It's 10:19pm right now and I'm going to bed after this.
Had quite an eventful weekend. Was quite relaxing and because I done all my admin and boring stuff on Friday evening I was free to enjoy my weekend after I finished work at 2pm on Saturday (yee-haa!). Praise God for things like retail therapy, massage therapy, movies, Google Talk and Whatsapp.
Clean or unclean
Today was a nice day. Weather wasn't too cold. Most importantly was not raining, so I managed to dust and hoover the car, do the safety checks for the car and spent time with God before having lunch with mum (pork chops, rice and veg). Church was good today. PA seemed to have been sorted out quicker than last week and Kenneth lead us in worship. Holy Communion, felt like we didn't have that for a few months. I think two month? Don't quite remember, but it was a nice reminder of the sacrifice Christ made for us so that we can live freely today. Hallelujah! Sermon was taken from Mark 7:1-23 which was Jesus' teaching about 'clean and unclean'. How back in the Biblical days some religious leaders, teachers and pharisees thought they honoured God by living to a set of rules and laws. Things like washing their hands three times before eating anything, washing cutlery and equipment before using them. If they were washed any less than three times they'd make the food 'unclean' which once consumed will make the person 'unclean' in their hearts and in their ways. But Jesus rebuked this idea, saying that it was much more important to live a life pleasing to God overall, than to simply follow these "rituals" on the outside. Basically we can all attend church, Bible studies, worship together, pray and do anything we want and we can look like Christians on the outside. However, what is the state of our heart with God? What is our relationship like with God inside? Are we close to Him? Are we seeking for Him? Yearning for Him? If not, then we do all these external things in vain. It was a nice message. Simple yet effective. For myself it reminded me of myself in way. How at the end of last year I decided to take this "one year sabbatical" away from all things relationships-related. No chasing of girls. No entertaining any thoughts or temptations that might give the wrong message etc. No more thinking about finding a partner until at least one year. Just so I can get my head straight about things and refocus on God. But is that the right way to do it? I know I want to submit my whole life to God again and seek Him first but for this relationship side of things, does it really take one year? Am I just setting myself a "rule" and thinking it will help me get closer to God? Or be less distracted? Today's message has helped remind me that as long as I live my life seeking God first and live a life maintaining a good close relationship with God then no timescales or set rules matter. If I put Him first and please Him first, all things will fall into place. =) I think I'll scrap this silly "rule". Lol!!
The week ahead
I have a pretty busy week ahead. Each day averaging four driving lessons. Wednesday I will have five driving lessons! Finish 9pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tuesday I will finish earlier at 7:30pm and will practice some guitar. Thursday finish 7pm and will have worship practice at 7:30pm at the Church Centre. Looking forward to that. :) Saturday I am scheduled to finish 6pm and will hope to watch "Black Swan" in the evening. Have heard so much good stuff about it but have yet to find the chance to watch it. Let's see what God provides in terms of the times etc. Because of a week packed with lessons I can only to go the gym in the mornings and so I will aim to go at 6:30am each morning, right on at opening time. Hopefully be there for 6:30am and be back home for 8:30am, which will leave me around an hour to have breakfast, make lunch (usually sandwiches and fruit) and spend some time with God before officially starting my day. All going well, this week will fly by very quickly and before I know it, it will be Sunday again and I will be enjoying the Lord's presence in church again. Ooh yeah! =)
Night night all! It is now 11:05pm and I have to get up at 6am!! =)
Showing posts with label Sermon notes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sermon notes. Show all posts
20 February 2011
20 August 2009
A devotional to share
(Taken from Upper Room Devotionals 20 Aug 2009)
CHILDREN have fun blowing the seeds off dandelions and watching them float away in all directions. Sometimes the children are disappointed when the fun is over; they want the heads back in one piece so they can experience it all again. But no amount of glue could put a dandelion together again in the way it was created. This dispersal of the dandelion head occurs for a reason: it maximizes the chances of one of the seeds finding a suitable place to set down roots and continue the life cycle. The simple act of letting go and allowing the forces of life to propel it is an integral part of the life process for dandelions.
