the whole experience with You tonight Lord. forgive me for that Father, for being forgetful of tonight, for the times in future where there are times that i am stingy with my praise, my worship to You.

Teach me dear Lord, to lift up my life, as holy and pleasing sacrifice to You. etch Romans 12 into me. i can only do it with Your grace.

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
-Romans 12:1-2

I pray all these, in Your most precious and exalted name.

came across this blog from Joshua Harris' blog. (:



http://www.worshipmatters.com/: a resource for leading worship by Bob Kauflin.



the past 2 weeks had been great fun and fruitfulness. had a bbq over at eric's; went melbourne cup and look at the horses, as well as the fascinators on the heads of the ladies, hahas. ; spent some time sending my laptop for fixing among the bamboos and coconuts; went to preston market with suetty to help lorena in marketing for sunday church's dinner (o the dinner taste so goood.); and had become one-day angels going down to uni and city to bless our caregroup friends for their exams (although now we know some people hear the phone but don't pick it up eh); 2-hr train journey to bendigo for a whole-day placement look-around which was interesting to me; mini-celebration for beeee; cg dinner over @ maggie's! played the famous mafia game among the chinese which got them so into it, know maggie's housemate through the dinner; went outreach- which was an experience cos we met with people of diverse cultures and thoughts about God; played monopoly @maggie's (again, haha!) which was good fun and fellowship; practise praise and worship @ dr's office (where we were interrupted by his playful retiring colleague who knocked and came in to say hi and bye).

and today, off to somewhere near airport to walk around with M driving all of us there; and later for shepherding with atom. :)

holidays had been good. and hope it can get better in my walk with Him as well.

and praying to walk strong and be disciplined in my spiritual life during this holidays.

thank GOD i found my blue sticker to change the date of my flight. :) now i can do it FOC. yay-ness.

and want to try coaching for children in tabletennis over summer. their summer holidays prog. :) i look forward to their positive reply if its beneficial for both them and me. :) all to Him.

and deeply blessed by how God has been moving darebin centre for the past 1 and half months. :) i thank God for protecting this baby and its been exciting to move with His hands! heard from sengwai we have our own equipment now, and have been seeing new faces during services. and although this is simple, i thank God for the presence of people like juthama (and her family) as well, who i see every sunday morning service and afternoon service. i adore her simple faith and her desire to bring her husband to come to know the Lord. each time spent with her, it will always be sharing of her hope and progress of her husband coming nearer to the Lord! :) continue to pray for this family!

o, how i love this life i share with You! :))

happen to chance upon this link through a hopemelbourne sister's blog.

http://rrabbi.blogspot.com/2007/11/20071111-look-what-god-has-done-1tim112.html

it is a blog of the sermons preached in HopeSg. wonder who is the faithful one to write these down on blog everyweek. wow. :)

guess i really need to update myself with news of sg a lil' bit more.

a little overdue, but heard fr a friend that sg has opened part of a new expressway. KPE- Kallang paya-lebar expressway. :))

it is a tunnel all the way, and prolly the longest tunnel in south-east asia as yet.

http://www.kpeunderground.sg/

looks cool. they even had songs to go with the opening. haha.

check it out. :))

about Prayer. :)

word impressed upon me today- 'secret'


5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven, (Presence)
hallowed be your name, (Praise)
10your kingdom come, (Purpose)
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread. (Providence)
12Forgive us our debts, (Pardon)
as we also have forgiven our debtors. (People)
13And lead us not into temptation, (Purification)
but deliver us from the evil one.[a]' (Protection)

14For if you forgive men when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if you do not forgive men their sins,
your Father will not forgive your sins.

-Matthew 6:5-15

amen.

today's devotion- Hebrews 1:4-5

was listening to:

Call Your Name -Planet shakers
When darkness closes in
And I'm on my knees again

I call Your Name
Cause it's the sweetest Name i know,
Jesus.

When my soul begins to soar,
And my heart it longs for more..

