"Jesus is the only Spotlight that is powerful enough to shine into the inner most parts of our hearts and reveal the things that we need to change. Yet at the same time, He alone can give us the grace to change for the better, and become more and more like Him."
"Lord, as You continue to bring all of us thru this season, this time where everything just piles up on us, this period where the academics take its tow on us, be gracious to us Lord. Watch over us and give us the passion to want to spend time with You, daily. Father, I pray that the fire that You have placed in us, keep flaming it. If it can be like a forest fire, Lord I pray for that to happen in all our hearts. Not just a bush fire. Lord I ask for a forest fire in all of my brother's and sister's hearts. That even when exam periods come, studies is still NOTHING, when it compares with intimacy with You. Lord, I ask that You will honor those who seeks You first for You said that if we seek You first, the Kingdom of God and all Your righteousness, ALL these things will be added unto us. I lift up everyone in the cell to You Lord. Bless them and watch over them as they enters into their last week of school and as reading week begins. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!!"
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Following Jesus... Half way, or All the way?
Blessed day dear cellmates,
I was just reflecting this day (It is Friday over here, which means Saturday afternoon for you all), have I followed Christ all the way or half way only? I will confess, it is only half way and I am still learning to follow Him all the way. Allow me to explain...
In Matthew 16:24, Jesus told the disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
When you read this verse in the Bible, may I humbly ask, what comes into your mind? For me, when I first read it, I ask myself, "Yes, I will deny myself, I will give up the pleasures of this world, and I will have self-denial, in which I will be broken before the Lord and I will just deny all the pleasures of this world."
That itself, I believe that many of us may have thought about it. That as Christians we must lead a life pleasing to God, to deny ourselves the worldly pleasures of this world. That is true, we must be a shining light for Jesus. BUT...
I am convinced that is not all Jesus is trying to say.
Being here in USA, I have seen the twisted moral values, I am come into contact and conversation that I have never joined in before when I was in Singapore. The morals and beliefs that they have is shocking, and there are many times where I know I have to stand firm in my beliefs and not be swayed. I thank God I manage to do so. That is good BUT...I started thinking a little more.
Yes, I have followed what He taught me, Yes I have followed the principles to lead a life pleasing to Him. BUT it is not my all. Pls read on...
When Jesus said to take up the cross and follow Me, to many, like me as well, I took it as to follow His life of self-denial, and i stop short at His life of power. To pick up the cross and walk with Him, for me, it was to crucify my sin nature on the cross and embrace a joyless brokenness as an evidence of the cross. Is that really what He is FULLY trying to say? Or is there more?
I believe there is more. And I am convicted inside me to share it with you all. We must follow Him, and what was written above is true. We must deny ourselves and confess our sins and embrace the cross. But we must FOLLOW HIM ALL THE WAY, and that includes a lifestyle that is empowered by the RESURRECTION!!
For me, I realized I have focused on the Cross, before the Resurrection and not after it!! I remembered pastor Bill Johnson, who shared something that says, "RELIGION IS UNABLE TO MIMIC THE LIFE OF RESURRECTION WITH ITS VICTORY OVER SIN AND HELL."
That is a powerful statement!! It is important to constantly reflect. It is good to "introspect" oneself. But if we are always filled with introspection and if we are constantly telling ourselves, "OH I am weak, I am not good", we are embracing an inferior cross!!
If i make a harsh statement, please forgive me. If we are always focusing on our weakness, then we will always be trapped in this counterfeit. You see, if the stupid devil knows we, as Christians will not be interested in anything that is EVIL, he is smart enough to then get us focus on our unworthiness and our weaknesses. Because if he successfully does that, we will become so introspective that we will keep looking at the weak points of us and totally forgot the very reason why Jesus is in our lives (His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses). Satan is not that dumb as I thought he is to be after all.
I learnt this while I was in Bethel Church and while I am here in UCSC, it just triggered me to think about my days back in Bethel Church. You know dear brothers and sisters, if we always focus on our weaknesses and our bad points, and think that it is a very humbling thing to do, we have completely deceived ourselves. I totally respect Pastor Bill Johnson and he has taught me that such an act, is the ultimate subtleness of PRIDE! Cause it is always about ME ME ME, about MY own weaknesses. Where is the ONE who has died for me and paid for everything? Somehow, He has disappeared from the picture and I became centre-stage.
