once again, i notice the limited and ignorant depth of man's wisdom and perspective to things, only able to see and understand it at a natural level. the samaritan woman said, "the well is deep, from whence then hast thou that living water?"

living water is fresh, and not stored, but constantly renewed by the living God. Living God gives living waters, things don't. Think about Pastor Pam's message =)

"Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst" - probably the same as when we try to find satisfaction from the things in the world, but fail to realise that those things don't give us eternal satisfaction, let alone eternal life...

The conversation that Lord Jesus has with this woman leads me to think of the basis of a relationship and draws me to Matthew 7:7, "Ask and you will receive..." this scene perhaps also shows Jesus' willingness to give His living water to His people, and whoever that believes in what He says. When we ask, we WILL receive. But many times we let our doubts block our receiving from the LORD. When we have doubts, we are not trusting God right?

"when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spiri and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him."
God loves it when we worship Him in spirit and in truth. In truth there is no doubt. When we worship in spirit and in truth, there is a true connection and unbeaten and unchallenged connection between God and ourselves. That is when we can throw aside our unbeliefs, doubts, challenges, heartaches and worship God, looking at Him.

it is GOD who will give us the living waters, not things, not even His work.

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth."
it is a MUST. if we don't, don't call it worship. LORD, help me... =)
We must be like children, when they play, they fully immerse themselves in play. but note, worship is not play. perhaps God will take us to a joyous place and spend some time with us, but we musn't make light of worship =)

I must look to my God like a child. :p because i'm always that small in His arms. God is so big but is big enough to hear us and fight the battle for us =p so just lie in the palm of His hands and enjoy His protection, embrace and presence!

"I that speak unto thee am He". Jesus speaks of His identity.

Samaritan woman later goes forth to spread the news that she met Jesus, who IS Christ. Today, after our first encounter with the LORD, we too, burst in excitement and speak forth God's reality and goodness.. God, let me not lose that spark for You =)


"white already to harvest" - John 4: 35
could it be that... hmmm, purity?

"I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." - John 4:38
Let it not come our pride when we "clinch the deal" because all glory goes to GOD. and a person's salvation belongs to our God, truly. God has sent people to reach out to them and we merely are the reapers. God, in His perfect plan, sent people to prepare a person's heart ready to receive Him.

For me, since young, Christian music school, to door-to-door evangelism, to Bishan lady, to Bryant. God is good!

"And many of the samaritans of the city believed on Him for the saying of the woman."
All it took was also a hearsay. and they believed Jesus. We don't need to know everything about JESUS to know Him. all we need to do is believe Him, establish a relationship with Him and He will deepen our knowledge of Him - if only we allow.
now the bible records more than the many miracles God did, yet many dwells in their unbelief, myself included (sometimes just don't understand and quite unbelievable)

but i must always tell myself, that i serve a God with NO impossibilities!

"Now we believe, not because of they saying: for we have heard him ourselves". Shows that a relationship has been established! first we hear about other people's encounters with Jesus, we want to know Him. then we hear from Him ourselves =") how important is evangelism!

"For Jesus Himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in His own country." links back to John 1:10-11 - "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His world received Him not."

Jesus healing the nobleman's son. Healing is immediate. Ask, & believe we have received. Jesus wasn't even physically there! God is powerful. All we need is a word from God and it will be taken care of. God is so much in control =)

"Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." - Don't mock God for His healing nor make light of it. this does imply that sin brings infirmity.

honest reflections. *
7:31 PM

Gospel of John 1-3

"Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these." - John 1: 50

I think it shows how simple faith can be- just believing what Jesus says. And with that comes "greater" things. Led to mull over the mustard seed of faith. Many times in the bible where people have been healed, many didn't know everything about Jesus but according to their faitha and belief, they were healed. There's power in the name of Jesus.

Water becoming Wine is Jesus' first miracle. The power of Jesus, has the supernatural ability to change things.

"Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise."

House of prayer - Church. It is a holy place, don't cheapen it's state with worldly goods. Church must be pure and a place where God is glorified. Jesus defends His Father's house like a Son. Similarly, the Body of Christ, as sons and daughters we must defend it and keep it pure. We have to be pure and seek God's cleansing. JEsus came to build His church...

Jesus' meeting with Nicodemus. I would think that it is told to illustrate how JESUS is of authority, power and glory. How many heavenly things eludes man as man try to think of it at the natural level. (when Nicodemus asked how can a man beborn when he is old in John 3:4) Man's wisdom no matter how high a status he has in society (Nicodemus was a master of Israel) can never contend with God's wisdom. JEsus had His eyes set from God's perspective. God is sovereign and high above all.

