First Love

First Love
Thursday, 18 September 2008

With all the shaky economy and the falling of Lehmann Brothers, and with speculation of AIG to be the next to go, this week is surely an overwhelming week for many especially for those with funds in investments.

This morning has been a very special day as I was waiting upon the Lord and reflecting on the moments of conversation that has taken placed during the Tuesday afternoon moms’ session.

Lena’s continuous comment over the past weeks on WanWan’s love and hunger for God is so great, this was because she is a new believer and the kind of experience every new believer will have. As for her (Lena), is different now because she has experienced it and is done with. And with the many things she has seen and witnessed, it is difficult for her to come back to that place. The remarks she made about being there before, the drive and love for God when she was a new Christian will never be the same now, and that she could not have the same fire she used to, and doesn’t want it because of her gift of empathy, something to this extend, got me really thinking and praying for her.

First of all, I really do not know what had happened and experiences she had gone through while her walk with the Lord. It seems there were many unhappiness or misunderstandings or even 1 or 2 rotten eggs, etc that may caused her to think that we can not have back our First Love with the Lord or the fact that she doesn’t want it because she could not stop crying. Yes, there may be times of lull period in our walk with the Lord, but I believe we should not even doubt God’s sovereignty and his love for us.

Secondly, I strongly believe that this is a lie from the enemy. God is longing for us to love him and has worn us about the height from which we have fallen and must repent from it.

And thirdly, I see WanWan’s experiencing God is so real and full of joy and I asked God to restore it back into my life once again. I want what she has and more, not only just for me but for my fellow mommy friends too! As God promises, Ask and ye shall be given.

God showed me that Lena’s ‘First Love’ has been eroded away and He wants her to have it back. This leads me to the reading of Revelation 2:1-7 and I started weeping. My spirit could not stop weeping and started praying for her. I smsed her with tears rolling down my cheeks and told her about God wanting her back and be reminded of the First Love she used to have for Him. By faith, I messaged her.

I went on checking on my email thereafter and continued with my e-daily bread, and there it stood for the second time, in the Suggested prayer for the day, "Dear God, in the words of the song writer: 'Oh Lord please light the fire, That once burned bright and clear, Replace the lamp of my first love, That burned with holy fear.' Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen”. I was astonished and WOWed! I asked the Lord what is this about of the First Love he is revealing, not only once but twice?

The day before, I attended a meeting with the SCGS moms’ prayer group and there were two visiting guests in town. Luci, who addressed us and said something about Albert Einstein, was expelled from school at an early stage because he was not able to catch up with his lessons. And what Einstein said later in life was that he was a slower learner and it is not because he is incapable. I immediately thought of Xandra and I told myself to research on Einstein’s early childhood.

So, after my e-daily bread, I researched for Einstein’s childhood. For the third time, God showed me the word “First Love”, even though this first love was for Einstein’s first love in science, I knew God led me there for a purpose and it is not by coincidence that He reveals the word “First Love” 3 times in one morning just within a short span of time (less than 1 hour). I knew this was really serious.

God shows me that the First Love message was not only for Lena but for all whom I am worshiping the Lord and doing BS with. For older Christians who are tired & weary, God wants to set the fire in them again. I cried. I thank the Lord and I told the Lord that yes, please restore back that First Love we have for him once again. Not only to restore the zeal and fire in me, but for all my sisters in Christ, whom I have been fellowshipping with, weeks after weeks. I sent another message with tears welling up again to Jean, Nina, Phoebe, Xandra, Charlotte, Yolande, and Lena again.

The day went by with daily chores and driving Gayle to and back from her enrichment classes. That evening, I spent a wonderful night out with my siblings at a UBS function at the Command House. After I got home, I did some reading from my BS book ‘A purpose Driven Life’ on Day 12. And for the forth time in a day, God reminded me of his ‘First Love’! It talks about Rev 2:1-7 again on how we may have been passionate in the past and have lost that desire. That was the same problems of the Christians in Ephesus, they have left their first love. Now, I know that I am supposed to share this to as many tired Christians and even to my siblings and church mates who are all walking in the Lord fervently but may have lost their first love.

