"ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:7
we are to ask with a begger's humility, to seek with a servant's carefulness, and to knock with the confidence of a friend. - unknown
Friday, September 30, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
let me show u
I can’t pretend I know what you are going through
And it would be so easy to be glib,
But I am sure you know I mean it
When I say I’m always thinking of you
I am here any time you need me
If you need a shoulder to cry on
Or someone to hug or to hold you close
Maybe just to run an errand or help in any other way
Whatever it may be, please don’t think no one cares –
Let me show you how much you mean to me .
And it would be so easy to be glib,
But I am sure you know I mean it
When I say I’m always thinking of you
I am here any time you need me
If you need a shoulder to cry on
Or someone to hug or to hold you close
Maybe just to run an errand or help in any other way
Whatever it may be, please don’t think no one cares –
Let me show you how much you mean to me .
Monday, September 26, 2005
fairy tale
Once upon a time, there was a princess who didn’t know or think or even want to be a princess. She thought dreaming of being a princess are for naïve little girls! She didn’t believe in fairy tales and “happily ever after” endings. She didn’t like looking into the mirror, definitely wasn’t the fairest of them all, didn’t have the smallest feet in the land, she didn’t like putting on skin whiting products like snow white, nor keep long hair n sing at her window like Rapunzel. She did like dancing like Cinderella though. But all in all, she’s more like Fiona in “Shrek” – independent, kick-ass gal minus the sleeping in the castle waiting for her prince charming part.
I guess she identifies with Fiona as she feels and sees more the ogre of herself and despises the helpless damsel in distress stereotype. What she didn’t realize is that she unwittingly rejected the feminine, demure, gentle, beautiful (perhaps vain?!) side of her.
Well, to cut the long story short, this princess found out she IS really a princess. She found out that princes and princesses, kingdoms and magic do exist. Oh, and witches, and dragons and dragon slaying for that matter. She knows cos she has had a few dragon slaying episodes and not a few brushes with magic!
She began to take on her new found identity as a princess and allow that title to change her (in a good way, not the spoilt brat persona!) The ogre in her seemed to appear less and less, become less and less dominant. And the girly, princessy side, which she never thought was in her, began to show. These took time, as there was no fairy godmother to wave her wand in this story (which is really fine cos the process of change, is magical in itself). Though when the metamorphosis is a struggle and it hurts, and it seemed better to get it over and done with at the snapping of fingers, the princess realized the value of the slow, arduous transformation; the value of the process. This, my friend, will last beyond the setting of the sun, the strike of 12 at midnight, and will remain untouched by every witch’s curse.
Anyway, the best part is that she now believes in her prince coming for her, not so much to rescue her because her Father, the King, has already done so and freed her ( unlike the rich old incompetent, cowardly kings who send knights off and stay safe in their own castle!) She awaits her prince and the ride into the sunset together on an adventure of their own. She now believes in “happily ever after”. Or more accurately put, “rejoicing ever after.”
The End
I guess she identifies with Fiona as she feels and sees more the ogre of herself and despises the helpless damsel in distress stereotype. What she didn’t realize is that she unwittingly rejected the feminine, demure, gentle, beautiful (perhaps vain?!) side of her.
Well, to cut the long story short, this princess found out she IS really a princess. She found out that princes and princesses, kingdoms and magic do exist. Oh, and witches, and dragons and dragon slaying for that matter. She knows cos she has had a few dragon slaying episodes and not a few brushes with magic!
She began to take on her new found identity as a princess and allow that title to change her (in a good way, not the spoilt brat persona!) The ogre in her seemed to appear less and less, become less and less dominant. And the girly, princessy side, which she never thought was in her, began to show. These took time, as there was no fairy godmother to wave her wand in this story (which is really fine cos the process of change, is magical in itself). Though when the metamorphosis is a struggle and it hurts, and it seemed better to get it over and done with at the snapping of fingers, the princess realized the value of the slow, arduous transformation; the value of the process. This, my friend, will last beyond the setting of the sun, the strike of 12 at midnight, and will remain untouched by every witch’s curse.
Anyway, the best part is that she now believes in her prince coming for her, not so much to rescue her because her Father, the King, has already done so and freed her ( unlike the rich old incompetent, cowardly kings who send knights off and stay safe in their own castle!) She awaits her prince and the ride into the sunset together on an adventure of their own. She now believes in “happily ever after”. Or more accurately put, “rejoicing ever after.”
