Persecution!

Oh! i will be going mawai like tmr..so i will only be back on the 4th dec!
Today, Pastor Ronald talked about the last beattitude....
It is on the verse matthew chap 5 verse 10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

He talked about many christians having to master the bible just like a walking bible...
like whenever you need a verse, he can just tell you straight kind of thing...
It is not say not good, but it is BETTER to let the bible master you!
What do i mean by that?
If you let the bible and God's word to master you, you are actually carrying out God's word in your life...you live a Godly and Christ-like life!
It depends on what kind of christian you wanna be. Those which are mastered or are just only mastering...
But one thing i can be sure is that. If you are a christian, like a true one, you WILL face persecution in one way or another.

When we talk about persecution, many people will think that ai ya..in a place like Singapore, me being a christian will not face any persecution de...only God's 12 disciples as said in the bible face persecution. Or, only those missionaries who like go overseas to some exotic places to spread God's word will face persecution...(physical persecution)
Their flesh will be ripped apart...their heads will be chopped off...their body parts will be cut off one by one, they are set on fire, stonned etc...just because one is a christian...
It is like even found today!
Statistics show that 40 million people died because of Christ after Jesus died until now...
Also, out of this 40 million, 60% are children!
As for now, everyday, 300 christians dies!
In Singapore, we don't face it...but as we live our normal lives, eating breakfast, going church, eat lunch with friends, maybe go for a movie, shopping etc. 300 christians are dying!
If terrorist were to come, the first people that they will pick out to have some fun with will be the jews...then they will ask for christians...they will not ask for buddist or any other religion...

However, God did not only mention having physical persecution. Persecution includes other factors like verbal and scandal.
In matthew chap 5 verse 11" Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me."
what do i mean by verbal/scandal persecution?
Verbal persecution is one that i always face...people talk behind your back and gossip about you, saying how holy you are, mocking you and making fun of you just because you chose you lead a Godly life! A life that follows according to God's word! In my case, my friends always say..."wah...somebody so holy ah.."
The world loves sin and rejoices with it...people take pleasure in Sinning...thats why when doing the right thing comes along, they will hate it!
For example, if your friends are like gossiping and talking about other people, you wouldn't be comfortable with them cause they are actually sinning...you will just walk away..or have the courage to be a peacemaker! to tell them that "Hey! this is not right, we shouldn't be talking about this. stop it."
Do you think when you tell them to stop, they will be very happy about it?
Will they be like wah! so good..i really wanna be like you..thank you for telling me what is wrong...you are so nice to us...
No! they won't!

Jesus did not die because he did good...he died because he was different from the rest...
The Scribes and Pharasis did not like Jesus and hated him because Jesus was righteous and holy...Jesus was so good as compared to them..thats why they wanted to get rid of him...the world do not like Godly people....

If you were to ask your friend to come to church, the first time your friend may say, ai ya...don need la...
if you ask again, your friend might say no...
if you ask the third time, you friend may say...NO! which part of NO do you not understand? the N or the O?!
if you ask the fourth time, your friend might just seclude you...
You won't be very much well liked by your friends..

In 2timothy chap 3 verse 12"Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Are you as a christian being persecuted?
If you are not, are you really one?
If you are not being persecuted, one reason is that your friends can tolerate with your Godly life...or is it that you are not even leading one? Is it that you have lowered your standards of what a Godly life is all about? Have you entered and become part of the world...being indfferent?
Maybe your friends don't even know that you are a christian...

If you don't want to be persecuted then just don't care about saving your friends...then don't care about whether they are going heaven or hell...don't care about being a christian and leading a Godly life...don't care about how God sees you...don't need to share with them about christ...don't need to tell them that they are going to hell..

If you are facing persecution, it can tell you that you are actually children of God...
Because if you are children of God, you will enjoy God's glory with him and suffer the same thing that Jesus suffers!
Also, it can serve as a conviction that you are actually doing the right thing and leading a Godly life whereby God is pleased with you...
matthew chap 5 verse 12"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Rejoice and be glad that you are persecuted?
Is God saying that we must like throw a party and are like super happy when people persecute us?
No!
it is the WILLINGNESS to get persecuted..NOT SEEK for persecution but will carrying out all the other beattitudes said in the bible at matthew chap 5, we will confirm be persecuted...
Don worry!
Cause our reward is not found on this earth! our reward is more than we can ever expect!
Only when we are weak from all the persecutions that we face, then, we can be strong as we depend more on God rather than ourselves!