It was really a very interesting day of practicing God’s presence. Thank you Lord. May your will be done in me and my family. Restore in us your first love. Fill us, Lord. Fire us up. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

“I am a Little Teacher for Jesus”
14 September 2008

Term 4 started with Wednesday & Thursday being English and Chinese Orals respectively for Primary 1. I still have no idea why the oral exams have to start so early. Anyway the stressed of getting Gayle ready for the Oral Exams paid off a little when she came home and said, “O mum, my teacher said that I was very good”. And all I could offer my excited daughter was, “You sure that’s what your teacher said”. Even though it was really nice to hear of such comments, I was not sure if it was real or Gayle has exaggerated.

But what really paid off for all those stressful days was after school on Thursday; Gayle asked me, “Mum, do you know that I am a Little Teacher for Jesus?” I almost choked! Hiding my emotions, I asked Gayle, why did you say that?

“You know my friend, Chloe Ang,” she continued, “Her dad is a Buddhist and mum a Christian. Chloe said that she is a Buddhist and I asked her if her god was alive. She said her god died long ago and asked me what about mine? I said that my God, Jesus also died long ago but He rose 3 days after his death and He is alive. Chloe then asked if my God is living in Singapore? I said no, not in Singapore, but He is alive in Heaven!”

I have never imagined that our little girl at 7 years old could even witness for Christ. I am ashamed for stereotyping my God, and limiting what He can do. He uses anyone and everyone regardless of our age. It’s our hearts He is after.

My only thought right now is, ‘Lord, forgive me for not being able to see the seed you have planted in our little girl has grown into a fruit. Open our eyes Lord and help us to be sensitive to the leading of your Holy Spirit and to serve you with a willing heart. Lord I pray that you will use us as a family to reach out to all around us and to the end of the earth. Amen!

Way to go, Gayle! Mum and Dad love you so much. Continue to Live for Christ!

God's Goodness - Posted by Hugh 9 September 2008

It’s been a crazy and hectic past couple of months. But in all of it, I continue to see God’s hand and control in all of it.

Putting together 3 events on the same wk in Aug was a real test and stretch of faith. First, there was the Singapore Fireworks Celebrations, followed by STB Tourism Careers Exhibition, and the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meetings. And not forgetting the continued pitch for the APEC Meetings, amongst others.

There’s so much to be thankful, but I guess I’ll just focus on a few key areas, where we can all truly see God’s goodness.

Test of human resource
Putting together these 3 events required some really good HR planning. I wasn’t really sure if all of the team was up to the challenge. So, much prayer went into this area. We prayed for months, and was blessed with others who prayed alongside Yinn & I. And we pulled it off, with a team made up of several interns. I must say God brought to us the right people at the right time.

Health
One major concern was the health of the team. Many were going through stress levels they had never ever been through before. Again, we had been praying for good health for the whole team, and again God answered our prayers. Even one of our staff who was pregnant was well protected by Him physically throughout the whole period. We give Him praise for His hand of protection and strength.

Weather
A couple of days before our fireworks celebrations, God prompted me to pray for the weather. This was rather strange at that point in time, as the weather was really quite fine. Anyway, I prayed for it, nonetheless. Then I get an sms from Peter Loke saying that he was praying for us. Instinctively, I replied to him, asking him to also pray for the weather.

Little did I know that Yinn had also replied to Peter asking him to pray for the same thing!

The next evening, over dinner, Yinn brings up that earlier that morning, she felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to fast “for the weather”. Only then did we realize that we had both been led by Him to prayer for the weather.

The day of the actual event, it rained, and rained. We started getting calls from the public if the event would be cancelled. By faith, we pushed on, getting the entire event ready. We continued to lift up our prayers to Him onsite. And God, in His amazing timing, worked His miracle and stopped the rain just before we were due to start the show! In fact, I am also told by my cousin, Johnny, who was at the event, that when he heard that it started drizzling again just before the start of the fireworks show, he too prayed, and the rain stopped! Praise be to God.

The next day was even worse. It rained heavily from morning, with no end in sight. Having seen His faithfulness the night before, we were sure that He will not fail us. This time, it rained heavily till abt 30min before the start of the event, and the rain stopped only about 15min before showtime. But that was enough for us to get the show going, and despite a drizzle that started half way into the show, it did nothing to stop us putting together another successful event!

Often in church or gatherings, we will say “God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good!” Truly, the last few months has shown us that this is true. Not that we’ve never experienced it before, but it was another round of soaking in His goodness.

As God allows us to go through challenges, He allows us opportunities to be blessed by Him. And for that, we want to say a big “Thank You!” Lord!