Sunday, June 30, 2013

40 days of fasting

If it doesn't change anything, change me.
If there will still be fear in my heart, let Your love come.
Your kingdom come, Your Will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14 


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Better is one day

This 2 days has been long. like really long. Recently i have been hiding in National library to do my readings and devotion. It is just the perfect place to just read and think and mediate and look at whoever that is creating a din at almost everywhere. Im gonna study there one day after school reopens. The serenity and concentration is beyond measure.

Well, yesterday was a unique day for me. wanted to head to swee lee to ask if they need a cashier/part time worker but as i was about to head out, soup restaurant called. It has almost been a month and honestly i lost hope that they would only need weekends workers thus my application is just misplaced or thrown away somewhere in their database. Was really elated at first as i thought that was the way God will bring me out of poverty but it was not so after a while of praying and seeking God. What?! Questioning the job that came to find you? Did not God open this door for you already?

His Word came. 7 times Elijah called his servant to go out and check if there was rain. And it was not till the seventh time that a cloud that was like a fist could be seen. And there was the earthquake, fire and all other things but God was not in it. God is the still small voice that came after. I felt that He stirred my heart to help out in PTFT for 2 weeks. HMMMMMMM. I know deep in my heart there was still a fear that if God does not come through im dead. While my parents consistently bug me to find a job and not laze around which is also my desire, i know that in my heart Poverty still exists and God wants to take me out of that before seeing the rain come to past.

It was tough. Not being able to jump straight to the job that came searching for me. Today i still went for the interview at the soup restaurant. I reasoned that God did not say it was not this job but rather it was not this time that i was to accept it.

But looking back at this whole thing i came to this conclusion. I think i really hold close to what my parents say about me and in as much as i don't get impress by them, its like a trust that i place in their words and what they think even. I don't think i need their acceptance as much as i was in my secondary school days but sure enough it still affects with their everyday effort to finance this family with their time and love.

Yet having said that i know that God will continue to lead me out of this situation. My only worry is that i don't know how to face my parents and explain that i'm trusting a God who will provide in His timing.

Looking at the brighter side, i have been receiving quite a bit from my devotions. Time at NLB is just amazingly good for me. Being close to God seems to be a past time and its like spending hours with ur best friend. Some of which i feel that i don't understand or quite confuse about as it does not just concern me per say. I don't know how long more it will sustain but i do pray that i will just enjoy being in His presence everyday. I know i can because His desire to meet with me is stronger than mine. =D

God, let everything i start doing or want to do have a foundation that You are first in it and You are with me. If Your presence is not there, i hope i won't be too. Renew my mind everyday that will align my emotions to help me walk Your will in my life. Let the focus be You and i know the rest will fall in place. Be my best friend God!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

A bold step

I lost it. Ever since i went to SIM Econs and Finance i should have known. That God was a crazy God and things that does not make sense is what He wants for my life.

Today was a prayer time with the core group and it was really a time of refreshment and empowering. Lights were off and worship was just natural. Only thing was that God stirred me to do something crazy within the group. I honestly struggled and it was a time where i know the voice of God has spoken to edify and bring such a timely word in people's life. For a moment i thought i went mad. The unseen fear that gripped my heart was something i don't think i will forget. It was just uncomfortable if i don't get the voice out of my heart. One of the only times where i am so sure the word comes from God and not myself.

I understand that Jesus was crazy. I mean the things He did and how He healed blind men by spitting and touching their eyes. Its just not realistic non practical to do that. Isn't a simple prayer enough to have the same effect? Yet God says in His Word that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. I know that today marks a scar in my Christian life as i remembered loving God that much before that i wanted to just obey him and do what He tells me to do. Such obedience and simplicity. Been ages since i last experienced that. =)

God, cause such lifestyle to seek You daily be found in mine today. Let all that You desire begin to come to past as i don't stop repenting & learning from all that You wanna teach. Let me hold on to the things that will keep me close to You.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Step by Step

Today was such a awesome day. I got the chance to lead worship again and i felt that it was such a breakthrough. For the first time in my life there was no strive, no teegan, away from what people may receive or any thoughts that hindered what was in my heart.

I felt that the Holy Spirit took control and it was such a enjoyable moment to be in and to be used by God. The people responded and i just felt that it was a moment where the Presence of God came and ministered to different ones who did not went for the camp. Indeed when one is surrendered to God, it just brings such aroma and pleasing offering that is being offered to Him first, flowing to the people who are around us.

