Pay a price

Thank God for our Life Group (it's called Small Group) now.

I see some young people willing to be trained to help in the Kingdom and I also see some new visitors turning from bad decisions to Godly decisions.

These may not be the sign of revival but definitely a sign of God's children turning to God day by day. It's amazing.

We had a good leadership life group session the other night, with Pastor.

Many have been asked what do they enjoyed the most out of the Life Group ministry. Some say visitors converted to believer, some say member really responded to care, and all kind of responds to the question. Most of the answer reflects very little fun, or no fun lah.

However, I noticed something really interesting pattern.... that is everyone seems to have very little "natural enjoyment" over the Life Group leadership life style, but yet the strange things are they continue to do it despite little "fun" in it.

I remember in 1 Chronicle, bible stated "..... But King David said to Ornan, “No; I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

Kind David was offered from Ornan many things free to build altar and offer unto God, but David decided to pay for the items in full price,not even in discount. He definitely understood the teaching of paying a price for serving, and offering to God.

I believe our CG leaders understands that as well, most of all, struggle to serve, with 'little" or "no joy" sometimes but continue to serve, and learn to 'enjoy' out of 'no so enjoyable' task.

I believe that itself is a price for building the altar to such offering that God will treasure the most.

:- )

自有永有的神, 也有生日

看到了宣轩的贴子, 让我想起在我生日的那一天, 我的好太太和女儿在我进家门的时候叫我闭上眼睛. 带着摸索的我到了桌前, 给了我这个surprise ! 是我太太特地为我而做的生日蛋糕.

Wah, 我活这么大, 第一次收到这么重的礼物, 我想一定是付出了很多的时间和心思.

我在想, 圣诞节是纪念耶稣的降生日.

自有永有的神, 也让自己有道成肉身的生日纪念日,

让祂放宝座, 为我这不值得这么做的人, 受尽了最极端的侮辱和离弃.

如此的爱恩典祂尚且为我付出, 还有什么祂不肯为我做的呢 ?

the Lost Generation, video

Hi guys, the lost generation includes you? It's your choice...

Busy economy, Busy Christian

This is the season of getting busy. Well, I think no one would disagree with me when I say the world economy looks pretty bad now. Even country like Malaysia with lots of natural resources cannot escape from the effect of the global downturn. 

Report has not shown good outcome, as figures shown that US spending growth is very slow in Feb-09 “....Overall confidence, even though it’s at low levels, ... as people are just spending on bare necessities..." 27-Mar-09, bloomberg.com . I must say that this is quite a worrying report.

As simple as ABC, when less are being spent, less multiplying effect in economy and therefore the slow (or dead) economy will need to be 'kick-start" to regenerate the activities, to regain momentum. Believe me if this is new to you, when US people start to spend less, it is bad for the whole world.

So in times like this, everyone, at least myself, need to stay very busy looking forward to perform their best ever in their work place. Now the aim may not be so much of earning extra or looking forward to promotion or something, but to make best effort just to maintain their position or salary in their work place, performing for the overall growth of the company to 'save own neck'. Or for business owners, working doubly hard in order to cushion the fall in revenue that has come or about to come.

Bottom line is, busy busy busy...

However, when I start to think about the church building project and our Pastor's vision for the growth of the church, and that reminds me that our God and His people really should be above all economic structures and rules. Our God and His people should not be shaken by the cycle of financial crisis or instability of demand-and-supply market. Our God and His people should be above all the reports from bloomberg.com.

Many people are like me I guess, always look forward for complicated theory and practices, and often forget to apply the most basic ones. And the most basic ones are usually very crucial.

This one is basic. When God plan to do something, the plan will happen no matter how. Maybe God doesn't need to "plan" at all, maybe He will just "Do it" without the need to plan since He is a all-knowing God and He knows the future. Well, in this case, economy is a 'too-tiny' factor that can affect His plan. 

I'm glad that I worship a God that is above all things, be it tangible or intangible things. Aren't you?

