Today God gave me the biggest revelation yet in quite a long while ever since i entered NS... i decided to spend half my afternoon today reflecting back as well as "trying" to seek God by reading his word, but to be honest, it took me a loooooooong time before i actually got something from God, and that's when God taught me PATIENCE today!
God can't always appear to you in this SUPER NATURAL INSTANTANEOUS way! Like how He did to me a lot of times in the past years, now God taught me a valuable new lesson, and it all started when i found an old slip of paper in a notebook that i use to keep valuable lessons from God, it had some writings of a vision and verses that was written for me at a YM GAP meeting many mths back! I remember chieh ming prayed for me and there was a scribe who took down the prayers. (The slip of paper said this "VISION of TREE, Psalms 1:1-3, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Picture of a tree roots deep, reach Living Water")
And you know why those writings seem so striking to my heart today,as the devotion that i was reading was TALKING ABOUT THAT EXACT same verses! First there was a statement that said "Slow growth is GOOD GROWTH!... it is the same as the garden of the soul." The scripture verse was this...
18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.2 Peter 3:18 (New International Version)
And the FURTHER READING verses given were PSALMS 1:1-3 and JEREMIAH 17:7-8! THATS what shocked me! Not one verse was similar but TWO!
(the devotion book that i was reading)
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (New International Version)
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
When i read it, it just gave me a DEEP SENSE of assurance from the LORD that... sometimes i just need to continue to trust in the Lord's plans,i may not get the very "EXPERIENTIAL feeling" from God as often as last time, but i just need to continue to just meditate on his laws and to wait PATIENTLY for Him...just like a tree planted, where you can't rush the growth of it, as the roots need to penetrate slowly but deeply into the ground where the foundation will be stronger as the days come and it will also then reach deep into the LIVING Waters of the Lord!
This is a script of the message i was led to share at the recent God’s Clay Retreat@ Praisehaven (26 to 28 December 2009) after coming across an article from the tidings... part of this message has been adapted from that article...
PASSION! - Ben Lau (adapted from Tidings 2009 Quarter 4 pg 12-13 Passion to Glorify God by Ng Kwee Choo
Questions: What’s Passion to you?
Pas⋅sion (DICTIONARY.com) 1. any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling,. 6. a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything:
11. a. the sufferings of Christ on the cross or His sufferings subsequent to the Last Supper. b. the narrative of Christ's sufferings as recorded in the Gospels.
Acts 1:3, meaning suffering, referring to the sufferings of our Lord. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) What’s your primary purpose on earth?
Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Isaiah 43:7 (New International Version) 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Isaiah 42:8 (New International Version) 8 "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
"Let me forget the world and be swallowed up in a desire to glorify God!"- Henry Martyn
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) How do you Glorify God?
We must first be passionate and excited about the God in whom we believe, the God we love, the God we worship. Putting in another way, unless we are deeply, intimately and passionately in love with God, we would have little interest in honouring and glorifying Him. It’s Imperative for us to cultivate a deep close, intimate relationship with God.
It than changes our CORE NATURE in us! Our ideas,likes, our desires, our dreams are all-CENTERED around GOD . Leading to how we portray our daily lives, in our conversations with people, how we treat people around us, what people will perceive of us EVERYTHING will change for the glory of GOD! And that’s what just BEING it is! When we truly LIVE FOR OUR KING!
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
Imagine if every member in God’s Clay can be like this! Wouldn’t it start creating a huge impact in wherever we are, be it in the U.S, Australia, Ireland, Singapore! SMU,NUS, NTU, the army! We can be that living SALT & LIGHT whose GLORY OF GOD shines in us! As we minster to people around us!
God's Clay Small Group!
(Concept of multiplication (from Pay it Forward)... Where if we can all impact & minister to just that few person that come across our lives, imagine in the long run how that impact can spread to so many people all over the world!)
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3" . ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can you keep that Passion? Being Christians for so long? How you can keep BEING IT?
3) How do you KEEP & GROW that PASSION to Glorify GOD?
