the sinner seek devotion.

I wish I had some photos to put up but I didn’t have a camera with me during camp, so I guess I’ll just kope from others who post it up on facebook and stuff

Much of this entry is to serve as a reminder of everything God has spoken to me during the entire camp. And I pray that I will look back here regularly to be reminded of how God wants to move in my life so I’ll always walk with a direction and purpose in heart!

Just before camp, I had 2 main worries in mind. I was so unsure of what God wanted me to do in my pastoral involvment, and I kind of refused to believe that God actually has more in store for me despite knowing that I have one year left here.. I was also pretty doubtful of whether God really called me to minister to others through music ministry. I felt utterly cui when I was practising one of the songs just before camp started and I just couldn’t catch one of the parts of the song even after hours…

In addition, I was so worried about this brother who just came to know Christ. On the first day, he felt so doubtful of the realness of God. But eventually, I relented and I just interceded for him and asked God to help me overcome my unbelief that He will touch that person’s heart at the right time.

So anyway, God spoke to me through the 5 loaves and 2 fishes story. When the 12 disciples wanted to send the crowd away because they didn’t have enough food to begin with, Jesus gave them the biggest shock of their lives. Jesus not only told them to make them stay, but also told the disciples to give the crowd food.

It resembled so much of what I was going through at the time. I remember shirley said ‘God doesn’t ask for what we do not have, He only asks for what we have and He settles the rest.’ Then pastor jeff went on that night to pray for those who want to serve in worship ministry and stuff, so I guess God is really calling me to be bold and take that leap of faith man! And it kinda made sense, to play and minister to others seem like an impossible task; I had lack of skills and a less-than-ideal spirit but that’s precisely what God’s call is like. It’s impossible with my effort, but possible with God so that all glory goes to Him when it is completed.

There was a time I was concerned about the limited time I had in music ministry and all the stage stuff. But God promptly reminded me of the reason why I took up the guitar for the first time: I can’t do missions in another land if I don’t know something as basic as playing the guitar and leading others to worship. I know in my heart that this stage and this ministry must not be my final/permanent place of service to God. This is not where I belong, and eventually I must move on to where I am called and back to the very beginning again; that is to lead worship for groups that have just started out during missions.

Also, during the altar call on the last night, I just took time to think back of the entire camp and all the times I interacted with the guys in my unit. All I can say is, we really need to grow more like the men God intended us to be. Passionate in heart, strong in faith yet gentle in actions. But so often we confuse gentleness as a suppression of passion. Whenever a person is gentle, there seem to be a lack of passion and firm values for God. (okay maybe that’s just me :/) but in any case, raph also spoke to me about defending my values and character fiercely. And I think that’s when God really confirmed the burden in my heart. As brothers and men of God, we are to defend what is ours, and fiercely too. Our values, our passions, our standards, our groups, our friends, our God. We must grow to draw the lines clearly, thou shalt not pass through here! Here’s what God says, then we must uphold His principles in our lives fiercely, never compromising and always setting examples for others to follow in.

On a side note, it’s a scary thought that even the generation after me is moving onto their next stage of life. As I spend time thinking about my sheep, I’m just so grateful how God has worked through and in the lives of the both of us.

Awesome camp this has been. It was a great reminder that I’m not young anymore (especially when I just died at 430am while some crazy people were still playing captain’s ball!) But… much is to be done for the Kingdom still and one generation will commend His goodness to another.

Though my physical body is exhausted from ‘tong-ing’ so many nights because of the packed schedule, my soul is refreshed through and through!

As the entire Hope family gathered together to pray, to seek God and to set our foundations right, I personally received a slice of this vision that God has given. Though the first few days started out rough for me, God definitely spoke to me as an individual and I’m even more excited to be back in SG than when I was @ GC. Read the rest of this entry »

“God can do tremendous things through people who don’t care who gets the credit.”

- Rick Warren

Beyond the lifting of our hands, are we constantly lifting up our lives to Him?

God, help me to examine my own life before I do to others. Strip my pride away, tear down my achievements, diminish my abilities and all it takes to humble me. If my heart bears motives that displeases You, convict me and sit me down for as long as it takes.

It’s really difficult when there are things I cannot explain, not that I don’t wish to, but it’s probably unwise to there and then. God, I don’t know how, but if I must deny my right to be right, and if this is Your best plans, then I will and I must obey.

If someone were to come up to me one day and ask me: do you think you’ve grown over the past few months? And if my answer is no, I musn’t merely stop at the embarrassing shake of the head. The most important response is not merely flinching at the question, it musn’t stop there. If my answers is no, then am I going to do something about it?

If I feel stressed and distant from God, am I doing something about that? If I feel weak and hopeless, am I doing something about it? Then the next question beckons, how far am I willing to go to get myself out of this rut? Sometimes our emotions, our mind and our hearts do not flow in tandem, whereby our emotions run against the truths. There are times we let our hearts lead us, often into making rash decisions. (that’s me)

God, I pray that You’d discipline me. Discipline my heart, mind and emotions, so that even in times when I don’t ‘feel’, at least I know the truth. And God I pray I won’t just stop there, I’d know and I’d actively do something about it. Though I may not ‘feel’ like it, if I have to, then I must because Your Kingdom is priority.

Move me, when I most feel like stopping.