A changed life, bearing good fruit

The title was the theme for the recent retreat at Fraser’s Hill. There are many lessons that I took home from the retreat and the lesson that stands out the most was in one of the session titled Cost of Discipleship. The speaker – Alwyn Lau unpacked the topic using the passage in 2 Cor 12: 9,

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

When he talked about God withholding His power UNLESS we rely on Him, my thought flashed back to what happened a while ago. Please feel free to check out on my sharing dated 23 Jun 2011, 5 Dec 2011 and 8 Feb 2012.

I struggled a great deal during my work at a previous company due to my laziness. Despite my many mistakes at work, I've caused one of my colleague to bear my faults coupled with affecting her reputation being a respected figure across many subsidiaries within the company– she’s still willing to hear Christ from me. Mind you, this happened when I just newly joined this company.

After sharing with her some of the Bible truths and my personal testimonies, she came to know Christ as her personal Saviour and Lord. Isn’t it amazing how God works? It really caused me to pause and wonder how God could ever use a weak person like me to bring about the first conversion of a non-believer to be a Christian.

No doubt, I always had this eagerness to share Christ with people from the day one that I placed my trust in God. However, for so many people that I've reached out but to date, only my ex-colleague came to know the Lord. What was more wonderful was that God did not use the wise and the mighty to bring her to Christ, but my weakness – as I allowed God to mould me to repent from being a lazy person.

To conclude, I agreed at what the retreat speaker, Alwyn said – if I am willing to listen and respond to God’s discipline and divine “shouts” – I (we) would have the weakness that transforms.

Do join us for the retreat reunion at Church on 20 April (Saturday) 4pm to hear and share what God has in store for you  =)

Amen
From Yit Mun, aka IP Man

Images taken from:
http://myhouseandme.com/2012/07/page/2/
http://theresurgence.com/2012/07/05/share-the-gospel-your-life

Renewed Life – A New Creation

The year 2012 has passed and the month of January 2013, has almost come to an end. Do you have something that you resolute to do last year but failed, and you try to make up to it this year?

As I reflect on my life in year 2012, I have become remorseful due to the many precious years that I have wasted, plagued by my laziness and “tidak apa” attitude. I hope I could turn back time but the fact of life is that time wasted is gone, and will never return.

As I am working on my laziness, I find that it has proliferated to so many areas of my life. It has caused me to “just do it” without thinking of the consequences, unable to multitask, find it difficult to pick up new skills, languages or to obtain knowledge.

Last year was a “carry-forward” year of repenting from laziness. However, due to my over ambitious goals and overlooking certain factors such as planning for youth events, falling sick and relying on my own strength for most of the things that I wanted to do - I fell short of my aim.

As I allowed God to change me, He also placed in many challenges in my life towards the end of last year. I had to work long hours in my job while not slacking in quiet time, prayer, sports and my prior engagements.

I am thankful to Him that through those challenges, God has also used me as a testimony for His glory. The willingness to take on the challenges at work has caught my colleagues attention to Christ whereby I could share my testimony. Eventually, I even brought one of my colleagues to our church Christmas lunch last year! =)

Very miraculously, God sustained my health through the that specific period of time until all my tasks have been completed by mid Jan’13. It was always the case that I would fall sick and be unwell frequently. The verse 2 Corinthians 12:9 echoes in my mind,

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

No doubt, I have also have my “down” times whereby I felt tempted to relapse back to my old-self but thanks be to God for His constant reminders. His promise at 1 Cor 10: 13, NKJV (No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it) and a mentor who never gave up on me.

I remembered one of our youth advisors did mention that we would get busier and busier, I too had the expectation of myself to get busier in this new year as I have a renewed aim and things that I want to learn and press on for change.

God affirmed that I could be a new creation as the old has passed away and new has come (2 Cor 5:17, NKJV). I am indeed very excited of the things that I wanted to learn and press on.

Sharing from a personal experience, let us instead of spending excessive time in studies/computer games/hang out with friends – perhaps we should consider the desire to spend quality time with your Lover above, to show care to someone in need or to spend more time with your family!


In Him,
Yit Mun (aka IP Man)

Images taken from:
http://blogs.adobe.com/digitalmarketing/personalization/how-to-stick-to-an-optimization-solution/
http://brainlesionandme.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/hawmc-day-27-5-challenges-and-5-small-victories/
http://grist.org/article/2010-11-23-behavior-change-causes-changes-in-beliefs-not-vice-versa/

This Christmas – A time to forgive

Last month, I got to know one of my relative is diagnosed with a 4th stage cancer with only 3 months to live. Mixed feeling stirred up as it dawned on me that still hated her for the wrongs that she did to my family, in particular to my dad.

As I allow God to work in this area of my life, God inspired me to pray this “Lord, as we come before You, may our hearts be changed, renewed.” during last Sunday pre-prayer before the morning service began. Mind you, this was also sung later, after a brother stood up and asked the congregation to sing *. Knowing that God is ministering to me, I burst out to tears as this was exactly what God told me to do and I could not deny it.

Following that, God has showed me more clearly of the weight of my unforgiveness towards my aunty by expounding from Matthew 5 – 9 to me.

Matthew 5:21-22a, NKJVMurder Begins in the Heart
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. 

I am guilty of murdering too! Though I do not wish to be associated with the criminal who kills but God says that if I continue to be angry with my relatives, I will be judged by our Righteous Father.

