Abba

  Perhaps, the greatest question of the Christian life can be, "How do I live simultaneously- in the material and the spiritual world?" We are told to seek a heavenly kingdom- an invisible kingdom-since our God is an "invisible" one (as the bible declares that Christ is the image of the "invisible God")- he is Spirit. Yet, we are to live out this pursuit of the kingdom of God in a material and physical life. What are the implications of that?

 The "kingdom of God" is His reign! Therefore, as spiritual beings possessing a material life, what should the pursuit of God's reign look like to us?

  "Your kingdom come, your will be done"- in order to pray this, you must understand what God stands for! Of course, as believers, we believe that God is Jehovah Jireh- our provider- Jehovah Raphe- our Healer etc... And to us, if a person is invaded by the kingdom of God- the rule and reign of God- he should end up ultimately have supply and healing in abundance!

  But then, here's the problem... Paul contends that there is the season of lack in the Christian life- "I have learnt to be contended with little and with much..." And, though God is Jehovah Raphe, which literally means God is Health, Christians past and present still "fall asleep" in the presence of old age and struggle with sicknesses. Why?

  One of the contention could be that God's kingdom has not fully come- so that explains why the perfection of His rule as healer and provider has not been revealed. Yet- what about the Christian who has been praying the Lord's prayer in full faith for the past seven years and have not been led into financial abundance or good health? Has the Lord's kingdom come to him, or has it not come?

  Friends, unless we answer this question, many's faith would be shaken- due to their lack of understanding of what the "kingdom of God" is.  Paul says that the kingdom of God is "peace, joy and righteousness in the spirit". 1st- it is "in the spirit"; 2nd- "peace, joy and righteousness" are all non-material qualities and are all satisfied by a relationship with Christ... Therefore, I guess what Paul is saying is that the kingdom of God is not foremost a material one- and  it is more than a system of rule, it is a person- the person of Christ! Christ is the personification of the kingdom of God!

  Could it be that asking for his kingdom to come refers to the arresting of hearts to the spirit of Christ- i.e. salvation? Although some would say salvation can translate into many material blessings, I believe salvation foremost is a spiritual event and process.

  But then, why show us your different names that contain different promises, if all He wants from us- in this life at least- is a holy relationship with Him?

   He wants you to trust Him. He knows we have many cares- and unless we can learn to hope in Him, and not despair in ourselves, we can never gain salvation... Because salvation (it shall be defined here as the process of becoming more intimate with Christ) is by faith- "without faith, it is impossible to please God."

  But the interesting thing is, as we grow in our trust in Him, we begin to worry less about the material things- because we are so sure of His power and goodness- his heart towards us, and others. After a while, the material preoccupation we had is broken- we instead want to thank Him more each day, and to help others hope in Him as well.

  When do we actually "care lesser" about the material life- in the sense that we can say "He is enough" despite our material poverty and pain? I think it is when we become so focused on His heart- that we learn that more than a healer or a provider, he is our Abba. We learn to sense the assuring presence of God in times of lack that makes us realise that He has a plan beyond our wildest imagination- and it is a perfect plan- and that plan is to live  and commune with the God of glory forever.

  What then, do we pray? Do we pray for supply or healing- if there is lack or sickness?

  Of course. Because if we do not claim these promises or trust in these names of God, we are doomed to live a worried life- and this does not lead us to commune with God! The power of worry is broken when we live in faith- i.e. in holding on to these promises of God for our lives! But the purpose of these promises is to lead us to see the heart of God for us- so that we will begin to wonder, "who am I that a God should be so intimately involved in my life?" And as that question begins to fill your mind and heart, very soon- the "things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace". More than a healer, more than a provider, you will know Him as your father- "our father who art in heaven..."

  That is why the process of maturity begins with many material miracles- that cause the young believer to keep his trust in the Lord- but as he progress on in faith, he begins to hunger and thirst for lesser and lesser things but God himself... what has happened? He has  seen the heart of God- the heart of our Abba- in his hour of greatest need and distress (whether or not there is a material blessing that accompanies this- that's not te point)!  

