Sunday, May 24, 2009 . 10:02 AM
I was so absolutely amazed as I read those devotions that I have shared about my journey with God for the past three years in my university life. I could not help but was truely grateful to God as I recounted back on every single grace and favour that he has blessed me with. First of all, let me gave thanks to God for blessing me with an A- in my Final Year Project and Professional Communication module. This was indeed a significant encouragement to me as it testified of God’s faithfulness and grace.
I prayed that even as you read this testimony, God will speaks deeply to your heart that you too can experience and taste God’s goodness in your life. The time when I started my university studies also marked the time when I came to know the Lord, Jesus Christ. It was definitely not a smooth sailing journey for me as I started off with lots of struggling in my studies and even received an academic warning from the school due to extreme poor grades in my first semester. As I just came to know the lord, I did not know how to tap on God’s strength and neither leading a positive attitude for Christ. I always seemed to be handling negative thoughts that I could not do well in my exams and often fell into a self-pity mode. It was definitely a battle of my mind and emotions.
However, due to the spirit of obedience that the lord has blessed me with, I was disciplined in the words of God. It was not a hundred percents consistency in my daily quiet time but at least I could assure that I did not abandon the bible or miss out the church services. And as all of us are human beings, it was normal that at times when we faced stress during trials, we tend to reduce our trust in the lord and try to rely on our own flesh. This happened to me countless time when I seemed to fall into the valley of Baca and experienced the silent moment from God, not knowing that he has a plan for me and was moulding me in terms of my trust and faith in him.
To shorten my testimony, definitely not because of little miracles along my journey but too much to list it down one by one that it could be compiled into a book, I will straight away shared with you my victory in the last episode of my university life. Throughout my three years, I have being faithfully serving God whenever I am called by my leader but this year was more special as I was given the opportunity to be part of the celebration ministry in the church. It was a step of great faith for me because this year was also considered the most hectic year in my studies due to my final year project. However, God has burned in my heart a passion to serve in the chorale and as such I was having my rehearsal on a weekly basis which means sacrificing more time from my project. Initially, it was not easy as I separated serving God with my studies and most of my non-believer friends do not understand why am I committing those precious time in church activities. The breakthrough came when I was called to volunteer to serve in the G12 conference and it was only one week before my final report submission. It was a struggle as I have not even started with one page of the report in which was supposed to be done eight months ago. However, I did not want to miss out the opportunity to serve in the chorale for G12. Without considering much, I went ahead and was thinking at the back of my mind that I can be a superwomen using one week to finish up an eight months report. I went with peace and joy in the serving but after the G12 conference, I panicked and realized that it was impossible for me to complete my report on time.
It was really a moment when I decided to skip my QT (but it didn’t apply before G12) so that I could earn extra time in the report. Things didn’t go smoothly and I faced extreme critical situation when I did not have a proper laptop to type my report and my file always seemed to have trouble saving or retrieving. It was only at that stressful moment when God showed me 2 Cronicles 20:17-18 in which I have shared in my previous devotion. The lord prompted me to take up my position to worship and praise him before I continued with my report just like how Jehoshaphat and his people followed God’s instruction to take their position (worship) and calm themselves down before facing their enemies. They fixed their focus on God rather then the situation and that was what I needed at that moment.
I turned my focus onto God and started to surrender my situation to him. I applied what God has showed me and begun to worship and praise him at the start and in the midst of typing my report. As I started to integrate worships and praises into my work, my burden was lifted off and my faith was gradually stirred up in trusting God even though the situation remained unchanged. God’s favor was indeed upon me as my professor agreed to extend my deadline to two more weeks upon request. I continued to serve chorale weekly and my QT did not cease. I tapped onto God’s strength in my report and eventually situation started to change. I found efficiency and effectiveness in my researching and before long; I realized that I had completed my report. Although it was not a professional report but I trust God that the product of my report belongs to him and it was definitely not because of how good I am, but by his grace and mercy that led me to the completion of the report. I put total confidence in him as I experienced how much he had pulled me through the tough situation and no matter what was the outcome; I would still continued to praise him. I learnt to release my faith and by doing that God was able to release his good work in me.
God was indeed faithful as he really blessed me with an A- in my FYP. It was a miracle for me as this was the third As that I have obtained throughout my three years in NTU. I cried the moment I saw the A- in my result slip not because I never see it before but it was a sign of God’s love to me. At times when I choose to give up, he never let me go but ensure that I can stand firm as a precious child of God.
I ended the race with victory because of God’s faithfulness. He does not only blessed me with one A- but also blessed me with an A- in my professional communication module. It was indeed a double portion of blessing. This encouraged me a lot because I had little confidence in that module due to my weakness in my English language. However, that’s not true for God. He created me wonderfully, not lacking in any part and he strengthen my weaknesses as I placed my uttermost confidence in him. Glory to God!
