Monday, January 29, 2007

Fear. The greatest obstruction.

Fear. The LARGEST obstruction for us to do great things. More importantly, it is the largest obstruction for us to do great things FOR GOD.

Indeed fear is faith in the wrong thing (learnt that from Ps Doug just now). Very often we say do not step forward because your mind is telling you "I'm afraid...". We even take a step back because your heart is telling you "I'm scared...". But what actually is the thing that you are afraid of? What is the thing that is causing you to hold back? And why?

You are just simply putting your faith in the wrong thing. When you have a fear over something, you are simply saying that you believe that thing is going to harm you or hurt you. And human instinct? You protect yourself from being hurt. But what if your faith in God is greater than all this things? You believe that God will protect you in all situtations, God will make a way for you. When you believe and have faith in God 100%, then will there not be any fear? If you have just that 90% in faith in God, then the reminding 10% will be fear (faith in the wrong thing!).

Just like how Charlie Brown has reacted to Lucy's critism. Does Charlie Brown like it? Of course not. And I'm sure in his mind he would have went like "ouch. that hurts!". And your human nature will come and tell you that you are allegic to it! So what do you do if you are allegic to something? If you have an allegy to seafood, I'm sure you wouldnt want to touch them even though you know tasty they are.

What allegic are you having? An allegy to rejections? An allegy to failure? An allegy to shame? There is just so many that I can list. As for myself, I knew that I had an allegy to rejection and shame. Many of the times I knew that I had to do something, but because of this fear, I held back.

Just like having an allegy, when you touched it, you go "ouch". But you know what is the best way to counter it? Try more! The more you touch it, the more your body will be immune to it (of course not when you know that the allegy is will cause you to lose your life...). Are you afraid to preach the message? Are you afraid to share the love of Jesus with your friends? Fearing that they will reject you in your face? Are you afraid that you have heard the wrong voice? Are you afraid that you will turn the wrong direction? Fearing that you will be shamed?

TRY IT. FACE IT.

And just like a baby learning to walk. If the baby do not take the first step, then he/she will never be able to walk! But babies will always want to take the first step. Are they not afraid that they will fall? Well the reason is simply because they know that their parents will always be there to hold them and lift them up when they fall. And as parents, they will also continue to encourage their children to try again and again. And this is exactly how our Father in Heaven act towards us.

I encourage you now to move in faith, faith in God! Face your allegy! Challenge them! And know that God will always be there to lift us up when we fall.

*This message is what God has convicted me just now through the service, so now I just want to share this word with you too. May this words touch your heart, and ALWAYS remember, that God loves us, and is always behind us. No fear!

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Posted by aeronautisis at 12:12 am

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Go deep...in LOVE!


Ephesians 3: 14-21 -

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

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In this season of going deep, I just want to bring across going deep first in the foundation of Christianity, and that is LOVE.
Why do I want to say to first go deep in love? Love is the very reason for the term 'Christianity'. Love is the very reason for us 'Christians'. And that is because Love is the very reason that God sent His son to die for us.
So how can we know this love? Naturally, it's impossible.
In this passage of the bible, Paul wrote to the Ephesians and to pray for them, that they may be rooted and estalished in love, and to be able to grasp the love of God.
Can you even imagine how WIDE and LONG and HIGH and DEEP is God's love? Physically, it is infinite, always flowing, never ceasing. It is even so much that it is beyond our imagination, almost impossible for us to grasp. If that is so, how then can we know how BIG is this love? The only way, is to LET GOD.
1. Open your heart to receive the love - keep it pure!


And so how can we know of this love that SUPPASSES KNOWLEDGE? It's beyond our mind, our logical thinking. The love for someone to WILLINGLY die for you. Not just to die, but to be tortured beyond recognition, to be hang on the cross, shamed, rebuked, rejected.
Did Jesus know what He had to go through? Yes! He knew.
Did Jesus want to go through them? No! He is still God in the flesh. He was rejected from the Father for us. He asked from His Father that if it is possible, of the Father's will and not the son's, take the cup away from Him.
But did Jesus say No! to doing all this (He surely can choose NOT to do it)? NO! That's because He knew that this was the only way for man to return to God. That's because He love us.
So how can we KNOW if this love had already suppassed knowledge? LET GOD.
2. Open your mind for God to teach - keep it holy!

