Yup, I believe you know what I mean by the subject. You're gonna be filled with lots of joy that can be found in the most exciting place; the cell group. And I love this cell group of mine, we are called the A2J (Addicted 2 Jesus). In this group, we just have the great group of people, most exciting and fun filled people, people who love God, and are passionate about His work, and enjoying each others' presence.
I believe that's what you'll find when you can attach yourself to a group, of vibrant and lively people. They are the people that will just bring out the life in you!
I have not been updating the blog for a long time, but I just want to tell my cell group that I love them. And being a part of this group certainly has been exciting and thrilling. We've shared many moments together, in good and difficult times, just exploring together the facets of life here in Penang.
Oh God, I pray that you will continue to bring the most out from the cell groups, that would glorify Your name and praise You high. Thank You for Your wonderful gift we call friends. In Jesus' name, Amen!
And he said, “I will redeem it.”
5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.”
6 And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
- You can walk assured that Jesus loves us, forever and ever! You don't need to strive to receive His acceptance, He is love! The commandment here is to stay with Him, to walk in His love. His grace is always enough.
- You cannot bear fruit without Him. He is the source of life, and everything. The law existed to help us see the need for God, and knowing that we cannot be perfect on our own, we need Him, to abide in Him.
Let's go deeper into Jeremiah:
Chapter 19, God illustrates that He will not tolerate the unfaithfulness of Israel. He gives a very clear sign to show the children of Israel: using earthen vessels. We learnt from chapter 18 about the molding of God of the nation to His desired shape, but here in chapter 19, these are pots where they have gone through the fire, and cannot be molded again. Try burning them - you won't be able to melt them or change their form. The only way is to destroy by breaking them, because the clay is hardened and no one can change the way it is any longer. God said to Jeremiah, in verse 10 and 11 of chapter 19: "Then you shall break the flask in the sight of the men who go with you, and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Even so I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot be made whole again..."
You know, it's a scary thing to not be able to change, and I mean in heart and mind. We can be so fixed on programs and the inclinations of our heart that we no longer leave room for the Holy Spirit to shape us any longer. We can go through the motion of doing church or ministry but never allowed the Holy Spirit to impact us to be more dynamic. We become like earthen vessels, those that have already been made complete products, and cannot be shaped again.
We learnt about God's pruning, but again, if we harden our hearts, in John 15, verse 2, the prefix before the branches He desires to prune, He said "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away". What an awful thing! Lord, I don't ever want to be separated from You, because You are the source of everything.
In referencing to Ezekiel 36, in this passage, God states His heart for the children of Israel. He says from verse 22 to 32, “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. Not for your sake do I do this,” says the Lord GOD, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!”
Don't we all need that? That if our hearts are hardened, we need to repent and seek God to give us a heart of flesh once again, so that, like Jeremiah 18, we can be shaped and molded, into the shape God would want us to be.
Father, help us to remain tender before You. Never let us be hardened, but always mold us and shape us to be the people You would want us to be. In Jesus' name, Amen!
My dear Josephine...my co-worker in ministry, serving along-side me in the cell administration, is finally married. I just couldn't believe it. As I played on the music team for her wedding reception last Saturday, and seeing her walk in with her dad, entering with such grace, to be given away to a fine man, Gerald, made me realize that my dear sister is going to be wedded to a union of love, where 2 will become 1.
The subject doesn't mean that she's gone through many unsuccessful tries in relationships, it's just that I find it so hard to believe she's no longer single. All these years of growing together, serving the Lord together, of good times and hard times, are so dearly cherished. I mean, like change, I just didn't expect the change to be so drastic.
But I am glad for her, immensely. She's found a really great man, full of grace and wisdom, a very charming man. He's blessed to have her too.
All these things brought about my own sense of passing time. Every passing moment only tells me more about the changing realities of what's occuring around. I cannot take things for granted, no, not once. I have to learn to appreciate everything around me.
Dear Jo, I'm so happy for you. You found a treasure, and that treasure is yours to keep. God is good, amen? May all your days be greatly blessed, and as you begin your new chapter, may you always remember that your brother here is always praying for you.
