Love - Reminded, Rekindled and to be moulded

Revelation 2:1-7 (New King James Version)The Loveless Church

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

2 years back, I embarked on a Sabbatical leave for 3 months. I only attended the Church Services and totally did not get myself involved in serving as my mentor realized that I was actually not growing and am struggling with lots of issues. It is true that with the 3 months of praying, meditation and even fasting helped me to go closer to the Lord.

The passage above was one of the three sets of Scriptures given to help me face the many issues in my life which impeded my growth in the Lord. Indeed if our spiritual life is not right with God, how can we serve effectively? I treasure the mountain-top experience with the Lord especially at that time but it should not have stopped me from continuing seeking Him despite my many responsibilities and hectic schedule from time to time.

During that time and recently, God is still the One who knows all my hard work and learning to be more tolerant towards people and many issues I came across at Church and Christendom. Yes, I have also realized some of the Church-goers are not true believers and found them to be hypocrites (forgive me for me using such a strong word).

Sad enough, in the hustle and bustle of life, on and off I still ignore my first love - the Lord Jesus. I wonder how I could forget those days when I was yet to get my driving license, I faithfully walked to Church and punctually reach Church, and even much earlier than now! It is true what was expound in Deuteronomy 8:11 (New King James Version)

Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today...

After believing in Christ for some years, I somewhat forget Him! Even though weeks after weeks I come to Church to worship the Lord but my heart might not be there! I must admit that sometimes I am just going through the motions and made it a habit…

Through the Sabbatical leave, I remembered that how previously I was fervent and passionate after God. Believe me when I was still at high school, I was not interested to study. However, ever since I came to the Lord, I am so fascinated by the word of God and spent hours and hours to study it, even when it’s already midnight. My dad would chase me to sleep and I would pretend that I fell asleep. After that, when my dad was asleep, I’ll “wake” up and continue reading it till 3 or 4 am perhaps (if I’m not mistaken). At that time, I almost finished reading the whole Bible, except for the book of Psalms and Proverbs. Not only that, I remembered how fervently I shared Christ with those around me!

Lately I found myself again in the danger of using my own strength to work for the Lord. Yes, Lord, I want to spend my precious waking hours to study Your word and be transformed by Your word. May You revive my love for You and take me, break me and mould me to be the person that You want me to be. Amen.

Footnote: May it be your desire to be close with the Lord, daily spending quality moments with Him and repent from sins too! It is difficult but worth it =D

- Yit Mun

Images taken from:
http://raebear.net/faith/biblestudy/revelation/7churches.php
http://pastorjuan.com/
http://www.tvsa.co.za/default.asp?blogname=JehovaNisiTVSAHomeCellBibleStudyGroup&articleID=11274
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hosanna77/page2/

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

Emotional Immaturity

"One of the signs of emotional immaturity is that we are not able to distinguish between genuine difficulty and suffering and the vicissitudes of life. Bad weather is not suffering; traffic delays are not suffering. These are just part of life. On the whole, emotionally immature people are irritated or frustrated with those things that we merely need to take in stride as part of life on planet earth. They find minor inconveniences to be signs of great injustice against them. When it comes to these elements of our lives we merely need to bear with one another, bear with the weather and live in a fundamental posture of gratitude, humility and patience."

Quoted from Courage and Calling by Gordon T.Smith

A great wake up call to myself as I was stuck at major traffic jam. As if only I had plan the activities better, I wouldn't get myself in such a situation to begin with - should I be seriously be emotionally affected by such a trivial matter?

As spiritual growth is the main factor that allows God to mould our character and maturity, I believe we ought to ask ourselves have we been really working our salvation with fear and trembling?

Phil 2:12 -

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,.."

Should I be making a scene over how I missed a concert last night when children in Japan became orphans over a few seconds of earthquake?

Should I be deeply upset that my friends has an Iphone 4 when a man set himself on fire as he was pushed to the brink of desperation when his only source of living was taken away by corrupted authorities in Egypt?

Should I put a long and sour face over a girl who doesn't even know what true love is all when Penan girls in Sarawak are being raped and the rapists walk away Scott free?

Let us not thicken our bubbles anymore. Choosing to shy away these matters not only harm people around you, it ultimately harms yourself! If you're being so easily bothered over such trivial matters, what more about bigger ones? Let us identify the real suffering that Christ meant in His words.

So by all means, in obedience to the Lord, do know what our faith is capable of -

1 John 5:4

"..for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."

God bless,
daryl 's u n d a e' heng

Images taken from:
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/11/14/are-rss-subscribers-worthwhile-if-they-dont-visit-your-blog/
http://ylovephoto.com/en/2009/11/25/bursting-the-bubble/

Jesus takes the wheel

With the earthquakes and everything that’s been happening in the world lately, we have been reminded to share the gospel and reach out to the people around us.

Personally, I struggle when trying to share the gospel with my friends. I worry about whether or not I said the right thing, whether or not I said it the right way, the right time etc. As we are supposed to be the salt and light of the world, I keep thinking that I am not “good enough” and might disgrace Christ’s name when I share.

However, I was reminded that it is not about me at all. I was complaining recently to my dad about certain circumstances in my uni. I ranted about how I would be able to accomplish so much more if things were different and how it was all so unfair.

My dad told me this quote from Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do and, by the grace of God, I shall do”.

It was a strong reminder to me that God can use me as I am and in whatever circumstances. He places us where we are for a reason. He is always in control and we just have to trust Him. We don’t have to be perfect for God to use us. After all, if only perfect people qualified to serve Him, then none of us would be able to meet that criteria.

A verse from the song “People Need the Lord” goes:

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right
What could be too great a cost
For sharing Life with one who’s lost?

Matthew 10:19-20

But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

We don’t need to worry about what to say or how to say it. God is in control and we just need
to trust Him. It is not about us after all; it is about Him.

- Phoebe Lim

Images taken from:
http://www.republicreport.com/libya-why-not-yemen-tunisia-egypt-bahrain-jordan-syria-saudi-arabia-etc-written-by-paul-i-adujie/
http://jasondevoll.com/2011/01/31/god-helps-those-who-help-themselves/