Moment of Crisis

The pastor that led that mission team could not come back alive.

4 days ago, the mission team of 23 young korean men and women has taken captive by Taliban in Afghanistan. ( ‘Taliban’ -Fundamentalist Sunni muslim movement that engaged in a protracted guerrilla war against NATO and Current goverment of Afghanistan.) only 2 of them including the pastor who led the team was married and the rest of them were young adults in profession of medical, nursing and education. The team has gone to Afghanistan for 10 days period for the charity works and supporting activities. Taliban group is insisting on exchanging Taliban prisoners for the captives, saying the hostages will be killed one by one if the demand was not met..the first victim was the leader of the team, 42 yrs old pastor with ill health..

Countless tragedies are happening all over the world in a day, I didn’t realise what was really happening even when mom said dad couldn’t come back for days. (he is working in one of the major newspaper company in S.korea) Today, when I read through the internet news, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The server of the church that sent the team was down due to the explosive attempts to access to it. Everywhere I click I could read people’s accusation upon the church. Why? Because now the Taliban is demanding unimagenable amount of money for exchange of hostages, and people are blaming the church for it. Also they blame the sernior pastor as if he has driven the young men and women to such place to risk their lives. They soon turn their blame on the whole christianity for their passion and compassion for the lost, for their boldness to reach out, for their courage to step out, for their faith to act out! I can’t believe this is what is actually happening!

Our brothers and sisters are not our enemy. Our enemy is behind this while picture. He now is quite agitated by the revolutionary harvest all over the world, trying anything to delay his time to be doomed. Because he knows the time is approaching, Christ will conquer over him and his power will end, and no more. How cunning is it that now he is using different strategies to turn people’s heart away from the truth.

<Matthew 10:22-23 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. but he who endures to the end will be saved. > Jesus said no servant is greater than master, He IS our mater and he has gone through the persecution beyond comprehension. In the church website that is down, few lines are written by the senior pastor of that church.

“There must be a reason why God has permitted something to happen. As for us, we will continue to trust God that he will deliever his own children. This is not a time for a blame or accusation, even an apology. We are to wait for God to move and yet to praise his name in every situation.”

There is an amazing story of how king David draw strength from God in moment of Crisis.  1 SAM 30:1-8. I just had to pause and grasp my breath when I read this incredible story. King David was responsible for his men’s wives and children who has been taken captive by the enemy. Without knowing what this evil enemy might have done to them, the whole army tried to kill the King David. He himself must’ve been in such agony when he saw the wives and children of his own also taken away by the enemy. Nothing is left and hope is gone.

1 Sam 3:6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking about stoning him..each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. BUT David found his strength in the Lord his God.

My jaw dropped as I read this line. David what? In fact, he lifted himself up and asked God what to do, and asked his bitter-in-spirit-wannabeDavidkillers to follow him once again, to pursue the enemy. This is purely incredible to me. He REALLY did regain the strength and courage to do so. When the whole nation even his own men turned their back on him, he turn his face towards God. Because God was The Only Hope. This is the true meaning of ‘draw the strength from God’.

I pray for such strength to rise within the pastor, and the families of the mission team. I haven’t imagine it is possible for me to pray for the people in S. korea in tears, but this moment, they are not S. korean, I am not an australian, we are only brothers and sisters, no more no less. If you are reading this right now, please take 2 minutes to pray, that the hands of God will save them from the enemy’s evil plots, Please pray that people will not be deceived merely by what is visible from ourside and turn their back on the truth, but open their ears and hear the voice of repentance, not being hardened in their heart.

God you are mighty to save. Stretch your arms and save the lives of your servants, Let your hands of grace cover upon their hurt and wound, over their families and their church brothers and sisters, all the believers in this nation, even the entire world who are watching right now, to see your mighty hands over the situation. Hear the prayers of your people and deliever them from the snare of the enemy. Oh, I will yet to praise him for your ways are higher than ours, as heave are higher than earth your thoughts than ours. The time is running out and the end of all thing is near, there is such an urgency to move faster and more effectively. Allow us wisdom and power that we will be able to complish what you have entrusted us to. We draw strength from you this moment..

My face can blend in them so naturally.

Running on Empty tank

I was rushing for the life group.

I didn’t had time to detour to the petrol station even though the fuel tank was already flashing for the past 10 mins. It was too late when I realised that I am to take 4 girls home who are living in north side. I was driving my company car and I could only use the specific petrol station which all locates in south side. My car ran on prayer from that time on.

On my way back home, I was becoming VERY anxious since I was running on empty tank for an hour. My prayer was becoming more desperate and I began to think about plan B in case of emergency. This car would stop any minute, and I certainly wouldn’t want the company to know about it. I thought to my self, never again running on empty tank!!NEVER!!

There and then, God spoke to my heart, will you never running on spiritual empty tank as well..? Ah.,

Yes, I’ve certainly been there, done that. At the end of long long day I fell asleep in the car the moment I turn the engine off in the garage. And I woke up about 2am and crawls up the stairs with half closed eyes, and woke up again in company uniform. I lost myself in ‘ To Do list’ and meeting God was very last thing I would think of. I would say “God, I’m too busy, can I be please excused from daily meeting? There are things to be done right now. I will come later, yeah?” But when I have some time, I was busy catching up much needed sleep. Sooner or later, my whole life was beginning to crack up, slowly but surely. And I can tell you, that was the most scary thing ever!