  The point is, when the significance of Abba is revealed to our hearts, we would stop trusting the natural circumstances anymore (that which looks at the material outcomes of life) and truly even reckon that what is seen is temporal and unimportant- and start living by faith... and start realising that the ultimate revelation of God is not of what he can do for us, but what he is to us- our Abba father. Above all else, God wants to relate to us- and that is our greatest of blessings!

  Think about this- our God is not a machine... He is a person! That means, yes- He can and wants to heal you- because that is his revealed name to us... but He is not limited to that name- in the end His most important name is Abba; and He can see what's best for us... and that is how his actions are guided.

Today was a fantastic Day!! HAHA.

Went back to sajc...

Attended morn prayer- with sam, rach, chesed, audrey, mei ting and sam tung... then had breakfast with these COOL pple and the j1s celeste and  celine!! Then ms Soh came down to talk with me  and lois... wow... apparently, God's grace is really on her life- bringing His people to her!! im so excited for ms soh... =]]] then, chesed and I and lois went to music cafe... I sang a couple of songs with chesed on the piano... wow wow, i really miss  those ole times... and the anointing of God just filled that music cafe...it's great worshipping with a brother who is also as passionate about the presence of God!! Then talked with lois like for 1/2 hr hahah about things in our lives, e pple e events e changes.... and also bout how God is working in our lives- amazing, awesome!! Lois asked a good question- "What makes a person backslide?" Something for us to ponder over... Then, went with her for Lunch at macs- by this time chesed has left us- and continued our convo! hahahah... really feel that Lois is positioned for great growth and impact on her world... strive on sis- in the grace of God!! haha. You inspire me hahaha...

Then, went back to school- stayed in mentors room awhile before they locked up to go off somehwhere; and I had to vacate to the library!! But the awesome thing was- jeanette was there with her friend!!! And so, took 3 books, sat down- read them... (or like few pages of each hahahah), felt sleepy, saw jeanette's friend leave, and then started chatting with jeanette-- ohhh mann, she's reallyyy funnnnyyy!!! hahahah.... i believe she can really light up someone's day with the beauty of joy in God!! hahaha...

Then SFC! Teachers bought food- so ate and chit chatted before going up to LT3 for worship etc... Praying with pearl and jeanette was really yyyy Fun and empowering... Pearl never fails to inspire me on her sensitivity to the holy spirit... hahahah! And jeanette is just so opennn to God... wow- they are all truly women of faith!!!hahaha... hope that my prayers for them touched them as much as their godly examples inspire me... =]]]

I truly ADMIRE the commitment and passion these SFC peeps have for the Lord's work... after sfc, which is like 5 plus, they went down to the music Cafe to discuss on plans for the ministry- down to the minute details- till 7 plus... of course, there were really 'deep' things talked about- like the vision and mission and shape of SFC... truly, I pray that God would empower them with His wisdom and His anointing... and of course His dreams and plans for them, that they will make BIG impact for Him, in His way, in His time, for sajc... this is definitely a team that God can use!! Amen!

Lastly, had Dinner with the sfc peeps... really seeing their bondedness and honesty to one another and their care for all (helping one another make their load lighter)  really inspire me about what true Fellowship means! These people love one another-- and I believe that really reflects Christ in their lives!! =]]] wow....

Truly believe God is moving in a powerful way in sajc... in sfc... and that strong relationships are being built between the members... and a strong vision of making Christ known will soon arise in this place- in Jesus' name! 

Our God is incredible...He is indeed a gracious God who has never been uninvolved in the events of my life- especially the last few weeks of tension and uncertainty, indeed- what better hands have we to put our lives in than the hands of Almighty God? Help me God to trust that your Grace is all sufficient, you have become my portion- I surrender all...

It is interesting that even in a secular show like Elektra I can be reminded of God's eternal life given to us through our second birth! This is such a great quote... Elektra says to her sensei, "The second life is never like the first right?"

And the master replies, "No, sometimes... it's BETTER." Wow.

I like what Grace told us last friday... "don't ever get satisfied with where you are with God." That is the same truth that Wong attributes the greatest honor to! But, let me rephrase that statement... "don't ever get satisfied with where you are in the Grace of God!"

