Nuffnang

Saturday, June 28, 2008

from the inside out

From the inside out (Acoustic) - Hillsongs

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

knowing ourselves

I have learnt a fact since Sozo Extreme and has been going on for weeks.
The person I knew least is... MYSELF!

Yes... In this age, all of us ought to have our own identity because God created all of us differently. With different likes and dislikes, even different ways on how we feel and approach God.
Some people feel God more through music, some when they are reading the Word. Others during fellowship. Some through active serving and some love the charismatic experience.

But along the way, we picked up some things that doesn't belong to us. 
Some character flaws or alteration that isn't ourself at all.
Some habits that doesn't reflect us.
Some way of speech or even accent.

=) Just be yourself and change from inside out.
No change of the surface is ever enough because it will be so exhausting acting to be someone you are not. Once we begin to change from inside out, we will naturally live it out.

I realize for myself, some character flaws that I have that I have been trying to change with the natural. Change from the outside. But recently, I have been asking God to change me from the inside first instead. And it definitely more effective than trying through natural means. 

Struggling from a particular area and can't breakthrough despite trying everything?
Change from inside out. =)

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Praise God


 
Man! Really missed Poh and when he leads the Church in Praise and Worship.

In Poh, he carries not just his voice and his guitar skills. But there is something else in him as a worship leader, as a guitarist. There is the anointing, the presence of God.
Another person that really inspires me is Pastor Sidney.
Man! His enthusiasm and love for God is so obvious whenever he stands on stage.

One can only wonder...
What kind of life they live...

Whenever I see Pastor Sidney on stage, I got reminded of a revelation that I had.
King David lived till 70 years old, but at the end of his life; he was still praising God with all his heart. I can imagine how King David praised,

"The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
"Praise be to You, O LORD,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is Yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
You are exalted as head over all."
 -1 Chronicles 29:9-11

Can you imagine that the Bible says the the people rejoiced but the Bible said that King David rejoiced GREATLY. He praised God in front of his entire nation, not afraid of Paisehness..
And I believe in his old age, he was still praising with all his heart and soul and he would jump and dance even at old age. What a heart! What a life to live for!

I would never want to lose my zeal for God at this 'young' age. Even at this age of 19 this year, being in church for 2 years and 8 months. Its way too early for me to stop jumping, twirling, dancing, screaming, shouting when praising God! You will see me continuing doing it!

Some people I have seen are barely 16! Yet they praise as if God is a sing-along session. They clap as if they hadn't eaten for 2 weeks. 

Want a revival? Be Radical!
Zeal of God.. =)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Indonesian!

I AM PROUD TO BE HALF-INDONESIAN!
Puji Tuhan! (Praise The Lord)

Birthday

Wee~~ 
My Birthday is reaching and things that I want as gifts are:

1) Field soccer Boots or Futsal Boots.
2) I won't reject cash! $$Ka-Ching$$
3) Books
4) Shirts
5)Shoes
6) Food Vouchers!!! That's power!!!
7) Movie DVDs!
8) etc, etc, etc...

=) Actually i would appreciate just anything! =)
Haha
Mark it down, mark it down...
June 30!

Ps: Chai ern, dun act innocent!
=)

Sunday, June 22, 2008

marriage day

Amen, Today I missed service to go for a wedding dinner and banquet.
To think about it, its actually my first wedding banquet that I attended since coming to Christ. How long is that? At least 2 years and 8 months!

Man, had revelations upon revelations at the banquet.
I felt that God really spoke through my auntie even thought she isn't a believer.

She said, "Xiang, this is what really happens at wedding dinners. Everyone would "Zhi Zhi Dian Dian" (literally: Point point dot dot, Translated: Scrutinise, Criticise) at the couple. Eg: Shotgun marriage la, or bride not pretty ar. Or they would praise you, Eg: "Wah, bride very pretty hor, Husband is "Dua Oh Seng" or "Tak Dua Oh eh" (Literally: Big learn student and Study big lear stn. Translated: University Graduate or undergrad."

Or they will talk about the menu to asses your financial power. What I have heard: "Haiyo, "Bai Ling Mushroom will oyster sauce lei. Bai Ling Mushroom sheng siong one can only $2.60"

Or they can study your life: "Why the Nan Fang friends all ah beng ah seng one?"

I was reminded of what Jimmy said, during Bible Study, about his friends wedding. Because the husband and wife wasn't of very good character and friends avoided them. During their wedding dinner, no one came. the hall was empty. To not let the bride feel disappointed, Jimmy had to get the ushers to stand in a line to block the view of the bride so that she couldn't see that it was empty. But when she stood on stage and the lights were on. The whole world saw that she got so disappointed and almost cried.