When life blows us in new directions or propels us into a new stage, we often become uneasy. We may try to cling to the familiar rather than holding on tightly to life and allowing change to carry us along new paths. Fear of the unknown overwhelms many of us, preventing us from enjoying life in all its abundance. However, God calls us toward new horizons, new adventures, and new paths.
We may feel at times as if we are being blown apart, just like the dandelion head. God, however, already has a place prepared where we can put down roots and bloom afresh.
Meg Mangan (New South Wales, Australia)
Lord, as our paths change, help us to seek your guidance. Help us to put our trust in you, wherever we may be. Amen.
Life's winds blow us to new places and toward new growth.
(4431)
CHILDREN have fun blowing the seeds off dandelions and watching them float away in all directions. Sometimes the children are disappointed when the fun is over; they want the heads back in one piece so they can experience it all again. But no amount of glue could put a dandelion together again in the way it was created. This dispersal of the dandelion head occurs for a reason: it maximizes the chances of one of the seeds finding a suitable place to set down roots and continue the life cycle. The simple act of letting go and allowing the forces of life to propel it is an integral part of the life process for dandelions.
When life blows us in new directions or propels us into a new stage, we often become uneasy. We may try to cling to the familiar rather than holding on tightly to life and allowing change to carry us along new paths. Fear of the unknown overwhelms many of us, preventing us from enjoying life in all its abundance. However, God calls us toward new horizons, new adventures, and new paths.
We may feel at times as if we are being blown apart, just like the dandelion head. God, however, already has a place prepared where we can put down roots and bloom afresh.
Meg Mangan (New South Wales, Australia)
Lord, as our paths change, help us to seek your guidance. Help us to put our trust in you, wherever we may be. Amen.
Life's winds blow us to new places and toward new growth.
(4431)
18 January 2009
Cannae sleep
It's 0101hrs right now, early Sunday morning. I should be in bed really, but I can't seem to get myself into the 'sleeping mode' yet. Sigh... lots on my mind.
I came home from working adults cell group just over half an hour ago. It started late at 2030hrs and natually finished late too, especially since Arianna was sooo cute and we (Cat and I) spent a while playing with her and taking pics of her and with her. :) At the start of the cell she was quite distant with me, having not seen me or played with me for a few weeks. But by the end of the night I managed to get the hugs, the high-fives and the winks that I asked for. Hehe! Also, her high-fives are getting stronger, must be due to her arm muscles developing. Good stuff! She speaks a lot more not too. Praise God!
So tonight's cell started off with our outlook for 2009, what we hope to achieve this year and what mistakes from last year we'd like to avoid. One of the ones which we'd all like to avoid from last year would be neglecting God, not spending enough time with Him, our Maker. There are 168hrs in week. If we give back to God that 10%, like we tithe, that would be around 16.8hrs a week with God. Does anybody you know dedicate that amount of time to God? Or would we rather devote our time to other things? Like Facebook, the gym, cinema, (these are my top three) partying, clubbing (ok, these are not mine!). I said to Aaron, what if we keep these 16.8hrs for Sundays. Like Wake up in the morning then devote the 16.8hrs (or more) to God and go to church(es) and serve God etc. That was just an idea as a joke. We looked at the cost of following Christ and when Jesus calmed the storm, taken from Matthew 8:18-27. My take home point from the night is I was reminded that God is never sleeping. Though we might go through hardship, tough times, trying times in our lives (the storms), we shouldn't think that God is not present, is too busy elsewhere or is 'asleep'. God is omnipresent (everywhere) and omnipotent (all knowing). How can He not know what we are going through? I concluded and shared, that sometimes going through hardships can be good for us. Like a piece of gold, going through the burning furnace, being purified by the refiners fire. Obviously it will not like the heat, the intensity, but it comes out purified. It comes out sparkling and shiny and is worth lots lots lots! What does not kill you can only make you stronger, and you can live to tell the tale and use it to encourage those people around you :) Amen to that!
I'm feeling bit better right now. I thank God for his gracious love that carries me through all things. From all the disappointment of taking my Advanced Driving test to passing it last week and now as I face new challenges ahead with this last module Instructional Techniques, I have to work and study twice as hard. It is not gonna be an easy ride - I have already planned out regular trips to the library after work - but I know God is gonna be with me along the way. :)
So, the things on my mind huh? Complicated. Well, not really, but is kind of because I don't want to disclose that much online you see. I know my friends read this, but some folk may not be my friends and there is no need to let the whole world know. I'm not that important at the end of the day. But another reason I can't say that much is to protect the folk involved.
