Accountability To One Another

Last Sunday I thought my busy week was over but came Monday, I realised it was not to be. Another week has gone by and I should think this new week would be a more breathable one. Haha.

I am now at the airport waiting for the arrival of the mission team from the Women Society of Christian Service ministry. They have been in Cambodia since Thursday- I pray their time spent with the Khmers was a fruitful and ministering one.

It has been a long day for me. After attending the 8.45am service, I went out to have brunch with my sister. It was a merry-go-round for us. We were planning to eat dim sum in the East but the restaurant has closed down. We then headed to the one in the North but realised it was not the branch of the one in the East. In the end, we settled for sushies. :)

Anyway, it was back to church again to prepare for the Youth Ministry Mission Team meeting. We started at 2.00pm with devotion and prayer, followed by a run-through of the activities which we will be doing in Cambodia. After that we practised the magic tricks and balloon-sculpting we learnt in the early phase of the training segment. Before we closed I conducted a security and trip briefing.

By then it was already 5.00pm. I was so tempted to go home and rest for a while but decided against it as I knew then I would not want to go out again. Anyway, I headed for town to run some errands before taking the train to the airport.

I just finished dinner - had pasta at a fusion restaurant and I am now at a cafe waiting for the ladies to leave the baggage area.

Well, yesterday I attended a leaders' training session where it touched on accountability. I was reminded of the importance to account my life to a group of closer siblings-in-Christ so that they can help keep my walk in check and in step. I have two accountability groups - one with brothers around my age and the other to a group of younger brothers.

As much as I would love to spend more time with them, I realised lately it has been tough due to family commitments. It has been a struggle to fellowship with all 6 of them. I am praying and working on being regular again.

I learnt yesterday that if I cherish accounting my life to others, then I would make time to meet my siblings-in-Christ. If I really cannot, I probably could update my status to them via email. I guess the essential thing is not to break the communication.

Okie, time for me to stop here. I shall blog again soon.

Have a blessed week ahead!

My Alabaster Jar

ALABASTER JAR

Verse 1:
This alabaster jar is all I have of worth.
I break it at Your feet, Lord,
it's less than You deserve.
You're far more beautiful,
more precious than the oil.
The sum of my desires
and the fullness of my joy!

Pre-Chorus:
Like you spilled Your blood,
I spill my heart
as an offering to my King.

Chorus:
Here I am, take me,
as an offering.
Here I am, giving every heartbeat
for Your glory.
Take me.

Verse 2:
This time that I have left
is all I have of worth.
I lay it at Your feet, Lord,
it's less than You deserve.
And though I've little strength
and though my days are few,
You gave Your life to me
so, I will live my life for You.

I am leading worship at the 11.15am service on Sunday. Since last week, I have been considering what songs should be used. Though on Monday I sent out the list to the Worship Team, I was still not satisfied with the choices. It was mainly due to the songs being sung too many times already. There is nothing wrong in that but I just did not have the peace. There was a time when I asked the Lord to just provide me with at least a new song though I have not updated myself with the latest.

Anyway, in the course of this week I was in church to print out the Missions Ministry Newsletters to be distributed to members and friends on Sunday as it is Missions Emphasis Sunday. One of the church staff was reading the introduction I wrote and it reminded her of a song she sang in the church her husband is pastoring.

Last night she emailed me a link in YouTube where she introduced me the above song by Gateway Worship. I listened to it and immediately it clicked - the words are so appropriate for this week's theme. After viewing the clip, I emailed the Worship Team - sent them the link and the lyrics with chords and messaged them to read the mail.

Well, we met just now for a rehearsal and the song linked well with the rest! Hallelujah! :)

I like the words where they speak of giving God our all and not just a fraction of our lives or time or only when we have some spare moments then we avail ourselves for Him to use us.

I was just sharing with the team that even if we give our all to Him, it pales in comparison what God has given to us or done for us - his death on the cross for our sins and the gift of eternal life for those who believe in Him!

I guess it is the same to answering to the Great Commission Jesus has given to His children. It is not only when we have the time or when we feel like it then we tell others about God. It is about obedient to this command (not a request, mind you) - it is about sharing with others what God has done all the time.

Well, I learnt one thing about sharing God with others all the time - I need to have a living relationship with God daily. If I am constantly learning from the Lord, encountering Him, then it would be a natural thing for me to want to tell others about Jesus. In fact people will see Jesus in my life because of the way I live.

It is a challenge and struggle but it is not impossible. I pray that I will continually grow in the Lord and I am praying this for my siblings-in-Christ too.

I have a lot of things to share concerning this week but I will leave them to another day! Looking forward to the "A Day of Prayer for Missions" tomorrow! :)

Good night, all! Have a restful weekend ahead!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:3-23

God - My GPS

I am actually very tired but I want to jot some thoughts down before I sleep. I just realised it has been a while since I last blog - very busy lately. Praise God for His sustenance all these while. :)

Anyway, it has been a wonderful day spent at the United World College (South East Asia) located along Dover Road. I was there with two dear brothers-in-Christ manning a stall at the school's Christmas Fair selling children's clothings and quilts of a social enterprise - Cheeky Monkey. We also did that on Thursday at the Singapore American Club.

Though sales were not that great but we still thank God for allowing us to sell some items and also giving us chances to tell others of this ministry. It has been great interacting with people of different races, nationalities and religions. I enjoy doing this because it gives me opportunities to speak to strangers and occasionally bringing God into the picture in our conversations.

As much as it was fun, it is also very tiring. Anyway, all thanks and praise to God for allowing me to participate in this area of His work. :)

On our way home after dinner, we happened to drive alongside this van and my God-son's father pointed out the three GPS (Global Positioning System) devices that are installed on the dashboard of that vehicle. We were laughing that the driver probably did not want to get lost or that he has a couple of places to go. It was a funny sight but as we drove on, it dawned upon me that as much as we need a GPS device to point us to the correct way in order to reach our destination, in my Christian journey I also need a GPS to show me the way. That GPS of my life is none other than God Himself.

It is sometimes sad to note that we acquire a device to guide us physically but when it comes to our spiritual journey, we cast aside THE GPS who is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

I am challenged never to push God aside in all areas of my life - be it my thought, word or deed. In life we only need one GPS. Not two or three because once God is enthroned in my life, I know I will always be brought back to the path that leads to life eternal. Of course I may sway to the left and right occasionally because of my sinful nature but my God will bring me back on track! :)

Well, I guess that is the lesson I learnt today.

As I have been telling some friends and also in my Facebook, next week will be a super-busy one for me - I have to carry out my duties as a soldier in a reserved unit of the army; prepare for the 11.15am service I will be leading the following Sunday and also the Worship Team rehearsal on Friday; prepare and print the Missions Ministry Newsletter by Wednesday; prepare and attend the "A Day of Prayer for Missions" next Saturday; and lastly hold a briefing for a mission team going to Cambodia this month and attend another mission team's preparation the following Sunday.

The above schedules look scary but to a certain extent, I am also looking forward to them all. All I need is for the Lord to see me through one day at a time. I need to basically turn on my life's GPS. Haha.

Okie dokes, I shall end here. Time to sleep so that I will be all refreshed for church tomorrow!

Good night, world!

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6