Thursday, June 30, 2011

Funny things that children said

I just thought of sharing some funny things that I heard my son said...it was so spontaneous that I always break out in laughter. And the manner he said it was so innocent like it's so sincere and so real from him, which makes it even funnier.

There was once in the midst of Holy Communion, his daddy prayed that we would live till 120 years old, by God's grace, Joshua suddenly said 'Huh, 120 years old? That's very old leh...by then, we would have no hair!' We broke out laughing though we were in the midst of Holy Communion.

The other time was at night before Joshua went to bed, I was having a heart-to-heart talk with him. He quarrelled with his cousin and left feeling angry with his cousin. I was telling him to forgive because Jesus loves us so much and has forgiven us so much. He said 'No' as he was still feeling angry...but I knew in his heart, he wants to reconcile with his cousin. Suddenly he said 'Mummy, can I ask you a question?' I was wondering what could it be...since we are still on the topic of love and forgiveness. He then asked 'Mummy, why monkeys can swing from tree to tree hah?' I broke out laughing because it was so anti-climax.

The most recent one was when we were walking from our basement carpark, I saw a guy who was at least 1.9m tall and I told Joshua to look at that guy. I said 'Joshua, see that guy over there? He is so tall.' Joshua looked at him and after a while, he said, 'He must have eaten a lot of cai cai (vegetables). No, I think he only eats cai cai and swim a lot. That's why he is so tall!' We broke out laughing because in an attempt to get him to eat more vegetables (he's a fussy eater), we keep telling him 'must eat more cai cai so that you can grow tall tall in future'. And we also told him that swimming helps him to grow taller. That's why he said that.

Children's world is so cute and so innnocent...no wonder one feels much younger when we spend more time with them. These are pearly moments that I will always treasure in my stay-home days. In fact, I think these moments of joy are like days of heaven on earth. It's God's reward to me. :-)

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

My re-entry into ministry work

As you may remember, I mentioned before that I used to be the cell leader of a group back in my old church. In 2005, I officially stepped down from cell leadership in preparation for motherhood. It was that season of my life that God wanted me to concentrate my attention on my family, being a first-time mother with no helper. I gladly accepted that back-end role that God prepared for me yet a part of me still yearns to be involved in ministry.

God knows my heart's desire and it turned out that many years later, He created that opportunity for me to be involved in ministry work again. In Apr 2011, my caregroup leader asked me if I would like to step up as an assistant caregroup leader (ACGL). I told him that I might not be able to commit to those training sessions that a caregroup leader needs to attend but certainly I would love to support him in caregroup leading. He told me it is ok. For the time being, an ACGL does not need to attend those training sessions. I just need to help him in shepherding the members and to stand in for him in facilitating some meetings if he cannot make it. But I needed to attend just one session of training for ACGLs.

And so, the time came for me to lead the caregroup last night. It was a little stressful because though I had led such groups in word before, it was many years ago in a totally different church. I had those caregroup facilitators' notes but honestly, I told God: if Your Holy Spirit don't take charge, then no matter how much I prepare, the meeting would not achieve its objectives. I boldly asked God for a manifestation of the Holy Spirit for that is the best lesson we could have on yesterday's topic 'Moving in grace in the Holy Spirit's gifts'.

Well, the meeting went far better than I imagined because the Lord's presence was with us. At the end of the meeting, the Holy Spirit prompted us to gather around a sister who is facing some challenges in her family. The presence of the Lord was so strong and two of the brothers teared while sharing testimonies and a Word from God to encourage this dear sister. She came to present her challenges to the Lord and to share the burden with the caregroup but I believed she left feeling so loved by the Lord.  What a great move of the Holy Spirit and what a grand finale to the meeting!

But I think I was the most blessed one. For out of this whole experience, I not only knew how much the Lord loved me, I also have the confidence that if I ask anything according to His will, He hears me. And if I know that He hears me, whatever I ask, I know that I have the petitions I have asked of Him. (1 John 5:14-15) Wow, what a great privilege that I have in Christ!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Live band in our condo compounds

God is so good. The other day our family was reclining on the poolside deck chairs, enjoying the cool breeze of the night and I was just telling Heng that our home really feels like a resort. The whole environment is very relaxing and very comfortable. When the winds got stronger, I thought about our experience at Harris Resort, Batam. I remember we were also reclining on the poolside deck chairs listening to the live band playing at the F&B outlet by the pool. The live band was playing for those guests having their poolside dinner but we were near enough to enjoy the music, the cool breeze and the lively atmosphere.

