Blessed Steps

"Right Believing leads to Right Living." If our faith is off, our walk will be off.  If our walk is off, we need to take a good look at what we believe.  Anger, Anxiety and Depression signals that we are hoping something will happen, but we have no guarantee it will, we have no complete control over the results.  Depression often signals that we are desperately clinging to a goal we have little or no chance of achieving, and that is Not a healthy goal.  Sometimes, it just takes realization that this goal may be beyond our ability or right to control.  Sometimes, depression reveals a faulty concept of God.  If God wants something done, can it be done?  If God has a goal for our life, can it come true?  "Nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37) To live successful lives, we need to distinguish our godly goal from a godly desire. godly goal=  (something we can control) godly desire=  ...

“A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.” Proverbs  16:10  (The Message)   If you desire to influence another person, the way to start is by nurturing them. What clergyman John Knox said over four hundred years ago is still true: "You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time." At the heart of the nurturing process is genuine concern for others . And as we try to help and influence the people around us, we must have positive feelings and concern for them. If you want to help people and make a positive impact on them, you cannot dislike or disparage them. You must give love to them and give them respect. You may be wondering why you should take on a nurturing role with the people you want to influence, especially if they are employees, colleagues, or friends. You may be saying to yourself, "Isn't that something they can get somewhere else, like at home?" The unfortunate truth is that most people are desperate for encouragement...

Here is sharing a short script from my Homiletics assignment last year:  Assignment Question : To reflect upon the bible verse given below and to relate it to real life issues for a short sermon script.  Bible Verse : “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). My mom used to say that if you never fall, you'll never learn how to properly ride a bike. For the longest time, I don't dare to learn to bike because I was afraid that I would fall. I was more afraid of the embarrassment and shame of falling than the physical injuries that I might get. Falling down is shameful to a kid, you'll get laughed at. Now that I'm an adult, falling down is still shameful. Be it falling physically or falling into sins. When we fall into sin consciously or ignorantly, we can't help but to feel ashamed when we come before God. Sometimes the shame is so overwhelm...

Today, I have officially completed One academic year in Trinity Theological College! Singapore.  A place I now call Home.  I could never have imagined that I'm currently studying in Singapore... when all I could remember was the 18 year-old me telling God how much I didn't want to follow my siblings' footsteps to come to Singapore for university  because I have heard of the stressful environment, the controlled atmosphere, the this and the that... But 9 years later, I ended up in Singapore for my Masters program. God works in His own interesting ways, sometimes ways that I will never understand. Because He knows me better than I know myself. As I worshiped, I couldn't help but to thank Him for showering so much, so much of grace on this undeserving me. In front of Him, I am but a tiny creation of His.  A tiny creature who is made in HIS IMAGE.  It is true that by totally surrendering to Him and walking in His ways, you will be led ...

Today in my last Old Testament class, the lecturer shared her important tip of what she did everyday to survive in ministries despite of hardships- Write down 10 things to be grateful for daily. She practices it everyday since her early days of ministries till now. It is when we give thanks, that we stop focusing on the depressing problems; it is when we give thanks, that we shift our focus onto the Giver of the blessings.  10 things to be Grateful for Today: 1. My wonderful family with God-fearing and loving parents whom I can call my role models + loving siblings 2. The opportunity to study what I like and enjoy 3. God's financial providence despite my insufficiency 4. My single room in TTC - that I am able to do quiet time, play guitar, sing songs, and have my own space 5. Fun and Godly friends in my life whom I can laugh with, learn from, and direct me back to God  6. Today's community lunch- quite yummy 7. The opportunity to serve joyfully w...

I'm back from France after one full month of WIFI-free, monastery life! Once I'm back, I got questioned by so many people of "How was it?", "Tell me ALL about it!" Well, A LOT has happened and to tell All about it is quite hard really.  But here's a summary of what happened in my 4 weeks there: (If time allows, I shall update more interesting factors in details) Taize is a town in France, about 3 hours away from Paris. The Taize Community is an ecumenical monastery.  Brothers from the Catholic church, Protestants, and Orthodox live together in the Taize community.   They live and worship in very simple way where they prioritize the truth of the Bible and make their differences as secondary matters.  Now, the Taize community has become a campsite where people pay a small amount of money to go there and live for a week or so as part of their spiritual journey (to seek God). When I was there, there was about 2000-3000 people weekl...

Because forgiveness is never easy... Lord, Help me to forgive, Just as you have forgiven me. - KEVIN LEVAR - Beautiful Beautiful song:  A Heart That Forgives I want a heart that forgives When the ones that are closest, that I’ve known the longest, hurt me the most;  I still wanna love them just like You love me  Even though I’m hurting  I want a heart that forgives  When the pain is so deep, it’s so hard to speak, about it to anyone  Just like Your Son, I give up my right to hold it against them with hatred inside  'Cause the heart that forgives is the heart that will live  Totally free from the pain of the past  And the heart that lets go is the heart that will know so much freedom  - MATTHEW WEST - Forgiveness It’s the hardest thing to give away And the last thing on your mind today It always goes to those that don’t deserve It’s the opposite of how you feel When the pain they caus...