While in Jeju South Korea for the past week, the prompting came strong and clear, I need to prepare myself for full time ministry...my goal is at 58 before I turn 60 (the official retirement age)
I asked the Lord JESUS to give me 5 clear things. These concerns people I love and who depend on my monthly contribution:
1. My mum in nursing home needs a hefty amount of money per month to support her. I supplement about a 3rd of it with my other 2 sisters. I also pay her hospital bills.
PRAYER
LORD JESUS either take my mother to heaven or help provide for her financially in my retirement.
2. My son who is still studying at 26. Surely he cannot depend on hand-outs all his life. He needs to graduate and work to support himself.
PRAYER
LORD JESUS give him a job!
3. My knees need a MIRACLE. How can I travel to the nations to preach and teach if I have to travel on arthritis knees.
PRAYER
LORD JESUS heal my knees!
4. This prayer has been answered.....a potential multi-million suit bearing tax penalties of RM10 million has been settled. Honestly if I leave without resolving this case, it will really be bad for the bank as no one else knows about it as much as I do....
5. When I retire, I do not want to spend days looking at the idiot box, eat, sleep and waste my life away, I want to be busy for JESUS....I want to be a tent-maker for JESUS so that I can continue meeting people to impact for CHRIST!
PRAYER
LORD JESUS give me a business!
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Friday, July 15, 2016
2 more years.....
As I was reading Acts 19 during my morning devotion one day, God's word struck me.
I was praying about leaving my job and going full time. However I had the feeling of some unfinished business in my office that kept me from throwing in my resignation. A year past 55 and the desire to leave seems to be increasing day by day.
Once a year the boss will call me into the privacy of her room to give The Letter. It is called The Letter because in this letter contains my increment and my bonus. She will then say some words to either express her dissatisfaction or her happiness.
Last year the words spoken were really awful. She said that my pay was too high and that the work I was doing was not proportionate to the high pay I was getting. She also said that that I was not able to help her or support her in the work.
I was so offended. Is it my fault for getting a high pay? Wasn't it a decision of the management to give me this promotion?
It was then I decided that I would resign this year if the same words were spoken to me again when The Letter was given to me. I prepared my resignation letter with the dates in blank. I was ready and serious. I could not take the humiliation of her words which to me was most unjust and unfair considering all the work and support I have shown her all these years.
To my surprise, she spoke kindly to me this year. She even gave me a new title! However I was in the role long before the title was given to me. It was a title that was long overdue. Anyway I was thankful for God's favor.....
So I did not throw my resignation letter not just because of this but also because I could not help feeling that I had to finish something in the bank...
A messy 10-year old case had to be resolved as I could not leave it as a legacy. No one would know what to do about it and it would have cost the bank millions if the case was not resolved. The case was resolved this year with the threat of over ten million fine removed! Prayers answered!
I asked the Lord for 3 more prayers to be answered before I make the move that would really impact me for the next 2 to 3 decades of my life....indeed it is not something to be rushed hastily but to be prayed through thoroughly.
Yesterday while reading Acts 19:10 it struck me that Paul was in Ephesus for a total of 2 years preaching and teaching the Gospel.
"And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks"
It struck me. I may have to be here for 2 more years to preach the Gospel!
When I came back to the office after a day at the hospital with Tim, something happened to confirm the 2 years stay.
My junior staff came to me on Monday heavy in heart. He told me that his fiance had left the house with another man and could not be contacted. He said that he was so heartbroken because he loved her very much. On top of that he had printed engagement cards and planned a big engagement bash and he was planning to invite all of us in the office.
The Holy Spirit prompted me to pray for him there and then. In the morning hours, I just asked him to sit in front of me and I prayed a prayer for God to help him recover from this rejection.
He could not concentrate on his work. He then asked to take leave to solve his problem with the girl's family. I granted the leave.
On Thursday when I texted him on his status update, he replied full of joy "boss you prayed for me and supported me. All have been sorted out. Tq"
Coming back on Friday, he shared that his family had a big meeting with the girl's family and they found out that all the lies and rumours were spread by the girl's roommates. The roommates attempted to spread lies to separate them. He and his fiance reconciled and they got together again!
I said to him "N...now you need to come to church". He replied "Yes, we must come to ask for prayers especially now that God has answered our prayers"!
That's why I felt in my heart that this incident has confirmed Acts 19:10 to me that I have to stay another 2 more years to preach the Gospel to my colleagues who have not heard the Gospel.
Yesterday during a Hari Raya party, one of my colleagues quoted John 4 to me. I had to correct him on the misconception that just because Jesus turned water to wine, it did not mean that Christians drink to get drunk!
