no trouble at all...

Dear family and friends...

Some verses for us today from John 14. Please keep praying for Michel...and believing that God is in control and working all things for the good of those who love Him.

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." (1)

Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me." (6)

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." (12-14)

"I will not leave you as orphans." (18)

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (27)

We can do great things. Only believe.

Mimi...we're praying with you.

Christmas 2006

I spent most of my Christmas this year helping my new roommate, SamThecka, clean his old apartment. One of the thoughts I had today was "Why do I have to spend MY time cleaning up someone else's mess?" Which was also cool coz Pheng thought about the same thing.

And then it dawned upon me...that was exactly what the first Christmas was about: the Son of God came down to earth as Jesus Christ to clean up the mess that WE created. It was our sin, but He took it upon Himself. It was our penalty, but He paid it with His life. It was our death, but He died in our place. It was our mess, but He cleaned it up for us.

I am glad I spent my time cleaning. If the idea of Christmas could ever be caught, then I think that was what happened to me today. I truly experienced Christmas from God's point of view. What a privilege it was; what an honour. I'm glad that Sam's my roommate.

Merry Christmas, everyone, and a Happy New Year to all~!

No such thing as coincidences...

and the following is no superstition either!!

it's been 6 hrs.

John 11 tells the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. John 11 is the scripture for Lynn and I today. Michel's dad's body is right now in the morgue, but death was not part of the promise Michel heard from God and shared with us many months back.

As I shared with a colleague to keep praying, he shared with me how his mom had died about 5 years ago. She was clinically dead for 18 hrs, but came back to life. She is alive to this day. Coincidence that I would hear a story like that? No. It's a faith-stirrer!

Let's stir up our faith!! Death cannot prevail. Life is in God's hands, and His promises for this man are yet to be fulfilled...LETS HAVE FAITH, for without faith it is impossible to please God...and with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible to him who believes!

Life is gonna happen. Soon. Believe it.

Wet Wet Wet

Wet day today. It's been raining almost all night, and this morning the temperature was really nice. It felt like spring all weekend, and it's just December. I like this better than the freezing cold.

Anyways, travelled to work today and guess what? my windshield wipers STOPPED working about 500 meters away from the school gate! I had to drive soopersloowwwe coz the rain on the screen blurred my visibility. So I arrived safely at the parking lot, and tried the wipers again...I could hear the mechanisms work, but the wipers weren't moving...*sigh* I hope i can somehow fix them myself.

So thats my story for today. Hope it doesn't rain on my way home...or I might just have to stay at work.

What is your pH level?

pH = power of the Holy Spirit

"But you will receive POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
~ Jesus, Acts 1:8

Jesus Christ said of Himself, "The Son can do nothing." --- He performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a man in right relationship with God...not as God. If He performed miracles because He was God, then they would be unattainable for us. But if He did them as a man, I am responsible to pursue His lifestyle."
~ Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth, 2003

Are YOU a passionate witness, or an indifferent observer?

IT IS FINISHED!!!

....at least for the semester. It's not gonna be much of a break for me at all until the semester starts coz i'll be working full time for a couple of weeks, then a miniterm (1 week intensive class) and then school starts all over again. So i guess i'll just think of something relaxing to do for a little 3-day celebration this weekend.

Isnt it amazing how God uses the most unlikely people to speak to you? Yesterday after Youth Prayer Alex comes up to me and said I have something for you...and proceeds to read Isaiah 43:18-21

Forget what happened long ago! Don't think about the past!
I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands...I provide water in deserts--streams in thirsty lands for my chosen people.
I made them my own nation, so they would praise me. (CEV)

Isaiah 54

Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left...Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; and do not feel humiliated for you will not be disgraced. (NASV)

alright. I think i'll start my little vacation by getting some naptime into my system. zZZzzzZzzzz

from my journal

Act 17:23 For as I passed along and carefully observed your objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you.
~ Paul in Acts 17:23

I have thought of this many times, but finally decide to share it here. As some of you may know, last year I brought some of my friends to Malaysia and we had a blast over there sharing the love of Jesus all over the place. But one of the things that I wished we did as a team was to visit the big buddhist temple. We didnt end up going because we were warned to not put ourselves in a position where we are open to the attacks of the the devil.

Like I said, I have thought much about our decision, and it wasnt till a year later that I was reminded of the passage above. Even PAUL went sightseeing! I am sure there were dark forces in that place, and all kinds of evil spirits and so on, but that did not stop him from "carefully observing" the idols and altars there. Why? Coz he knew and believed that the One who is in Him is greater than he that is in the world! So why live in fear and superstition?


To the team: Next time, guys, when we return to Malaysia, let's not let fear of anything limit where we can go or wat we can do. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. More than conquerors, thats who we are in Christ! As long as we're in Christ we can storm any gate, even the gates of hell, and bring heaven to earth!!

I miss being with you guys.

Mistakes

9 Mistakes to avoid:
Remorse over yesterday's failure.
Anxiety over today's problems.
Worry over tomorrow's uncertainty.
Procrastination with one's present duty.
Resentment of another's success.
Criticism of a neighbor's imperfections.
Impatience with youth's imperfection.
Skepticism of our nation's future.
Unbelief in God's providence.
~ William Arthur Ward

The last couple of weeks have been most difficult for me as far as I can remember. Read again those words above...I have stumbled over each one of those mistakes over and over again, and it has put nothing but hate and bitterness in my heart. It is only by God's grace that I'm being healed and getting over them now. No more problems? Far from it! However, once again I'm at a higher place lookin' at my mountains from a different perspective.

To all those who prayed for me and with me, my most sincere gratitude. Thank you for allowing God to work through you. Your seeds of prayer and love will forever be recorded in the books of Heaven!