Giving :)

How's fourth week of school everyone?

i hope you're doing well. :)

wanted to share this with all of you earlier, but had to really take time and find Bible verses.

i did not have to, as coincidentally my quiet time for yesterday was about what i wanted to share too. :)

have you ever dreamt to be rich, to own everything in this world? maybe not that big of a dream, but dream to make more money day by day, praying that the stock market would go up and make millions on that day too?

i had dreamt to own a bungalow, and praying hard that i would marry a rich husband, as i would not need to work.

foolishness back then.

*1 Timothy 6 : 6-10

*People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. (verse 9)

as i grew, parents thought me to set aside $$ to be given away after we receive our red packets during CNY.

and that's what i wouldn't mind doing, after all, think about it : you and i are so blessed to be able to read this out on a computer screen, have a roof to live under, etc etc.

compare the condition of us and the people suffering in Haiti.

don't you want to be a blessing to them?

and what about the people living in poverty in India and many other parts of the world?

i suggest the most appropriate way : giving.

you can give to missions like Barnabas Aid or Malaysian Care or if your church practice this, then join! (there are many. just mentioning few. it doesn't have to be that.)

maybe when you grow up later, you might want to consider missions work? ;)

He also says this in His Word :

2 Corinthians 9:7

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Acts 20 : 35 b

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

so, let's make a difference for Him.

be a blessing to others as you're blessed.

CNY is in 3 weeks. share what you've received.

remember : you can never take whatever you have right now to the grave!

Life is not measured by how much we own. (Luke 12 : 15)

have a great week at school! :)

God bless.

Love,

Kit May.

Loss

Recent events happening in Haiti have sparked a global cause. Help is being sent, donations are flowing in from every corner of the earth, all for an area that has suffered loss. I don't know about you, but I think its beautiful.

Sometimes (in fact, most of the time) these things happen, and we constantly question our God, "If You, O Lord, are so gracious, why do You allow all these things to happen?"

I have been asking God that same question too. A certain friend of mine had recently suffered a crushing loss of her sister, in an accident right outside my taman. Why, God?

Although I didn't know her sister, nor was very close to that friend, I felt the impact of the loss, too. Just a few hours before her death, a friend of mine had told me in tuition that she had gotten involved in an accident, and her sister was in a critical condition. I didn't think much of it; brushed it off and continued with my tuition.

What would have happened if i prayed? Would things have changed?

Did she die in vain?

The answer is no. Through her death, the next morning's prayer meeting was the most spiritual one so far. People who had never prayed out loud, cried out to God in sorrow and anguish. Even people who weren't directly involved broke down in tears. "Our God...is too awesome," thats what kept on flashing in my mind. "Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love." - Lamentations 3:32

God takes loss and turns it into something beautiful. As for me, I've learned to be alert, spiritually, never neglecting even a small prompting to pray. We never know when or what that minute prayer can do.

This morning, my alarm woke me up at 8am. I ignored it and hit the snooze button, which caused the alarm to sound 9 minutes later. When I woke up, I realized, how many people have died in those 9 minutes? What prayer could have been done to help them? For our God listens to each one of us; He stays close to us, waiting for us to turn to Him. Before the day of the accident, Daniel and I were praying for an increase in the spirituality of the CF members. God answered that prayer, albeit not in a way we would have desired.

Lets pray. But lets also remember, as my pastor had preached about a few weeks back, that with blessings and gifts come responsibility. The more we are given, the more we are expected to work. So if anyone were to put you down by saying prayer is futile/hypocritical, perfect your faith through works as Paul had commanded.

As for the people in Haiti, God has spread a worldwide lesson, and many have learned from it. We always have a second chance, whether we appreciate it or not. Lets turn back to our God...forever giving thanks that He is gracious and faithful and loving and caring and patient and good.

All these things are only for a little while.

Gospel Growth Fellowship

There will be several upcoming events held by an organisation known as Gospel Growth Fellowship (GGF) which are definitely worth your time and money, especially if you're one of those who are eager to learn more about what God has to say to us through His word.

Here's some of it:

Word Works

Learning to read the Bible better.

April 30 - May 1, 2010

Mark

Sept 10-11, 2010

Isaiah

Info:

Alveen @ 012-213 5957

David @ 017-235 6503

wordworks@gospelgrowth.com.my

Creation to Consummation

Unlocking Christ's wisdom for His church. A biblical-theological day conference for the city, in the city.

