Grazin' Grass Mini Bites

Saturday, August 02, 2008

6 Long Years

Today's altar call was very touching because a couple of factors. One was the altar song - one song I had been singing all these years. Another was today's sermon. Pastor Jeff preached a lot on commitment, especially in Luke 14: 28, 31. He shared about the need for us to "sit down and consider" about following Jesus.

And this was somewhat what I had actually being doing since June camp. During camp, God spoke to me about a particular area to settle with Him. It was not easy, I thought long and hard about it. Eventually, I decided to give in to Him, coz I know it was the best decision to make so as to grow in Him even more. God promised that as I surrender, He will bring me to new heights. If not, I do not know how long more I can last spiritually because God and the area cannot coexist together. It is either one or the other.

And I also recalled on how God is the One who brought me into this family, gave me such great friends. I recalled how He gave me a purpose in life. Most importantly, He gave His life for me. I must honor Him.

Since camp, I had also another "sitting down" session, when I was reminded again of what He had given and that I had also surrendered my life to Him and He is my Lord. No matter what He does, I will still follow; this is my covenant to Him. To bring this session into context, I had to say that I was facing a very spiritually demoralizing point of my life. I felt like giving up once for all. But well, that "sitting down" session encouraged me once again.

At the same time, 10th August was drawing near. It will be my 6th spiritual birthday. Each year, I will always be reminded of how God had brought me closer to Him and how God had brought me further into His amazing plan for me.

In the midst of all these, I was led to remember once again that love is a commitment, which was also quite today's sermon theme. It was indeed close to my heart, especially since I had unknowingly been doing so many "sitting down" sessions with God.

To add onto the emotions in me, the altar call song was one that I had been singing for so many years and which reflected the cry and desire in my heart to be close to God. Singing the song brought many thoughts to mind. I thought about how this 6 years been such a bittersweet and tough journey. It had basically been repetitive cycles of being encouraged, resulting in recommitment and rededication, and then burning with passion again and many times also enjoying spiritual growth before I slip back into disappointments, discouragements and near giving up and breaking down.

I thought too that I will still be living for next 50, 60 years. Now is only 6 years and it is already so tough. What about another 8-10 “sets” of these 6 years? Each of these “sets” will become tougher. Will I still remain as committed? Will I continue to pursue after intimacy with God?

It is a deep commitment to continue to walk. Despite it all, I know it still will be worthy. Many times I had said this, for it is the right thing to say, but ultimately, I believe deep down it is truly worth it. Jesus gave me a life purpose. Jesus gave me a family. He gave me everything, every single part of my life; I do not know how to live life without church even.

Through these years, He had brought me step by step in His perfect plan and I had grown so much closer to Him. The next many, many years will be tough. Yet, my hope is that I will still continue to follow. It will never be easy, but I yearn to be able to decide to hold Him close to me for the rest of my life. I hope that when I face another down point, I will believe that as I follow, He will lead and He will guide me to His very best. For now, all I know is that I will want to continue to love Him and know Him more and more.

Now is 6 years, another 60 ahead? May I have the strength and courage to persevere on :/

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Monday, April 07, 2008

Psalm 16

1 Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."
3 As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Probably one of my most favorite passage for now. Spoke a lot to me during today's QT.

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Thursday, March 20, 2008

Hunt for the Happiest Person

Recently I read about Singapore's hunt for the happiest person. It may be due to the fact that 9 out of 10 Singaporeans are stressed in their life so they want to do something. Read http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News/Singapore/STIStory_218461.html.

Also another stimulus for this post is the fact that magazines always seemed to enjoy writing about 'How to be Happy' or the like.

My take is that since people are so stressed, all the more we should go out and free them from a life deprived of joy through the Gospel. They are looking for happiness but not looking in the right places. The common sources: friends, do something they like etc. These are just too temporal. In fact, they are just channels God can use to channel joy in our lives but they are not the source themselves.

My view on the hunt is that we should nominate some Hope leaders for the award. I think we are the happiest people around. But, secularism may stem us from winning since our source of joy is religious. Even if we did win, we can only talk about our source of joy in general (ie because of religion) vs in specific (ie because of knowing Jesus). Well, if religion is the source of joy identified, hopefully people can realized that only Christ satisfies and not anyone else.

