Revelation to "Honor & Glory"

Today God revealed His purpose for me to attend OCS Experiential Camp. As the Lord promises: "Hither to have ye asked nothing in my name, ask, and ye shall receive that your joy may be full." [John 16:24]

I have asked. He has answered.

"There was a story of a football coach who had many bad incidents happening in his life. His team was losing several matches consecutively. They just couldn't win. He was on the verge of being fired by his superiors. He broke down and read Psalms 18:1-3. He prayed and ask the Lord to have his hopes and his dreams and be his guide...He began asking himself the purpose of his team. He realise winning football games alone is too small a goal. The glory and trophies will one day become dust. The more he read the bible, the more he found that life is not all about us. God put us here for a purpose. Jesus said the most important thing is to love God, people around us and ourself. Win or lose, he will praise God."

So you see, God has revealed to me my purpose for this camp, and in fact the purpose of this life to everything we do. In all things that I do, shouldn't I give praise to Him? He has the lordship over my life. He has paid the debts before I knew Him.

The SAF Commandos has been always a vocation I desire to be part of. They have this motto that goes "For Honor and Glory". I have been pondering. Whose honor and glory? Now I know - it is for God's honor and glory.

The army is a place where I want to inspire people; inspire people to give God the honor and glory, to lead, to excel and to overcome all for God. Amen. Just Him alone. I want to be leading generations into a lifechanging relationship with Jesus Christ.

I do not know if I can do that neither do i put too much hope in it. Because it is purely my ambition but His decision. I am open minded to what He has for me.

Lord, I am waiting for your revelation.

Story extracted from the movie: Facing the Giants by Alex Kenrick

To lead, to excel, to overcome with honour and glory.

I had undergone a 3d2n experiential camp at the SAF Officer Cadet School. Tremendous experience, knowledge and truth.

A week before camp, I was quite worried because I had been inactive in NCC for about a year. My worry was the execution of commands. I had to review the commands, practice at home, think and recall. My biggest fear for this camp was to be selected as PC for this camp. But thankfully, I wasn't. I worried so much because the last HQ Camp I had ever attended was 3 years ago when I was becoming a Cadet Officer (CDO). Moreover, OCS experiential camp is the second camp I have attended as a CDO. My rank has being stagnant all the while but my passion for the Army was otherwise.

First day when I reported, I started to find myself as the only CDO with no other friends I know. That is kind of awkward. You know that feeling. Had to find a bunkmate because we are living in a 2 man bunk. With 17 strength, I thought okay, I am the odd one. Well, eventually, I did not sleep alone, I found Kenrick. I found out I was the only CDO from 56th batch, meaning I am the oldest officer. You may be skeptical or may covet what I have to say next. Many said I looked like their age which is 17 or 18. Got it? I have not only good perserverance but preservation!

OCS scheduled 2 school events intentionally for us during camp:
1) Commanders' Parade - live uniformed drills, distinct bang all from Officer Cadet Trainees(OCT) from different formations (land, sea & air).

2) 4km School Run aka cadence run - a very purposeful run. Run constitutes OCTs and commanders from OCS. Run was carried out Wing(which is company I think) by Wing in rows of 5, no overtaking. The purpose was to instill the core value "care for soldiers". No man is left behind; we fight together; we complete our mission together.

If you want to tour around SAFTI MI where OCS is located, go to the tower near OCS Parade Square. The tower was constructed with 279 steps signifies the no. of days each officer has to go through as a cadet trainee. At the top, 3 significant views you can observe: The HDB flats and clear blue sky which signifies the responsibility of the Air Force protecting our homes and skies, the sea ports which signifies the responsibility of the Navy protecting our sea from impending threats to our trades and the forest which signifies the responsibility of the Army.

The highlight of the camp to me was the privilege to speak to commisioned officers from different appointments. They were Commander OCS (COL Chua), Deputy Commander Army (SLTC Loong), Commandant NCC (LTC Adrian Koh), Charlie Wing Commander (LTC Ramezan), LTA Spencer, LTA Ee Sheng, LTA Alex and almost commisioned OCTs. Their expeiriences were tips to me on becoming an Officer. The simple conversations we had had inspired me to become leaders like them to lead, to excel, to overcome.

SLTC Loong gave us two takeaway statements: "Make it happen" & "STOP".
Make it happen: Which I thought is applicable also in my life as a Christian. To evangelise, I got to make it happen, I got to be intentional. I have to pray to make it happen.
STOP: abbreviated as Stop, Think, Organise, Proceed. Use "STOP" in your speeches and in your decisions or almost everything you do. It can save lives, it can refrain yourself from offending people, etc.

When camp started, I was praying, "God, show me your purpose for sending me to this camp." I certainly have gained a better assurance of my passion. The Army is where I desire to be; an Officer is what I desire to be; an elite soldier is what I aim to be; I love challenges; I love to aspire people.

I have been prompted to think about things like: "would I have sufficient time for God if I am in this profession?", "How much time do I actually have on weekdays?", "Can I serve on saturdays?", "Will I be able to go to church on sundays?". OCTs sleep late and get up early for the first few phases of training and they get to be attached to overseas training. So many considerations..I am praying for God to reveal the way for me. Certainly not to lead, to excel, to overcome for my own honor and glory but His. I believe He will.

It isn't simple to know what you desire to be in future. But it is certainly important. Ask yourself questions like: "Why am I studying this?", "What do I like to do?", What job is most suitable based on my personality?". But before you begin, ask God to show you the light as Prov 3:5-6 says. I suggest you start praying or I can even pray for you.