Paul as an Example… 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11 (New International Version)
He has a STRONG desire to KNOW CHRIST
1) We need to PRAY & SURRENDER our personal desires to the LORD!
2) We need to ask God for forgiveness
3) We need fellow like-minded brothers and sisters in our lives to encourage us on! That’s what SMALL GRP is for!
A small group- a place for sharing of lives!
“If we intentionally put ourselves in the right environment, it will help our spiritual growth and journey in this whole Christian life. We definitely need to be in a group of other on fire passionate Christians who really want to be that "Change maker" for Christ! As take this analogy, when there are other Christians around you in your school or work place where you have constant interaction with and encouragement from the fire in them and in you can spread and grow even stronger. And this increase the fire and passion for Christ for everyone even more. I can't imagine living this Christian life alone, we definitely need each other!”
4) We need the LIVING WORD of GOD
And last of all, the most important thing i believed ALL Christians out there need to follow strictly is meditating and dwelling in the WORD of GOD everyday. Remember "We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7".And as we mature more in Christ each day, we need that spiritual discipline to maintain that close walk with our Lord each day. And its wanting to know him by the act of our own will. Reading his WORD and He will then start working and changing your heart inside out with that continuous renewing of our mind and surrender to Him. His grace will help us start living into His will more easier than before!
Can you imagine what revival from the passion of people for Christ is like?
* *Show video of A movement that started from praying! (facing the giants!) The clip of the video below... is what a glimpse of revival is like to me…
“14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ …”Galatians 6:14 (New International Version)
From 26-28 Dec!!! We had our fifth and longest small grp retreat yet! And as usual, we manage to bond even more as a grp and spend a good time of relaxing as well as some times of sharing and just being in God's presence! It was a nice to see a fellow younger ym grp there too, as we join them on Sunday night for a fabulous BBQ!!! This was also the first retreat where i actually shared a message to the grp and i think this cld be one of my more convicted sharing yet on The PASSION TO GLORIFY GOD! (this is photo reminds me of a DEJAVU!.., if u looked back the last retreat here in 2008, i had a photo similar to this too!) (Now we went more hitech and we got a projector too!) (Watch some shows and movies at the retreat!)
(we brought all the mattress to the living room, so it felt really comfortable!)
(The awesome supper at AL-Azhar after my sharing sessions on the last night)
After 14 weeks! I have finally ended my Service term in OCS in TANGO WING! It sure was a memorable 3 mths here, with long time friends made, and now we are all separated to our different vocations before we see each other again 6mths later during our joint term!
Finally got my SENIOR BAR today as we all prepare for our next phase in ocs, our professional term! Where i got posted to my first choice of being a future SIGNAL officer!.... STAGMONT CAMP here i come!
(What my notice board look liked in my bunk in SAFTI!... a bunch of photos of friends that played a part in my life!) (All the ranks that i have gotten in my 14 weeks in TANGO!... from left to right, my freshmen bar during the first 2 weeks of Common leadership module(CLM) , to my first appoint of Cadet Wing Welfare Officer, than got back my 2 bars , junior cadet and now as we go into our pro term ,got my third milk bar as a SENIOR Cadet now going into our pro term!... the badge below is the IPPT GOLD badge and the OCS vocation badge.)
(TANGO WING PLATOON 3! all dress smartly!) (Platoon 3 and our dates!)
We had our first ever TANGO WING 77/09 Social night at THE LEGENDS@ Fort Canning on friday! It started of alittle akward at the start as we all came in formal clothes and the whole occasion just so FORMAL, made it hard to be yourself. But in the later part of the night we manage to be more laid back as we went thru memory lane looking at a special video compiliation of our service term! (Help out in our seniors commissioning parade the 75/09 batch! Quite a big batch with a lot of important people there, i was the lucky few who got chosen to "choke" seats for the V V IPs and watch the parade at a pretty good location! Feel really inspired after watching that awesomeeeeeeeeeee parade!)
