Normally our church prayer meeting is held every Monday night but this week it was held on Thursday and we had a special team from the Sarang Church from Seoul, South Korea. Sarang Church is the biggest church in the world. I had sms all the leaders and asked them to try make it since it was their holidays, and because we don't get visiting teams with us every week.
After the P&W, their pastor shared the Word with us. And it was taken from Psalms 9:9-12. The first two verses leapt out at me, "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." The pastor said do not ask the Lord whether He has forsaken us, because he will never forsake those who seek him. Many times it is us who do not seek the Lord, and Satan will keep telling us that God has forgotten us, it's not use calling God. You have to depend on yourselves. And if we believe in Satan's lies, we are deceived and we walk further away from God.
The pastor mentioned that God doesn't always put us on gentle slopes, because on gentle slopes, we don't have to pray earnestly to be able to overcome the difficulties. Sometimes he put us in front of a mountain, so that we may depend on him and pray earnestly and diligently so that we may overcome that mountain. I tell you, those words just strike me to my core. That's why God's Words are living and active and effective!
It was a great prayer meeting. In fact, I encourage all of us to attend prayer meetings, that our faith may be built up and that we may be encouraged.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Flying - Part 2
It probably was more a coincidence than planned that many of our senior youths came back last week. Jenny, Vincent, Thomson, Douglas and Mark were all back here, well, Mark has been here for about a month now. But to get all of them back at once is something very rare and it's something I look forward to. And so ngam last week our planned Treasure Hunt didn't materialise (we'll re-schedule, no worries!) so we had this bright idea for our seniors to come do a short testimony during youth. I had told them share something about being away from home, what they have learnt and any advice for the juniors. They just nodded and said 'No problem.'
Vanessa shared first, she was studying Pharmacy first in KL and then in Scotland. What surprised me was that none of them talked about how difficult studying was. Well, Thomson did lah, he told all of us DON'T study medicine, which talks about the subject, but not the studying part. Haha. He said if anyone truly wanted to study medicine to go talk to him! Ok, back to Vanessa. She told us the most difficult thing for her was the finances part and how she really depended on God for help. And our God was faithful, He led her through till she came back, graduated with flying colours.
Next up, Jenny, who is now working in BSI Vision School in Tawau. She said she depends on God more there than in KK, because when she's in KK, she is home, everything is well and taken care of. But when you're away, you have to fend for yourself and that's when you realise how much you need God. Remember I said you're not going to believe me that working life is much harder than studying? Ask Jenny..
Then came Vincent, who's working for Petronas in Bintulu, Sarawak. For all the jokes we heap on him about being in a pithole, he's got himself a Vios! Urgh.. envy man! Haha, but he shared about how he went out of his comfort zone when he went to Terengganu for training, how he had to mix with different people, learning to work and live with them. It isn't easy. But praise God he's settling down in Bintulu and with his car, life has gotten easier. (Sorry man, can't resist that last crack!hehe)
Our medical student Thomson came next and he was also talking about being out of his comfort zone. How he originally planned to study medicine in Russia and just as he was ready to leave for Russia, his parents found a uni in Semeling (say what?) in Sungai Petani (where?) to study medicine. God had his hands on Thomson, though he didn't go to Russia, but God showed him that that wasn't a mistake, that he know the plans he has for Thomson, for all of us. We must have faith.
Doug is reading Law in UK, found life, and love, and faith. He shared how churches there are very secular and they can quote motivational thoughts and sayings from famous singers etc. How he found it difficult to fit into a church but he tries. And he's also bringing his gf to church so they kinda watch out for one another, like a check and balance kinda thing, somewhat.
Mark rounded up the testimony time and he shared how the lack of finances tested both him and his family many times but through it all, God didn't give up on him. And in the midst of his difficulties, he saw how other people were worse off than he is, and that made him realised how blessed he was.
I am so proud to see how far these young people have progressed. Some are just starting out, some are almost at the end of their studies. I praise and thank God for watching out for them, and continues to do so. Fly you guys/girls, fly!
Vanessa shared first, she was studying Pharmacy first in KL and then in Scotland. What surprised me was that none of them talked about how difficult studying was. Well, Thomson did lah, he told all of us DON'T study medicine, which talks about the subject, but not the studying part. Haha. He said if anyone truly wanted to study medicine to go talk to him! Ok, back to Vanessa. She told us the most difficult thing for her was the finances part and how she really depended on God for help. And our God was faithful, He led her through till she came back, graduated with flying colours.