"In Singapore, every child goes through the same process of entering kindergarten, pri schs, sec schs, then jcs/poly. And more than often, most decision are not made by us. We have become so dependent that we neglect our decisions and thoughts. Everyone has a decision. And yes, in every decision there is a risk, there may be a bad outcome. Do you give up? No. But you find a solution and press on. Yesterday's solution cannot be applied in today's problem. Afterall, you have already made that decision. You can't turn back time but move on. It is a growing process. Get stucked in the past and you will never grow. You may become a leader in your family as a parent, a leader in a organisation or God's leader, you need to decide."

I don't want to be a hypocrite here. These things as you see are quoted. Quoted from SLTC Loong and Maj Neo. They have taught me these values and I am learning to cultivate that.

p.s. If you share a passion as I do, ask me more, because I have alot more to share. We will strive together!

Check out OCS website: http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/saftimi/units/ocs/home.html

The testimony of my life given by Christ.

I am actually 25 days to my 1 year walk with God. It was a blessed journey, I must say. Because, I have been taught in His lecture notes, the Bible, which I thought I have knew Him so well for I have been a "member" of Gospel Light Christian Church for about 10 years. I was proved wrong! What were the things I was taught/ had been blessed? Here's some significant examples:

1. judging a Christian and a non-believer, thinking I was better than them and why can't they think with a "holy" mind.

2. glaring at girls. very common topic & action in school, or I would say, common to men. But behold, even women does that too. What convicted me was this verse, Matt 5:28. Adultery - everyone knows what it is but based on the definition given by men. God has higher standards. I don't have to explain that. You know the sentence makes sense.

3. 2:7 discipleship. God has placed me in this journey of discipleship. Learning quiet times, extended quiet times, 29 memory verses, to evangelie, how/what/why to pray, purpose of fellowship, to be proficient in the Word, etc. Through 2:7, God has also revealed His wills for me. That is priority if you are a follower of Christ! [Col 2:7] rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

4. Service to God in Kidz Club and Bereavement. Too many done to tell. However, I will tell you I took a step of faith to serve there. Pray, be faithful, which in other words means you don't have a vision but in your mind trust God, then without hesitation go & serve. The rewards were outstanding. If you have a desire to serve somewhere today. Pray, be faithful and just do it. If you have the right faith and you're doing God's will as all described in the Bible, the following verse will be true for you. [Pro 28:20] A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

"For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain."
Knowing I no longer am a man who is living with bad habits but I am a man who when I look at the mirror, I see Christ. Because of Christ, I have knowledge in discernment. So if I commit a wrong I am aware of, it is a decision, it is never again a delusion. All bad habits are the past, the future is new habits following the standards of God. All this I believe because there is love. I love to follow His ways. We love because God first loved us. Is it a gratitude? Yes, maybe, but more of pleasure of His gracious love!

Matthew 28:19, The Message: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

God did not write in the bible that we must go to church but He wrote explicitly that the church must go out and make disciples of all nations. Mission impossible? No. Serving requires sacrifices. "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45) God gave Jesus Christ to die for us. What would you give to Him today?

This week God had kept me thinking on this - discipling. I was cracking my brain hard: What exactly is my spiritual gift? Am I ready to take up leadership roles?

To reassure what I thought was my gift, I took a spiritual quiz from http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1

I ought to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead me. I have once said, the journey of a christian will never end. God proved this statement right. I thought God would mould me only in His righteousness. It had never crossed my mind that God would get me considering on taking up roles in His ministry. Indeed, He is a living God, God of promises. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness, and all things will be added unto you."

I want to go out and tell the gospel. I want to bring the lost to Him. But there are so many restrictions. Can you please pray for God to provide more labourers for the harvest?

Have you ever thought who created those supreme wonders around you? Who placed the stars in the skies and know them by name? Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?

"But God's angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand."
-Romans 1:18, The Message

Glaring at the skies this morning, I had a sudden thought - What if God chooses to write this on the sky:



He created these things but chose not to take all rights. Similarly, He could have written on the sky: "Believe in Me and you will be saved." But He chose not to. He chose to send Jesus to die for us.

Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love. John 3:16 explains His love for me, for you & for us.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

I say God's love is indescribable. He is the amazing God!

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

knowing God is always with me, I know what I am living for, I know who I can depend on, I know I will never feel lonely. Truly this verse speaks it all. How big transformation has God done in my life - 4 months before and now. He gives me the power to overcome all odds. Sometimes, the prince of air strikes... I had to pray really hard to God. When I fell and my faith was at the lowest, He picked me up with His tender love. God's love is so mighty. Praise Him!

Someone once asked me how do I get myself to be so devoted and read the bible everyday. Simply, He teaches me well. And I thirst for His truth daily. I want to be as flawless as my Father above is.

Constantly, I remind myself my priority in life. It is solely God; He who loved me before I knew Him. If I want to succeed and find favour in God's eyes, I must not be bewitched by what the world desires - lust, money, power.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." [Matt 6:33]

Today concludes October. Dramatic happenings...
God bless anyone who trust Him with faith. I was blessed. He works miraculously after 9 years. It was a period worthy of praise, something extraordinary, something beyond "priceless". Today(31/10/10), I celebrated 3 occasions; a funeral, a rebirth, a wedding. I was baptised in the name of Christ. To the world, I declare myself a Christian, a child of God. Being baptised was my first step of obedience to God. Since He lead me to the truth I have been pursuing for these 9 years, I obeyed immediately. The life and journey as a Christian does not end here. I will continue to serve God in various ways. I will accomplish God's will to spread the gospel. To God be the glory. I am now ready for His return.
Thank God!