Showing posts with label christianity. Show all posts

Sunday Sermon Takeaway - The Servant King

The weather is pretty good here today in London, in fact the weather has been pretty amazing this whole week that i had off for my easter break from uni. It's a pity i spent most of it cooped up in my room revising and writing essays =( But hey, at least i am enjoying the sun through my bedroom window =P (sounds sad i know) less than 3 weeks to finals and i am one week behind my original revision schedule! *gasp! stress stress stress* 

We looked at John 21:1-14 today, where Jesus appeared to his disciples the 3rd time after He was raised from the dead. Even after His death and resurrection, He is still the servant Lord. He prepared breakfast for His disciples! And He asked us to do the same (serve others! More than just preparing breakfast).
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

He is also the provider of everything we need, not only physical needs but also our spiritual needs.  We only need to ask.
5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
I realised these past 6 years the Lord has been really really good to me. I have been truly blessed. I need to repent. I am the type who always stress about the future, always wanting to plan the future even though I know I am not in control of anything that may happen in my life. I am always living for the future, not in the moment. No matter how many times God has proved to me that He is in charge and there is no need to worry about life, I still stress myself out. Silly me.

My paternal grandmother is currently being hospitalised and is very ill. I have an uneasy feeling about the whole situation. I am only returning home this summer in August. I do not know if i will see her again - in this world that is. But I must have faith that I WILL see her again in the new creation. All i can do for her now is pray for God to relieve her of her physical sufferings and God's peace and love be with her. =(
christianity

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Has been kind of missing home lately. Woke up this morning and had a realisation that actually, it is pretty amazing how I have managed to survive by myself these years only seeing my family once a year during summer and only then for a month. Even during those 4 weeks, i spend most of it with my parents and grandparents. I barely spend a few days with my siblings cause they are usually not home. Everyone's just too busy =(

Something about the smell of the air tonight reminds me of those nights when i would sit at the balcony at my grandparent's after dinner and just enjoy the night view high up from the apartment. I used to stay with my grandparents every weekend when i was kid. My grandparents stays on the 5th floor of an apartment building, but in my hometown, there aren't many tall buildings around so from the balcony, you can catch a glimpse of the blue sea at the horizon. However, as time passes by, developers began to build taller buildings around the area. Last summer when i visited them, i can no longer see the sea from the balcony =( As a kid, i like staring at the passing cars and people walking down below, observing them and gets really excited when i see my mum's car coming around the corner.

I miss home. I miss my grandparents.
christianity

Sunday Sermon Takeaway 15.3.15

When is it time for God then, if not now?

Picture taken at the Acropolis of Athens during summer '13



Santorini sunset, Greece '13
christianity

Continual Repentance - by The Valley of Vision

O God of Grace,
Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,  
and has imputed his righteousness to my soul,    
clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe,    
deking me with jewels of holiness.

 But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
my best prayers are stained with sin;
my penitential tears are so much impurity;    
my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;    
my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.

 I need to repent of my repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,    
no loom to weave my own righteousness;
I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,    
and by grace am always receiving change of raiment,    
for thou dost always justify the ungodly;

I am always going into the far country,    
and always returning home as a prodigal,    
always saying, Father, forgive me,    
and thou art always bringing forth the best robe.
Every morning let me wear it,    
every evening return in it,    
go out to the day’s work in it,    
be married in it,    
be wound in death in it,    
stand before the great white throne in it,    
enter heaven in it shining as the sun.

Grant me never to lose sight of    
the exceeding sinfulness of sin,    
the exceeding righteousness of salvation,    
the exceeding glory of Christ,    
the exceeding beauty of holiness,   
the exceeding wonder of grace
christianity

First Post in Forever! - Lent Day 6


I can't believe it has been 4 years since I last share a post on this blog! Time really does fly. One more year until I graduate! I recently told my younger brother that I hate growing up, I wish I can stay carefree forever; but the truth is, I just celebrated my 24th birthday. What a joke.

Since the start of Lent 2015 last Wednesday, I have been following daily reflections plan for lent on www.shereadstruth.com
Coming on to the 6th day, I realised how this daily reflection is giving me what I really need now in my life - a daily dose of truth. Ever since summer last year, I have been really slacking off in terms of reading the bible and praying. I cannot seem to find any interest in life anymore - every morning I wake up feeling like I just want to stay in bed the whole day and not do anything. I no longer find joy in things that I do or energy to do anything. It is just so sad. If  I have to be honest, I would say I probably have mild depression.

Today's reflection made me realised I am indeed in my desert days. When Jesus was tempted in the desert, He overcame by holding firm unto God's words. As the author said: "The enemy has nothing of worth to offer a soul filled with the truth of God's words. The word of God has the same power in your wilderness. Come close and fast with Jesus, cling to Him and His cross when the Tempter tries to steal your true identity."  How true indeed! In this time of emptiness, I should fill myself with the truth of the living word so I may grow closer to God. This shall be my journey this lent =) It may be tough and I may feel like giving up sometimes but the Lord is with me, and the Holy Spirit shall guide me.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, I have had an amazing experience the friday before last when I led praise and worship before bible study. Something truly horrible happened that afternoon, and I was emotionally very unstable. I was dubious of whether i am really qualified to lead worship under that spiritual state. I was late for the band practice and things did not go smoothly during the practice as well. At that time I was thinking:" Oh God, I felt so unprepared, this will turn out horribly wrong and I apologise in advance," However, right before the session started, I said a word of prayer and the Holy Spirit prompt me to leave all my worries behind and to just focus on God. Surprisingly, I felt like the session went smoothly and i was able to focus on praising the Lord instead of worrying about how everything will turn out. I experienced first hand on that day that it was never about how prepared i am or how good i am, but it is all about letting God take control and letting the Holy Spirit lead me. No matter in terms of worship or living my life.  =)
christianity
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