Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Three Character Traits That God Wants In Everyone
Your Top Strength
Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith
You have strong and coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe. You know where you fit in the larger scheme. Your beliefs shape your actions and are a source of comfort to you.
Your Second Strength
Creativity, ingenuity, and originality
Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.
Your Third Strength
Fairness, equity, and justice
Treating all people fairly is one of your abiding principles. You do not let your personal feelings bias your decisions about other people. You give everyone a chance.
Your Fourth Strength
Appreciation of beauty and excellence
You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.
Your Fifth Strength
Kindness and generosity
You are kind and generous to others, and you are never too busy to do a favor. You enjoy doing good deeds for others, even if you do not know them well.
Strength#6
Forgiveness and mercy
You forgive those who have done you wrong. You always give people a second chance. Your guiding principle is mercy and not revenge.
Strength#7
Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness
You are an honest person, not only by speaking the truth but by living your life in a genuine and authentic way. You are down to earth and without pretense; you are a "real" person.
Strength#8
Modesty and humility
You do not seek the spotlight, preferring to let your accomplishments speak for themselves. You do not regard yourself as special, and others recognize and value your modesty.
[...all the way down to...]
Strength#24
Industry, diligence, and perseverance
You work hard to finish what you start. No matter the project, you "get it out the door" in timely fashion. You do not get distracted when you work, and you take satisfaction in completing tasks.
(That's a nice way of saying I'm a lazy bum.)
After looking through, Micah 6:8 came to mind.
"He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God."
Reminded that we may have many strengths... but these three traits - acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with our God - are the three core character values that He wants His children to have, no matter what other strengths they may have.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
A Joyful Forgetfulness
Psalm 138:2Was sharing my long-winded sharing again with Jon on some topic. While I was sharing, a particular verse from Jeremiah came strongly to mind. To be honest, while sharing, I had the temptation to take pride in my "eloquent" sharing, but I was reminded that hey, I am just a servant of the Lord. Not I, but Christ. I just share, but God's power is made perfect in my weakness.
I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
So after sharing, I asked Jon what he thought. He said everything I said became a buzz, but the main thing he remembered (i.e. encouraged by) was the verse that I shared with him.
LOL. Personally, I'm really happy 'cos that's the whole point. God's Word takes precedence over my sharing. If my sheep remembers nothing but the Scripture passage, halleloo-yah :D If he remembers everything except the Bible verse, ai-yah. :(
A thought about it. It's a strange but delightful feeling that somehow I'm beginning to experience: that I don't really worry / take delight in whatever ministry success or even in whether I achieved my "objectives" for shepherding or ministry...
And I'd venture to say - even if and when my sheep grows under my care - I find myself nowadays strangely having a care-free forgetfulness about what I did. Not so concerned about the "success", but simply rejoicing that You are working in my sheep's life, and more concerned about whether I am walking in Your will, walking right with You. I am simply a broken little mirror that reflects the glory of God into corners that haven't seen the light of the Son yet.
And oh, I like that feeling! A healthy forgetfulness of myself. This attitude helps me enjoy ministry and helps me keep my eyes open to the work of His hands. To be ready to join the Father wherever I see Him working, eyes always open to the opportunities He creates.
As I was walking back home, I looked up to the sky, and talked with my heavenly Papa. Told Him that honestly, it doesn't really matter to me how much I was used. What matters is that God is working in my dear sheep's life, and that is all that really counts - that God's name is glorified and lifted high. What matters is that I have a relationship with God - and that is the sweetest thing in life and all eternity. What I really enjoy about ministry nowadays is not even whether I succeed or fail, but that I get to work together with my heavenly Father.
Today, God used my Christian colleague to show me how to be alert for opportunities to minister / sow good positive values to the children that we work with every day. :D Wow. Whether it's shepherding or children's ministry or work or praying together with my mum for my family... it's really a joy to love the Lord and imitate Him in whatever He does. He teaches me and instructs me in the way that I should go.
Father, I want to be with You
And do the things You do
Father, I want to speak the words
That You are speaking too
Father, I want to love the ones
That You will draw to You
For I know that I am one with You...