Heng and I had always enjoyed live bands. In our younger days we would visit the 'xinyao' music lounges and enjoy the live singing over a glass of bubble tea. The feeling was always nostalgic. So as we were resting that night by the poolside deck chairs, I told Heng how wonderful it would be if there was a live band in our condo. That would totally make this place feel like a hotel resort. Heng said it would be impossible because the noise level would be too high. And I also kind of dismissed the thought as wishful thinking.

As it turned out, God heard this wishful thinking and made it come to pass. Today our condo management office organised a family day with free games, food and karaoke singing. They even set up a tentage for this purpose. There were also flea market stalls set up by residents to sell their second hand items. The whole atmosphere was so vibrant!  After dinner, there was actually a live band and we saw some residents singing and dancing.

Our family sat by the deck chairs to enjoy the music. Then I suddenly remembered that the impossible had taken place! There is really a live band playing in this compound and at that moment, it felt like a hotel resort! Joshua agreed that he felt like he was in Harris Resort. God is so good...once I said it, He brought it to pass. He loves me so much that even when I didn't pray for this, He caused it to happen, for my enjoyment! Praise the Lord!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

God Remembers Our Prayers

I brought Joshua for a swim on Monday and he did something that amazed me. No, it was not about his swimming feats, even though I was proud that he could now swim for a good five metres underwater and he could also lift his head up to breathe. His daddy taught him how to swim and Joshua loved it.

Since Joshua was born, he had always been a joyful and responsive baby. Thank God that made him an easy baby to take care as well. He did not fuss much even when he soiled his nappies or when he was sick. He is always such a darling. He started to learn to talk when he was about 17 months old but there was a period after he was hospitalised (due to rota virus) that he became much quieter.

At that time I had already gone back to work and my mum was taking care of him. Because my mum needed to cook for us in the evenings, she turned on the TV for Joshua to occupy himself. During that period Joshua became quite withdrawn and did not want to talk much. I was worried for my baby as a first-time mother. I was concerned that he would be shy and slow in speaking. Heng kept reassuring me that Joshua is anointed by God and his development would be well taken care of by Him.

As Joshua grew older, he started talking more and learnt how to speak in complete sentences. He was well able to communicate with us. Thank God for that! However, we still find him a little shy and not very willing to mix around with other children.  We reminded him that God made him strong and courageous, like Joshua in the bible.

When he went to Sunday School, he didn't mix around with other children. He said no one came to talk to him. He was comfortable and more familiar with his friends in the childcare centre but not very keen to make new friends in Sunday School. We prayed for him and spoke words of faith saying that Joshua would be a sociable and friendly boy.  His daddy hoped that he would be more talkative like me.

Actually I have kind of forgotten about our prayers for Joshua but God remembers. To me, I was already happy to notice a change in Joshua ever since I stayed home. Not only did he become happier, he was also more secure and started to talk more. Even the people around noticed that Joshua was much happier that I stayed home to take care of him.

When we went for the Parents' Conference last Sat, Joshua's teacher told us that he was actually talkative in class, which really surprised me! I always thought my boy is a quiet and introverted child. Apparently God did a marvellous job in 'changing' him!

Then on Monday, he again surprised me by talking to an elderly man taking a toddler for a swim. Joshua seemed to like that toddler and hence followed him around. Then he took the initiative to talk to the man. I was not sure when he was talking about...maybe about his swimming stunts?

Anyway, after that, there was a little girl about his age who came to swim. Joshua again started a conversation with her and they played together for a long while. I was really amazed! I never saw Joshua taking the initiative to talk to other people...obviously he is no longer the shy boy that I knew! He had been changed by God! After he came up from the pool, I told him I was proud that he had been bold enough to start a conversation and that he is a friendly boy. Thank God for answering our prayers!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

There is Power in the Name of Jesus!

I just wanted to share an article written by Evelyn Roberts (wife of Oral Roberts). The passage says that there is power in the Name of Jesus. Whatever the devil tries to do to us, we can overcome it in Jesus' Name. Jesus has given us the authority to use it (John 14:14). It's like having the power of attorney. When you give someone power of attorney, they are authorized to act exactly like you were there. That's what Jesus wants us to do - to act exactly as He would act if He were here. This means that when we use His name to command the spirits of infirmity to leave someone's body, it would be like Jesus Himself was there to execute the command! What a revelation!

