I'm very satisfied with what Ivy and I have covered for wedding prep so far..
I'm really excited and looking forward to the day, and the preparation has been great thus far :)

as I meditate on the past couple of weeks and the road ahead
I'm reminded of a few simple truths that can be so easily put aside in the midst of something joyous

recognising the sovereignty of God
the thought that keeps coming to mind is that,
I may be gone the very next minute, or even the woman that I love
our life on this earth is so vulnerable and frail
and it's extremely vital to recognise and to constantly, consistently seek the Lord's plans above ours

He gives, and He takes away

1 Samuel 2:6-9
"The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.

The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.

He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
"For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's;
upon them he has set the world.

He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
"It is not by strength that one prevails;

-------------
Although it is still quite some time to the wedding,
let this post be a reminder of the things that I need to pray for:

1) For salvation to come upon both our parents, especially so for Ivy's parents
2) For the salvation of the friends who have yet to come to know Christ
As I listed down the friends that I hope to invite, I felt really ashamed of myself for not having reached out to them. A feeling of helplessness
And some times, I do entertain thoughts that these are secondary issues, but Lord, please remind me not to take your command lightly.
To be honest, I feel really weak in this aspect,
Lord, I really pray that You will equip me with wisdom to share with them, humbly, and with genuine concern
I also realised that I'm not really much a people person and can get very task oriented often, but as I reflect back, I felt that this is not the way ahead.
God, please teach me

3) For smooth wedding plans - lots to take care of, and it's a time where many people are involved, with quite a number of tasks to coordinate.
I pray that whatever that Ivy and I do, we will be alert to what God is speaking to us, that He may be glorified in the process

4) important - the road ahead for both of us.
Wedding is not a goal, but a beginning of a journey
What good it is for an army to have the greatest NDP parade with perfect precision drill, but the military combat readiness of the soldiers is ground zero
it will be a new journey together, and we really need God's grace to lead us together..
often we quote and encourage the church that there is power in unity
I was reminded that same applies for marriage
it should not be of our selfish ambitions,
but when both of us walk together, it will be double the power that God can grant us
It will be a very sad day for God if after the wedding, we become so absorbed with ourselves that we failed to see the greater plans God has for us as a couple

Lord, teach us how to love You first, and love each other

----
Hebrews 12:1-2
The Race of Faith
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

--------
Lord, I acknowledge how weak and feeble I am without you
And I pray that even as I seek you,
You will unveil your plans for both Ivy and I
You are God and You are Father
May everything that we do bring You Glory,
for You alone deserves it.

In Jesus name I pray,
Amen


~Zhong

another friend of mine just passed away
one year younger than I am
bike accident, just like my NDU buddy, steven

the first thing that I thought of was
where will he be?
and what have I done as a friend to ensure his salvation?

it made me reflect on earthly friendships
the conversations with the people we care

have we seriously, given much thought to what we talk about?

it hits me really hard
the very words we speak or we have spoken to our loved ones,
may be the very words that snatch a soul from the grasp of hell

for myself
it's a very strong reminder for myself again

of my sole purpose that I am alive for
to know, to seek, to do His will for me in my life

we are really at the mercy of a Greater Being

Philippians 2:12-13
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Joshua 1:7-9
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you, do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
but you shall meditate in it day and night,
that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.
For then you will make your way prosperous,
and then you will have good success

Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and of good courage;
do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,
for the Lord your GOd is with you wherever you go.


Prophetic word for WAC

Prepare/ Plan

Spy the land -> strategy

Evaluate our failures and successes
Encounter

Submit to the Spirit
Resist the devil

Subdue
Against violent spirit

----------
Inner life
Search and look into our hearts
be on guard, the enemy is always on the prowl

Intimacy
In my worship
In fervent prayer
In the Word

Intercession
Impact

What hinders us from moving forward?
- Regrets
- Resentment & unforgiveness
- unwillingness to change due to fear or pride
- complaining and comparing spirit
- lose sight of the end result

Philippians 3:12-16
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind and
reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind;
and if in anything you think otherwise,
God will reveal even this to you.
Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,
let us be of the same mind.

Be lifted high
Leeland & Michael W Smith

Sin and its ways grow old
All of my heart turns to stone
And I'm left with no strength to arise
How You need to be lifted high

Sin and its ways lead to pain
Left here with hurt and with shame
So no longer will I leave your side
Jesus, you be lifted high

You be lifted high
You be lifted high
You be lifted high in my life
Oh God
And I fall to my knees
So it's you that they see
Not I
Jesus, you be lifted high

And even now that I'm inside your hands
Help me not to grow prideful again
Don't let me forsake sacrifice
Jesus you be lifted high

And if I'm blessed with the riches of kings
How could I ever think that it was me
For you brought me from darkness to light
Jesus, you be lifted high

You be lifted high
You be lifted high
You be lifted high in my life
Oh God
And I fall to my knees
So it's you that they see
Not I
Jesus, you'll be lifted high

finally

after
28 practical lessons, including revisions
and
$2,503.40

I can finally
drive

2008 - Grounded in the Word, Moving in the Spirit