Jaslyn 's Site

Isaiah 43

 ¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—
   he who created you, Jacob,
   he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, 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; 

***

 ¹⁶ This is what the LORD says—
   he who made a way through the sea,
   a path through the mighty waters,
¹⁷ who drew out the chariots and horses,
   the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
   extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
¹⁸ “Forget the former things;
   do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
   and streams in the wasteland.
²⁰ The wild animals honor me,
   the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
   and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
 ²¹ the people I formed for myself
   that they may proclaim my praise.

***

We once taught the kids that God does new things in our lives to bless us. but how difficult it is to believe in that! New things are foreign and very intimidating. New things scare me to no end. Sometimes the fear of new things grips my heart and does not let go. Sometimes I focus on the wildernesses and wastelands and refuse to look at what God is doing to the landscape, moulding it with His Hands, adjusting it for my benefit.

Even the animals can see His glorious handiwork! What more people that He chose and summoned by name. All these He has done so that all will praise His mighty name. He is with me. No river, no fire can overwhelm me. Not even the tiny hairs on my limbs can be singed. I will walk right through them, yes I will walk right through. I will not pause and hesitate because He is with me and I will walk right through my challenges unharmed. Everything that comes against me will fall to the ground. Every circumstance that seems to be negative will be turned around for my good. Everything works out for the benefit of His children.

Forget my comfort zone. Forget the past because God always wants to give me something better than before. He wants me to behold the new thing he is doing, not the old that seems better but actually pales in comparison. I will not be afraid for You are with me, Lord. I will walk this out with You.

Everyday I need to feed on who You are because everyday I forget. It's so easy to forget but You are ever patient to remind me each new day. I will not be afraid for You are with me, Lord. I will walk this out with You. =)

Matthew 13:45-46
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he has found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Who is the merchant? who does the pearl represent? Many assume that the merchant represents the believer who has to forsake all in order to follow Jesus. but let me ask you a question: who is lost? Was the pearl lost or was the merchant lost?

The pearl waslost. Not the merchant.. Jesus was not found by us. He found us. He was the only one ever capable of giving up everything for us. We can never, no matter how much we think we love God, give up everything for Him.

Now, was there a price tag on the pearl? Who or what determined that this pearl is of great price?
did the merchant have to sell all that he had to buy the pearl?

The merchant was the one who set the value on the pearl. He saw that it was worth everytthing that he had. He saw that it was worth even his life. He saw us so precious that he gave his life for us. John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son.... how much must God love us that he is willing to do that. How much must Jesus love us to lay down his life for us.

This is where our worth lies. Not in the world, not about the clothes that we wear, the things that we own, not in recognition by others or even the amount we earn. Our worth has been set by Jesus. And he gave up all for us because he loves us so much. It is only out of this love that we can willingly ask God to use us to glorify his name. Not because of our sacrifice but his alone. We can love him only because he first loved us.

Go back to that first love. =)

I asked the Pri 5s, "What does it mean to 'Reign' in life?" (Romans 5:17)

And a boy replied, "MEANS WE PWN!"

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAA AMEN!!

What does 'a journey' mean to you?

Was asked this question today. It is a very thoughtful and meaningful one, because it really means very different things to different people.

Some see it as an unending process to be enjoyed. Some see it as an opportunity to encounter your giants, identify them and take small steps to learn to overcome them.

For me, a journey means that I will always have second, third, fourth (and more) chances to become better each day. That I will not be afraid to fail or to make mistakes, because these mistakes will become stepping stones for me to become a better person.

So, think about it. What does 'a journey' mean to you?

***

i realised that the recurrent themes in my life are always the same few.

I had a really thought provoking conversation over lunch with my caregroup. Edwin (who came to join us) started sharing with the rest about what Su An taught in Fearless! on Sunday, and how the lesson is his personal favourite out of all the lessons ever taught in Rock kidz. I had the opportunity to ask one of my burning questions about the story of Samson.