The End
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Pseudo-community
Pseudo-community
Its hallmark is the avoidance of conflict. In pseudo-community, we keep things safe; we speak in generalities, we say things that those around us will agree with. We tell little white lies to make sure no one’s feelings get hurt, no one gets tense. We keep relationships pleasant and well-oiled. Conversations are carefully filtered to make sure no one gets offended; if we feel hurt or irritated, we are careful to hide it. Pseudo-community is agreeable and polite and gentle and stagnant – and ultimately fatal. – Scott Peck, The Different Drum
Nothing can be more cruel than the leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be compassionate than the severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one’s community back from the path of sin. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer in “Life Together” p105
Its hallmark is the avoidance of conflict. In pseudo-community, we keep things safe; we speak in generalities, we say things that those around us will agree with. We tell little white lies to make sure no one’s feelings get hurt, no one gets tense. We keep relationships pleasant and well-oiled. Conversations are carefully filtered to make sure no one gets offended; if we feel hurt or irritated, we are careful to hide it. Pseudo-community is agreeable and polite and gentle and stagnant – and ultimately fatal. – Scott Peck, The Different Drum
Nothing can be more cruel than the leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be compassionate than the severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one’s community back from the path of sin. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer in “Life Together” p105
Sunday, September 18, 2005
real community
We all need to make decisions about what values we want to honour, what spiritual practices we need to engage in, what kind of friends and neighbours and sons and daughters and husbands and wives we will be. But decisions alone are not enough.
We need accountability. We also need someone who will ask us, “how it going?” is your way of life working? Do some things need to change? What are you struggling with in regard to sin or temptation?
Anything that is subject to human limitation or error requires the collegial presence of another person to ensure responsibility. It is a fact of life. - David Watson (Covenant Discipleship p17)
In the movement associated with John Wesley, people met together in little communities to help hold each other accountable for their deepest values and most important decisions. Wesley had a beautiful phrase - “watching over one another in love”.
Before someone entered into this community, they would be asked a series of questions to see if they were serious about living in mutual accountability:
Does any sin, inward or outward, have dominion over you?
Do you desire to be told of your faults?
DO you desire to be told of all your faults – and that plain and clear?
Consider! Do you desire that we should tell you whatsoever we think, whatsoever we fear, whatsoever we hear concerning you?
Do you desire that in doing this we should come as close as possible, that we should cut to the quick, and search your heart to the bottom?
Is it your desire and design to be on this and all other occasions entirely open, so as to speak everything that is in your heart, without exception, without disguise, and without reserve?
Can u imagine people in your family or your circle of friends answering yes to such questions? In Wesley’s day they did – by the thousands. They did so simply because they knew they could never grow into the people they wanted to be without help.
Over time, however, the commitment to truth-telling got lost. When these small groups shifted their focus from mutual accountability to vague sharing, most of the power of these little communities was lost. Eventually they die out. People tend to drift away from truth-telling.
p173, 174 Everybody's Normal till You Get to Know Them John Ortberg
A life of total dedication to truth also means a life of willingness to be personally challenged… but the tendency to avoid challenge is so omnipresent in human beings that it can properly be considered a characteristic of human nature – Scott Peck (The Road Less Travelled p52,53)
We need accountability. We also need someone who will ask us, “how it going?” is your way of life working? Do some things need to change? What are you struggling with in regard to sin or temptation?
Anything that is subject to human limitation or error requires the collegial presence of another person to ensure responsibility. It is a fact of life. - David Watson (Covenant Discipleship p17)
In the movement associated with John Wesley, people met together in little communities to help hold each other accountable for their deepest values and most important decisions. Wesley had a beautiful phrase - “watching over one another in love”.
Before someone entered into this community, they would be asked a series of questions to see if they were serious about living in mutual accountability:
Does any sin, inward or outward, have dominion over you?
Do you desire to be told of your faults?
DO you desire to be told of all your faults – and that plain and clear?
Consider! Do you desire that we should tell you whatsoever we think, whatsoever we fear, whatsoever we hear concerning you?
Do you desire that in doing this we should come as close as possible, that we should cut to the quick, and search your heart to the bottom?
Is it your desire and design to be on this and all other occasions entirely open, so as to speak everything that is in your heart, without exception, without disguise, and without reserve?