Has the rivers of Grace reached your knee level... has it reached your waist level? Has it come to the point where you cannot wade anymore- you must swim?

Oh God, more of your Grace please!! More of Jesus!!!

"Come to God to get..." - John Piper

One of my favorite writer, Oswald Chambers wrote, "The way to make room for God is to expect Him to come, but not in a certain way." This is easy for me to understand, but hard for me to say "amen"! Haha. 'Cause it is human nature to depend on our own experience of how God interacts with our lives in order to make sense of what He is doing in the present. And, yet, when circumstances change and we face a different routine in life, do we still expect that God works the same? In Genesis, we are told, God's spirit "hovers over the deep"- he is definitely not a static God! Yes, he is always faithful and loyal to His flock, and focused on their best interests, but he is also always reaching out to them in fresh undogmatic ways. God is always searching for new avenues to work in our lives- new inroads into our hearts. Do you sometimes go, "Oh God! You are here?" This is because we are surprised by the vibrancy of His presence. Yet, it is hard for me to trust sometimes, because trusting this God means trusting him more than my senses. Though, this is in essence, what faith is.

Psr Kong truly brought forth a rhema word today... "faith is a sacrifice"... our faith will show in the sacrifice we make. What am I willing to lay down? When Abraham laid Issac on the altar, he was not just laying down Issac- a tangible being- he was laying down his rights to define what good is by his own natural human senses. His humaness would say, "Look and feel- this is human...if you kill him, you'll only live to regret it! How can God do something good through this? And yet, God did- through faith, Abraham gained a revelation of God as Jehovah Jireh, and as the God who would provide ultimately a sacrifice for the sins of men. And Abraham became a type of Christ- in a sense, he was made righteous through faith, because he exemplified the faith that Christ would show when he went to the Cross. "Not my will, but thine be done..."

Slowly, God is inviting me  to the same altar at Mount Moriah... to lay down my rights to define good, and to embrace the humility to acknowledge that I cannot always understand His ways. Yet, I know 2010 will be a year where His Grace, i.e. Christ, will be realised even more in my life... and I believe that in order to "gain Christ"... I must forsake all that I have understood about God through my own experiences and understanding, and step out into the realm of faith, from the realm of fear, and offer up even this- my right to understand- so that I might be made righteous and share in the glory and reward of Christ's obedience.

In the end, Abraham's son was spared- but Christ was crucified... But, that was not the end of the story... Abraham had believed that somehow God would raise his son from the dead... and in a sense, God later did- He raised Christ, Abraham's "son" up from the dead... =]]]

Into Your Hands...I commit again... I think it is ironic if I say that being in the phase where I am now makes me more independent- it sure made me even more dependent on God! HAHA. For the last 18 yrs of my life, I have always been given a considerable amt of freedom in what I want to do and where I want to do and when I want to do things... but now it seems like I have this huge obligation to authority... more than before... and only God is able to say, "I'm still in control", while in the past-  I think, I felt that I could still be in control... hahah...

Today was awesome!! HAHA. Yuwei brought me a "surprise"- Wen Juan!!!! HAHAHA... Had a tremendous time just hearing them pour out their lives' stories (esp wj, cause I haven't met her like for soooo LONG!!!) and then just being inspired, and sometimes interjecting to give some comments.... HAHA. Wow, I'm amazed at how much WJ has matured and grown- a fine lady indeed! hahaha.

p.s.  I'm sure you'll make it far in life. And don't worry, when the time comes, you'll know what to study... haha

And yuwei, thanks for being such a supportive fren to us all... you are an inspiration to me... please keep your excitement ( i know you are, whenever you meet us!! haha) alive! HAHA.

We all have grown so much- but I pray we'll be friends forever!! hahaha.

Last night, went for cell- awesome too! HAHA. I think Grace's has a special anointing to release breakthroughs in her cell members' lives... keep going leader!! And I think e way you worship and pray will cont to inspire me as long as I live! HAHA. Thank you guys...

Each one of you have touched my life in a tremendous way... I laughed and talked so much yesterday... WOW. To me, what is a million dollars compared  to such company!! Gosh!!

Feeling bad I didn't make it to rahman's debut performance!! haha. Said my apologies, please accept it- I really do support you...

