The Whole Body Of Christ, doing the Whole Work of Christ.

 J would like to share her testimony as an encourage to those who are wondering if they sowing is making a different.

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Over the past 10 years, a particular colleague S would randomly come to me and ask me about various responses I have as a Christian to different topics. (eg Parenting, conflict management etc..)

7 years ago, when both my parents and grandparents passed away in very close proximity of each other, this colleague was also aware and observed that I was still able to keep a very peaceful and positive attitude at work and in life. She came and asked me how I can still remain hopeful despite the multiple losses and was curious what is a Christian’s perspective on death and living, and I was able to share with her about a concept of Eternity, and how we are spirit beings, not just human beings and how there is no fear of death because it is merely a gateway to become even more present fully with Christ.

Over time, she continues to randomly come to me and ask me questions about my faith, life and decision making from Christian perspective.

I have to disclaimer that I don’t work very closely with her due to different nature of our work and our personalities are very different, so I don’t actively approach her to interact. However she being very extroverted always comes to me, and by the grace of God I was able to engage in conversation with her, despite my limitations. I think it is all God’s work in using what little energy I can give to Him as a worship offering and use those times to do His work in her heart.

Fast forward to Jan 2024, S came very energetically to me and told me she has been invited by another friend to bible study last month and she has been attending that bible study regularly.  She was open to that invitation because of the conversations we have been having & she now has even more questions about God, about sin, and the whole redemption plan, and she feel she really need to find out what is the purpose of life. I invited her to ALPHA in April, which she signed up but was unable to come due to business travels.

However, God is beyond our programs and plans, and God is always at work, not just through 1 person or 1 church but all his people. Between Jan – June, Another colleague happen to attend the same church where S was attending the bible study found out about S’s seeking and continue to encourage her to continue the bible study and explained more things with her.

Now in Aug 2024, S shares she is ready to attend church service in earnest and wants to grow in her belief and faith. She found a church near her home in the West and consulted me and the other colleague to ensure it is a legit church. We are also thankful for this Baptist church for her hospitality to her and setting up a new life class just for her! At the office, S has even set up monthly discipleship lunch meetings to discuss her growth and seek guidance!

I hope this testimony encourage those who are not really experiencing big and miraculous happenings in your outreach efforts. God is not in a hurry, but God is also always at work. Sometimes it is not obvious but every interaction is not out of God’s awareness, but can become a divine appointment even when we don’t see it that way. My journey with this colleague has been over 10 years but on hindsight, every single one of that interaction in those 10 years has been God preparing her heart, but also showing me how He is in every detail of our lives, every moment of every day.

Galations 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Also, remember that it’s not about your efforts, but God is working through all the resource and his kingdom people all over to reach individuals and meet them in their lives. Whether we are sowing or reaping what others have sown, we all share in the same rejoicing when there is a harvest for eternal life.

John 4:36: Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

The God who makes things happen...

 

Photo taken from this post by BroHenson

In this Pentecost season, we ae reminded of how God poured His spirit & ability upon His followers in the book of Acts and they supernaturally spoke in a new language, that is not their native tongue.

The foreigners among them heard and wonder how it is that these jews could speak their language! And in that language, they heard the gospel & praises proclaiming God's works, and came to accept Christ as Lord.

Pentecost for us
This reminded me of the conversation we had in our cell group the week before. We shared about our ideas and hopes to see various improvements in the area where we serve. Whether it is hoping for more capable talents, clearer roles & responsibilities or more efficient structure and work process, we all had our "wish list" and thoughts. 

But in the midst of that discussion, a wise sister shared "that is why we need faith and we need to humble ourselves. If all these "better ways" were implemented, would it not be so easy to say that it was our wisdom and ability that brought success to whatever it is we are trying to achieve? We need to learn to open our hearts, embrace everyone as they are, love them where they are, and trust that if these are the people and resources he has placed here, He can use all of it and bring His work to pass. It is Him to make things happen, not our cleverness or capability." 

Paul shares directly in 1 Corinthians 1:24-30

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him (Christ) to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

Sure, we need to continue to learn, and equip ourselves in the spirit of excellence to serve the Lord and all He has called us to. But when we start getting frustrated, when our hearts start growing bitter and when we start to linger in complaining, we have departed from Wisdom - Wisdom that is Christ himself. Wisdom that says God has united us with Christ Jesus. 

Collectively as His people, God made us pure and holy. His Spirit has been pour upon us as one, that even in our weaknesses combine, God is still wiser than the wisest of human plans.

This is a call to humility on our part, and a call to abide in the Vine which gives us all the Life we need. It is a reminder that if we want to boast, let us boast about the Lord, His ways, His workings. And if we are frustrated, and when we look at the seemingly "incapable" or "insufficient" situation, let us enter His Presence, draw close, humble ourselves and ask for His Grace, Mercy, Wisdom and Faith, to keep trusting that His plans cannot be thwarted by our lack of ability.

We may not have the best tech, or experts or coordinators in charge. But perhaps it is through these gaps that the Holy Spirit uses to prod others to rise up and offer their talents; and 

in a divinely orchestrated manner, the Kingdom of God advances, in God's fullness of time, in God's way, through God's people where "His power is made perfect in our weaknesses" (2 Corinthians 12:9); that at the end of it all, the world may "see our works, and praise our Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

For all things and in everything, 

May all Glory be unto our Lord alone!

Make Every Moment an offering to the Lord...

