不被Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) 重邀回去钻研圣经奠定了我每星期定要参与亚当路长老会（Adam Road Presbyterian Centre， ARPC）小组团契生活的决心。这星期因无法参与习惯性的City Ministry小组，厚着脸皮闯进了我差不多谁都不认识的星期五Spottiswoode 小组以便成全我上叙的决心。
习惯性的一起研究圣经，习惯性的分享生活需要祷告的重点，真的惊叹神能够用这些看似简单、习惯性属灵活动为他的天国带来荣耀的可能性，及有可能显示出了“他的能力，是在人的软弱上显得完全" （歌林多後書12：9，2 Cor 12:9 "...my power is made perfect in weakness."）的真理。
本不想讲叙在工作上面对的挫折以防拖累新认识的姐妹们。但E姐妹分享了她在工作上感觉自卑的心理自然的促使我分享了在工作上遇到的难题。很巧的，G姐妹竟与一个基督侍奉组织有来往，而这组织的专长，就是我所需要的资源，而他们所要传福音的对象，更是我工作上服侍的对象！
这意味着我的难题有可能被这组织解答，更重要的，因他们能参与的可能性，能够与活动参与者达到联系，让他们往后的日子，能够听到福音，并因耶稣基督的名而得救。赞美主！
要不是我在工作上显得“软弱”，我哪会在分享时间提到我工作性质？要不是我在工作上显得“软弱”， 这组织也不会有机会展现特长，并开拓往后传福音的机会。
当然事情还未奠定，还有很长的路要走。但是，在非常巧合的机会，在一个我差不多谁都不认识的团契里分享我的软弱，跟一个能够辅助我的基督侍奉组织有联系、素未谋面的姐妹有沟通，带来的可能性和希望，这不是极为巧妙的，不是吗？
在那时刻，我真的能够感受一丁点保罗在歌林多後書12：10的喜悦“为基督的缘故，就以软弱，凌辱，急难，逼迫，困苦，为可喜乐的。因我什么时候软弱，什么时候就刚强了。”(2 Cor 12:10"...for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. " )
事务真的很奇妙，有时候神真的喜欢用我们的软弱带领人进入他的天国，因“神拣选了世上软弱的，叫那强壮的羞愧。。。使一切有血气的，在神面前一个也不能自夸。。。 如经上所记，夸口的当指着主夸口。”（歌林多前書 1：27，29，31“But God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong... so that no one may boast before him.... Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord””1 Cor 1:27, 29, 31）这让我联想在生活里，我应用什么态度来对待我的“软弱”呢？是不是应该大方的与信任的弟兄姐妹们分享呢？“我的能力，是在人的软弱上显得完全。”(歌林多後書 12：9，2 Corinthians 12:9 "...my power is made perfect in weakness.")
虽然我在这时刻，心里还对我现今的工作能力感觉失望、气馁，但是，只要我奉他的旨命从事，尽心尽力，我相信他会帮我渡过难关的。
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
For the times when we are down
Recently going through alot of setbacks in my work. The learning curve is steep when there is a change in work culture and it was disheartening to feel down, defeated and unappreciated.
So it was timely when my friend sends me this article "'Take Heart' when you are discouraged"
You can read it here: http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/1340189.html
So it was timely when my friend sends me this article "'Take Heart' when you are discouraged"
You can read it here: http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/1340189.html
Friday, July 15, 2005
The taxi drivers who brought unity back again
I'm a person who does her very best to avoid taking taxis, believing that they are a huge waste of money for non-work, non-profitable uses.
So it was with great reluctance when I woke up at 8a.m this morning (my official working hours starts from 8.30a.m) and know that this oversleeping will cause me 10 bucks.
Imagine my concern when I got into the cab and discovered I have only all of $8. Pretending to be casually glancing around, I looked out for a credit card processing machine and did not find any. (Don't all cab companies install credit card processing machines now??) I prayed that what I have will be enough so imagine my delight when a ride that normally comes to around $10 comes up to a grand total of $7.90. Thank God!
Now with only spare change in my wallet, it's time to visit the nearest ATM. It was uncomfortable to find, waiting by the lift, a colleague, and a sister-in-christ whom I had fallen out with some time back.
