Kindred Spirit

Kindred Spirit - "A person whose interests are similar to one's own"

I've found more and more kindred spirits in school and I'm really blessed to learn from them and had the opportunity to share my life's experiences too. Some of them are waiting for God's direction in cross cultural work, some are struggling with institutional policies & structures that baffle, and some had the same passion in a certain area of ministry.

It's been a blessing to have kindred spirits. They encourage one to carry on walking with God in his journey because they understand, they affirm and they make one realised he's not alone.

Thank God for kindred spirits. It's wonderful.

A Time of Rejoicing - Luke 15:7

We were having a meal and sharing life with each other when he said things like, "Just have to pray to God and see how He leads"(paraphrase). I paused. Something was different, so I felt prompted to ask, "Have you accepted Jesus into your life?" and he said, "Yes."

I tried my very best to contain my exuberance. But I was happy, very happy. This is a dear friend of mine and I recalled the days when I first invited him to a church service about 8 years ago. We shared a lot about life together and as usual, I shared my bible-based principles and views and God's word always have this 'special effect' of making the most sense in this crazy world we're living in.

Like most people, he believed he can achieve anything by believing in himself and he saw no need for a God, even if this God does exist. But life is a mystery sometimes. Through events and situations, he became more open to God and one day, he looked back and ask for forgiveness of his sins. He said God touched him, he felt as if his heart was melting, and there was a sense of joy and peace and having the assurance that his sins had indeed been forgiven. He said it was different, very different - as he recalled those days when I shared with him. On those occasions, the words were only head knowledge and meant nothing to him. But when God touched his heart, he knew something was different. God is real.

I'm so glad that he came to know the Lord. If you think those 'occasional' prayers for your unsaved friends are unimportant, think again. Every one of them counts. And God will indeed make all things beautiful in His time. What a joy!

Jesus said,"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." - Luke 15:7

The God of all Comfort

It was a good time of sharing. To be able to hear from fellow brothers and share without reservations is really a blessing and a privilege. For that is why God has placed His followers in a community where we support each other and are encouraged in our journey together.

God never fail to amaze me with the learning process He brought me through. About a year ago, I tried to help a friend who is very discouraged and 'depressed' but I was not able to understand what she is going through. All I could offer was good scriptural advice and prayers. That is good, but it is different when I myself had gone through a similar situation. So not long from that, I tasted what those trying situations and emotional storm meant. And indeed, my experiences had helped me to understand many others who are going through similar storms, and it had helped me to empathize with them.

God always prepare us(or at least me) in this way. He'll put me through situations for my own benefit and growth, even if for that moment, it can be very painful. After surviving those storms with His grace, peace and strength abounds. And without fail, there will be wounded brothers and sisters 'appearing' before me with storms similar to mine, and God will use me to encourage, empathize and walk through with them their own unique journey.

It is such a blessing to be able to bless, encourage and walk through storms with fellow brothers and sisters. Although sometimes I can get frustrated with their response and progress, God always remind me that once upon a time, I was like them too. And remembering this always brought about a "I'm sorry Lord", humility, and starve off the critical spirit.

Thank you God once again for this privilege to bless and minister. You are indeed the God of all comfort.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." - 2 Cor 1:3-4"

Sons of God

"You are ALL sons of God through faith IN Christ Jesus, for ALL of you who were baptized INTO Christ have clothed yourselves WITH Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are ALL ONE IN Christ Jesus" - Gal 3:26-28

What a powerful verse. And what a revelation of who we are in Christ Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus are all sons of God. ALL. All are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ - no race, no status, no gender matters anymore. All are ONE in Christ.

All believers are sons of God. We have this huge family living all around the world. But are we behaving like how family members ought to treat each? Or are we strangers, and worse, enemies?

Why is it so difficult for people to reconcile? And why is it so difficult to accept the mistakes of others? You are ALL sons of God! Let me repeat "YOU are ALL sons of GOD!" Can we not look beyond the errors and follies of our brothers? Can we not forgive? You are ALL sons of God my friends! Why should Coffee time be awkward and impossible? Let's have a meal together, for we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:28 for the modern day - "There is neither denomination nor institution, yours nor mine, fiery charismatic nor silent conservative, for WE are ALL ONE in CHRIST JESUS" Amen.


Together as a family with Jesus.

Wonderful Friends, Wonderful Saviour

Today we met at Manna, a Korean restuarant near Raffles Place and we had a sumptuous meal. The price is a bit hefty for me but worth every penny of my time with such friends. Ex-colleagues that stay in touch and get together every now and then don't come along easily. Especially not when most of us had left the company about 5-6 years ago. Friends are a blessing.

We talked about everything and anything to do with our lives and interests. We talked about health issues, about investment and money, about other friends who were not able to join us, about travelling and holidays, and about good ol' memories.

It seemed so natural as if we were still in the same company. As if we haven't grown older. As if we haven't part company and went on our way to other countries and companies. It was a delight to meet, eat and talk the night away. Such a blessing and such wonderful people.

I wish these wonderful people will know Christ someday. I wish they will have an even more abundant life than what they are having now. I wish they will find the best gift and joy they can find in Jesus. I wish, I wish. I must start praying.

Get In Touch!!!

I don't know if you have or realize this pattern but I certainly do. The pattern goes like this - it is almost Good Friday, Easter or Christmas time and you picked up your phone to give your non-believing friend an sms or a call. "Hi, how are you? Would you like to come to my church this Sunday......" The reason: It is an evangelistic service and you would like to get your friends to come down and hear the gospel and prayerfully they respond.

While there is nothing wrong with inviting your friends, have you notice that you only sms or call them because it is an evangelistic event? On other normal days, you hardly sms or call them. So what am I trying to say? I am trying to say that we must make an effort to build up our friendship with non-believing friends. We should not only remember them when an evangelistic event draws near but treat them as we should have treated our cell group members. An occasional call, sms and meet-up IS necessary to keep in touch and to be an effective witness for Christ.

Everyone wants friends that genuinely cherish friendships. This sincerity is shown by your effort in maintaining contact and being real to them. Popping by last minute to invite friends you have not met for some time is akin to calling up your long-time friends with the intention of selling them insurance policies. I am not saying that we should not invite friends we have not met for a long time but ideally, we should have make an effort to keep in touch with them much earlier even before any evangelistic events. Because logically speaking, if my friend(who have not kept in touch with me for a long time) were to suddenly call me up and invite me to church, I would imagine him to be similar to some dude trying to sell me MLM products.

I hope you're getting what I mean. While shortcuts are possible, it can easily back-fire and put your friends off. I realized this recently and I am making an effort to meet my non-believer friends for dinner or other activities. They are not just worth inviting for evangelistic events, but worth spending my time with. Jesus died for them so that they can be saved, will you not spend some time with them to make Jesus's death worthwhile? Let's not be caught up in our own little 'christian world' where we spend 365 days with christians only.

Get out and get in touch today!!!

Thank God for friends

Sometimes, it is easy for us to take our friends for granted. While I was in Cambodia, I began to see how much friends need each other. I imagined what I will become if I'm in my colleague's shoes; alone in HVPV and with huge amount of tasks and issues I face everyday. Will I snap? Thank God for friends.

It was no mean feat trying to juggle operation tasks, projects tasks and staff and children issues everyday. It was already very difficult for two persons(my colleague and I); I can imagine one person handling all the stuffs. Thank God for friends.

Are you thanking God for your friends and appreciating them today? Or do you remember them only when a need arise? Thank God for friends.