Also, God reminded me of the many lessons I have learnt over the years that He would be pleased, only if I mend my relationship with my relatives. I noted that the consequences for not forgiving is that I will eventually poison and imprison myself (not a physical prison but an emotional, psychological and mental prison, ya, until I have paid my “last penny”).

Matthew 5:23-26, NKJV
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

All these while, I know this passage (in the head) but have intentionally skipped this part of the Bible which calls for radical living. I must admit that I have compartmentalized my life so well that no one but God (He knows everything!). Come to think of it, I have refused to love my enemies, pronounce blessings and good wishes to my relatives who curses my family members, do good to them who hated us, and pray for them.

Amazingly, the Holy Spirit caused me to start pray consistently for the salvation of these relatives almost the same time as my aunty was diagnosed with cancer. And now, I guess God makes me continue to work out the unforgivenesss which I have not fully dealt with, from a few years back

Matthew 5:44-48, NKJV 

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Below is the 3rd set of scripture given by my mentor during my Sabbatical break few years back and the verses that stood out among the many verses were verse 12, 14-15. I have argued, wrestled, and struggled with God many times as why should I forgive men of their sins but God gave me the key - that “as we (I) forgive our debtors”. 

As I pleaded God to forgive me for being lazy, proud, self-righteous, selfish, disobedient etc, I must come to terms with God – to forgive those whom I hold grudges with. Again I must say that our God is a holy God and I, a small creature His sight must learn to submit regardless how painful it may be and how unworthy the other is. AND having understood that I was being made clean by Jesus’s precious blood, nothing of my own merit that I have been rendered righteous. How then can I judge another person? God forbid!

Matthew 6:9-15, NKJV
In this manner, therefore, pray:Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come.Your will be doneOn earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts,As we forgive our debtors.And do not lead us into temptation,But deliver us from the evil one.For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

For others who fell sick, my heart usually goes out to them and pray for them but in this instance, I felt my heart hardened like stone. Was not sure whether I should pay a visit or whether they will let us their house (as our relationship was not good), I was hesitant to pray for healing for that matter and God nudges me to go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13, NKJV)

While I view my relatives as hypocrites, God asked me to be merciful to them as He is a merciful God; and me, a servant of the Lord should do likewise. Also, God tells me that He does not enjoy my tithes and sacrifices but my obedience to His will.

1 Samuel 15:22-23a, NKJVSo Samuel said:“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,As in obeying the voice of the LORD?Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,And to heed than the fat of rams.For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

In closing, I would like to dedicate this song to God that Love lifted me: 

In Christ,

Yit Mun

aka IP Man

p.s.

*referring to song 691: The power of Your love. For those of us who usually attend morning worship, this song was not being chose by the same brother who chooses this song usually but another brother, thus it was even more impactful to me.

Images taken from: (for illustration purposes only)
http://linsharliana.blogspot.com/2011/10/takut-dengan-servis-hospital-kerajaan.html
http://hecatedemeter.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/thursday-poetry-blogging/prayer-and-care/
http://www.freewebs.com/bythelordsgrace/

Where’s Your Mission Field? (A Thanksgiving Message)

Further to my sharing on 11 January 2011, I did mention that my dad is a psychiatric patient and the family situations that I am now in. However, despite the many struggles and hard times, I must say that God has always been so faithful to me and my family.

Sometime September Iast year, my dad has gotten violent, threatening to hit me and my family. As things became critical, I braved myself to bring my mom to the nearest police station in Taman Tun. The policeman initially refused to take our complaint and advise us to bring him to the hospital. However, after I have showed the “weapon” used by my dad that could possibly endangered us and explained that we were not being able to bring him to the hospital, one of the policemen was very helpful to the extent of offered to handcuff him and escort him to hospital.

For many years, I have been praying for opportunities to ward him as he refuses to take his medication. On that particular day, it suddenly came to my mind that this was indeed God answering my prayer even though I have forgotten I did made such prayers before! I was overjoyed even though from the registration process till the warding process took approximately 8 hours though the nurses were not particularly helpful. Again, I thank God for getting a good doctor for us and bringing Church members to pray and offer practical help. The doctor that we have had was experienced and has a good heart.

Just a bit of background story: my dad did see a psychiatrist some years ago and did the usual follow-up check-up but he did not tell doctor the truth of his sickness and did not take the prescribed medication. It was to my heartaches as the previous psychiatrist wasn’t very professional, in my opinion and perhaps, unethical to some extent. For the few months that I was able to obtain leave to see that particular doctor, I did bring photographs and notes of his latest developments pertaining to his illness but the same doctor took it so lightly. At the later stage, he was even asking me to buy medicines from his clinic and the medicine that he sold to me was just a generic one.

We see and heard a lot of stories on how those chronic patients waited for hours and weeks for the appointment to see doctor in order to get medication and so many of them are not being treated properly at the government hospital. Due to financial constraint, most poor and needy and even average family like mine could not have afforded to seek medical advice from private clinic or hospital. I strongly encourage those who you who do medicines/pharmacist/any other field to go into government service as the poor and marginalise people would need your help.

