The Little Darling - Part 3, Merry Christmas!!

It's getting late here, and I just got back home from visiting her not too long ago. My whole day of Christmas was full of drama and adventure. It was seriously, action packed! It all started yesterday, Christmas Eve, where we had our Christmas Celebration at Kuala Lumpur International Hotel and here is how it all went down......

Christmas Eve - Christmas Celebration 2008 night (Different yet the Same)

Making my way to the hotel at around 4.30 pm, I was so excited for the night ahead though my day was really energy draining after having taught 2 tuition classes running simultaneously (can you imagine that??). Knowing that nearly all the youths from 'The Metamorphosis Project' were gonna come that night, it added even more expectancy of what a great night it was gonna be.

Being the welcoming speaker (MC) for the first time, I was a "little" (Malaysian expression of 'VERY VERY VERY!') nervous. I told God that I really needed His peace to fill me (and also telling myself "It's just like Praise Celebration, it's just like Praise Celebration."). To cut the long story short, everything went smoothly and truly God answered my prayers and gave me peace as I spoke and sang. I won't be sharing on the details of what happened that night but all I can say is that.............. it was mind blowingly SUPERB!

It was a long night after because I had to send back some youths to their respective homes and then travel back again to the hotel to pick up the instruments and then back to good old World Harvest Church. I then went supper with some of my comrades in Christ. It was around 2.15 am as I journeyed to pick up Angie and Mei Mei to help me wrap the Christmas presents I bought for the youths (they actually wrapped everything, I just watched...haha...thanks alot girls!). We had to rush to wrap them that night itself because we would be seeing them the next day at tuition, and it would be nice to give them the presents on Christmas Day itself.

It was 4.00 am when I left my home to send Angie and Mei Mei back. It was around 4.30 am> when I finally was able to sleep.

It's Christmas!

The next day, some of us from WHC went to our beloved 2nd home, TVS at Bandar Sunway, for a Christmas Celebration. When I was there, during one of the scenes in the sketch that was being performed, I learned one of my greatest lessons and I guess you can say it was an unexpected present from God. It was at the scene where Jesus, our Lord and Saviour was born. A thought just flashed cross my mind that goes something like this.... "Maybe Jesus was so excited to come to earth, but "see see" He was persecuted, misunderstood though He was always right, went through pains and sorrows, and died for our meaningless lives to give us an abundant life and a whole lot of meaning in it".

The whole program ended around 1.00 pm, and all that was in my mind was, "How are we going to get back on time for tuition by 3.00 pm". I decided to skip a "makan" session with my friends at Sunway Pyramid and head straight back to Wangsa Maju to pick up the youths for tuition. I was so excited cause I was going to give all the youths a present. On the way back, we were caught in a terrible jam and I did the most dangerous driving of probably my entire life (been driving 2 years plus only actually...haha). I got an sms from 'The little darling' telling me that she doesn't want to come for tuition, and the reason she gave was, "so and so is not coming today, so I also don't want to come, bye". Many of the other youths also gave really silly reasons and I was a "little" upset (Malaysian expression of 'I was really pissed off'). Caught in the traffic jam, I was sms-ing her back and forth with a "little bit" (you should know what little means by now) of scolding. We decided to cancel the tuition because many weren't coming and we actually would not make it back in time due to the heavy traffic. (When you read this, take into account the previous day of preparing the presents and the anticipation seeing their happy faces when they received their presents then having to sacrifice my "lepak" time with my buddies, rushing through a heavy traffic and then being buzzed at the last minute and told that they were not coming, you would know that I was really really really upset this time).

Having cancelled tuition, me, Vigh and Jimmy went to AU2 Jusco instead and had some time of hanging out together and shopping (all things work together for good to those who love Him yeah? hahaha). I was still upset about what had happened earlier on but as I was waiting for the others to get their stuff, a blouse at the children section caught my attention. I said to myself, "Hey, that would look cute on her". I took it off the rack and bought it.