And lastly, thank you God- for all the things you have done and are doing in my life, and in the lives of the pple arnd me... you are truly awesome and truly worthy of highest praise... Thanks Abba!

Was hoping to be in a state of nostalgia when I returned on the NE line from Harbor front all the way to sengkang (from ayah rajah camp)...Especially when passing Potong Pasir (I was hoping to see familiar faces like the sfc peeps hahah)... And then waiting for 89 at sengkang... Just doing what I had done for the last 2 yrs as a jc student in sajc in sfc in a07. Yet, I felt a stranger to myself- in this green uniform...

I don't know if any ns guys feel like this... maybe I'm too sentimental hahahah! But the feeling of a civilian feels so good when you're not one. Haha- girls, you'll never understand! hahaha. It is like- I don't feel that those familiar paths are familiar anymore... it is like I can't even taste the past and its memories as a normal person could easily do... i am distanced even from them... imagine that!

Yet at the same time, while all these strange reactions are showing, God is reaching out to me, and asking if I wanted a chat... what kind of God is he? Why is it that He always reaches to the pit to interact with us? It is like, He likes the pit... He is comfortable with it... he is comfortable when we are the most uncomfortable... when we are depressed, bored, homesick, going through radical transition and transformation, scared, helpess, desperate... and then he appears and calmly offers us his presence...

Many say that bad times drive us to God, while good times sometimes draw us away from Him... I beg to differ... I feel that in good times, He lingers and I pursue... in bad times, I linger and He pursues... it is like when worries are flooding your mind, the last thing you can concentrate for half-an-hour is Him! You do it for 5 mins... and the worries crowd in! Yet when that happens, you hear his voice inviting you to commune with him again and again...

Why! Why not let us remain in a state of bliss- where we can forever actively pursue Him, and forever long passionately for him... why put us in a pit where we have no more strength to long or pursue.. and then pursue us instead?

If you think about Grace, even when we think we are actively pursuing Him, it is because His Grace is heavily resting upon us, such that it compels us to pursue Him... in bad times, we actually realise that it is all about His Grace- because circumstances have a way of revealing our true state apart from Christ... helpless, desperate? When we are well, we don't often consider why we are well- and God doesn't blame us, because that is our natural state, God created us to have a soul that is well... But when we are unwell, we question a lot why we are unwell- rightly so, because that is our unnatural state... yet unless we suffer the unnatural state sometimes, we do not realise that we only enjoy the natural state because of Christ, since it is only when we are in the wrong state, that we reflect on our need for Him to redeem us... Maybe in heaven, we no longer need to fall into the unnatural state, because the "I'" and the self factor in our lives would have been eradicated by the centredness on Christ... until then, this is the way we humans must learn... through pain...

Thank you God for being a Giver of Dreams...

Our God is the supreme architect, who imagines all the time how our life can and should be, so that our lives are never boring or insignificant- it will always be filled with wonder and substance.

It is wonderful when you are dreaming BIG, it is even more awesome when you have good buddies dreaming with you, and for you. Thank you, dear parents and close friends, for doing that for me! For not just affirming my god-given potential, but dreaming about how God can bring His kingdom to earth through my minute life. I would never be who I am, without these dreamers.

I think it is powerful to dream. When you receive a vision for your life, you will be empowered to run the course till the vision comes to pass! And I believe 2010 for people like Nessa, samantha and more...will be a year where they will be "strong and do great exploits" for the kingdom- because they have dreams!

Yet, God has shown me that to dream on the behalf of someone else is even more powerful- it is the mark of every truly great leader and giant of men. Joseph's brothers were not truly great leaders- they scorned their brother's dream of greatness and they tried to prevent this dream from coming to pass! The fact is, they must have felt- deep in their spirit- that this dream is true... that Joseph would one day lead all of them, and rule over them! Because of that, they were dissatisfied- and resentful. Many commentaries would say that Joseph was immature and did not comprehend that leadership is about service... and therefore was proudful enough to communicate his dream in a way that angered his brothers! This might be true- but neither were the brothers any better! Their defintion of leadership rested on bossing people around as well... therefore they did not have the capacity to dream along with Joseph, and to mentor him to fulfil his God-given destiny. If you can help another become a leader, and even lead you, you are truly Christ-like. For Christ himself said to his disciples, "greater works than these you shall do". p.s. thanks nessa for being like this!