Can u imagine people in your family or your circle of friends answering yes to such questions? In Wesley’s day they did – by the thousands. They did so simply because they knew they could never grow into the people they wanted to be without help.
Over time, however, the commitment to truth-telling got lost. When these small groups shifted their focus from mutual accountability to vague sharing, most of the power of these little communities was lost. Eventually they die out. People tend to drift away from truth-telling.
p173, 174 Everybody's Normal till You Get to Know Them John Ortberg
A life of total dedication to truth also means a life of willingness to be personally challenged… but the tendency to avoid challenge is so omnipresent in human beings that it can properly be considered a characteristic of human nature – Scott Peck (The Road Less Travelled p52,53)
Friday, September 16, 2005
real power
Moravian Prayer Movement
100 year prayer meeting established by Moravian believers in 1727. Prosecuted Christians from Bohemia and Moravia sought Zinzendorf, a devout nobleman living in Saxony (modern Germany). Zinzendorf had named the community Herrnhut, meaning “the watch of the Lord.”
Sadly during the first five years of Herrnhut’s existence the community scarcely resembled its name. By the beginning of 1727, Herrnhut, now numbering about three hundred, was racked with dissension. Any hope of revival was out of the question. In desperation, Count Zinzendorf and others convenanted to seek God for one of the most basic focuses of all intercessory prayers, spiritual awakening.
And then on May 12 it happened. An unusual visitation of God swept through Herrnhut. In days, all dissension disappeared, every unbeliever was converted. Of those days, Count would later say, “The whole place represented a truly visible habitation of God among men.”
The entire community was seized by a spirit of intercession. By August 27, 24 men and 24 women had covenanted to spend one hour each day in intercessory prayer, thus sustaining continuous prayer. Before long, many others made similar commitments. On and on the intercessions went, month after month, year after year, decade after decade. Quoted in Decision magazine, historian A.J. Lewis relates: “For over one hundred years, the members of the Moravian church all shared in the ‘hourly intercession’. At home and abroad, on and and sea, this prayer watch ascended to the Lord.”
The Moravians’ spirit of intercession took on tangible form as they started sending missionaries abroad. Within the first 2 years of beginning their intercession for the nations, 22 Moravian workers had died. Future Moravian missionaries would refer to that season as “the Great Dying”.
But still they persisted, and still they prayed. Within 65 years the Moravians dispatched 300 missionaries throughout the world. Some of their victories, indeed, altered history. Just eleven years after the beginning of the continuing prayer watch, for instance, a young man troubled by deep spiritual doubts and apprehensions wandered into a Moravian prayer meeting in London. Years later he would say of that night that his heart was “strangely warmed” as he came to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. The man’s name was John Wesley.
from Love on its Knees by Dick Eastman
more on the Moravian Movement:
100 year prayer meeting established by Moravian believers in 1727. Prosecuted Christians from Bohemia and Moravia sought Zinzendorf, a devout nobleman living in Saxony (modern Germany). Zinzendorf had named the community Herrnhut, meaning “the watch of the Lord.”
Sadly during the first five years of Herrnhut’s existence the community scarcely resembled its name. By the beginning of 1727, Herrnhut, now numbering about three hundred, was racked with dissension. Any hope of revival was out of the question. In desperation, Count Zinzendorf and others convenanted to seek God for one of the most basic focuses of all intercessory prayers, spiritual awakening.
And then on May 12 it happened. An unusual visitation of God swept through Herrnhut. In days, all dissension disappeared, every unbeliever was converted. Of those days, Count would later say, “The whole place represented a truly visible habitation of God among men.”
The entire community was seized by a spirit of intercession. By August 27, 24 men and 24 women had covenanted to spend one hour each day in intercessory prayer, thus sustaining continuous prayer. Before long, many others made similar commitments. On and on the intercessions went, month after month, year after year, decade after decade. Quoted in Decision magazine, historian A.J. Lewis relates: “For over one hundred years, the members of the Moravian church all shared in the ‘hourly intercession’. At home and abroad, on and and sea, this prayer watch ascended to the Lord.”
The Moravians’ spirit of intercession took on tangible form as they started sending missionaries abroad. Within the first 2 years of beginning their intercession for the nations, 22 Moravian workers had died. Future Moravian missionaries would refer to that season as “the Great Dying”.