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Reflections & Renewal

Tuesday was a day that brought renewal to my spiritual life. God reminded me of honoring Him through the book of Malachi. God also reminded me of how blessed I am through the few songs I was listening to.

One key Word that struck me was the fact that living everyday with such a magnificent God who really loves me a lot is a blessing in itself. He is the God of all the earth and universe. I am just a small, sinful human. Yet, to walk everyday of my life with Him is just a big, big blessing!

Malachi 1:14 also spoke to me. ""Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations."

Though we do not offer such sacrifices in this time and age, our form of sacrifices are our lives or the part of our lives that we had promised to commit to God in. Yet, many times we break this promise in many ways. He is the great King and He deserves some form of respect at the very least.

All these years I had committed so much of my life for His Kingdom. I had made so many promises. And I want to continue to devote my life for this cause. I know He is real and I desire to honor Him through persevering in my service.

Wednesday was also an uplifting day. Extended worship helps in bringing me to question how deep my hunger really is.

Today had been an encouraging day. Am really glad that a brother is returning back to God. Our burden for those far from God is from our knowledge that the fullest life is found in this wonderful relationship with Christ. Tonight I must remind myself to invite people for Easter service!

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Wrong Question

An interesting thought pop by my mind the other day. Often times, when things do not work out, we question God, "Where is the fruits I desire?" Yet many times, we also forget to pray and still ask God where is His power. I think God should really knock us on our head and ask us, "Where is the prayer?"

Prayer is our request for heaven to work on earth. If we do not pray, we do not give God the 'permission' to work something out. Of course, there is still the balance that God is in control and He does things according to His will. The bottom line is, remember to pray! If not, ask yourself, "Where is the prayer?" and not "Where is the power?"

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Nineveh - An Interesting Fact

Recently when I read through the book of Jonah, I discovered something interesting that I never noted before. As Jonah preached, the city of Nineveh repented immediately which was in sharp contrast to Israel who was struggling in her sins at that period of time.

Revival of Israel only came when the kings were good, here, the people started repenting before the king does. Years and tons of prophectic message cannot turn Israel away from her struggle with sin, yet 1 sentence from Jonah turned the whole city to God. (Read the book of Jonah for further understanding)

Goes to show how much change has to take place within us first. Though I do not know what happen to Nineveh afterwards (whether they returned to sin or not), I am just impressed that 1 sentence changed the city, yet hundreds and thousands of prophecies cannot turn stubborn Israel to repentance.

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

True Love

True love is a decision of commitment. It goes beyond feelings. After walking this path for so long, there are many more times when feelings are not enough to sustain my love for God. It is very unlike my young believer days, when everything is so fresh and so interesting. It is easy to indulge in loving God all the time.

Whereas now, I had come to know and understand so much about Him. It is this point I realized the essence of this beautiful phrase that true love indeed require commitment to sustain. It is a commitment to pursue Him every day of my life whether in the good or the bad.

Some days are bland yet it is a choice to seek Him. Some days are wonderful and it is still a choice to share it with Him. Every day is a decision to commit to Him in everything I do. It is not easy, but I will strive to obey Him.

God, help me to love You more each day by making my every decisions for You and not for myself.

Additional Point: The ‘commitment’ part of love is what makes it so tough for people to finish this race. When the feelings for God wear out, feelings for other things develop and these things start to take God’s place. It is indeed hard to stay steadfast, but we have a great God whom we can depend upon!

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Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Well, I had not played Warcraft Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) for a long time. But had an interesting random thought this morning about DOTA and God. I thought of God as a very powerful level 25 hero, with damage of like 180-250 with critical strike, high armor and with 2000+ health points (HP), and many powerful items that can kill another hero almost instanteously. The normal creeps stand no chance at all.

And when God came to earth in the form of Jesus, it is as if this level 25 hero as described above is just transformed into a critter, with 50 HP, 0-1 damage, no armor and can use no magical items. And this rather pathetic critter can just be slaughtered by the creeps so easily.

