I finally finished my exams for 2006! It's officially HOLIDAYS! A break from school but a busy and funfilled time serving the LORD!
The Word of God says, those who sow in tears, will reap in joy. This isn't just talking about finances. It applies to all other areas of our lives. The year 2006 has not been an easy year. In fact, it's one of the toughest years that I've ever had. I sowed time, effort and finances but somehow, I get lots of heartaches and disappointments. Yet, through all these experiences, I do reap souls that caused me to really be filled with the JOY of God. No joy in the world beats having your friends and loved ones saved in the kingdom of God. I thank God for all these beautiful ones in the CG. I'm entering the stage of ENJOYMENT of serving the people. God is still enlarging my LOVE TANK for everyone. I love you all in W220! God has given us a dream and vision! Let's run with it together! We are a dream team! Let's spread the love of God to others!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
My dearest pillars of W220! Here's a wonderful story which inspired me to think creatively on how to share the gospel and touch the lives of people. It's a wonder story! Do take some time to read through it. I believe it will bless you, as much as it has blessed me! Let's ask God for creativity when we reach out to our friends. Believing in breakthroughs with all of you!!!
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT!
There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a
studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.
Dr.Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this
particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his
or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the
gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the
course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most
students refused to take Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was
only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary
for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an
imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school
football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk
with him.
"How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think
you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need
you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do
it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.
Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it"
Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me
explain what I have in mind."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room.
When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No,
these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG
kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited
it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an
early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson'
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT!
There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a
studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.
Dr.Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this
particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his
or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the
gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the
course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most
students refused to take Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was
only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary
for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an
imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school
football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk
with him.
"How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think
you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need
you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do
it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.
Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it"
Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me
explain what I have in mind."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room.
When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No,
these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG
kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited
it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an
early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson'
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked,
"Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Ste ve, would you do ten
push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve
again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.
Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do
you
want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten
push-ups
so Joe can have a donut?"
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first
aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut.
Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was
on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very
popular and never lacking for female companionship.
When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"
Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushu ps?"
Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve,
would
you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"
With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.
Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"
Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks,
and
these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And
he put a donut on Scott's desk. Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow
down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took
too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a
little perspiration coming out around his brow.
Dr. Christianson started down the third row.&nb sp; Now the students were
beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do
you want a donut?"
Sternly, Jenny said, "No."
Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups
so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"
Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were
beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the
desks.
Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these
pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on
the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red
because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the
class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten
pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for
all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so
Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.
Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however,
some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps
along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the
professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were
34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to
make it.
Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next.
Near
the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking
a
lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Dr Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each
one?"
Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You
are
in charge now. You can do th em any way that you want." And Dr.
Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room
and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO!
Don't come in! Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said,
"No, let him come."
Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will
have to do ten pushups for him?"
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut"
Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the
way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"
Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said,
"give me a donut."
"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"
Steve did ten pushups very slowly and wit h great effort. Jason,
bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those
visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each
push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By
this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no
sound
except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both
cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the
second
to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"
Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."
Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so
that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.
Then Dr Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want
a
donut?"
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson,
why can't I help him?"
Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it
alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that
everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When
I
decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book.
Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has
failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me
that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I
told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the
price
by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."
"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"
As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup , with the understanding
that
he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350
pushups,
his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our
Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands
I
commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything
that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those
in
this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."
Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically
exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.
"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding "Not
all
sermons are preached in words."
Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might
understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that
have
been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all,
for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept
His gift to us, the price has been paid."
"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"
Friday, June 16, 2006
Cling on to all that You say!
I've got a Word to share:
"Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls--Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
==Habakkuk 3:17-18==
I was reading YOU THE LEADER when I saw this verse and it caught me immediately. The verse says no matter what happens, be it good times or bad times, I will rejoice in the LORD.
I think a lot of things happened this past 6 months. Ups and downs in my own life and I was affected by what was happening around me and within me. Then I went through emotional ups and downs with the situations that I was in. But hey! I forgot something! I must make a decision to rejoice in the LORD!
What's important is the way I react to the problems and storms in life. And since all things work well for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose, all the more I should trust in Him to bring me through. And because of this trust, I can choose to rejoice in the LORD!
God is really a good God. Sometimes, this journey seemed to be a lonely walk. However, He never fails to assure me that He is with me, even if no one else is with me. I just got to keep walking and trusting Him in faith!
I can do all things through Chirst who strengthens me!! No weapon formed against me shall prosper!! And the gates of hell shall not prevail!!
"Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls--Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
==Habakkuk 3:17-18==
I was reading YOU THE LEADER when I saw this verse and it caught me immediately. The verse says no matter what happens, be it good times or bad times, I will rejoice in the LORD.
I think a lot of things happened this past 6 months. Ups and downs in my own life and I was affected by what was happening around me and within me. Then I went through emotional ups and downs with the situations that I was in. But hey! I forgot something! I must make a decision to rejoice in the LORD!
What's important is the way I react to the problems and storms in life. And since all things work well for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose, all the more I should trust in Him to bring me through. And because of this trust, I can choose to rejoice in the LORD!
God is really a good God. Sometimes, this journey seemed to be a lonely walk. However, He never fails to assure me that He is with me, even if no one else is with me. I just got to keep walking and trusting Him in faith!
I can do all things through Chirst who strengthens me!! No weapon formed against me shall prosper!! And the gates of hell shall not prevail!!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
When I go through rivers of difficulty, I WILL NOT drown!
Finally I found some time to blog. Actually, I have many things to do but I'm putting aside all of them because I feel I need to let it out. I'm feeling super burdened and stressed out on the inside. It's been a long time since I last feel like this. I feel that I'm breaking. I can't take a little criticism or a little hurt/disappointment now. I'm in a deep deep valley (emotionally down) and is trying hard to get myself out of it.
I don't feel good about teaching or leading my CG. Lots of work, lots of disappointments, lots of sadness because people don't understand me or respect me. Why has everything changed? Have I changed? Maybe. I don't need anything now. I just need God. Nothing else matters as long as I have God with me. I'm just gonna lift up everything into His hands and trust Him to bring me through.
"When you go through deep waters. I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." -Is 43: 2- (NLT)
I don't feel good about teaching or leading my CG. Lots of work, lots of disappointments, lots of sadness because people don't understand me or respect me. Why has everything changed? Have I changed? Maybe. I don't need anything now. I just need God. Nothing else matters as long as I have God with me. I'm just gonna lift up everything into His hands and trust Him to bring me through.
"When you go through deep waters. I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." -Is 43: 2- (NLT)
Monday, January 02, 2006
It's a Brand NEW Year!!
Happy New Year to everyone!! How was 2005 for you? Well, it had certainly been an eventful year for me. As I look back at 2005, I can't help but want to thank God for His grace and favor that has always been upon me every single day.
I remembered that my theme for 2005 is: It is a year of love. Indeed, it had been a year of love for me. Through the days, I begin to know how much I love Him, how much I love some of my friends, how much I love my cg members, how much I love teaching and also how much I love my kids in school.
I believe most people are waiting for me to share about my China trip. Well, there really wasn't much fun things that we did over there, but it did really cause me to realise that I love kids a lot. The highlight of my trip is really the joy of having these kids around with me. There's just this instinct of wanting to love them and care for them. I shall not touch on the details because they are all written in my heart that I'll remember forever. But I do miss them a lot after I came back from China.
Alright! Since it's a brand new year, I shall not talk too much about the past. I'm going to focus myself in seeking the Lord this whole week to get directions for 2006. I'll share more when I come to a conclusion. What will be the theme of this year? I'm excited to know it as well. As pastor was sharing in service today, I was so excited every time he mentioned that this is going to be the BEST YEAR YET! Somehow, my heart leapt with joy when I heard that. I truly believe it's gonna be the best year yet! I'd had a great 2005 but 2006 is gonna be greater! The path of the righteous shines ever brighter!! From glory to glory!!!
I remembered that my theme for 2005 is: It is a year of love. Indeed, it had been a year of love for me. Through the days, I begin to know how much I love Him, how much I love some of my friends, how much I love my cg members, how much I love teaching and also how much I love my kids in school.
I believe most people are waiting for me to share about my China trip. Well, there really wasn't much fun things that we did over there, but it did really cause me to realise that I love kids a lot. The highlight of my trip is really the joy of having these kids around with me. There's just this instinct of wanting to love them and care for them. I shall not touch on the details because they are all written in my heart that I'll remember forever. But I do miss them a lot after I came back from China.
Alright! Since it's a brand new year, I shall not talk too much about the past. I'm going to focus myself in seeking the Lord this whole week to get directions for 2006. I'll share more when I come to a conclusion. What will be the theme of this year? I'm excited to know it as well. As pastor was sharing in service today, I was so excited every time he mentioned that this is going to be the BEST YEAR YET! Somehow, my heart leapt with joy when I heard that. I truly believe it's gonna be the best year yet! I'd had a great 2005 but 2006 is gonna be greater! The path of the righteous shines ever brighter!! From glory to glory!!!
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