But with all that said, i know that God wants me to hold it tightly as the people will not always respond in such encouraging ways but it is something that God has placed in my heart to lead and worship with such a resolution and inspiration. Indeed it is a curse that the people of God cannot communicate with God when they believe things are able to separate them from the love of God. Such refuse and determination to speak it out and push it back, taking back all that is ours is no joke. I believe soon it will be a norm and disappointments will just set in.

So God, this is my prayer today.

Everyday of my life, renew my mind.
Let me focus on the things that are important.
Redirect my emotions
Help me to work Your works instead of relying on my feelings

This shall be something that i hold on to for this period of my life.

1 Corinthians 2:9
However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”
    the things God has prepared for those who love him

Friday, June 21, 2013

Post Church Camp 2013

Honestly, the food was okay. The people were few & it didn't started well for me. Went to the camp with a heavy yet expecten heart. But after the whole 5 days have ended, i felt that this was my best church camp i ever had.

If i could sum up everything i will put it this way. i felt that more than having answers to my solutions and directions that i want to hear from God, it will be Him changing the position that i was in before the camp had started. This position is this. Being near to God.

i certainly don't think its a coincident that i was reading Drawing Near by John Bevere that lured my heart to the heart of God. It once again reminded me that after all that we will do/serve/get hurt/disappointed with, the point of all this is to get near to Himself. What comfort it brings to the soul and mind.

Something special about this camp was that i felt God spoke during the missions service. Not that i have a specific calling or what but more of He told me "Have He not send me to Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world?" I think its really the first time in my whole Christian life that i heard this call in such a personally and genuine voice. All along i guess i can feel that God loves people so i guess i will try and see how i may love them and bring them to the knowledge of Christ but often fears and disappointments set in causing me to lose focus on what is His heartbeat is. This was not just a call but a anointing that will go with it to reach the lost.

On the more personally side, i felt that God spoke a personal voice about my life partner!! HEHEHE. It was during a weird time where worship was about to end and normally we were just ready for lunch and all that. I felt that God entrusted her to me like a gift. It struck me quite badly as the emotions and voices raged inside of me. OFten it was if i was good enough or are we really meant to be in His will but there was fear of not being good enough for her and indeed it takes 2 to clap and all that. Losing faith and leaning to my self pity, i felt it was always safer to beat yourself down and not dream about it. Ushering myself far away from all the interaction i can have with her, i felt that it was how i saw myself as a person because there are voices that constantly reminding im not good enough not just for my life partner but for what i can do for God. This was a issue i thought i have come out a little better than i was before but as God reveal bit by bit i realise He wants to continue to deal with it deep in my heart.

It was a great encouragement as i got to lead worship on 2 days of the devotion. Honestly i count myself a traitor as i removed myself from core group and went to find God in my own ways. Being able to lead again is not about if i was talented or able to but more of having the honor to do it for west zone was just mercy beyond mercy that God has granted to me. BUt the best of it all came during the last devotion where i told the people that in this camp, it was a lifestyle that we need to bring back more than answers or directions. And amazingly God used Ps Rajan to preach about a lifestyle to bring back too as we encounter trials and storms when we are back here in Singapore. God is just cool in His own ways. So assuring and comforting.

I cried badly during the camp. It was times where God was so real in my life once again. I remembered one of the services where i just felt that Who is man that He should be concern for. Moreover a disobedient one and looking at my past i certainly didn't earn it nor in any way deserve it. It was just like the first love kind of feeling and experience all over again. What more is there to ask for when He is already real in my life.

In short i just felt it was one of the most defining camp of my whole life. There are things that are addressed and it seems like i can finally leave Egypt to the promised land. Does that mean i will not fall or the future will be a breeze? i don't think so and judging how it has been in the past i feel that testings are gonna shake them so badly but i know now its all different. Something inside broke. Something inside was replaced and now i can stand in the grace of God so that i know why i try again in the future. Its just so assuring and never changing when u place your hope in a unchanging God.

So then, let church camp 2013 begin. =D


Sunday, June 16, 2013

Church Camp

Its finally here. Church camp 2013. Looking back it has been 6 years of church camp that i attended. Missed my first but even in army i was able to make it for both. God is good. lol.

Somehow i feel that i really look forward to church camp this year. It has always been a rest and recover time with my walk with God. Though there were times where i remember that i was going through a conflict in my devotion to God, it is a time where pulls you away from all that is bugging and causing you to not hear the Shepard voice in your day to day life.