But still they persisted, and still they prayed. Within 65 years the Moravians dispatched 300 missionaries throughout the world. Some of their victories, indeed, altered history. Just eleven years after the beginning of the continuing prayer watch, for instance, a young man troubled by deep spiritual doubts and apprehensions wandered into a Moravian prayer meeting in London. Years later he would say of that night that his heart was “strangely warmed” as he came to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. The man’s name was John Wesley.
from Love on its Knees by Dick Eastman
more on the Moravian Movement:
Thursday, September 15, 2005
童话
http://www.lcbtv.com/flash/movie/tonghua.swf
光良 童话
忘了有多久 再没听到你
对我说你最爱的故事
我想了很久 我开始慌了
是不是我又做错了什么
你哭着对我说 童话里都是骗人的
我不可能是你的王子
也许你不会懂 从你说爱我以后
我的天空星星都亮了
我愿变成童话里 你爱的那个天使
张开双手 变成翅膀守护你
你要相信 相信我们会像童话故事里
幸福和快乐是结局
你哭着对我说 童话里都是骗人的
我不可能是你的王子
也许你不会懂 从你说爱我以后
我的天空星星都亮了
我愿变成童话里 你爱的那个天使
张开双手变成翅膀守护你
你要相信 相信我们会像童话故事里
幸福和快乐是结局 我要变成童话里
你爱的那个天使 张开双手变成翅膀守护你
你要相信 相信我们会像童话故事里
幸福和快乐是结局
我会变成童话里 你爱的那个天使
张开双手变成翅膀守护你 你要相信
相信我们会像童话故事里 幸福和快乐是结局
一起写我们的结局
光良 童话
忘了有多久 再没听到你
对我说你最爱的故事
我想了很久 我开始慌了
是不是我又做错了什么
你哭着对我说 童话里都是骗人的
我不可能是你的王子
也许你不会懂 从你说爱我以后
我的天空星星都亮了
我愿变成童话里 你爱的那个天使
张开双手 变成翅膀守护你
你要相信 相信我们会像童话故事里
幸福和快乐是结局
你哭着对我说 童话里都是骗人的
我不可能是你的王子
也许你不会懂 从你说爱我以后
我的天空星星都亮了
我愿变成童话里 你爱的那个天使
张开双手变成翅膀守护你
你要相信 相信我们会像童话故事里
幸福和快乐是结局 我要变成童话里
你爱的那个天使 张开双手变成翅膀守护你
你要相信 相信我们会像童话故事里
幸福和快乐是结局
我会变成童话里 你爱的那个天使
张开双手变成翅膀守护你 你要相信
相信我们会像童话故事里 幸福和快乐是结局
一起写我们的结局
23
i woke up on mon feeling EXTREMELY tired. my insides juz feel all wrong. i dunno if u know what i mean... getting old!!!! tired!! haha
anyway, tues night i was praying rather desperately re some stuff... n then i went to bed. the very first sms i read on wed morn was:
The Lord is my programmer, I shall not crash.
He installed His software on the hard disk of my heart
all His commands are user-friendly
his directory guides me to the right choices for His name sake
Even tho i scroll through the problems of life
i will fear no bugs for
His anti-virus n firewall, they comfort me!
what a cool way to start a day with! wonderful medicine this Psalm 23 is to the burdened soul!
here's the real version:
The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever
anyway, tues night i was praying rather desperately re some stuff... n then i went to bed. the very first sms i read on wed morn was:
The Lord is my programmer, I shall not crash.
He installed His software on the hard disk of my heart
all His commands are user-friendly
his directory guides me to the right choices for His name sake
Even tho i scroll through the problems of life
i will fear no bugs for
His anti-virus n firewall, they comfort me!
what a cool way to start a day with! wonderful medicine this Psalm 23 is to the burdened soul!
here's the real version:
The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
problems problems
everywhere u turn they r everywhere. trying to overwhelm u, attempting to tempt u to worry n lose ur sanity if not ur patience.
it's almost too easy to forget that God is still in control; almost too easy to think that all's lost since WE lose control.
i dunno abt u... i never seem 2 b in control. this might come as a surprise to some... but not to those who know me better. i really m NOT in control. but i do have the tendency to wrestle 4 some control.
sometimes, wat's worse is that we r holding unto the reins yet deludedly thinking we have put God in control.
then it's time to go back to God and return to Him what's His. we have to admit He is better at the wheel than us.
