Here I Am Waiting.....

I led two songs today that says "Lord have Your way...". Very easy to sing, but to mean it? I've been waiting for a promise to unfold. It has been a long ten years (as far as I can remember!) I've prayed. I've claimed the promise. I've surrendered. I've laid it at the altar. I've stopped praying. God knows how many cycles of prayer and surrendering I've been through.

The unfulfilled promise resurfaced again. I can't help but to wonder if God has forgotten about me and the promise. Everytime I prayed (for the past ten years)...the answer has been TO WAIT!

This week, my devotion has been on Sarah (yes, Abraham's wife, the one who messed up with God's plan but got her promised fulfilled though she didn't believe it at first) The challenge, the focal point for this week is about "waiting". Yes, waiting, it is! Sarah waited for a long time to see her promise of giving birth to a son being fulfilled.

Here's what the Deovotional Book "Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler" says....
Reflection: Genesis 17:1-22
Praise God: Because He keeps His promises!
Offer Thanks: That God has a gracious plan for me that will unfold in HIS TIME, according to HIS WAY
Confess: My anxiety and self-reliance
Ask God: To help me WAIT with a listening ear and a ready heart to do His will.

As I questioned God, I was also humbled by the fact that everything happens according to His perfect timing and ways. He is Lord, I am not! My prayer is that I will not dwell in the "why isn't it happening"...but that I will be able to see things through His eyes. And in the midst of waiting, I will continue to delight in Him, and ready to do His will!

So Lord, here I am waiting........ =)

Dormant? Year of Possibilities!!!!!!!

Oh yes! My blog has been lying dormant for who knows since when. Everytime something interesting happened in my life, I wanted to write. Yes, I really wanted to write BUT.... *grin* And when I read other people's blogs, I was totally inspired and I wanted to write BUT... *grin*.... BUT everytime when I wanted to put it into action...my brain just refuses to cooperate. Just as my blog has been lying dormant, I was reminded of some of the dreams/ passions that have been lying dormant in me. God plays a big part in fulfilling those dreams, but there are also those that I've not seriously pursue, or may have forgotten about them... *grins*

The church (http://www.gatewaycity.com.my/) had an awesome Watchnite Service on the 31st Dec 2008. Everyone was encouraged to give a creative offering, ranging from cooking some delicacies for the supper cum fellowship time, to dancing, to presenting a multimedia, to singing, to anything you can think of. Almost everyone in the church took part. Best watchnite ever!

We, as a church and as individuals, kicked off Year 2009 as the YEAR OF POSSIBILITIES. Pr. Edward challenged us to be bold! Bold to claim our promises!! Bold to speak to the mountain, and let it be removed!! My question is...."how bold can I or do I want to be?" A lot of times, I think it's a matter of how much I want to step out of my comfort zone and make things happen, or rather to allow God to make things happen in my life.

I want to believe, step out and claim all the possibilities for my dreams!

Gateway Watchnite Service 2008

My New Toy

YAY! Finally got my new toy! ;) Been waiting for quite a while but this really great friend of mine couldn't find time to help me set up the necessary programs. God is good! So is this friend...thanks Peter! Truly appreciate your time and effort. =)


So yea...my new toy! I'm exploring it right now, and trying to blog! So here it is...dedicating this blog to my new toy and God who made it possible!

Faith Journey

Last March, I had an awesome privilege to be part of 16,000 women in the Hillsong Color Conference. I've never thought I could be there again in Sydney for such a huge conference. My last time there was for Hillsong Conference, well many many years ago. Both trips were a gift from the Heavenly Father! But this recent trip was truly a step of faith. I didn't have any cent to begin with. Sis helped booked the flight ticket...by faith! Prayer wasn't as intense until after CNY. That's when we had to pay the tour agency. Frankly, I was very worried about where the money would come from. I've even contemplated forgoing the conference fee, reimburse Edlina who had generously paid for me and another friend. This journey of faith seemed so out of mind. I remembered my conversation with dad and how he seemed a lil upset with our actions. He actually said this "You guys are crazy already to do such a thing!" and then, he shook his head. I couldn't explain my actions then. I wanted so much to tell him that actually "I'm very fearful, and I really do not know where the money would come from but I feel that God is teaching me to trust in Him. I think God can provide qua!" Sigh.... Part of me was like, "It's ok Penny, God is in control!", and the other part was like, "But God...when? When will you show forth your miracle?" All I can cling on to was His promise in Matthew 7:7 and also a little plaque thing that was on my parents door that says "Trust in the Lord". The wordings had never been so OBVIOUS in the house till that very point!

