Wrestling Before God

Troubles, temptations and disappointments in life are very normal occurrences to us. There is no way we can escape these but we can always face up to these challenges and not be timid about it.

'Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.'

Ephesians 6:10,11

We must learn to wrestle against these falls in our life and with situations that hinder our communication with God. Be someone who wrestles before God with these things of the world, and because "we are more than conquerors through Him", we will come out victorious and be able to overcome these situations.

Friends, beware of lazily giving up without even putting up a fight. 

Instead, put up a glorious fight and you will find yourself empowered with His strength.

We are weak, but made STRONG because of Jesus.

Carmen Lai 

Perseverance

Hebrews 10:32-39 - New International Version (NIV)

 ³² Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. ³⁴ You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. ³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. ³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ³⁷ For,“In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” ³⁸ And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. ³⁹ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.


This is the passage I've read, and the thing that I've learnt is perseverance. Many a time, we try to complete tasks even though we are tired; tired physically is much easier to recover. However, in my opinion, this shows that we are not having right way of perseverence. Sooner or later it will affect our faith very much. The early believers were persecuted in many ways, yet still able to continue and be joyful. For sure that period was not short.


They are able to do so because their always remember and believe strongly in the promises God has given, and hold closely. Do not throw away our determination of doing something but rather finding the right way. =)

God of Scars

Everyone has our own hurts and scars... If anyone had big Christian scars, it was Peter. And what made it worse for Peter was that his epic fail came after living alongside Jesus for three years. He was the leader of the disciples. He’d seen Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration. He saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. He even walked on water with Jesus. Nobody was closer to Jesus and loved Jesus more and was a better picture of a “strong Christian” than Peter. And yet, in the moment of decision, Peter found out just how week he was. He did things he had long abandoned, like lying, cursing, and disloyalty.

This would be like the good school kid, raised with good parents, fed with the Word of God, has flying colours in every exam. The kid who never drank a beer, had no tattoos, and virgin until marriage. Then suddenly BOOM, he implodes and lives a life of worldly destruction.What would we say about that? We’d say, well, he knew better. How could he abandon everything? What’s his problem? And silently, whispering in our minds, we’d also say ,”Well, he had such high hopes. Probably can’t be used much for the church or CF anymore.”

But the gospel of John doesn’t end at John 18 (thankfully). And Peter’s story is just the beginning. You see, while Peter’s denial surprised the disciples and the Jewish people and the Roman soldiers and surprises us today, it didn’t surprise Jesus. In fact, if you read the gospel accounts, Jesus actually predicted Peter’s fall—a FEW times. But in Jesus’ predictions of Peter’s failure, there was always a message of hope.

Peter, after you’re restored, comfort the brothers. Peter, you’re going to be part of the foundation of the church. Peter, I’m praying for you and you’ll make it.

Jesus knew Peter, the good Jesus-follower, would fail. And guess what? Jesus knows that we’re going to fail too. Fortunately, God’s plan of salvation doesn’t depend on Peter’s faithfulness and Chang En’s faithfulness and your faithfulness.God is still God when we fail. God is still God when we do something terrible and willfully sin against him.

The real story John is trying to tell in his gospel, is not about Peter’s failure or the lack of faith of the disciples or the machinations that put Jesus on the cross. No, the real story is simple. It’s that God loves us so much, that he sent Jesus to the earth to die bear His wrath. Those who believe on Jesus have had their sins forgiven. Peter’s denial was forgiven before it happened. It’s the same with your sin.

You see, Jesus isn’t looking for lily white good church kids who never mess up. Which is good, because there are none of those. Even for those who never drink, chew, and go with girls that do, there is lurking inside their hearts all sorts of sin: malice, pride, wrath, anger. No, the type of people Jesus is after are people with scars. People whose failure and weakness and sin has broken them to the point of dependence. Look at Peter in the book of Acts. Same guy, but this time he’s boldly proclaiming Christ, enduring prison and torture, and leading thousands to faith. The self-confident good guy Peter couldn’t have done this. But now, every day between midnight and 3 am, when the cock crowed three times for the night watch, Peter was reminded of his epic failure. And down thru history we’ve read his story. But when he heard that crow and read his story in the gospels (even telling it himself through Mark), he was reminded of his need for Jesus every moment. He was reminded that in himself he could do nothing. And, he was reminded that God only uses broken sinners.