In fact, if you do not play DOTA, just think about some fantasy game where you control the almost ultimate hero and suddenly your hero has been transformed into some helpless critter that can try to run (with the slowest speed) or just wait and die. I believe you only have a word, 'ouch!'

But well, God chose to bound Himself in the limitedness of human skin. From the highest, He became one of the lowest. This thought brought a slightly new dimension to my knowledge of how much He sacrificed for us. As humans should be grateful, we should continue to renew our awe and love for our Savior.

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Sunday, January 06, 2008

Richly Blessed in Christ
(Written on Friday, 4th Jan 2008)

Today morning was super hectic for me. There was a project which had so many ends to tie up. And yesterday I had fever which made things worse as I did not have enough strength to get things done and therefore lessen today's work.

In the morning I barely had time to finish up the report before rushing out of house already late in meeting up my project mates.

In the midst of the rush, there was so much stuff to grab and pack that I left out 2 rather important items to include in the appendix of another report.

The only time I discovered that I left them out was when I was halfway to school on the train. It felt awful that I could had actually forget about them and hence will lose a couple of bonus marks just like that.

But God was with me. Though the 2 items did not miraculously appear, His presence was with me and that was really all I need. I was reminded again that He is the One who is with me and it does not matter that I left out the items. There is nothing I can do about it.

Rather I should remember of who is the One working in me and guiding me through these projects. I should remember what really matters in life is His love. His love assured me that nothing terrible can really happen to me.

Joy does not depend on circumstances. It depends on His love for me. Even though the day may not be going well, I can still simply rest in His presence knowing that He is with me.

Eventually for the main project we managed to submit a patchwork of research. At least it looked presentable though many parts were not properly arranged. Which by that time, I had learnt not to worry needlessly about these minor parts.

I know I given my best in these projects. I know I had a good God who loves me. It is already a 'good' ending.

Also want to thank God for my big hearted lecturer. I can hardly think of a lecturer who will welcome you into class and mark your attendance even though you are 30 minutes late just because you are rushing to hand in projects.

At the end of the day, though the projects was not submitted in the way I had intended it to turn out, I still know I am still richly blessed by this love I have in Christ. For I "know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." (Romans 8:28)

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Someone Is There Calling You

Whether you like it or not, whether you are aware of it or not, there is someone out there calling YOU. That someone is God.

Isaiah 65:1-2 (MSG)
1"I've made myself available to those who haven't bothered to ask. I'm here, ready to be found by those who haven't bothered to look. I kept saying "I'm here, I'm right here' to a nation that ignored me. 2I reached out day after day to a people who turned their backs on me, People who make wrong turns, who insist on doing things their own way.

The fact that you are reading this is by no coincidence. God had planned it for you to read about Him, about His love for you. Therefore, I would encourage you to continue reading.

Ok, so who is this Jesus?

Jesus is the Lamb of God. Not long ago, I discovered the Chinese phrase for "Lamb of God". If you translate that phrase literally into English, you would get the word "scapegoat". Jesus is our scapegoat.

Why does He have to be my scapegoat?

Bible has this to say about humans, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Sin is anything that falls short of the standard of God â "small" sins include anger, jealousy, vulgarities, lust etc., "big" sins include murder, arson, stealing etc. We all had sinned & still are sinning.

Whether your sin is big or small, it does not matter. In the eyes of God, sin is punished by eternal separation from God. In layman 's term â hell.

How will you feel if you had been made a scapegoat? The feeling is not good right? Similarly, Jesus loves you so much that He willingly chose to take the responsibility for your sins by coming to die on the cross so as to pay the price for our sins.

Nothing we can ever do will wipe away the consequences of sin. Only a pure & perfect sacrifice will suffice in paying the penalty of sin. Jesus is that sacrificial Lamb.

So what is the big deal about this?

Like I mentioned, nothing we can do will cancel away our sins. In fact, how do we measure sin? Do I have to donate $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000 just to cancel away one sin? No one knows.

Only through faith in Jesus Christ can we find salvation. Salvation = Eternal life with God = Heaven. Faith in Jesus means believing that He is the Messiah (Savior) & that He died on the cross for your sins & to receive Him into your life. That is all it takes to live the life God has for you, the life of meaning & purpose.