Ephesians 4:1 (New King James Version) 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 

You could be a shining light to those who have no light/dim light if you let God take charge =)

In Him, From Yit Mun, aka IP Man

Images taken from:
http://familymedia.tv/news/world/article/archive/2012/march/article/god-is-faithful/
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1112494030/study-finds-developing-countries-suffer-from-poor-hospital-care/

Personal Sharing: Church Camp 2012

Hey there everybody.

Church camp in Cameron Highland was recently over, and BOY, was it an experience.

To give a general overview of the camp, it was a 4 days 3 night camp in Heritage Hotel, and our camp speaker was none other than Rev Dr. Lim Kar Yong.

WHOA, REV + DR? Imagine that person in your mind, A grey haired professor with a wise old man look wearing an equally grey blazer, that was the mental image I had in mind.

I was wrong. Here’s a picture.

SHOCKING.

Despite his youthful appearance, this man was the real deal, throughout the 6 sessions that he had with us, he managed to drive home some points close to the hearts of many of us in an interesting and informative way, the kind where you can just sit down and listen for hours upon hours.

Well, I can’t possibly hope to summarize EVERYTHING that he shared with us during camp, so I’ll just share with you a few highlights which are my personal favorites.

One of the first imagery that he shared with us was of that of BUCHENWALD concentration camp. He drew an analogy between our sinful life and our redeemed life, with that of confinement within Buchenwald concentration camp and freedom from it.

Concentration camp… what’s that? You ask. Well, I can tell you for sure that it is not a camp where Asians go to increase their level of concentration, at least not in this context.

Use of the word "concentration" came from the idea of using documents confining to one place a group of people who are in some way undesirable. In a nutshell, a concentration camp is where the NAZIs kept their political enemies, and mainly people whose interest runs against their ideology. People like Jews, homosexual, and clergies make up the majority in these camps.

So…. Buchenwald, what’s so special about that? In order to fully understand the context in this case Rev Dr Lim proceeded to expound on a few facts about Buchenwald, among the few notables were:
1. It was the largest concentration camp that the NAZIs had
2. How big? NEARLY THE SIZE OF TAMAN TUN DR ISMAIL
3. It kept confined to it, 240 000 men and women
4. Out of this number, there was a death rate of 24 percent, or more precisely 56545.

What led to that extraordinary rate of death?  The primary factors were harsh living conditions which encouraged the development of diseases, starvation and as if that was not enough, the prisoners there were quite literally worked to death under the Vernichtung durch Arbeit policy (EXTERMINATION THROUGH LABOUR). Also, many of these prisoners were subjected to inhumane experimentations, some including the development of poisons where the prisoners were taken as guinea pigs to determine JUST the right dose to use, cause you know, wasting is like totally wrong you know?

(On a random note, it made me think about the differences between the Concentration Camp and our Church Camp, hahaha, imagine signing up for the wrong camp.)

So, after elaborating all the facts about Buchenwald camp, the Rev Dr begin to draw a parallel between our sinful lives and that to confinement in Buchenwald camp.

Ultimately, all the prisoners in Buchenwald camp would have been liberated on April 4th 1945 by the allied soldiers from the United States. One can only imagine the joy of the prisoners to be able to finally escape the Living Nightmare that they were trapped in and walk into the path of FREEDOM.

And Ultimately, Jesus would have liberated all of us from our sinful, self defeating lives when he died on the cross for us. All that was needed was for us to accept him as our personal savior and repent. Imagine a prisoner who refused to be liberated, who chose to STAY with his or her own captors, who after Buchenwald camp was liberated, chose to stay in another concentration camp. (Stockholm Syndrome much?) It’s like, imagine him walking up to the Nazis and say “Umm.. hey guys, you see, the allies have destroyed Buchenwald and I would really like it if you could accommodate me into another camp where I can be severely starved, brutalized, work to death, and be freely experimented on, I hope that’s not too big a trouble.”

What Rev Dr Lim shared that day hit me close to my heart; it struck a raw nerve, wound in me which prodded me into deep thought. [Assumes thinker pose]

Like everyone, I struggle with sin, and often sin seems to be winning most of the time. Often times it left me demotivated , stripped of my confidence and distanced me from God. I hated that feeling, quite literally at times, right after committing a sin, I feel alone. A sense of loneliness and emptiness as though everybody had left, and I was alone in this world.

After much soul searching during the camp, I came to realize, that for me, my real reason for defeat was that I have strayed too far away from God. Sure, I did many things to help others; I’ve dedicated all my successes to God, I’ve committed my time, abilities and effort to benefit others. BUT I was too far away from him.

A fundamental lie that prevailed in my life was that I always thought things such as quiet time and bible study were not a real necessity in my spiritual life, I mean sure they were important, but to me back then it was always work in the community that took priority above all the rest. I guess I was a Martha instead of a Mary.

Thinking back to a period of my life which I seem to be more at peace with God, I realized it was so because back then I took the pain to read the bible and pray every single night, come rain come shine.  Proud and Arrogant, I have fallen.

HENCE, in order to address this issue, I have once again decided to restart my daily “pilgrimage”, once again come rain come shine, I would faithfully resume back to my quiet time and bible study. And additionally I would make more time for Church and fulfill my role in it as best as I know how.

Time is a scarcity in my life. Though I’m always rushing from one job to the other, I now fully realize that ultimately if I do not make time, forcefully create time for my personal walk with God, I am DOOMED  to fail, doomed to once again walk back into the concentration camp that once kept me confined, bitter and shackled . [SIGH] I have to change._.