When we give ourselves FULLY to God, then can we know and receive FULLY the love of God!

Even before going deep in prayer and in word, we go deep in the love of Christ so that it will be the source of our strength. This is a daily battle. Will you run? Will you fight? Will you be part of the army to WIN? Even before marching into the battle ground, allow yourself to be soaked in this love so that you may know the very reason why you are fighting.

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Father I pray that may you help me too, to understand more and more of your love for me. The love that is infinite, always flowing, and never ceasing... Holy Spirit allow me to drink from it daily. Make me thirsty for more! Help me to be rooted and established in this love, so I may be able to surrender FULLY to you, and to then fight FULLY for you! Holy Spirit may you constantly remind me of the reason why I am running the race, and fighting the fight. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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Posted by aeronautisis at 12:16 am

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Walking by Faith

What does it mean to be walking by faith? This topic popped out of my mind when I was making my way home.

Walking by faith. A very common term used by Christians. So what does it really mean?

The word 'Faith' can be easily found in the bible.
1. In the instance of the Faith of God's people
2. In the instance of our Faithful God.

I shall just elaborate more on the faith of God's people.

Faith is the baseline of Christianity. In Hebrews 11:1, the bible described faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.". The term "faith" actually only came in largely after the birth of Jesus Christ. 2000 years ago, Christ died and rose again, giving us the salvation and reconciliation with God. Yet today, 2000 years after that, we believe that it did happen, and claim this salvation. This IS faith! We cannot go back to 2000 years ago to see it with our own eyes, yet we are assured and convicted that Jesus Christ is Our saviour.

But yet since this faith is in us (given to us by the power of the Holy Spirit), we still have to walk by Faith in the things we do.

One of the things that I like to do is mountain trekking. As we take each step up the mountain, we do not know where will the track bring us to. We do not know when we will reach the next checkpoint. Yet despite of all this, we still continue to climb, each step at a time.
Even in our daily lives we walk by faith. As you walk on the overhead bridge, you are assured and convicted that the bridge will not collapse. Did you test the strength of the bridge youself? NO! You just walk by faith, believing and trusting in the ones who had built the bridge.

In the Christian life? We pray and by faith God hears Our prayers. As the bible also says: "faith without deeds is useless (james 2:20). When we say we are 'walking by faith', t means that we are DOING something, and BELIEVING in God that it will be done in God's will. Faith without actions will just be pure thoughts, but faith accompanied by actions will be the great things that we can do FOR God.

But also if we are to have actions but not faith, we will very often not be able to do what we have planned, or to get 'burned-out' easily because you are running with your OWN strength!

Faith builds on each other. The more you 'use' faith, the more faith you will have. Just as our spirit gives the body life, faith gives the holy spirit life! And as we exercise this faith we have in Jesus Christ, He is then able to give gifts of faith (as mentioned in the gospel that 'your faith has healed you' when Jesus healed the sick).

Faith is the ONLY ride/transport that brings us to God. Will you hop on?

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Posted by aeronautisis at 10:00 pm

Friday, January 12, 2007

blessings beyond what we ask for

Living life with God is such an exciting thing! Here's one more example.

Today after my lessons which ended at 12noon, it was still raining heavily. So while waiting for the bus, I prayed a little short pray to ask God to stop the rain and at least let me reach home dry. However, as I have arrived at AMK, it was still raining VERY heavily. Terrible.

After loitering for a while, I then decided to just walk in the rain, under my huge thick jacket which I had brought. And as I walk, the water started to fill my shoes until there is this "squashly" feeling. The jacket also started to become much heavier. It was just water resistant and not totally water prove, and I was starting to feel that the internal area of the jacket is getting wet too. The disappointed feeling started to sink in, as to why God did not answer my prayer to stop the rain. Just at the point when I was deep in thoughts, a lady walk towards me with an additional umbrella in her hands.

