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藏我在 翅膀荫下
遮盖我 在你大能手中
当大海翻腾波涛汹涌
我与你展翅暴风上空
父你仍做王在洪水中
我要安靜知你是神
我灵安息 在基督裡
你大能 使我安然信靠
当大海翻腾波涛汹涌
我与你展翅暴风上空
父你仍做王在洪水中
我要安靜知你是神
Monday, May 18, 2009
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Life Together: Authentic Friendships - Daily Devotional from PDL
In Christian fellowship people should experience authenticity.
Authentic fellowship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It's genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level sharing.
It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.
Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking, superficial politeness, and shallow conversation. People wear masks, keep their guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.
It's only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, "If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other...If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves" (1 John 1:7-8 NCV).
The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.
Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again.
Why would anyone take such a risk?
Because it's the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed" (James 5:16 MSG).
Authentic fellowship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It's genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level sharing.
It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.
Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking, superficial politeness, and shallow conversation. People wear masks, keep their guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.
It's only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, "If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other...If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves" (1 John 1:7-8 NCV).
The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.
Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again.
Why would anyone take such a risk?
Because it's the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed" (James 5:16 MSG).
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) - Chris Tomlin
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine
Monday, February 02, 2009
Giving Up On Ourselves
something i read during QT few days ago.
a poem which helps us to realize the importance of giving up on ourselves so that we might receive grace more profoundly:
"Sever me from myself that i may be grateful to you;
may i perish to myself that i may be safe in you;
may i die to myself that i may live in you;
may i wither to myself that i may blossom in you;
may i be emptied of myself that i may abound in you;
may i be nothing to myself that i may be all in you."
"God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to." - Elisabeth Elliot
a poem which helps us to realize the importance of giving up on ourselves so that we might receive grace more profoundly:
"Sever me from myself that i may be grateful to you;
may i perish to myself that i may be safe in you;
may i die to myself that i may live in you;
may i wither to myself that i may blossom in you;
may i be emptied of myself that i may abound in you;
may i be nothing to myself that i may be all in you."
"God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to." - Elisabeth Elliot
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Prayer Meeting!
thank God for tonight's prayer meet! thank God for the opportunity! my FIRST TIME playing drums throughout for prayer meet. i had never tried that before. for prayer meet, i at most only play the first song and the rest of the time i will be praying instead of playing. haha!
when i know that i might have to play throughout for prayer meet, i was quite excited but scared at the same time. excited becoz it's something i hope for some day, scared becoz for skill-wise, i would think that i'm still not up to that standard! but well, if God give me the opportunity to drum for Him, He will definitely use me and anoint me! :)
from the start of worship practise to the time before the actual worship and prayer time, i thought i should be feeling nervous, that's wat i kept telling myself i should be worried, i should be nervous. BUT deep down in my heart, i wasn't feeling so, i'm actually feeling quite normal. in fact i felt much more peaceful than the other time (about 2 weeks ago) when i had to play for baptism. haha! anyway, as i'm drumming i kept telling God, "God, help me. teach me wat i should play. lead and guide me!" at first, i was abit tensed up, but slowly i juz let God take control! i wasn't sure wat i'm playing, or wat i should play. so i juz played, and i really felt the feeling of worshipping with drums, and how the holy spirit leads. :)
i'm really thankful for the opportunity and having the privilege to serve in prayer meet. it's actually one of my goals that i've set for my serving in drums. :) i'm glad and thank god for bringing me to another level! :) and thanks to all who had been giving me lots of encouragement in my serving! :)
when i know that i might have to play throughout for prayer meet, i was quite excited but scared at the same time. excited becoz it's something i hope for some day, scared becoz for skill-wise, i would think that i'm still not up to that standard! but well, if God give me the opportunity to drum for Him, He will definitely use me and anoint me! :)
from the start of worship practise to the time before the actual worship and prayer time, i thought i should be feeling nervous, that's wat i kept telling myself i should be worried, i should be nervous. BUT deep down in my heart, i wasn't feeling so, i'm actually feeling quite normal. in fact i felt much more peaceful than the other time (about 2 weeks ago) when i had to play for baptism. haha! anyway, as i'm drumming i kept telling God, "God, help me. teach me wat i should play. lead and guide me!" at first, i was abit tensed up, but slowly i juz let God take control! i wasn't sure wat i'm playing, or wat i should play. so i juz played, and i really felt the feeling of worshipping with drums, and how the holy spirit leads. :)
i'm really thankful for the opportunity and having the privilege to serve in prayer meet. it's actually one of my goals that i've set for my serving in drums. :) i'm glad and thank god for bringing me to another level! :) and thanks to all who had been giving me lots of encouragement in my serving! :)
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Encouraged by God!