Take good care, and have a wonderful journey called marriage!
Jan 20, 2006 - The day that A2J cell group multiplied to 2 different cell groups. It was awesome, I had a great time during the service. It was sad though that some of the members could not make because they had other things to do and other places to be. But it was certainly a meeting to remember.
Pastor Sam came and commissioned the groups to their new tasks and territory. Prior to the commissioning, he shared about the call to leadership, and the Scripture passage is taken from Joshua 1:1-9. 3 things to note:
a) God's unchanging promise - His promise stays forever, just as He gave the promise to Moses, likewise, is His promise to Joshua.
b) God's unchanging presence - God promised to be with Joshua whereever he goes. That is God's assurance, even after Moses.
c) God's unchanging precepts - God's Word endures forever. He says to meditate on it day and night, that you maybe prosperous (vv 8).
It was nice viewing the pictures of the good memories of the cell group. Always nice to reminisce the wonderful seasons.
It's nice when cell groups multiply. In EPCC, the vision of the church is to evangelize the community through cell multiplication and cell planting efforts. We are, fulfilling the vision of the church.
May both groups grow to the fullest potential as God as designed them to be. May God's favour rest on both groups.
It is very scary to know that with great power, comes great responsibility (a quote made famous by the Spiderman comics). Because responsibility comes with a great price to pay, sometimes requiring certain sacrifices.
We all walk life with various needs and problems. Many circumstances takes with it various consequences, and many have risen and fallen in the leadership ranks trying to lead the needs through. We all have to take active role deciding where our alligiance lies, and sometimes coming forward to take the lead to meet our neighbouring needs.
After all, this year is the year of Covenant for EPCC. It calls for challenge to risk it even more, by dying to self and trusting God. Where covenants are made, there is place to give up something, and relying on Someone greater...
I suppose with the responsibility, one needs to administer wisdom. It speaks about the duty to lead or drive for fulfillment in the best possible manner. Because without wisdom, the one responsible would not consider the impact it brings on it's circle of influence.
I have been thinking about the fact that since we assume the various responsibilities in church, with all the people going together in leadership, we must always think about the value that we bring to the "larger community". Because being in leadership calls for responses that bring out the best in others. The Scriptures emphasizes on the need to place priority to others, thinking for the better of others.
Why is there a such an expectation on leadership? Because leadership is about taking the lead, leading a path for others to trail behind. An effective leader is one who knows where he/she is going, and is willing to bring others to where he/she is going.
Responsibility requires wisdom. It calls for us to apply the wisdom to lead others to the Lord, closer to His heart. Only His wisdom can show us what we should do in interest of the others.
God, we need Your wisdom to lead us, so that we in turn can lead others. Above that, Lord, may we be servants that display Your heart in ministry. We ask Lord that we will continue to walk in truth and love, and believe that as we carry this responsibility, we will always shine for You. In Jesus' name, Amen!
The cell had a pretty interesting study (at least, from what I think), because we were focusing on missions this quarter. I guess on the cell group category, this is the least updated category, not because it's unexciting or dull, but because it's got many twists to them. But I assure you, the cell is a great place, and if you don't belong to one, you should.
We spoke on the subject titled "Concentric-circle outreach", a subject that focuses on a rippling effect of mission toward our circle of contact. Many people have a greater tendancy to be ethnocentric, which means one that exalts one's own race, culture, language, people group superior than others.
Jesus said in Acts 1:8, that "you shall receive power when the Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth." Now the circle we talk about is the current boundaries we are setting in the relational contact points. For instance, those that are closest to us are categorized as our Jerusalem. Because they are those who have daily contact (or almost daily) with us, those whom we're close with, those that we rub shoulders with often. Oh, before we can understand that, Jesus referred to Jerusalem as the central point of where Jews (or rather, His disciples) were heading out from. So, geographically, looking at where Jerusalem is situated, one is to reach those who are just outside of your gate. Judea is a region south of Jerusalem (just extending out), while Samaria is further out, of whom, the Jews considered outcasts for the mixed people group (Jews who intermarried with Gentiles, and the generations that follow). So, Jesus is asking us to be His witnesses to these places and people groups.