Like you & me.

ps: the above sharing is editted from http://www.danieldarling.com/2011/03/god-of-scars/

Return of the intern,
Chang En

God is with us

In the kingdom of God, Jesus informs us, we can trust our heavenly Father. I learned about trust a few years ago. My daughter Hope and I were at one of my son’s many baseball games. She went off to a swing with a friend. She never left my field of vision, but I moved from one part of the stand to another. When she turned to see me in the stands she thought that I was gone, she welled up with tears and began running o the stands. Only about thirty seconds went by, but within that time she lost her breath and began panting with fear. I said “Hope, I am over here,” and she came running. “How could you leave me!” she said, trembling. “I never left you,” I said “and I never lost sight of you. You just lost sight of me”. She calmed down quickly, but the fear took a while to subside.

adapted from The Good and Beautiful Life

So, have ever felt lost? Have you ever felt like you’ve gone out of track? I’m sure all of us have our season of questioning or backsliding. At times like that, we just lost sight of God but we must always remember that God never loses sight of us. God gives us space to experiment, grow and mature. God never intrudes. But this doesn’t mean God is not with us, is not watching us, is not ultimately familiar with our coming and goings. Jesus promised that He will never leave and forsake us. In the kingdom of heaven God is always near. God is with us all the time that’s why He is called Immanuel. We are never alone and never need to afraid. We only need to rely and trust in Him. Have faith in Him.

Ada

JOB

Job Chapter 22

21 "Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.

22  Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart.

23  If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored- so clean your life.

24  If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river,

25  the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver!"



Kaomeng

M.A.D. (Making A Difference)

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at the church, the Pastor and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts.

This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside, as well as pouring rain. 

The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK, dad, I'm ready.'

His Pastor dad asked, 'Ready for what?'

'Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out.' 

Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring rain.'

The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?'

Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather.'

Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go? Please?'

His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are the tracts, be careful son..'

'Thanks Dad!'

And with that, he was off and out into the rain.. This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract . 

After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted.

Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer. Finally, this eleven year old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him.  Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch! He rang again and this time the door slowly opened.

Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, 'What can I do for you, son?' With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, 'Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that * JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU * and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE.'

With that, he handed her his last tract and turned to leave.

She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And God Bless You!'

Well, the following Sunday morning in church Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, 'Does anybody have testimony or want to say anything?'

Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet.

As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face, 'No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world.

Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.

So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.'

I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly...

I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.

When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boyI had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you!

The words that came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU .' Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand..

As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.

You see-- -I am now a Happy Child of the KING. Since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell..'

There was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise and honour to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated....

He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.

Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love & honour for his son.... Except for One.

Blessed are your eyes for reading this message.

Remember, God's message CAN make the difference in the life of someone close to you.

Kharis Low

Fools for christ

Have you ever felt like a fool? Like when you tried to do something or convey a message to someone, but got ignored and brushed aside instead. Without a doubt i have experience this countless times, especially when it is a topic regarding the gospel. It is a natural thing that nobody wants to be a fool.

2012 has arrived and 2011 has passed. One of the many things that I reflected upon and to my astonishment as I usher in the new year during new years eve was how I could so easily let 2011 pass me by without letting many of my friends know about the true gospel that holds the key to eternal life. I have once again lost the urgency that the bible so repeatedly reminds its people of. We all know that Jesus is the way the truth and the life, and no one can come into the Father's presence without Him. I have heard of many people that often prefer sharing the gospel through showing of action, that people might see a difference in them. I feel that it is essential, but Jesus also called us to PROCLAIM the gospel out loud. 

I'm sure most of us are familiar with the great commission. Mat 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 Let us think and ponder, have we shared to anyone about the news of Jesus's unconditional love for us last year? I feel that it is harder to share about the gospel of Christ if we ourselves have not personally experienced a divine encounter with the Lord. How can someone keep this good news to oneself if we knew how awesome this news will change and transform lives? We have to be transformed ourselves first then we will definitely feel the urgency. Let us make a new resolution for the year, to set aside a number of people, in which we want to share this good news that have changed our lives knowing with confidence and excitement that this news that we bring will change others as well. 

It is true that there is always that possibility of having to look like a fool, but if the result is them getting to know the one true living God and having their lives changed and transform, why not? Let us all learn to be fools for Christ! heh =D

Shu Jian

Accurate Followership

Hi, is been a long time we c each other. How u guys doing there? Hope u all enjoying ur holiday =)

Do you like to hold power? To be honestly, I do. But the question is can i and how? My pastor taught us about the ACCURATE FOLLOWERSHIP recently.

In Acts 16:1-4

(He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewish and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all know that his father was a Greek. As they travelled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.)

In this few verses, it show us different level of spiritual maturity in followership.