Than God really spoke, clear as crystal. 

Your whole life would be exposed on your wedding day.

And when the Bridegroom comes for the church, our life would be exposed totally too. 
Man, its not just the dinner, Its a God appointed dinner for a revelation.

Even though its sort of early for me to think about my own marriage, but everything that I am doing now, would be open and exposed to the whole world. Gotta start now.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Sozo Camp Wrap-up

Wow.. 3 days and 2 nights..
It has been awesome!

To Wrap up the camp, first we have to introduce the most impt person of the camp...

Cliff, Camp Commandant A.K.A The President.
No Cliff, no money.
His face is on the money, so better R.E.S.P.E.C.T this man.


Then next up, we have the trinity of Ah Taus.





Sir Tan Jian Feng, Boss of Michael Jackson (MG)


Kevin, Lao Pa of Puff Daddy.
Last but not least at all, Lao Ban of Elvis Presley the Meows,
Royston!!!


Friday, June 06, 2008

happy birthday

As my birthday is approaching. I begin to reflect the past one year

 I can remember that period of time when I celebrate my birthday last year.
It wasn't the happiest of my birthday because that was a low point of my life. 
In ministry, in school and every aspect of my life.

One year on, After lifting myself up.
After rising up to another level.
I suddenly found myself in the same place.

And I heard the voice of God,
like talking to Peter.
At the very same place, on the coast of the sea of Galilee.

"Guang Xiang, Do you love Me?" says God
"God, I want to serve you." I replied.
Then God said, "I know you want to serve Me, but, Do you love Me?"

I cried..

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Servant's heart

After Listening to the song Hati Hamba, I went to read up on servant heart. =)

"Some people can be in church or ministry all their life, but is still not a servant. Because being a servant requires a servant heart."
-Rick Warren,
Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church, south C.A
Author of 'The Purpose Driven Life"


Servant's Heart by Rick Warren

1. Real Servants Make Themselves Available.
2 Timothy 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday
life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Servants don’t fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. We
can say in general that servants make themselves available to their masters.They want to be
ready to jump into service when called on. A soldier is always ready, even ready to get up at
2am at boot camp.

If you only serve when it’s convenient for you, you’re not a real servant. Real servants do
what’s needed, even when it’s inconvenient.

A good test: Are you available to God any time? Can he mess up your plans without you
becoming resentful?

2 Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing
God to interrupt it whenever He needs to.

If you will remind yourself at the start of every day that you are God’s servant, interruptions
won’t frustrate you as much, because your agenda will be whatever God wants to bring into
your life. Remember all your time, every moment, belongs to God. It is all right to have
plans but be ready and willing for God to upset them. Servants see interruptions as divine
appointments for ministry and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.


2. Real Servants Pay Attention To Needs.
Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others and always sensitive to others’ cries.
When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us:

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

When God puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow
in servanthood. Opportunity comes – and goes. We can soon lose it if we don’t seize it.

We miss many occasions for serving because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. Great
opportunities to serve never last long. They pass quickly, sometimes never to return. You may
only get one chance to serve that person, so take advantage of the moment. Think about last
week: were there opportunities to help which you did not seize?


3. Real Servants Do Their Best With What They Have.
Servants don’t make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances. Servants never
say, “One of these days” or “When the time is right.” They just do what needs to be done.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds
will not reap.(NIV)
Ecclesiastes 11:4 If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything
done.(TLB)

God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Less-than-
perfect service is always better than the best intention.

One reason many people never serve is that they fear they are not good enough to serve. They
have believed the lie that serving God is only for superstars. “We haven’t done the course!”
they say. “We aren’t as good at it as X.”

You may have heard it said, “If it can’t be done with excellence, don’t do it.” Well, Jesus never
said that! The truth is, almost everything we do is done poorly when we first start doing it -
that’s how we learn. None of us can do a perfect job. If you want to wait until you are perfect
you’ll never start.
You may not have much, but offer what you have. Grow with it as you do it, whether it be
praying for the sick, leading in prayer, preaching or whatever. As God’s call is there, His hand
is there.


4. Real Servants Do Every Task With Equal Dedication.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,
not for men


Whatever they do, servants “do it with all their heart” The size of the task is irrelevant. The
only issue is, does it need to be done?

You will never arrive at the state in life where you’re too important to help with menial
tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane. It’s a vital part of your character
building. “If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling
yourself. You are really a nobody” (Galatians 6:3, NLT).

It is in these small services that we grow like Christ.
Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to avoid: washing feet,
helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers. Nothing was beneath him,
because he came to serve. It wasn’t in spite of his greatness that he did these things,
but because of it, and he expects us to follow his example (John 13:15). If we are not
willing it means we do not have a servant’s heart.

