Time is of the essence

Reflecting on what has transpired the last few days, I can't help but to remember what happened last night at RT (Remedial Training). There I was, exercising and running, yet at the back of my mind, I was really thinking about God and that I really need more of Him.

Actually, I was contemplating on whether I should go for service that night. You see, my RT would usually finish at around 6.30pm and once it finishes, I should be able to catch a cab to church and right on time for service. But of course, my spirit is willing yet my flesh is weak. So, I did what I could do... catch some fire from the altar (sounds familiar ah...)... I started praying in tongues, while I was jogging on the track.

Long story short, I decided to go for service and go with my hunger for more of God. And as we end of the RT, lo and behold, every creature, living and non-living, were ordered to be kept in camp. Why? Cause someone lost his handphone. OH MAN!!! Just when I decided to put God first and it was already 6.40pm.

Literally every man and woman, every car and motorbike, were recalled back for spot check. I was like come-on hurry up already. But by the time we finished, it was 7.30pm. So, now the stakes are higher. If I rush down, I stand to be late and not get into service at all. If I don't rush down, I might just miss a kairos time that God has for me.

I guess I let my instincts get ahead of me and I went to call a cab even before I decided. And thus here I go. And man am I blessed. Went for service, Bro Sy preached a great message and was really ministered to. Came out really inspired to want more of God: to know Him and make Him known.

Now to think back on it, it's interesting cause the whole theft issue could just very well be a plot of the devil to stop me from my kairos time to receive a word in season from God. And like what Bro Sy said, God wants us to be at the right place, at the right time.

For me, I'll just paraphrase that what really matters is to be at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, with the right people, for the right reason, in the right way...

What Do I Have

This week has been a powerful service. Even as I write this blog, I'm watching the service on the Internet and can really feel the touch of God even through the Net. The power of God really flows strongly.

Even as I reflect on what had transpired over the weekend, really I remember what God has spoken to me in time pass. Even through FOP and this week, God reminded me of His presence and power.

God spoke to me, "Son, remember how you started out as a cell leader? When you came to Me and say that you've got nothing to give; no wisdom, no knowledge, still young in age. But I say to you that you will carry my presence and it's my presence that really matters. You will carry my presence and power to my people and that's all you need to do."

So, question of the blog: "What do I have?" Nothing really. Nothing much that I can give, nothing much that I can offer to the great people around me and in my cell group. But what I have I will give, and that is whatever presence and power that God gives to me, I will in turn give and impart it back to them.

FOP Finale Thoughts

Hmmm... today's last day of FOP and as we ends off FOP, I left with two main thoughts... remnants of FOP and the things that happened over the past few days...

Rev Colin Dye finished off the FOP with this statement that kept me thinking for the past few hours... "In quietness and confidence is our greatest strength"... when I heard that quote, the truth of it kept ringing in my mind... many times it's in the quietiest moments of our lives, when no one is looking, no one is watching, when we're all alone, that our true strength manifests itself... and it is when in that quietness, as we build confidence in ourselves and in God, that we learn strength.

If fear is the opposite of faith, then the absence of faith in any situation represents certain fears in our life. When we don't activate our faith, we are in fact fearful. It is kinda like making decisions. Many times we put off making decisions and not do anything, but that in itself is a decision. So, when we stop the faith process at any stage, fear is manifesting itself subtly through our inactivity.

The other thought I had relates to the stuff that had been happening and it makes me question "What is friendship? How do you become a friend?" Simple but yet profound question. To add to the many definitions that is available in the market of self-help, motivational and relational books around, I believe that "friendship is just simply being there and being a blessing".

Being there as in the absolute sense of spirit, soul and body for a person. In as much as we can go out with friends, watch movies, coffee and stuff, being there is really the assurance that your friend or whoever would be there when you need him or her. There is that quiet confidence that you know if you're in trouble, you can run to the person and he or she will unreservedly be there for you spirit, soul and body.

Many times, there are people who are there in one part only. They may be there physically, but their minds are thinking about other stuff. Or they may even be there physically and mentally engaging you in conversation, but their heart is far away from you. People who are just there because they have to be there or because they are your "friend"... so no choice lah... but I believe true friends are there for you spirit, soul and body; heart, mind and body.

And a friend seeks to bless and not just to be blessed. They are there to be a blessing to the ones around them and in as much as he or she is able, bless the other person. We learn that to be blessed is to be empowered to succeed. So when we bless another person, we empowers the other person, their visions and dreams, their hopes and desires.

And just a side thought to this whole thing. Can you be a friend even if there is no friendship? Can you still be there for a person and bless the person, even though there is no friendship, i.e. the other person is not a friend to you? I try with all my heart to believe that it can be done. In the hypocritical and fallen world that we live in, the world has enough of those people who are there just to gain something or who are there but yet not really there.

If I would, I would love to add to the number of those who sincerely wants to be there for people and be a blessing by empowering the people around me to succeed in life, so help me God.

What happened???

Hi. Many must be wondering about what happened to Dream Dates... oh well, was so coped up at work that I've neglected dreaming and dating... "duh"... ha ha ha... but it's kinda ironically true... many people are so coped up with things that don't really matter that they neglect what really matters... hmmm...

Oh well, what to do... for the moment, this blog will just have to be a journal of my journey through crossroads to heaven... which by itself is pretty true... as we walk along the pathway to heaven, there are many crossroads that we have to come to where we make important decisions and distinction in our life that has eternal consequences... heard recently "what you are today is a result of your decisions yesterday, what you are tomorrow is a result of your decisions today"

Heard from a friend recently... "to love is to be willing to hurt but to love as if you were not hurt"... i was like "wow, how true is that"... and taking a step back to think and reflect, it is so true in life that the extent to which we are willing to love is almost equivalent to the willingness to take risk to be hurt... many times the more we love, the more vulnerable we are to be hurt by the same person that we love...

So true ah... was reflecting on my life and realised that so many times I tried to open up my heart to show love to family and friends, and so many times end up getting hurt by the same people I try to love... either by the things they do or the things they fail to do... guess that's why Jesus shared the story of the sower and seeds... have to manage my expectations on some people in my life and sow seeds wisely... seeds of eternal friendship...

Sigh... recently was trying to be a blessing to a friend but was so surprised that the person actually misunderstood... man did I feel hurt... was really telling myself that this is a good person to be friends with... should bless as much as I can... do the best I can to help the person succeed in life and be a "Jonathan"... sigh... God, why?

But looking back at our Saviour, it is so true when we look at Jesus... He took a big risk when He chose to love all man and when He did love all man, still there were so many people who rejected Him as Lord and Saviour... kinda realised to a little extent how He felt when people rejects His gifts, grace and goodness...

But end state, what should we do? Stop loving? Stop blessing? Start to brood bitterness? Start to mistrust people because of hurts and disappointments? Definitely not... the only right thing to do is continue to love at the risk of being hurt and to love as if we were not hurt. If to love is to risk being hurt, then call me a daredevil to try to love again as if I'm not hurt.