1) Converter- Also mean new believer. They have clear decision of following Jesus, but they not ready to receive the salvation. Sometimes they will think that Jesus is one of the “Gods”.

2) Believer- Those who accepted the salvation and willing to change for the betterment of being a Christian. They started to change their bad habits, old ways from their heart.

3) A member of the church-When reaching this stage, people will start serving and getting some responsible in church. Why we serve? Because we love our God, we want to show our care and love to Him who is above us.

4) Discipleship- Follow and observe what the leaders do.  Look and learn how the leader manage, arrange, solve or conduct things. This stage is the preparation for becoming a leader. You need to know leaders’ direction and finish it with them.

5) Minister- Minister means to serve people. Also where u start to perform what you observe from how the leader did.  When more powers come to you, you got more responsibility to do and fulfill.

6) The Son- Lastly, becoming a true leader. The Son of God knows His heart and His purpose. They will not perform anything that doesn’t please to God. When Jesus is in the desert, devil come and tempted Jesus for changing the stone into bread and giving him the whole world if he bows before devil. But Jesus rejected because he knows the power that given to him is from God to perform miracle to save people, NOT TO SHOW THE GREATNESS OF HIM. Therefore, a leader doesn’t mean that person could do everything he/she wants or desired but to perform what God has put in their hearts. And also not to manipulate your power but to decide the correct and accurate way to lead your people.

Hope our people could understand where we are and what we need to do in every stage. This not only helpful for our spiritual life, but also will help us in our work in Christian Fellowship. Enjoy.

Regards,

Ziyin

Be Ready

2012… Many people think of the movie and think of the Mayan’s predictions. Some believe some not. Some people ridicule at the whole idea of ‘2012 the end of the world’ but in the back of their heads they wonder if it may be true.

These days even among churches there are people studying the bible in and out trying to piece together exactly how Jesus would come again. Many debates are going on, which comes first, rapture, tribulation, etc.  Why spend so much time trying to figure out when the second coming of Jesus is? Why worry about whether the sun will die off, whether the icebergs will melt and drown us all and all others Many people say this or that person is the Beast or the anti-Christ. In truth, we do not really know. Some people devote their time trying to put exactly how the whole situation will be. Some say they want to know so that they can be ready. It is stated clearly in the bible that no one will know when Jesus comes again. No one except for the Father.

In the end, we only need to know one thing. Where are you going at the end of the time? Do you know where you are going? If you do, no matter what happens along the way and as long as you keep in line with that path all you need to do is wait for Jesus to come and take you when the time is right. Being ready in a sense that you have been living according to His ways, you have done whatever you need to do and when Jesus comes and says "let's go" you will not have regrets.

We are put in this time to also fulfill a duty. We need to share the gospel. Let our neighbours know who God is so they too will know where they are going. Sharing the gospel is pretty simple. YOU are the Gospel. If there is Christ in you, Christ can work through you. You will not be doing it alone.

So now let us continue to do what we are put here to do and just wait, be ready for the time.

Revelation 16:15

"Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.

Mark 13:32

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Matthew 24:36

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

2012 Here we go

What is your 2012 wishes?
What you expecting about 2012?
I saw many people using fb apps to predicting 2012 and their future.

2012 will be another great year for me. Have a lot of things to do here, Kampar.
I would use Lord's prayer to pray for our 2012

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:9-15.

Let us say that Your name, Your Kingdom, Your will be our priority in our life; we think about You first in everything we do. Let walk in Christ side by side

Happy New Year, Happy Chinese New Year, Happy Holiday

keatwei

A Message From Our Heavenly Father .