June 23-26, 2010

The Temple & God-pleasing Worship

Speaker: David Peterson

Venue: Luther Centre, Jln Utara, PJ

Info:

Shirley @ 017-385 2319

ctc@gospelgrowth.com.my

Thinking Theologically Conference 2010

Thinking theologically, ministering faithfully.

Nov 4-6, 2010

The Bible and God's Word

Info:

Jeremy @ 012-294 1116

ttc@gospelgrowth.com.my

So what are you still waiting for? Start using those persuasion skills to pester you mom and dad to take you there, or beg them for money and go on your own if you're capable! This will definitely be something you will never regret attending, trust me. (^_^)

Disclaimer: I am not to be held responsible if you decide to cabut to the conference without telling your parents, especially if you are below 18 years of age. Please do share this with your parents if you really want to go and pray about it. Ultimately, the Bible still asks us to obey our parents!

2 Corinthians 1:1-12

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 

8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
 

12Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.

Paul wrote this letter with the help of Timothy to the church in Corinth, between 55 - 57 AD, addressing the troubled Corinthian Christians. 

He starts off in verse 3 by reminding the church about the qualities of the God that they had put their trust in: 'Father of mercies and God of all comfort'. Paul further explains how that through this God, they are are empowered to comfort others.

Paul also speaks about how the church suffers because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they are also comforted by the same Gospel, giving much assurance to the afflicted church in Corinth because in persecution and in comfort, it is all for their consolation and salvation.

Paul tells the church about how he and Timothy could find assurance even in the midst of persecution because in verse 9 we see that it is because they 'should not trust in (themselves) but in God who raises the dead, who delivered (them) from so great a death, and does deliver (them); in whom (they) trust that He will still deliver (them)...'. Paul also brings this idea up again when he writes to the church in Rome, as we see in Romans 8:18, where he asks them to 'consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us'. 

The reason this glory is something all Christians, in the past, present and future can subscribe to, is because of what Jesus Christ has done on the cross. In His obedience to the Father's will to the point of dying on the cross, Jesus is now 'exalted to the highest place and given the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father' (Phil 2:8-11). How more glorious can you get than that?

Paul also then thanks the Corinthian church for remembering him and Timothy in their prayers so that others may give thanks to God for Paul and Timothy's work. He follows that by reminding the church of their boast in Christ: that they have been a testimony in the World not by worldly wisdom, but by God's grace.

In the light of recent events where the churches all around Malaysia have begun to feel a sense of persecution, this passage provides us with comfort and encouragement. We can take comfort in the fact that the God that we have surrendered our life to remains the 'Father of mercies and God of all comfort', even in such unsure and dangerous days.

Yet at the same time, Paul reminds us that the church of Christ will never be free from persecution because of the Gospel we preach. Jesus also spoke of this as recorded for us in the book of Matthew 10:22.

In spite of all these trials and tribulations promised to us, by looking towards the glory we will find in Jesus Christ when we meet Him face to face, we can find this burden in a temporary world much easier to bear.

As the church in Corinth prayed for Paul and Timothy while under persecution, we should also follow that example and pray, not only for our fellow Christians all around Malaysia, but also for the ability to love our persecutors, and not hate them.

Our nation

Shalom, brothers and sisters in Christ :)

As many of you know, our nation is suffering from many trials and troubles. But as my pastor said today, in James 1:2,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

We say we follow Jesus. We say we believe in Him. Now is the time to show God's grace in us, when things seem meek, that we rise above all things to glorify God within us.

Often we ask God to charge us with jobs or work, for us to be able to glorify Him. He has shown and given us this amazing opportunity. Let's not disappoint our God by being vengeful or hateful.

God is making a change; He is working. Look around us! New things are happening day by day, continuously proving that our God is mighty and our God is real. Lets pray for the Spirit to open our eyes and our hearts, to be able to see what God sees...to understand that His ways are incomprehensible.

What we see is only a speck of what God has in His plan, but I'm sure you all know that already. Now, are we willing to take that giant leap of faith, accepting things we do not understand and letting our God guide us in the darkness?

Acting for Him does not always mean you always have to be busy or doing things. We can spend time with Him whenever, and idleness could also be a trial to some. Let's not lose hope nor let our confidence in our Lord dwindle. Lets continuously be joyful, knowing that through EVERYTHING, our Savior is that same, unchanging, faithful Savior that died for us on the cross over two thousand years ago, and He is still with us, even to the end of the age.

Malaysia is wonderful. Praise God for blessing such a nation. Lets look into ourselves and start considering what we can do for the nation God has given to us.

Do you believe that if it is in God's will, that it will be possible? Yes? Good.

