Above all things, there is God's Love

This afternoon as I was on my way to church, I walked pass a lifegroup who were having a dispute on the road side. I overheard their conversation. It went something like "if you are not serious about the lifegroup then get out."

Throughout service, I was praying for this lifegroup that may God be the center of their group. Let God be the glue so that they can become a strong lifegroup and as a group, go out there and impact lives of other people around them. We are called a life group because we share life together, because we do life together. No matter how much wrong someone had done to you, we should love one another because love covers a multitude of sins. God shall be our judge, and let us not condemn one another. Sinners, who are we to judge other sinners? Let us be filled with God's love, and be sensitive to his still small voice and not focusing on our thoughts, our views, our feelings. Be so close to god that whatever we are thinking is what God is thinking too. For so long, God has been persistent, God has been passionate, God has been patient. We should not, under any circumstances give up on any of our brothers and sisters because God never gave up on us. Instead, we should pray.

Concerning the topic of being serious, there were many believers who had started out this relationship with God not seriously. I am one. There are people who came to test God, but God prevails, and they now acknowledged God as their savior. There are people who come to church to socialize because of friends, or because they are told to come. But ultimately, I believe that God wants His beloved people to be close to Him. Ultimately, God has a plan for them to somehow be directed towards the way of God so that they can come to a true relationship with Christ, to experience God for themselves in His timings. To know our God is really a good God.

I was asking God, why did He show this to me. It affected me quite badly, I was stunned the rest of my journey to church. Then God helped me to reflect on my lifegroup.

God placed us in the same group with a plan in mind. You are not randomly assembled, God put in a lot of thoughts in it. Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous. And I love my lifegroup, thank God for them.
A lifegroup do life together, we are accountable for one another's life and walk with God. We strengthen one another, we love one another, we pray for one another. When a LG is facing troubles or when a member is facing difficulties, we pray. To let God be the glue for us and let not the devils succeed in breaking our spirits.

When we gather and pray, the devils will flee. How often should I pray? Once a week? Once a day? Nope. God says every time you think of it, you pray. Be it before a meal, during your shower, or when you are about to sleep. Be it for a worry, for a blessing, or healing, when it comes to your mind you pray. It could be a silent prayer in your heart, but don't worry because He hears your prayers. Let us follow God's way, and not do church with our plans but His alone. Love His people His way.

The chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. The church is only as strong as it's weakest member and weakest lifegroup. A strong lifegroup grows, bear fruits and multiply.
Let us honor God with our lives and treat other people the way you know that Jesus would treat them.

God bless His church and His people. And let God help us to become the persons He intended us to be when He brought us into the world.

2nd February 2013

My dear friend.

I have a friend, whom I have been praying for, for the longest time.
Ever since I first converted, until now, and probably in the future too.

Dear friend.
Take heart. God is a merciful god.
What breaks your heart breaks His too.


I believe God hears our prayers.
And He answers them too.
Although I can't see, I trust in Him.
He is the same God who walked on waters, the same God who fed 5000 men with 5 breads and 2 fishes.
The God who brought you and me into the world.

God loves us. He calls us His children.
He will not abandon us.
All our problems, He will deliver us through.
Since it is through, then there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.
God did not say He will bring us into the valley, He said He'll bring us through.
So you have to stay strong.
And surely, He'll pour His blessings upon you.

God bless.

P.U.S.H. (pray until something happens)

Previously, I mentioned that I am a Christian.

And I'm proud to be one too.

I wasn't born a Christian though.

Being in a-little-more-traditional-Singaporean-Chinese family, I was born, raised and taught as a Buddhist.

We have to burn incense to our ancestors before every meal, go to visit the temples.

Burn an exam charm my mom bought, mix it with water and drink it the night before our exams.

When I was younger, my parents would send my siblings and I for Buddhist Scripture studies (in Chinese) every Sunday.

In fact, I was brought up as an anti-Christ.

We would always be warned about befriending any Christians and we are told that the church would always tell you to give offerings.

They are bad people, who give more to the church than their parents.

Since for Buddhist, filial piety is the most important out of other virtues. Naturally, they are deemed as unfilial.