The other day also, I counseled one of my most maligned staff who was thinking of suicide due to harassment by her husband during work and shamed her terribly to all of us. She was comforted and actually got out of the depression after I told her that I will pray to Jesus for her.
The other day too, I shared the 4 Spiritual Laws which Tim downloaded to my handphone with a good friend and colleague. As an RC she told me that she had never prayed this prayer before. She also took the step of faith to pray the prayer of salvation!
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Prayer is NOT COMPLICATED
That's right.
Prayer is not complicated neither is it a mystery. I like what Pastor's wife responded when I shared with her my frustration on the reducing attendance at the corporate prayer meetings - "I wonder what people are waiting for....an orchestra? ...an anointed prayer leader?....pastor to lead?....."
There are days when I am not anointed, there are days when there are no orchestra yet I know that every time we meet there is one person who is always in attendance - HE IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
At every prayer meeting, we are sure to meet Him. This alone should be the reason for us to attend the Corporate Prayer meetings.
Pastor's wife encouraged me and said "Yes, we meet to pray...so we just do what we came to do...just pray"
Do we need to wait for lightning to strike or gold dust to fall or wind to blow during a prayer meeting? Do we need to wait for the chairs to shake, our hands to shiver and for an orchestra to lead us in worship? Do we need the lights to be off, the music to be a certain kind or the room to have a certain smell?
Do we need someone who can speak very well, be English experts or someone who is a Bible teacher and who knows the scriptures very well? Not at all! Do we need to have a good singing voice or a speaking voice? No we don't. All we need is the Presence of the Lord.
Of course there are days when the whole worship team comes and we have the drums, the electric guitar, the organs, the lead guitar and the back-up singers...those nights of corporate prayer were just great. One of my life group member just told me this morning that she just loved the corporate prayer.
Even more she loved the National Prayer Altar. No matter what meetings she had to attend that day, she would put everything aside to go with us to pray with other churches at Peacehaven. It's like dipping straightaway into a vast ocean of the Holy Spirit and swimming weightlessly in the ocean of His Glory!
Prayer is not complicated and neither does it need anything to prop it up. God only needs our hearts to bring to Him in prayer.
I like the incident in Acts 12 as it teaches me that prayer is certainly not complicated, neither is it a mystery.
Ingredients of a simple prayer meeting is found in Acts 12. It started with Herod putting Peter into prison.
"Then he imprisoned him (Peter), placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each...." Acts 12:4
Now Peter was receiving round-the-clock care that's for sure. Four squads of four soldiers each is a lot of guards to guard one prisoner!
Yet because of SIMPLE PRAYER, God sent His angel on assignment to free Peter from prison. Some characteristics of prayer meetings that are not complicated:
1. Prayer must be earnest
Prayer must be earnest (NIV). Prayer must be fervent (AMP). In the Message, the prayer made by the church for Peter was "strenuous".
Strenuous prayers indicate some kind of physical exertion. Maybe some may have to miss their sleep or may have to take leave or may even require some kind of fasting of self-denial. For me it could mean waking up at 5 to do my devotion and going to church for the morning prayers at 6 am!
In the NIRV, the church "prayed hard to God for him" Acts 12:5.
2. Prayer must be constant
Acts 12:5
"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church"
What is "constant prayer"?
The word "constant" does not mean that every minute you are praying. It means persist in prayer. Persevere in it. Stay at it. Be devoted to it. Don't give up or slack off. Be habitual.
It is the opposite of random, occasional, sporadic, intermittent. Paul is calling all Christians to make prayer a regular, habitual, recurring, disciplined part of their lives. Treat prayer the way you treat eating and sleeping and doing your job. Don't be hit and miss about it.
2. Prayer must have a focus
Even if the prayer meeting is prophetic - harp and bowl it is still a prayer meeting with a focus. The focus is on God and what He wants to speak to us. In this case the early church had a focus from the start they were praying for Peter to be released from prison.
3. Prayer should be with others (for the extra push)
Though not a must, it is easier to flow in the Spirit of Prayer when we are praying with others. We give one another the extra push that we need to keep on going. In this case, the church was having a corporate prayer meeting with many believers in attendance.
4. Prayer must be in unity
Let us not look down on people of different estate, age, race, occupation or financial means when it comes to prayer. In Acts 12:14 we were told that Rhoda was one of those who attended the prayer meeting in church. There were ladies in the prayer meeting - Mary the mother of John was identified with the many who were gathered together praying.
5. Prayer must be together in one place.
In Acts 12:12
"So when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying".