Joshua 10:8 says

The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you."

We have the potential to do great things. To conquer corruption. To destroy racism. Make Malaysia a better place. It's God's will. Lets pray for wisdom, for God will not withhold it from those who ask from Him. Then, lets act.

Peel your eyes on this.

People, I just have to say this to you guys, because I learnt a great lesson today and I don't want you guys to miss out on it. :)


All this talk about the word "Allah" not being used by Christians, and the arsons that has happened, the protests that had came and gone...

Let it behind. Leave it be. It's always easier said and done, true. But yet.

No one said it was impossible.









So some people got angry and messed this all up cause we used the word "Allah".














Guys. (girls too.)































Get a grip.


We're Christians. Let this not anger us. Instead, take this as an opportunity to show love to others. How often do we get the chance to forgive others when they did something REALLY bad that hurt us?


A church got burned down. People were hurt, some killed.

I didn't say its not wrong. But we are Christians. We are different. Are we not?




Stand up for your faith, but don't confuse faith in materialism with the faith in God almighty.


They can destroy churches.

Faith, that they cannot even touch.

Let not our faith be shown and spoken through what we have on earth, but what we have in our God. Take this time, stand for the God you believe in, but do not make a fuss about this. The whole world is watching. (mostly)
We are being watched, Christians worldwide, and in this case, nationwide.
It is not when things are normal where our faith is measured.


Its times like these, in trial and affliction where our faith is put to the test and shown.

Love your enemies. God will do the rest. While the world watches, we do what God wants us to do. You know, I have a feeling God doesn't want us to retaliate. :)





From the one who fears not what man can do but what God WILL DO,






P.

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the Government would not hesitate to use any means necessary, including the Internal Security Act, on anyone who threatens the security of the country.

He also ensured the safety of everyone in Malaysia, including the minorities.

Hishammuddin also said that the Inspector-General of Police has confirmed that three churches have been attacked.

“We have also received a report that a church has been threatened. The police will monitor all churches in the country,” he said.

Fire and Rescue Department personnel at the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati on Friday.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan earlier said police were investigating three cases of arson at churches in the Klang Valley early Friday morning.

The three churches were the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati, the Assumption Church in Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya, and the Life Chapel Church in Section 17, also in Petaling Jaya.

"Police personnel would also patrol churches throughout the country, especially in the Klang Valley, to prevent any untoward incidents," he added on Friday.

Police officers conducting investigations at the Life Chapel Church in Section 17, PJ on Friday.

Musa also reiterated his stern warning to anyone planning to stage protest rallies Friday against the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims.

"We will not hesitate to take stern action against them," he told The Star.

Wong Sai Weng, spokesman for the Life Chapel church in Section 17 here, said, "We found a molotov cocktail at the porch at 8.30am.

"We see this as attempted arson, and have lodged a police report," he said.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin is among the public figures, who visited the Tabernacle Church on Friday.

Police officers collecting evidence at the Assumption Church in PJ on Friday.

At 12.30am Friday, the Metro Tabernacle Church was damaged after a group of youths threw flammable materials into the ground floor of the church located in a shoplot.

No one was injured in the incident as the church was empty at that time.

It was believed the incident happened after a group of youths on motorcycles rode up to the church, smashed the glass panels on the ground floor of the three-storey building and later threw some materials into the building that started a fire.

Church lay leader Peter Yeow, 62, said witnesses were not near enough to get a closer look at the youths who sped away after the act.

The witnesses then called the police as well as the Fire and Rescue Department, which arrived within minutes and doused the fire.

City CID chief SAC II Datuk Ku Chin Wah confirmed the incident.

Parishioners helping to salvage computer equipment from the Metro Tabernacle Church on Friday.

It is believed that a molotov cocktail was thrown into the church.

SAC Ku said the police were investigating the incident from all angles.

Kuala Lumpur police Chief Datuk Mohamad Sabtu Osman told The Associated Press that a witness saw four people on two motorcycles breaking the glass front of the church and throwing an incendiary object inside before fleeing.

He said police found a wrench, an empty gasoline can and two scorched motorcycle helmets at the scene. The church occupies a corner plot in a row of shops in Desa Melawati, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur.

"We are still investigating," he said. He also urged Muslims not to participate in the planned protests, AP reported.

Pray

Please pray for malaysian churches as Life Chapel is being surrounded by protesters for the use of alah

A Text Without a Context is a Pretext!

I was given this article to read by my father, and I thought it would be a strong reminder not just to all of us posting here on this blog, but also to all Christians out there who are eager in sharing God's Word. The responsibility we hold in spreading God's word accurately is great.

