The Summons..

This is a very nice song.. recommended by Tony and others at Landings.. This is a song of questions.. a song asking us.. a song checking w/ us if we are willing.. willing to follow Him.. w/ the "requirements"..

1.

Will you come and follow me If I but call your name?

Will you go where you don't know And never be the same?

Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,

Will you let my life be grown In you and you in me?

2. Will you leave yourself behind If I but call your name....

Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?

Will you risk the hostile share? Should your life attract or scare?

Will you let me answer pray'r In you and you in me.

3. Will you let the blinded see If I but call your name?

Will you set the pris'ners free And never be the same?

Will you kiss the leper clean And do such as this unseen,

And admit to what I mean in you and you in me

4. Will you love the 'you' you hide If I but call your name?

Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?

Will you use the faith you've found. To reshape the world around.

Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

5. Lord your summon's echoes true When you but call my name.

Let me turn and follow you And never be the same.

In your company I'll go Where your love and footsteps show.

Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

**Always Keep Him in your heart. In everything, give thanks.. for it is God's will for you in Christ Jesus..**

Isaiah 43:1-8

1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O
Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by
name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames
will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,I will give men in exchange for
you,
and people in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the
south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-

7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.

"Isaiah 43:1-8" was what I saw and heard during our community prayer, ministered by Jarvis and his team. For a moment, I couldnt really understand if its chpt 43 or 48 coz they looked quite blur to me.. But before I go to bed tt night, Isaiah 43:1-8 kept appearing in my thoughts and caught hold of me so dearly.. I couldnt really sleep.. So I took out my mobile and began to search for this passage (coz I'd left my bible in the session room)..

There.. these verses look so dear to me.. Just as what our "theme song"- Be not afraid is.. The song has its lyrics taken from these verses.. Just as what the 1st verse states, "Do not be afraid for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." This verse tells us how we were "summoned" and "chosen" by God... handpicked by Him and here He is claiming that we belong to Him.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. This very verse tells me how God will never allow us to come to harm.. He will always be w/ us and protects us even when dangers come..

3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Verses 3-4 tells me how God has rescued our forefathers in the past.. How God redeemed us w/.. in the past, to stop us frm being slaves to the Egyptians.. He'd exchanged our freedom w/ so many things, just because we are so dear and precious to Him..

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." This verse somehow tells us how "universal" we are such tt we are "dispersed" everywhere in the north, in the east... frm one end of the earth to the other end.. This verse also looks like a call to us.. a call to Mission of bringing together God's sons and daughters whom had been scattered all ard the earth.. This really somehow explains what my ministry is doing.. Bringing God's children together.. thou they may have been "long-forgotten" or "dispersed all ard".. Whoever are called by Him uniquely by our name, shall always be His children, no matter what..

8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. Just like the Israelites, we have eyes, yet we cant see.. we have ears yet we cant hear.. and we kept challenging our leader (Moses) and grumling against him/her.. These, are the ppl.. whom are to be "led out of the desert.."

**Always Keep Him in your heart. In everything, give thanks.. for it is God's will for you in Christ Jesus..**

**Always Keep Him in your heart. In everything, give thanks.. for it is God's will for you in Christ Jesus..**

Can't Imagine

A v moody day today.. v upset.. v sad..

1st, prob at home.. $$$.. no peace yet..
2nd, prob at work.. cant concentrate at work.. how? performance going down..
3rd, prob w/ myself.. my own faith.. my own belief.. my own understanding.. my own dreams which i had in the middle of the nights..

Woke up w/ quite a shock this morning after some weird dreams.. not the 1st time I'd dream of those thou.. but feel weird.. I was rather disturbed at work this morning.. mood still v much affected by what mum "commented" on sat..

After buying lunch at work, I'd left my reminding money in my coat (abt $7).. whilst I had $13.30 left in my wallet.. (which is the remaining tt I am left w/ after i withdraw my last $50frm bank last sat.) When I arrived at Segar Stn, I'd realised I am left w/ only $4.90 in my ezlink, so I thought I wanted to top up. Usually I would have topped up w/ my nets card.. but since i am left w/ only pathetic $2 in my bank, I'd used cash instead..

I was at the top up machine where I saw a pri 1 boy frm the pri sch next to my house, trying to top up his ez link w/ $2. For student's ez link, the min top up value is $5.. He kept trying, seems that he does not know he needs to top up w/ $5. He looked loss.. I had wanted to offer help at 1st but for a moment I thought his parent could be ard.. and on second thought I did not know how to approach him.. or shld I say.. I do not know how I shld help him coz after I dig out $10 to top up my own card, I am left w/ only coins in my wallet and on one pocket, I hav a $2 note. I dont even know if I hav enough to help him make up the value to $5.

After I top up my card, I looked ard and the boy was no where in sight.. I was a little sad coz I was unable to help the boy.. However, just as I stepped out of the stn, I saw the boy, trying to make a phone call. but he has no coin. He looked sad. I supposed I hav at least $3 w/ me (after seeing a $2 note and several coins).. so I just initiated a short conversation and told him to pass me the $2 which he has (coz I din have enough.. If I hav, I could hav top up w/ my own).. and I fork out $3.. changed it into a $5 note so tt he can top up.