2corinthians chap 4 verse 17-18 "For momentary, light afflicition is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

James chap 1 verse 2-4 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Leading a Godly life is not one that is being lead by an extrovert..one that talks alot...it can be lead by anyone! introvert or even people of all ages! As long as you are willing to take this step of faith out and pray and ask the holy spirit to lead you and give you courage, you can be the point of difference and shine God's light to the ends of the earth!

God Bless you!

God's will

When i was on my way back home carrying like all the stuffs from batam, taking the 61 bus, i took out a small bible to read...
I came across this verse in matthew chap 27 verse 42 to 43 when Jesus was crucified and the people are mocking him.."He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; Let God rescue Him now, If He delights in Him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "
When i was at the batam trip, i was finding opportunity to share Christ...whenever i see one, i will grab it...
Even in like Singapore, i will do that when i am amongst my non-christian friends.
I realise that even though the priests and people ask Jesus to come down from the cross and through that, they will believe him, Jesus did not come down at all even if he had the ability to. He really follows and go according to God's will in like everything that he do...he clearly understands his purpose for coming down to earth and does it!

God creates everyone with a purpose and everyone has a different purpose...we have to keep on praying and seeking God for our own purpose in life...
We have to fully understand what is God's will for us to live life to the fullest.
I realise that i shouldn't use my own understanding to plan and see when am i going to share the gospel and what to say to my friends..but i should first seek God's will and plan before carrying out anything...
Only through this, then i can save more lives than i can ever expect!
People these days use God's will so easily like everything and anything that happen is all God's will...they fail to truely understand what exactly is God will....
Since Jesus seek for God's will, what more us?

God loves you always! muacks!

My batam trip

Hello! miss me?!
I came back from batam like on fri evening!
Anw, i would just like to talk about my trip cause i am like going mawai which is somewhere is malaysia from like 1-4 dec! so i won't have time to blog! ahhhh!

Hmmm...the purpose of me going there is to make friends with the orphans, help them to build a house and to provide basic necessities for them!
On my way to the orphanage which is like outside of the city area, i just saw a small part of the lifestyle of people..
What i saw outside of my window is just houses. Houses made out of cardboard and zinc roofs...
People walking around without shoes...etc..

Then, a thought came into my mind...i suddenly rmb what my father asked me like a few months ago..
He said "If your God is real, why would he allow some people in certain countries to suffer poverty while others are like rich?"
I couldn't answer him at that point of time...
Now, as i was looking out of my window, i realise that God is actually fair!
What i see is people gathering together, watching tv, playing football, bathing or even just talking...
As the bus went by, children and even the adults there waved and smiled at us very happily!
I started to ponder, why are the people there so happy while my friends and Singaporeans are like complaining about this and that...
Do you know that an average Singaporean will at least complain 3 times a day?!

I feel that even Singaporeans are like rich materialistically, they are not contented with what they have and still want more...
Singapore is even considered as one of the most umhappy country amongst all the other countries!
While as for indonesians, even if they do not get to enjoy the material stuff, they are happy...
Cause the only thing that they have there is people...their emphasis is more on bonding...both family, friends and even neighbours!
This is something that Singaporeans should actually learn!
Their buildings are also one lvl kind...so they also get to see the broad sky across!

There are some things that i learnt about that country...
Do you know that you cannot touch the indonesian's head like even the children? it is considered as being rude...
They also sell bottles of oil to fill their motorbikes in mama shops!
Also, their motorbikes are really cheap! like 400 to 500 sing!
Anyone of any age can also ride a bike! and it can seat up to 5 ppl!
Also, they do not like and cannot eat things that are too hygienic just like how Singapore cannot eat things that are dirty.
I ever saw one scene...there is this orphan...she is like only 4 years of age...
She ate a cup of ice cream that my friend bought for the orphans when the "icecream man" drove in...
She accidently drop it...and the whole cup drop on the floor..She wanted to cry! but another indonesian incharge of the orphanage, she scoop the icecream up, wipe off the sides and hand it over to the girl! Inside the icecream still got dirt!
I was just stunned! i really dunno what to say...
Also! after the orphans bathe, they can actually play in the sand and get themselves all dirty again!