That is why, personally, I dream a lot "on behalf of..."! Haha. Personally, I dream for the people in my inner circle everytime I think of Christian ministry in the post-modern era. I dream that almost all of the sfc peeps, the church friends I know etc will become the next Charles finney, John wesley, kong hees and etc of our time! The world is waiting for something bigger and more powerful than the charismatic movt, and I believe this group of Christians will show them what the previous gen failed or were limited in showing!

I dream of worship leaders (like sam, like shane) that are so pure in heart that their vision of God will always cascade down to the congregations they are leading, and there will be such power as to set people free from addictions, hurts and unforgiveness... and to empower others to rise up to God's mandate to be "light and salt"...

I dream of preachers (like chesed, like vanessa, like looyee) who will speak gently, but with powerful anointing that the very foundations of where they are standing will shake, and strongholds will come down- just at the sound of their voices... that minds of unbelievers will be opened immediately to see the glory of Christ... no longer will the enemy keep people in doubt or lie...

I dream of prayer intercessors (like looyee, lois, jolena and pearl) who will pray till nations turn to Christ- whose prayers are like sharpened arrows that will drive a hole in the Enemy's camp and send the spirits of anxiety, worry and fear scattering... and welcome the Presence and Rule of Christ!

And I dream of leaders, like samuel stephens and victor and celine and benedict yeo, who will receive spiritual strategies for the post-21st church, strategies not conceived by human mind but by Divine will, and who are very bold in doing all it takes to win souls for Christ, and to see strong and matured disciples rise up in their cities... for that, they will be willing to sacrifice all!

And then, I see church after church of disciples being birthed by these great leaders... members who are not content any more with sunday christiantiy or even midweek bible study christianity... but they are 24/7 christians... who know their position in Christ, know their inheritance, know their power, know their authority... and who are deep in love with Jesus.. and who understand the power of Grace... and who are constantly exercising their spiritual muscle wherever they are and who strengthen their belief daily in the impossible becoming possible... they are walking, breathing, acting in faith every moment... who know how to be "in this world, but not of this world".

Until then, let's keep dreaming- and keep acting on those dreams... step by step, for with our God, nothing is impossible...

As for me, hand in hand with the one I love, and embracing the world is the heavenly vision... and to disciple as many of these men in these categories above is my lifetime call... to help believers realise that with God, "nothing is impossible!"

Today was draining- even though it was "book out day"- there seemed to be a constant paranoia about the whole situation and how we could be confined (or I personally). This whole week has been a "fight of faith"- a struggle to trust God's grace in ns life. So much pressure, so much boredom, so much anxiety. I really don't know if this week "went well", but I thank God for small things (or in context of eternity, big things) like the prayer session we had on fri night with some of the platoon mates just committing everything to God, and praying for His presence to be with us in NS. And I thank Him for the laughter here and there with marvin and francis... it really brought rare smiles to my face...

Smsed samantha during the week- told her how easy it was to laugh and be joyful in civilian life... everyday seems  to promise new adventures of faith... and yet, to have a mustard seed of faith in NS is tough! To laugh is tough! To smile is even tougher... Faith is not easy... I was telling my parents- I don't think I have ever prayed this much, with this much intensity as I have these past few days... just crying out to God... for I was on the brink of a breakdown! No joke... but thank God, "because of His great (mega) love, we are not consumed, his mercies are NEW every morning"... God doesn't keep an account of how much mercy we have "used up"... it is limitless, because He is a limitless God who wants to show Himself faithful to those whose hearts are loyal to Him!

Thanks Sam, btw, for smsing those encouraging virtual actions! HAHA. And nessa, for sharing with me about her week... even though she is very busy...

I hope I'm not dragging you behind in your life- and not seemingly placing a demand on you guys for encouragement frequently...

Anyhow, I really thank God for you... And for my parents whom I know never cease praying for me.