i mean... come on... even the winds and waves obey Him and become silent. How more in control do u wanna get? it's better to be in His boat! (mark 4:35-41 *this is NOT an exposition of the passage...! but to give a context since i write abt winds n waves obeying Jesus*)
seems like an uphill task? mission impossible? a mountain of immovable problemoS? fires that dun seem to be "put-out- able"? feel on the losing side?
it's almost too easy to forget that God is still in control; almost too easy to think that all's lost since WE lose control.
i dunno abt u... i never seem 2 b in control. this might come as a surprise to some... but not to those who know me better. i really m NOT in control. but i do have the tendency to wrestle 4 some control.
sometimes, wat's worse is that we r holding unto the reins yet deludedly thinking we have put God in control.
then it's time to go back to God and return to Him what's His. we have to admit He is better at the wheel than us.
i mean... come on... even the winds and waves obey Him and become silent. How more in control do u wanna get? it's better to be in His boat! (mark 4:35-41 *this is NOT an exposition of the passage...! but to give a context since i write abt winds n waves obeying Jesus*)
Thursday, September 08, 2005
this world has no friends, juz strangers u never met?!?!?!?!?!
that was wat my fren said while we stood at the junction waiting to cross. i seriously pondered over the profundity of her statement. "so... we are strangers who have met?" i asked.
turned out what she actually meant 2 say was the cliche: this world has no strangers, juz frens u havent met.
well, come to think of it... she may be kinda right... if u see the harshness of this dog-eat-dog world where u gotta watch ur back n mind ur words. n even if u have met some pp n probably meet them a number of times... they might jolly well STILL b strangers... the bottom line: how well do u noe who u noe? r they actually strangers?
ok... weird, sombre thots aside, today has really been such gr8 fun! hadn't had so much fun in s'pore in a long while! (had a gr8 time in US juz last month!)
felt like a kid all over again exploring the National Library n playing on the escalators n lifts, squeezing all our bags in the little locker, sitting on the couches... that simple joy in being with frens n acting silly! hahaha!
n the va va voom cafe! haha! nice vietnamese food... gr8 conversation...! hearty laughs! HO HO HO! can u believe a seminar for teachers on how to instill humour in their lessons?!
man... to my frens who refuse to b identified other than by the pseudonym "HO-LY"... thank u 4 such a wonderful time! tis a pity we didn't have camera. but i ve got it down in my memory... well, LOW, hope u dun turn up in my dreams tonight! =) haha... love u gals! so... we gonna partner in setting up the LAO NUA Vietnamese restaurant? n... yep... next month come celebrate at my house by popping corn k?
turned out what she actually meant 2 say was the cliche: this world has no strangers, juz frens u havent met.
well, come to think of it... she may be kinda right... if u see the harshness of this dog-eat-dog world where u gotta watch ur back n mind ur words. n even if u have met some pp n probably meet them a number of times... they might jolly well STILL b strangers... the bottom line: how well do u noe who u noe? r they actually strangers?
ok... weird, sombre thots aside, today has really been such gr8 fun! hadn't had so much fun in s'pore in a long while! (had a gr8 time in US juz last month!)
felt like a kid all over again exploring the National Library n playing on the escalators n lifts, squeezing all our bags in the little locker, sitting on the couches... that simple joy in being with frens n acting silly! hahaha!
n the va va voom cafe! haha! nice vietnamese food... gr8 conversation...! hearty laughs! HO HO HO! can u believe a seminar for teachers on how to instill humour in their lessons?!
man... to my frens who refuse to b identified other than by the pseudonym "HO-LY"... thank u 4 such a wonderful time! tis a pity we didn't have camera. but i ve got it down in my memory... well, LOW, hope u dun turn up in my dreams tonight! =) haha... love u gals! so... we gonna partner in setting up the LAO NUA Vietnamese restaurant? n... yep... next month come celebrate at my house by popping corn k?
this world has no strangers, juz friends u havent met
i really only love God as much as i love the person i love the least. - Dorothy Day
without friends no one would choose to live, even if they had all other good things in life. - Aristotle
there is a little volume called "The All the Better Book" in which elementary school children try to solve some of the world's knottiest problems. here's the toughest:
"With billions of people in the world, someone should be able to figure out a system where no one is lonely. what do you suggest?"
"People should find lonely people and ask their name and address. then ask people who weren't lonely their name and address. When you have an even amount of each, assign lonely and not lonely poeple together in the newspaper."-Kalani, 8 (obviously this is a girl with the gift of administration.)