I must reemphasize that I am not saying that denying the world and carrying the cross is bad. IT IS GOOD AND WE ALL HAVE TO DO THAT. I just wish to share a "second half" that I realized when Jesus said to Follow Him.
I guess it is pretty heavy yeah? But guess what, it is getting heavier.
Allow me to quote something that i have read. It completely made me rethink about what Matthew 16:24 said.
"By being SOLD on my own unrighteousness, the enemy has disengaged me from effective service. It is a PERVERSION of true holiness when introspection causes my spiritual self-esteem to increase, BUT my effectiveness in demonstrating the power of the gospel to decrease." - from the book, When Heaven Invades Earth
Following Christ includes being in this world but not OF it. But it also includes receiving the POWER that He has given to us. I believe each of us, our weaknesses, have been replaced by His strength. And we will focus on this strength of His to lead life that is truly for Him. And even in the midst of every situation we face, however tough, and however incapable we THINK we are, We will still be capable because He is working in us, for us, thru us.
May all of us proudly declare that we have been redeemed by Him and we will focus on the GOODness that He has given to us. And truly follow Him ALL THE WAY. I am glad you are all walking together as one family. Love you all.
I was just reflecting this day (It is Friday over here, which means Saturday afternoon for you all), have I followed Christ all the way or half way only? I will confess, it is only half way and I am still learning to follow Him all the way. Allow me to explain...
In Matthew 16:24, Jesus told the disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
When you read this verse in the Bible, may I humbly ask, what comes into your mind? For me, when I first read it, I ask myself, "Yes, I will deny myself, I will give up the pleasures of this world, and I will have self-denial, in which I will be broken before the Lord and I will just deny all the pleasures of this world."
That itself, I believe that many of us may have thought about it. That as Christians we must lead a life pleasing to God, to deny ourselves the worldly pleasures of this world. That is true, we must be a shining light for Jesus. BUT...
I am convinced that is not all Jesus is trying to say.
Being here in USA, I have seen the twisted moral values, I am come into contact and conversation that I have never joined in before when I was in Singapore. The morals and beliefs that they have is shocking, and there are many times where I know I have to stand firm in my beliefs and not be swayed. I thank God I manage to do so. That is good BUT...I started thinking a little more.
Yes, I have followed what He taught me, Yes I have followed the principles to lead a life pleasing to Him. BUT it is not my all. Pls read on...
When Jesus said to take up the cross and follow Me, to many, like me as well, I took it as to follow His life of self-denial, and i stop short at His life of power. To pick up the cross and walk with Him, for me, it was to crucify my sin nature on the cross and embrace a joyless brokenness as an evidence of the cross. Is that really what He is FULLY trying to say? Or is there more?
I believe there is more. And I am convicted inside me to share it with you all. We must follow Him, and what was written above is true. We must deny ourselves and confess our sins and embrace the cross. But we must FOLLOW HIM ALL THE WAY, and that includes a lifestyle that is empowered by the RESURRECTION!!
For me, I realized I have focused on the Cross, before the Resurrection and not after it!! I remembered pastor Bill Johnson, who shared something that says, "RELIGION IS UNABLE TO MIMIC THE LIFE OF RESURRECTION WITH ITS VICTORY OVER SIN AND HELL."
That is a powerful statement!! It is important to constantly reflect. It is good to "introspect" oneself. But if we are always filled with introspection and if we are constantly telling ourselves, "OH I am weak, I am not good", we are embracing an inferior cross!!
If i make a harsh statement, please forgive me. If we are always focusing on our weakness, then we will always be trapped in this counterfeit. You see, if the stupid devil knows we, as Christians will not be interested in anything that is EVIL, he is smart enough to then get us focus on our unworthiness and our weaknesses. Because if he successfully does that, we will become so introspective that we will keep looking at the weak points of us and totally forgot the very reason why Jesus is in our lives (His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses). Satan is not that dumb as I thought he is to be after all.