thank God for affirming my serving in drums once again! :)
for the past few weeks, when project deadlines are near, exams juz round the corner, i started to feel stressed. not juz feeling stressed in school work, but i was also feeling quite stressful when serving in drums too. i dunno why, but juz felt that when i'm playing the drums, i felt very restricted, the feel wasn't really right. and i started to have lots of negative thoughts, and also lose my confidence in playing drums. but like what i've shared before in one of my previous post, the more you want to try to get away from serving, the more you get to serve.
i was serving for baptism service yesterday and i felt really very nervous. actually there's nothing to be nervous about, but i dunno why i juz felt so. haha. and i remember joshua telling me something like, juz imagine that you're the only one left in the world to worship with drums, how or what are you going to play to worship the Lord? and i felt that this is an interesting question. :) this question came to my mind again when preparing for 2040 service worship today.
the feedback given during 2040 worship debrief was that the worship today on the whole was good. the way i played the drums had a different feel, and the feel was good. and it's not just me, even the way shumin led worship today was different. :) and i believe that each and every one of us can definitely make a difference for God! :)
anyway, i thank God for the encouragement He gave me through many people for my serving in both yesterday's baptism service and today's 2040 service. and i was reminded that it's not a matter of how skillful you are, even though skills are important too, but most importantly, we need to serve with the right heart! :) ultimately, the one in control is not us, but God. and we are not serving for our own glory, but God's glory! :)
for the past few weeks, when project deadlines are near, exams juz round the corner, i started to feel stressed. not juz feeling stressed in school work, but i was also feeling quite stressful when serving in drums too. i dunno why, but juz felt that when i'm playing the drums, i felt very restricted, the feel wasn't really right. and i started to have lots of negative thoughts, and also lose my confidence in playing drums. but like what i've shared before in one of my previous post, the more you want to try to get away from serving, the more you get to serve.
i was serving for baptism service yesterday and i felt really very nervous. actually there's nothing to be nervous about, but i dunno why i juz felt so. haha. and i remember joshua telling me something like, juz imagine that you're the only one left in the world to worship with drums, how or what are you going to play to worship the Lord? and i felt that this is an interesting question. :) this question came to my mind again when preparing for 2040 service worship today.
the feedback given during 2040 worship debrief was that the worship today on the whole was good. the way i played the drums had a different feel, and the feel was good. and it's not just me, even the way shumin led worship today was different. :) and i believe that each and every one of us can definitely make a difference for God! :)
anyway, i thank God for the encouragement He gave me through many people for my serving in both yesterday's baptism service and today's 2040 service. and i was reminded that it's not a matter of how skillful you are, even though skills are important too, but most importantly, we need to serve with the right heart! :) ultimately, the one in control is not us, but God. and we are not serving for our own glory, but God's glory! :)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Lord, Thank You!
