What are your special moments with God?
Like what Waiyin and Poh had mentioned before during Cell Group Meeting and the worship clinic, what are our special moments with God? I searched Biblegateway.com and found this verse.So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."
-Joshua 4:4-7
Wow... This generation of Israelites are the so-called "faithful" generation that entered into the promised land under the leadership of Joshua. They placed some stones as a reminder of this incident on the priest's robes and they were faithful. This incident was somewhat similar to a greater miracle that happened 1 generation earlier: The Splitting of the Red Sea.
But that generation did rebelled against God so many times in the Wilderness. The pigeon meat and the golden calf. They experienced a greater miracle as compared to the next generation but they were not faithful to God. Because they did not set up a memorial of the goodness of God who brought them out Egypt, of God who made bitter water sweet.
As I pondered upon it, truly the miracles and times when God touched us really has to be remembered. When I felt discouraged, I always 'go back' to that special moment; that landmark time. And these are my special and landmark (not exhaustable) moments:
1. When I first received Jesus into my life.
I can remember it so vividly. The speaker of that service was Pst Carl-Gustav from Sweden and he was so funny yet able to teach. I can still remember the sermon even till this day. Its about being 'More than a Conqueror" I remembered where I was sitting and who was I sitting with. I remember responding to the altar call at the end and tears were all over my face.
3. The first time I teared in service.
I remember it was the 2nd time I came for service. I was supposed not to come because of filming project that week but it rained and being the director and producer, I cancelled it. And rushed all the way to service. Can't remember the speaker totally, but I just remember during worship, we were singing "All I need is You" and tears start to flow. Wow.. Great!!!
3. The very first time I heard God's voice speaking to me.
It was at Bugis!!! At Parco, the row of ATMs near the Mrt station. Man... Its kind of funny, XianBi was withdrawing money, and that time I had very very very low self-esteem. I saw a mirror and thought within me, "Man.. I am such an ugly guy." And then out-of-nowhere, I just sensed God speaking so clearly to me. "Son, no matter how the world sees you, you are always beautiful in My eyes." Man... I cried immediately in the presence of not just God but everyone in the mall. Even now as I am typing this, just felt the love of God and tearing now. I love You God!! =)
4. The VERY FIRST time I picked up a guitar
That was at XianBi's house. It was just random and almost everything was self-taught. Play the song Heart of Worship. I also found myself making such a prayer that very night. "God, I wanna learn the guitar, but If I am not able to bring down your presence, what is the purpose of even playing at all." I cried too..
5. 'Overnight prayer meetings' at Xianbi's old house
Man.. This is hilarious! A few times.. Both Xianbi and myself, or with Kenneth or myself (Its always in-twos) have a urge and desire to pray.. In the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!! So we packed our school uniforms and took cab to the house and prayed through the night. Many goofy moments.. Like praising God with Cd? In the middle of the night, and its not just any other praise song but it was playing "Yours is the Kingdom" HAHAHA!!
6. The first time I played the guitar in cell group and the first time I saw someone cry.
Ya. Its was at Xiao Yong's place that time. And Yong Xiu can't preach at that time, so Victor was preaching. And we sang "I have come to bow down" Man.. can't forget that sight.
7. The first time I played for two cell group meetings in a day.
That day, God taught me a lesson. The same guitarist can be playing the same song. But the people's attitude towards worship is very important. I played the song, "You are the peace that guards my heart" in both cell groups. In one everyone's kneeling, crying out to God, the other just lepak all the way. I learned a valuble lesson.
8. The day I worshipped God on my Mp3 in the lift.
There was once I was listening the my Mp3 and sanctuary was playing. I lifted up my hands in the lift as usual when no one is in the lift. The presence of God was so strong, I literally ran home from the lift, and slammed the door and knelt down to worship. That was awesome!
9. The worship clinic with Poh.
Woah.. This is so so so very power-packed. Whatever I was feeling as a guitarist: unappreciated, asking questions if its worth it to serve God, Is it worth it to practice and practice and sow and sow and have blistered fingers. Poh answer all my doubts and for the FIRST time, I felt that somebody(human), understood me and what I was going through. I teared at the meeting when he was sharing and speaking. I not complaining but its just a fact la(sidetrack abit). Being a
spokesperson:
Being a guitarist is never easy.
Always having to be the first to reach cell group venue and one of the last to leave.
Always have to practice and practice before cell group day and the cell group meeting itself.
Always have to carry something so heavy to cell group.
Financially, gotta pay for the guitar, the printing of chords, replacement of strings, picks.
And, the guitarist is always the one being 'scolded' by the cell group leader after cell group meetings when something goes wrong during p&w. All the members are encouraged and edified, guitarist kena 'scolding' (Note: its 'quote-quote' scolding)
and its very easy for the guitarist to feel unloved by the cell group leaders and members.
To feel used by the cell group and please appreciate your guitarist.
Guitarists and musicians are very powerful people. During wartime in the Old Testament, God asked for a MUSICIAN(2 Kings 3:15). During deliverance, God asked for a MUSICIAN (1 sam 16-23). The biggest book in the Bible is written by MUSICIANS (Psalms).
Back to main topic. I really felt that more special moments should be present and we really must remember them. By this, we will not allow complacency to crept into our hearts and we will remain strong in God. =) Hallelujah!