AND all this because of only ONE session. HAHAHAHA, I would not be lying if I said that most of the session had a profound impact in the way I think and provided me a fresh perspective of looking at things. That and the honest and heartfelt conversation that I had with my discussion group which I truly appreciated.  I can’t hope to cover everything in this one post. But to me, this Buchenwald example was the lesson that I kept the closest to my heart, and I feel I would to share with it with you awesome people!

And well to end this post, let me quote from the bible a verse which I find particularly relevant.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey it’s evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall NOT be your master, because you are not under law, but under GRACE.  – ROMANS 6:11-14

- Derrick Khor Zhong Wei

IMAGE 1-http://2.bp.blogspot.com/FiiBCxfV4O4/TVi6wiHEFtI/AAAAAAAAGPU/bSxcsY3n_NM/s1600/LimKarYong02.jpg
IMAGE 2-http://memoiredeguerre.pagesperso-orange.fr/lieux-dep/buchenwald-entree.jpg
IMAGE 3-http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/kristallnacht/images/image6b.jpg

A Revering Encounter

Recently, a sister has been sharing her issues to me. She has finally decided to work out her faith with all seriousness; she knew she has been carrying a baggage that has been eating up her faith inside out. She also told me that she never realize it has been that way because normally, she waits for God to use someone to tell her what’s going wrong in her spiritual walk with Him.

In the book of Exodus when Moses was leading the Israelites, everyone knew Moses talked to God face to face, but as we read in Exodus 20 : 18-19 :

“And all the people saw the thundering, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak to us, lest we die.”

That sister never knew she could face God face to face as Moses did, she always thought God will always speak to her in mysterious ways that she can never understand. That’s not true at all, we have not come to call our Heavenly Father as our personal Saviour for no reason. Some of us do not know because we either lack the initiation to find out or is still very young in the faith. In her case, she was never even exposed to such possibility. For some, its exactly where the Israelites stand, they know God is there but is too afraid, “lest we die”!

Why? Because we fear change. We are only willing to change when the cost is affordable and convenient, but when it starts to cost us a lot, we’ll stop. We hate to be in corners in our lives, we want “freedom” to roam, to stop and go as we wish and live comfortably without boundaries in the name of the 3 best friends (me, myself and I ). Sometimes we rationalize and say, “It’s not like I’m entirely living my life without God, I don’t curse, I do go to church, I don’t steal and I still care for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Can you start to see the “do’s and don’t’s”?

Because we start to feel the cornering, facing God directly ourselves is not what the fear wants to work with. We want someone else to filter that for us and tell us things we hope to hear like “you’re fine, you’re doing okay etc.”

1 Peter 4 : 1

“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for He hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that He no longer should live the rest of His time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”

Here we need to remind ourselves the renewing of our mind. Don’t just see the process, see the objective why God put us through such “cornering” in our lives.

Allow me to put it in a different perspective. If you want something so badly - for example being the best badminton player, do you honestly think you will mind all that pain and commitment in the practices, routines and time spent?

You wont. Why? Because the motivation to be the best, to be acknowledged by your peers, parents and relative, the feeling of satisfaction in achievement in your life pushes you through all the way.

And then when we come to know our sinfulness and how much it destroys us and making us inevitably the object of wrath without any hope, we come to know the amazing grace of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. We told Him our lives is Yours, Your glory and Your name I do my best to live my life to it.

Sadly, as young Christians, we don’t exactly understand what it really means to surrender our entire lives to Him. Thankfully, God is full of mercy and love (That’s how we come to understand how rich it is as well, though obviously it’s not an excuse to keep failing Him).

Facing God and allowing Him to change us even though its going to be very difficult and often very painful is necessary. But let our motivation be focused, we do it because we love Him. We do it because we are reminded where we were before we met the Lord. We do it because we understand and is convicted fully, that God loves us . And when you’re finally back to business with our Father, well guess what?

You’re living the faith.

No more religion, no more do’s and don’ts. If you do not understand what it means to face God in such a personal direct manner, do come for our youth retreat this March! We will be dwelling on a longer session on the spiritual discipline of meditation. If you can’t wait that long and want to be serious with God right now, you’re more than welcome to approach me directly (I’m not a guru yet so don’t expect that much out of me!)

If you’re currently stuck at where the Israelites at, I hope this post may remind you why you’re doing what you’re doing. Don’t take it the wrong way, I’ve been where the Israelites were so many times myself but I continue to strive, two steps front, one step back.

Phil 4 : 13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

- Gary Heng

Images are taken from :

http://www.handofgod.com.au/page133.php
http://www.freefoto.com/preview/05-08-5/Cross-on-a-Hill
http://h3sean.com/subtle-compromise/
http://footstepsacademy.org/

2012?

While many people on my Facebook wall are busy dying even before the Mayans predicted the end of the world by 2012 (quoting from one of my friends), how many of us are actually conscious about the Lord's 2nd coming?

Luke 21:25-28

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

I admit that often time than not, I'm more concerned about issues yet to be resolved and selfish objectives to be met than consciously reminding myself that He will be returning soon. That includes during my nightly prayers to Him before I close my eyes after beating myself up over the agendas done throughout the day!