i made a simple prayer while travelling to prayer meet from school today. i told God that i want to hear Him tonight. i want to hear Him speak to me LOUDLY and CLEARLY. indeed, He did! :)
before the start of prayer meet, i received a gift from angie. and i read the words on it. it says "Capable Individual, Nothing Discourages You". and i smiled! thanks angie, your gift came in timely! :) then when i saw the sermon topic, i smiled again! the topic is "Don't be afraid, God is with you!" that's not all, throughout the whole session, the message is so clear to me! don't be afraid... do not fear... be bold... be strong... be courageous... God is always with you!! :) and there's no reason for me to ask God why didnt He speak to me when He spoke so loudly and clearly to me! :)
another thing is, i really thank God for my cell leader, cheri. there's just too many things which allow me to thank God for her. she really helped and taught me alot things. be it my serving, my life, my family, etc. all i would say is, it's in all aspects of my life. thank you cheri for always being there when i needed someone! :)
there's just too many things that we could thank God for. but it's a matter of whether did we notice or not. sometimes we would just thank God for great and wonderful things that happen in our life, and we tend to forget about the small little blessings God has given us EACH DAY! let's all learn to count our blessings each day, and be alert to notice all the big and small blessings God has given us each day! :)
Experience how AMAZING and REAL our Father is! :)
before the start of prayer meet, i received a gift from angie. and i read the words on it. it says "Capable Individual, Nothing Discourages You". and i smiled! thanks angie, your gift came in timely! :) then when i saw the sermon topic, i smiled again! the topic is "Don't be afraid, God is with you!" that's not all, throughout the whole session, the message is so clear to me! don't be afraid... do not fear... be bold... be strong... be courageous... God is always with you!! :) and there's no reason for me to ask God why didnt He speak to me when He spoke so loudly and clearly to me! :)
another thing is, i really thank God for my cell leader, cheri. there's just too many things which allow me to thank God for her. she really helped and taught me alot things. be it my serving, my life, my family, etc. all i would say is, it's in all aspects of my life. thank you cheri for always being there when i needed someone! :)
there's just too many things that we could thank God for. but it's a matter of whether did we notice or not. sometimes we would just thank God for great and wonderful things that happen in our life, and we tend to forget about the small little blessings God has given us EACH DAY! let's all learn to count our blessings each day, and be alert to notice all the big and small blessings God has given us each day! :)
Experience how AMAZING and REAL our Father is! :)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Amazed!
i just check my result for my assignment 1 of my computer networking module (which is my killer module of the sem!). and when i saw my result i was super super shocked! the result is so unbelieveable!!! during my assignment evaluation few weeks ago, my tutor said there are some requirements not implemented. and from the checklist, i tried to count the marks given, and i think i'm only able to get a borderline pass. but when i saw the marks i obtained, the first thought that came to me is, it's all given by God! the max mark is 100, and under the marks obtained, i saw 90! God is GOOD!! :)
few days ago, i was thinking if i should go for the batam mission trip. there isn't really a very strong reason that stop me from going, but there isn't any strong reason which makes me want to go either. so i started to ask God for an answer if i should go. but as you know, normally there would not be any clear answer given. so on friday, i made a challenge with God. i told Him that if He really wants me to go, then let me have $50 cash on saturday so i could pay for the trip. as you would have guess so, i didnt have enough cash on saturday to pay. in fact, instead of cash coming in, cash kept going out. but deep in me, i know that even if i dun have $50 on saturday, it doesnt means that God dun want me to go.
to cut the long story short, i chose to do what is pleasing to God. learning to obey and do the right thing. so on sunday i submitted the form and paid for the trip. i thought things will juz end there, but that's not the end. yesterday night, when i reached home, my dad return me the amount of money which i helped him to pay for his bill previously, and on top of that, he gave me an ADDITIONAL $50. i asked him how come? then he just reply me give you then you just take lor, why must have reason one meh.
so what more can i say? i'm totally amazed by God! He's so wonderful and amazing! it's really great to experience God each day, and counting His blessings everyday! :)
few days ago, i was thinking if i should go for the batam mission trip. there isn't really a very strong reason that stop me from going, but there isn't any strong reason which makes me want to go either. so i started to ask God for an answer if i should go. but as you know, normally there would not be any clear answer given. so on friday, i made a challenge with God. i told Him that if He really wants me to go, then let me have $50 cash on saturday so i could pay for the trip. as you would have guess so, i didnt have enough cash on saturday to pay. in fact, instead of cash coming in, cash kept going out. but deep in me, i know that even if i dun have $50 on saturday, it doesnt means that God dun want me to go.