That oneness with my Father in heaven is the thing I desire most in this life. To love God with everything in and of me, and to love my neighbour as myself. And to love one another as Christ loved us. What else can be sweeter than this? To be an imitator of God and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave His life for us.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit
Me: "How was the camp? :)"
Bro from uni: "v tiring. caught a flu too. but felt v refreshed though. it's a cip camp. the mental illness patients r genuine n humble ppl. it's great being their friend"
What a great bro. =D And made me think - sometimes our afflictions cause us to have to break down our "self-righteousness". That we know we can't hide anymore behind the facade of "normalcy".
I think this bro's honest words really touched me so much. "It's great being their friend." And Jesus would say this of the tax-collectors and prostitutes: "It's great being their friend." And of course, He was slapped with the label "Friend of Sinners" by the "healthy" people.
Maybe it's because of their genuineness and humility. That they know their own poverty of condition. And they've learnt to embrace their brokenness. Not to wallow in our brokenness, but gracefully stop denying and start accepting the fact that they are broken. Only when the patient accepts the fact that he has cancer, can the doctor start the healing.
I think I also found freedom too in learning to embrace my own brokenness. Especially back in Sep 2005. :)
Only those who have been hungry know how good bread tastes.
Also something exciting. Discussed w HT abt the possibility of hvg a separate kids' CG for the more boisterous boys. HT said it's a very brilliant idea. I think it's abt time too 'cos the current structure we hv is unable to accommodate the needs of the more active kids esp the boys. So HT asked me to send him a proposal to him abt I plan to run the CG for the boys.
I think I'll call the CG 'The Adventurers'. This is from the book of Judges, where one guy got thrown out of his father's household by his stepbrothers. He then went to the land of Tob, where a band of adventurers gathered around him. :) He eventually became one of the judges of Israel, and included in the 'Hall of Faith'. So likewise, I believe God sees these 'troublemaker' kids as adventurers for Christ, and eventually mighty men of God.
You know, one of the boys seem 'socially misfit' as in doing his own stuff while the other kids sit down & behave. But thing is, Wan Yueh & her team r reaching out to him. And they discovered tt he enjoys the drums. So they gave him drum lessons on the condition tt he behave himself during service. And he did. Now he's getting more skilled in playing the drums - Jon & I heard him play 'This is the Day'... Awesome!
And God is doing wonderful things among us, especially the working adults. Kim Chun & Kim Leong's family received Christ! Overjoyed to hear the good news. And Joyce's sharing how God is showing her signs for a certain country even as she prays... So fast some more, and how God used me to be one
of the sign-bearers to her - and tt happened when I somehow decided to encourage & pray for a very discouraged bro on Facebook... A chain reaction of prayer!
Sharon's prayer answered - she got a scholarship finally! And she appeared in the news too. :D
Shunrong being promoted... God rewarding him for his righteousness...
And for me personally, God using me last week, thru a supernatural prompting by the Holy Spirit to minister to a dear bro... The timing was so precise tt the bro, being touched by God alr...when I went over
to the bro, he burst into tears. And he does not cry very easily... I guess my coming over must hv been a sign from God for him... Truly the love of our Father is so great!
Signs here, signs there... Waves of mercy, waves of grace... everywhere I go I see Your face... totally not me, but Christ who loved me and died for me. For the gift of His Holy Spirit!
And now I see yet an even clearer direction from You on the role You have in mind for me in the children's ministry. Gosh. I see how my own life history has shaped me to be the right kind of person for this task. Wow. God You are the Master Maker, the Grand Weaver, the Potter.
Praying that God will help me grow in godly attitudes that influence, both in the workplace & in my family. To be more Christlike and bring life to my workplace - not by lively personality, but by choosing to
see Christ at work even in the dearest of situations.
Amen!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Lord, help me shine for You. I can see how You have blessed Sharon, for example. So happy for her! :D
And thinking about how God was with Shunrong and promoted him after 3 years, even though it was difficult for him. And now, Shunrong, being in charge of a team, tells his team to knock off at 630 sharp unless really really no choice. Wow. Influencing his workplace culture.
I do wonder ... what can I do? But what comforts and strengthens me is the passage in fuller context about Joseph. That the Lord was with Joseph... and people could see God at work in Joseph's life, even his master.
Lord, please bless me that people can see that YOU are at work in my life. And thank You so much for the verse You gave me.
LORD, I REALLY WANT OTHERS TO SEE THAT YOU ARE AT WORK IN MY LIFE. Do what ever it takes to make me be Your man. To be totally Yours.