Me and Jimmy picked up Deon (one of our youths) and made our way to her house, it was around 8.30 pm. We both got a wonderful surprise when Deon gave us a present each. At that moment I didn't really care what was in it, but just receiving something from someone you have poured your love and life on, that was a feeling that is hard to find. When we reached her place, she was kindda scared and wasn't looking at me when she saw me having her head down the whole time. I guess it was because I scolded her. In the elevator, before we reached her house, I told her that I wasn't angry at her anymore and passed her the plastic bag containing the blouse I bought her.

We went into her humble home and spent some time there. Being at their house, I could imagine how hard her growing up was in such an environment. As Jimmy talked with her dad and I talked with her mum, we began to encourage her parents and shared some testimonies to them. As I saw her mum being encouraged by the testimonies, I took the opportunity to pray for her, for peace and hope to fill her heart and her family. There, I was reminded from the Holy Spirit that being angry and losing hope is easy, but loving is something that is going to take every last bit of who we are. I then promised myself to see this family through with prayers, love and care. This was truly a Christmas I will never forget.

I hope this part of 'The little Darling' encourages you to love and keep on loving. Brothers and sisters in Christ, the future of our community lies in our hands. Let us therefore live a life of blessing and distributing hope and joy to this world that needs it. That when we would look back at our journey of life, we can say that we, against all odds, lived a life that was radical, driven by selfless love. The blood of Jesus is the only thing that can break the curses of sin and sets one free.

'WORDS OF DESTINY'

Looking back, fifty years from now, don’t you want to say you had the guts to get in the car?
Sam Witwicky, Transformers

'WORDS OF FAITH'
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NIV)

The Little Darling - Part 2, Jesus is our Hope

me at shao pei's 13th birthday

Another great week to give thanks to God for. Here is how my week went......

I was praying the whole week for 'The Little Darling' to return to our youth gatherings, her well being and also for her salvation. She hasn't been coming for the past few months. We've been contacting her via msn and sms asking her to come for youth on Saturday the past week. And on Saturday morning itself......

Jimmy went to pick the youths from their respective places when I got a wonderful sms from Karen saying that the little darling would be coming for youth that day. I quickly called Jimmy and asked him whether he knew about it and he told me that he also got the sms from Karen (actually the sms Karen sent to me started with 'Hey Jim' hahahaha). It was just so good to see her again and I personally was overjoyed when I saw her [as always :)].
I shared a message on the story of Peter being called out of his fishery career into a career of changing this world. Let me just share a few thoughts and some brief things I shared......

In the life of Peter we see that he rejected Jesus before the climax of the cross. It is interesting to know that though Jesus knew Peter would deny Him, He still carried the cross and bore the shame of Peter 'til death. In the last chapter of the gospel of John, we read of Jesus asking Peter a question 3 times, "Do you love me?". In Greek, which the New Testament is written in, love is described in 3 ways, eros, phileo and agape. Phileo means love of friends and agape means unconditional love, love that might even be a 1 way love, a love that goes beyond reason, even maybe beyond the other person knowing that he/she is being loved. The word agape was created when Jesus, the Son of God came to earth to save us. The first 2 times Jesus asked Peter "Do you love me?", He was using the word agape, which would be written like so.... "Do you agape me?" And Peter answers Jesus with a lower form of love, phileo, knowing that he didn't love Jesus beyond condition. The third time Jesus asks Peter, Peter was grieved. But how come? Why was Peter grieved? Wasn't it the same question again? If you read the whole context knowing the word 'love' in Greek has different words to describe it, Peter was grieved because on the third time when Jesus asks Peter, Jesus used the word phileo and not agape. And Peter answers with this phrase, "Lord, you know all things, you know that I phileo you". Wonderful heh? Jesus went down to Peter's level of love.

Maybe as you read this, you might not be in a state of total appreciation or knowledge of God's love. But all God wants is all that we can give. If your understanding of love is as low as "I love hamburgers".... Go ahead, Jesus wants all that you can give him, and as we grow in spiritual maturity, we will understand and appreciate His love for us and even for others more and more.