Sometimes we struggle on the fact that we are called to share God's love for the peoples, because God is asking us to reach those who are deemed unfit/undeserving to receive His mercy and grace. Just like the previous study about God's attack on racism, I truly believe that we must find in the Father heart of God to love the unloved, reach the unreached, have compassion on those who have none, and release love for those who hate. God loves all peoples, and His plan for mankind is that all be saved, and that none perish.
It is certainly not easy, but we can take action on what we learnt:
1. Reach our Jerusalem daily - to share in practical ways daily, to those whom we have constant contact, telling them or sharing with them the Father's love.
2. Contact your Judea weekly or fortnightly - go a little further, visit friends from another side of town where you don't meet very often, have dinners, and find opportunities to share the Gospel.
3. Connect with Samaria, perhaps quarterly - find the hospitals, homeless, or the institutionalized people, the home of the aged to share the Gospel of His love. They are also loved by God...
4. Evangelize the ends of the earth, plan yearly - this is where you plan your far away missions, go to places you have never met the people before, reach the people group you have never seen before, and etc. It's good to go for trips like these to see the diversity of cultures and to introduce the Good News to them.
God looks over the earth, and loves all peoples. We can't afford to focus only on our group (though they are important), but also look further. For the fields are white unto harvest...
It was a good lesson, I enjoyed learning from it.
From San Jose, California...
Hello Everyone,Greetings in Jesus’ name! Hope that this email finds you all well and in good hands.
I just wanted to share a little more about my trip so far. Today is day 2 in San Jose. Yesterday, I arrived in the San Jose international airport at 1pm sharp, and was warmly greeted by 2 of my close friends. Both of them have been to Penang a couple of times. Some of you may have even met them, one of the is John, whom some of you may have met the last time I brought him to EPCC. The other friend was an Indian guy, he doesn’t go to churches.Having come so far, it was lovely to see San Jose. This is a beautiful place. The time difference between us is 15 hours apart. We used to be only 12 hours apart when I was in Florida, now it’s even longer. Your 10am is my 7pm the day before. Well, I adjusted pretty well, I guess I was really tired, that almost the entire journey from Tampa Bay to Los Angeles, I was sleeping. Even the brief trip from LA to San Jose of 1 hour, I managed to sleep for about 20 mins.
Prior to my flight, I had the most heart wrenching experience. As you know, my flight from Tampa Bay was 7am. I had set the alarm clock at 3.30am, called the cab guy to pick me at 4.15am, and you know what? I totally overslept. I woke up at 4.45am, and man, did I rush the fastest I could. I almost thought that I was gonna miss my flight. I prayed that God will help me, by not missing my flight.First thing I did was to call the front desk to see if the cab was around. They said no, I called the cab service again, to quickly send a cab over to save me. I quickly took my shower, combed my hair, pack up the final stuff, and quickly went down. By the time I was down, I still didn’t see the taxi guy. I was getting worried. Nonetheless, I needed to trust God. About 3 mins later, the taxi came. I asked him, “How long would you need to get to the TPA International Airport?”. He said, 20 mins. I said, let’s go. In the taxi, all I could possibly think about is my flight. I thought, 5.15, should be ok still. Arrived about 5.20, and man, was I thankful. Was so glad that the traffic was clear. But when I got to the airport, my heart sank, such a long line…All I could do was to patiently wait. Got mine processed close to 6am. Needed to walk to another terminal, took the airbus (shuttle) to get to mine. Then, had security check. I looked at the line, my goodness, I really almost thought that I was gonna miss my flight. When I came to the officer, she looked at my ticket, and thank God, she brought me to the express line. I quickly got mine processed, screened through my stuff, and quickly rushed to my gate. Sat at the gate at 6.20, and really, as soon as I sat down, my heart was so glad that all I could just do was to thank Him, for the swift response of the officers. Lesson learnt; don’t sleep late if you’re flying the next day.
