While looking at my past journals, I realised that in Aug & Sep last year, I had a similar experience like what the Israelites faced when God was about to bring them out of slavery in Egypt. I don't mean to say that I was in slavery back then in my ex-company but I certainly was not very happy staying there. Because I knew long ago that my stay in that company was only temporary, yet I did not know when the Lord was bringing me out. It turned out that this transcient place lasted 3 years.
Through those 3 years of waiting, I kept believing that God was working out a plan to prepare me to stay home to look after my children in the next season of my life. Afterall, that desire came from Him, before I even had any children. At one point juggling work and taking care of Joshua started to get very challenging. It was not that I had to work very late but that my job 'sucked out' a lot of my emotional attention, causing me to be drained. I was still thinking about work at home while taking care of Joshua. I felt I was shortchanging my son as I could not give all my attention to him. I was missing out on those crucial years as he was growing up fast.
I was getting increasingly restless as I waited because I believed in July 2010, God was telling me to get ready to move on now. Yet there was still no sign of my impending pregnancy as I always thought I would stay till I give birth, enjoy the maternity benefits and then leave. I felt like I was closing the door behind me (by telling my bosses I would certainly leave) but I could not nail down the date to resign. The situation of the Israelites being stuck between the Red Sea and the marauding armies of Eygpt came to my mind. I was sure the Lord would 'open' the door for me to leave like how He opened the Red Sea but I still did not know how and when.
There was a turning point in Sep last year when God led us to buy our 2nd property. I really thank God for the good timing because by now, the 'cooling' measures by the government coupled with the rise in private property prices made it difficult for public housing residents to upgrade to their dream homes (condo). Some HDB residents felt that they had not acted fast enough to upgrade their homes when the price difference between public and private housing was closing up. When I read about this in the newspapers, I really thank God for prospering us because we were able to not just upgrade to a private property of a similar size, we could keep and rent out our HDB flat!
Then in early Oct, the Lord finally gave me the green light to tender, which was clear that my season in the company has ended and I needed to move on. I was surprised to find that I was emotional and sentimental about leaving though this had been my desire for the past 3 years! How contradictory can humans get! No wonder once God gave the mandate, He showed me that there was a sense of urgency to move on.
Like the Israelites, once Pharaoh allowed them to leave, they knew they had to leave quickly in case Pharaoh changed his mind. When they took the Passover meal, they were all dressed to go. Hence that was why I had to leave before waiting for my performance bonus in Apr. There might be consequences or further delays if I did not act promptly to God's direction. I thought to myself: I had already waited for so long and now my chance to move on to the next season has come, why would I want to delay?
Now as I look back, I am really thankful that I have moved solidly into my new season and what awaits me is a harvest of lustrous fruits! Thank God for exciting times are coming my way!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Swimming
I really thank God for this provision of a swimming pool just below my tower. It is quite a luxury. I get to swim almost everyday since it is now so convenient. I loved swimming. When I swim, I think about God and sometimes new revelations come to my mind. Other times I would just plan what to cook for dinner while I am swimming. Either way, I always have good thoughts when I swim.
If I was not swimming alone, I would encourage Joshua to swim the laps with me. Even Joshua has improved in his swimming. I was amazed that now he could swim without his Styrofoam float nowadays. He would keep his head in the water and swim for one metre. He picked up swimming by himself. Thank God for teaching him!
Even though I am aware that health comes from the Lord, I am thankful that I could exercise more frequently. I haven't been really exercising for the past few years...not so regularly. The endorphins after exercising really help me in my daily activities. After a good swim, I found that I became less lethargic in the day and I could sleep better at night. Thank God for swimming!
If I was not swimming alone, I would encourage Joshua to swim the laps with me. Even Joshua has improved in his swimming. I was amazed that now he could swim without his Styrofoam float nowadays. He would keep his head in the water and swim for one metre. He picked up swimming by himself. Thank God for teaching him!