"nah." And the lady just pass the additional umbrella to me. I was so shocked! My hands just moved to take the umbrella, but my mouth wouldn't even open to say a little 'thank you'. It really blew my mind! I was like, 100m more to my block, and at the point where the jacket cannot hold the rain anymore, and God just send someone to give an umbrella to me! The umbrella that the lady pass to me was spoilt, it cannot be closed anymore, but still very usable at that point of time!

Isn't God just SO great?? Although the rain did not stop, God still blessed me even beyond what I can think of! If God is to just stop the rain, I would have just been saying "God, thanks for answering my prayer." But He did not, but yet showed me His power in a much greater way to such that I would just want to kneel before Him and give Him all the praise!

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Psalm 107

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.

He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste.
But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks.
The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths.
Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.

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Lord Father I give thanks to You for your unfailing love for me and of all You wondorous deeds. Thank You Lord for delivering me from the rain. Even at such small things, Lord You cared. Father may You bless the lady who you have sent to bring me the umbrella. May she have peace in her heart, and will come to know You if she have not known. Thank You for Your great love for me. Amen.

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Posted by aeronautisis at 2:33 pm

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Taming the tongue.

Recently I have been trying to be more cautious with my words, trying to refrain myself from saying words that will not edify God. I want to be glorifying God in all places, not just in church but in the marketplace too! I had to be especially cautious in school, where almost everyone around will use vulgarities like it is a necessity in the sentence.
God further reminded me that I needed to watch what I say when I was chatting with one of my spiritual sister Valerie. Shall not elaborate the content further as it is rather personal.

In the bible (James 3: 9-12) it says:
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

As Senior Pastor had said, church starts on Monday morning. I do not what to be just praising God just on Sunday and let the tongue run wild for the rest of the week! The holy spirit has convicted me on that. But it is not going to be easy.

Our mouth is the most dangerous weapon that we hold everyday.

In James 3: 3-6, it says:
" When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. "

Isn't it so true? A lot of conflicts in this world happens because of some things that some one had said. Words can be very influential. With words we bless or curse, with words we bring a smile onto a face or a tear down the cheek. With words we can bring up someone or pull him/er down. With words we show love and with words we saw anger. Our mouth may be one very small part of our outward appearance, yet it reviews our inmost being - our heart.

"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." [James 3: 7-8]

It is not going to be easy. Or rather, it is IMPOSSIBLE to tame the tongue on our own. It is only with God, then ALL things will be POSSIBLE.

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for being with me throughout the day. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to guide me and teach me. Father I give you all praise and all glory. Lord may You continue to help me to watch my words. May the things I say glorify your name. Let not any words that will not edify your holy name come out from my mouth. Change my heart, the source of my words, to one that will love, and be slow to anger. Teach me to love your people just as You have first loved me. Use my O Lord. Here I give you my life once again, that may you use it for the blessing of others, and others will see that I am indeed Jesus' disciple. Amen.

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Posted by aeronautisis at 11:26 pm

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Good weather! All thanks to God.

The past few days was really great. Every moment I knew that God was with me. In school, on my way home, at home. God was just beside me. I pray that my intimacy with God will stay like this through this whole year!

Today there was something extraordinary which I want to share with all of you. We had to do some control line flying today for final year project, and being quite experienced in this, and with yesterday raining the whole day, I prayed. I prayed for cool nice weather, no rain, but cloudy enough to cover the sun. And with a total peace in the mind that God WILL answer my prayer, I went off to sleep.

So today during lunch, while me and Daniel was waiting for Jianxun to arrive, it actually started to rain, and rained quite heavily. I still remembered the prayer that I made so I was not really bother about it. Anyway we are at SP, and NCC HQ is rather far from here. And Daniel was saying "if later reach AMK still raining then I will just stay in the bus and take straight home." 3 seconds later after I gave him back the "tsk" and "-.-", I remembered that I told God that I will reply "don't worry. It will not rain, because I have prayed". So since I have 'replied' him already, I did not really bother about it.

Soon enough, Daniel, Jianxun and I was making our way to NCC HQ. On the bus, Daniel replied what he said to me to Jianxun. Once again, by the time I wanted to reply, it was too late.

(A series of events...)

