Cry. Quit. Hide. Run away. Sleep (but I can’t). Hear what You are saying. See the big picture. Live in faith not fear.
Have divine exchange. Let go and let You do Your thing. Be obedient. Do things right. Please You. Put a smile on Your face. Finish the race well. Hear You say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
I love rainbow! Every time I see a rainbow, it puts a smile on my face. Yes, a :) It simply reminds me of God's promise. In Genesis 9, God made a covenant with Noah for all generations to come.
Genesis 9:12-16 And God said, " This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on earth"
The beauty of it all does not just lie in the rainbow, but that God REMEMBERS His covenant, the promise He made. A promise is not meant to be broken, unlike what has been taught by the world. God REMEMBERS what He has promised. What is God's promise to you?
It has been a rough ride recently. Sometimes I wonder how long can I stay tough in the midst of all that's been happening. Will I see a breakthrough or will I, myself break apart? I know I will never break apart. For He has promised and will be faithful to carry me through :)
Life is like a box of chocolate - Forest Gump I know some beg to differ. A friend says, "Life is like a box of assorted chocolates" While some others say "Life is like a stage of play, and we are all actors and actresses"
As for me, I would say...Life is like "cherry-looking chili". You'll never know how hot and spicy the chili is until you actually tried it. The same goes for life. We'll never know how hot and exciting life is until we truly live it out! And I mean LIVE IT OUT LOUD! Live life to the fullest, live it right, live it well, make the most of every opportunity, make our lives count...ultimately Making God Famous!
The guys were tricked by Pr. Seria to try out the the home grown 'cherry' on the very last day of our mission trip at Sarawak. I was told...it's VERY SPICY!! *I still couldn't believe they actually fall for it...haha*
Something I came across while preparing for the recent mission trip. A report/ testimony that I wrote and submitted to the church I was attending back then. This is an entry of my very first mission trip back in 2001. It brings back good memory, and most importantly the impact it had upon me!
SARAWAK MISION TRIP 2001 – Penny Khoo
I joined the mission trip for a basic purpose, that I will grow and move to higher heights in my walk with the Lord. I do not want to remain stagnant in my spiritual life. Praise God! He answered my prayer by shaking me off my comfort zone. He brought me to the place where I had to be totally dependent upon Him. God had been very real even when I started preparing for the trip.
I have always viewed mission trip as a trip whereby the team minister to the unreached through skits and songs. The task of performing through skits and songs is not hard, as I had experienced such things in youth groups. However, the preparation period became stressful when we were given assignments to prepare specific topic for teaching sessions at the longhouses and youth seminar. The assignment is something that I was not familiar with and at the same time, incapable to do so. The task became heavier when we had to prepare and preach in Bahasa Malaysia. During the preparation, I had sleepless nights figuring what to teach and how to teach the people. At one point of time, I wanted to give up. I questioned myself, “Why did I sign up for this trip in the first place and go through the stress when I could enjoy the comfort of each day that passes by?” I felt so far apart from God. I did not know where God was leading me and whether I had made the right choice to go for the trip. But it was at that time that I realised that I needed God more than I thought I needed Him. I realised that is in my weakness that His strength is made perfect. A lot of times, God gave us the “impossible” task so that we will learn to trust in Him and not lean on our own understanding. He wants us to be totally dependent upon Him.
During the trip, my fearful nature was challenged to do things that I would not normally do.God literally shook me off my comfort zone again. I experienced a total different culture and simplicity of life – bathing in the river, Iban food, limited supply of water and electricity and being sensitive to God in order to pray for people. I knew very well that it was not me that overcame the fear. God gave me the strength and the boldness to do so. In the trip, I also learned that I have put God in a box without realising it. I expected Him to move according to my will. He is much bigger and able to accomplish more than I could imagine or ask for. God is able to work in me and through me if I allow Him to do so. I have learnt to be dependent upon Him in every circumstance from living in the longhouses to ministering to His people. I believe God is not just interested in my ministry and how I could pray for His people. He is very much interested in my personal being.
A question was posed to me when the trip was about to come to an end, “Did you survive the trip?” Well, I could safely declare that I did not just survive the trip. I lived through and enjoyed every minute of the trip by the empowerment and the grace of God. It is indeed not by my might nor by my power but by the Spirit of God. God has been very faithful to His promise that He will always be with me, giving me strength and helping me to go through my everyday circumstances. I will continue to hold dearly to my baptismal text in Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismay for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. I really want to thank God and the team for such a fruitful and enriching mission trip.
Went to watched Terminator: Salvation yesterday. And couple of hours before I hit the cineplex, someone commented that it is rather surprising to know that I'm going for Terminator and that it is not my type of show. Hmm.....to a certain extend, yes, I agree. I prefer movies that will move my heart, be it cry or laugh! And so...Terminator...oh well, it was all about machines, machines and machines everywhere. It wasn't exactly that nice watching machines but I must confess I really like the 'motorbikes' (can't remember exactly what it is called in the show). Ohh....and I think Christian Bale is better off as John Connor than Batman ;)
There were many lessons and principles that one can draw from the show, besides the fact that John Connor saved the world from the machines. But there was a statement made by John Connor towards the end of the show which tug at the string of my heart...."the strength of human is in the heart." Hmm.....I think the statement is rather true. If one's heart is strong, then he/she can do lots of stuff that will impact society in a positive way. But if one's heart is weak, then he/she will not be motivated to do anything. And more often than not, our hearts are not strong enough to carry us through the not-so-nice circumstances in life. The bad decisions that we made because we followed our hearts, emotional hang-ups that caused us to feel like failures.... Recently, a friend shared a little about the emotional struggle that he is going through. Something that we as human can never run away from because we are made to relate with one another. And a lot of times, our emotions are the things that will zap up all our energy. Definitely not a very nice thing to go through.
I wonder...
How strong is my heart today?
What is my heart telling me to do?
Is my heart telling me to do the right thing, the God-thing?
Is my heart beating together with God's?
Psalm 73:26 "my flesh and my HEART may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forevermore"
I don't think we can ever rely on our own strength to go through the journey of life athough some might differ in their opinion. The strength of human is in the heart (which will fail), but the strength of human's heart is in the Lord!
It has been 3 weeks...and the messages on Sundays, the devotional materials, even song that a friend sent to me are talking about TRUST! God must be saying something, right?
It is a though I'm undergoing a course called "Trust 101" and the lecturer is none other than God, Himself. I don't think I will ever complete this course, though I would love to pass with a distinction. =)
Have I not trusted enough that I need to retake this course? Or could it be that He trust me enough to bring me to Level 2, Trust 102? I wonder....
I am a CHILD, a FRIEND, a BRIDE and a DISCIPLE of GOD.
I am continually experiencing and encountering the unmerited favor and undivided love of my precious Savior, Jesus Christ.
Therefore I purpose in my heart to be extravagant in my worship unto God, to allow Him to empower me to influence others and make Him famous!