So I think we can be busy, but need not worry. Bible says "don't worry, be happy" (rejoice) mah !

Thank God for He is God that rules  

:- )

 

 

感恩,重新得力

在這年終歲末的時刻,
很多時候我們都會把這段時間看成為是一個感恩的季節,
我們會在這時段來到數算上帝在這一年裡頭在我們的生命當中的恩典.
但是也有一些在我們當中的,在這一年的結束時會感到很疲憊.
他們無法清楚的看見上帝在他生命當中的工作,無法來到數算上帝的恩典.
你是否就是那一位感到疲乏無力的,感到自己離開上帝好遠好遠的呢?你是否覺得自己對上帝爸爸感到陌生了呢?

還有一個星期,2008年就結束了,2009年也悄悄的來到了.
2008年的結束,就讓這一切都結束,把一切的疲憊無力感都放在2008年.
2009年,就讓我們重新的從上帝爸爸那裡支取一股新的力量來到面對我們新的生活.
讓我們這2008年與2009年的交替的時刻,不但成為一個感恩的季節,也是我們重新得力的季節!

與大家分享兩首詩歌




當你走到無力

當你走到無力繼續下去，
當你感到寂寞困惱空虛，
只要相信神隨時扶助你，
願助你解開困惑拋開痛悲。

當你跑到疲乏難再下去，
當你感到疑惑說我是誰，
只要相信神完全明白你，
就讓你伸手接受祂深愛你。

（副歌）
別害怕祂知你難受，
擔當軟弱與困憂，
不需再懼怕，耶穌必拯救，
願你開口接受張開你手。
別害怕祂知你難受，
擔當軟弱與困憂，
不需再懼怕，耶穌必拯救，
讓你一生快樂展翅高飛，一個全新的你。


WE ARE THE REASON 祂為了我們

As little children 小的時候
We would dream of Christmas morn 我們夢想聖誕節 在美麗的早晨
Of all the gifts and toys,We knew we'd find 有玩具禮物
But we never realized 但我們從沒想過
A baby born one blessed night 有個嬰孩的誕生
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives 賜我們最偉大 生命的禮物

We were the reason 祢為了我們
That He gave His life 付出了生命
We were the reason 祢為了我們
That He suffered and died 釘死在十架上
To a world that was lost 為迷失的世人
He gave all He could give 祢付出一切
To show us the reason to live 賜我們生命真諦

As the years went by 長大以後
We learned more about gifts 我們學習更明白
The giving of ourselves And what that means 思想我們自己是什麼意義
On a dark and cloudy day 在烏雲黑暗的那天
A man hung crying in the rain 祂哭喊掛在十架
All because of love, all because of love 全都是因為愛 為了愛

I've finally found the reason for living 我終於明白活著的原因
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him 就是把整個人全顆心獻於你
In all that I do every word that I say 做的一切和說的每句話,
I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him 我把所有一切全獻於他

你要休息，要知道我是神

在你的身边曾经, 或许正在发生着惊天动地的事.

我们的理想和梦想, 不知怎的好像总是跟钱分不开? 我常有听到这样的话（包括我自己) : "现在经济不好, 还是"看定点先“, 才来做打算（计划）".

我个人非常重视事前规划, 再配合预算内的资金和资源, 我相信这样才能推动计划, 达成理想和梦想.

但人生不如意十常八九, 如在旷野行路，或大海行舟，难免常常会遭遇一些出乎意料的困难与挑战. 诗46里, 诗人也描述"..地改变, 山摇动到海心... 外邦喧嚷，列国动摇..."

曾有经验丰富的老者对我笑谈风浪，细说当年的挑战, 轻描淡写的描述被敌人围攻的事迹. 这些都让我近年来，对我们的老前辈更额外的尊敬。回想少年时的轻狂和骄傲,对长辈心常有不尊敬的心态, 真不知天高地厚.

