Are you a "Calculator"?

Today Pastor CK shared something with us which I felt it was really good.

He had a conversation with someone recently and they were discussing over some issues. Pastor CK shared about the people who used to love God, serve God, give into the Kingdom of God.. etc. But after a while, they got tired, and they measured the sacrifices that they had been making for God, but seemed that God did not bless them as much as they would hope for. Some people left, some leaders stepped down, some became lukewarm... they became not as fervent as before..

This person then said to Pastor CK, do you know what is the difference between Indonesians & Singaporeans? Singaporeans are so calculative. When they serve God, give to God, they measure how much God is blessing them in return, is it really worth serving Him and giving into His Kingdom? Is it really worth doing so much for God and investing so much time & energy into His Kingdom?

On the other hand, Indonesians give without expecting anything in return. They serve, they give out of a pure love for God and His Kingdom. They never measure how much God is blessing them in return. That is why God is raising more & more Indonesians to be millionaires & billionaires among the people and they continue moving forth serving God in a great measure & preaching the gospel everywhere!

Isn't it very true? How many people really love God & serve Him out of a pure love & a pure heart? After sowing for a while, they did not see the harvest in a way that they wish, and they conclude that a life without God is better, nothing to sacrifice & no one to be accountable to. Some went back to the lives they used to live, they think they are happier, but, are they really REALLY happier without God?

"Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!" ~ Ps 144:15

All along I always felt that Indonesians just have this hunger for God. This hunger that really sets them apart from the rest of the people. I do not know why. But this hunger is just so evident in their lives. I went for a mission trip with Serene to Tanjung Pinang in 2006. The hunger of the Indonesians just inspired & impacted us so much. The Indonesian translator we had in our team, his name is Bernard Ricardo. What a great brother he is. Humble. Servant heart. Serving God mightily. Great career installed for him here in Singapore. That is always how God works! Seek 1st the Kingdom, all things will be added!

At the end of the day, the point is, it is not a matter of which nationality you belong to.

It is really a matter of the condition of your heart.

Don't become calculative. Don't be a "calculator". God has created us to be people after His own image, not calculators or abacuses.

We can never out-give God.

God will never short-change us.

Develop fortitude. Have the patience to see His promises coming to pass.

Develop a right heart. You will realise that God is indeed very good and He really loves you, He still loves you and He will always love you.

I'm still proud to be a Singaporean. Ha... Let's be the new "Singaporean" that Pastor Tan had taught us. Amen!

Socially Responsible
Innovative
Nett Giver
Globalised
Advanced (thinking)
Problem-Solver
Opportunity-Seeking
Resilient
Educated
Adaptable
Nation Conscious

.. Philippian 4:13 ..

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
我 靠 着 那 加 给 我 力 量 的 ， 凡 事 都 能 做 。

This verse is always 1 of the convictions of my life. And it will forever be.

I remembered the very 1st time I kept confessing this verse was a couple of years ago, when I was doing my Dip in Computer studies. I was revising for my Computing Maths subject where I just could not seem to understand the binary thingy. So I took a break, walked about, prayed in tongues and kept confessing this verse to myself. And indeed, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and gave me the grace to understand what it was all about. When my Computing Maths test result was released, I was the only 1 in my class to score 100%. The teacher even said that my paper was the "model" answer for them to refer to. Ha.. Anyway, praise God for that. :)

Anyway, this verse worked for me once again as i prayed & kept confessing this promise of God to myself. I went for my practical driving lesson 2 yesterday. When I went for my 1st lesson last Sat, the clutch, the brake & the accelerator really drove me crazy. It just seemed so hard to co-ordinate them!.. And I thought I did step on the brake pedal??.. The instructor had to "brake" the car for me a couple of times. Hee.. then the car "died" a few times because of the poor co-ordination of my feet on the clutch & the accelerator.. But thank God the instructor was very very patient... If it was that ex-private instructor of mine, my ears got to "suffer" again... Anyway, I think it is a GOOD decision to learn driving via school, cos it's really more systematic & detailed. Of course, there is a PRICE to pay lah....... nevertheless, thank God cos my beloved Da Jie is blessing me for this! She is indeed a prosperous woman.. Haha.. well, I really appreciate her love for me and the whole family... :)