Finally I was able to get a plane to fly. But the plane itself was not very good and thus there was alot of crashes and needed on-the-spot repair. This took up quite some time. The dark clouds began to gather, strong wind, and it started to drizzle just a little. So we were like "shucks! cAT 1 status". I began to pause for a while and said to God "hey God. I prayed. I really believed you will keep the rain away. Now I pray to you again, please send the clouds away! Let us be able to fly, let us be able to walk out of HQ dry!".

And guess what, just a short 5 to 10 minutes later, I looked up into the sky. There was not even a small dark cloud! The big blue sky, with big fluffy beautiful clouds hanging in up there. In just minutes, the weather from changed from a small drizzle with the sky full of dark clouds, to a nice hot weather (yes it became rather hot)!

Who else can do all this, other than God?! Even with small things, when we put our trust in Him, we no longer need to worry. And thanks and glory to God!

" MAKE A joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!
Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!
For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. "
- Psalm 100 (Amplified Bible)

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Posted by aeronautisis at 11:25 pm

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Tribe Meeting - Forecast of 2007


I was not looking forward to the meeting, neither was I reluctant to go. I knew that the meeting was about the forecast of 2007, and yes I was looking forward to know what pastor SL has planned for the year ahead. But that is about all. Not looking forward to a time with the family, neither praying that I will meet God.

But God is good. Even at the start of the worship, as we were singing the song that says "Father we love you. Father we need you...", God showed me a vision. He told me that even at the start of the year, I am to run to the Father like a little girl, who will protect me and love me. And with this, the Lord gave me a re-assurence of this love for me.

The other thing how the holy spirit convicted me to run with the vision for 2007.

1. Go deep: by living a reflective life.

I was taught of this in 2006, but it was not really put to actions. For this, I have started this blog for me to pen down my reflections. And if possible, I will blog down every little thing that the Lord has spoke to me about. I will show the world that my God is a living God!

2. Look far: Regular cell meeting.

But the end of 2007, I really want to see myself already being seasoned to having a regular cell meeting. It is my passion to teach my spiritual daughters, to guide them, and to see them grow. It is the heart of a mother to meet her daughters.

3. Ask big: Cell group increase to 7!

In my 2007 resolution I actually wrote: To increase the cell by 1. Theoretically and practically, increase of 1 per year is reachable right? But God convicted me. He asked me: Am I the God who is so small to give you only 1 more? For that 1 that you are believing for, is it believing in yourself, or is it believing in me? And by faith I told the Lord that yes He is the great almighty God. Why believe in the natural when I am to live in the supernatural? Increase by 1, for man it may sound possible. To increase by 4, it is only by God's grace.

And even today, Sunday 07 Jan, God had already added 1 more soul into my cell! Praise the Lord! Really all I can do, is to stand in awe of Him, and worship Him.

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Posted by aeronautisis at 11:43 pm

Let the Light Shine!

There's a few reason why I want to start this blog.

If you have been to my previous/personal blog, you will know that I have said that I do not find blogging fun anymore as I did not see the point of blogging.

But Daniel's new blog has opened my eyes. He reminded me that blogs need not be used to just say your daily routines, your complains, some of the 'wants', some of the likes and dislikes, etc.

Do not worry, I am not going to preach on this blog too. Not my calling YET. But God had put into my heart to live a more reflective life. Since 2006, I have been taught to live the reflective life for God, but it did not really work out. So one addition to my 2007 resolution, will be to keep this blog alive. It will be a platform to for me to share my reflections with all and not just to my G12 sisters and my spiritual daughters.

I was 'born' to be the warrior of light, and now is the time to let the light shine through me. As Senior Pastor said, we are move from salt to light. And light is meant to shine, to guide, and to let others see! Thus the URL of this blog. It was also something that God had showed me.

Father I pray, that you will help me to keep this blog alive. Not for anyone, but for You alone. May this blog be used mightily to shine forth Your light, and may it be used to encourage, to guide, and to lead people to come to know the God that I trust, the God that I love. God here I am, send me, use me. Help me to avail myself to you, and to be committed to live a reflective life. May Your Lord be the source of my strength, and to reach out to Your people with love and compassion. Thank You Lord. I bless You, and give You all praises because Lord, no one else deserve it other then You. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

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Posted by aeronautisis at 11:35 am