More power to ya

You said you've been feeling weaker
Weaker by the day
You said you can't make the joy of your salvation stay
But good things come to them that wait
Not to those who hesitate
So hurry up and wait upon the Lord

-"More Power to Ya" by Petra

What is good?

I dun think I clearly describe why God's passion for His glory and our joy are one. Think of one of your most lustful pleasure; one that brings you the most joy whether legit or not. When the call comes to experience some new joy and delight that one hasn't felt before, if indeed one take up the offer, will have to give up the previous joy, it is most likely that the surrender is one of reluctance. God is then perceived as a killer of joy and Christian happiness is only attainable to the clergy or those who works in any Christian institutions. As C.S. Lewis described that such narrow-mindedness is like a boy playing with mud because he couldn't understand what a holiday in the beach is like. Now, say that God made all things good for His glory, thus all things are to be enjoyed. Even though there are corruption of the good things that God had created, such as sex, music, food, education, friends, etc, God always intended for all things to be enjoyed. When we enjoy them the way they were meant to be while acknowledging Him as the creator and giver of all things good, God is most glorified because we are greatly satisfied in the things he has given us. I dare say that even things that started with wrong intentions such selfishness, pride, greed or jealousy, etc, God turns all those bad circumstances into opportunities to show His goodness to us.

Since all things are created by Him and for Him; therefore we are for Him and He must be our higher joy and delight. Then as His sons and daughters, he gives all all things to enjoy, turning what the world has corrupted into incorruptible pleasure for us to enjoy.

Desiring God

I wrote this on Caleb's wall after he shared about having a "hunger" and "holy dissatisfaction" for things of God. I was at the GII youth service on Saturday because the Prebyterian churches have a joint celebration this weekend. Melody Fam preached at the first week of 40DOC. I told Boss (Ronald) that I missed it, but I know I have to move on and be a partner in prayer. I love the discontent that I read in Caleb's blog. With the right spirit, it's only a matter of time before he explode and infect others with his passion for God's glory.

Bro, u know what your "hunger" and "holy dissatisfaction" leads to? A dissatisfaction for where you are now. Instead of trickles, u want (as Kurk rightly put it) Niagara Falls and more. Where does our hunger leads to? A return to God and seeing who He really is - GOD. It doesn't end by merely acknowledging his deity. In fact the acknowledgement of God leads to a desiring for God as the only soul-satisfying, soul-saturating reality.

If u have time, go check out the book "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. He helped me (and in turn help others) realize that God is most GLORIFIED when we are most SATISFIED in Him. In a nutshell, Piper reminded us that we were not crea...ted to desire "stuff" and other "things", but were created to glorify God. Most people think that glorifying God means giving up a lot of things, but what if the very thing that makes them happy is God? Therefore, God's passion for His glory and our joy are one thing. The chief end of man, therefore, is to GLORIFY God and to ENJOY Him forever. Hunger and Holy Dissatisfaction glows dimmer and disappears in the light of His glory, bro. I hope you get your breakthrough. These "glory" and "joy" thing has been the core and the strength from which I operate whether in ministry or at work.

OH MAN!! It's so liberating sharing this with u!!! I AM EXCITED TO KNOW R-AGE HAVE A PERSON WITH UR KIND OF HEART FOR GOD!!! GO FOR IT BRO!

Praise with thanksgiving

Last week was just pure agony and constant pleading for God to lead the way. Today I am just filled with praise. I do not what to listen to songs or read about repentance or listen to songs about brokenness, but songs of praise, worship and adoration to God for all things and for every circumstances. Like the changing of seasons, it feels that my life is like that, except that the seasons in my life is not regulated by the orbit around the sun, but by my life's orbit around my faith. The further I am away, the colder I feel and the spirit of God compels me to get back in to orbit so that I feel the sunshine of His grace. I want to stay in the sunshine forever, neither too hot nor too cold.

I am reading Bro Patrick Liew's daily inspirational sharing and I am reminded what I want to do with my life: to inspire others to greatness. Just a few weeks ago, I was filled with so much bitterness and jealousy wondering why I am wasn't working on a bigger production with better pay and higher profile. Those negativity was eating me up inside like in Aliens. I was so nauseated by my own shortcoming and dissatisfaction! I am reminded by what the Lord had done in my life and how I have come to where I am today and I have the nerve to challenge God, "why not more?" Greed and the love for money really take the joy out of everything we do. When I have an eternal perspective and set my gaze towards what is eternal and what is infinitely more precious, money and fame do not come even close! Now with all the opportunity I am given, I will make much of it to glorify God and make Him known through my thought, word and action. The Lord have taken care of everything and there is nothing to be worried about. All we need to do is to do our duty as disciples of Jesus.

Before I go off to another glorious day of The Pupil 2, a verse springs to my mind and that is my prayer this morning: Dear God, make SW and I be gentle as dove and be shrewd as serpents. Thriving on the meat of Your word and not be content with mediocrity. Help us and give us wisdom and patience to teach our little boys to be God glorifying tiny mutant Christian warriors! ;)X Amen!

July 4th

Josh celebrated his 5th birthday with no fanfare but in pain and suffering. he got infected with FHM disease (Foot, Hand and Mouth and yes, easier to remember than HFM). I wanted to find a replacement for that day, but everyone is busy, so I had to work through that day which was a 15hr day. I reached home a round 10pm to wails of agony as the pain from ulcer on the tip for his tongue while he slept. I didn't see him the whole of yesterday as I had another 15hr day. Today was more bearable because the call time is 9am and I had a short but sweet moment with my little boy.

I am gaining strength from the material I am reading and the sermons that I re-visited. Another source of encouragement was Steven Curtis Chapman's album "Beauty Will Rise". As he share about his experience in his family's tragedy, I find similarity in my own, albeit I didn't experience the death of someone. The common theme that edified me most is knowing that I Heaven, every imperfection will be made perfect.

I really want to have a chat with Chia Ee and if possible before we meet I Heaven. As I read and hear about Children "snapping" out of it or "improved over time", I do pray for that. I wish to see with my mortal eyes the joy that his Momma long to experience; I want to hear with my mortal ears his sweet voice. These I pray and so much more, but what matters most for now is
this - not our will, but thine be done.

The lessons that I am learning from this ordeal has totally transformed our lives. I wondered if we would have sought the Lord like Hannah did if we were blessed like most of our friends? This is a faithful saying, "I hate the agony that we must go through, but what a blessing!". What I am going through is just the surface of what Job went through, yet my soul constantly cries out, "Lord, Blessed be Your Name" in the midst of the tiredness and uncertainty (unsure yet sure: Unsure what the future on earth holds for everyone, but sure that God is in control). Somehow I am transported to the time when my joy and delight in Christ were at it's highest in my youth. Back then there were no worries like we have today, but today I am experiencing that joy and delight in the midst of agony which makes is really special.

Sweeter than honey made by the bees
God's love dispels the bitterness bottled in me
I have asked for a perfect life but all I've got wasnot what I asked
But it's all good

At the moment when tragedy struck
It's easy to point the finger or pass the buck
I didn't buckle under the pressure
But I did ask, "God was it You?"

When times are good, it is easy to trust and do all that I learned in Sunday School
But I prayed, "Oh God, it's time like this that I must learn all the more to trust You"

"I will
Even though I don't understand
My God, I will trust You" (wrote this paragraph while "I will trust You" was playing on my iPad. The lyrics to the chorus of the song. So timely!)

Selah