Sunday, April 23, 2017

unwind

I been waiting for some time to share it. Sometimes I love to but maybe I scared of backlash. But after today, I realized sometimes people needs to know the reality.

This weekend has been one of the most tiring weekend I had in recent times.

Especially after one long crazy session of worship on Saturday then preaching on Sunday. Coupled with handling ministry matters. Details, details, details. Then, I had a series of unfortunate events. Haha, not that kind of movie/storybook/series.. but yea. I never felt so exhausted emotionally, physically and spiritually in recent times.

So tired that I cancel all my outing/dating plans for the long weekend. Thankfully, my loving wife understand it.

Even if I can go on, I running beyond empty fuel/tank. Sometimes way beyond it. Way powerful than any petrol out there. You may say Jesus is the fuel eventually, well, true but sometimes we need to admit to our human side to know and realized we need Him.

Even Jesus, in the Bible, we learnt that after a long ministering period, he too retreat and spend some time to recuperate. As years goes by, I understand why.

When you give your best, when you pour out your life.. sometimes you need to fill back that "tank". As human-ly as we are, we need that.

So I just want to say that I apologize if sometimes I turned down invitations to go for meals or going anywhere for socializing because most of the time, I need time and space to "recover". It's not because that I am anti-social, it's because I really need to rest.

Even if I joined, I am not sociable as I (or you) would like. I will probably be quiet. Probably "busy playing my hp" (which my wife would be not pleased) or probably not making sense when I talk.

Now I understand why some pastors that I know doesn't go out that often. It's not that we don't want to socialize, God knows we love to, but in reality, you cannot fathom how exhausting that person went through.

Lately I going through a period where everything comes fast and furious. I know it sounds like that movie but literally it is. Honestly, a lot of times I feel I could have handled some of the situation better if I was in a better or healthier self. So emotionally, I know I reacted badly to a lot of things. For that, I am really sorry. We can't be perfect no matter who we are.

Sometimes I feel annoyed that I have to apologize for things that is not really my fault at the first place but what to do, we live in a fallen world.

That's why we need God's grace. Something I preached about today and still important for everyone to learn. 
 
Some people have asked over the years if I want to "go away for retreat". I do actually but somehow the timing haven't been right, I can't be selfish or irresponsible to dump what I do and be away. I rather make sure all is well than to let my retreat be interrupted. 

But anyway, please remember me in your prayers. It's never a battle against flesh and blood, but a spiritual one.

Meanwhile, I am always thankful for people who worked hard to support the ministry I am in. From worship team to ushers to leaders to friends and family, and especially my wife. Thank you all for making life worthwhile.

Cheers.

Hoping for MU's win later at Burnley... >P

Saturday, April 22, 2017

night of worship


Tonight was something I won't forget in a hurry. Loved how God moved and how we respond with our heart of worship. 

Reading some testimonies and seeing the pictures of every cell groups warms my heart to know our God is moving. 

And His love is unstoppable 😃I don't know where God will lead us from here, but I can only believe He prepares the best for those who believe in Him.
 

My heart is just grateful for everything that happened tonight. This year have been ups and downs but God is good, all the time.
 

And all the time, He is good.
 

Thank you all for making this night wonderful. All glory to Him! 

May this be our breakthrough in the "year of restoration" 

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Prayer meeting - APRIL

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


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It was a blessing to be part of this month's English zone prayer meeting. Love the faith level of the people. Looking forward to greater things with God. #ilovefcc

Friday, April 14, 2017

Good Friday

Yesterday, a worship team member asked me "why bad things always happen when we are around?"

I don't know why I promptly answered, "because we are the best, that's why we can handle bad and screw-up things."

Maybe that day itself, I went through a lot. A lot of things that could go wrong, went wrong! I nearly wanted to break down a few times. In fact, it's the story of my life at times.

Each time I have such questions of WHY, I am always meet with answers from God, who I believe also send some people to remind me too, with the message that sounds like - "because you are the best person for the role/job/in this season".

Hate to admit it but sometimes it's true in many ways. Yup, insert meme quote here : "win liao lor".

There's a reason why we are in the heat of the action when things can go south. Because God is preparing us for something good and have prepared us for such situation. He knows what's best and He know who can deal with it. The best part is, although often we forget, that if God put us there, He will bring us through it.

How David (in the Bible) able to face Goliath? Because he has faced many threats to his herd of sheep such as the bears and lions. 

That proves the sovereignty of God, which I learn again and again, to live it. It's not that I want trouble to happen, but that's God's way to mold us to be better for Him.

Today's Good Friday and we often associate the story of the Cross to this day. I am sure in those days, in the midst of noises asking for Jesus' death, there are questions from some parties that sounds like, "why such things happen to innocent people?" or "can't God do something about it?"

We lived in fallen world, and it takes the best to redeem us from eternal condemnation. That's why Jesus - son of God, son of man, the purest of Lamb - is the best offered to us so we can be restored in our relationship with God. Such selfless act for a world, people like you and I.

While the cross is symbol of death and suffering, what Jesus done on the Cross reminds us that it takes the good Lord to come to Earth to make people good again.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
‭‭
- Romans‬ ‭5:8‬


In the world we seems to always be lost of hope, let's look to the Cross. See the image of love, the amazing grace poured out for us.

My prayers to you all reading this is that whatever you are going through, God is with you. Remember His faithfulness and grace.

BLESSED GOOD FRIDAY!

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Maundy Thursday

I was supposed to prepare what I want to share with the school youths later and my mind was zeroed in on Maundy Thursday.

Past few hours I been attending to a lot of "ad hoc" issues. In fact, past few weeks and months, I have been doing so. I can't explain in details what it is about but those understand ministry life, it is what it is la.

Sometimes it's easy for me to say things, comment on everything, give reasons or point fingers at situation/people, etc etc but thinking from another perspective, I always think there's always reasons why all this happen. That's why we have to pray and seek God.

I always ask..pray..seek what's God's will for me, for the ministry, for the people, for the church and for the nation. The reason why I, or we, do so is not because we want things to go our way. The reason is because praying helps us to see things from His perspective.

There's a lot of reasons for us to pray. So keep calm and look to God.

Anyway, why and what Maundy Thursday is all about?

It's where Jesus celebrate His Last Supper with His disciples, asking them to remember His ministry. (Matthew 26:26-29)

This day also commemorates the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. As He did so, He gave them this mandatum (thus, they called it Maundy) or command: ‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them'  - (John 13:14-17)

In the midst of craziness, Jesus told His disciples that never forget what they went through and will experience. Above it all, remember that God is sovereign. Be humble and be kind to one another.

So it's a life that we are to experience. A life of humbleness, knowing each day we live is always because of the grace of God.

May we find that grace and strength to live each day. I need that, we need that.

"Let the ruins come to life, in the beauty of Your name" - "Glorious Ruins by Hillsong"


Sunday, April 2, 2017

going

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Kairos moment. Accepting God's calling.

I think it's no coincidence that few weeks ago, I met this American missionary Gary Lansdowne, who is part of Youth with A Mission, and he shared his heart about "going" for God. His sharing was a wonderful reminder and encouragement to me. I guess it's all God's timing that I met him because it greatly set the tone on what I preached over the weekend.

Again, it's the "kairos" moment from God. We need to be aware of it and capture it.

Still learning but always amazed by what He is doing in my life, in everyone's and in the nations.