Many believers might not realise that as children of the Most High God, we have dominion over sicknesses, evil spirits and natural circumstances. Jesus has said in Luke 10:19 'Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.' I don't know about you but when I realised the truth in this, I was really excited. Because I was always taught to appeal to the Most High God for help whenever I run into trouble. I was told we should not confront the evil ones by ourselves because we don't have the power. Only God has the power to deal with the evil spirits. How blinded I was then!

Sometimes we pray to God and ask Him to intervene in our situation but in other times, God wants us to exercise the authority already given to us by Jesus. You may ask: how do I exercise the authority if my faith is small? In Luke 17:6, Jesus says that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree 'Be pulled out by the roots and be planted in the sea' and it would obey you. So even if your faith is small, you can start exercising your dominion by using the Name of Jesus in small things. The key is to start commanding. Then when you see answers to those things that you commanded, your faith muscles will grow.

It really doesn't matter how dire your circumstances are or how bad the doctor's report is, the fact is everything that has a name has to bow down to the Name of Jesus (Philippians 2:10). For me, I started with commanding the spirit of infirmity to leave my body and my son's body each time the symptoms start to manifest. I would persist with exercising the command until every single trace of the symptom disappeared and health is restored to our bodies. I am confident to exercise this command because I know by Jesus' stripes, I am already healed, hence victory already belongs to me.

Sometimes the healing would manifest immediately; other times it might take a few days but the key is don't give up if you first issue the command and still don't see results. Don't be discouraged or distracted by the natural circumstances (though they can be very real but they are temporal) because the natural circumstances always have to line up with the Word of God.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Expect Miracles in Your Life!

I have always desired to see the miracles of God being commonplace in my church and my daily living. Miracles are defined as extraordinary events demonstrating divine intervention in human affairs. I read an article by Mark Brazee that says miracles are divided into four main categories. There are physical miracles like healings; provisional miracles like how Jesus fed the 5000 with five loaves and two fishes; miracles of protection or deliverance like when Peter was delivered out of prison by an angel and lastly, signs and wonders that God performs like God causing the sun to stand still for the fight between Joshua and the Amalekites.

Well, to the grace of God, I had the experience to be part of and hear some of these miracles that God is doing in my care group members' life. One of it was a miraculous healing of a growth (goiter) at the throat of a dear sister. She had earlier requested for a group of us to go her place and pray for her. I felt led by the Spirit to step out and pray for her. And as I commanded the growth to shrivel up in the name of Jesus and to completely disappear, I felt the growth become smaller. I didn't think it was my imagination but I really felt it. At that moment, I was sure that the Lord had healed her. Jesus said in John 14:12-13 'He who believes in Me, the works I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.'

The healing did not manifest immediately but this dear sister believed God had healed her and she stood on her faith for no surgery to remove that growth. She continued to partake the Holy Communion everyday. About 40 days later, as she was going about her daily business, she suddenly realised that the growth had completely disappeared! When she next saw me, she asked me to put my hands on her throat to feel it. Indeed I was truly amazed that the growth is no longer there! Wow, praise the Lord!

Just a few days ago, this dear sister said something amazing happened to her daughter who is also a believer. The relationship between two of them had been quite strained but this sister had been praying for God to send an angel to speak to her daughter and let her see the truth about her life and her ex-boyfriends. And that was exactly what God did! One day at Coffee Club, a Caucasian lady just walked up to her daughter and told her the truth. That her life was in a mess because one of the ex-boyfriend's mum had practised witchcraft on her. She needed to return his things to him, get back to church and start praying.

Her daughter was so fearful but we told her that no weapon formed against her will prosper because she belongs to God. The evil one cannot touch her because Christ who is in her is greater than he who is in the world. She said she was constantly harassed by these evil spirits and they even followed her home. We anointed her with oil and prayed for her. I commanded the spirit of oppression and depression to leave her in the name of Jesus and also pleaded the blood of Jesus over her.

We told her she should do likewise when she 'feels' such evil presence lingering around her. She should command them to leave her in the name of Jesus instead of feeling fearful. She was afraid that if she spoke up, the evil spirits would harm her. We told her this would not happen because we have dominion over evil spirits, not the other way round.

These miracles are by no means insignificant to me yet the Lord told me that I have not seen anything yet. More of such miracles are to come in future. I was excited because the Word in me was exploding into blessings and miracles of God in my life. I reached a point when I am not satisfied with the natural things anymore. Because Christ died for us, I expect no less than miracles in my life, the life of my loved ones and my brothers and sisters in Christ. What a blessed life!