I learnt this while I was in Bethel Church and while I am here in UCSC, it just triggered me to think about my days back in Bethel Church. You know dear brothers and sisters, if we always focus on our weaknesses and our bad points, and think that it is a very humbling thing to do, we have completely deceived ourselves. I totally respect Pastor Bill Johnson and he has taught me that such an act, is the ultimate subtleness of PRIDE! Cause it is always about ME ME ME, about MY own weaknesses. Where is the ONE who has died for me and paid for everything? Somehow, He has disappeared from the picture and I became centre-stage.
I must reemphasize that I am not saying that denying the world and carrying the cross is bad. IT IS GOOD AND WE ALL HAVE TO DO THAT. I just wish to share a "second half" that I realized when Jesus said to Follow Him.
I guess it is pretty heavy yeah? But guess what, it is getting heavier.
Allow me to quote something that i have read. It completely made me rethink about what Matthew 16:24 said.
"By being SOLD on my own unrighteousness, the enemy has disengaged me from effective service. It is a PERVERSION of true holiness when introspection causes my spiritual self-esteem to increase, BUT my effectiveness in demonstrating the power of the gospel to decrease." - from the book, When Heaven Invades Earth
Following Christ includes being in this world but not OF it. But it also includes receiving the POWER that He has given to us. I believe each of us, our weaknesses, have been replaced by His strength. And we will focus on this strength of His to lead life that is truly for Him. And even in the midst of every situation we face, however tough, and however incapable we THINK we are, We will still be capable because He is working in us, for us, thru us.
May all of us proudly declare that we have been redeemed by Him and we will focus on the GOODness that He has given to us. And truly follow Him ALL THE WAY. I am glad you are all walking together as one family. Love you all.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Greetings
Dear everyone,
I may not post here often but it doesn't mean I don't read the blog. I think you guys have used it really awesomely. You have redeemed technology for Christ by sharing your thoughts and life here.
So I thought I should drop everyone here a line to say, keep meeting up in whatever forms. Use every moment to encourage and edify one another in love and towards good deeds for the glory of Christ.
I missed seeing some of you at All Night Prayer. I know this is exam and crunch time for most of you so it doesn't mean that if you weren't there meant you missed out on something. No you didn't, because you were thought of and prayed for.
Keep focusing on Jesus.
Love, Charissa
Daddy is NEVER Biased.
Hello dear cell,
Can someone pls refresh me about the name of our cell? Is it call "The Cell"? It slipped my mind. So sorry.
I am so happy when Kevin told me about what happened at overnight prayer. It is truly an exciting moment that God is moving in COOS and in each of our lives. I pray that all of us will catch the wind of the holy spirit as it flows through each of us.
May I humbly extend a simple sharing with you all today? I am not sure how busy everyone of you are right now, but I believe all of you guys are extremely busy with a lot of work and final exams coming. Likewise over here for me. Just had 4 mid-terms and I got another 2 more next week and 2 reports and assignments to submit. But all these are just secondary in our lives. That is what I choose to believe and have been convicted about because everything here is temporal. If He rewards us by honoring Him first, everything else can take a step back. I am "greedy" for the reward that is in Heaven and it is the one thing I will pursue, above all the things of this temporal world we are in.
I know Daddy is looking after every single one of you and I am very thankful for that. I wish to share something that I just feel in me, that will encourage all of you as much as it has encouraged me tremendously. Something in me just clicked and directed my attention to our cell when I read this passage from the Bible.
In Acts 10, the entire chapter, we witness something very amazing. It is the story of Cornelius calling on Peter. But the part that caught my attention is the part whereby Peter realized the fairness our God has. In Acts 10, we know very clearly that Jews never mix with the Gentiles. But in the eyes of our Father, He sees it differently. In verse 34, Peter is enlightened. "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right."
In verse 45, it reads, "The circumcised believers (OUCH!) who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles."
The Jews were stunned by God's acceptance of Gentiles into His eternal plan and kingdom. When we all get right down to it, God's selection factor and standards are totally different from ours. If we realized the people He picked to become man and woman of God, we will realized that among them there are Murderers (Moses and Paul), there are Scheming people like Jacob, there are people that commit adultery (David) and many more. Look at the 12 that He chose. None are perfect. In His eyes, who cares Jews or Gentiles?
