Last Friday, I attended the third of my church's eight-week programme on Supernatural Living.
During that session, each of us was asked to form a team of four with three other strangers. We were to write down our team members' names and then to pray and worship for a few minutes. We were to write down any vision, word or impression on to a piece of paper. During that time, I saw four visions - dry bones in the desert being revived by rain; a green bush; a ship on the seas deciding whether to turn left or right; and a white feather.
When the time came for my team members and I to exchange the impressions we had, I shared with them mine and one of them said the dry bones may be for her because she had been taking care of her elderly mum and recently had been feeling exhausted and tired. The other two felt that the ship was for them because one of them was thinking of a job change while the other was also considering a major decision.
I was deeply humbled because two of them had visions specifically for me. One of them said that she saw Christ handing over a very red heart to me, which could signify a new heart for me. Another said that she had the word "joy" for me and that she felt that God was saying that I would bring a lot of joy to the people around me.
For the red heart, I had always prayed to God that He would pour on to me His compassion for the lost and His passion and love for people. Also, in recent times, I had felt that I had lost that initial first love I had for Christ when I first became a Christian, and I sensed in this vision that God was telling me, "Here, I'm giving you a new heart of passion and love to you for you to serve my people". I really thank God that He knows me inside out and that even before I had done anything for me, He has done everything for me and I have His approval because of Christ's sacrifice at the Cross. God is well pleased with me because of Christ. Amen.
As for the word "joy", I've always felt that God has given me a deep level of faith, which has given me the boldness and confidence to always be optimistic in life. This faith and confidence has also given me a sensitivity towards people, and the wonderful ability to encourage, comfort and edify people.
I am deeply convicted that one of my main services for God is in encouraging and empowering people. Letting anyone believe that they can go much further than they ever know and that they are much better than the world deems them to be, and that they possess strengths, gifts and abilities given by God which they can use well.
I know this is one of my main missions on this earth. One of my closest friends said that she thinks the "joy" refers to the fact that people can see a deep sense of purpose and calling in me, that I am certain of my goal and purpose and direction in life and this comes through in my words and actions.
For me, all it boils down to is this: There but for the grace of God go I.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Leading the way
My auntie gave me a "365 Days of Purpose for Women" calendar for Christmas this year. I've been reading the quotations for each day. I find them meaningful and inspiring. This short quote by Becca Stevens really encapsulates what empowerment and leadership is about:
"A candle is never diminished by lighting another candle."
"A candle is never diminished by lighting another candle."
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Persona non grata
Today was one of my saddest days as a Christian.
At the end of the usual Sunday service, my senior pastor stood at the podium to share with us why he's bringing the church into an eight-week course on the supernatural. He said that to him, he would have failed his duty as a pastor if he didn't bring each member of his congregation into his or her full potential in Christ.
During his speech, he related how a young lady told him that God had laid on her a burden to reach out to the prostitutes in Geylang. She had obeyed Him and six prostitutes had given their lives to Jesus. But when the young lady approached some churches in Geylang to ask if they would accept the prostitutes into their congregation, all said no.
At this point when my senior pastor was talking about these churches' refusal, he was very worked up and close to tears. I was there in front along with quite a few other church members (we had gone up to pray for the church leadership in support of them).
When I listened to this account, I also couldn't control my tears. Churches, yes, churches actually turned people who had resolved to die to their own selves and to follow Christ.
I couldn't help thinking that much more than us, Jesus must have been so much more griefed by the actions of those churches.
How can Jesus' followers refuse to accept a sinful person who wants to follow Christ?
Jesus' encounter with a sinful lady:
Luke 7:36-50
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
At the end of the usual Sunday service, my senior pastor stood at the podium to share with us why he's bringing the church into an eight-week course on the supernatural. He said that to him, he would have failed his duty as a pastor if he didn't bring each member of his congregation into his or her full potential in Christ.
During his speech, he related how a young lady told him that God had laid on her a burden to reach out to the prostitutes in Geylang. She had obeyed Him and six prostitutes had given their lives to Jesus. But when the young lady approached some churches in Geylang to ask if they would accept the prostitutes into their congregation, all said no.
At this point when my senior pastor was talking about these churches' refusal, he was very worked up and close to tears. I was there in front along with quite a few other church members (we had gone up to pray for the church leadership in support of them).
When I listened to this account, I also couldn't control my tears. Churches, yes, churches actually turned people who had resolved to die to their own selves and to follow Christ.
I couldn't help thinking that much more than us, Jesus must have been so much more griefed by the actions of those churches.
How can Jesus' followers refuse to accept a sinful person who wants to follow Christ?
Jesus' encounter with a sinful lady:
Luke 7:36-50
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
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