Hahaha, this issue bugged me during service on Sunday. I wanted to know why "the Spirit of the Lord came upon" Samson when he was raging with anger and wanted to do foolish things out of his anger. Now that really bugged me, wasn't he supposed to exercise wisdom with the gift that was placed by God in his life? I mean, first he used his strength because he lost a bet and was angry, then he used his strength because his father-in-law gave his wife away (considering that he had abandoned her for a year before that) and he was angry...everytime Samson killed, it was solely out of selfish anger. He wasn't following the instructions of God, he wasn't exercising wisdom. So why did "the Spirit of God" still come upon him?

Then Edwin shared this with us. He said, Samson is a man of many many mistakes and failure, but ultimately, he still fulfilled the call in his life. When God gives us gifts, he does not take them away from us just because we use them for the wrong reasons/ purposes/ or even use them in the world. That's why even non-christians can be gifted. Even christians who don't exercise wisdom in using their gifts will not have their gifts taken away from them. Even if Edwin decides to sing and play music for a secular band, God will not remove his musical gifts.

That's what Romans 11:29 is saying:

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

When God gives, He will never TAKE AWAY from you again.

That said, Samson wasn't a happy man. He was frequently unsatisfied, he did not enjoy his life the way God meant for him to. Yes, he did fulfill the call, but along the way, he missed out on everything else. When we know that our gifts and calling are irrevocable, that's when we are set free to enjoy the gifts and even let others enjoy our gifts.

Many people are so focused on the gifts in their lives, and the call in their lives, that they get frustrated with themselves in the journey. They frequently ask, "am i there yet?" or "why am i not there yet" or even "why do i keep making the same mistakes over and over again?!" But we are made to focus on the GIVER, not the gifts.

The only thing to know about the call in your life, is that it is IRREVOCABLE and that it shall be awesome. Yes, it is important to understand that you are made for a significant purpose. However, the focus still has to go back to God who was the one who crafted you in your mother's womb. Who gave you that purpose in the first place.

HE who began the good work in you WILL CONTINUE to develop and perfect that work in you. It is His responsibility to develop and perfect, it is not for us to strive to develop and perfect ourselves! (Philippians 1:6) If He begins it, He will complete it. We did not choose Him, HE CHOSE US and APPOINTED us to go and bear fruit. (John 15:16)

We are made to enjoy the process of growing. We have the freedom to make mistakes along the way because we know that it is always an upward stumble. These are all part of the journey of learning and growing in the Lord.

    上一回，我说到我第二个女儿在满足的日子，平安的诞生了。我们都很高兴的安排满月自由餐。就在孩子出世的第十天，有一个弟兄来我家帮我装电灯。虽然是敲敲打打，但孩子却一点哭声都没有，似乎是睡的很熟。

 

那弟兄走了之后，我们忽然想起孩子，我们就去看她，发现她发烧了。一个还没有满月的孩子发烧是很不寻常的事，因为她应该还有母亲的抵抗力。我们都下意识觉得不妙，便当机立断的连夜带她去紧急部门看医生。

 

结果马上留医检查，检验的结果是孩子患上了脑膜炎。脑膜炎是一种疾病，就是细菌正攻击孩子的脑膜。医生说如果慢一步，孩子就没命了。这是很可怕的疾病，我们身上多数的功能都由脑来控制。

 

就在孩子患病之前，我们听到一个姐妹的同事，她的孩子也是刚出世就患上脑膜炎去世了。我们的心很沉重，连续三个星期，我和巧兰轮流看顾孩子。

 

看到孩子手绑着一块固定的板，插着一根打针用的管，每隔几天就改装在另一只手，或者脚上。我们的心就像被刀割一样，巴不得代替她受这个苦。尤其是孩子在抽骨髓的时候，孩子的啼哭，我们的心几乎碎了：「我的小女儿啊！」。

 