Deciding that a regale of my morning adventures would be the best thing to cut away the awkward silence, she cut me off with 'You know what, I was late too, and have my cab driver waiting downstairs for me right now because I don't have enough money to pay him. He's going to drive me to the nearest ATM.' She opened up her wallet and lo and behold, there's only $8 inside.
We also discovered that:
- Without prior arrangement, we had McDonald's for breakfast this morning
- Our lunch periods are free which is very rare (Guess we found our lunch partner hah?)
All these coincidences may sound really petty but the important thing is, these petty coincidences brought out common, interesting topics that broke the ice and brought back the feeling of familiarity that exists between us, sisters-in-christ, before the quarrel that disunites us.
And it is God's will that his kingdom people are united isn't it?
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." - Eph 2:14-18
What does this say about differing viewpoints about predestination vs free-will or conservative vs charismatic movement? Isn't it time to just focus that we have unity in belief of Christ as our Saviour and trust that we are just different organs in the body of Christ?
I don't know about you but I'm going to check if these coincidences translate to 4D profitability. ;)
So it was with great reluctance when I woke up at 8a.m this morning (my official working hours starts from 8.30a.m) and know that this oversleeping will cause me 10 bucks.
Imagine my concern when I got into the cab and discovered I have only all of $8. Pretending to be casually glancing around, I looked out for a credit card processing machine and did not find any. (Don't all cab companies install credit card processing machines now??) I prayed that what I have will be enough so imagine my delight when a ride that normally comes to around $10 comes up to a grand total of $7.90. Thank God!
Now with only spare change in my wallet, it's time to visit the nearest ATM. It was uncomfortable to find, waiting by the lift, a colleague, and a sister-in-christ whom I had fallen out with some time back.
Deciding that a regale of my morning adventures would be the best thing to cut away the awkward silence, she cut me off with 'You know what, I was late too, and have my cab driver waiting downstairs for me right now because I don't have enough money to pay him. He's going to drive me to the nearest ATM.' She opened up her wallet and lo and behold, there's only $8 inside.
We also discovered that:
- Without prior arrangement, we had McDonald's for breakfast this morning
- Our lunch periods are free which is very rare (Guess we found our lunch partner hah?)
All these coincidences may sound really petty but the important thing is, these petty coincidences brought out common, interesting topics that broke the ice and brought back the feeling of familiarity that exists between us, sisters-in-christ, before the quarrel that disunites us.
And it is God's will that his kingdom people are united isn't it?
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." - Eph 2:14-18
What does this say about differing viewpoints about predestination vs free-will or conservative vs charismatic movement? Isn't it time to just focus that we have unity in belief of Christ as our Saviour and trust that we are just different organs in the body of Christ?
I don't know about you but I'm going to check if these coincidences translate to 4D profitability. ;)
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Singleness and Hypocrisy
One of the tasks that I believe God wants me to do with my single life, is to reflect Christ's light to my parents and siblings who I am, typically Singaporean-ly, living with.
Yet although many friends and colleagues may use these terms to describe me
"Good sister-in-christ"
"Good listening ear"
"Fun and approachable"
Always there when I need her"
I believe that my family sees me very differently.
Every night, after work and perhaps some social/church/developmental event, I will reach home, dead tired, my whole body just geared towards my bedroom and the warm bed and blanket that beckons my exhausted head and muscles.
And every night, without fail, once I set foot into the living room, my caring father will greet,"You're back." and my mother will go,"I've left some soup on the table for you. Let me heat it up for you." while she made her way to the kitchen to also blend a fresh cup of wheatgrass milkshake for me.
And what's my typical response?
"(grunt) Ermh...." to my father's greeting and
"I've eaten already leh.... wheatgrass again! I'm too bloated."
On reflection, I've come to the scary conclusion... that this indifferent, ungrateful cannot-be-bothered person is the real me.
And this is the me that will greet my future husband after a hard day of work in that misty, uncertain date called the future.
Scary isn't it? Yet more importantly to God is that by showing such negative examples, I'm not being a good personal witness to my family (which is ironical since they're my main subjects when praying for people's salvation). It really doesn't matter the efforts made to 'carelessly' leave Chinese Christian books around the house or to improve my literacy of chinese christian literature so that they may be shown that Christianity is the way to the true and international/intercultural God (not a western religion) if I'm not showing the love of Christ.
It's nearly impossible though, cause I feel so emptied out at the end of the day. There is really nothing I can do because I'm just so exhausted.
But God can.