Not that I want to dishonour the one who taught me these things, I believe she has her reasons for believing such.

And I think she truly does not know what she is saying.

Thank goodness that God found me back.

I started following Christ about 2 years ago.

I didn't tell anyone at all. Not my parents, not my siblings.

That time, I knew the prosecution will be too overwhelming for a new believer like me.

And I am very very easily swayed.

I knew my mom is not going to be happy at all, knowing I defied all that she has taught me.

I always have the mentality that I would have to pack my bag, probably, and live with my friends for a while.

And thank God that I have a bunch of awesome friends who supports me. =]

The prosecution didn’t come. I didn’t have to leave the house.

Mostly, because I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t have the guts to.

As time passes, I could only pray that in God's timing, it will be revealed.

Many times, I went home from church determined to tell them the truth.

But it never came to pass. (Yes, Coward!)

My sibling found out that I have been going to church, but I think they only thought I was visiting.

Then one day, I went to visit my grandma. She suddenly popped out that question.

And I couldn't lie anymore.

Thank God that she wasn't as an extremist as my mom.

And the truth is, I wanted to tell someone so badly.

I was so at peace when I went home that night.

Finally, I wasn’t hiding my God away.

I only told my siblings and my dad, after I got water baptised a few months later.

My brother likes to say that we are Buddhist only because my mother thinks so.

It wasn't a supportive opinion, neither is it a discouraging one.

Thank god for them for not having too much of a reaction.

Because I'm a real sensitive person, I would definitely have wavered if they have opposed at that time.

Sometime later, I think my mom found out.

She started topics hinting her hatred for Christians.

My aunts even came to talk to me.

There's one time, we were having dinner as a family with my brother's girlfriend.

My mom was saying that her enemy works one floor above her.

Yes, she was referring to Christians.

Imagine my mother treating me as enemy.

I couldn't do anything. I couldn't say anything.

I was damned scared of her.

Thank god for my brother. Well, he didn't exactly defend Christians, but he did defend our rights to believe in something.

And I am glad that my brother spoke out what I couldn't.

I’ll always be thinking back, why didn’t I do better to armour barrier my God.

Always feel undeserving to be at service, in the presence of God.

Always praying that I would one day, finally be able to stand firm and stand proud.

Telling my family that I'm going to meet my church friends, and that I'm going for service.

I felt that my burden was snatched away from my shoulders and it was smacked hard into the ground.

My mom came clear that she knew of my belief when we had a quarrel recently.

And ever since then, she tried avoiding me so much that she didn’t even bother to look at me.

I'm not sure if it is because I have been preparing myself all these time that it didn’t affect me as negatively as I thought it would. But one thing I know for sure.

This is God's plan, His timing. And it couldn't be any better.

It’s a relief to have such a reliable backing. 终于可以松一口气.

Of course, it still hurts. Who wouldn't if your mother is being indifferent to you?

But ever since that time, when I was crying in the bathroom after my mom blatantly ignored me for the first time, the chill of being denied by my own parent.

God convicted me in my heart that I have come far.

I have grown so much and I am still growing!

I am glad, that I am a baby step closer to who He had created me to be.

I pray that I'll stand firm, because my God is faithful.

Even if my parents fail me, my Heavenly Father will not.

My God loves me, very very much.

And I want to love Him back.

Also, I pray for all those who have a disagreeable relationship with their mothers.

God had called us to honour our parents, to love them as God love us.

I pray for patience, though sometimes we may be short on temper and end up quarrelling with them.

God, remind us that you are a patience God and help us with our patience.

I pray for your godly intervenes, that for those who need a miracle, you shall without doubt be there for them.

I pray for soften-hearts, that you’ll break down the barrier that’s separating them, for mother and child alike.

God, I also pray for my brothers and sisters who claim your name, that they’ll remain their childlike faith for you, and know that you have great plans for them and their families.

We know that you’ll always be with us, even though we may feel that you are far away.

We know that you’ll always be watching us, wanting to pour your blessings upon us.

We thank you God, for your grace and never failing love.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!