Perhaps, subconsciously after all the drumming and influence from the movies about the countless ways how humanity will be extinct, I might had just allowed it to make me shrug off the idea that any moment, we would all be facing the Lord directly face-to-face and be held accountable for all our actions done on earth.

Now you might be thinking twice whether to continue reading on this post, but I'd like to question - why is this so?

Perhaps, we allow a lot of our friends to tell us that what we believe in is a religion. A religion to once in a while remind us that we should love another person and if you fail to do so, it's okay, we still go to Heaven.

Perhaps we allow the media to tell us that it's undeniably cool to make fun of our own religion and since no one's getting angry over it, why not cultivate this lifestyle to join in the bandwagon along with the world? (such as helplessly saying "oh my God" in vanity)

Perhaps we keep telling ourselves that we have a lot more time to seriously sit down and think about repentance and be a goodie boy/girl when we feel like it but until then .. it's better to live life the way we think it's best?

Perhaps, we have not actually believed that the Lord has conquered death and now, we ourselves are fearful of the unknown, and only want to focus on what we can see, touch and smell right now on earth?

As we enter the year 2012, TTDIGC Youth will be introducing a brand new theme, known as -

I am His and He is mine.

I cannot emphasize any further on how crucial we view and understand the faith we believe in. If I ask you that you're on a relationship with the dearest person you could ever love and have been consistently communicating to one another via skype, e-mails and facebook .. wouldn't you long for the day that you can be together, face-to-face, finally?

John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

But Christ is more than just a lover and that's what makes our faith more beautiful and perfect than anything else in the world can offer! Christianity isn't about restricting your freedom or forcing us to live life against our will, but it's about an intimate relationship with a Heavenly Father who truly empower us to be who we're REALLY made for!

So be sure to join us to press on heavenward week by week as to eagerly seek His return as once we've encountered the love of Christ, we can only say -

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

- daryl 's u n d a e' heng

Images taken from:
http://mapawatt.com/2011/12/18/what-will-2012-have-in-store-for-energy-conservation/
http://beafreakgotohollywood.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html

Family in Prayer

As most of you know, I will be graduating soon. If you have read some of my previous blogposts, you would know that my college years have been relatively bumpy. Well to no surprise the last leg of my journey in college was bumpy as well. So this was the situation, when I returned from Singapore to continue my studies in Kuala Lumpur, I found out during the first day of class that I had to conceptualize and start up my own fashion related brand for my final assignment.

That means that after all the money my parents spent on my college fees, they now have to be investors for a business I have to create in order for me to graduate. I immediately thought that this was outrageous! I understand the fact that the best way to learn is to have hands on experience. But I really felt forced into doing something I did not want to do. Doing this was a real gamble because I felt that my parents would have to invest in something that I had no experience in doing and I feared that it would fail miserably. As usual, I was angry and bitter about everything concerning my college.

Throughout this whole situation, my parents remained very supportive. My father even told me to not worry about it and just do what I needed to do in order to graduate. Hence, I reluctantly came out with a brand concept for my assignment. Drawing inspiration from my niece and my sister-in-law, I decided that my brand will specialize in providing stylish nursing covers for mothers.

As I worked on my assignment, I was still feeling angry and honestly very worried about how I was going to accomplish creating my own brand and running a business. So I started praying and asking God to really help me with this. I even asked my Bible Study group to pray for me. Today, as I am about to complete my assignment; I can tell you that everything that has happened during these few months of working on my assignment is nothing short of divine intervention.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV)

I truly experienced God’s faithfulness as to the way He turns something that started off negative into something beautiful. Many lessons have been learned through this experience and I can say that this experience has brought me closer to God. The amazing thing about this is that God sent His children to help me in completing my assignment.

Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.(NIV)

Let me start with the production of the products. I have a second cousin who is a tent maker in Cambodia and has been living there with her family for over 10 years. We rarely get a chance to meet up but amazingly we met up with her family when they visited KL in June. During that meet up, I found out that she was involved in a social enterprise in Cambodia that teaches disadvantaged women to sew so that this life-skill would help them develop meaningful careers and earn a living. I told her about my business idea and she responded by saying that they made nursing covers too and they would love to produce some for me. I was so happy and thankful. Having them make the nursing covers made creating this business so much more meaningful for me.

Besides that, from the design of the website to the buying of the web domain name God sent my friends from other churches to help me. As for the costs and numbers I had to work out for my assignment, a brother in church willingly helped me with that numerous times. Even the video that I needed to create for my assignment was produced by another brother in church. God truly answered my prayers even when I was feeling so negative about the whole situation. I would have never imagined that doing this assignment would bring me the joy of experiencing God in such a way.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

So, are you feeling down or angry about something today? Bring it to the Lord in prayer and you will soon realize that everything good or bad that has happened in your life happens for a reason. It would also be great if you have brothers and sisters in Christ that can support you in prayer. Trust me it makes a difference.

Matthew 18:19-20 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (NIV)

- Xin-Yi

Images are taken from:
http://www.14ushop.com/haverlock/jim-journey.html
http://inewp.com/?tag=depressed-and-angry
http://www.copticbiblestudy.org/our-fellowship

Not to be served but to serve

In Philippians 1:1 , Paul introduces both he himself as well as Timothy as servants of Christ Jesus and addresses the Philippi Church as saints.

