Continue Believing...

Left my file (which contains all my notes, tutorials, etc for one of my modules) on bus 197... ah... so careless!!! Did not feel very worried, cos I know that the worst case scenario is that I borrow all notes from a friend... felt a little sad that I might lose all my copied notes and tutorials that I did. Was not sure why I didn't feel much... Thinking back, I've realised that God has blessed me with His peace that transcends all understanding.

I prayed that God will help me find my file. I have been misplacing lots of things this year, and finding them in the end. I really hoped that I could find my file... I wonder what God is trying to tell me through all these... because I know that it is not coincidence that I should misplace my file today...

I prayed yesterday "God, I want to know you. Not only to know about you from the Bible or what others tell me. But to have experienced you!" It's not because I have not experienced Him, but I feel that I hardly know Him! And this morning, I happen to read Hebrews 11, which talks about faith.. "Now, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.." "But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, i will not be pleased with him."

On the way to the interchange to look for my file... I find it so hard to be sure that I will find my file! The chances are so slim... I didn't manage to find my file... My buddy Therie smsed me to continue believing! I hardly dared to believe, to get my hopes high... Left my name and phone number at the interchange. took the bus back. called the other interchange (bedok) and left my name and phone number too.

Went home... ate a Tau Sa Piah cos I was hungry... I thought of all the times I misplaced my stuff and found them, and once again chose to believe that somehow I will find my file. Opened my eyes and saw my phone vibrating, with a call from bedok interchange. Oh my goodness, they have my file! Praise God! He's so amazing! He's so good! And He's real!

And I know that this afternoon is not wasted. Because I finally know what He wants to tell me! Continue believing in Him! And miracles are possible!

Received yet another bible verse in sms, from "unknown". Though I believe that the sender is a friend, and is sending us bible verse out of good intentions, this sms-thingy is freaking some of us out.

Many of us are wondering how the sender got our handphone numbers...

Dear Father in heaven, I do sense that this person has intentions of wanting to bless, yet he/she may not have the courage to do so, or he/she may not know how to do it in an appropriate manner. Holy Spirit, I pray that you guide and disciple this person that he/she may find healing in you. I pray that you will teach and show him/her, how you would like him/her to bless others. I pray that he/she will not look down on himself/herself because he/she is your very own creation, as well as, the temple of the Holy Spirit!

To the person, I sense the Lord saying to you, do not be anxious, for I have accepted you. Wait upon me, and believe that I, the Lord, will not be limited by by your weaknesses.

Imagine...

Eph 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

Ps Eugene shared the above verse... and it really touched me. Believe that more miracles will happen before this year is over.

The following is delicated to Sophia Yap, my ex-buddy, who is team leader of my LJ trip... she's busy coordinating for the trip and couldn't concentrate during service...

Preacher: Ps Eugene Seow
Title: My Friend Next Door
Bible Text: Acts 17:22-28, Luke 5:17-26

Acts 17:22-28
22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

Luke 5:17-26
17One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

How can we be a good neighbour?
1. Accept your place in God's plans
2. Align with God's plans in your place
3. Act in faith

1. Acts 17:26. God has determined the place we live. He has a wonderful plan & place for your life. It's impt to Him, where He places you! Renew your commitment to our land, neighbourhood, blocks and neighbours. Begin to pray for your neighbours and things will happen.

2. Acts 17:27. God places us where we are, so that we can seek Him, reach out to Him, and find Him. What can we do?
(a) Be a bridge of blessing and make a difference - so they would seek Him
(b) Be a channel of care and meet their needs - so they would reach out to Him
(c) Be a deliverer of destiny, Manifest the saviour - so they would find Him

Matt 5 - We are the salt of the earth! - salt adds taste, brings healing and preserves life

Some pple bring blessing wherever they go, some pple are a blessing whenever they go. Which one are you?

How to align with God? - Align our hearts with the Holy Spirit's prompting, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

3. Acts 17:28. Move and live in Him.
Two types of neighbours in Luke 5:17-26. (a) Pharisees - just sitting there (b) friends - trying to seek Jesus.
One group watches things to happen, another makes things happen (another asks "what happened?"). Which group do u belong to?

Faith can be seen! Jesus saw their faith - v20.
The paralysed man had faith too! He got up and walk immediately - simply beliving that Jesus can heal him.
Jesus responds to faith, not needs. Just like when Jesus saw the blind man, He ask, "what would can I do for u?" Obviously, Jesus can see that the man is blind. Jesus sees the need, but by asking, He is giving the man a chance to exercise his faith! The man replied, "Heal me!" This statement presents not only a need, but also shows that this blind man had faith, that Jesus can heal him!
Very often, we pray because we have needs. We need to pray in faith, beliving that Jesus can do all you ask of Him!
We need to pray in faith that our families, neighbours and nations will come to know Jesus as Lord and saviour!