To cut the long story short, prayers upon prayers, and those sleepless nights and God who kept reassuring me of His provision....He certainly STEPPED IN and provided miraculously. I went to draw out money from ATM machine and found extra cash in my account....who else but God who moved the hearts of His people to give generously! This is truly God's grace in action. I experienced His unmerited favor.

God's fingerprints were definitely on my whole Australian trip. Food, accommodation and transportation were all almost taken care of by friends! It's truly amazing how God put everything in place for sis and I. To God be the glory!

A Must Share!

It's been months since my last post. I've been wanting to post on the amazing journeys that I've had the past months but then....yes, then I keep procrastinating and hence, there was no updates. =) My humble apology to those who have been dropping by and found nothing.

But I do owe myself at least 3 interesting posts....journey of faith to Australia, sweet victory in Penang Floorball League and last but not least the addition to the family, Prince Ashton! I will definitely share...just wait....

But this very post is something I felt in my spirit that I must share! MUST! It has been a pretty nerve wrecking week. I felt so overpowered by enormous tasks ahead of me and the concerns surrounding me....personal life, church and work! It was as though everything has been dropped into the blender and it is just a matter of time before everything explodes! There are just many things that is beyond my control. And basically I have 2 choices, to hold on to the pressures and fear of the unknown or just learning to let go and let God!

Charles R. Swindoll in his devotional book, "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life" mentioned that it requires maturity to just let go, turn lose and release the squeeze. And for that very moment, I felt so immature as I just wanted so much to hold on to all that I can. But what truly sparked me is this...

"We are often hindered from giving up our treasures out of fear for their safety. But wait. Everything is SAFE which is COMMITTED to our GOD. In fact nothing is really safe which is not so committed. No child. No job. No romance. No friend. No future. No dream."

And he went on to give the example of Abraham being asked to offer his son, Isaac (read Genesis 22: 1-18) and how God, the Jehovah Jireh provided the ram when Abraham obeyed God.

But then as I post this and as I learn to just surrender, I know that everything is safe in His hands. And I am constantly walking in His fields of grace, dwelling in His wonderful favor.

* God showed His favor this week as He held back depressing news concerning work and also a client's satisfaction over the arrangement done! What else can I say but that God is in control and that His favor was upon me and the situations I'm in!! ;) All glory to God!!

Gateway City Church Dedication Service

The very much awaited and anticipated event has finally arrived...27 January 2008! With just a very small core group and church of 7 adults and 3 kids, it seem quite an impossible task to host 100++ invited guests for such an auspicious occasion. From physical arrangement, refreshments, ushering, worship leading, media, entertaining guests etc etc.......it's truly impossible in the eyes of men BUT with God, everything is certainly possible!!

It was truly an awesome atmosphere with presence of friends and family from various churches, organizations, and not to mention, there were some from other nations too! And God just rained down His glorious presence. The speaker, Bro. Ooi Chin Aik brought words of encouragement and challenge - the "5 S's" that the church should be......Spontaneous, Strategic, Selective, Shut-in with God and Sending.

No doubt it was a tiring day physically but no complains.....truly no complains. God was re-teaching me to serve this season. Ephesians 6:7...to serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. =) Oh yea, I'm also thankful to those who came and serve alongside us during the day...the LiveWire Team, friends from Wesley Methodist Church, Paul, Henry, Christina...THANK YOU!

Here are some pics....

In the Beginning...

Year 2008...a new year, a new beginning! I'm excited for the fact that I'm in partnership with God for His work at Gateway City Church (log on to http://www.gatewaycity.com.my for more info). We started meeting last September on site for prayer. The church is officially starting in January 2008. We'll be having our Church Dedication Service on 27 January 2008. Something to look forward to....

On our very first official Sunday Service, Pr. Edward shared on Genesis 1...In the beginning... and how everything started with GOD! God spoke...and there was light! God spoke...and the earth was formed! God spoke...living creatures and plants filled the earth! God spoke...and here we are living on this earth! Everything comes from God and God alone. And how I was reminded...perhaps more than just a reminder...how my eyes were opened to see that God is the beginning! It is Him who makes all things possible. It is about the God factor! And it is God who will make things happen in Gateway City Church! =)