This year, I was blessed to have gotten the chance to attend this year’s National School Christian Fellowship Leadership Camp organized by Scripture Union, where I learnt what the word saint actually meant. Saints, as Paul addressed the Philippi Church, means holy people who were set part for God’s purposes. As for servants, we are called to be servants of God, that is slaves to righteousness and not sin.

Through the said camp, I am reminded once again about how we, children of God, are actually saints and servants of Christ. In other words, our whole lives are set apart for service to God for His glory and not our own. Not forgetting the fact that we are only enabled to serve because He has placed that righteousness on us and not because of anything we’ve done or will/can ever do.

This leads us to another point, how then do we serve a God who needs nothing of us? We are to serve His people (one another).

Philippians 2:3-4 says: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”.

Then again, how often do we think about God and what He wants of us in the first place. We’re often so busy with our earthly lives that we forget what being a Christian actually is all about.

We are called to live Gospel driven lives!!

Philippians 1:12-26
Despite the rivalries and the hardships Paul faced, (being in prison and persecuted) his passion to share the Gospel never died.

Philippians 1: 12-18 This great example reminds us to not allow the difficulties nor comforts in our lives hinder us from being passionate for Christ.

Being called to live Gospel-driven lives brings forth the point that we, the Church, the body of Christ, are Gospel-partners! Therefore, it is our responsibility to work in unity and in love toward the same goal and purpose. Being accountable to one another is necessary too.

I would like to end by sharing the lyrics to the chorus of the song “Servant King”:

This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow him
To bring our lives as daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King

God bless!!!

- Allyna Goh

Images taken from:
http://blog.beba-anas.com/borak-kosong/busy-sangat-ke
http://edharewood.hubpages.com/hub/Background-on-Episitle-to-the-Philippians
http://new-wood.blogspot.com/2011/11/servant-king.html

It's not just a feeling

Being a Christian after almost 1 year and a half now, it just dawned upon me, there isn’t such a thing as "stagnant" days of being a Christian. Its either you're growing closer to the Lord, or going further away from Him. There's no "I'm stable now and i will keep things this way where I'm comfortable." sort of phase in your walk with Him.

Does that surprise you?

Allow me to put it this way. If you ever had a super close bestie friend in your life, can you imagine yourself being distant from that person for a stretch of time? Obviously, you'll either miss that person or actually spend some quality time with that person, or just simply be with that person.

And if for some reason, you can't meet or even interact with that person for a long period of time, you'll realize it's just not the same anymore.

But if it’s someone who you always say hi and bye - an acquaintance, frankly, it doesn't matter if you didn't even see that person for the next 10 years. It may even not cross your mind that it has already been 10 years since you last saw this friend.

Because the depth of the bonds between your bestie and that acquaintance is different. Deeper bonds, deeper meaning, deeper commitment.

Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Of course, to compare a human to human relationship and ours to God is a far cry. God is first your saviour, then yes, He is also your best friend. Thankfully, He is also an awesome extremely loving God that could bear with our nonsense all the time. What nonsense? The "when i feel like being closer to You, then i will, if not, I will stay invisible as You've always been."

But how do we stop being that way? I caught myself doing that so many times, again and again, I end up coming to Him begging to let me start over. Trust me, its not a great feeling at all! (With a lot of consequences to deal with at the same time due to that)

There's no other way than being committed to the relationship you have with Him. True love between a relationship may start with a feeling, but never sustained by it. Sincerity is not about getting the mood to do it, true sincerity is doing regardless how you feel, in fact, even when you don't feel like doing it.

But how do we commit? (Some of you might be thinking, "just commit lah duh")

It's not that easy. I don't even know if any of you reading this have actually committed to anything before. In today's time, there isn’t such a thing existing anymore, it also explains why there are so much nonsense going on also. Committing to something doesn’t mean someone forcing you like how your parents may force you to go school, tuition or your piano class. It has to be made by your own personal choice.

So may i suggest taking it one day at a time? In fact one day maybe too hard, why not one moment at a time?

By the way, committing your relationship with God is not equal to "reading the Bible" daily or even going to church every Sunday. There are many people who knows the entire Bible inside out and goes church every Sunday and yet, has never followed Him in any part of their lives.

I was once there few years back and always wondered why this God never spoke to me, today I finally know why. Its because I was spending so much time knowing about Him, but never submit my life in having this beautiful relationship with Him!

If you're going to commit your relationship to a lover and if this lover writes a letter to you everyday, do you just merely read it and then put it away? Or do you excitedly read through the lines, dwell on it the entire day and wonder, if this is what He meant? I mean come on! It's for you! And of course after understanding what He meant, you do your part by learning to trust what He is telling you to do or to listen.

So one moment at a time, one thought at a time, one action at a time. Do it all for the love for God, your Saviour.

If God asked you to love this friend of yours in school and you find it very hard because maybe your friends will laugh at you or even despise you, you take it one step at a time. Start by saying hi to that person and then submitting the cost of your "accompaniment" to God. And to also start to accept that you may end up losing this bunch of friends but also realize that you are finally having the joy of having true freedom in obeying God.

Leviticus 19:34

"But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."

