Forget Not His Benefits | Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Time has flied so quickly and without seeming to notice it, I am about to finish my missionary stint in KZ where I have been staying for six months. As I reflect back on the last year, I notice that I have not thanked God for His wonderful blessings that He has showered upon me and thus, I have decided to dedicate this post as a thanksgiving to God and an appreciation to all my closest relatives and friends. Here goes:
I want to thank God for:
(1) providing me a job in Regent Sec as an English and Literature Teacher (relief) which allows me to save money to go for missions
(2) Mrs Tan, Head of Department (English), for offering the job to me again and that she was very pleased with my work
(3) Miss Fern, (Assistant HOD), for writing a good testimonial for me
(4) Aaron, my closest buddy and cousin, who will always tries his best to fulfill all my desires and willingly chauffeur me to wherever places I need to go, regardless the time and how far the place. His sacrifices for me indeed make me very loved and appreciated and I do enjoy washing his car despite all the complaints I have made (haha).
(5) Yvonne and Marianda, my close cousins, for always supporting me in my desires and pursuit for God, without complaining and always making me so welcome in their house and I do enjoy playing their PS2.
(6)Lindy, my sibling, one whom I can never thank enough, for praying for me and supporting me in my mission endeavours and also helping to be a pillar of strength in our family.
(7) Esther, my dearest youngest sister (Xiao Mi Feng). Her joy is contagious and her antics always make me laugh. She is always so willing to brew one cup of coffee for me whenever I ask her and also to massage my poor aching shoulders. She is indeed one of the many blessings that God has given to me.
(8) My parents, who are always so supportive of my desire to serve God and always interceding for me. I will always appreciate them for all that they have done for me and I thank my dear Heavenly Father for giving them as my parents.
(10)Jerming, my closest prayer buddy, who has painstakingly drew up a plan for me to experience the different exposure of another culture and praying for me all this while even though he is in a different continent.
(11)Dawn, one of my prayer partner, whose joy and passion for our Lord Jesus Christ has made her a role model to the young ones. Her love for God has caused many people to draw nearer to Him and she is a very nice sister to know.
(12) Yanwei, my dear brother and disciple, thank you for being so willing to take up the leadership role and to take care of the group. I am proud of you and that I believe that you will do the job so much greater
(13) Gee Wee and Joseph, thanks for agreeing to take the role as leaders in the group and I know that in spite of your own insecurities, yet you are willing to serve God in this capacity and that you are willing to be molded by God and may God sees this act of service and multiply ypur fruits many folds
(14) Monday Cg, you have been a joy to me and also my motivation. Your love and your desire to know God makes me proud to be your shepherd and thank you for allowing me to serve you.
(15)Sat Fellowship Group, their love and passion for the lost have stirred my heart to have compassion for the lost and it is also through this group that I have reawakened my heart for missions once again.
(16) Tsidkenu, Aaron's former group, your joy and desire for God made me proud to know you as my brothers and sisters in Christ. We have so much fun and laughter together and I enjoyed our mission trip to Cambodia last year. May you all continue to shine for Jesus all the more brighter.
(17) Andy, for teaching me and challenging me to move out of my comfy zones in KZ and introducing me to his friends in KZ and God is really doing a great work in you.
(18) Natasha, my Russian teacher, thank you for being so patient with me, especially when it comes to the pronounciation, and thank you for being my interpreter and you have welcomed me into your group so readily and without hesitation. I thank God for having known you and your group.
(19) Sasha and Lena, thanks for inviting me to your lovely wedding and your desire and love for God and for each other, have indeed touched my heart and I can only prayed that God will increase your love ever more.
(20) Pastor Ong and Pastor Margaret, thanks for praying for me here in KZ and also allowing me to come to this place and your concerns for me are deeply appreciated. I believe in all good things and that God will bless this nation even more.
(21) Qiuyan and Darren, I enjoyed your presence here in KZ and your words made me feel very encouraged indeed and I feel that indeed, your love for each other and God have grown in such a way that simply amazes me. I pray that your heart and desires for God will not fade away but will continue to burn in such a way that consumes both of you.
(22) Mark, thanks for your concerns and prayers for me. I am indeed happy to hear that you have involved yourself in the committee and that your contribution as always are worthwhile. I count you as my blessings for having known you as my brother and friend.
(23) Our Lord Jesus Christ, who have always protected me and gives me such blessings that make me so amazed at the work that God has done for me. I will not forget His benefits and so I have decided to write it all down.
May you not forget the benefits and blessings that God has poured down on you. Be blessed and may our Good Lord continue to pour down His manifold blessings on you.
Created at 4:58 PM
Things are not what it seemed | Saturday, August 18, 2007
Last night, it was interesting for I dreamed the same dream twice in the same night. I dreamed a dream and I woke up and then I dreamed the same dream again and so I believed that God must be wanting to tell me something and so let me share with you what I have dreamed.