:)
I feel small, I know... and I know that there are people who wondered how I could be doing what I hope to do. But help me not be discouraged, but keep my eyes upon You. For Your power is made perfect in my weaknesses. Let my weaknesses be so evident... that WHEN I do what You want me to do, all will see and know that it is NOT I, BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME.
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness."
Help me not listen to those who say, "How can it be done?" But help me listen to those who say, "With Yeu Ann, this is impossible, but not with God; with GOD all things are possible." :) Humble the proud, and exalt the humble, I pray. Humble those who put more trust in their own strength rather than rely on Your guidance. And bless those who do the best they can do, because of their faith in You.
To Your name be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Fear Not
I will enter His gates w praise...
Thank You Father for such a beautiful day that You have made. I saw the golden sunshine streaming in through the windows.
Now I'm outside in the park, drinking in the delightfully cool breeze. It soothes & massages my stressed skin. :)
I see the trees waving their branches like happy little children.
"...let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the LORD..."
Psa 96
Oh what a joy. What a relief. I'm back again in the arms of my Father. I once was lost but now am found. It's been such a fortnight of fears and worries, hopes and dreams.
But with two words, You relieved all my fears: Fear not. And You confirmed it again thru sister Sandra during Thursday's CG.
Tears are coming back again to desert-dry eyes. For You have not deserted me, oh my Shepherd.
And You _would_ send a breeze even as I write this. For You know that I love the wind. Are not Your angels like winds, Your Spirit like a rushing wind?
Jesus, what a beautiful Name
Truth revealed, my future sealed
Grace that blows all fears away...
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Well, I chose to go DBG. Then, for some inexplicable reason, I looked up and saw The Rainbow. :)
Hee. Yufen shared last time about how she likes rainbows because when she was very discouraged a few times, she saw rainbows after she prayed. And the Bible tells us that a rainbow is a sign of God's promise to us.
:)
So I wondered if this rainbow that I saw was God sending a sign to encourage me, especially with regards to what He promised me He would do for me. Who knows? In my discouraged state of mind, I wasn't sure whether this was indeed a sign or just a coincidence.
But it happened right after I prayed, and of course Yufen's testimony and God's own promise to me... I decided to smile and be thankful.
Then heh, I had the sudden prompting to tell one of my friends - a non Christian - about the rainbow. I had the feeling that she would need the encouragement because her day would have been stressful. So I told her.
She messaged back: I love rainbows!!! And my day was stressful!
Wow. Thank God. You know, God really cares for the whole world, and the rainbow is one of His promises to all people, not only those who are saved, but also the unsaved. Marvelling at the sheer kindness of God, that he graciously chooses to use us Christians to bless people around us, regardless of race, language or religion. :)
"And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
Friday, July 9, 2010
To Take The Initiative
Darn it. Sometimes I think it's better to go ahead and do it and ask for forgiveness later. :)
I guess... maybe it comes partly from the old way of doing things last time in tertiary ministry, where you had to follow chains of accountability. I guess we were very serious about all these kind of things...
I guess also doing work in a company like ST, where you have to keep everyone in the loop and not get too creative.
Now experiencing a new kind of ministry - working with Huaqiang and then with Hong Teck. Still trying to get used internally to taking the initiative. But thank God for these two great bros who exhort us to see more people take the initiative.
I guess fear of what people will think stops us from taking the initiative to go ahead and make a difference - to take the risk.
*ponders*
Just thank God that He helps us grow beyond structures to be freely what He wants us to be. "In Him we live and move and have our being." That should be the essence of every child of God. Not structures. Structures are like baby walkers and crutches. Sticks for a young sapling. Good for beginners, but meant to be thrown away when we have come of age. And isn't that what making disciples is all about? Help people grow to full maturity, till this elegant Scripture becomes their essence: "In Him we live and move and have our being."
Oh that I were more grown-up.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Being Sent
PRAISE THE LORD!!! :D
On this same note, over CG last week, one bro was sharing about how he and his CG had been trying to get a bro who had backslided back to the CG by inviting him for activities and so on.
HT said something that struck me as very wise and sharp. He said that we shouldn't just focus on bringing people into CG. It's not enough. We also need to help them be sent out as well. Otherwise it is kind of meaningless to just bring people into the family of God... and then do the same kind of activities over and over again. Even the strongest army gets demoralized if they keep on training and training in camp, but never go forth to do battle. (Read Sun Tzu's Art of War. This really happened.)