As the little darling was sitting, listening to the message, I wanted to say I'm talking about me and you. You see, I know that I might never get back the love that I am giving her, or she might not even know what level of love I have for her [of coz I pray she will :)], but I will be like my Savior Jesus. When we get touch by God we become like him, godlike. For example, in the Bible it says that Jesus is the Light of the world, and a later verse Jesus tells His disciples, us, that we are the light and the salt to the world. You see, when we get touch by the Light of the world, we in turn become the light of the world, or when we experience the Savior, we then become someone else's savior, which is to save them from going to eternal suffering by being the one's to cause them to realize that they need Jesus. Making sense here? Well if it doesn't, this is a spiritual truth that needs spiritual understanding not natural reasoning.

We broke up into smaller groups and later that day I was told that she, the little darling, accepted Jesus Christ into her life. Prayer changes things baby!

So let us give Him our whole life, to use and to manifest through. Notice that agape love is never for one's self and it might even be repaid in sorrows and pains, but if we would all look toward Jesus, the alter and finisher of our faith, we will never forget that He agape-d you and me too.

I hope this blog entry has blessed you and showed you that our prayers and love can change situations, climate, a person, a community, a nation. God bless you, and may the Holy Spirit be with you.

P.S. - Why did I say our prayers can change climate? We had a kite flying outing today and we were praying for good weather so that we could fly kites...... Cut the long story short, it was a windy and cool day.

'WORDS OF FAITH'

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13 NKJV)

Friendship - A Secret Weapon

Bright sunny afternoon with a light breeze of wind, I start to think of all the wonderful things my God has done for me and the people which He has placed around me. It's just great to be with the right people at the right place and at the right time and how amazing that God has led so many people from different places together. 

After a successful Intake 11 of the Apostolic Program this year, I just want to give thanks and praise to God for His abundance of grace and anointing throughout the program.

This afternoon as I was reading through the Apostolic Program book, 503 Gateway to Revival (session 2-Demonstrating God's power), the Holy Spirit brought back to my remembrance of something He spoke to me earlier this year, and these were the words....

'Friendship attracts My presence'.

It is interesting to know that God works in and through all of us, despite our difference and background or our way of thinking and doing stuff. That when we see something happening in our own life, we can be confident that God is doing a mighty work in someone else life as well, whether we see it or not with our natural eyes.

Looking forward for Christmas this year, I noticed that I won't be celebrating Christmas with many of my close friends. Seeing many friends obeying the voice and call of God for their lives to live out their calling and destinies at different places, all I can do is rejoice, fully knowing that friendship is greater than distance. Though our callings may be different but we serve the same ever faithful God. (We'll spend eternity together in Heaven anyway...haha). With this said, I would like to extend my appreciation and love towards all of my friends still with me, here, doing the things I am doing (F60 you guys especially). And to those of you that are not here, let us do what we must do for the sake of revival and lost souls. I believe that greater things are to come our way and it is just a matter of time when God will manifest His glorious life changing presence in our communities.

I urge you brethren of the household of faith, let us, together, look toward the upward call and continue to run this race with endurance as we see 'the Day' approaching. 

'WORDS OF WISDOM'

United we stand, divided we fall.

Aesop

'WORDS OF FAITH'

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT)

More Than Anything

I composed this song a couple of months ago. You can download this version that Jason Teoh & I put together. With how much love you can give to Him, let it be 100% of it.

download here

Victorious Warlords

What a superb weekend it was. Wanna know why? I hope this next blog post will inspire you and fire you up for your life.

Last Saturday, I felt constrain in my spirit as it was transferred to me by God the day before. I was fully pumped up for youth that day knowing I was going to be teaching English class and sharing the Word of God for the Youth Meeting that day. All that was in my thoughts were just to share what I "planned" to share. English classes went on smoothly for both mine and Calvin's class. After that, it was then the big moment, Youth Meeting.