My Child ,

You may not know me but i know everything about you . ( Psalms 239:2) 
I know when you sit down and when you rise up . (Psalm 139:2) 
I am familiar with all your ways ( Psalm 239:3) 
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered . ( Matthew 10:29-32)
For you were made in my image . ( Genesis 1:27) 
In me you live and move and have your being . ( Acts 12:28) 
For you are my offspring . ( Acts 17:28)
I knew you even before you were conceived ( Jeremiah 1:4-5) 
I chose you when i planned creation ( Ephesians 1:11-12) 
You were not a mistake , for all your days are written in my book ( Psalms 139:25-26) 
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live . (Acts 17:26) 
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. ( Psalms 139:14)
I knit you together in your mother's womb. ( Psalms 139:13) 
And brought you forth on the day you were born . ( Psalms 72:6) 
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me . ( John 8:42:44) 
I am not distant and angry. but am the complete expression of love. ( 1 John 4:26)
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you . ( 1 John 3:1)
Simply because you are my child and I am your father . ( 1 John 3:1) 
I offer you more than you earthly father ever could . ( Matthew 7:11) 
For I am the perfect Father . ( Matthew 5:48) 
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand . ( James 1:17) 
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. ( Matthew 6:31-33)
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope . ( Jeremiah 29:11) 
Because I love you with and everlasting love. ( Jeremiah 31:3) 
My thoughts towards you are countless as the sand on the seashore ( Psalms 139:17-18) 
And i rejoice over you with singing . ( Zephaniah 3:17) 
I will never stop doing good to you . ( Jeremiah 32:40) 
For you are my treasured possession . ( Exodus 19:5) 
I desire to establish you with all my heart and my soul . ( Jeremiah 32:41) 
And i want to show you great and marvelous things. ( Jeremiah 33:3) 
If you seek me with all your heart , you will find me . ( Deuteronomy 4:29) 
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart . ( Psalms 37:4) 
For it is I who gave you those desires. ( Philippians 2:13) 
I am able to do more for you then you could possibly imagine . ( Ephesians 3:20) 
For I am your greatest encourager. ( 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) 
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles . ( 2 Corinthians 1:3-4) 
When you are brokenhearted. I am close to you ( Psalms 34:18) 
As a shepherd carries a lamb . I have carried you close to my heart . ( Isiah 40:11) 
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. ( Revelation 21:3-4) 
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth . ( Revelation 21:3-4) 
I am your Father . and I love you even as I love my son. Jesus ( Romans 8:31) 
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins . ( 2 Corinthians 5:18-19) 
Jesus dies so that you and I could be reconciled  ( 2 Corinthians 5:18-19) 
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. (1 John 2:23) 
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. (Romans 8:31-32)
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus , you receive me . ( 1 John 2:23 ) 
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again . ( Romans 8:38-39) 
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party in heaven has ever seen. ( Luke 15:7) 
I have always been Father and will always be Father . ( Ephesians 3:14:15) 
My question is . . Will you be my child? ( John 1:12-13)
I am waiting for you . ( Luke 15:11-12) 

Love your dad
Almighty God

Transformation

2 Corinthians 5:17 (This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!)

To experience full transformation from old to new, it's not only we change our belief, the decisions that we made also take in account. Last Thursday i passed my motor test and though it sounds smooth sailing for most of the people but it was a crucial chapter for me.

I first started thought of taking motor license as to pass my time in semester break. Registered myself in and impatiently finished few hours of lecture. Then came the final section where have to practically ride on a motor for another 3 hours to able to get a L license. The story begun when i felt down from motor during the emergency brake area.

As a newbie of motorcyclist having no proper sitting on motor before, to balance and familiar with the machine is rather hard for me. During the emergency brake area there, one's have to speed and brake within a box to pass the test. Coincidentally, my practical section was after rain and the area was filled with sands. My bike lost control while trying to brake, resulting in skidding along the box. 

Both my palms, knees, and elbows carried visible minor injuries. It terrified me a lots especially when it gave you bad experience from the things you do for the first time. I din't continue my motorbike lessons for 2 consecutively semester breaks due to the fear in it. I gave myself excuses for being busy, practical time doesn't match when questioned by parents regarding the progress. 

One night, as usual while reading devotional material online, one passage really changed my perspective and bring me hope. I still remember it recorded that 'Jesus finished everything He has started'. In His ministry, he completed what he had assigned for such as healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry. Even spontaneous work was fulfilled like turning water into wine as we can see in John 2:1-11. The ultimate work He done was on the cross to give us salvation and eternity with Heavenly Father. 

I prayed and God answered it when my agent recommended me to shift learning centre that opened not long ago. They changed for a certain reasons because the instructors there are more responsible and the teaching method is more student-friendly. I slowly picked up all the necessaries to enable passing the test. Time doesn't allowed me to delay further as my L license will expire on 3rd of 2012 January. The P license test is only available once per month, all i know last Thursday was my last shot.

This time i din't gave bribe like what i did previously during car license test before believing in Christ. Without considering how difficult to pass like what others' have said for not giving cover charge, i put my faith in Him instead. We do not have to follow wordly standard no matter how odd it is because we were told in Romans 12:2 (Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.)

Finally, after 1 year of delaying+ practicing, i can legally ride on a motor. Praise to be Him, i learn conquering my fear, trusting in Him and His faith to me. Brothers and sisters, God loves you too :))

Motorcyclist,

Gin Mah