They were praying together in one place in a house. Venue is not an issue. Prayer can be held in a house as long as it was all together praying in one place!
This message gives me the assurance that there is nothing wrong with having a prayer meeting as a simple prayer meeting is just as anointed as a prayer altar!
Prayer is not complicated neither is it a mystery. I like what Pastor's wife responded when I shared with her my frustration on the reducing attendance at the corporate prayer meetings - "I wonder what people are waiting for....an orchestra? ...an anointed prayer leader?....pastor to lead?....."
There are days when I am not anointed, there are days when there are no orchestra yet I know that every time we meet there is one person who is always in attendance - HE IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
At every prayer meeting, we are sure to meet Him. This alone should be the reason for us to attend the Corporate Prayer meetings.
Pastor's wife encouraged me and said "Yes, we meet to pray...so we just do what we came to do...just pray"
Do we need to wait for lightning to strike or gold dust to fall or wind to blow during a prayer meeting? Do we need to wait for the chairs to shake, our hands to shiver and for an orchestra to lead us in worship? Do we need the lights to be off, the music to be a certain kind or the room to have a certain smell?
Do we need someone who can speak very well, be English experts or someone who is a Bible teacher and who knows the scriptures very well? Not at all! Do we need to have a good singing voice or a speaking voice? No we don't. All we need is the Presence of the Lord.
Of course there are days when the whole worship team comes and we have the drums, the electric guitar, the organs, the lead guitar and the back-up singers...those nights of corporate prayer were just great. One of my life group member just told me this morning that she just loved the corporate prayer.
Even more she loved the National Prayer Altar. No matter what meetings she had to attend that day, she would put everything aside to go with us to pray with other churches at Peacehaven. It's like dipping straightaway into a vast ocean of the Holy Spirit and swimming weightlessly in the ocean of His Glory!
Prayer is not complicated and neither does it need anything to prop it up. God only needs our hearts to bring to Him in prayer.
I like the incident in Acts 12 as it teaches me that prayer is certainly not complicated, neither is it a mystery.
Ingredients of a simple prayer meeting is found in Acts 12. It started with Herod putting Peter into prison.
"Then he imprisoned him (Peter), placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each...." Acts 12:4
Now Peter was receiving round-the-clock care that's for sure. Four squads of four soldiers each is a lot of guards to guard one prisoner!
Yet because of SIMPLE PRAYER, God sent His angel on assignment to free Peter from prison. Some characteristics of prayer meetings that are not complicated:
1. Prayer must be earnest
Prayer must be earnest (NIV). Prayer must be fervent (AMP). In the Message, the prayer made by the church for Peter was "strenuous".
Strenuous prayers indicate some kind of physical exertion. Maybe some may have to miss their sleep or may have to take leave or may even require some kind of fasting of self-denial. For me it could mean waking up at 5 to do my devotion and going to church for the morning prayers at 6 am!
In the NIRV, the church "prayed hard to God for him" Acts 12:5.
2. Prayer must be constant
Acts 12:5
"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church"
What is "constant prayer"?
The word "constant" does not mean that every minute you are praying. It means persist in prayer. Persevere in it. Stay at it. Be devoted to it. Don't give up or slack off. Be habitual.
It is the opposite of random, occasional, sporadic, intermittent. Paul is calling all Christians to make prayer a regular, habitual, recurring, disciplined part of their lives. Treat prayer the way you treat eating and sleeping and doing your job. Don't be hit and miss about it.
2. Prayer must have a focus
Even if the prayer meeting is prophetic - harp and bowl it is still a prayer meeting with a focus. The focus is on God and what He wants to speak to us. In this case the early church had a focus from the start they were praying for Peter to be released from prison.
3. Prayer should be with others (for the extra push)
Though not a must, it is easier to flow in the Spirit of Prayer when we are praying with others. We give one another the extra push that we need to keep on going. In this case, the church was having a corporate prayer meeting with many believers in attendance.
4. Prayer must be in unity
Let us not look down on people of different estate, age, race, occupation or financial means when it comes to prayer. In Acts 12:14 we were told that Rhoda was one of those who attended the prayer meeting in church. There were ladies in the prayer meeting - Mary the mother of John was identified with the many who were gathered together praying.
5. Prayer must be together in one place.
In Acts 12:12
"So when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying".
They were praying together in one place in a house. Venue is not an issue. Prayer can be held in a house as long as it was all together praying in one place!
This message gives me the assurance that there is nothing wrong with having a prayer meeting as a simple prayer meeting is just as anointed as a prayer altar!
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