Applying this to us today, God is forgiving in a way that makes Him and equal-opportunity God. You and I are people that are created in His image and guess what, we are then re-created to live FOR Him (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I wish to tell you from the bottom of my heart, our cell is made up of every kind of people. Some lack this, others lack that. Can I find someone in our cell that is perfect? I guess I just asked a rhetorical question. Of course not! And I would not even bother to look for one perfect person when I have already found the One that I can follow and learn from for eternity. Each of us are made the way He made us, and it does not matter whether we have this or we lack this and that person has this and we do not have. What matters is how much can we give of what we have to Him.
I am glad to be in a cell where everyone's goodness complement the other person's weakness. That is what brothers and sisters are for. May we practice the same kind of graciousness and acceptance that our Father shows.
I am not with you guys back home now, but I sense in me that there are people that may need a reassuring reception, an open heart and maybe even, just an open arm and an open ear. Praying for all of you. And I will be here to offer mine to you all as well.
With Love,
Chris
Can someone pls refresh me about the name of our cell? Is it call "The Cell"? It slipped my mind. So sorry.
I am so happy when Kevin told me about what happened at overnight prayer. It is truly an exciting moment that God is moving in COOS and in each of our lives. I pray that all of us will catch the wind of the holy spirit as it flows through each of us.
May I humbly extend a simple sharing with you all today? I am not sure how busy everyone of you are right now, but I believe all of you guys are extremely busy with a lot of work and final exams coming. Likewise over here for me. Just had 4 mid-terms and I got another 2 more next week and 2 reports and assignments to submit. But all these are just secondary in our lives. That is what I choose to believe and have been convicted about because everything here is temporal. If He rewards us by honoring Him first, everything else can take a step back. I am "greedy" for the reward that is in Heaven and it is the one thing I will pursue, above all the things of this temporal world we are in.
I know Daddy is looking after every single one of you and I am very thankful for that. I wish to share something that I just feel in me, that will encourage all of you as much as it has encouraged me tremendously. Something in me just clicked and directed my attention to our cell when I read this passage from the Bible.
In Acts 10, the entire chapter, we witness something very amazing. It is the story of Cornelius calling on Peter. But the part that caught my attention is the part whereby Peter realized the fairness our God has. In Acts 10, we know very clearly that Jews never mix with the Gentiles. But in the eyes of our Father, He sees it differently. In verse 34, Peter is enlightened. "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right."
In verse 45, it reads, "The circumcised believers (OUCH!) who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles."
The Jews were stunned by God's acceptance of Gentiles into His eternal plan and kingdom. When we all get right down to it, God's selection factor and standards are totally different from ours. If we realized the people He picked to become man and woman of God, we will realized that among them there are Murderers (Moses and Paul), there are Scheming people like Jacob, there are people that commit adultery (David) and many more. Look at the 12 that He chose. None are perfect. In His eyes, who cares Jews or Gentiles?
Applying this to us today, God is forgiving in a way that makes Him and equal-opportunity God. You and I are people that are created in His image and guess what, we are then re-created to live FOR Him (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I wish to tell you from the bottom of my heart, our cell is made up of every kind of people. Some lack this, others lack that. Can I find someone in our cell that is perfect? I guess I just asked a rhetorical question. Of course not! And I would not even bother to look for one perfect person when I have already found the One that I can follow and learn from for eternity. Each of us are made the way He made us, and it does not matter whether we have this or we lack this and that person has this and we do not have. What matters is how much can we give of what we have to Him.
I am glad to be in a cell where everyone's goodness complement the other person's weakness. That is what brothers and sisters are for. May we practice the same kind of graciousness and acceptance that our Father shows.
I am not with you guys back home now, but I sense in me that there are people that may need a reassuring reception, an open heart and maybe even, just an open arm and an open ear. Praying for all of you. And I will be here to offer mine to you all as well.
With Love,
Chris
Thursday, November 8, 2007
overnight prayer
hey chris, overnight prayer was great... Pastor Derric and Darren went to Redding too so they gave us some pointers and catered time to soak in the presence of God... juz relax and hear His voice...
then we prayed fer church, each other and others... there was also art ministry... ppl drew according to wad HS spoke to them... confirmations of God's love keep appearing and also opening of heaven and pouring out of HS... mainly a time of refreshment and revival... worship was great as well... snacks were gd also =p wish u were with us =)
love,
kev
then we prayed fer church, each other and others... there was also art ministry... ppl drew according to wad HS spoke to them... confirmations of God's love keep appearing and also opening of heaven and pouring out of HS... mainly a time of refreshment and revival... worship was great as well... snacks were gd also =p wish u were with us =)
love,
kev
Serving Our King...
