My blog

influence

Mon, 4 May 2009 02:07:51 +1000

Quick Update

So many things are running through my mind. Personal struggles and challenges have for the first time, really taken me back quite a bit - something that has forced me to rely on God and to wait on Him.

Keyword: Focus
I cannot believe how many times this word has echoed in my mind throughout my relationship with God, but shivers, it means so much more than ever before. This was the word given to me during my struggles throughout this week. You know, sometimes we get caught up too much without realising the influence you need from the Holy Spirit to guide you rightly. I learnt this the hard way. We need to stay focused continually so we do not be distracted, even in the midst of personal struggles.

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Prayer for this month:
I feel challenged by the move of God in my life to "push" further in my ministries and spiritual life. Not even about complacency, but to go after the things of God for His kingdom so that I can be a 1 Cor/Phil 3:14 disciple.

At OC2009, I was touched by the Holy Spirit during the monday morning worship session. It really moved me. The keyword that God placed inside of me was “push”. You know I thought I was already going pretty full on in my ministries, particularly PA, but to see that God still wants me to push further, not only in PA but also other aspects of my walk with God really causes me to evaluate the state of my life. Again, have I been a tad too complacent of late?

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INFLUENCE
Another keyword, influence. The story of Ezra. Amazing man of God. Even in the midst of all the detestable practices and idolatry, there was still one man, who obeyed God continually. Seeing the weight of such sin from God’s own people caused Ezra to be torn apart (so to speak). This man, probably under intense emotions, prayed for people. A meeting was convened. The sinning families agreed to cease such practices and turn back to God.

I bet this was not easy. But wow, one man’s cry for God, added together the influence he had really brought about such great change. Of course, none of this was through his own strength. It was only by the power of God’s grace and mercy this good thing happened.

Influence.

Spiritual Gifts test (this looks way different than 5 years ago, no more celibacy for me! yay)

Power of complacency

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:11:52 +1000

Dearest Diary,

What an incredible week! Both ups and downs. Here are my thoughts.

Feeling of Barrenness
Many of us have heard of the confession by Michael Gugglielmucci this week. It is so sad to hear when prominent christian leaders keep a hidden life resulting in their subsequent fall. But is it surprising to hear such things? No. Why? Eg. King David (among other bible figures).

Here is an excerpt of my response to the matter in an email to my Lg.

Personally, my feeling and thoughts are more of compassion than anger. Initially I was shocked, really not knowing what to think. I quickly realised this is a man who was challenged and eventually humbled himself before God, and spiritual family, resulting to this very public situation.

Let's not think about this too much. Rather, let us identify ourselves to this situation and what can we learn as a church, and personally with God.

I believe the overriding conviction for my own life is to beware of complacency. As christians, the higher we go, the harder we fall. If we should ever be complacent, we set ourselves up for a fall. Let's also grow to endure in Christ, developing a healthy fear of God.

When I first heard read the news article, I was in shock. I was even angry, not at mike but at the reporter. How could this happen? Was there even a shred of truth to this story? I began to search my heart, and what my response would be. Interestingly, I thought... does it really matter if it is true or not (of course it matters!)? I say this, because I immediately began questioning my own life. Suddenly I felt so alone, because of my sins, because of the wrongful thoughts, actions and speech... I felt empty and far from God - perhaps this was/is what mike is feeling right now?

Key word: Complacency
A few days later, this keyword popped into my genius-sized brain. Why oh why did this word haunt me for the last few days? God, have I been complacent? I certainly have been.

I’m sure there are many reasons one can think of when we analyse this situation, but complacency, complacency, complacency.

A quick search: Proverbs 1
The whole chapter talks about life. What to do, what not to do. Consequences when you do wrong, blessings when you live righteously. It was a real eye opener. Read it here.

But the last 2 verses sum it all up:-

32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm."

The Message Bible describes it like this:-

“Carelessness kills, complacency is murder.”

Complacency Is Power-ful
You need only draw on your own life experience/past to know what I’m talking about. My life, my studies, my results... a big whoopy cushion “fart”, of the egg variety.

We fully need to get off our butts and start reaching for Christ. I’m so convicted to live my life, and not waste it.

Tonight, as I was praying, I received a vision from God about the condition of my heart, if I should ever grow complacent. This heart was dull red, with different lighting effects and contrast, gradually slowing its rate. It was saggy, it was gross. As I was praying, I watched it shrivel and dry up; I did not see this happen, but knew it was going to crash into a million pieces. I’m not saying this is where I’m at, but God knew I was going to blog about this. And this confirmed as I read Proverbs 1 - complacency is murder. Need I say more?

We need the protection of the living blood of Jesus - claim it.

Target
It’s time to flick off our shoulders the aussie stereotype of being laid-back, laziness. Carelessness kills the plan God installed in our lives (or OS), complacency murder-ed /-s the Grace God gave to us 2000+ years ago.

So, what are you going to do?

http://en.wiktionary.org/
A feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble.

hey! be bold

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 20:06:48 +1000

Dear Diary,

“Who touched me?...
Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me....
Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace”
-Jesus (Luke 8)

I also want to touch Jesus.

Imagine you’re in a U2 concert, or Jay Chow concert, or hmm.. a Yanni concert... and at the end of the concert, Bono, Jay, or Yanni comes down from the stage, people start streaming towards him, like the exhaust of a jet engine. All the people were too much - the force and bad breath could have crush/asphyxiated the beloved Bono, Jay or Yanni. And yet you, against all odds, reached him and gave a big great hug or kiss (for the girls). You did it!