"Make food that talks to you when you eat. For instance, it would say, "How are you doing?" and "What happened to you today?" - Max, 9
"We could get people a pet or a husband or a wife and take them places." - Matt, 8 (this makes you wonder about his understanding of marriage.)
"Sing a song. Stomp your feet. read a book. (Sometimes i tihnk no ones loves me, so i do one of these.) - Brian, 8
from John Ortberg's Everybody's Normal till You Get to Know Them p28
got someone u gotta meet!
Greater love has no one than thus, that he (Jesus) lay down his life for his friends. - Jn 15:13
"Never will i leave you, never will i forsake you" - Jesus
without friends no one would choose to live, even if they had all other good things in life. - Aristotle
there is a little volume called "The All the Better Book" in which elementary school children try to solve some of the world's knottiest problems. here's the toughest:
"With billions of people in the world, someone should be able to figure out a system where no one is lonely. what do you suggest?"
"People should find lonely people and ask their name and address. then ask people who weren't lonely their name and address. When you have an even amount of each, assign lonely and not lonely poeple together in the newspaper."-Kalani, 8 (obviously this is a girl with the gift of administration.)
"Make food that talks to you when you eat. For instance, it would say, "How are you doing?" and "What happened to you today?" - Max, 9
"We could get people a pet or a husband or a wife and take them places." - Matt, 8 (this makes you wonder about his understanding of marriage.)
"Sing a song. Stomp your feet. read a book. (Sometimes i tihnk no ones loves me, so i do one of these.) - Brian, 8
from John Ortberg's Everybody's Normal till You Get to Know Them p28
got someone u gotta meet!
Greater love has no one than thus, that he (Jesus) lay down his life for his friends. - Jn 15:13
"Never will i leave you, never will i forsake you" - Jesus
NO TAME FEAT
If we could but show the world that being a follower of Christ is no tame, humdrum, sheltered monotony but the most exciting experience the human spirit can know, then those who are standing outside the church looking askance at Christ would come crowding into our churches to pay Him allegiance and we might well see the greatest revival since Pentecost.
~Dr James Stewart
~Dr James Stewart
Monday, September 05, 2005
kids sharing Christ
yesterday was the beginning of my church's missions conference. the focus was on reaching our "Jerusalem". we demonstrated the sharing of the gospel using the wordless book. nearing the end of the service, i passed a wordless book to one of the kids who was at the back of the hall and i went thru the book with him (Caleb). He immediately turned to share with the boy (Ian) who was by this time drwan towards us. i was standing there listening to Caleb share and he really got it. i was so surprised. Caleb is 3 years old. n before long a group of pre schoolers gathered around and Ian was sharing with them what the wordless book was about!
man! talking about spiritual multiplers!
this is Jolyn's story. uneditted.
A few weeks ago, Evan gave me a booklet to share with my friend. It was a
bout telling other people about Jesus.
She taught me how to share it and a few days later, during recess, I satdown with one of my best friend and read the booklet to her. When I asked her if she wanted to be a child of God, she agreed! After that, I prayed with her. That was when I knew that sharing the gospel with someone else was such an easy task. When I went home, I called Evan and told her the good news. She was elated and told me I had to invite her to church. Unfortunately, when I asked my friend if she had told her parents about it, she was afraid. I prayed with her again and told her to tell her parents. The following Sunday, I asked Evan for another booklet. The next day, I excitedly shared it with another friend. She too, agreed! I prayed with her the same prayer and after that I gave the booklet to her.
My next wish is that both of my friends would be able to come to church after our PSLE examinations.
- Jolyn, 12
man! talking about spiritual multiplers!
this is Jolyn's story. uneditted.
A few weeks ago, Evan gave me a booklet to share with my friend. It was a
bout telling other people about Jesus.She taught me how to share it and a few days later, during recess, I satdown with one of my best friend and read the booklet to her. When I asked her if she wanted to be a child of God, she agreed! After that, I prayed with her. That was when I knew that sharing the gospel with someone else was such an easy task. When I went home, I called Evan and told her the good news. She was elated and told me I had to invite her to church. Unfortunately, when I asked my friend if she had told her parents about it, she was afraid. I prayed with her again and told her to tell her parents. The following Sunday, I asked Evan for another booklet. The next day, I excitedly shared it with another friend. She too, agreed! I prayed with her the same prayer and after that I gave the booklet to her.