to cut the long story short, i chose to do what is pleasing to God. learning to obey and do the right thing. so on sunday i submitted the form and paid for the trip. i thought things will juz end there, but that's not the end. yesterday night, when i reached home, my dad return me the amount of money which i helped him to pay for his bill previously, and on top of that, he gave me an ADDITIONAL $50. i asked him how come? then he just reply me give you then you just take lor, why must have reason one meh.
so what more can i say? i'm totally amazed by God! He's so wonderful and amazing! it's really great to experience God each day, and counting His blessings everyday! :)
Friday, September 26, 2008
你的最爱 - 赞美之泉
在你光中，带着盼望
你领我出黑暗入光明
张开双臂，带我回家
我属于你，是你的最爱
天父拥抱我
你爱的双臂使我再一次
成为爱中的孩子
当你拥抱我
我可以自由，活出你旨意
天父我永远属你，你的最爱
A child of light, a child of hope.
Adopted from darkness into life.
With open arms, You welcome home.
I am your child, You call me as your own.
Father, hold me, in your arms of love
Where I'm safe to be, a litte child who's made for love.
When you hold me, I am free to be
Who I'm meant to be.
Father, I'm your child, your own, your beloved.
你领我出黑暗入光明
张开双臂，带我回家
我属于你，是你的最爱
天父拥抱我
你爱的双臂使我再一次
成为爱中的孩子
当你拥抱我
我可以自由，活出你旨意
天父我永远属你，你的最爱
A child of light, a child of hope.
Adopted from darkness into life.
With open arms, You welcome home.
I am your child, You call me as your own.
Father, hold me, in your arms of love
Where I'm safe to be, a litte child who's made for love.
When you hold me, I am free to be
Who I'm meant to be.
Father, I'm your child, your own, your beloved.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Reassurance
thank God for assuring me once again that He's there for me! He listens and had heard my prayers! :)
i was feeling super demoralized and upset when i was travelling to church for prayer meet after my project meeting. my friend and i spent a whole afternoon trying to figure out how we are going to implement our program, but we totally got no idea! so we went to seek our tutor for help, and manage to clarify some doubts and had a better concept of how the program should work. and we continue trying out again, but the program just dun work! and we got more n more demoralize, and even thought of juz giving up this project! i asked God "why?, why is it that we cant get our project done? why arent You helping me?". even though i was questioning God, deep down in my heart i felt a sense of peace, knowing that this project will be completed somehow. but i still feel very sad. :(
God reminded me during prayer meet, it's a test on faith! how He used to bring me through all my programming projects, He will do the same for this project, and for everything! and He reminded me of what i received this morning on the mrt. normally when we're on train we dun really hold on to the poles but rather we will try to balance ourselves. but when balancing by ourselves, we tend to use much more strength to keep our balance. sometimes we juz can't stand firm and eventually we still have to hold on to the pole. and when we hold on to the pole, we actually dun really need much strength and energy to keep our balance. God is just like the pole. if we hold on to Him, we will not fall or lose our balance. and we are able to stand firm no matter how tough the journey is. all we have to do is to hold on to Him, and everything will be alright! :)
as i was travelling to school, i prayed. i was having many thoughts, many uncertainties, but i just told God that i hope to get a hug from Him. all i want is just a hug filled with encouragement and love from Him and it'll be enough. i told Him that i hope to get a hug tonight during prayer meet! even though i wasnt sure if i will get it, i kept telling Him, Lord, just a hug from you, and it's enough! let me feel your hug tonight! :) and He heard what i said. almost throughout the prayer meet, the emphasis is on receiving hug from God and God's love! and that's not all! juz now as i was sharing with huilin, she told me, she prayed for me. her prayer is, "God, hug her tighter!!". i was really surprised when she told me that! :)
i cried again during the song (阿爸天父). actually since sunday, i'm wondering if we will sing this song again during prayer meet. somehow i just feel that we will. and i juz got the feeling that i will cry again if this song is to be sang in prayer meet. indeed, i cried. but i felt God's love and joy filling me after crying! :)
God didnt stop working after prayer meet. i was chatting with chuan on msn, sharing with her about my project thing. and she said this prayer for me on msn, "i pray for Daddy to bring people to help you and to let u understand the codes and able to come out with the correct codes for the program to work!". and i said amen! God listens to it! even it's juz a short prayer made through msn!