After this incident, as I was walking home, I felt a stone so heavy in my heart.. I wanted to cry out so much coz I do not know how I am to "survive".. tt was consider my last cash in my wallet.. Oh dear.. I'd never been so down in my life b4 (I mean this few mths).. But after some thought, I remembered the parable where the woman who has so little gives tt little.. is much more than the woman who has so much and yet gives tt "bit".. I know Daddy will be proud of me for what I had done and will take care of me.. He has a plan earlier.. tt is why I have only $3,30 in my wallet.. the $3 is for me to help the boy to top up his ez link.

Yes Lord.. You work in ways we cannot see..

You know when I am down and hurt.. and You always give me reasons to smile..
You know when I am worried and sad.. and You always give me comforting words..
You know when I am feeling helpless and hopeless.. and You always give me Your hands..

Topple and trip and fall.. That is what we always encounter on our paths.. But each time we fall, we know why.. we understand how.. and.. and we learn not to fall anymore..

**Always Keep Him in your heart. In everything, give thanks.. for it is God's will for you in Christ Jesus..**

The Word

It all happens in just a week.. Everything just happen so fast..



On 27Sept09, I was clearing thro my stacks and stacks of things lying all over the house.. in my parents' room, my room and the living room.. I saw a book.. a book so familiar.. a book of great history.. a book of all great works done.. a book which has the most no. of fans.. (best-selling).. a book written by the Holy Spirit.. This book, is known as- Bible.



I bought this Bible sometimes last yr b4 my confirmation. I like it because its "easy to understand", easy to read (fonts that is just nice) and its sleek.. its light weight such that I always carry it ard.. Most importantly the cover is blank.. Ppl ard me wont know tt I am reading the bible.. I'd put this aside coz I'd gotten myself a "so-called" more legal Bible- Catholic Bible.. (the Bible I'd used previously is a "Christian Bible", which does not include the 7books frm the Catholic Bible.)



However, after I'd gotten the Catholic Bible, I seldom read it coz the cover page has a cross so big and I do not want ppl to know tt I am reading a Bible. I wanted to get a Bible Cover/ Case for it but I couldnt find one tt is of suitable size.. Furthermore, the shape and size of it is kidda bulky (even though its light-weighted).. and the material is super thin, with fonts super small.. I would only read it when I am alone.. hiding somewhere where nobody can see me..



Hmm.. after some clearance at home, I "found" this Christian Bible and put it back into my bag.. I'd got a shock in a way.. From 27Sept, I'd read word to word, paragraph to paragraph, pages to pages of the 1st 3 books of the Old Testaments. I was so engrossed in it tt I kept reading and reading and reading at all possible time.. and the events tt were happening in ancient time seem to be just occurring in front of me. In just 1 wk, I'd completed the books of Genesis & Exodus, whilst left 2pages to finish Leviticus.



I do not really know the reason WHY.. but I believe its the work of the Holy Spirit..



As I was reading on, I'd realised God is actually trying to give me an answer to my question.. which I've had for quite long.. a battle which I'd fought within myself for quite long..



I'd learnt abt the awesome plan of God which had led the brothers of Joseph to "sell him" just because of a dream which foresees that the brothers and his father will one day bow down before him. Joseph had managed to find favour in the eyes of the Egyptian King and he was even appointed the right hand man of him.

During the 7yrs of drought and famine, his brothers really went to him (not
knowing he is their bro) to buy some grains for their clan.. (Joseph had stored
up grains just as the Lord had instructed him to)after some "bargain" and
misunderstanding set up by Joseph, he'd managed to get the whole family to meet
him.. and tt was when he revealed himself tt he is Joseph. As he is the right
hand man of the king, the king welcomes his family (even though they are not
Eygptians) to have a share in their land.. and harvest.. and everything is to be done as according to Joseph.. This was the plan of God.. such tt their numbers will increase just as what He had promised in a convenant w/ Abraham..

As yrs go by, the king died. The new king was unaware of Joseph's contributions to the nation, the convenant God had w/ him.. and was unpleased tt Joseph's family is increasing by so much in numbers. For fear that an internal war will break out, causing Egyptians to be occupied & killed by the Israelites, the king ordered all
the Israelites to work as slaves. Years pass and the people thought that God had forgotten abt them.

However, here comes Moses, after several years..He is the appointed one, whom God had sent, to bring His people out of Egyptian, to the land full of honey and milk.

The story of Joseph strongly reminds me tt God will never never forsake us. No matter how tough life may be at the moment, the future always has nice and beautiful ending.. coz God the Father, never meant for us to suffer. The convenant which He had w/ Israel (a.k.a Jacob).. He sees the bigger picture.. and the stages and processes which we can going thro life daily, are all part of His wonderful plan for us.. Only when we allow Him to take over our lives.. will then the plans be worked out and fulfilled..

I thank God, for giving me the "stamina" to finish this 3bks (for the 1st time in my life, even thou I'd tried on several attempts), and the wisdom to fully understand what had happened in the time of Joseph and the things tt had gone wrong in the past.

I thank God for always being there for me..

I pray that may the Holy Spirit continues to instil the thirst for the Word in me.. Previously, I'd only completed halves the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah.. I want to and I desire to finish these books of the great prophets coz they're all part of God's works over the years..

**Always Keep Him in your heart. In everything, give thanks.. for it is God's will for you in Christ Jesus..**