Therefore, I encouraged all of you to fix your eyes upon Jesus. You are his precious children and there is nothing that can withhold him from blessing you. The process may be slow but that was how God showed his miracle to Elijah in 1 King 18:42-45. God promised an abundance of rain to Elijah and he went up to the top of Mount carmel, got down on his knees with his forehead to the ground. In that position of worship, he sent his servant to run back and forth several times to check if it was going to rain. However, seven times his servant came back with disappointing results. Elijah never gave up but just said, “Go again” despite the negative reports. Doubts may have caused Elijah to give up but worship kept him strong. And finally, the servant came back and reported to him,” Well, I do see one small cloud about the size of a man’s hand.” Hallelujah! The small cloud eventually increased and brought abundance of rain. Today if your faith is as small as the cloud of the man’s hand or of the mustard seed, do not give up as God’s love and faithfulness can never fail!
I prayed that even as you read this testimony, God will speaks deeply to your heart that you too can experience and taste God’s goodness in your life. The time when I started my university studies also marked the time when I came to know the Lord, Jesus Christ. It was definitely not a smooth sailing journey for me as I started off with lots of struggling in my studies and even received an academic warning from the school due to extreme poor grades in my first semester. As I just came to know the lord, I did not know how to tap on God’s strength and neither leading a positive attitude for Christ. I always seemed to be handling negative thoughts that I could not do well in my exams and often fell into a self-pity mode. It was definitely a battle of my mind and emotions.
However, due to the spirit of obedience that the lord has blessed me with, I was disciplined in the words of God. It was not a hundred percents consistency in my daily quiet time but at least I could assure that I did not abandon the bible or miss out the church services. And as all of us are human beings, it was normal that at times when we faced stress during trials, we tend to reduce our trust in the lord and try to rely on our own flesh. This happened to me countless time when I seemed to fall into the valley of Baca and experienced the silent moment from God, not knowing that he has a plan for me and was moulding me in terms of my trust and faith in him.
To shorten my testimony, definitely not because of little miracles along my journey but too much to list it down one by one that it could be compiled into a book, I will straight away shared with you my victory in the last episode of my university life. Throughout my three years, I have being faithfully serving God whenever I am called by my leader but this year was more special as I was given the opportunity to be part of the celebration ministry in the church. It was a step of great faith for me because this year was also considered the most hectic year in my studies due to my final year project. However, God has burned in my heart a passion to serve in the chorale and as such I was having my rehearsal on a weekly basis which means sacrificing more time from my project. Initially, it was not easy as I separated serving God with my studies and most of my non-believer friends do not understand why am I committing those precious time in church activities. The breakthrough came when I was called to volunteer to serve in the G12 conference and it was only one week before my final report submission. It was a struggle as I have not even started with one page of the report in which was supposed to be done eight months ago. However, I did not want to miss out the opportunity to serve in the chorale for G12. Without considering much, I went ahead and was thinking at the back of my mind that I can be a superwomen using one week to finish up an eight months report. I went with peace and joy in the serving but after the G12 conference, I panicked and realized that it was impossible for me to complete my report on time.
It was really a moment when I decided to skip my QT (but it didn’t apply before G12) so that I could earn extra time in the report. Things didn’t go smoothly and I faced extreme critical situation when I did not have a proper laptop to type my report and my file always seemed to have trouble saving or retrieving. It was only at that stressful moment when God showed me 2 Cronicles 20:17-18 in which I have shared in my previous devotion. The lord prompted me to take up my position to worship and praise him before I continued with my report just like how Jehoshaphat and his people followed God’s instruction to take their position (worship) and calm themselves down before facing their enemies. They fixed their focus on God rather then the situation and that was what I needed at that moment.
I turned my focus onto God and started to surrender my situation to him. I applied what God has showed me and begun to worship and praise him at the start and in the midst of typing my report. As I started to integrate worships and praises into my work, my burden was lifted off and my faith was gradually stirred up in trusting God even though the situation remained unchanged. God’s favor was indeed upon me as my professor agreed to extend my deadline to two more weeks upon request. I continued to serve chorale weekly and my QT did not cease. I tapped onto God’s strength in my report and eventually situation started to change. I found efficiency and effectiveness in my researching and before long; I realized that I had completed my report. Although it was not a professional report but I trust God that the product of my report belongs to him and it was definitely not because of how good I am, but by his grace and mercy that led me to the completion of the report. I put total confidence in him as I experienced how much he had pulled me through the tough situation and no matter what was the outcome; I would still continued to praise him. I learnt to release my faith and by doing that God was able to release his good work in me.