Small tasks often show a big heart.
Your servant’s heart is revealed in little acts that others don’t think of doing. Here is
an example - Paul gathered brushwood for a fire to warm everyone after a shipwreck
(Acts 28:3). He was just as exhausted as everyone else. No task is beneath you when
you have a servant’s heart.

Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks.

The little things in life determine the big things. Don’t look for great tasks to do for
God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you whatever he wants you
to do. Before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways (Luke
16:10-12). There will always be more people willing to do “great” things for God
than there are people willing to do the little things. It is God who will promote you when you can do the small things willingly. When you can do the small things He can trust you with more.

5. Real Servants Are Faithful To Their Ministry.
Servants finish their tasks, fulfil their responsibilities, keep their promises and complete their
commitments. They don’t leave a job half undone. They don’t quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable.

Many people don’t know the meaning of commitment. These days, commitments are often too
lightly made. People make commitments casually, then break them for the slightest reason without any hesitation, remorse or regret. Every week, churches and other organizations must improvise because volunteers didn’t prepare, didn’t show up, or didn’t even call to say they weren’t coming.

Can you be counted on by others? Are there promises you need to keep, vows you need to fulfil, or commitments you need to honor? This is a test. God is testing your faithfulness.

Small things are important. Being faithful in them is important. Maybe you only really enjoy 20% of what you do in ministry but never mind, still be faithful. Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel, Timothy and Paul were all called “faithful” servants of
God. If you pass the test, you’re in good company.

Your reward is in eternity. Imagine God saying to you, as in Matthew 25:23 "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'


6. Real Servants Maintain A Low Profile.
Servants don’t promote or call attention to themselves. Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they “put on the apron of humility, to serve one another” (1 Peter 5:5, TEV). If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow the recognition to distract them from their work.

Eye service is serving in order to impress people with how spiritual we are.
This was a sin of the Pharisees. They turned helping others, giving, and even prayer into a
performance for others. Jesus hated this attitude and warned, “When you do good deeds, don’t
try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1,
CEV).

Self-promotion and servanthood don’t mix.
Real servants don’t serve for the approval or applause of others. They live for an audience of
One. Paul said: “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ”
(Galatians 1:10).

Real servants are content with quietly serving in the shadows.
Joseph is a great example. He didn’t draw attention to himself, but quietly served Potiphar, then his jailer, then Pharaoh’s baker and wine taster, and God blessed that attitude.

Many leaders today start off as servants but end up as celebrities. Even pastors starting off with a servant’s heart can go through a change and end up losing that heart.

If you are serving in obscurity in some small place, feeling unknown and unappreciated - God knows you. You are where you are for a purpose! He has every hair on your head numbered. He knows what you do.

In heaven God is going to openly reward some of his most obscure and unknown servants - people
we never heard of on earth - who taught emotionally disturbed children, nursed AIDS patients, and served in thousands of other unnoticed ways. They are the real heroes. And some we may expect to
have a ‘big crown’ may have nothing.

Woa! Totally blown away. Must pray and repent. God give me this heart
He testified concerning him: 'I have found
David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'
-Acts 13:22b
Actsh
Amen! I am so excited! For the past 1 week, I have been listening to Indonesian Praise and Worship. Guess its the Indon blood pumping in me. I am loving Indonesia more and more. Its not one of the world's greatest country, but its definitely one of the world's most populated and hungry city. Everything that I love is in Indonesia.Cheap Seafood, good stuff, nice entertainment. =)
praise God, below is an Indonesian song, Hati Hamba Which means Servant's heart. It hit me in a special way.



HATI HAMBA

Bahasa Indonesia

TAK DAPAT LUPAKAN
KEBAIKAN YANG KU T'RIMA
PENGORBANAN-MU YANG MULIA
JADIKAN KU BERHARGA

KAU TULUS MENERIMA
AKU APA ADANYA
KEKUATAN KASIH-MU NYATA
MEMULIHKAN HIDUPKU


KAU BUKAN TUHAN YANG MELIHAT RUPA
KAU BUKAN TUHAN YANG MEMANDANG HARTA
HATI HAMBA YANG S'LALU KAU CARI
BIAR KAU TEMUKAN DI DALAMKU

S'LAMA KU HIDUP KU MAU MENYEMBAH-MU
S'BAB ENGKAU SANGAT BERARTI BAGIKU
YANG TERBAIK YANG ADA PADAKU
KUPERSEMBAHKAN KEPADA-MU
YESUSKU

E456 will know the meaning of the song. =)

Hati Hamba - Sari Simorangkir