YM CAMP 2009@ Singapore Sports School! Manage to rush down close to midnight after their final service to catch up with my sec 1s, G.E.Ls! and im really truly encouraged at how God has touch them and change their lives thru this camp, as for the first time, they ALL SHARED openly from their heart and even prayed from their hearts at the end of our grp time! This was certainly a night with them i will never forget!
You know i'm just again full of thanks giving to the ALMIGHTY LORD! As yet again, He has been Faithful! I really thank everyone for praying for me for the past week, as first it didn't rain when in periods we needed the dry environment especially in this rainy season and God gave me the strength to overcome the tough week clearing the biggest exercise in my service term! Really feel a great satisfaction after overcoming the many things that i have been through the best 12 weeks! 2 more weeks to go! =)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.
This is a song that came to my mind as i pondered about the very down moments i faced throughout the past week in ocs, but our ever FAITHFUL GOD has encouraged me and kept me going thru small circumstances here and there!
Its going to be longest week to come and toughest week to come now! Back to living with insects and mud again this week!
(adapted from Caleb Lim's photo album) It was a day where an intensifying match took place between team Apple from YM and team Orange from YM. Both sides battled really hard under the heavy downpour! but in the end it was team Orange who won the 99 goal thriller, 50-49.
Location: Bethesda Serangoon Church (Thanks Reon for opening up your church!, really thank God how He always provides for us when we needed him! The second time God answered our prayers! First if u look back when kovan team cldnt find a place to train, we headed to wesley for the equipments & now when wesley cldnt find a place to train we headed down to kovan area at reon's church! and ironically both happened on a public holiday!)
(the warm up!) (the battle begins!) (the defending!) (the attacks!)
(the injuries!)
It was one of the more memorable wesley ym tchoukball events for me! Really excited at how this tchoukball ministry can grow from next year to come! When our very own younger players step up to lead this ministry and who knows a couple of them might be playing for the national team next year! =)
After a looooooooooong 2 weeks away from home, its really good to be back for awhile with like-minded people right after my booked out...like with the the ym leaders at mlm , followed by meeting up with more churchies at Chieh ming's wedding and than a good evening spent with my beloved small grp God's Clay!
(The scrumptious meal that benlei cooked for us at his house as we had a good dinner before we had some bible study!)
Looking back i'm really just so grateful and thankful of how GOD sustained me Spiritually,mentally & physically in the 10 days I was in the mud & storms in the outfield of tekong the last 2 weeks! It sure was quite a memorable experience which change me a lot!
Anywayssss i will be back to my home again in SAFTI in few hours time! =)
That was the topic that my small grp discussed yesterday in our new curriculum on A CASE FOR FAITH by Lee Strobel! And through the discussion what concluded the long deep discussion on questions that agnostic or atheist wld asks like how can u explained all those "evils" in this world today... like Famine, Wars, terrorism..etc.etc...Wells (although we know that suffering happens bcoz of the consequences of Sins of so many different people out there in this world).....but others wld ask this than "How than does this prove that God is Loving?" or "How can God bear with all the sufferings in this world?" At the end of the day at "What point of suffering would actually disproved the existence of God?"....
wells... like me remind you if you have all forgotten...
God actually DID LITERALLY bore all the sufferings of this world...and that is what we Christians firmly believed and that is the amazing gospel story that we can concluded. GOD actually did had a GREAT SOLUTION to all those questions on sufferings & evil that we always throw out at God... The solution was God because of His GREAT LOVE for us... He sent His One and Only son Jesus Christ ...who is wholly GOD humbled himself by coming down as a human who actually took ALL the suffering of the world with His own body, as He bore the whole world's sins with His Blood on the CROSS at CALVARY and through that act He has CLEASE us all and FORGIVE ALL OUR SINs! And that gave us the bridge to overcome the sins of this world to whoever who BELIEVED in HIM!!!!
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Now who can questioned the LOVE of GOD after what He did for us at that CROSS on Calvary? Maybe now we should ask ourself instead ...WHY did WE have to allow suffering in this World?