Am so glad that I got over the dilemma. I was almost worried sick. But, as always, when you look back, you begin to see God’s faithfulness through all the circumstances.San Jose is a beautiful place. My friends took me to a Malaysian restaurant called Banana Leaf for lunch. It was pretty good, but well, can’t compare with our Malaysian food. In the afternoon, after checking into my hotel, they took me to the office. I was really amazed, seeing that my customer site was so huge, having over 40 blocks. Every green topped roof building belongs to them. It’s like, almost everywhere I go, I see a Cisco building. Amazing, truly amazing indeed. They are expanding, and still continuing on the expansion. Their president is like, finding smaller businesses to buy and integrate the technology for the future of networking.
I really can’t explain much, I don’t know how to. Anyway, if I have pictures, I will forward it on to you, so you get to see the scenery of San Jose.I don’t know what my plans are just yet. I’ll let you all know later.
Gotta go. Wanna go grab some stuff. By the way, my hotel is situated just beside the great mall. It’s easy for me to go get my groceries.If any of you want to reach me, I can be reached at 408-719-1959 ext 311. I may or may not be at the hotel, but leave me a voice message, I will get back to you if I can. Anyway, I’m only gonna be here until Wed, so, it won’t be long before I get to see you all again.
Take care, and God bless, and hope to hear from you all. Agape,Roland
My email to the cell group today...
***Greetings all, in Jesus' precious and holy name!
How is your week starting out? I hope that everything is going well.Anyway, I just wanted to re-iterate the lesson learnt last Friday - about "Guarding Your Tongue". The Scripture passage is taken from James 3 : 1 - 12, emphasizing about the tongue being a member of the body, among the smallest, but most uncontrollable. It is where words come - some even unsanctified.James 3 : 1 - 12
"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
There are several instances the apostle James likened the tongue to:
1. Bits in horses mouth, to control the horse into the direction they go.
2. A rudder in a big ship, being just a small part, but controls the movement in direction the ship takes.
It is capable of:
1. Causing a great fire, like a forest fire, by beginning small (like sparks).
Our challenge:
1. To use the tongue as a member that brings honour and praise to our God, and also blessings to the people around us.
2. To identify the areas of our speech where we've been uttering un-wholesome words, not edifying, and work on improving them.
3. Chart your individual progress on spoken words by doing inventory check on your emotions and speech. Quantify complains, unwholesome speech and praise.
I encourage all of you to really take up this challenge. Bring yourself to another level of using the tongue to bring about blessings.
What I am proposing for you to do this week:
1. Call someone you know to appreciate them, because it means a lot.
2. Have dinner occasions, simple ones to fellowship and have fun together.
3. Be accountable on your speech. This week, I have challenged the cell group from the meeting last week to email me any grouses and complains, also praises. This way, we can overall chart how everyone is doing (don't worry, any information you provide to me is P&C).
This challenge is not a one week thing. It is to continue on until it becomes a consistent practice in our lives.
Only when we are able to guard our tongue, will we be made perfect. James said in verse 2 of chapter 3:We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
I thank you for your time and attention. Let our words bear fruit worthy to bring honour and praise to the Lord, and let it flow consistently with our walk with Christ. As the Scriptures said: With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water...Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks...(Matthew 12:34; read verses 33-35 for whole reading context).Thanks again. Let our words be edifying always, speaking edification and encouragement, blessing God and praising Him evermore.Have a blessed week, and let the challenge we have spur us deeper in our walk in Christ! God bless! Agape, Roland "Every good and perfect gift is from above...(James 1:17)"
I am wondering where we are on this. Talked about this last month, but still not sure about what's going to happen. Guess has to be some news about people not gonna be around for a long weekend, reaching up to the Merdeka celebration.
I will sure raise some concerns tomorrow. Have to get the whole group thinking about this matter. And have ideas brought up. Would be good.
The other thing on my mind is; where are we on this quarter? Since we started this quarter, the emphasis was on relationships. But I ask myself, what are all of us doing different in this quarter? Or are all of us walking a reflection of the previous quarters where relationships are so distant?
Much as I desire, it's all in our individual effort. Prayer only extends to a certain distance, we need to be putting 'feet' to our prayers. That means, to come into the area of prayer, and placing action into the prayers we make.