Why did/would you do that?

If you read the passage in 8:40 onwards, you will find many principles in there. But one thing I was captured by was the woman’s boldness. She was that woman squeezing past the crowds, risking her own life to reach the one person that could change her life (how bono, jay or yanni could change your life, I don’t know). She was also that woman that stood out among the crowd as well. Why? Through her desperate search for Jesus, she found him, reach out and touched him. So what about the rest of the people? Well they were probably nosey people more interested in this person called Jesus, wanting to see him display his might and power through signs and wonders. Will you be the person to stand out in the crowd?

“Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed”

And even as Jesus called out to the one who touched him, she revealed herself with a trembling fear.

In this season of freedom month, it is so important for us to know that it takes boldness. Boldness to step out of our comfort zone, boldness to share, boldness to be bold.

But how do we find/receive boldness? How do we be bold?
Do we just simply say to ourselves, “let’s just do it, what’s the worse that can happen”. .. er they say no, go away?

I say, let’s stop thinking that way. Why? If we have that mentality, we would only be doing it not through faith, but something else. Of course, this is not always true. What I’m saying is, let’s have bigger faith, the right perspective and boldness.

So I say again, how do we find/receive boldness?

(you tell me)

I think boldness can’t really be learned. It more or less either happens or doesn’t. It’s kinda like faith, put into action.

But this is what I think..

“Boldness is inspired, and faith-driven”

So I come back to the story of the bleeding woman. Was she inspired? Probably, was she faith-driven? Definitely. Without faith, her simple reach and touch of the cloak of Jesus would not have healed her. Through boldness, she did not worry about finding favor with Jesus, or even meeting him, she did not ask - the only thing she had in mind was getting to Jesus. And her faith pre-destined her healing. She needed only boldness.

So...

Faith. Boldness. Christ.

If you call your home Ablaze, let’s believe for 200 by years’ end!

have i been desperate-d?

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:40:18 +1000

Dear Diary,

Before that camp I had a great expectation, for myself and for ablaze. Refer to this post. Little did I know my expectation was miniscule! God did amazing things through each session. From the super long but anointed altar call on friday night, to the many prophecies given, to the hungry ‘desperate’ hearts of every, EVERY worshipper... it was more than amazing!

I learned to much. Where to begin?

People. I said in my previous post that I was lacking in this area a lot. Especially in fellowshipping with those whom I do not normally spend time with. Spending some good time with leaders from overseas and interstate made me realise I was simply selfish. I found myself not holding back, not keeping to myself.. but wanting more (before & after camp). God gave me a new heart in this area. This sounds really simple doesn’t it? But it really took something special to make me realise how much hurt I was in.

Life Group. I enjoy LG very much. There are of course struggles, personally and as a group. But God clearly showed me how much more I needed to give and grow in servanthood. In a workshop session with the leaders this week, I shared what serving as a life group facilitator is to me. Among many things, there were three main points I shared; (1) Serve. To simply be one to serve - to see the hearts of every person experience God, (2) Vessel. To be used by God as a vessel. More and more I want God to use my life for His purposes. The awesome things I experience, the things I learn... through my quiet time, I want to bring to LG. LG is not just a time for sharing or having fun, but to rise to new levels in our personal relationship with God.. (3) Inspire. To inspire people to achieve. I don’t know if many people know this, but I got into learning/playing bass because of the inspiration from 2 people. They are Mark Peric (p-rok), and John Ong. p-rok is (was) the bassist for a church I use to go to in brisbane. Through his playing through the awesome PA system... the massive amplification made me tremble with excitement. So I took up bass. But it was hard learning bass. I wanted to do so much, slap & pop, awesome running fills... all that inspiration came from one man... Mr John Ong. My point is this.. through the inspiration of one person (or 2), I started something, but through the one God I persevered to learn.. and three years later I was on worship team. One goal of my life and of the ministry I’m involved in, is to set the example... to inspire younger generations.. in a sense replace yourself by inspiration. So who knows how you can inspire people through your servanthood in LG. Just live it out for God and He WILL do the rest.

Several thing God started in my heart since the committed church conference was that of commitment, passion and the nations. I was always committed. But now, especially after camp I am committed with a cause. Rom 12:1-2 talks about living your life as a sacrifice for God. One synonym of sacrifice is cost. If I have this right, then allowing God to use your life is to cost yourself of the things you want to do. In the end, does it really cost? If I’m sold out for Jesus, then it should be great pleasure! Anyway, this leads me to having a new fresh passionate heart for the things I’m involved in. And then nations. We are a bible believing church, with the great commission the core of our vision. I never thought I’d be passionate for this area of nations, but I have growing burden to be used in long-term missions and church planting.

One of the expectations I had for camp was to be reassured of all these things God began to work in me - the commitment, passion and nations thing. I wanted God to start in me a new freshness of availability to the church and growing hunger to do new things.

Anyway, to the point... God really did something in my heart to stir me forward. I’ve been listening to the new planetshakers album “all for love”... and almost every song is an inspiration to me. It just makes me want to sing and praise and worship God louder and more extravagantly.

More to come...

Tim

Sad culture

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:12:37 +1000

Dear diary,

Enough said. I’m so sad.

Tim