GOING BACK TO LOVELY TEKONG for the next 10daysss! Pretty excited at what's install for us there as our section aims to get the BEST SECTION TITLE!!!! And i really think we have the potential to get there with an amazing bunch of strong and smart guys in our team! =)
"TOGETHER in EXCELLENCE. ADVANCING towards MUTUAL understanding!" (T.E.A.M) That's our platoon 3 section 1 motto!!!!
Seeyaaa civilisation till probably on 21 nov if nothing happens to me there! =)
Pray that we wil not abstain any injuries there, nothing "unfortunate" mishaps that can happened there and MOST OF ALL that i can keep my FOCUS on the LORD there even how tired i am there! =) THANKS GUYS! =)
Wells its been another eventful past week! Wells there is really so much i want to share abt the things that happened, but i cant due to the confidentiality of it to share things we do in camp on the net!
Anyways some highlights i wld say in my daily journey with the Lord in camp was... yet again, God showed how Faithful he was! As i was doing my daily devotion one night, a wing mate came in to ask in curiosity abt the bible and how he was actually interested to find out more abt christianity, and of course if u know me im always very glad to share! Not to "convert" ppl as i cant! only God can, but to share something that is the closest thing in my heart and that is my relationship with the Almighty Lord! And i just look forward for the many more weeks ahead i can share with this guy! =)
Another highlight wld be the HAPPY HOUR that i was assigned to organised for the wing as my job as a welfare ic! Was a little concern at the start how i was going to do this, but i really THANK GOD! For wonderful people that he place in my life to help me! First of all my awesome sect commander who help me alot in the setting up & advice, and really willing wing mates that just offered to help! From an awesome professional emcee that i got, reynold! to some expert dancers who volunteered to entertain the wing like rajan & miyanaga and my awesome platoon 3 mates who automatically just helped me with the preparation of the food and all! And looking back, how often u get to work with so motivated helpful ppl like u can find here in ocs! =)... and wells we end of with an awesome movie ... "A Few Good man"... a MUST watch if u havent! 5/5 stars for me! =)
Had a bunch of test this week! And God certainly has been there with me throughout! From finding out that i was top in the wing for one of the major test with a score of 99% which surprised me greatly! And then also getting GOLD for IPPT with a maximum score of 25/25 with my fastest 2.4km time ever in my life of 9.18mins! Which means i will get a $200 reward for that and a gold ippt badge!
And then one of the nights had some time of sharing and praying with my christian friend in an empty bunk, and i was desiring for opportunities to share my Faith! And INDEED GOD was FAITHFUL, as immediately the next couple of days after that, somehow, in small subtle ways, God did give me opportunities through the conversations i had, and got the chance to share abit of my life testimony and the many great things that God had taught me! =) What a fruitful week! =)
Alrighty booking back in less than 20 hrs time! Anyways i sld be contented that i cld actually book out today already! =) Seeyall next weekend! .... missing church on a sunday again! =/
It was nice to finally book out and rush down to make it for YM GAP! And wow certainly cld experience God's presence so strongly as i step into the GAP room! Felt really ministered in the time of worship and prayer!
Saturday!
Our usual tchoukball training venue at kovan cc was changed at the very last min today! When we found out that the cc was close! So good thing we had the tchoukball equipment in wesley, so we brought the whole kovan team down to fort canning, and this time was a little special...as we had abt 13 new ppl suddenly! 8 primary 6 kids who came after their PSLE, 3 from JC and 2 more one from poly another from university, so practically today we had new people and old ones from all kind of backgrounds all coming together bcoz of TCHOUKBALL! From pri students all the way to working adults! What an amazing day!
(The pri 6 kids that i coach today, they were actually pretty good for their age!) (the more older players!)
Right after that... had a good time catching up with all kinds of ppl, lunch with some of the players, than bump into my old coursemates in plaza sing, den met up with wenhao & asriel and than right after that had a good time spend with my small grp as we continue to discuss on plans for our grp in the future! And finally im back home! Ready for CHURCH FINALLY!!! My first sunday going back to church in 4 weeks! =)
It feels so good to be finally out! So far life in OCS has been quite an experience! It certainly been a huge culture change for me, especially in the first few days there. It's certainly so different compared to the welfare company that I was in, during my bmt days in tekong!