"The other day, Angie and I happened to tune in to one of America’s most popular preachers. I’m usually careful not to jump to judgment when it comes to another man’s message. I know the pressure placed on pastors to invent and deliver the perfect message, but I could not help but become a little upset about the blatant misuse of Scripture.

The speaker quoted Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” In context, this verse refers to the spiritual ignorance of people who assume they can worship God and other gods at the same time with no contradiction. This preacher, however, applied the verse to eating healthier. His explanation was that because we are ignorant of the content of food today, we are physically being destroyed. His more specific application had something to do with cold cuts, hot dogs, and other processed meats.

Granted, I need to eat healthier, but is it okay to take verses and apply them in the way they sound rather than in the way they were intended? It reminded me of the old saying that “a text without a context is a pretext.” I have no problem with preaching a fresh and relevant Bible-based message about eating healthy, but there are much better texts to be used.

Another popular preacher chooses verses from translations to make applications not according to the literal meaning of the verse, but according to which translation makes his point best. I promise, I try not to be picky. I can get along with preachers from a variety of perspectives, but I’m offended when God’s book becomes our little box from which we draw a word of encouragement for each day. When we handle Scripture in this way, we miss the truth of it.

Great men have endured great persecution to defend a literal, historical-grammatical interpretive approach to Scriptures. That is, we ought to interpret Scriptures according to the historical context and the grammatical meaning rather than simply the context of our modern felt need. Paul admonished young Timothy to be very careful to “rightly divide the word of truth.”

As a surgeon with a delicate procedure, so preachers must approach every sermon as though eternal life depended on it for some lost soul. It is a grave offense to utilize Scripture in a haphazard way. We must handle the word of life carefully. God wants to speak to us today through His word, which is always fresh and always relevant, but we need not help Him out in the task of making it more relevant than it already is."

Reference

Cox, B., (2006). A Text Without a Context is a Pretext! Retrieved 5 January 2010 from the World Wide Web with permission: http://www.brandonacox.com/2006/08/22/a-text-without-a-context-is-a-pretext/

Form Three! What to do?

Firstly, I wish to apologise to everyone for submitting my post at such a late time; about a month after this blog was created. Thanks to Dylan for adding me as an author to this blog, I greatly appreaciate it, thank you so much.

Also, on an early note, pardon me for any grammar mistakes I might make later. :)

To start things off, I want to add that, I'm not a Christian. But, this much is true, I believe in God, have believed ever since I went to Sunday Church School. Many people have asked me why I refused to accept Christ, even when I told them I believed in God and Jesus Christ. It's not that I refuse to accept Christianity as my religion, but I reckon everyone has the right to make these important decisions when they're older, when everything is not based on trying to mimick other friends' cultures as our own. A certain NSCFL camper has given me some useful advice regarding my opinion, and her words will always be remembered in my mind when I make the most significant decisions in my life later on.

So this is me expressing my opinions, mainly directed to tweens my age. And I'm sure everyone was or will be a Form Three student, or what my friends like to call 'The Year of Hell'. Who wouldn't be scared? I'm terrified, because I'm worried I wouldn't be able to exceed everyone's expectations. Through everyone's eyes, I'm the top student who would be most likely to score straight As in any exam. The peer pressure of wanting to get excellent results in PMR is enough to bring down my whole house.

I know, it's only the first day of school and I'm starting to gripe like a know-it-all, but I can imagine the difficult path already laid out in front of me. School, tuition, books, and more tuition. And I also know most seniors would say PMR is a piece of cake, which I get as rebukes very often, but the P to the M to the R feels like this huge time bomb that would drop on me if I don't succeed well enough. Typical me might be bent over books and notes studying all night and day like a crazed kid that would think the world is going to end if I don't get straight As.

But I still feel that way, only less now that I realise getting straight As in PMR, or any public exam at all isn't the main goal in life. Everything is in God's hands, His decisions to make, and whatever he decides, I won't try to disobey. Of course, I will still feel like an epic failure if I fail, but at least I still know that God is watching, and still loves me as of how I love Him as well.

In the end, it all comes down to God's love for all, whether you get 8As or 1A or none at all. We're still equal human beings. Acing an exam doesn't give us a crown or halo to glorify our success.

So, fellow Form Three students out there, let's not get too pressurised over this PMR, kay? The world doesn't revolve around it, and neither should our lives. Even though school life is about exams all the time.

God Bless, everyone, and have a happy new year. <3