We started off with worship and as usual the youths weren't listening, things were chaotic to say the least, a wrestling match taking place, some lying on the floor, no one seem to be singing except the project team. Praise the Lord for His preservation that I wasn't affected at all that day cause' I was just too focused on what I had to share and preach that day. It then came to the message as Jimmy interpreted for me from English to Chinese. It was the first time I shared with anyone a certain part of 'My Life's Story', and putting into it 'Father God's Love' the youths and even some of the team people were shocked to hear my story/testimony (I think...hahaha). The guy sitting next to me was sighing every now and then throughout the time I was talking. Listen to this.... I found out later on that he was sighing because he couldn't take it anymore and was about to cry (hahahaha....he's the biggest and strongest boy in the youth by the way). The 3 girls sitting right across the circle were also on the verge of breaking down in tears as the Word of God began to penetrate their various barriers.
As I ended my message and was in the midst of finish my sentence "Come now let's break up into gro........", Calvin then stood up and started message number 2. Full of fire and the power of the HOLY SPIRIT!, he shared his guts out. That day in the small groups discussion, 3 girls and 1 guy gave their lives to Jesus. The others that prayed the sinners prayer earlier this year were also affirming their believe in The Savior.

As the 'Good News for Parents' evangelistic outreach is coming to a near, we visited one of the youths family that night and we were welcomed joyfully and supported by them in the things that we were doing for the youths in the area. Up to date, there is still not even a single parent that is not supporting us.

'WORDS OF FAITH'
My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world.
(1 John 4:4 The Message)
(BATTLE CRY) HURAH!

The Little Darling

Last Thursday at 4.00 pm, I heard a buzz from my MSN and to my surprise it was one of our youths from the Metamorphosis Project. Knowing that she doesn't go online at home and on a weekday at the usual schooling hour, some of us from the project team messaged her through MSN. We figured she had 'ponteng' school and was at a cyber cafe since she normally gets online there. True enough it was as what we thought.

On Friday, the project team and I went to sell burgers as we always do every Friday. We planned to go to SMKC Chong Hwa that day but something in me just felt not right and I told the rest, "I think we should go to Danau Kota School". We continued our burger selling at Chong Hwa till around 12.30 pm and made our way to SMK Danau Kota.

It was a good time talking with some of the youths we had met earlier this year from selling burgers. Their school starts at 2.00 pm on Fridays, so we chatt-ed with them till around that time, one after another we saw them coming to school, some of them being dropped off by their parents and some by cycling to school. But someone was missing from the list as the time closed in to 2.00 pm.

With the help and information from one of the other youth, we found out the location of the missing one. So we went to search for her in the cyber cafes around that area (brings to your memory the parable of the 'Lost Sheep' huh? hahaha). Finally we found her and I was sooooo happy to see her after 3 weeks of her 'MIA' (Missing In Action).
We then took her to a nearby shop to have a drink. I bought her an 'Ice Blended Chocolate Shake' knowing that chocolate is good for people when they are feeling a lil' gloomy. Not knowing the root of why she was acting that way, we just wanted her to know that we cared for and loved her. During our 'yam cha session' we got to meet some of her friends and also saw the people she mixed around with if she was ever at a cyber cafe. Speaking on behalf of the project team, our hearts were filled with compassion. I truly understand now what it meant when the Bible talks about Jesus being filled with compassion. I showed her my hand and asked her to put her hand on mine (a thought from the Holy Spirit). I just obey God and did it at that moment not knowing why because in my own ways, I couldn't even communicate with her because of the language barrier. When her hand was on mine, I just said 2 simple words which were..... You see?.... Her hand was so tiny compared to mine, and I found out the meaning that moment. (Go figure ;P)

It wasn't really a good meet up in terms of what we accomplished, but I learned one of my greatest lessons ever.