Because the church is not just a hospital. It is a military hospital. To restore so as to re-send them. =) To help people experience God's calling for them - on a relational level, and also to experience God's sending them out - on a life-purpose level.
Sometimes we ask people to serve and serve so much, but the thing is, it's not what God has called them to do. So they serve more and more dryly, joylessly and eventually they wither and backslide - or if they are wise, they move to other churches where they can experience rest and renewal.
Thank God for Huaqiang and Sarah. I remember they did some thinking and praying, and then wrote down and shared with the DMM what (God-given) potential they saw in us. It was encouraging! :) That's the kind of servant leadership that inspires me to do likewise. Help people discover God's calling for their lives.
And thank God for Hong Teck's ministry philosophy that if a volunteer is not excelling in his current ministry, then we simply help the bro/sis explore other areas. It's not a performance-issue thing - it's about helping a budding disciple discover God's calling for him/her! To feel God's pleasure as he/she serves.
You know, I was talking with a bro who had just graduated last year, when he shared with me why he left church. One reason - and it is very true, unfortunately - is that he said that people in the church just seem to be drifting along, doing CG activities and bonding and all that, week after week. It was clear from what he shared that he did want a more fulfilling life than just doing "Christian" things day after day.
While, yes, he had some wrong ideas, I knew what he was talking about. I think a lot of men aren't attracted to our caregroups as it is right now, because it's all seemingly so meaningless. I mean, what is the point of calling people into the kingdom of God if we're not committed to be a family to them, and not courageous enough to be an army of the Lord?
Such a church is anaemic and is lukewarm - exciting to no one, not even to God Himself.
It is not enough to just bring people into church. We must also send them out. Come to think of it... how large is the proportion of those who are willing and looking forward to going for missions? Don't have to actually go - it is God's timing of course. But willingness to go anywhere He calls us to go? How many of us are really making plans to go for missions? Or at the very least, even bothering to fast and pray to ask God whether He wants you to go, whether it be marketplace or overseas or both? If you haven't even bothered to do that, then I think it is important to see whether you are seriously a disciple or not.
I remember during one DMM, one brother said that our church is growing, and we should prepare our structure and think ahead to accomodate the new influx. I thought about it... and now I ask: "Hey bro, I think you're missing the bigger picture. The $1 million question is: what are we doing to send them out?"
We do not experience the fullness and the exciting-ness of the Holy Spirit's power, because we are not willing to be fully committed to go wherever He wants us to go.
Hmm. I think I am writing inadequately on this topic, frankly. There's simply so many things to consider in discipleship. Sorry, I guess I am not writing very balanced on this. Not enough time lah. :P
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
But then he picks himself up, brushes off the sand and continue walking on the sands of time.
Walking with his God. Footprints on the sands of time.
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Ballad of Peter Barker (sketch)
Some distant relative of a certain Parker?
A tale that would harrow thy soul
Freeze thy PC and hang thy system
Oh, Peter Barker (but you can call him Peanut Butter
'Cos there's not much difference - now. You'll see.)
He was some rather - and I put it mildly -
Incompetent nincompoop of a webmaster
Who made it straight into thedailywtf.com
And was awarded a (posthumous) Darwin Award.
So I tell this tale, oh my dear friends,
To warn you of the sorry story of Peter Barker.
(to be continued...)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Gruesomely Ruesomely Rudesomely Groo
Nose red and ears green, and his toes tinkly blue
I did think it'd be good to friend him that same day,
To ask him his name, and what games he could play.
But he sweetly gurgled and burpled murgly snoo
All his mucusy green goo right into Mum's shoes!
Mum's brand new leather shoes! So new that you heard 'Moo'
Then oh, gruesome Groo, he did bend down and poo
On where I happened to stand. I tell you, I was NOT
Amused the day I met that grue-some Groo-ooooh!
I guess I feel lonely and tired and discouraged. I know that externally it looks like I'm failing, but in my heart I know I'm still on the path that You want me to be on. It's just that I feel discouraged by the fact that I'm slow and lack discipline and speed to do what needs to be done. I know the last 3 months are what You want me to be actually doing.