And THANKS FAUS for the wonderful dinner today! =]=] You really made my day hahaha... sharing with me about how life has been for you (wink wink) hahaha... and your thoughts on things like "love" and "friendship" and "ambitions" and "honesty"... it's always so interesting talking to you...

And I love your hope to help others learn about life- wow, what a dream! Please pursue it, the world needs people like you!

And just to show you how insightful faus is... I will tell you what she said about the concept of a person predestined to marry you; to her, it seems like there is a choice you must make to pursue the relationship with someone before he or she can become that person...

I was like wow... cause this explains the dual role of individual choice and destiny that we all face in life... while our destinies are out there waiting, we must choose to step into them by faith, before they can come to pass!

p.s. faus, you are a real inspiration... please, let's meet up soon, again! HAHA... hope you enjoyed the pizza... hahahah.... and don't worry, the year will get better... "the end is always better than the beginning"!

Going to church tmr- what will God speak?

Definitely, I need to be repositioned in faith... =]

Yes, if there is one question we definitely have to ask ourselves at the end of 2009, before we cross over 1st Jan 2010, is "What are we expecting from the new year?"

Are we expecting life to be status quo? By this I mean are we contented enough to just live through the same seasons and circumstances that appeared in 2009... Or do we hope for better ones or new ones?

Personally, I think 2009 was a good year overall. It is a year of deep moulding in terms of relationships with close friends (ouch! haha), pressure to excel in the A's (and worrying if the techniques are right), and all the time trying to be the salt and light in my world... And using every opportunity to serve the Lord, in small ways.

I also think it is a year of changes- I transited both figuratively and literally. Literally, I moved with my family from our church of about 14 years to our new church (chc). Figuratively, it is a stepping out of the boat, to the unknown and the realm of the Spirit, where we are prepared to walk on water, as God led us to chc. And I also think metaphorically my whole Christian worldview has changed, because of this word...

"GRACE"

This word has radicalised my Christian life, and my world. I no longer view it as a topic of the bible, I view it as a Person- it is the Person of Christ. John declares, Jesus was "full of grace..."

I have realised that there is no truth without grace, as there is no grace without truth... they are one face... the face of Christ. When you gaze into Christ, you receive a revelation of your own helplessnes and sinfulness and of His glory and your need for Him... therefore He is TRUTH. At the same time, you have also received Grace, because it is that "truth" that "sets you free"- the truth that He is Salvation... and that apart from Him, you cannot save yourself. THerefore, Grace AND Truth IS in ONE PERSON... IE CHRIST!

The way I read the word, think about the word, live out of the word have all now been affected by a deep understanding of the Agape of God. The Grace of God. How God unconditionally woos us, saves us, redeems us and continually delivers us and even transform us, "by His spirit", into Christ-likeness.

The way I view discipleship has also changed... I no longer think of it as "self-improvement" or "getting better"...

In ourselves, or our-selves, we cannot get better... we are sick to the point of eternal death...all our works are but filthy rags- the bible declares... therefore, to say that our "self" can get better is heresy! The bible says, "no flesh is justified in His presence"!

Then, what is discipleship?

It is an imputation of Christ's righteousness and holiness into our DNA- so that we live Christ out in this mortal body. It is truly "no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me." It is so critical we understand this- we have ZERO righteousness APART from Him! Every promise, every transformation, every breakthrough we receive is IN CHRIST! Whether you understand this is the difference between a defeated Christian or a victorious Christian. Therefore true growth in maturity is learning how to receive His GRACE, more of Jesus, everyday... inviting His presence... building God-consciousness in everything you do... praying without ceasing...asking for His glory to be revealed.

2009 has really been a trying but delightful year now that I look back... God has been truly faithful through the ups and downs... showing me the reality of the Christ in my life. And I thank Him for the people He has used to bless my life in more ways than they could ever expect. 

Sfc people
08a07
AHS close friends
CHC new cell mates
And all the others who do not fall in any of these categories!

OF course, my dear dear parents.... thanks, I am truly more than blessed- to be born in a home that is filled with laughter, joy, thanksgiving to God, motivation and passion is great! I will never be what I am without this home.

The Enlistment

Ns...

Haha. What can i say? TIme passes super fast! HAHA.

