Thanksgivings! :D

Wow, thank God for today's unit 242. It was really really very heartwarming and refreshing. I was nursing a sneezy cold, and a mild sore throat, but really could sense Christ's presence nursing the hearts and minds of the bros and sisters in the fellowship today. Truly, where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is with us! :D

Today we had a bumper harvest of testimonies to share of what God has been doing in our lives... it's very encouraging, 'cos sharing testimonies strengthen our faith in God's love and power, and also not only encourages others, but also helps open our own eyes big big to what the Lord Jesus is doing in our very midst! :D

In particular I was super-encouraged by HQ's and Sharon's testimonies (not that I'm saying that the other testimonies are not encouraging... they are very encouraging too! but HQ and Sharon's testimonies are extra encouraging because these two friends are extra dear to me, we being in the same CG, and it's more... you feel can really identify and share in their joy.)

HQ shared an amazing testimony about how the Spirit prompted him one day to read AND highlight a particular Bible verse in his Bible, which he'd never underlined before. And some time later, some non-Christian friends were curious, and asked him about Christ and the Bible... and whoa, seems that one of his friends was so interested that he/she asked HQ to email

Sharon shared about how she made the decision to deny herself the right to rest at home, and to be comfortable... because she had to meet a friend of ours who she felt didn't like her. But turns out in the end she was very refreshed by the meet-up with our friend and she was really very blessed by the whole time - possibly even more than if she'd gone home to rest. This testimony really blessed my heart very much, 'cos I've been through a few situations like that, and I was feeling very scared too. So can really understand how Sharon felt. :)

So, realised that Sharon's response is reflective of a very mature attitude, and reflecting on myself, I realised that the dear Holy Spirit has been trying to get my attention regarding this issue of being willing to deny myself for the sake of Christ. Reflected also that this is an area that I think quite a few of us are starting to slip into, starting to subtle refuse to deny ourselves the right to remain in our comfort zones, to have a good rest, etc...

This is actually shortchanging ourselves, 'cos Jesus said that whoever tries to save his own life will lose it in the end, and he who loses his life for Him and the gospel will FIND it.

How true it is! We are so much like ignorant children playing in a tiny mud slum, refusing to get up and follow the grown-ups to the beach, more vast and beautiful than we can ever imagine. We lose out so much when we refuse to deny ourselves for the sake of Christ and His kingdom.

Much, much thinking to do here. And to study and understand the Word more, so that it can sink deeper from the head of my mind to the toes of my heart. :D

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Oh yes, really thank God too for Alex my colleague too! Very blessed by the chat with him on the MRT - he's a super-nice guy. A real blessing from God. :D

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And so happy for my mum too! :D She's being interviewed (via email) by the Prime Minister's Office regarding her teaching career... WHOA... Praise the Lord indeed! :D

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And thank God also for my department's move to Bishan... while I was thanking God the day before for the move, which means that it's just walking distance from my home, think God impressed on me that one purpose for this move is so that I can spend more time with QN to have quiet time and Bible study and even worship Him together all before we start work.

Wow! It's very very very amazing how God can really bless the efforts of our hearts when we seek to obey His will! :D

But oh yes, something that Dehua pointed out during the sharing was that it's not about 'cheonging' ahead, but waiting for the Spirit to guide us, to tell us where to go. We need to go where HE wants us to go. To do as He wants us to do. To speak as He wants us to speak. So since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step, keep in step with the Spirit! :)

Yeah! :D Thank God so much... it's really really a great joy to see what the Lord has done for us... let us not be afraid nor ashamed to testify of all the wonders that the King of Kings has done for us!

I can see better days ahead
Our land will dance again
Because of you
Voices will be heard with shouts of joy!

You've done mighty things,
Let the nations sing!
You gave us love
You gave us love!