Do not hesitate to believe in Jesus. He is the greatest gift God can ever give us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV).

Your Response: Believe In Jesus
*If you are still doubtful, skip to the next section to read more.

Since you are convinced of this powerful & life-changing truth, I would encourage you to take the next step: To receive Jesus in your life through a short prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God, the words has no special power unless you mean it with your heart.

Dear Jesus,
I acknowledged that I am a sinner & that Jesus had to come to earth to die for my sins. I thank You for dying on the cross & forgiving all my sins. Today, I receive You into my life as my Lord & Savior & to change me into the person You created me to be. I thank You for this love once again.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

If you had prayed this prayer, dropped me an email at tan_yk89@hotmail.com now! This prayer is a small start to the wonderful life ahead in Christ! Thus, to help you to grow in God & walk with Him, please kindly drop me an email so that I could help you to know God more. Please include your name & location as well.

Your Response: Doubtful, Skeptical Or Unsure

Through the following few sections, I hope to eliminate any doubts you have so that you may take the decision to receive Jesus in your life. If you have any other doubts that are not addressed below, email me at tan_yk89@hotmail.com.

Is Jesus real?

He is as real as any of your favorite idols out there. In a nutshell, one of the reason we can believe that Jesus is the Son of God & walked on this earth before is because of the impact He made. He left behind a powerful movement, which was later named Christianity. Its founding leaders were mainly from unimpressive backgrounds, timid & useless. But after they encountered Jesus, their lives changed so drastically that even if I was their closest relative, I would not be able to recognize them through their actions & speech.

I don't know anything about God; therefore I don't wish to receive Him.

Truth is that we will never know anything about God unless we take the step of faith to believe. Then, we will experience His power at work within us. I come from a non-Christian background. My idea of Christianity before I received Jesus was an old church building with a huge cross on the roof & people singing "Hallelujah" every week. How wrong I was! The moment I choose to receive Christ was the moment where I started to discover Christianity is about a living & vibrant relationship with Jesus. What can beat a relationship with a Friend that cares for me & loves me? It is all about taking the first step. When we take the first step, God will take the rest of the steps towards us & lead us by hand into this relationship!

The timing is not right. Perhaps another time.

We never know what the future holds for us. What if we are so unfortunate that a car runs us down while we are crossing the road? What if terrorists blow up the shopping mall while you were shopping for groceries? Life holds so much uncertainty. If we donât make the decision now, we might never get the chance to. This is such a wonderful decision, why postpone it? People can't wait to get good things, so how can we push back the chance of living a changed life?

I come from a non-Christian background. I fear there will be objections from my family.

Christ 's followers are largely unaccepted by the community that they go to. Yet, despite all opposition, they stood firm & held onto their beliefs. Never be fearful. Objections & persecutions will come one day, whether it is from your family or friends. But one truth always remains; receiving Jesus is your personal decision. Just as no one can receive Jesus for you, no one can take Jesus away from you, if only you choose to stand firm.

I am satisfied with the way I am living my life right now.

Have you ever felt an emptiness in your heart before? Especially after an entire day or evening of enjoyment? If you had, you need to know this feeling is universal to all man. God has placed this emotional/spiritual hole in our heart. This hole makes you feel as if there is something more than what you are living right now. Fact is that only Jesus can fill this emptiness. Only a relationship with God will make you truly satisfied. Before knowing Jesus, I lived a meaningless life of playing computer games & card games. Deep inside, I sense that there is something more to life. Yes, I found it in Christ & I never got tired of this relationship throughout my few years in Him.

I don't wish to commit to another thing.

If one of the reason for you not desiring to commit to "another thing" is due to the wrong timing, i.e. currently you are busier with commitments, please read, "The timing is not right. Perhaps another time."
Christianity is not just another thing to commit to. Everything that we do flows out of the desire to know God. Committing to church activities such as services will be natural since these are ways to help us know God more & be strong in Him. At the beginning, it may be difficult, especially if you have high-level commitments. However, as you grow more in your relationship & desire to give your life to Him, God will help you live a life that puts Him first. Another point I wish to encourage you is to count the cost. See the value in knowing God. The value is eternal life with Him. What other commitments can give us the same rewards?