If its about you spending too much time on youtube or facebook, cut it down slowly. Maybe put a time limit you wish to spend on it and start cutting it down from there, and then submitting the cost of your "leisure time" to God. But also realize that you maybe finally on a journey to realize the joy of "depths of Jesus Christ" in using the time cut down to spend more time in prayer and meditation. (Or quiet time for that matter)

Lastly, have an accountable partner. When i say accountable partner, i don't mean a mere friend that often calls you to just play sports, computer games and crack jokes all day long. I mean by someone who sincerely and seriously takes your relationship with God as important as his/her relationship to God, so get someone whom you know is more mature than you or at least of equal maturity. I personally have a person who is my accountable partner and that person really commits to making sure my relationship with God is always well and going. I know that person will be praying for me even if i don't ask everyday or every week and that person really take time out to commit in doing all that.

I pray that whoever is reading this may have such a blessing from God too. Building a relationship with God is pure hard work, that's something definite. But thankfully, if you have always been depending on God to build this relationship, you'll realize that you are strengthen by His grace. No, i don't mean that it becomes suddenly easier, i know a lot of people get the concept of "strengthening by God" as though their burden gets lighter. It normally doesn't. What it means is actually being able to do it, with His strength!

2 Corinthians 12:9

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Yes, you'll feel the same tough going, but you also know you'll make it in the end, because you're enabled by His grace. If you're not strengthen by His grace, you can try all you want and i can guarantee you, you'll never make it.

-Gary Heng

Images are taken from :

http://doctorbutterfly.xanga.com/
http://im-realize.blogspot.com/2009/09/im-upset.html
http://www.howtowriteaformalletter.com/
http://www.dianasimon.com/my-accountability-partner-may-9th/1312

God's Blessings

God has blessed us in so many ways. He has blessed us with a great family, a nice and comfortable home to live in, food to eat, water to drink, great friends. In many countries like Ethiopia, Africa and India, many people have to suffer everyday just to get food to fill their stomachs.

And yet, so many people are still not happy with what they have. Most of us constantly complain about how we had a bad hair day, how boring life is, or even complaining how terrible the food being served is.

I was inspired to write this article because 2 weeks ago or so my brother told me that he was going to Taylors College Sri Hartamas to pack food for families who are suffering from starvation. Every volunteer is given a specific task to do, which could involve funneling, measuring, sealing, or boxing. Each finished package contains 6 highly nutritious meals containing rice, soy protein, dried vegetables, flavouring and 21 essential vitamins and minerals. They managed to pack 1 million packs of food.

Even in Malaysia, many families are having trouble earning enough money to feed their starving kids at home or even find shelter for their kids. Some parents can't even afford to buy a school uniform for their kids.

Therefore, we should really appreciate what God has given us. I often forget the fact that God has blessed me so much and provided me with everything I ever needed. I often complain because of luxuries I don't have.

In Philippians 4:11-13, the apostle Paul says:

I'm not saying that because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me. I know what it's like not to have what I need. I also know what it's like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.

We should always give thanks to the Lord for all He has done for us. He has blessed in so many ways. Psalm 118: 28-29 says:

You are my God , and I will give thanks to You, You are My God, and I will honour you. Give thanks to the Lord, because He is good, His faithful love continues forever.

-serena lee-

He is the Way, the Truth and the Life

I was reading a “note” on facebook about a friend who has been writing over a sci-fi story on how his story talks about possibilities of the after-life, whilst suggesting that we could live however as we wish due to various possibilities.

He explained that there is no point trying to save this planet because everything dies anyway, there is no point trying to live as though you know what comes after-life because science has no proof over it.


He is not the only friend who has such a perception and perspective towards living in this life we have right now.

But sadly, those perspectives and perceptions are blind.

Blind to what? Reality.

They live in a life full of comfort and selfishness - expensive cars, fully paid tertiary education (which some them even flung it), expensive clothing, changing phones as though they were accessories, burning hundreds (even thousands) over a night of clubbing & the list goes on.

They talk about living life in a philosophy with such weak substance and somewhat “fantasy” like, but do they dare look in the eyes of a girl who has been raped, abused and poorly fed for months and share their idea of how life should be lived?

If there is a meaningful, worthy life philosophy worth living, it has to be one that applies to all.

I always share that to my brother daryl whenever I read any articles, watch any videos or come to ears to any philosophy of life when it ignores hardship and pain. (Because most of it always stems out from one and only one thing – selfishness. )

It’s either about reaching your fullest potential, or living your “dreams”, or travel the whole world and experience different things (What? Now these people are objects of exhibition for your experience?), everything that has to be beneficial for your own gain, but none of them tells you “live so that others may live”.

None but Christ.

James 10:10 b

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Ought we to live in a manner that goes with the worldly philosophy?

We pick certain subjects to study because we like it. We pick jobs that we only enjoy working with. We aim for materialism because we don’t want to be the “odd” one out. We take extra classes (singing, guitar or art etc) that we don’t need but we enjoy it anyway.

But they are all done for the infamous 3 best friends : me, myself and I.

Have you ever consider before entering tertiary education, where would God want you to be or in what way He wants you to live for Him? If it’s studying, what subject and why?

When you have an option to study overboard or locally, why do you study overboard? Is it because you want to have the “experience”? Most importantly, does your local church needs you to stay?

How about being a full time worker or a missionary?

When you purchase the next latest iphone100, do you actually need it?

If you have extra cash enough to start learning something that you don’t need, why do you go for that class for? Is it so that you could help use it as an avenue to spread the gospel?

When you start doing all of the things for yourself, you are burying yourself with selfishness. Selfishness only does one thing to you, it blinds you.