I call on Your Name
Jesus.

There's power in the Name
above all other names,
Jesus.

There's freedom in the Name
above all other names,
Jesus!

called upon Him with this song. it was amazing, how i took such little notice of this song, but just when the devotionals was meditating about calling upon the Name of Jesus, this song came on from my laptop, and the lyrics ministered.

and so i prayed, and uplifted my heart to Him.

Praise the Lord. He didn't just stop at the worship song alone. As i petition to Him, He sent an sg sheep online almost immediately as i ended my prayers with an amen. she had a nice nick. and cool enough, it was something i prayed to the Lord about too. about vision.

and so i asked her and wanted to learn from her sharings, what is the vision that is clear in her life? (:

she shared about HopeKids, and how she has been serving in various areas, and how God has used her in new areas such as hosting and praise and worship for the children. (:

so glad for this girl.

and the convo ended with much encouragement, thou simple, it brought delight to my heart.

hallelujah, He surely knows how to cheer us on.

Jesus, you are really awesome!


xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
(: anyway hannah,

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
its grreat to be able to talk to u online tonight

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
am greatly refreshed

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
hahas

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
i gtg now.

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
and i pray that ur ministry will bear much fruits as well!

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
let's serve the Lord with all our hearts soul mind and strength

Vision is clear to me! says:
Hey...

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
(:

Vision is clear to me! says:
before u go...

Vision is clear to me! says:
Just wanna let u know smth...

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
yes?

Vision is clear to me! says:
Be a BLESSING to the pple ard u...

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
amen

Vision is clear to me! says:
Wherever u go, just keep on impacting ur spirit & touching many lives

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
thanks loads hannah. i will take that to heart.

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
you too. impact the children with your infectious joy and spirit!

Vision is clear to me! says:
Welcome

Vision is clear to me! says:
amen...

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
take care of the rest ok! all the best to u girl! i catch u around!

Vision is clear to me! says:
really miss u...

Vision is clear to me! says:
Good night!

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
me too! i know u guys are doing great. jiayou! good nights!

xiu:: everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. says:
(:

Vision is clear to me! says:
:)

GO HANNAH GO! ! :))

today's devotion- Hebrews 1:1-3.

The Son Superior to Angels

1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

• Jesus is the heir of all things
• He is the Maker of the Universe.
• He is the radiance of God's glory.
• He is the exact representation of God.
• *He sustained all things by His powerful Word.
• He purifies us from our sins, by dying on the cross.
• He is risen Christ.

what spoke to me most, was He sustained all things, by His powerful Word. Indeed, how many times have we experienced the feeling of "near collapse" in our lives. Many times. and even as we look around, how many times, the world seems to threaten to end on its own. How these impact on our daily trust, and faith in God. But God promised that in Him, He endures forever. His love, and strength and embrace endures forever.

As humans, we fatigue. Along the way, things may not be the same as it started out. But one thing for sure, His Word is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Its the most consistent source that we can ever get. Without the Word to live by, all things will just steer away from His intent.

I remember Eric using the word "tangent" in his sharing once. The discrepancy in angle may start small initially, but slowly, yet surely, the angle will reveal larger and larger in our walk, when we dont yearn to get the accurate angle right from the starting point. And the difference in gradient gets larger and larger.

and the difference in the future, is determined by what was started in the first place. it occur to me, how important it is, to live by His Word, to take His Words to heart, to have a daily cleaning within. To face the dirty spots and stains. To confess our imperfections. To ask for a chance to do it right again.

prior reading the Word, song 'From the Inside Out' was an apt encouragement to me.

"Many times I've failed, still Your mercy remains

And should i stumble again, still I'm caught in Your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades

Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all fame.

In my heart and my soul, I give You control

Consume me from the inside out Lord

Let justice and praise, become my embrace

To love You, from the inside out.

Your will above all else

My purpose remains

The art of losing myself in bringing You praise.

From the inside out, my soul cries out..."