First of all, I dreamed that my friends and I were in a boat and we were sailing to a place where I did not even know the destination. We were so content to just sit in the ship and let the ship carry us to wherever it wants to go and all of a sudden, the weather turned out to be very dark where we could not see one another. Then there was a light and I thought we could see another ship and they seemed to be Christians as I felt it in my heart and through my eyes. Therefore, I was very glad to see them but then all of a sudden, they attacked us and it was only then I realized that they were the minions of the Enemy and they seemed to be gaining ground and they have killed and destroyed many of my friends and all seemed lost and in vain and we could only but lifted up our voices to cry in anguish and for help. Then it seemed that only a few friends and I were left and as the Enemy's minions prepared to destroy us for the last moment, we have no choice but to stand up against them and not even to fight or flee for there was no weapons given to us and no place to run. We can only stand up against their vicious onslaught and in a way, prepared ourselves to die.
But as the enemies came to us for the last time, there was a brill ant light that shines from above and dispelled all darkness away and in a way, the bright light consumed the enemies away and as we looked up, all is at peace and calm and we stared at each other as if we have just woken up from a bad dream. Then at that point, I woke up and then as I prepared to sleep, I knew within my heart that I will surely dream the same dream again. True enough, I dreamed the same dream and the same thing happened but now, it moved on to the second part.
We suddenly found ourselves in a church setting and it was filled with multitudes and multitudes of people and I recognized the pastor who was on the stage and he was praying so fervently for the nations of the world. It was at the height of his prayer that every knee bow and every tongue confesses their sins and prayed for repentance and it was so powerful that I could have wept over there for the power of the Holy Spirit was so strong and so might over there and the brilliant light that saves us from the enemies shine over in that congregation, of every nationality that gathered there and when I woke up, I felt a very strong prompting to write what i have seen and felt.
I felt that God was telling me that things doesn't appear the way it seemed and that the most important thing is that when evil tends to overwhelm you, to attempt to make you succumb and compromise, you need to stand up to its face, no matter how crippling it can be and God will deliver you out of that situation for God will never give you something more than you can bear. His light is always shining for us and the choice that is given to us is either to follow the Light or forsake it. Make a wise choice today.
Created at 3:56 PM
What kind of person will you be? | Saturday, August 04, 2007
I have been in this country for about 5 months and as I was reflecting of what I have been doing in this land and seeking from God the next steps I want to take, the next direction that He is leading me, that God reminded me of a picture of 3 very different football players which He has shown me earlier on when I was new to this land, about 2 months ago.
God shows me a picture and reminds me that there will be a time of great challenges for every Christian to make a difference in his/her life and also be a tremendous influencer of somebody's lives too. There will come a time when you as a football player, needs to kick the ball into the goal to make it count and win the trophy for yourself as well as for the team. Then God shows me three very different players that at this crucial time, each of them has to kick in the ball that counts and that each of them just have one chance only and so, they have to make their shots count. The first person, a big and burly player, who believes he could make the shot, stepped up first. He trusted in his own strength and prowess and believes that he could score for the team and earn his glory in the field and so, he does not put his trust in God as he believes in his own might and strength and he kicks the ball. A lot of his players trust him also and believe that he can make the cut but his shot went wide and he actually misses the goal. He could not believe in his own eyes and stood looking at the ground, cursing and stumbled off the field in utter humiliation and anger.
Another player, this time, a short and skinny fellow stood up to meet his challenge. He actually trembled and was already shaking his head, and as he stood to prepare to kick in the goal, some spectators actually stood to boo him down, saying that he was such a weak player that it would be better for him to go back to the benches and sit down. Some even said that due to his past performance, he would not make it and so it would be good to save himself and the team humiliation that he forgoes his chance. The weak and trembling player listens to all this negative thoughts and thought within himself of his dismal performance of the past, rejects the chance when it was offered to him, believing that he could make no difference with this goal and stumbled off the field instead without even taking advantage of the chance that was given to him.
The last player, a boy of no more than 16 years, weak and untried in the professional football was called to take the chance. Everybody looked at this young fellow and were already shaking their heads and the young player felt their scorn and was already feeling the same as the second player. He went to his coach and told him frankly that he can't and yet amazingly, the coach told him that he could do it and told him to believe that God will carry him through. Pray and believe and all he needs to do is just kick the ball. The untried player listened to the coach's words and encouragement and before he kicked the ball, prayed and went to kick the ball with all his strength. He fell down but his foot connected the ball and the ball went far and amazingly, the ball went into the goal and he won a tremendous victory for himself and for the team. Many could not believe their own eyes, including the young player and God revealed to me the whole story to me like He was speaking in the parables in the past when He told all these stories to His disciples and followers.
God explained that in the first player, he puts his trust in himself instead of God, believing that he does not need Him and so he failed in the task given to him. The second player was caught up by his sins of the past and when others pinpointed his sins to him one by one, he could not stand up to it and stumbled off without giving himself and Me a chance to do something in and through his life and he went off, wallowing in his guilt and shame. The last player, though he has not played before, put all his trust in me, even when the odds are strong in his face, believed in Me that I will carry Him even though everything was against him. He spoke to one man who believed in him and whom he respected very much, made a difference in that field and I felt that the Lord is asking you and me which kind of player are you? I pray with all my heart that I want and hope to be the last player, who will make a difference in the field of wherever God has placed me. That is my prayer and I hope that will be your prayer too.
Continue to seek God's will in your life and to hear His voice for I believe that God is just waiting for a chance to communicate with you. May you be blessed by this simple sharing. Amen.
Created at 4:02 PM
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Name: Joseph Chia
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