It blinds you from the cries of this world that desperately needs the Lord. It blinds you to think that life is perfectly fine with the way it is because YOUR life is fine (not life mind you). But, if you push every ounce of your strength, every bit of your soul, every pump of your heart and every waking moments of your mind to love God,

You are now living eternal life that Christ Jesus has given you when you believe Him to be your Lord and Saviour.

Suddenly you realize there is so much loving to do but no one is doing anything about it.

Luke 10:2

“He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

When I devote my habit of eating luxurious food to God, I realize how much God has blessed me. I made sure I wouldn’t spend more than RM10 on food a day, everyday.
Yes, that includes going out with my friends. Yes, that includes the snacks and drinks. And mind you, I’m not living in a kampung , I’m living in a modern city of Petaling Jaya where Teh ais alone now easily costs you Rm 1.50.

It was extremely hard at first, making all the excuses and justifications and often failing. But today, God has strengthened me to keep a clean record for more than a month now and I realized I had so much extra money to bless others who really, seriously need it.

Today I’m able to eat just rice and vegetables for lunch almost every day without any problem. The best part is, I know I’m prepared to make sacrifices and not being a burden when hard times come. I also never realize how much my mum’s cooking was such an abundant of blessing when that’s the only time I actually get to eat meat during the whole day. God taught me to be thankful while I was so immature and selfish previously to be complaining over the things she cook for dinner.

How are you losing your life for God’s sake today? How are you bearing fruit for Him today?

Mark 8 : 35

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

Live your life worthy of the gospel that in hope, our friends who are still in darkness and blind may see the light and come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour!

- Gary Heng

Images taken from :

http://sjv-science-sense.wikispaces.com/space/blog?responseToken=098db64fa45b8b926d2cbbb6578d09424
http://breakspace.co.uk/gamma-atlanta-greyhound-races/
http://girlfromthehills.wordpress.com/2010/07/30/that-friday-feeling-singing/
http://logenauthorbeastly.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html
http://budaktechnician.blogspot.com/2011_01_11_archive.html
http://www.engagecitychurch.com/blog/?p=168

Salt & Light of the world

It is true while the Christian reads the Bible, the Non – Christians read our lives. We as Christians are always called to be salt and light of the world, as this is what God has commanded us to do. Now as we dwell in this topic, what does being Salt and Light means? To first understand, we must know what does salt and light does.

In older days, people do not have the advantage of the electricity, so, they have no light. Life is 12 hours of light, and 12 hours of extreme darkness. So when they are in the dark, they feel afraid, they have a sense of fear. I mean, lets face it, we don’t like being in the dark, simply because the darkness holds a lot of unknowns to us, we might ask, what if a ghost pops out, what if this / that appears? But when Christ has instructed us to be the salt and light of the world, He
has ask us all to be let our lives shine before them. Jesus wants to fill us with His presence, and as light, our lives should provide them the direction to go that is to Jesus Christ, the light that shines, the comfort and the hope that we bring to those who are weary / sad / even to those who are searching for the meaning of life. Think about the people we can encourage today, and while we are at it, we must always keep in check our walk with God. Because as light provides direction, we need to ensure that we are the light, and this can only be done, when we keep a good relationship with God. We need to pray and ask God to give us the consciousness not to live our lives carelessly.


Being the light also depict that we should be transparent to each other. Simply put, we should share our lives with one another and to allow our friendship to go beyond just the physical / emotional areas of our lives, but rather the spiritual part that we cannot see. A good way of doing so might be checking on each other quiet time, and the struggles we face day by day in our lives. In contact with people day by day, we should appear as who we are to the people we see. Simply because, our friendship/ our family with them should be as genuine as Christ has asked us to be, to love one another as Christ has loved us.


Salt has many functions, amongst such is to enhance the taste of the food, to kill bacteria, and to preserve food. In this world of brokenness, are we doing our best to preserve God’s truth and His message of LOVE, are we standing up for the values that God wants us to uphold in our lives? Along these lines, I would like to share that the one thing that truly separates us Christians and others is the fact that we are united in the blood of Jesus Christ, try to think about it, although people can be friends, but their friendship has only relations of friends, but when Christ has called us together, He has called us to be His Children, to be in the family of God, to preserve His truth even in a dying world. Are we doing it? An easy implication to draw from here is that, are we standing up for the right things God has commanded us to do? Are we making a stand for God when He is mocked? An even tough challenge I have to throw to myself too, are we mocking God with our lives because of the things we do sometimes? Are we enhancing and preserving what God wants us to?

Being Salt and Light also does not necessarily be to the world, we should also be aware that we are to be salt and light to the Christians we come into contact our lives. Because a true salt / a true light is one who allows God to be at work in their lives. We as Christians are called to be modest in our approach, to be sincere in our actions. Jesus has called us to be the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Being the salt and light is ultimately important because that is the essence and the core of being a Christian, because only by being transformed and filled by the Holy Spirit, we can have the fruit of the Spirit, and when we have these attributes, only can we be Salt and Light to the world, only then, our testimony about Jesus Christ and His work on the cross will be effective.

We should always thank God for choosing us into His Presence, while we live and breathe, may Our Lives be an offering to The LORD.

- John Khor

Images taken from:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2008/apr/14/betweenarockandahardplac
http://www.emmanuelnazarene.com/?p=252