Hey dear cellmates,
How was overnight prayer? Oh man so exciting!!! Did u all pray up a storm? I am so excited to hear about the things that you all presented to Daddy. Share with me if you guys are willing ok? Guess many are still sleeping yeah? Wish I can join you all at overnight prayer man, but yeah, will pray over here in US for now. It is 12 degrees now as I am typing this entry. Hope many of you are doing well. May His love, joy, peace, blessing continue to overflow in your lives.
Speaking of prayer, a thought came to me. Do we all love to pray and intercede for others? Intercede means to intervene on behalf of another person. And I believe sometimes and in fact many times, it is because the other person has lost his or her own capability to pray for himself or herself, or does not even want to pray for himself or herself at all or maybe doesn't even know Christ. I was wondering, why does Daddy give us a privilege to be intercessors, to intervene on one's behalf? If God is so big, so strong and so mighty and that there is nothing our God cannot do, then why does He still make use of us to help intervene and pray for the other person? He could have easily just handle it Himself. God could have just solve the other person's issues with a click of his hands. He is God.
But I believe it is the manifestation of Him to others, THRU us that delights Him most. That when we all pick up the privilege to partner with Him, and thru us, people see the love of Christ that flows out of us for them. A helping hand, a quiet prayer for someone in need, a request to pray for the other person, or even praying up a storm for issues of this world and His people, I believe He delights in giving us the privilege to partner with Him. After all, we are His Sons and Daughters for a reason.
I think Daddy God chose to let us have the privilege to pray for others for the same reason that He chose not to preach the gospel, but instead to have us do so. He chose to let His creation enjoy the privilege to serve Him and thru this service, we ourselves see His miracles and powers when He partners up with us.
Pastor Bill Johnson said something so true. "Service with purpose affirms identity." We are indeed called to be at His service and thru this service we have found our identity. We are of Royal Blood. And the best part is, often times, we not only just serve Him, we work WITHHim and serve WITH Him.
That is the best part of this Service. We get to serve WITH the person we serve...for eternity. What a privilege...
How was overnight prayer? Oh man so exciting!!! Did u all pray up a storm? I am so excited to hear about the things that you all presented to Daddy. Share with me if you guys are willing ok? Guess many are still sleeping yeah? Wish I can join you all at overnight prayer man, but yeah, will pray over here in US for now. It is 12 degrees now as I am typing this entry. Hope many of you are doing well. May His love, joy, peace, blessing continue to overflow in your lives.
Speaking of prayer, a thought came to me. Do we all love to pray and intercede for others? Intercede means to intervene on behalf of another person. And I believe sometimes and in fact many times, it is because the other person has lost his or her own capability to pray for himself or herself, or does not even want to pray for himself or herself at all or maybe doesn't even know Christ. I was wondering, why does Daddy give us a privilege to be intercessors, to intervene on one's behalf? If God is so big, so strong and so mighty and that there is nothing our God cannot do, then why does He still make use of us to help intervene and pray for the other person? He could have easily just handle it Himself. God could have just solve the other person's issues with a click of his hands. He is God.
But I believe it is the manifestation of Him to others, THRU us that delights Him most. That when we all pick up the privilege to partner with Him, and thru us, people see the love of Christ that flows out of us for them. A helping hand, a quiet prayer for someone in need, a request to pray for the other person, or even praying up a storm for issues of this world and His people, I believe He delights in giving us the privilege to partner with Him. After all, we are His Sons and Daughters for a reason.
I think Daddy God chose to let us have the privilege to pray for others for the same reason that He chose not to preach the gospel, but instead to have us do so. He chose to let His creation enjoy the privilege to serve Him and thru this service, we ourselves see His miracles and powers when He partners up with us.
Pastor Bill Johnson said something so true. "Service with purpose affirms identity." We are indeed called to be at His service and thru this service we have found our identity. We are of Royal Blood. And the best part is, often times, we not only just serve Him, we work WITHHim and serve WITH Him.
That is the best part of this Service. We get to serve WITH the person we serve...for eternity. What a privilege...
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
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