I believe we can all go far. We just need to constantly encourage others to see beyond ourselves. Serving others...
This years Kidz Carnival was such a blessing. We were at the Keong Hoe school, giving our best to serving the children.
The whole preparation to the event took a month plus. And not forgetting, all the efforts and contribution by the central committee in getting all the planning and execution of the items in a timely manner.
I need to say my thanks to my cell group too. Since we launched the table of roles and responsibilities in the cell, we have been wanting to mobilize every member to take up active participation to the things owned by the cell group. It is my desire to see everyone serve, not out of obligation, but love.
During the Saturday event, I could see the joy of service by the members. The turnout of the event itself is such a wonderful blessing. >500 people, with a great number of children came.
I remembered Saturday morning; it was raining. I know everyone was getting worried. While still on my bed, I uttered my prayer to God, asking for His favour upon us, as we prepared to serve the community. Trusting that God heard my prayer....and the prayer of so many others, rising to the Throne of God...
Come 1pm, it still had signs that rain was coming. Close to 2pm, there were some raindrops. We still prayed, knowing that God heard. And you know what? When the event began, not a drop of rain fell. Praise the Lord, oh He's so wonderful...
Some guys, man, I really pity them. By 5.30 when we ended, I could see people tanned beyond their current known complexion. Red like chilli...
God was good, and that is something we all owe the Lord thanks, because we were able to carry out this program to bless the community and of course, had fun as well.
Waiting to hear more statistics coming out on the whole program; and can't wait for the church news on video clips from the event. Thank You Lord, for being part of the whole program!
Tonight the cell will be separated to 2 different groups; following gender, the male and the female. Talking about purity in relationship, especially on sexuality.
Not an easy topic, but very crucial to learn and discuss. Guess because there could be people that are struggling to find answers about this, about finding the best way to relate to one another in godliness and purity.
Leading the sessions won't be easy. I can only ask for His wisdom to teach me the things that I ought to share with the group, and to bring everyone to a comfortable place to share their deepest struggles.
Father, I need Your wisdom...
Interesting to note this quarter, being the relationship quarter, we all are working toward building strong relationships, coupled with respect, honour for others.
It's also interesting to note that many of us don't deal with friction too well. And if you want to build a strong relationship, friction is the key to bringing the relationship to another level.
The barriers to relationships are our preferences. There are some that we don't like, either the way they dress, the way they look, or the way they talk. Funny sometimes the most insignificant stuff can get to us...But I believe that God certainly teaches us through all these situations.
The thing about people ministry is, successes brings great satisfaction, but frustration is really inevitable. That's because people have minds, and sometimes they just don't agree with ours, nor we to theirs, so we get all these disagreements and frustrations.
Is that the stop to building the relationship? I believe it is so vital to remember that success in the kingdom is building into the lives of others. And that we see the good of others. Maybe because of our pride, we've been blinded to the fact that people have good things about them, that we need to affirm and acknowledge. And we all need one another...
We may have been so ignorant that the Kingdom consists of people like you and me. And because we are One Body, we all need one another. And learning to live with one another is so important. Because we are family.
We need to ask God to help us love one another beyond the weaknesses we see. Because God is love, only He can teach us to break through all the barriers of relationship.
Father, we pray that You will fill us with Your love to love the unlovely. Forgive us if we have wronged someone, because Your word reminds us that the things we do to others, we are doing unto You. We all need Your grace to be effective in building relationships. In Jesus' name, Amen!
Last Friday, the cell discussed about commitments. Commitments is a subject very often left aside because of the nature and notion is carries; responsibility. Too often, we forget or ignore the commitments that we once made, and it is high time that we search our hearts again of the commitments we made, but may have abandoned it due to our other pursuits.
Reading Hosea 1 was indeed very challenging. God was asking Hosea to pick a wife from among the people of prostitutes. It was to symbolize the unfaithfulness of the nation Israel. Sometimes God just knows how to best describe a situation, but we don't understand them at times. These are times where we just need to trust God to help us through understanding His purposes.