My next wish is that both of my friends would be able to come to church after our PSLE examinations.
- Jolyn, 12
Friday, September 02, 2005
in conversation with Hudson Taylor on...
bringing the gospel to others:
“How long have you had the Glad Tidings in your country?”
Some hundreds of years,” was the reluctant reply.
“What! Hundreds of years?”
“My father sought the Truth,” he continued sadly, “and died without finding it. Oh why did you not come sooner?”
---
And we do well to remember that this gracious God, who has condescended to place His almighty power at the command of believing prayer looks not lightly on the blood guiltiness of those who neglect to avail themselves of it for the benefit of the perishing…
Let us see that we keep God before our eyes; that we walk in His ways and seek to please and glorify Him in everything, great and small. Depend upon it, God’s work, done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.
“How long have you had the Glad Tidings in your country?”
Some hundreds of years,” was the reluctant reply.
“What! Hundreds of years?”
“My father sought the Truth,” he continued sadly, “and died without finding it. Oh why did you not come sooner?”
---
And we do well to remember that this gracious God, who has condescended to place His almighty power at the command of believing prayer looks not lightly on the blood guiltiness of those who neglect to avail themselves of it for the benefit of the perishing…
relying on God's provision:
“a foolhardy business,” said those who saw only the difficulties.
“a superhuman task,” sighed others who wished them well. And many even of their friends could not but be anxious.
“You will be forgotten,” was the concern of some. “With no committee or organization before the public, you will be lost sight of in that distant land. Claims are many nowadays. Before long you may find yourselves without even the necessaries of life!”
“I am taking my children with me,” was the quiet answer, “and I notice it is not difficult to remember that they need breakfast in the morning, dinner at midday and super at night. Indeed, I could not forget them if I tried. And I find it impossible to think that our heavenly Father is less tender and mindful of His children than I, a poor earthly father am of mine. No, He will not forget us!”
“a superhuman task,” sighed others who wished them well. And many even of their friends could not but be anxious.
“You will be forgotten,” was the concern of some. “With no committee or organization before the public, you will be lost sight of in that distant land. Claims are many nowadays. Before long you may find yourselves without even the necessaries of life!”
“I am taking my children with me,” was the quiet answer, “and I notice it is not difficult to remember that they need breakfast in the morning, dinner at midday and super at night. Indeed, I could not forget them if I tried. And I find it impossible to think that our heavenly Father is less tender and mindful of His children than I, a poor earthly father am of mine. No, He will not forget us!”
---
.. it is a wonderful thing to be really one with a risen and exalted Saviour, to be a member of Christ! Think what it involves. Can Christ be rich and I poor? Can your right hand be rich and your left poor? Again, think of its bearing on prayer. Could a bank clerk say to a customer, “it was only your hand, not you that wrote that check”; or “I cannot pay this sum to your hand, but only to yourself”? no more can your prayers or mine be discredited if offered in the name of Jesus (i.e., not for the sake of Jesus merely, but on the ground that we are His, His members) so long as we keep within the limits of Christ’s credit – a tolerably wide limit! If we ask for anything unscriptural, or not in accordance with the will of God, Christ Himself could not do that. But “if we ask anything according to his will… we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
The sweetest part, if one may speak of one part being sweeter than another, is the rest which full identification with Christ brings. I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest position He must give me grace, and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient. It little matters to my servant whether I send him to buy a few cash worth or things, or the most expensive articles. In either case he looks to me for the money and brings me his purchases. So, if God should place me in serious perplexity. Of great difficulty, much grace; in circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? No fear that His resources will prove unequal to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for He is mine, and is with me and dwells in me.
The sweetest part, if one may speak of one part being sweeter than another, is the rest which full identification with Christ brings. I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest position He must give me grace, and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient. It little matters to my servant whether I send him to buy a few cash worth or things, or the most expensive articles. In either case he looks to me for the money and brings me his purchases. So, if God should place me in serious perplexity. Of great difficulty, much grace; in circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? No fear that His resources will prove unequal to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for He is mine, and is with me and dwells in me.
what a gr8 encouragement to those who are support raising! take heart! God will provide our daily bread.
Let us see that we keep God before our eyes; that we walk in His ways and seek to please and glorify Him in everything, great and small. Depend upon it, God’s work, done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.
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