三个星期日夜祷告，由于巧兰还在做月，身体还很虚弱，多数的时候，我留下。我一方面担心孩子，一方面担心巧兰。我告诉神，这孩子是祢赐给我的，你必要拯救她到底。感谢主，时间一天天的过去，孩子逐渐的复原。

但医生给我们的忠告是，由于孩子的脑膜曾经受过伤害，她成长时，可能有些机能会比较一般的孩子差。可能是听觉受到影响，可能是视觉不好，她必须接受检查直到12岁。

 

    半年后，我带孩子作听觉检查。医生在我的面前，拿着一支铁棒在他自己的皮鞋上敲一下，孩子原本背向着医生，马上转过身来望来望去，似乎在寻找什么似的。相反的，我眼睛看着医生，我的耳朵，什么都听不到。我告诉医生，需要检查的是我，不是孩子。

 

    由于满月的时候，她在医院里，我们特别在他一岁的时候为她庆祝生日。那一天狂风暴雨，雨水使每个来宾都变成落汤鸡。我家里的衣服都拿出来给他们更换。那一天出席的人很多，不但是这样，出席者当中有七位牧师，来自中国、台湾、泰国和新加坡。(My dad explains that 7 is the biblical number of perfection, and therefore he believes that these pastors prayed a perfect blessing over my life that day.)

 

    她在小一的时候，她说她听不懂老师的话，我们有了心里准备，所以让她自然的成长。你知道吗，她考了第几名？她考了第一名。上帝真好，她的智慧一点都没有受损。孩子现在已经是国大二年级了。

 

(This testimony was written by my father in 2008. All glory to Jesus, any trace of meningitis is now gone. Any negative predictions over my future by the cautious doctor have been proven false. 22 years later, I’m pursuing my B.A. Honours in NUS. This is truly the grace of God superabounding in the area that I was supposed to struggle with. My Jesus heals! Hallelujah!)

last week i went to get some books and to my horror, my atm card was DECLINED by the cashier. whoopsiedo!! felt really embarrassed and had to return the books coz i was so broke. and the best part was that i was supposed to go on a shopping trip after that, but i didn't because i was feeling really really really poor and sad and i wanted to go home and have maggi noodles for dinner and sit and whine in my bed. HAHAH!! i was really seeing myself as a grasshopper...but during CG, i was reminded again that the Promised Land that is FLOWING with milk and honey (and hopefully pearls as well so that i can have honey milk bubble tea) is already mine! and i felt God prompting me to go back to Malachi 3:10.

¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
      That there may be food in My house,
      And try Me now in this,”
      Says the LORD of hosts,

      “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
      And pour out for you such blessing
      That there will not be room enough to receive it.
      

God says CHALLENGE me now in this. Try me! Test me! Dare me! bring all your tithes into the storehouse and CHALLENGE ME to bless you!! now, ain't nobody gonna get themselves in a fix by provoking a challenge and sabotage or embarrass himself by his inability to fulfill the challenge. (uh huh, i feel the judah smith anointing! hahahaaa) God is confident that he is WELL ABLE to bless us.

and when He does that, boy, your HOUSE is going to be FILLED to the ceilings with blessings SPEWING out of your doors and windows because there is NO ROOM for the abundance. NO SPACE for the overflow. TOO MUCH. and EXCESS. Your neighbours are going to benefit (just walk by and pick up some of those blessings you left in her corridor or driveway) from your tithing. the people around you are going to have to help you use some of those blessings. your family is going to need to move into a bigger house a bigger place because this house cannot be lived in anymore. Blessing on your bed, under your bed, in the sink, in the toilets, on your desk, in your walk-in wardrobes, in the dryer, in your socks, in your ears, spewing out of your nose....wooohooo!!

and everybody says? AMEN!!!!!!!