That night during Church Prayer a questioned flashed through my mind, "Why are you doing THIS"? (THIS-caring, loving, sacrificing for the youth). "Is it because they are good? or Is it because they are rich? or Is it because they are smart students? or Is it because they are handsome? Is it because they are pretty?"
I thought to myself that night and I knew it was because God loves them. I could feel at that moment, if I love them so much, Jesus not only died for them but He lived 33 years of life on earth just for them. I could not help but to just cry in the presence of the Lord, not just for 'The Little Darling' but for the whole world.

'WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT'
I am not moved by what I see or what I feel, I'm moved by whom I have believed in.
Smith Wigglesworth

One Hundred: Blessings Overflowing

PRAISE REPORT!!
In the season of hundredfold preachings, I took the Words of God being preached for myself, made it rhema so that I could experience 'God the Provider' yet again.

I was praying to God to give me some money, and more often than not He doesn't drop gold bars from the sky but I got instead an offer to teach at a music center from a friend's friend. I didn't have to find the job neither did I have to go for an interview, but the job was given to me right from the moment I received the call. The job fitted into my busy schedule nicely and it didn't rob me of my full-time serving in ministry. The only details I can give about this job is that time is on my side, money is BIG and opportunity for ministry.

A week ago I then received a love gift of RM100 passed to me after Praise Celebration. God bless you richly whoever you are. Enough 'sed!

Hey all you christian, universe inheriting, children of the Almighty God blog readers, why earn money the hard & stressful way when we can earn it the easy & fun way. Jesus promised us life in all its fullness. So let's tap onto the grace of God grab what belongs to us as our inheritance and let not that little pathetic excuse for an alternative, the devil, rob us of our joy, kill our focus on the vision (The Great Commission) and destroy our destinies anymore.

'WORDS OF FAITH'
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
(John 10:10)

One Hundred!

Last Wednesday, after our usual morning prayer & intercession, me & Calvin went for another round of prayer. Before praying, we discussed about some stuff about the evangelistic meetings up ahead. After talking for about 15 minutes, the faith that was built up in us & the atmosphere got us right down to "business".

After praying for awhile, a number came to me... 100.. 100..
Keeping it in my heart and continuing with praying, I knew that God wanted me to say what was a impression into active words. Saying the words " One Hundred, One Hundred!!", I got shocked by a tag from Calvin. That very moment He too got the numbers 100 in His mind.

After praying, we discussed a little while longer and came up with this conclusion...
'If everyone of us just brings one or two friends to the evangelistic meetings every month, there are sure to be 100 souls saved!'
Come on brothers & sisters, let us use the faith that God has given to us and know that truly our God is the Lord of the Harvest.

'WORDS OF FAITH'
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (John 15:16)

Jesus is The Answer

Early this year, God moved our hearts and prompted us to start something called 'The Metamorphosis Project'. We being impacted by the gospel during our secondary school life, took up the call to reach out to the secondary schools in our targeted area.

As we befriended and got to know some students, the compassion of Jesus Christ filled our hearts and drove us to pray, seek and cry out for the salvation of these students.

It was a Friday night after a church prayer meeting that Calvin told us...
"Tomorrow is gonna be an evangelistic meeting".
Having a week of watching revival happen in Lakeland Florida, the presence of God was so thick and you could literally feel revival in the air you breathe.
I was pumped up and so excited for the Youth Meeting the next day.

The regular guys & girls were there (about 7 of them) and we were just so happy to see them again after a long week. The "ice-breaker" & worship were great as it ushered in peace and joy and a foundation for the Word to be delivered. After some testimonies being shared by Calvin & Jimmy, we broke up into groups and flowing with the Holy Spirit, we knew it was time to share our unprepared, unrehearsed GOOD NEWS!
Holy Spirit made himself real to our students. 3 of them accepted Jesus Christ into their lives as their personal Saviour. (1 more not confirmed)

'WORDS OF FAITH'
Galatians 6:9 reads "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart".
Jesus is The Answer