One of the hopes I have for 2009 is to be more like Jesus. Yes, that is a person 'aim'. And I think I have already been 'tested' on this point on a few things and on a few occasions. Been reading some interesting blogs, some emails and some books. And my, it really makes me wonder why certain things happen. I seek God and ask for His will to be carried out in my life. Also, why do certain people behave in certain ways towards certain people? Why is the discrimination in the world? Because of sin! I hear you all say. Yes, that's true, but why do some Christians discriminate so badly? Is it because of selfishness? It must be. It's so sad when it happens so closely around you. There's not much I can say. There is not much I can teach on. I can only pray that God's love can penetrate everyone's heart.
I came home from working adults cell group just over half an hour ago. It started late at 2030hrs and natually finished late too, especially since Arianna was sooo cute and we (Cat and I) spent a while playing with her and taking pics of her and with her. :) At the start of the cell she was quite distant with me, having not seen me or played with me for a few weeks. But by the end of the night I managed to get the hugs, the high-fives and the winks that I asked for. Hehe! Also, her high-fives are getting stronger, must be due to her arm muscles developing. Good stuff! She speaks a lot more not too. Praise God!
So tonight's cell started off with our outlook for 2009, what we hope to achieve this year and what mistakes from last year we'd like to avoid. One of the ones which we'd all like to avoid from last year would be neglecting God, not spending enough time with Him, our Maker. There are 168hrs in week. If we give back to God that 10%, like we tithe, that would be around 16.8hrs a week with God. Does anybody you know dedicate that amount of time to God? Or would we rather devote our time to other things? Like Facebook, the gym, cinema, (these are my top three) partying, clubbing (ok, these are not mine!). I said to Aaron, what if we keep these 16.8hrs for Sundays. Like Wake up in the morning then devote the 16.8hrs (or more) to God and go to church(es) and serve God etc. That was just an idea as a joke. We looked at the cost of following Christ and when Jesus calmed the storm, taken from Matthew 8:18-27. My take home point from the night is I was reminded that God is never sleeping. Though we might go through hardship, tough times, trying times in our lives (the storms), we shouldn't think that God is not present, is too busy elsewhere or is 'asleep'. God is omnipresent (everywhere) and omnipotent (all knowing). How can He not know what we are going through? I concluded and shared, that sometimes going through hardships can be good for us. Like a piece of gold, going through the burning furnace, being purified by the refiners fire. Obviously it will not like the heat, the intensity, but it comes out purified. It comes out sparkling and shiny and is worth lots lots lots! What does not kill you can only make you stronger, and you can live to tell the tale and use it to encourage those people around you :) Amen to that!
I'm feeling bit better right now. I thank God for his gracious love that carries me through all things. From all the disappointment of taking my Advanced Driving test to passing it last week and now as I face new challenges ahead with this last module Instructional Techniques, I have to work and study twice as hard. It is not gonna be an easy ride - I have already planned out regular trips to the library after work - but I know God is gonna be with me along the way. :)
So, the things on my mind huh? Complicated. Well, not really, but is kind of because I don't want to disclose that much online you see. I know my friends read this, but some folk may not be my friends and there is no need to let the whole world know. I'm not that important at the end of the day. But another reason I can't say that much is to protect the folk involved.
One of the hopes I have for 2009 is to be more like Jesus. Yes, that is a person 'aim'. And I think I have already been 'tested' on this point on a few things and on a few occasions. Been reading some interesting blogs, some emails and some books. And my, it really makes me wonder why certain things happen. I seek God and ask for His will to be carried out in my life. Also, why do certain people behave in certain ways towards certain people? Why is the discrimination in the world? Because of sin! I hear you all say. Yes, that's true, but why do some Christians discriminate so badly? Is it because of selfishness? It must be. It's so sad when it happens so closely around you. There's not much I can say. There is not much I can teach on. I can only pray that God's love can penetrate everyone's heart.