Jas, you have no lack of wisdom because you draw your resources from God Himself. when need meets fullness....BOOOMMM!!! hhahaa =) when the Lord is my shepherd, i have no lack....well...just needed to remind myself again. G.R.A.C.E (God's resources at Christ's expense)

sometimes when i find myself being unable to respond or responding with tons of words but utter emptiness, its a signal to get refuelled. and i thank God for little hints like this to remind me of my Source. =)

alright, enough of dwelling on my foolishness (which seem to keep manifesting this week), enough of beating myself up over what i have said or not said. its ok to be a fool because fools are chosen so that when they eventually live up to what they are called for, everyone will know that it must be God.

well, isn't this what i've always wanted in the first place? =P

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  - 1 Cor 1:26-29

My life changed when i first encountered this verse, it spelt the beginning of a new life for me. and this verse shall hold true for the rest of my life. and at the end of it all, i want my life shall be a testimony of 1 Cor 1:26-29.

⁷ Wisdom is the principal thing;
      Therefore get wisdom.
      And in all your getting, get understanding.
       ⁸ Exalt her, and she will promote you;
      She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
       ⁹ She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
      A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

- Proverbs 4:7-9

^{Cheryl shared this during CG last night...=)}

²⁸ Do you not know? (Have you not experienced the goodness of God before? Have you not seen breakthroughs? Have you not had awesome experiences where you see His grace upon your life?)
       Have you not heard? (Have you not heard testimonies about how Jesus helped people through their challenges? Have you not heard the miracles in the Bible?)
       The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
       He will not grow tired or weary,
       and his understanding no one can fathom.

 ²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
       and increases the power of the weak.

 ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;

 ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD (those who wait on the Lord)
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles; (eagles soar. they don't flap their wings and try very hard. they simply ride on the winds and the turbulence)
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.

****

Amplified version:

²⁸Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

    ²⁹He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

    ³⁰Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

    ³¹But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

Ephesians 6:10
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

When you say, “I can manage this problem by myself, Lord,” God says, “Okay, you do it then.” But when you say, “Help me, Lord! I need You. I cannot do this on my own,” God says, “Good, I have been waiting for you to say that. You cannot, but I can. Now, watch Me!” That is how God is — He loves it when you depend on Him.

You see, when you think that you are strong and don’t need God, He cannot help you. But when you need Him and look to Him, He will not leave you weak and helpless. He comes and becomes the strength of your life. He becomes the breakthrough that you need.

**************

AMEN.

Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. - 2 Chronicles 20:15

^{I was listening to something Ps. L preached really long ago. And she mentioned two lines that were taken from Jeremiah 17 (thanks Jimmy for the verse reference) which were stuck in my head for the entire week. and the most amazing part was that the same verse was in our Daily devotional on Tuesday!} 

⁵ This is what the LORD says:
       "Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
       who depends on flesh for his strength
       and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

 ⁶ He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
       he will not see prosperity when it comes.  (he can't even recognise goodness that is right in front of him! what a waste!) He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,  (as if Singapore is not hot enough!!)
       in a salt land where no one lives. (loneliness, sense of abandonment) 

 ⁷ "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
       whose confidence is in him.

 ⁸ He will be like a tree planted by the water (the word is cool and refreshing)
       that sends out its roots by the stream. (rooted in the word = stability)
       It does not fear when heat comes;  (wow. it does not mean that the weather will be good. but it means that no matter what the weather is like, he is UNAFFECTED. COOLNESS! i wana be like that!)
       its leaves are always green. (mmm....green speaks of life and youthfulness!) 
       It has no worries in a year of drought (I DON'T WANT TO WORRY ANYMORE!)
       and never fails to bear fruit."  (the sentence does not say "it will bear fruit". it says "it will NEVER FAIL to bear fruit." that tells us about the CERTAINTY of good success. the CERTAINTY of good results. not just any result but GOOD ones.)