I must thank God for the wonderful section I am!!! The people are awesome, really. Everyone of them are the most friendly and empathetic people I have ever known... people like Marvin, Jason, Jon and Jermain have truly warmed my heart and brought laughter in a foreign island! HAHA.

And God, what can I say? How can I say thanks...

You are altogether faithful to me... In all my life, in every circumstance, I feel your presence  hanging heavily over me... your glory washes over me.... your blood keeps me in Your will... I am highly favored and deeply loved by You... and even in Tekong, your kindgom reigns and  I rejoice... because I see the marks of Grace even there.

Thank you for good commanders too....

The Year to Come...

Not long ago, I was reading a book by Ravi Zacharias...

And he pointed out four stages of the journey every human being tries to undertake... they are-

1. wonder
2. meaning/truth
3. love
4. (I forgot the fourth!)

Anyway... I think this year has been a year of "wonder" for me... a message of ultimate grace revealed to me... and the reality of this message in all of the bible has become more and more real to me, and I have been taken captive by the beautiful message of the Cross once again... of God's Agape.

As I was worshipping one day, God just impressed upon me- "this year has been a year of wonder at my Grace... next year will be a year of truth- of Grace's effect on your life... a year of experiencing this Grace personally- it will be realised in your life". 

Whereas this year has been capturing a vision of this Grace, 2010 will be a year of stepping out in faith to SEE Grace poured out for me!

So, I'm excited, because I know this year began as a year of discipleship- of following Him closer, so as to gain a sense of wonder of Him... And now I believe it's time to experience the power and presence of His life working through me... 

The disciples first followed due to wonder, then they led others through His power and presence to this same wonder...

2010, I speak prophetically, will be a year of a greater call to "follow Christ" in life, to go from compliance to choice, and to experience a new anointing and a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit's power and fire so that I not only wonder at Him, but I begin to display this wonder to the world!  

What kind of a Christian am I?

Basically, there are two kinds of Christian living- the receiving life or the earning life. The receiving life understands that all things are given by grace to him and he does not wait to see if he is "ready" to receive God's promises for his life...

The earning life on the other hand is one that seeks to buy God's favor, "if I do this right...if I get that correct..." hoping that somehow God would shine His face on him and declare him ready to receive His promises...

Which one do you want to be in 2010?

Or which one are You?

It's Christmas Time! The bells are ringing once again... proclaiming the birth of an ancient boy in an ancient countryside in the ancient town of Bethelhem.

What Child is this... who laid to rest... on Mary's lap is sleeping?

That is the question that has rung, rings, and will ring throughout time and human history- WHAT do you make of this child?

Who do you think he is...

No one can make that decision for you... you must seek for yourself and make the choice for yourself.

All of us, at one point or another, in our lives will find ourselves being led through pain, distress, anger, friendship, marriage or career to that dirty old stinky manger... You will hear the horses neigh and smell their sweat... but all that wouldn't catch your attention at all; what would, is a baby at the center of this manger... being held by a young mother, and watched closely by a young father...

You will find some well-dressed, intelligent-looking men... on their knees... before this babe... Surrendering huge boxes of diamonds, silver and gold... To this babe.

You will hear angelic voices singing, "Glory, glory in the highest- Gloria in Excelsia Deo!" Singing- not about anyone else- but you just know, they're singing about e babe.

What's up with this? Who's this baby...? What child is this! Worthy of all this honor, respect, worship, adoration, gifts, praise, and even glory?

Friends, all of me stands at attention and anticipation for your answer... I'm zealous that you get it right- the first time. And I believe you if you look close enough... into those sweet and peaceful eyes of this child, you will know who He is. You will see the FIRE in his eyes... not a FIRE that will harm or destroy you, but a FIRE that yearns to REDEEM your life from sin (i.e. disobedience towards God) which leads to death and is death... A FIRE bright and powerful enough to consume all that is against you, to restore you to wholeness in mind body and spirit... in fact you will cover your eyes and you will bow down like the wise men and lift up your voice- like what the hosts of heaven have been doing for all eternity- to this child... And declare...

"Surely, He is the Son of God! Emmanuel- GOD WITH US!"

Receive Him into your heart- your life is seconds to change!