Commitments speak about our character as a person. The commitments we made are vows we have made to deliver. There will be expectations that come from these commitments, failing which can cause some serious effects. One thing I touched on was the fact that commitments we make, or rather made, failing to meet brings a very negative impression to people, and also, our credentials are at stake. We must be careful to guard our lives not to violate the very promises of commitments we made.
Commitments brings with it responsibility. Commitment is sticking to something and not letting go. Imagine marriage, commitment in a marriage is to stick through thick and thin, through good times and hard times, in sickness and in health, to remain true. Yes, sometimes love goes dull, your partner is no longer attractive, but commitment says, "I'll love you even though you don't look beautiful anymore". Because in the heart, commitment tells us that they are more than just a routine, it's a life-long responsibility that we have embraced.
So, what must we do? Many of us who have forgotten our commitments, and have put aside unknowingly. We need to ask once again for Him to reveal in us what were the commitments we once made, and renew those commitments. Asking for forgiveness if there were areas that we have slacked, and His strength to meet every commitment we made. Because when we honour our commitments, the Lord will look down and honour the man/woman who honours his/her commitments, by His blessings. Be a person of your words and commitments, and people will come to respect you for honouring them.
Father, we pray that You will teach us to honour our commitments. May we be faithful in the things we have committed to, and to faithfully carry Your name through all that we commit. We commit to Your hands, we ask You will strengthen us as we seek to honour our commitments. In Jesus' name. Amen!
I was just pausing and thinking of the numerous needs around us, and then it triggerred me, how often we have left prayer on the shelf? Is it true that we have been really concerned about the needs we have around us?
Sent a couple of emails out to the cell group about the 40-day prayer and fasting initiated by NECF, and also the update to our cell's prayer log. It seems like we all need to continue pursuing God for our needs, that He would intervene.
Lord, we pray that you forgive us for our lack of praying. Lack of praying together and for one another. Let us see that prayer is the tool to reach you, and that you desire to have Your children come to You.
In Jesus' name. Amen!
The term "iron sharpens iron" gives very interesting connotations - clashes; conflicts; arguments; disagreements...and a whole lot of heartaches...
We were just learning in the cell group about dealing with the conflicts in the home and in our everyday dealings with people around us; the community at large, and in the workplace on a slightly smaller scale.
Don't you find days where someone just gets to you and you find very annoying at times? Do you find people who strike different chords and not humm the same tune as us?
Sometimes we can't avoid them, I mean, there are people around you almost everywhere you go. Whatever you do, there will be people you will relate to. And not everyone is gonna be nice, trust me, I know...
The Scriptures tell us that if it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). When it says as much as it depends on you, it means that we play an active role in determining our communications and relation with the people around us. There are 2 ways of approaching un-likeable people: i. to avoid them totally, or ii. to accommodate them and love them.
People behave differently from the way we expect people to be because we come with different backgrounds and history. It really is doing injustice when we totally avoid contact with someone just on the fact that we dislike them. Have we done our background check on them? Do we know what's causing them to bahave the way they do that we find 'offending'?
As iron sharpens iron, these are times when I really believe God brings unlikeable people along our path to teach us what it means to be graceful. Jesus preached the meaning of grace this way, "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:43-45) Challenging? Yeah, I think so...
So, what really pleases God is that we bring our relational efforts one step higher, the calling of grace. Grace pours from the throne of God in extending the blessings we received to the people around us. As God also gives the sun and rain to both the righteous and the evil, likewise, God desires that we reach both the likeable, and the unlikeable alike. There shouldn't be 2 categories, but everyone whom the Lord loves, we are to love.
Next time, take this challenge when you come across someone you don't like, try say a prayer for that person, and ask God to teach you to love them. Ask Him what He also intends to teach us from those encounters; because I truly believe that God has something He wants to teach us.
As iron sharpens iron, so we must know that the challenge in relationships is to sharpen one another. It's about complementing one another's strength and fill up or support in their weaknesses. After all, that's what the Body does.
Lord, we pray that You teach us grace in relationships, and that we find Your purpose for us in dealing with people, even with people we don't like. We know You have in them bundles of blessings that is waiting to pour. May we be obedient to this calling to be sons and daughters of grace. Amen!