 

"Our deeds, no matter how insignificant they may feel, are replete with meaning, and of vast consequence, and… they constantly impact upon the unfolding story of the world, whether we know it or not."

~ N. Cave

8 May 2023: 

This is a picture of a rainbow I took while commuting home on a crowded bus yesterday. I noticed it while on a crowded bus, but had to "excuse me" my way to the window to get an uninterrupted shot. 

The thing is, I usually won't whip out my camera, hustle through crowd to take pictures. It's mostly sufficient for me to #savor the beauty with my eyes and soul.

That evening however, I felt led to do this. And as I took the picture, I overhead the pair of friends seated beside the window wondering what I was doing. My actions had interrupted their conversation and they took a #Pause and looked in the same direction as me.

Then they saw the rainbow. 

And I heard one of them comment to her friend: "Oh wow, a rainbow. I guess there really can be rainbow after rain." 

And her friend affirmed and encouraged her. "Yes, and I'm sure you will find your rainbow after the storm too."

I soon alighted the bus. But I was glad that through my choice to deliberately demonstrate my savoring, I was able to #serve others , impact in a small way these sojourners in life, to encourage their moment of #slowdown #savor and be encouraged in their soul. 

This moment, like all other moments in our lives, is an offering to the Lord. He can use every action and decision of His chosen people to seed His Kingdom purposes in every situation. All our moments are part of our #MissionWithTheMaster. 

 

May these friends eventually come to find the promised rainbow, not just for overcoming their immediate earthly problems, but the promise of Abundant Life through our Eternal God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

For "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’" Acts 17:24-28

God of Time & Space is Always at work around us

Based on a true encounter, Names masked to protect identity of individuals.

Aunty J  walks out of the cinema hall with her hyped kids after their morning movie outing.

 
"That was awesome mum! Did you see the action in that scene where the bad guys......" 

Her kid's voice trailed off into a muted blur as Aunty J ponders deeply. 

Where should they go for lunch? Should the family hang out the area? She thought.

It was Good Friday and they have a long weekend. They were all looking forward to the break, but now that it's here, she wasn't sure what to do with all that time.

Buzz! Buzz!

Aunty J felt her phone vibrate. It was a text from N.

"Hey! Just wondering if you and the kids are free this afternoon! We're having Good Friday Celebrations at church at 2pm. Would be great to have you! There's also kids program!"

Aunty J was delighted! Perhaps that's just where they need to go! 

Aunty J was not a believer, but she has been to a few churches and they teach good lessons. 
Plus, they were in the building where the event was happening anyway! 

Aunty J replied N, "Sure! We'll head upstairs after lunch!"

"Great! I'll meet you guys out front at the entrance! Then you won't feel so lost in the huge crowd!" N quick responded.

The above is a testimony from a friend who is a seeker, who was deeply blessed by how a Christian youth remembered her and her kids, even though they had only a few encounter. And that God used his text in such a divine moment which turned into an encounter with the message of the cross (which she has been having questions about).

Even as we desire to go on mission with the Master, let us remember God is already & always at work around us. Perhaps a simple invitation at the prompting of the Holy Spirit will be what you need to contribute into this Kingdom Partnership and allow the Spirit to use as resource to reach the hearts of others. 

Mission assignments may not always look like world shaking, spectacular feats. It could be as simple as sending a WhatsApp prayer to bless another who has been prompted in your mind; or having a meal delivered to a neighbor you know isn't in the best health to cook or go out and grab food. It could be saying hi and pausing to find out how a migrant worker taking a break is feeling, or giving a smile to a flustered parent with fussing kid to encourage him/her that you understand that she is giving her best and that parenting is tough. And at times, if the Lord leads, make the choice to extend the grace of hospitality, love and share the good news of Immanual, God with us!

May we all live everyday being on #MissionWithTheMaster in all the creative ways the Master may teach us. :) 

Because some things are too important not to share. (Listen to this message here)

The Word of the Lord...

As received on 1 Nov 2013 for the zone..

Zechariah 1:16; Zechariah 2

May the Lord be true to His Word.
And His children have faith to receive it.

Amazed by Him

Amazed by Kutless

Open up my eyes to see All of you,
your mysteries I hold my breath,
You hold my hand
As heaven melts the heart of man

How amazed I am

Your glory fills the sky, a great and holy light
Shining like a million stars, I'm amazed by who you are
Lord we lift you high, Oh God be magnified
You have overwhelmed my heart, I'm amazed by who you are
The universe is at your feet and angels bow when you speak
So high above our greatest song but still you call and we will come

How amazed I am

Your glory fills the sky, a great and holy light
Shining like a million stars, I'm amazed by who you are
Lord we lift you high, Oh God be magnified
You have overwhelmed my heart, I'm amazed by who you are















copyright of mikel_duke

Clinging to Him

Cling to the cross IS your best bet as the world around you may be a swirl and no understanding could be found.

I cling to the cross-Paul Baloche

I cling to the cross and everything it means
I know it's the only hope there is for saving me
For without Your great mercy
I would be forever lost
With a thankful heart I come
And cling to the cross

Standing at the empty tomb
Promises I have in You arise
I was made alive in You
Everything You said was true
You suffered, died, and rose to bring us life

I cling to the cross and everything it means
I know it's the only hope there is for saving me
For without Your great mercy
I would be forever lost
With a thankful heart I come (Jesus I come)
With a thankful heart I come
With a thankful heart I come and cling to the cross

Bridge:
The world behind me, the cross before me
The world behind me, the cross before me
The world behind me, the cross before me
No turning back, no turning back