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born ofthe Spirit." - John 3:8

John 3: 15-17: Crux of Christianity. Rise and resurrection of Jesus + His death as a penalty for our sins.

"For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." - God's compassion and mercy on us to save us from something we deserve. LOVE makes the difference.

"John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." - John 3: 27
Everything comes from God. God owes us nothing but we owe Him much. How can we hurt Him? He's given us so much...

honest reflections. *
3:11 AM

Thursday, April 21, 2005
40 - Living with Purpose.

finally.
it's time to conclude with a life purpose statement! (:
shall wait till a time im really settled down.
(:

honest reflections. *
7:52 AM

Wednesday, April 20, 2005
39 - Balancing Your Life.

(=
i frankly dont know what to pen in this entry.
balance is probably one of the more obscure words from me.
i just chatted with shui and i agreed that im a very radical person.
but hey! i dun think im always rite! i respect people's choices too :)

u know i was thinking if there's such a thing called a perfect Christian
i think there is and that's Christ ahha.
i mean seriously.
who can actually balance worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, mission as well as He did.
u know we're bound to focus on some area more,
whichever that appeals to us more.
maybe He didnt balance it as well either
i mean afterall i didnt witness it
there is that doubt as to how accurate the Bible can be.
but still, my belief far far far far outweighs the doubt.
i mean looking at the way things have gone for me
i really feel that life's so much simpler now
with this fresh new perspective.
like a newborn baby.

looking at the things He'd done for me
it's too natural (we call it supernatural) to be credible.
but that's probably the beauty of it all.

9988.
(:
just hope i can stay close(im starting to feel the drift :( )
and fulfil my job and mission on this assignment.
God Bless everyone and me! (:

honest reflections. *
9:06 AM

Tuesday, April 19, 2005
38 - Becoming a World Class Citizen.

real drowsy as i read this chapter but there was this part about foreign missionaries that appealed to me
im really interested in going like india or something for the missionaries!
i mean after hearing what Pastor Raian said im really hoping i can go sometime soon u know.
i mean, really. i dont think Elim would have any contacts problem with regards to fulfilling God's work and stuff so WELL!
just hope my pastors wont feel im too young for tt because i dont think so! (:

i pretty much like some of the verses mentioned here man! :)

"We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:18

honest reflections. *
10:52 AM

Monday, April 18, 2005
37 - Sharing your Life Message.

huge quarrel took place at my house
abit sian diao but heng i had His peace
His tranquility and His clarity to see things through.

what i need is a free weekend to do my
LIFE REVIEW RETREAT
LIfe testimony journal
where i must keep track of what He's done for me
u know! so when the time comes for me to share
i can be coherent in sharing about Him =)
through the help of the Holy Spirit too of course! :)

i must revisit this chapter. for sure.
keep this in mind too:

"Most importantly, you must learn to love lost people the way God does."

honest reflections. *
10:30 AM

Sunday, April 17, 2005
36 - Made for a Mission.

i fell asleep while reading this chapter. i just gave in to fatigue.
shrugs.
but when i woke up and read to the last bit,
i just felt like the tears flowed out.
one of the sentences that hit me hard was like..
the day we stand before God, He's going to hold us responsible for the unsaved around us.
because we are supposed to help lost sheep return to Him, our Father.
it probably sounds unfair and biting as it's normal we hate taking up responsibilities...
but i cant help but to feel the nagging of trying my best to save my loved ones -
Friends and Family.
i started out with much fervour but i was unaware that my zest is taking its toll.
so great, i mean through today's sermon,
today's FOF class, today's QT,
God's reminding me that no matter how people are goin to think of me,
just continue to spread His message of love, really.
but im really stuck in this valley where im really afraid that people will repel Him,
that people will think of Him in the bad light..
how is it i can bring my unbeliever friends closer to His salvation,
without jeopardising people's judgement on Him?
not that He is afraid of judgement just that i might, u know, feel unfair.
think the very best i can do is through my prayers.
pray dutifully.