 

Wow. I really really love this passage. I want to be a woman who does not get affected by heat when heat comes! coz the Lord is my shade (Psalms 121). I will not EVEN LET FEAR CREEP IN. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY BUTTONS TO BE PUSHED. I will not look tired or feel ugly or be grumpy and grouchy and agree people when they say "you look tired". I am a supernatural being!! the holy spirit lives in me! I am alive. I am a tree planted by the rivers of living waters!!!

I am not a natural student who goes through natural phases in school life. I am a good testimony of God's faithfulness in my life. I must quit believing in lies that I can get affected when "heat" comes!

hallelujah!!!!! =D He says that i am not just a conquerer, but i am MORE THAN a conquerer. i need to start believing in that. =D =D

⁴ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
       ⁵ “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
      Before you were born I sanctified you;
      I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

⁶ Then said I: 
      “ Ah, Lord GOD!
      Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

⁷ But the LORD said to me: 
      “ Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
      For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
      And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
       ⁸ Do not be afraid of their faces,
      For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.

- Jeremiah 1:4-8

http://thecity.org/media/message/least_likely/

"If you feel like the least likely, you are in the best possible place you could be. Because today God is going to tell you, you are His leading candidate. If He can use Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Esther, David, Saul, can He not call you? Can He not transcend the mistakes you have made by His blood spilled on Calvary?...God does not pick like man picks...He is a God of grace that transcends appearance, resume, pedigree or past." - Pastor Judah Smith

THIS IS AMAZING plsplsplspls go and listen to Pastor Judah Smith's latest sermon!

http://thecity.org/media/message/come_to_me/

its really mindblowing.

(translated from Mandarin)

After I ate up the entire mango…

Dad: you finished the entire mango?

Me: HUH! You didn’t say that you wanted to have more!

Dad: Just give a direct answer the next time. It puts a full stop to the conversation and the other party will not know how to respond if you ignore his subtext! This is a psychological study ok!

***

Hahahaha! Yah! That’s so true! I shall try that the next time somebody tries to insinuate something. LOL! Finally understand the trick T always employs. Hehe!

***

“Do you know the way to the washroom?”

“Yes!” (and walks away)

on gmail...

j: dear, my hp died!!!
t: hahahhaha..charge lo!!
j: ohyah
erm
i didn't think of that...i thought it was spoilt.

***

-_-" i feel so stupid. but really relieved that my hp isn't spoilt.

The Life Of Jesus Is In You

John 10:10
10… I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Though Jesus is completely God, He was born completely human. He went through temptation after temptation and conquered every one of them. (Hebrews 4:15) And all that overcoming power is found in His life. And He put that life in you — the life of Christ is in you!

During Jesus’ ministry on earth, He conquered sickness, the winds and waves, the powers of darkness and death. It is His life that brings victory over the devil and all his works. And He put that life in you — the life of Christ is in you!

Finally, Jesus went to the cross. And that life in Him put an end to everything that was natural of the Adamic race — sickness, poverty, failures, pains, curses and death. All that was natural ceased to be in that life of His. But all that was supernatural remained in Him. And He put that life in you — the life of Christ is in you!

Then, Jesus rose from the dead. And in that life of His was added the power of resurrection. And He put that life in you — the life of Christ is in you!

After His resurrection, Jesus went back to heaven to His Father. Today, He is seated at the right hand of God, resting in His finished work, occupying a place of the highest authority. And He put that life in you — the life of Christ is in you!

And because Jesus went back to the Father, the Holy Spirit came to indwell you (John 16:7), so that you will live life with His anointing in you and walk in His overcoming power.

All that Jesus is, God meant for you to be. All that He has, God meant for you to have. All the exciting things that you read in the Bible about Jesus, all the treasures of Him hidden in the Old Testament and the unsearchable riches in Him that you find in the New Testament, all of that life of His, is not out there somewhere. God has deposited all of it in you, so that you can live the abundant life that Jesus came to give you!

**************

He came to give us LIFE and LIFE more abundantly! =) =)