before that i was chatting with another fren asking if he did the progam before. he said he did before but is using another programming language. but shortly after chuan said the prayer, this friend of mine msn me "u wan i try to help u"! i was shocked! and that's not all! i started doing my project again bit by bit, searching for suitable codes and things juz get working bit by bit! and the most interesting thing is i actually tried out some thing in school and it juz don't work! but i tried doing the same thing again and it worked perfectly! i was really amazed by God! :)
what can i do? but to THANK YOU! thank You for tonight's prayer meet. thank You for reassuring me, and thank You for overwhelming me with Your love! btw, this is what i told God during prayer meet, let me be overwhelm by Your love! :)
i was feeling super demoralized and upset when i was travelling to church for prayer meet after my project meeting. my friend and i spent a whole afternoon trying to figure out how we are going to implement our program, but we totally got no idea! so we went to seek our tutor for help, and manage to clarify some doubts and had a better concept of how the program should work. and we continue trying out again, but the program just dun work! and we got more n more demoralize, and even thought of juz giving up this project! i asked God "why?, why is it that we cant get our project done? why arent You helping me?". even though i was questioning God, deep down in my heart i felt a sense of peace, knowing that this project will be completed somehow. but i still feel very sad. :(
God reminded me during prayer meet, it's a test on faith! how He used to bring me through all my programming projects, He will do the same for this project, and for everything! and He reminded me of what i received this morning on the mrt. normally when we're on train we dun really hold on to the poles but rather we will try to balance ourselves. but when balancing by ourselves, we tend to use much more strength to keep our balance. sometimes we juz can't stand firm and eventually we still have to hold on to the pole. and when we hold on to the pole, we actually dun really need much strength and energy to keep our balance. God is just like the pole. if we hold on to Him, we will not fall or lose our balance. and we are able to stand firm no matter how tough the journey is. all we have to do is to hold on to Him, and everything will be alright! :)
as i was travelling to school, i prayed. i was having many thoughts, many uncertainties, but i just told God that i hope to get a hug from Him. all i want is just a hug filled with encouragement and love from Him and it'll be enough. i told Him that i hope to get a hug tonight during prayer meet! even though i wasnt sure if i will get it, i kept telling Him, Lord, just a hug from you, and it's enough! let me feel your hug tonight! :) and He heard what i said. almost throughout the prayer meet, the emphasis is on receiving hug from God and God's love! and that's not all! juz now as i was sharing with huilin, she told me, she prayed for me. her prayer is, "God, hug her tighter!!". i was really surprised when she told me that! :)
i cried again during the song (阿爸天父). actually since sunday, i'm wondering if we will sing this song again during prayer meet. somehow i just feel that we will. and i juz got the feeling that i will cry again if this song is to be sang in prayer meet. indeed, i cried. but i felt God's love and joy filling me after crying! :)
God didnt stop working after prayer meet. i was chatting with chuan on msn, sharing with her about my project thing. and she said this prayer for me on msn, "i pray for Daddy to bring people to help you and to let u understand the codes and able to come out with the correct codes for the program to work!". and i said amen! God listens to it! even it's juz a short prayer made through msn!
before that i was chatting with another fren asking if he did the progam before. he said he did before but is using another programming language. but shortly after chuan said the prayer, this friend of mine msn me "u wan i try to help u"! i was shocked! and that's not all! i started doing my project again bit by bit, searching for suitable codes and things juz get working bit by bit! and the most interesting thing is i actually tried out some thing in school and it juz don't work! but i tried doing the same thing again and it worked perfectly! i was really amazed by God! :)
what can i do? but to THANK YOU! thank You for tonight's prayer meet. thank You for reassuring me, and thank You for overwhelming me with Your love! btw, this is what i told God during prayer meet, let me be overwhelm by Your love! :)
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