After the AGM

Last Friday we held our AGM where the new Local Committee were installed (appointed? commissioned?). Looking back on the year that has passed, we give thanks to God for His provision and guidance. Even though there were things that could have been improved upon, i really thank God for each one who were in the LC. It was a privilege and blessing to serve alongside each of them, and to see them grow in various ways!




Of course, our service definitely doesn’t end now that some of us have stepped down. And we still have a few more months at least in this year when we will be mentoring the new LC. But in a way, it’s a bit sad that we won’t quite have that same relationship now that our time in the LC has ended (especially if we will be in different countries in the near future..) Still, i am constantly reminded how the Lord puts different people in our paths at different points of our lives to walk with us for that part of the journey, and encourage each other along the way. Thinking back on our small all-girl committee in the Student Fellowship in Sheffield... All the more, it was a great time of depending on God and on each other in our service. Was delighted to meet my ex-housemate Windy online last week, and to be able to look forward to meeting her and a few other dear friends from Sheffield at Tuan & Min’s upcoming wedding! It’s a bit funny the memories that stick with me on top of everything else – watching Hong Kong dramas together, trying to learn some Cantonese (rather unsuccessfully i’m afraid ;P), Christmas dinners in pajamas.. How wonderful; it’s so true that friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them! :)

Disciplines

Today, Pastor Graham gave the continuation of his sermon from last Sunday, and it all ties in so well with everything we’ve been learning at OCF and during this National Prayer and Missions Month and in my own reflections. It’s probably a question many followers of Christ have asked: Why am i not experiencing God’s transforming power in my life? It all comes down to allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us, which isn’t easy given our natural inclinations, and the distractions in the world around us. Today’s sermon brought up 5 areas in which we need to discipline ourselves:

• Prayer
• Studying, reflecting and meditating on, God's Word
• Taking time away from the noise in the world for silence, solitude and space, so that we can hear and listen to the Spirit's voice
• Practising grace and forgiveness towards each other
• Stepping out of our comfort zone so that we can be stretched in our faith

These all cultivate a sense of dependence on God, which is what i think is the essence of our relationship with Him.

For me, at present, i want to concentrate on the area of prayer. Setting aside time to spend with God and tell Him what i know He knows, so that i can know it as He knows it. This road to holiness isn’t automatic; it’s a daily process, with every choice we make possibly influencing whether we progress or regress in our journey. As Pastor Max suggested in his talk on Friday night, we can just start by spending 15 minutes a day in prayer – 5 minutes praising God, 5 minutes praying for family and friends and ourselves, and 5 minutes praying for people around the world.

Oh yes, and with regard to taking that step of faith, so glad to have been there to witness Katie’s public declaration of her faith by going through the waters of baptism today =) And yes, after yesterday’s doll-making session and today’s sermon, i think i will be ready to visit Kenya when the opportunity comes :)

What on earth am i doing

No the title of this post wasn’t written with reference to the stats analysis i have to do for my thesis (although even just thinking about the prospect does indeed give me some grief and i will definitely have to ask for help once the data has all been collected! :S)

I was actually thinking that this is a question most of us have asked at some point or another, and one i think that is good for us to ask every now and again to remind ourselves about our focus and goals in life. Are we using our time and money in the best possible way? Are we in the best place, whether in work or study or any other situation, where we find life worthwhile, and are able to do things that really matter? I fear i might sound rather repetitive since this is an issue i have blogged about quite often, but it does highlight its importance, and how i need to question myself periodically to check that i are indeed investing in things that last. I have learnt that living in God’s Will doesn’t mean that there is only one right choice to make in every situation, and that walking with Jesus by faith is really a step-by-step journey, which is difficult given that most of us want immediate gratification, or at least, to know what is ahead. How do we become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit amongst the other distracting messages that are blared at us left, right and centre from the world?

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

It all starts from the mind, especially if we learn to be discerning in the small choices we make about what to ‘let in’ our mind.
More about prayer in the next post…

I sing because i'm happy

Why should i feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion - my constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and i know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and i know He watches me.

I sing because i'm happy, i sing because i'm free,

For His eye is on the sparrow, and i know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word i hear,
And resting on His goodness, i lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step i may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and i know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and i know He watches me.

What's Your Mission?

Yet another challenging message by Pastor Graham on Sunday after some particularly moving sharing by some of the Subi team who returned from Kenya recently. After the previous Sunday’s sermon on Accountability, and how important it is to keep each other in check, and to permit at least one other person in your life to ask you hard questions about your life, this Sunday’s topic was Mission. In truth, we are all called to be missionaries for God, as long as we have had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, and as long as we have a story to tell. So the question becomes, What is your mission? Where has God placed you, and who do you have the privilege of coming into contact with and sharing your life and your story? For me, i really feel as if these two years have been quite clearly a preparatory and equipping period, almost a transitional time, although of course i have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people during my time in Perth, and be able to walk this part of the journey with them. But what comes next, i am not so sure. Definitely a time to seek the Lord’s will and ask where it is that i can serve Him best. I do believe though, that we all need to keep asking the question – whether we are in the best place to be used by God. He might well be prompting you to step out of your comfort zone and take that step of faith to do something you never expected. That’s the exciting part of walking with Jesus – we never really know where He’ll lead us next. But that's alright, as long as we know He’s beside us.

pray without ceasing

It’s hard to believe how quickly the time passes. Seems like just yesterday when i was at the end of the holiday, waiting eagerly for the new semester to start… and now we’re in August, at the end of Week 2 already! The busyness of the last two weeks has again reminded me about how important it is to keep in mind my priorities and keep a check of how i’m spending my time. The truth of the matter is that i need constant reminding not to waste the time i have, and to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, and not to clutter my life with the urgent but unimportant things. Guess that’s really what it means to be renewed daily. In fact, it’s more a moment-by-moment kind of renewal, for i am ever so forgetful. Does it get any easier to be focused and walk in a manner that’s pleasing to God? Well, as John Chapman said in his book A Sinner’s Guide to Holiness, “the first 60 years are the hardest”. Yay, almost there! .. ;P

Thank God for last night’s first combined Bible Study of the semester as we embark on our study of 'Highlights from the book of Exodus', learning to trust God just as the Israelites had to do. And as OCF Perth approaches the AGM in three weeks’ time, my heart is just so amazed and thankful for how the Lord has so graciously provided so many people who are willing to serve in different ways. It’s quite wonderful, and is really encouraging to see these young people stepping up to give their time and talents for God, even when they might not feel totally adequate for the task. I’m sure they will learn lots through their time of service, and pray that they will grow significantly during this time in Perth.

Praying for Stan and the whole team from his church in Kenya at the moment. How wonderful that everyone in the team from last year has fulfilled their desire of returning this year, and that this time, even more have joined them! =) Pray that they will get adequate rest and be a great encouragement to the local church there. Also praying that the Lord will speak to the team and minister to them personally as they serve Him there.