Pray
Until
Something
Happens

PUSH.
God's really with me =)

honest reflections. *
6:20 AM

Friday, April 15, 2005
35 - God's Power in your Weakness.

the moment my eyes flashed across the last word,
i just felt like wow.
God is really God. u know.
He doesnt have OUR worldly mindset.
we're always being so envious of how well others can perform.
gloating over our own strengths and power.
yet beneath that prideful facade,
we hide another layer of shame and sense of inferiority.
i mean really, God i mean wow.
i just cant stop thinking wow :)
He really has His wonders and performs it to His plans.
While we worldly fools dwell on the strengths
God thinks and plans for weaknesses.
i mean duh. He really is different from us.
all right, that's why He's God :p

think after i've come to accept the Lord Jesus Christ,
i feel that i did open up quite abit about my weaknesses
which i feel, i really feel is,
the lack of love for people :(
and also patience.
so now im going through training to mould myself into a more loving and patient character on this Earth.
and soon, with my shaped character i'll reunite with Him, my Holy Father :p

with the kids, and my granny...
tell me which part isnt about patience and love :)
i just feel that now my temper with my granny is pretty controlled!
As much as Satan tries to tempt me at the doorstep of my mind,
u know our Lord, JEsus Christ is always above the devil
and when we send Him to fend for us,
because He so loves us
He will protect us from all evil! :)

yups.
we all have our weaknesses, but they are meant to be turned into strengths.
and through God, nothing is impossible.
even if our little never-wiser-than-God's mind tells us nonono, we're never going to make it,
well, just wait and see how God performs His miracles in you!

i can feel Him in my life. mich's and qian's life.
so there. He's always working
but He never gets tired! :p
cos He's our Father!! (:

honest reflections. *
7:26 PM

34 - Thinking Like a Servant.

"Attitudes count more than achievements."
how true. even if we seemingly did not achieve anything, it doesnt mean we're not good enough or worthless.
because achievements is yet another worldly term.
but with attitude, i feel that so long we are answerable to the Lord and ourselves,
we're pretty safe.

realised that for now, my attitude to how im handling my life is
doing my best in all the opportunities that come along my way,
my interview and writing test for SCI, physio @ sydney,
and United ARtist Network (UAN),
and have faith and trust in God that in whatever He gives me,
He has the best for me in His almighty mind and plans. :)
i really trust You that You'll give me nothing less than the best!
really :)

and with such a thinking,
that you really do ur best and leave the rest to God,
u'll think that life is so much less-burdened and more enlightening.
pun intended :)
it literally lightens the stress you're carrying on your back.
i mean seriously,
we're so scared of making decisions and when these decisions do go wrong
we're so inclined to shoulder responsibility for these bad decisions
not that we shouldnt care a bit even,
but really, putting your trust that Lord gives you the best
it provides a new way of living.
be convinced that even the situation may not see the least bit rosy at the moment
it will be soon :)
even if it's not in this life,
just remember He's promised us eternal riches when we reunite with Him
falling into His arms, with deafening joyful laughter.
:) --smiles--

Think im quite guilty of using Him sometimes :(
i try my very best to put myself out of that mind
that God will give me things on condition.
i mean really, sometimes He says yes, sometimes no, and most of the time, wait.
so, there.
i like to make pacts with Him.
and think about it, im really in no position to do tt...
hmm.. haiz.
ill try to change...must trust You! :)

im reminded by this chapter that once again,
Christians are one family
one army
one team
and we have a common enemy
and we MUST fight this warfare (i dont mean literally the connotation of violence.)
and uphold His name.
MUST!!

my aunt used to tell me
her faith or whatever is the true route. where all 5 religions come together
that all other religions are merely ji4 tuo1..
but i reallly feel that Jesus Christ gave me jie3 tuo1...
i mean really..
u'll see life in a very very different light
somehow, in His works of wonder,
you feel life's really fulfilling =)
love.

honest reflections. *
8:11 AM

33 - How Real Servants Act.

I would admit it’s funny at first to think of myself as a servant.
But coming to know that Jesus, who actually is the Son of God, actually did humble Himself to clean His disciples’ feet is an inspiration. Or however I should call it.
I mean besides the fact that Christ did it with one of the purposes being that the following generations’ disciples may follow, I don’t know how I can ever be like Christ..
So perfect!

Or maybe we’ve been attached to this worldly world for too long
That we cannot see and realise that in truth, servant and minister mean the same anyway.
Afterall, we’re all children of God, ain’t we?
The thing about man is that we love differences, but then we can’t celebrate that.
Or rather, very rarely can we.
Or maybe I should say we love distinction.
In our world, there’s a difference between a master and servant, leader and follower.
But I realise…ultimately, what’s going to matter is not what’s on this earth,
Where we’re sent down for a special assignment.

I mean seriously.
Personally, I think I will take a pretty long time to get accustomed to the idea of being a servant.
But I promise You, I’ll try! 
Just pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me along the way, perfect and mould and shape me into the perfect part for Christ’s body. (:

I love You! (:

honest reflections. *
8:10 AM