the king is coming

is the theme for this quarter's youth service.

listened to a really interesting sermon today pertaining to the Day of the Lord with biblical references from both the old testament, namely from certain prophetic books, and new testament concerning the signs of that Day. how utter darkness, utter destruction, utter judgement and utter fear will come upon the age of man when it is at its end. most importantly, a question to ask ourselves: is the coming of the Day of the Lord secondary/peripheral to all our worldly activities in our everyday lives that we lead in carousing, revelry and fulfillment of the flesh? or are we working out our salvation with fear and trembling and equipping our hearts and souls for that fearful Day when the door of grace will finally be shut? a most pertinent question indeed. yet, the greatest irony is that as the Day draws ever closer with the passing of each year, it is conversely getting further away, growing distant or even diminishing into a mere hearsay in man's perspective.

some people say that having too much negative thoughts is bad. but sometimes i do think about death. what if my soul is required of me in the coming week during one of my routine pt sessions, or perhaps while crossing the road with my right of way on bookout day? can i really lift my head up boldly and face Him who seats on His throne of judgement? even if i have already received the Holy Spirit, do i really deserve to enter the mansions of rest?

living for Christ is like going on a route march without knowing where the end point is or the distance you are supposed to much. the more you travel, the heavier the burden on your back becomes with the straps starting to pierce through your shoulders and the more disorientated you get as the fatigue level starts to rise. will we give up, or persevere? knowing that a ceremony lies at the end-point waiting to commemorate those who have completed this gruelling test of the body, mind, and spirit.

the King is coming; is He coming for me?

new year

here comes my long overdued new year post. from 2010 to 2011; from army boy, to army boy again but with hair. and now with a date to look forward to. 031211, these magical numbers shall haunt me all the way till i receive my long-forgotten blue ic back at years end. deep inside me, i find r-mi too long and tiring. yes, you get to do a whole lot of different and unimaginable stuff that you would never have thought, though many a times they come with their fair share of burdens and complaints. yet, looking back, you'll tend to smile and realise how strong a person you really are to have endured through them. i guess now im starting to understand what my bro meant when he said army will be a totally new 2 years of experience in your life and you will enjoy it. however, that zeal and garangness are gradually being replaced with lethargy and sianzzness. when will all these end? how long more? haizz, sometimes i really feel like downpesing and getting a 8-5 office job for the rest of my term. chiong-ed enuff alredy, now time to lead a life of peace and quiet, if only its possible... nonetheless, it is not for me to decide. but rather, if the Lord is willing to remove this bitter cup from me then let it be so. if not, may this thorn in my flesh impart valuable life lessons for me in this new year ahead, that i would indeed come to the knowledge that truly, His grace is sufficient for me, for His strength is made perfect in weakness.

on a side note, im really uber delighted by the amazing attendance during the 2nd choir practise and 2nd youth service of the year. i really thank God for sending me to the photocopy machine twice to print the hymn scores during choir practise because of the unexpected turnout of members including our new members. i also thank God for having me to change my photo-taking spot from the garden to within the hall during youth service today due to the overwhelming number of youths that came. thank You God. i really hope that this sight would become a common one in the weeks and the months to come. more importantly, i hope i can still be around to witness this sight.

it is good to start the year on a good start. now may we end it with that same, or even better start as well.

i do not pray that God would stand on my side, rather i pray that God would help me stand on His side.

Thy will be done.

opportunity

today i was given the opportunity to interprete for the student theolo for 6 sessions. it is indeed a pleasant experience to return to church seeing youths with nametags hung around their shoulders and books, worksheets and jackets strewn around the tables that have been set in the basement. fond memories immediately follow as i marvel how i had once gone through 3 years of this same experience a couple of years ago and how quickly the years have gone by. it brings me great joy as well to see my younger brothers and sisters again and im equally amazed how fast most of them have grown and how much they have changed, especially those from tk and semb churches. from the time where i first met them in the preteens camp when they were P6, just a few years ago, indeed im really glad to see how much they have matured outwardly (and i still have the photos of them back then). thank God for his abundant grace and mercy that the youths of today are still going strong spiritually (i hope) and are willing to dedicate 3 weeks of their precious holidays to be confined in church without any form of entertainment or media to study the word of God and grow closer to Him. to others, this might sound a little "crazy", yet all of us who have gone through theolo before, including those from many generations back, would agree otherwise for this opportunity of drawing closer to God brings about spiritual joy and peace that we can never find in this busy world of ours. i continue to pray for the participants of this year's theolo, that their faith may be more firmly rooted on the word of God and yet reach higher ground as they spiritually cultivate themselves in the house of God. i pray and ask also that next year i may have the chance to be a counsellor and guide the next batch of participants through these 3 weeks after i have gotten back my blue ic (im a pr).

not by my tongue, nor by my wisdom, but by His Spirit.

this is a phrase that will fondly remain in my mind after having interpreted 6 sessions of lessons by the 2 preachers today. it is really amazing to feel how the Holy Spirit guided me throughout the all the sessions through translating the lesson to english relatively smoothly and fluently. though there were several lapses here and there, yet i truly marvel how i was able to made it through with the effort i had given, especially after a year of mind-rot in thr r mi. may all glory and thanks and praise be to the Father who listens to our prayers and guides us through ways that mortal men can never be able to comprehend. may He continue to guide me in the divine work of interpretation as i grow up and progress towards the future so that one day i might play my part and carry out this divine service more frequently and fervently. most importantly, may God grant me the humility and meekness so that i would not feel proud and arrogant whenever i have the opportunity to interprete, for all wisdom and clarity of speech comes from the Lord and i am not serving for my own glory but serving the Lord God who watches over me.

an opportunity to preach the word has arisen. an r mi friend of mine has just accepted my invitation to the coming year end evangelistic service. I am excited, yet equally frightened. i humbly pray and ask that may the Lord move his heart with the Holy Spirit and guide this lost sheep back to the fold.

prayers

in today morning's bible reading session, i came upon this verse in the book of James with regards to prayer:
"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."
Js 4:3

I then went on to share with the enduffmons (grp 4) about a contrasting verse in the gospel according to John:
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."
Jn 15:7

as i sit here now reflecting on the past 5days of assisting in the pre-teens camp that has just come to a smooth end, i cant help but marvel at the amazing grace and mercy that the Lord has showered upon myself and my younger brothers and sisters in Christ. naturally, my heart is filled with praise and thanksgiving to Him who has chosen to look upon me and grant me my heart's desires.

thank You for allowing my leave to be approved even at such a crucial period of my training phase. thank You for guiding the participants safely throughout the camp without any emergencies. thank You for blessing us with beautiful weather and withholding the stormclouds as we carried out our main outdoor activities. thank You for giving me the opportunity to come to know and recognize more younger brothers and sisters who, in a twinking of an eye, will eventually become my co-workers in the near future. thank You for preserving my health and granting me the strength to carry on through each day despite the late nights everyday. thank You for the wonderful food prepared for us that never fails to uplift the tired body. thank You for allowing me to dwell in the house of the Lord and to come before you in daily prayers and bible reading sessions. thank You, dear Father, that though im underserving, yet you have heard my prayers and chose to answer me.

though sin abounded in my heart, His grace aboundeth more.