Back to lesson 2, miraculously, it went on smoothly! The co-ordination was so much better and my braking improved! Of cos there were still a few times where the braking was not so good, sometimes too far, sometimes too near. Car "died" 2 times only! hee.. comparing to last Sat where I had to keep restarting the engine. :P

I really want to thank God for it.. cos after the 3 lessons with the private instructor, I really experienced a bit of a phobia towards driving manual car. And the lesson 1 last Sat was not very smooth either. I was telling Shi Fu maybe I should just go for the auto car instead... But of cos Shi Fu "rebuked" me and encouraged me lo.. hoho.. Shi Fu is also very fierce sometimes leh, don't play play with her... :P

Looking forward to learn more in the days to come! I am praying that indeed this year i will get my driving license. Yeah. Got a goal to work towards to too. Took the lift with my dad yesterday and I told him I am learning driving now. And I said, will plan, and maybe the next chinese new year, we do not have to take taxi anymore. I can drive them around. My dad laughed. Well, I think it is a GOOD goal to aim for! Yeah!

God is good. And indeed His promises work in our lives every single day.

You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you too.

Don't ever give up.

;)

.. CNY Fellowship ..

Date: 15 Feb 2008
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: My beloved home!
-----

Fridge stocked up with FOOD!!

Yu Sheng.. Yummylicious!!

Busy barbecuing!

Kenneth with our Korean friend, Jung Mun!

Verona with another lovely Korean sister, Song I!

Qi Hui looked so happy isn't she!
Maybe she was barbecuing her fav food.. :P

Brothers!

Everyone!..
(except me cos I took this picture!)

Chef Ng.. the best in Singapore, JB & Batam!

Kenneth is so blessed...
Someone cooking for him.. :P

.. Lo Hei ..
"Lao ahhhhhh!!!"...

Everyone!! Including me!! :)

.. Short guitar session ..

.. Short video clip ..

A good feast!.. Glad everyone enjoyed the food & most importantly, the fellowship!

Pulau Ubin in March!

Yeah! :)

.. Samuel the TENOR ..

Enjoy! :P

.. Da Nian Chu 3 ..

This year's CNY really passed by quickly! In a twink of an eye, 3 days gone! Thank God I'm on leave on Monday... hee... got an extra day for me! :P

Anyway, the monday leave is for my Final Theory Test at 4.30pm! Am nervous, a little.. hee.. when I passed this, I can apply for my practical driving test date. And I shall start my driving lessons again! One of my goal this year is to obtain my class 3! Yeah... Claim it! :)

Madeline & family went Malaysia on "Chu Xi" day... for the past years we had been having our reunion dinner on the 29th day of the lunar month. No choice lo... cos she got to go to in-laws' place first! So for THREE days we MISS having Samuel around.. hee... so sad hor. The little boy is missed more than the parents. :P Grandparents were smiling from face to face when Mad & Ryan came over to "bai nian"...

Look at Samuel!.. The clothes he wore, so adorable!!...
He lifted up the ang pow when he saw me taking this picture.
Clever boy! :)

.. Happy Family ..
My dad is so happy carrying Samuel.. hee... Bo bian.
3 daughters and no son. :P
But nvm.. cos he is blessed with 3 filial daughters!..
and of cos, a son-in-law!

Jie Fu is a wonderful man. :)

------

Went to watch 'Ah Long Pte Ltd". It was so FUNNY! Ji hao xiao lor! :P You should go catch it if you haven't. Actually I don't really watch Jack Neo's movies, as in I wouldn't make an effort to go to the cinema to watch his shows. Until recently where I felt I should support Jack Neo in ways that I can. Actually his shows are quite good I must say! Watched another of his show "I do, I do" on TV few days ago, it was good! Praise God that Singapore has this talented man. :)

Heard from Mad that Kung Fu Dunk is nice! Maybe will go catch it soon.. :)

Looking forward to attending service on the Sabbath Day! :)

.. Happy CNY ..

Back with some updates!

.. "A picture speaks a thousand words" ..

Reunion Dinner : Wide spread of GOOD FOOD!
Steamboat, abalone, shark's fins... Yummy! :P

Samuel is too young to join us..
So he gotta sit in his walker. He seems happy though? :)

He saw FOOD!! Stretched out his tiny hands..
Sorry Samuel! You must wait a while more before you can eat solid food. :P

.. The journey to a visitation to the Chuns' Family ..

Going to watch "Ah Long Pte Ltd" later in the afternoon today.

Update again! :)