A2J will be always on its toes as it'll be doing quite a number of projects soon. There is one coming real soon: Kidz Carnival (Aug 6th)
The cell group will be taking up 2 booths: The "Electric Roller Coaster" and the "Tic-Tac-Toss". Both are simple carnival games...
Some people have been asked to take this up. My hope is that we'll do well to bless the community. After all, the church exists to be a blessing...And in this quarter, being part of the bigger circle is what matters.
It's just a couple of weeks away...But it's coming soon.
This is my email to the cell group today...
Yesterday as I was in the cell group, and we launched into the new quarter where the focus was on the restoration of the purity and value of relationships, I was wondering where we were going in the progress of our cell group. I remember asking the Lord about this matter, "Lord, are we standing united as You would want us to? Are we just relating on the surface only?"
The greatest challenge for us today is to really share our lives with one another. I think the biggest challenge in the Christian community is to break the barrier of segregation and distinction. There is neither class nor difference between us, because Christ is between us. That's what we ought to be concerned about. That's what we ought to strive to achieve.
Perhaps the truth that we really need to drive home in each of our hearts is that unity is so important. Jesus prayed in John 17:23, "... that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me..." It's only when we are one (united) that the world will know that Jesus came to the world to save the lost.
What are the relational efforts that we will place in this quarter as we start? Will we, like Acts 2 (studied in our first lesson), begin to share everything in common, eat together, praise God in the temple courts, open homes to others? Will we be careful to preserve the unity, yet also strive to attain stronger ties among believers and brothers and sisters?
My prayer is that all of us will begin to reach one another with His love. Perhaps the best thing we could learn is that we must love one another as ourselves as a commandment from above. Isn't it ironic to think that sometimes we say we love God but not have a care for our friends who live nearby? Strange....but true in someways...
May God help us to see the bigger picture when our relationship with one another is the mark of our faith in Christ. May the spirit of Acts 2 come alive in our homes today...
God bless!
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- Goodbye 2007, Welcome 2008!
- Exciting Moments, found in the cell group!
- Bereavement of a Loss
- Happy Marriage, Michelle!
- Meditating on the Power of Resurrection
- Deadlines
- jaytee: We also meet once a fortnight and we are studying Proverbs. I always look forward to the cell group because it is a time where I can share, learn and unlearn in an environment of care and love....no one is judged and everyone can just be who they are... in Exciting Moments, found in the cell group!
- Sam Yeoh: Hi, I'm Sam Yeoh fr PCC & LifeImpact Ministries. I stumble upon your blog & am very encourage with your testimony. We are having another LIFEgame in Lumut again at the same place from Oct 21-24 (Deeparaya....again). I believe some formswere given to your church thru Joanna. If you are interested to get your friends along, please email me at samyeoh@gmail.com On Purpose 4 Him Sam in LIFEgame - LIFE Impact Ministries - Awesome!
- Man by Choice and by Faith!: Roland, Your testimony is a blessing. I too want to amphasise on the fellowship and the unity that came on the Hill through the power of God Almighty! Be Blessed brother! T in The Men's Retreat was awesome!
- Elijah: Hi, RU4JC, I am for Jesus Christ too and I am glad I came acrosss your blog. Regards, Elijah in The Men's Retreat was awesome!
- Kee: Amen to that ! 1,2,3 BUKA ! in The Men's Retreat was awesome!
- gay: I'm sorry to hear. in Saddened by loss...
- Guest: Awesome sharing :D I have learnt that we are called to walk in wisdom. That's the gift from God. Therefore, I am learning to spend my time wisely. Redeeming time being guide by Holy spirit to understand His will. Let's be wise! in God, I know not, but You do....
- jon: Yes, 2006 is gonna be even better! Cos HE has lived it :-) in Closing 2005, Opening 2006
- ru4jc: Agree, but you'd be too tired to do much during the day. Well, it's ok to work at night, but sometimes it's real boring. in Night shift....
- Guest: no traffic jams!!! and u get to do all the banking, government stuffs during the day in Night shift....