Sunday, December 31, 2006
Reflections on Ecclesiastes 3:1-15Everything has a time & season. Not everything at a season. I got into the mistake of trying to handle many things at 1 time, at the wrong season. There are many battles/challenges that we face. But is it the right season to fight those battles? Better to choose & fight a few battles rather than being demolished.
God makes everything beautiful in His time. I believe that God places seasons in a person's life so that we can grow accordingly.
Spring: A time to grow sprout branches, bud & bloom
Summer: Time to develop fruits & plant seeds
Autumn: Time to mellow down & store up
Winter: Time to rest & preserve ownself
There is a opportune season for everything. A tree that tries to bud or bloom during winter will not only fail to produce anything but die from lack of nutrients. A tree that fails to blossom during spring is dead. God creates seasons for us & makes all things beautiful in His time.
When God calls or bring us to a change in season, will we be obediant & follow Him. God doesn't want us to idolize Him & cast Him into the mould that we want . Please do not insult God & belittle His sovergnity. "He has set eternity in the minds of men. So that they cannot fanthom His greatness". Stop thinking only abt ME. Look to God, look at His workings & grow in season with Him.
For those who are truly serving God. From a fellow sinner who has been saved by God's grace. I would like to say that it is ok to say no. It is ok to take a rest to pursue self interest(ie spending time with family, persuing a career/education) & it is ok to fail. There is a time for everything. "Perfect love drives out all fear". In this case, fear of rejection. Remember the church is a fellowship of sinners saved by grace afterall. But when the time for a seasonal change , let your heart be obediant to God's guidance.
Choose you this day whom you will serve. May your choice be God of the seasons.
Note: Was inspired to write this a few hours before the cell retreat began. Heh.... just found out this afternoon when I came back, that pastor Simon will be speaking on this passage too.
Old Man Sam | 5:21 PM |
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Thursday, December 28, 2006
Indeed there is a time & season for everything.Dear God,
Thank you for sustaining me throughout this year.
Even though I don't like it. But as I look back, I see that there are issues that you wanted to deal with.
As I enter into another season, will you refresh my lukewarm heart.
That I will make your glory my greatest delight.
Cos I've tasted and seen how wonderful, awesome and beautiful you are.
Thank You
Samuel Wang
Old Man Sam | 1:39 PM |
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Friday, December 22, 2006
Ecclesiastes 3:1-14A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What does the worker gain from his toil?
I have seen the burden God has laid on men.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.
That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God.
I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Old Man Sam | 3:52 PM |
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Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Reflections on Batam Trip.... Coming Soon
Old Man Sam | 7:53 AM |
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Monday, December 18, 2006
We Are The Reason That He Gave His Life
Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these
Old Man Sam | 3:34 PM |
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Tuesday, December 12, 2006
All heavens declare the glory of the risen Lord
Old Man Sam | 5:25 PM |
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Monday, December 11, 2006
Before I go on talking about Hezekiah, I would like to bring up something interesting I noticed as I read the book of 2 Chronicles.Almost all of the kings who walked in the ways of God, had the names of thier mothers mentioned. The brings out an important point of God honouring mothers who guides their children to walk in the ways of God.
Now, onto Hezekiah.
There are 5 points which stood out as I read chapters 29 to 32.
1) God looks at the motives of men and not just at the outward actions. God is a just and merciful god.
2 Chronicles 30:18-20
18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone
19 who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary."
20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
2) Prosperity is a by-product of obediance. Delighting and being delighted is the goal.
2 Chronicles 31:21 - In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered
3) He remembered and trusted in the God of Moses.
2 Chronicles 32:7,8
7 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.
8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said
4) Sometimes we defile the "blessings" to prop up our pride
2 Chronicles 32:24-26
24 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.
25 But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
5) God also test our heart
2 Chronicles 32:30,31
30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook.
31 But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart
Those who earnestly seeks God will be found by Him
Old Man Sam | 9:08 PM |
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Same Same like us
But Different
Old Man Sam | 12:33 PM |
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Thursday, December 07, 2006
Some photos of my cute(but naughty) niecesPosing in front of christmas tree
Cute Sze En
Cute Rei En
Uncle Sam with the kids
TWIST!!!!
The BRO
Old Man Sam | 12:34 PM |
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Old Man Sam indeed......
After spending 1 night in Sentosa SU campsite with the youths, came back with flu like symptoms.
Many familiar faces, some un-familer ones (which I still don't know some of their names)
Guess the rewarding part of being in the youth ministry is to witness how the people have grown up.
Heard that there were 6 salvations and also encounters with the strong presence of God during the camp which led to people weeping.
If you've not heard the youths worship before, you should attend one of the camp worship sessions. Where they sang as one voice.
God, may you continue to build up this ministry of Yours for Your glory
Old Man Sam | 12:14 PM |
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Sunday, December 03, 2006
Thank You God for the meeting with some of the church youths this afternoonThank You for the time to intercede with them
To know that they love you lots
Thank You
Old Man Sam | 10:42 PM |
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He is currently in china with his family.
As he shared about his calling, ministry and testimony, it's just so amazing to hear of God's power and grace.
Here's his story in brief:
When his pastor asked him along to visit a church in china, his wife encouraged him to go whit this famous line "Why not? It's a once in a lifetime experience'. From the 1st trip, it led to several more as his love & passion for the lost people grew.
About 3yrs later his whole family relocated to china.
His wife and him have been discipling university students who in turn have the simple faith to just share the gospel to their family & friends.
But about 1year ago, their 18 month daughter developed in what seemed like a normal flu for a week before they were advised to go to hong kong to see a pediatrician for further checks. 2 hours into the trip, she died in their arms.
It must've been a very heart-breaking and depressing period for them as they deal with the death of their child.
The family returned to US to recover from this emotional trauma
He confessed that he wasn't eager to go back to china.
But as he and his wife pleaded and begged with God not to send them back, God wouldn't let them have that option.
So with reaching a closure over the death of their daughter, they obediently returned to the missions field.
Right now, they are still pursuing language studies with the locals, while discipling the well educated university students in english.
The grace of God and the prayers of God's people was what sustained them in the missions.
His humility and with other missionaries have really left a deep impression in me
Dear God,
Teach me to not boast in my own strength, but that I know and understand You.
That You are the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these You delight
Old Man Sam | 10:05 PM |
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This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.
Old Man Sam | 9:57 PM |
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