For "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Gal 2:20) and although "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matt 19:23) "but with God all things are possible." (Matt 19:26).
I am looking forward to the time when I can be a good witness to my family, not just through words but through concrete actions and I pray I may be transformed through this process.
And who knows, perhaps this is God's way for transforming me, so that somewhere in that misty, uncertain future, I will be the loving (and lovely :p ), submissive wife who will be able to smile and serve my husband after a hard day's work ;) - prayerfully (to be) evidenced by my private service to my family.
Yet although many friends and colleagues may use these terms to describe me
"Good sister-in-christ"
"Good listening ear"
"Fun and approachable"
Always there when I need her"
I believe that my family sees me very differently.
Every night, after work and perhaps some social/church/developmental event, I will reach home, dead tired, my whole body just geared towards my bedroom and the warm bed and blanket that beckons my exhausted head and muscles.
And every night, without fail, once I set foot into the living room, my caring father will greet,"You're back." and my mother will go,"I've left some soup on the table for you. Let me heat it up for you." while she made her way to the kitchen to also blend a fresh cup of wheatgrass milkshake for me.
And what's my typical response?
"(grunt) Ermh...." to my father's greeting and
"I've eaten already leh.... wheatgrass again! I'm too bloated."
On reflection, I've come to the scary conclusion... that this indifferent, ungrateful cannot-be-bothered person is the real me.
And this is the me that will greet my future husband after a hard day of work in that misty, uncertain date called the future.
Scary isn't it? Yet more importantly to God is that by showing such negative examples, I'm not being a good personal witness to my family (which is ironical since they're my main subjects when praying for people's salvation). It really doesn't matter the efforts made to 'carelessly' leave Chinese Christian books around the house or to improve my literacy of chinese christian literature so that they may be shown that Christianity is the way to the true and international/intercultural God (not a western religion) if I'm not showing the love of Christ.
It's nearly impossible though, cause I feel so emptied out at the end of the day. There is really nothing I can do because I'm just so exhausted.
But God can.
For "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Gal 2:20) and although "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matt 19:23) "but with God all things are possible." (Matt 19:26).
I am looking forward to the time when I can be a good witness to my family, not just through words but through concrete actions and I pray I may be transformed through this process.
And who knows, perhaps this is God's way for transforming me, so that somewhere in that misty, uncertain future, I will be the loving (and lovely :p ), submissive wife who will be able to smile and serve my husband after a hard day's work ;) - prayerfully (to be) evidenced by my private service to my family.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Evangelism and Coincidences
In my efforts to bring my friends to heaven with me, it is definitely awesome to see how God works in bringing people to know Him without my effort and how coincidences are lined up so that His purpose can be advanced. Prayerfully, their first steps into my church will be "One small step into church, one giant leap towards Christ."
What are the chances of a new friend making a prior lunch appointment with me who just so happens to be in the perfect position to bring my unsaved friend to my church to listen to God's word at the exact moment when I need it?
Yet this was what happened and because of my meeting with a new Christian friend, my unsaved friend (to be named 'S' here) got brought by her to church to listen to God's word faithfully preached. Although S' greatest impression of the sermon was to add 'dependability' to her checklist of her soulmate, I am not without hope.
If God can change the heart of me, a previously proudly self-professing anti-Christian 15 years after my 1st encounter with the knowledge of the person of Christ and 3 years of hard praying for my salvation by my very, very good friend (it's obvious why she's a true friend right?), He can touch anyone's heart. I believe in the power of prayer and that He can bring to Him any person He had predestined to salvation.
Isa 55:10-11:
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
What are the chances of a new friend making a prior lunch appointment with me who just so happens to be in the perfect position to bring my unsaved friend to my church to listen to God's word at the exact moment when I need it?
Yet this was what happened and because of my meeting with a new Christian friend, my unsaved friend (to be named 'S' here) got brought by her to church to listen to God's word faithfully preached. Although S' greatest impression of the sermon was to add 'dependability' to her checklist of her soulmate, I am not without hope.
If God can change the heart of me, a previously proudly self-professing anti-Christian 15 years after my 1st encounter with the knowledge of the person of Christ and 3 years of hard praying for my salvation by my very, very good friend (it's obvious why she's a true friend right?), He can touch anyone's heart. I believe in the power of prayer and that He can bring to Him any person He had predestined to salvation.
Isa 55:10-11:
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
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