但神所能给的更是超越了经验, 因为在地动山摇当中, 上帝说祂”必帮助这城”. 更难想象的, 是祂还吩咐我们说 “你们要休息, 要知道我是神”.

需知道, 要做到这样, 是需要何等的信心啊!

我自问自己未能在敌人临门的时刻, 很难不会“多加一刻忧虑”. 但神的美意乃要我们得平安, 在灵里能够“休息”(Be still), 能得着镇静与安息. 我相信这样, 才能沉着应付风浪.

一起来享受神的安静吧!

p/s : 这08-Dec 到10-Dec, 我一家人也参加了教会的退休营会. 好好“休息”

:- )

Lazy to read bible

At times I was very lazy to read my bible especially in the morning. Yes I was reading them but I was merely 'reading' it without meditating on the Word. Reading bible often turns out to be a routine job for me.

I feel such lost sometimes not seeking Him, not telling Him what was really going on and not praying for His Kingdom, but own needs first. I felt guilty for not praying for the cells or our young people to grow at times.

I feel such confusion about not able to relate His will with my career many times. I feel 'disconnected' from His grace and power over my running of companies, possibly a cause of my own 'self-control' spirit dangling around my soul.

I failed to pray purposefully many often. Sometimes prayer was just merely 'sending a report' to God. I remember sometimes I was praying because I have to, and hoping the action of praying and the word of my mount will motive and encourage others. I learned from my pastors the true thing, that one of the most difficult task as a Christ-follower is to pray purposefully, persistently and with discipline.

I feel I fail to please God many times, because I allow many ungodly thoughts travel in and out my mind and never put a harsh stop to it (them). I felt such agony and tortured sometimes unable to please Him by sanctifying myself from sins and world. All in all, I'm very sure that I'm a sloth and not worth of Jesus dying for me.

However, I choose not to continue to become one, for I'm willing to grow out of my transgression. I will choose to continue to become a better Christ-follower even thought I am not a good one yet. and I will not give up my hope that I can become one because He who paid the price for has already made it possible for me.

I am definitely not yet a man that I was designed to become, but I will want to try to fill myself up according to my designers' specifications and mold. Perhaps more tweaking needed.

life goes on and "growth" is an on-going process ...

Dear friend, have you being growing into your designer's spec lately ?

拾起一捆柴

这是15-Aug 的online灵命日粮, 我借了这一段来鼓励大家. 万一你可能不知道, 我们blog的side panel有着灵命日粮的hyperlink, 是每天的更新版.

我相信它能够让大家早上一开电脑时, 可以先吃了神的灵粮才开工或其他.

愿神祝福你, 每一天都有美好的开始 !

:- )



一場痛苦的疾病，讓教聖經的比利沃克老師有好幾個月無法照常上課。後來他對學生說，因為不能教導他們，使他心裏很難過，但上帝卻藉著他的病和康復教導他。

在臥病期間，有一天，他在禱告默想的時候，被使徒行傳28章中的一段經文所吸引。這段經文記載了保羅在馬耳他遭遇船難的事蹟。他從中看到，除了保羅被毒蛇咬了卻沒事的神蹟外，還有好多教訓。

這位偉大的使徒，曾向千萬人傳講福音，行過許多神蹟奇事，寫了新約中的多卷書信，卻成了囚犯，被困在小島上。他曾否躺著哀嘆自己的遭遇？他 是否想過自己因為是使徒，就應該享有比其他人更好的待遇呢？不！聖經告訴我們，他的選擇是去幫助船上的同伴和照顧大家。當時下著雨，天氣又冷，所以保羅 「拾起一捆柴」，放在極需添柴的火堆上（第3節）。

因著困難的環境，你也許被撇在一旁好一陣子了。也許你的生命到了一個地步，不可能再參與需要消耗精力的行動了。不要悲觀失望。

請記住保羅的榜樣，去做你所能做的事，哪怕只是簡單地「拾起一捆柴」

上帝絕不會把你放在不能服事他的崗位上