Expectations for church camp 2013
1. Find out what does God has prepared for me to do in SIM. (School)
2. Know that i am near to God through some form of confirmation.
3. Calling for my life
4. Life partner directions (HAHAHAH)
5. Which ministry to serve in!

Its been so long since i expected to get something out from God. All along i guess its been what God wants to give then i will just take. This time i hope i can be more desperate, more real, more active in searching what You wanna place in my hands. It hasn't been a smooth year and looking back 6 months ago there was just no way i could reach where i am now. Let this camp be one that is defining. Let all that has been hidden and broken now become parts of Your prefect plan for my life.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Process

Is it really possible to enjoy the process more than the destination? While this is something that is greatly emphasized everywhere else, its another story when you are in the shoes of the one who is walking through it. I guess its when the tree meets the storms and only what has been built will be put to the test. Something that greatly confuse me is this: Everyday i wake up to find myself in search of a equilibrium. To put it plainly, its like a need to find myself somewhere. What happened yesterday and the rest of what that was beautifully constructed didn't seems to last or in any sense satisfy TODAY. And if not taken note of, there seems to be places where you run to place your security, finding your identity that would be the mask that can be put on through the days or sometimes even weeks.


But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:8-10

 "BECAUSE OF THE SURPASSING WORTH OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD"
  
Wow, this is something that we shared during ag and it really shook me. Not that i have received a revelation of God or anything but rather the way Paul described was totally unbelievable. To know God so intimately and treasure that encounter/knowledge/experience that all else does not matter is like hey teegan, welcome to your beginning of your christian walk. There seems to be so much that i don't know God and it just amazes and challenges me to bring it to the ground.






God, i thank You for doing such a special work in my heart. I know that through all the things that are happening, You are just drawing closer to me. More than the things that are good to hold, more than the things that are needed. You O Lord come closer and it makes the whole world of difference. Let me not draw back or in any way find a lesser place to meet with You but let me now come out and be the person that seeks Your heart more than anything else. I want a everyday Jesus more than a changed life.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Drawing Near

Recently i've been reading this book by John Bevere, Drawing Near, and its a really old book that i used to read when i was a young Christian. Passionate back then, i felt that there was just such nearness of God in my life and just being able to enjoy every part of my Walk with Him. Those were precious moments that left a scar in my life that even as i was backsliding, i felt that something precious was done in my life and its hard to deny God did a work personally.

Waiting on God is hard, seeking Him is really not something for the weak. I'm weak and my hands are feeble. In this period of my holidays, i feel that there are so much things that could be done and jobs that i really need to fund my upcoming school papers. Im really kinda broke and even struggling to give my mission pledges and all. Well as far as i am concerned, felt that God is really quiet this season. It seems like He's there but no words were exchanged. The feeling is so contradicting as its almost impossible to feel like that. Why would someone who feels that God is by his side not be able to hear His voice. Its not like God is a idol that is unable to speak or what.

But i guess that's what Trust is about? Knowing that He has a different way, different time, different purposes through seasons of my life. Still its hard and what u get from your loved ones are "What are you doing about it?" "Is that how u really wanna spend your holidays?" So much storms yet deep in my heart there seems to have a sense of peace that spending time with Him is not a waste of time.

Okay God, i really regret asking/praying about who my life partner will be. I mean i thought it will be cool that i will be able to trust you with it and more than knowing, i wanted to see it literally. Now this is really silly. Thank You for preserving me for so long before You whispered to me. But now the real deal has come and i feel that its all or nothing. In my mind i just can't come to terms why and how am i going to do this. Well after all its someone that you will be living for the rest of your life and how is it that You will confirm with me is it her after all? I'm stuck n between. Part of me wishes to just cast it aside and just be open to other relationships as i really do not know if its You speaking while other part of me just wants to trust that You really have plans to prosper me and not to harm me.

While having said all this, i know that i'm still not ready to get into a relationship. I always feel that i wanted a relationship to end this insecurity in this lonely heart. Yet Ps Foo once said this and it still rings in my head till this day. "You are lonely not because you are single, but because you don't have a living relationship with God." It makes total sense and it really keeps my  heart in check before stepping into a relationship.

I'm tired God. I need Your rest, Your peace, Your assurance again. Her blog is always so inspiring, so unreal. Like every season there is still light and running back to God was never really a problem. Yet i know that God, You have been there always protecting and loving me. I pray that each and every day, let me know You more. Don't let me place other things more important than You. Be my personal counselor i pray. Louder than any friend can speak. Continue to leave scars in my life so that i will know in different seasons You have been working through.