05 January 2009
First weekend of 2009
First weekend of 2009 was also my last weekend of freedom, before going back to work today. I woke up on Saturday morning to discover a thick envelope lying by my front door. My long-awaited Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 finally arrived! Was quite excited! Had breakfast and played a few matches. The first one being Man Utd vs Scotland when I won 3-2 as Man Utd. Close game really as the gameplay is much harder compared to the first Pro Evolution Soccer which I had for the Playstation 2 all those years ago. The beautiful HD graphics alone were enough to distract me! Hehe! After gaming I dropped some stuff off at the our local Salvation Army store before heading to the gym. The gym was quite quiet. Spent over half an hour in the cardio suite, saw Carol Xie well. Then spent just over half an hour in the strength suite. Due to time constraints I could not work out properly, so just worked on chest, shoulders, biceps, did some deadlifts then left to shower and meet James.
We came back to my place to try out the new game and to show James the picture quality of Blu-ray on PS3. Even the trailers I downloaded for Casino Royale and Kung Fu Panda were breath-taking! We spent a few hours playing the game and were also joined by Alan Chan who came up after helping Cat with IKEA shopping. James and I left just after 1900hrs to go to Mings place for hotpot dinner.
We came back to my place to try out the new game and to show James the picture quality of Blu-ray on PS3. Even the trailers I downloaded for Casino Royale and Kung Fu Panda were breath-taking! We spent a few hours playing the game and were also joined by Alan Chan who came up after helping Cat with IKEA shopping. James and I left just after 1900hrs to go to Mings place for hotpot dinner.
Delayed start due to a "technical issue", but after a call made by Sin Hung we were on our way cooking. Well, "we" being used for Ting, Yvonne, Sim and Hung Hung who cooked all night. The rest of us just ate. =P Ming was busy as the host of the party and Ling was absolutely knackered she collapsed on a mattress in the middle of the living room. Lol!! We played two games of Mafia after we tidied up. They were very short games as the mafia, the police and the doctor already took up three positions amongst the 8 of us (Iain joined the party earlier on but Ling was still sleeping, so it was still just 8 people. =P)
Yesterday I played guitar with Dilane as Kerry lead worship. Gordon Cheung spoke about being like ants. Now it's a new year and many people make promises, make resolutions, set themselves high goals for the year. Some are achieved, but some also result in failure. In terms of our Christian walk, we should not strive to show God that we love Him, or show people who good a Christian we are by doing something spectacular or something amazing as a one off. It would be nice if these things happened, but these one-off things don't really show you are or what something means to you. The example that Gordon gave for this was that he loves his wife very much. And his wife knows that. However, he does not express his love to her through buying her a diamond ring, though she has hinted at it before. He expresses his love for her continuously / daily through cooking, cleaning up, other chores and also playing with their children. It should be the same way for our relationship with God. We shouldn't think we'll display our love for God through a single big act, but our daily actions and our daily lives should be reflective of how much He means to us. You geddit? Yeah. I did anyway and it's a point worth noting down. I think the same applies for not only spiritual life, but also in relationships and families as well. Like, one should not only display their love and affection for another person on Valentine's Day alone. What about the other 364 days? Why show you love them or that they are special to you on 14th Feb (do something grand like serenade them or take them on a quick holiday etc) and think that should be enough to last till the next year? Nah, this expression of love and affection should be continuous. Daily contact, listen to them, care for them, be there for them are the things that can be done continuously to let them know how much they mean to you. :)
Ling (aka Scallop) came back from HK on the 2nd of Jan. She brought back three keyrings for herself, Ming and I. So as you can see the three keyrings are for Ming, Ling and Wing. Hehe! They join together to form our siblinghood. =D Thanks, Scallop!!
Jackie's birthday dinner
After church a bunch of us went over to Jackie's house to have dinner and celebrate her forthcoming birthday, which is on Tuesday. We ordered Chinese and Indian takeaway from local places and played the Wii. Had a great laugh watching people play the games whilst grunting, screaming, heavily steering a steering wheel and throwing plungers. Lol! We still had lots of food leftover which her family couldn't help us finish. Took lots of pics and played with Jackie's dog Max(ine). =P More pics on Facebook!! We thank Jackie and her family for having us over and we wish you a great year ahead!! =D God bless!
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