At the end, we didn't complete the house even though we work from 8 to 6 like for 2 days still cannot finish!
We only completed half...
Who knows that building a house can actually be so so difficult and really tiring!
We go to carry the bricks from there to here, here to there...
Carry water from downhill to up hill to make cement to fill in the holes in the bricks (apparently it is because of budget)
tranfer land into the inside of the foundation..etc.
The kids there were really cute and adorable..we played soccer with them!

Oh! i tell you! the things in batam is really cheap! the exchange rate is really good!
It is like $1 to 8000 rupiah! pity that i didn't bring enough money...if not i will buy like mad ler!
Everything there is like super cheap! you know converse shoes are like 16 dollars! and i bought this rip curl cap for like 10 plus dollars only when the actual price is like 30 plus!
You know i am not those kind that like to shop de...hahaha=)
And the hotel was great!!!

God bless you always!

Peter (one of the disciples)

When i was on my way home from plaza singapura, i read this on the bus..and this thought came into my mind...
It was matthew chap 26 verse 34 to 35 "Jesus said to him, 'Truely i say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' Peter said to Him, 'Even if i have to die with You, i will not deny You." All the disciples said that same thing too.
Jesus was talking to Peter, one of the disciples...

Oh! i was reading the rehmma booklet before reading the Bible!
and guess what?!
they talked about peter too! cool right?
it was the topic on Nothing in Secret!
somemore it is i anyhow random flip one leh!
One sentence said "Will you slink away like Peter when your faith is being tested?"
God works in amazing ways!

Anw, i was thinking about this topic that God provided me with...and i started to think...are we as christians going to really be like Peter? Are we going to be singing songs in church during worship about how we love God and are willing to die for him kind and not mean it?
Maybe we do mean it..but are you sure one is going to overcome the fear of death and die because of God? or are we going to run away and turn our backs towards him?
For me, although i always sing and i mean it from my heart...
But who knows what will i do when i really face with a situation to die for God?
Who knows how i am going to react in a moment of fear and despair?
Let just say when a gun points at you asking you whether you are a christian annot?
I fear that i will be like Peter...being so confident at first, but at the end, denying God=(

May God bless you!

Peacemakers Vs Peacekeepers

Hello! i am going to batam for ocip like from the 25 to 28 nov! rmb to pray for my safety k?
so i won't be blogging during this time...hahaha=)
Today, pastor ronald preach on the verse matthew chap 5 verse 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." so, i am going to help you define what is the difference between peacemakers and peacekeepers!

At first i thought they are both like the same!
Anw,
Many people in this world are usually peacekeepers...
At home, some people just keep quiet whenever the family members scream and scold...
Some people just get out of the way, trying to keep peace and not anger the other person any further...
Some people will just pretend nothing has happened just because they are afraid of conflicts happening...
Lastly, some will ignore..
These people are peacekeepers...they may have alot of hatred and anger in their hearts but they just do not want to say it out...just bottling them..

Peacemakers must have peace themselves...do you agree?
If they have peace, then they can bring about peace to others right?
Peacemakers must have righteousness...
Peacemakers must love God and understand God's defined peace...
There are a total of 3 characteristic to show whether you are a peacemaker or just a peacekeeper!
1) Know peace inwardly.
This is saying that we have to make peace with God first. eg. when you sin, you ask God to forgive you and make peace with him...and it must be an everyday thing!
2) To bring peace spiritually.
This means to CONSTANTLY try to make peace and to bring people to make peace with God!
And the only way to help them make peace with God so that they can gain the God defined peace, is by evengelising...
So! are you going to be one?
3)Pursue peace socially.
This means that we shouldn't purposely do things that cause conflicts and to RESOLVE to conflicts! not to run away from it.
Will you today, go up to the person that you are hurt by and you just hide the matter but still rmb, to go up to the person and say "although i was hurt by you, but i forgive you."

This verse helped me when i had a conflict with someone not so long ago..and it taught me to forgive that person and to show love...
matthew chap 18 verse 22 to 35! it is like super long..so i will summerise...it is about this King and a slave owed the King 10 000 talents. But the slave do not have the money...the King wanted to sell him and his family for repayment...the slave fell down to the ground and pleaded to more patience with him and he will repay...the King felt compassion and released him + forgiving his debt.
When the slave went out, he found out that one of his fellow slave owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him and demanded his money to be paid back. The slave asked for patience too! But he was unwilling and threw him in prison.
His fellow slaves saw this and felt sad...they reported to the King all that had happened...
The King was super angry! He summoned him and said, "You wicked slave, i forgave you all the debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not do the same?"
The King sent him to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed.
In the same way, God will do the same if you do not forgive your brother or sister with your heart.