Next up, Jenny, who is now working in BSI Vision School in Tawau. She said she depends on God more there than in KK, because when she's in KK, she is home, everything is well and taken care of. But when you're away, you have to fend for yourself and that's when you realise how much you need God. Remember I said you're not going to believe me that working life is much harder than studying? Ask Jenny..
Then came Vincent, who's working for Petronas in Bintulu, Sarawak. For all the jokes we heap on him about being in a pithole, he's got himself a Vios! Urgh.. envy man! Haha, but he shared about how he went out of his comfort zone when he went to Terengganu for training, how he had to mix with different people, learning to work and live with them. It isn't easy. But praise God he's settling down in Bintulu and with his car, life has gotten easier. (Sorry man, can't resist that last crack!hehe)
Our medical student Thomson came next and he was also talking about being out of his comfort zone. How he originally planned to study medicine in Russia and just as he was ready to leave for Russia, his parents found a uni in Semeling (say what?) in Sungai Petani (where?) to study medicine. God had his hands on Thomson, though he didn't go to Russia, but God showed him that that wasn't a mistake, that he know the plans he has for Thomson, for all of us. We must have faith.
Doug is reading Law in UK, found life, and love, and faith. He shared how churches there are very secular and they can quote motivational thoughts and sayings from famous singers etc. How he found it difficult to fit into a church but he tries. And he's also bringing his gf to church so they kinda watch out for one another, like a check and balance kinda thing, somewhat.
Mark rounded up the testimony time and he shared how the lack of finances tested both him and his family many times but through it all, God didn't give up on him. And in the midst of his difficulties, he saw how other people were worse off than he is, and that made him realised how blessed he was.
I am so proud to see how far these young people have progressed. Some are just starting out, some are almost at the end of their studies. I praise and thank God for watching out for them, and continues to do so. Fly you guys/girls, fly!
Flying
I recently went on a trip to Perth and managed to meet up with Daniel, Joel and Sarah. It was lunch time when we met up so Sarah asked me what was my budget. I only thought about eating a roast beef sandwich so we walked to the end of the block to Subway but when we got there, it was packed! Man... so we decided to walk back where we came from trying to look for a place that wasn't so packed. And we saw our favourite, dependable McD. We could actually see a few places so we hopped in and sat down.
We had a nice lunch as well as catching up with news. They wanted to know what's going on in KK, how are the guys back home, and all the crazy stuff we'd done. Come to think of it, we HAVEN'T DONE any crazy stuff! How boring! We better quit youth and go rock at the Senior Citizen meetings.. am sure they're as bored as we are!
Anyway.... back to the subject of flying.. When I hear the 3 talking about their life there in Perth, discussing which bus to take, connect to where, about living as a student, I was brought back to my own student days in KL and realised that nothing much has changed. It's not nice being away from family, you have to fend for yourself, either be smart or act stupid while living your life away from your parents, you decide. It's just like you hear people saying that working life sucks more than student life but you haven't experienced it so you are attracted to getting your salary, your first car, credit card, etc.. you think working life is way better than student life, I mean, can anything be worse than your guru disiplin, or studying Moral, or Sejarah? One word, YUP!.. there are worse things than them, believe me! There's....and .... But.. you're not going to believe me anyway.. so.. just wait till you start working.... hehe
I am happy to see Daniel, Joel and Sarah living their lives there, adapting, enjoying and more importantly, going to cell groups and church. They also go out lunch after church service, just like we do here. I am happy that they have found friends and are living life. Praise God for his protection on them, and all our friends overseas.
We had a nice lunch as well as catching up with news. They wanted to know what's going on in KK, how are the guys back home, and all the crazy stuff we'd done. Come to think of it, we HAVEN'T DONE any crazy stuff! How boring! We better quit youth and go rock at the Senior Citizen meetings.. am sure they're as bored as we are!
Anyway.... back to the subject of flying.. When I hear the 3 talking about their life there in Perth, discussing which bus to take, connect to where, about living as a student, I was brought back to my own student days in KL and realised that nothing much has changed. It's not nice being away from family, you have to fend for yourself, either be smart or act stupid while living your life away from your parents, you decide. It's just like you hear people saying that working life sucks more than student life but you haven't experienced it so you are attracted to getting your salary, your first car, credit card, etc.. you think working life is way better than student life, I mean, can anything be worse than your guru disiplin, or studying Moral, or Sejarah? One word, YUP!.. there are worse things than them, believe me! There's....and .... But.. you're not going to believe me anyway.. so.. just wait till you start working.... hehe
I am happy to see Daniel, Joel and Sarah living their lives there, adapting, enjoying and more importantly, going to cell groups and church. They also go out lunch after church service, just like we do here. I am happy that they have found friends and are living life. Praise God for his protection on them, and all our friends overseas.
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