God was indeed faithful as he really blessed me with an A- in my FYP. It was a miracle for me as this was the third As that I have obtained throughout my three years in NTU. I cried the moment I saw the A- in my result slip not because I never see it before but it was a sign of God’s love to me. At times when I choose to give up, he never let me go but ensure that I can stand firm as a precious child of God.
I ended the race with victory because of God’s faithfulness. He does not only blessed me with one A- but also blessed me with an A- in my professional communication module. It was indeed a double portion of blessing. This encouraged me a lot because I had little confidence in that module due to my weakness in my English language. However, that’s not true for God. He created me wonderfully, not lacking in any part and he strengthen my weaknesses as I placed my uttermost confidence in him. Glory to God!
Therefore, I encouraged all of you to fix your eyes upon Jesus. You are his precious children and there is nothing that can withhold him from blessing you. The process may be slow but that was how God showed his miracle to Elijah in 1 King 18:42-45. God promised an abundance of rain to Elijah and he went up to the top of Mount carmel, got down on his knees with his forehead to the ground. In that position of worship, he sent his servant to run back and forth several times to check if it was going to rain. However, seven times his servant came back with disappointing results. Elijah never gave up but just said, “Go again” despite the negative reports. Doubts may have caused Elijah to give up but worship kept him strong. And finally, the servant came back and reported to him,” Well, I do see one small cloud about the size of a man’s hand.” Hallelujah! The small cloud eventually increased and brought abundance of rain. Today if your faith is as small as the cloud of the man’s hand or of the mustard seed, do not give up as God’s love and faithfulness can never fail!
I am currently finishing my last lap of university life with Michelle in our final year project. This coming Wednesday is our most crucial and final presentation of our project which we had been working on for the past eight months. It’s a tough journey but as I reflected back every single moment of hardship in the challenges we faced, I really praised God as in those challenges, God mould me to learn to persevere and be dependent on him totally.
At this timing, actually I should be touching up on my presentation slides and speech but something which the lord showed me during these few weeks as I meditated on my QT indeed allowed me to set this time aside to share a revelation which I felt is important to each and everyone of us as we prepared ourselves for an upcoming battle and for me this battle is definitely my presentation.
In 2 Chronicles 20:17-18,
At this timing, actually I should be touching up on my presentation slides and speech but something which the lord showed me during these few weeks as I meditated on my QT indeed allowed me to set this time aside to share a revelation which I felt is important to each and everyone of us as we prepared ourselves for an upcoming battle and for me this battle is definitely my presentation.
In 2 Chronicles 20:17-18,
17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' " 18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
In our battle against our spiritual enemies (fear, stress, worries etc) our position is in Christ. It is resting in him in worship and praise.
When you are faced with a fearful situation and don’t know what to do, follow the instructions God gave Jehoshaphat and his people. Take your position (worship) and calm yourself down. Turn your focus on God.
What is interesting in this scripture is that in the time when Jehoshaphat knew that he was going to face a large vast of his enemies, he took out his time to worship God first. The question is, “How many of us in time when we knew that we are going to face a challenges or a fearful situation, take out the precious time to worship and praise God first?”
I was thinking what were the thoughts that Jehoshaphat’s people had on him at that moment. They must be feeling real fearful, knowing that at any time their enemies were going to attack them and they must be filled with lots of insecurity. They may not fully understand why Jehoshaphat still could set aside that critical time to worship the lord but they obeyed and followed him.
Take note!! The worship started before the battle and not after the battle. This was because it was a worship of deliverance.
Further down the scripture, we witness the answer as in verse 22,
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
That’s the power of worship! It’s a worship to deliver them from their enemies as the battle belongs to the lord and as they worshiped the lord fight the battle for them.
Therefore, I encouraged all of us especially for those who were taking their exam during this period. Time for revision may be short but take out some times before your exam to set your posture in worships and praises to the lord and witness how he can deliver all fear from you and assist you in victory over your battle!
When you are faced with a fearful situation and don’t know what to do, follow the instructions God gave Jehoshaphat and his people. Take your position (worship) and calm yourself down. Turn your focus on God.
What is interesting in this scripture is that in the time when Jehoshaphat knew that he was going to face a large vast of his enemies, he took out his time to worship God first. The question is, “How many of us in time when we knew that we are going to face a challenges or a fearful situation, take out the precious time to worship and praise God first?”
I was thinking what were the thoughts that Jehoshaphat’s people had on him at that moment. They must be feeling real fearful, knowing that at any time their enemies were going to attack them and they must be filled with lots of insecurity. They may not fully understand why Jehoshaphat still could set aside that critical time to worship the lord but they obeyed and followed him.