We have the rights to tell those which are doing wrong, especially our brothers and sisters in christ that what they are doing is wrong...
You may ask, won't this create conflicts?
When you tell someone the truth nicely and with love, they will either get more agitated or accept what you say...
But it doesn't matter...not everyone will be able to accept the truth! and truth doesn't really sound very good to some...
But! as long you bring peace and truth, you are a peacemaker..and peacemakers are? sons of God!
what do i mean when i say that?
It means that God takes pride in us! and thats all that matters!
of course when the person don't accept what you say, then don't go on and purposely agitate the person...you just have the right to let the person know...

So! as long as you have peace in your heart, help others make peace with God and make peace with others, you ARE a PEACEMAKER! and God is proud of you!
Pray to the Lord for strength and courage to do so too!!

God loves you!!

Blindness

Today, when i was on my way for work at the child care centre...like on the 961 bus, i closed my eyes and listened to a christian song...the Holy Spirit showed me things...

The Holy Spirit showed me the advantages of being blind...
In this world, there are several seeking and persuing material and the physical stuff. Things that they can see to ask for what they want...eg. statues.
They never really think and use their heart to understand it...
Being blind gives the blind an advantage to not see...
hmmmm....you may ask, huh? what do you mean?
Try closing your eyes and just quieten down your heart....
Try to think and imagine...without your eyes to see, what other tools can be used to see and feel what the other person is feeling...
If you are blind, what you will use is your heart...
You will use your heart to see..to see the world around you...to feel the people around you whether it is filled with love or hatred...don't you think so?
And the blind will find themselves feeling and understanding the love of God with their heart because they cannot see...
They also won't get distracted by the things around them and focus on God..cause it is like when we pray, we close our eyes to concentrate and focus...so, same concept.

Oh! the Holy Spirit led me to a previous verse that i didn't understand and question my friends about...it is John chap 9 verse 41 "Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains."
At first i really do not have any clue on this...until now!
Because Jesus was talking to the pharisees that do not know him as the son of man, they do not actually see the truth...they can only see with thier physical eyes...
So if they say they see, they are lying...because actually they do not!

I was just sharing with my mum and sis about this particular story that touched me..
It was a story shared by Pastor Cui Xian...try to visualise!
There was 4 business men...they were like super late for their flight back home..
So they were like rushing for their flight in the airport..
4 of them were like running and sliding around...
then, they knocked into a stall selling apples..a girl was selling them..
all the apples fell onto the floor...
some were damaged..
However, the 4 business men ran away because they got no time to help her pick up the apples..
The last business man felt guilty.
So, he told the 3 other business men to tell his family that he will take the next flight and ask them to go first..
he turned around and went back to the fallen down stall..
he saw the girl frantically searching for her apples..
she was blind.
he went over and picked up the apples, separating the good ones from the damaged ones..
he took out his wallet and gave the girl money saying "i am so so sorry that your apples are damaged...here, this is to compensate for all the damage we have caused."
the blind girl took the money and when he was about to walk away, she said "wait, are you Jesus?"

God loves you all the time!

Prayers!

On my way to famosa, i just randomly flip the bible and just chanced upon this verse that i wanna share with you all today!

It is Luke, chapter 18 verse 2 to 8 " saying, "in a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in the city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, " Even though i do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, i will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.' And the Lord said, 'Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"

It took me awhile to figure out what this parable was...
This parable is talking about prayer!
It shows that even an unrighteous man, afraid of being pestered over and over again, gave the widow what she wanted. What more God?! When he is like so righteous and perfect!
As long as one have the faith to believe that all things are possible and keep on praying and praying, never giving up, God will answer your prayers ASAP!
You can try fasting and praying too! i heard that it works! must "pester" God! hahaha=)

I shared this verse because i want to encourage those who are praying for anything!
For healing, for friends and family to get saved, for revival, for strength..etc. ANYTHING!
I wanna tell you to press on and pray! Wait upon God and he will be able to do wonders!
Even if it takes 20 years, 30 years or even 40 years, as long as you press on, even the most stubborn man can be saved! Jia you!

God is good, all the time.
&
All the time, God is good!!

My God can do wonders!