Suddenly it strikes me that the Karate Kid movie must have been used by You to speak to me. I remember that scene where the master taught Jade by getting him to drop, pick up and hang up his jacket countless times. And he taught Jade that everything is gongfu. Putting this into the biblical context of discipleship, I think I see how You have been discipling me in my working style. the basics of punctuality, training in endurance and serving You even when things are hard. And now after doing all these things, the 'real' training for what You have called me to do is beginning. Lesson plans and interacting w the kids... this is what You are guiding me to do. But first You are training me to BE what you want me to be.
Can one ever be perfect? No, not on this side of eternity. But can one be complete? Yes, ready (mature) and not lacking anything essential.
So yes this is training ground. It's not easy but train me Father just as You please. Amen.
Friday, July 2, 2010
An Observation About Myself
I've done this a few times before and I felt very exhausted after that. So more often than not, if I don't deem it urgent, I'll just leave it for the next day.
I wonder how to resolve this issue, especially since wrapping things up to the very last bit takes a HUGE amount of energy out of me. Any advice on handling this weakness?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Aphasia
Nevertheless, I tried to contribute to the on-going conversation, but the result was only verbal gibberish. I knew very well, even at the age of 5, that what I was saying was complete gibberish, and yet, the "words" came out anyway.
But I wasn't frustrated, because I was experimenting with learning how to talk, even if what I said was complete nonsense.
It's fascinating. That you did know what you wanted to say, and the words were invisibly in your minds and you could sense the presence of the words even though you could not spell them.
But you could not figure out how to say those words that were floating around in your mind.
Perhaps from this personal Gedanken (literally!), it does seem to prove that we humans do have an intrinsic capacity and facility for language. It's just that this innate language ability has to be initially booted up and then primed and boosted by the use of beginner words. Just like how an adjuvant boosts the immune system.
It's so amazing! Thank God for the gift of language. :D
And Now For Something Completely Different
Your Content Masterpiece, I'm going to try something completely different. Besides my usual musings, I'm going to try posting a children's story / poem every day, 6 days a week.
I've also come to realise that the master of his craft is not he who has talent, but he who puts his talents to work, no matter how few or how many.
Every man has a six-pack. But most of us do a very good job of hiding them.
Just A Little Beachhead
Feels like I'm getting my 'home run' edge back again. Every little victory in our spiritual battles matters, no matter how small. Just a little beachhead is enough to begin the liberation of an entire continent.
Then went to Starbucks. Took out my coins. Counted. OMG. Exact change - exactly enough for my favourite drink.
Touched. Not that it makes sense logically or it's even good stewardship in that sense - rationally speaking, I can just get a cheaper cup of coffee somewhere or just tea. And I was prepared to do that.
But what touched me was not even the practical aspect of God's provision. It was simply that He showed me that He knows what's been going on in my inner man the past few days, and my discouragement and even demoralization.
It's just... simply the little thing that He did, the personal touch of a Father, that He shows me His care and concern for me during this present set of circumstances.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
*pause* And it touches me that He cared, especially when I was so discouraged that I just found it very hard to pray today. Just groans and to be honest, a lot of swearing in my prayer. (No, not swearing at God! but... swearing about some things I was very frustrated with. Extremely grateful that our God is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.)
Learn To Lead Without A Title
Then it struck me that this is true whether in work or in ministry - a lot of people, especially the more naturally passive ones (like me), tend to fall into the trap of functioning only what is "expected" of us. In a sense we match the expectations laid upon us - but just about so.
Some people naturally surpass expectations. But what about those who naturally just give the minimum? (I speak as one of them.) I think the solution is simple (but not easy): help them discover their God-given strengths and challenge them to learn to lead, to take the initiative to serve - without the title.
I know, it's not easy. I guess there's cultural forces at play, whether it be our Asian culture or church culture. But we are called to live by one counter-culture: the culture of the kingdom of God. And in that kingdom, we learn to be servants by taking the initiative to meet other people's needs.
Just because you're an intern doesn't mean you have to nuah like an intern. Give the extra mile.
I know, I know. It's not easy for me. God knows how much I struggle. I can do it for a day, or maybe a week.
But I like to follow. To be given tasks and appreciated for doing my best. And maybe that's not so bad. But... I want to be active. Not passive. Alive, not dead. I guess... the secret thus is about getting them all fired up from within. To cast the Promethean flame from heaven unto frozen, passive hearts.