At the end of the day, I'm really thankful to God for wonderful mates that he has place in my life here again! Especially when he provided an awesome buddy in my first 2 weeks of the Common Leadership module (CLM). We manage to form a prayer grp, of 2 catholics and another christian mate where we all saw the common important purpose of putting GOD first in our life!
It was really amazing to see 2 Roman Catholics and 2 protestants who defer in some doctrines yet still coming together believing in the same ALMIGHTY Sovereign Lord and how important it was so important to keep our eyes on Jesus everyday!!! Still pretty amazed at the many nights we cld spend time sharing, and hearing God speak to us when we pray in that room even how precious and limited our admin times were! =)
On hindsight, i'm actually so glad i'm here in OCS! Despite the culture shocked initially, i'm definitely at the fittest point in my life right now! Getting a GOLD for my ippt cat test with 25/25 with a 2.4km timing of 9.30mins! I've definitely become much more resilient and i'm prepared for what to come next!
Parent's Visiting Day! (My bunk! My buddy!... he had something stuck in his eyes the day before thats why his eyes are a little close in all the pictures) (our HUGEEEE wardrobe! Compared to the small metal ones we have in BMT in Tekong!) (My awesome prayer buddies! Tim, me, edmund and one more guy aaron who is not here in this photo) (The Parade square where i hope to commission in 9mths time in a No.1 attire!... and thats the SAFTI tower next to it!)
(At the top of the SAFT tower!) (My officer took a photo of me after coming out from the gas chamber!...my mucus was like all coming out!) (TANGO platoon 3,section 1! The first to run up the SAFTI TOWER!) (My parents!)
"Taking refuge in the Lord doesnt mean that all our problems will be solved instantaneously. But knowing that God is with us in our trying times should comfort us and give us the strength to go on." - A quote that my NS prayer buddy, Tim shared with me awhile ago! =)
Ben signing off now! as I look forward to booking back in on Saturday night! ...sad to miss Church for the third time in a row this Sunday, probably the longest time away from church in my entire life. But one thing I know for sure is, that God is with me where ever i go. =)
I'm all prepared and excited for my new phrase in my life as a soldier! Will be embarking for a 9 mths training at Officer Cadet School (OCS) in SAFTI from tmr onwards! And that will be my new home and mission trip for the LORD!!!
Below is a verse that Pastor Ivan shared with me yesterday that he kept to & memorise in his days in OCS, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."Joshua 1:9
Please keep me in prayer! =) 1) Pray for me to meet likeminded christian brothers there! 2) Opportunities to share the gospel! 3) For me to keep my focus on the LORD ALL THE TIME! =)
Will seeyall again after my first 3 weeks confinement at SAFTI! =)
This last 2 weeks of block leave sure has been quite fruitful & good break for me! I'm really thankful for the many people i got to catch up with! From my platoon mates, to my st.gabs friends, to church friends, to crusaders! (LEOPARD 03/09 platoon 2 section 2 @ ISLAND CREMERY!)
Thurs (BBQ with TRP crusaders! Its really been a looooooong time since saw this guys!)
Friday Visited Tung ling bible college to attend a day session on a awesome module on Apologetics!
Saturday (The crosstrainer food rally! The AWESOMEEEE Horfan at Geylang Lorong 9!)
The ultimate friendly match between Wesley YM as we visited the home ground of Crystallite methodist for a trilling match up! =)
(Planning our tactics!) (Prayer from the Crystallite methodist pastor before the game start!) (The huge supporters from the home crowd!...and with a small bunch from wesley!) (WESLEY...WHOOO HAAAA!)
(videos of match match!)
Besides all this.... now mentally preparing myself for the loooooooooong 9 mths ahead as i got my posting to Officer Cadet School (OCS), army wing. Really appreciate all the prayers from my church mates! Especially today, when Pastor Ivan had a chat with me, which really encouraged and inspired me to give my best for the Lord in OCS! its going to be a new exciting mission trip there!