Well, I’ve learnt the lesson that cost me dearly. I realised that serving God is life long journey, and I got to run like a marathon runner. If I can’t look around and praise God for the beautiful flower he clothed and mysterious stars he spread with his own fingers, I am running too fast. The thing is, God never hurry. He is never early, never late. It’s only me, thinking if I don’t push God to do this right now, he’s gonna be in real big trouble. How foolish!

Yes, there are piles of things to be done for me. Even in work place my ‘to do list’ never clears up completely before I leave the desk. But, I got to enjoy the Lord first. I got to lost myself in the warmth of his arms first. After all, he is my love and all I do is for him anyway. I got to be a Mary who sit under the foot of Jesus and didn’t worry about the dinner. Well, for the people who didn’t worry about the dinner, didn’t Jesus fed them with seafood and cake buffet?

My definition of Temptation

 

 Mi goreng at Minight..

 

 

Mr. Mi has been my loyal friend for many years.  When I was living on a shoestring budget I added egg and lettuce in it for a dinner, now I add egg and rice cake and it transforms into a magical brekky and supper. And I am glad that I have thick and strong hair. HAHA!

 

Singing, anyone?

I went to singing workshop tonight. It means, I paid the money to sing.

During the WAM class torch encouraged us to invest on developing the skills, so I gave it a try today. The whole class was 23 people. (Oh good habit of automatic head counting..u know where I got it from..)We did acapella, and the sound was absolutely beautiful! The vision of worship angels I saw probably sounded like that. (Even though I coudn’t hear the sound then)

Ok I have to confess my secret. I was a tone deaf and sang like a frog. When I was about 10+, I’ve been humiliated during the choir practice, in shame I quit the choir and never sang again in the church since then. After I came to Hope church, I fell in love with the Lord truly madly deeply. I sang day and night for my love on top of my lung,with many tears. I will never forget those days when my non-believing housemate knock the door and ask “Are you jumping in there?”

To cut the long story short, one day I realised that I’m singing in tune. I ended up in the church worship team. Praise the Lord, I will sing for you forever even up in heaven. As for tonight, yes they sang beautfully, but I realised that I can’t really enjoy singing a song with the lyrics I don’t fully agree on (this includes most of the secular love songs). Because, singing worship songs for many years, I naturally ponder over lyrics and sing it from the heart. At the end of the class, I was busting to sing a worship song to the Lord. And of course on my way back in the car, I let it all out!

I am very shy and terribly quiet person in nature, but when it comes to singing to the Lord, I can’t be careless of anything else. Who cares if I sing like a frog, God will still sees the heart and be pleased. Praise the Lord for giving us the voice to sing for God. I am conviced once again, we are surely CREATED to WORSHIP God.

The Lord is my strength and my shield..

My heart leaps for Joy, and I will give thanks to him in song.

Psalm 28:7

 

D2 first life group

Yes I have been in different life groups so far, but this kind doesn’t come around a lot..that we have the FIRST LIFE GROUP EVER as Daniel 2. I was very overwhermed by the grace of God. He has really humbled me through this experience. Not many people knows what has been happening behind the scene before we could birth out this fresh vibrant beautiful new baby, called daniel 2.. but FINALLY!

I have learnt once again, that nothing is impossible to the Lord! NOTHING! If he decided to do this or that, shortcoming of human being or natural disaster or any form of disturbance cannot unable him from doing his will. In other words, if he is to do it, he will do it, no matter how it may seems impossible in human eyes. Also, whenever something unexected or looks unfortunate may happen, God still, is in control. Bible said not even one little bird will fall to the ground apart from the will of our Father. (Matt 10:29)

On our very first life group, God allowed us a conversion! I could literally see how God is encouraging us through this oh so very excited new believer. Everyone was filled with the spirit of joy and unity. I was really thankful to God for this favor upon us, because gave us the greatest gift of all for the celebration, one more soul added into the kingdom of God. Oh isn’t it the very reason why we are existing?

My prayer is this group, every indivisual of us will grow as a very strong and biblical disciple makers for Jesus Christ our Lord, that we will be the vessel of blessing to the lives in QUT and beyond. As pastor wenan said, 3 months down the track, still burning with the passion and commitment, joy and unity, the zeal for the kingdom of God will grow strong and strong each day. And of course we will willing pay the price by taking up our cross and follow his step. 

God enables us for your name’s sake..for us to Obey in fear God. To obey is better than to sacrifice, you said. My Lord..My father..where will I go, away from you?

My love..Jesus.. Thank you.

Pathway

Things to be done, phone calls to be made, emails to be sent, matters to be discussed, materials to read, people to meet up, databases to be processed, books to read, files to be sorted, issued to be solved..

Disappointment about the unexpected, discouragement over the unsuccessful attempt, fear of facing my own shortcomings, emotional beat ups, pressure from left right and centre, feeling defeated by repeated mistakes..

Ah, I’ve been here and done this before. What have I learnt from it?

Such a time as this, I am learning the art of pushing things away and pulling the bible in. Piles on my left and right like the devided Red Sea, I read the bible in the middle – the pathway..the place of perfect peace..the safest shelter..where there is no condemnation over anything..the eye of the storm. I see the whale and shark on my left and right, but God’s perfect comfort is here in this pathway.

And I, walk with God’s pillar of fire and cloud next to me, I know his hands are upon me. Praise the Lord, God of Mercy.

God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Ps 46:1