Even though I am aware that health comes from the Lord, I am thankful that I could exercise more frequently. I haven't been really exercising for the past few years...not so regularly. The endorphins after exercising really help me in my daily activities. After a good swim, I found that I became less lethargic in the day and I could sleep better at night. Thank God for swimming!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Dominion over this Earth
Recently our care group was discussing the topic of living in end times. Other than being secure in the knowledge that God will protect us from such disasters and calamities (Psalm 91) so that we do not need to fear, what should our response be to these end times happenings?
Firstly, God does not want us to be ignorant of such things happening. In Matthew 24:32, Jesus tells us to learn the parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. We are living in winter times but our encouragement is that summer is coming. Summer is after the tribulation of those days, when the Son of Man (Jesus) comes again. As believers, we are not to be troubled about these things (like wars, earthquakes, shaking of nuclear powers) which are currently happening but we are told to discern the times. God will show us things to come so that we can be prepared.
Secondly, God is raising up an army of believers who would take dominion of this earth and have authority over the principalities and dark powers of this world. Believers who dare to take God at His Word and do what Jesus said in John 14:12-14 '...the works that I do he will do also and greater things than these will he do because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father be glorified in the Son.' What did Jesus do when He was on earth? He preached good news to the poor, healed the sick, liberated the prisoners and proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord.
Friends, we are living in exciting times. A time when God is pouring out His Spirit in preparation of the endtime revival that will bring this age to a glorious close. In Acts 2:18-19, God is revealing to us things to come so that we can pray wisely. In fact, we have influence with God and when we pray, God intercepts the devil's work of disasters and calamities.
God wants us to take up this authority that Jesus has given us (Matthew 28:18-19) to boldly command diseases and sicknesses to leave, to command circumstances to line up with God's Word, to calm the storms etc. As we command in Jesus' Name, our 'sea' will open up and we will walk on dry grounds in the midst of troubles. And as we go, miracles will follow us.
I don't know about you but I certainly do not want to miss out on this great Masterplan during such times. I want to be involved in what God is doing in this hour. I want to be the ones whose Spirit-inspired words of prophecy and prayer are releasing the power of God upon the earth. I want to see God's miracles, signs and wonders in this time and age. I want to be the key players, one of God's generals in this endtime army that He is raising up. What about you?
Firstly, God does not want us to be ignorant of such things happening. In Matthew 24:32, Jesus tells us to learn the parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. We are living in winter times but our encouragement is that summer is coming. Summer is after the tribulation of those days, when the Son of Man (Jesus) comes again. As believers, we are not to be troubled about these things (like wars, earthquakes, shaking of nuclear powers) which are currently happening but we are told to discern the times. God will show us things to come so that we can be prepared.
Secondly, God is raising up an army of believers who would take dominion of this earth and have authority over the principalities and dark powers of this world. Believers who dare to take God at His Word and do what Jesus said in John 14:12-14 '...the works that I do he will do also and greater things than these will he do because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father be glorified in the Son.' What did Jesus do when He was on earth? He preached good news to the poor, healed the sick, liberated the prisoners and proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord.
Friends, we are living in exciting times. A time when God is pouring out His Spirit in preparation of the endtime revival that will bring this age to a glorious close. In Acts 2:18-19, God is revealing to us things to come so that we can pray wisely. In fact, we have influence with God and when we pray, God intercepts the devil's work of disasters and calamities.
God wants us to take up this authority that Jesus has given us (Matthew 28:18-19) to boldly command diseases and sicknesses to leave, to command circumstances to line up with God's Word, to calm the storms etc. As we command in Jesus' Name, our 'sea' will open up and we will walk on dry grounds in the midst of troubles. And as we go, miracles will follow us.
I don't know about you but I certainly do not want to miss out on this great Masterplan during such times. I want to be involved in what God is doing in this hour. I want to be the ones whose Spirit-inspired words of prophecy and prayer are releasing the power of God upon the earth. I want to see God's miracles, signs and wonders in this time and age. I want to be the key players, one of God's generals in this endtime army that He is raising up. What about you?
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