Take note!! The worship started before the battle and not after the battle. This was because it was a worship of deliverance.
Further down the scripture, we witness the answer as in verse 22,
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
That’s the power of worship! It’s a worship to deliver them from their enemies as the battle belongs to the lord and as they worshiped the lord fight the battle for them.
Therefore, I encouraged all of us especially for those who were taking their exam during this period. Time for revision may be short but take out some times before your exam to set your posture in worships and praises to the lord and witness how he can deliver all fear from you and assist you in victory over your battle!
Thursday, May 14, 2009 . 1:45 AM
I'm feeling so refreshed after attending the prayer meeting at Expo. I was glad to serve in the chorale today as initially was still handling thoughts of deciding whether to serve.
But as I'm making the decision, three questions popped out in my mind this morning on why am I thinking of not serving:
(1) Are you feeling unwell today?
(2) Are you going for the prayer meeting today?
(3) Do you want to miss out the opportunity of being involve in taking part in God serving commitee?
My Answer to each of the question is:
(1) No. I'm feeling perfectly fit today and not feeling any single bit of tireness.
(2) Yes. I'm going for the prayer meeting.
(3) I really want to serve God in every given opportunity.
Then, why am I handling those thoughts of not serving chorale? Isn't the answer obvious? Its a YES to serve in the chorale today.
I'm a person who thinks a lot and sometimes I think the Holy Spirit really need to poke those bubbles floating out of my brain which contain all the senseless and redundant thoughts that not only kill my precious brain cells but increase my worries and destroy the peace in me.
In this season, I'm learning to think and focus only on what is useful and beneficial in my spiritual growth and not to entertain on those unnecessary thinkings which can affect my emotion as well as hindering my growth in the lord.
I need to be discipline in my quiet time on meditating on the words so that it can provide the vitamins to my spiritual growth and guard my heart, mind and spirit. It is not easy as i'm quite a slacker and tend to be tempted to do the things that I enjoyed such as sleeping, watching TV and playing computer games.
In order to ensure that i'm discipline in my daily QT, I have decided to blog my devotion at least three times per week. It may seemed easy for some of you but definitely not that easy for me. Therefore, I wished to start simple with three postings on my blog per week and slowly incresed until I can blog on a daily basis. This should help to keep an account of my daily QT.
Friday, May 8, 2009 . 11:56 PM
Recently, I bought a CD through the recommendation of one of my spiritual brothers, titled "CompassionART". It was an amazing and heart-touching worship CD because it gathered 15 wonderful songs inspired by 12 famous artists such as Tim Hughes, Joel Houston, Micheal W.Smith and many more. What touches my heart is not only about how great the songs were but the journey on the production of this CD.
It all started with Martin from the band Delirious? to gather 12 wonderful song writers over the world to have a retreat in scotland where this retreat is not the usual type of retreat in which we always enjoy. It was a retreat where God's people gathered and by faith to be used by God in their area of talent to come out with 15 worship songs to cry out for the justice for the poor and needy in the world.
I was extremely encouraged by how each and everyone of them threw aside their agenda and came together with one vision to work for the impossible and humble themselves down to seek the lord on composing songs that are going to help the poorest of the poor.
One of their tag line, " It's impossible to call ourselves worshippers and not be moved in the area of justice" had showed how much they were willing to be used as a vessel for God. There are many great worshippers in the world today and I had no doubt on how God had moved uniquely and impact each of their life but how many could actually stand up like these 12 worshippers to sing for justice and shake the nation. I was greatly inspired by them even as I meditate on the lyrics of their song. It touches my heart deeply.
I have never being to any of the poor countries and could not personally witness the suffering of the poors in those countries but through the documentry that they film had really broken my heart especially when one of the artists said, "The parents among those poors don't even name their child cos they don't even know how long they can survive". Its so so sad to hear that. Can you imagine a parent bringing the joy of a new life into the world but couldn't afford to feed them and have to watch them die from starvation and diseases because of poor sanitary in their countries. I thanks God and felt so fortunate in where I am now... having more than enough of food for my daily three meals, new clothes to wear and even school to attend. What about them? I prayed that indeed more open doors will be opened up to let people aware of the situation in these poor countries so that justice can be cry out for them, opening up doors for more volunteers to go and bless them in their needs. I too pray that I can have the opportunity one day to go and bless these poors in the world. Although, I don't have the ability right now to visit or help them, but what I can do is to pray for them in every of my prayer and grace before food.
I encouraged you all to purchase this compassionART CD as a form of support for their this project to carry on, touching the heart of people in the world to help the poorest of the poor.