失败的经历

12号早上前往美国领事馆面试，欲申请出国留学准证。到了那里，办了手续耗了差不多 2个小时半的时间终于轮到我面试。先前大学给了两个选择，缴付第一年全数的学费，或呈交银行对账单（bank statement）来证明你有能力还 5年的学费。缴付第一年的全数学费后，学校出了一封信说明我经济上没有问题。万万没有想到美国领事馆很死板地一定要看 bank statement，由于资料不足，面试失败并且拿不到准证。这件事给我的个人领悟与反思：

一、起初真的很失望，但是圣灵让我想起那天早上看到某位牧师发的文，“我们都有跌倒的时候，但跌倒之后，要立刻爬起来”。让我想起上帝从我选择神学院、考国际英文考试（TOEFL)、邮寄文件至当地的大学等等，一路来都没有遇到很大的问题。整个过程都蛮顺利，就这么一次跌倒难道就对失去信心了吗？敢敢再申请！




二、缺乏迫切祷告。比起上一次申请慕迪神学院，这次申请准证似乎轻视了整个过程。总觉得只要意图不是犯法或偷渡，拿准证应该是轻而易举。自己也没有很主动地告诉人这件事让他们帮忙代祷，没有上台找牧师按手祷告，在家更没有认真为此代祷。忽略了最重要和关键的行动。




三、防不胜防。体会到美国领事馆，面谈员的权力。当下如果被拒绝，毫无商妥的余地。因为只有一次的机会，如果申请不被批准就必须再还申请费、买飞机票、订酒店等等。从中学习到无论处理什么事情都必须以细心和认真的态度去面对。各样的资料都必须预备好来应付他们各方面的要求。

罗马书4:20，“并且仰望神的应许，总没有因不信心里起疑惑，反倒因信心里得坚固，将荣耀归给神，”。但愿以这个经验与大家共勉之。若你正处于相似的情景，愿圣灵赐你能力对上帝再次有不易动摇的信心，勇敢爬起来尝试！

神有祂最美的时间与计划，每件事情的发生都有祂要我们学习的功课。埋冤使人看不见和忘记神的恩典与带领，凡事学习顺服和感恩才会发现自己是何等蒙福！这件事让我领悟到，不要看差一步就达到终点，而要看自己已经走了多远。笔者也要在此请大家为我代祷。本人大概下星期三或星期四又会前往吉隆坡做第二次的面试与申请，求神帮助我不重犯同样的错误。愿我们在主里继续彼此勉励与成长，阿门！

Simple look at my life

When I look back at my life on what I have experienced, including the education I received, the love and care from my parents (particularly my mom), to build a good solid foundation of faith in me, the support from family members and friends, I realize how blessed I am and that I should never take life for granted.

My whole life, since the beginning, is everything part of God's flawless plan. He supplied me with knowledge and experience like language skills, biblical understanding, practical ministry, music ability, all for no other purpose - but to call upon me and use me, among so many people, as one who will serve him in full time ministry. I am aware that my journey will begin soon, a life long journey with no turning back, and I am more than excited, honored as well as relieved to be able to dedicate my life to God the Almighty, the one who sacrificed His son Jesus Christ for sinner's sake, to be utilized in bringing more lost souls to Christ.

Praise the Lord! He is indeed faithful and loving, and for those of you reading this but have yet to accept Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior, I invite you to take this important step and decision in your life. May the Lord intervene into your life, to bless you and guide you on the path ahead, which might be filled with challenges but with Him walking beside you, you shall feel your burdens lifted up and you'll live a more meaningful and joyful life. If you are willing to do so, please say the following prayer,

"Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I need you in my life to guide me. I ask you to be my personal Savior and the Savior of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

Pray now!

I am deeply enlightened by what God has shown me through this 2-day seminar and talk. No matter how interesting your activities are, or how attractive your gatherings may be, a church that is not praying is a dead church.

How is the situation of prayer in your church?
How is your relationship with God in terms of, not only personal prayer, but also your commitment to regularly attend church's prayer meeting?

Indeed sometimes we are so caught up with the church activities that we forget the true meaning behind them and we forget to pray. We worry about the venue, the cost, the date and time, but neglect the importance and power of prayer, to truly seek God's will and His pleasure.

A congregation that devotes themselves to come together and support the church with prayer is the fundamental to a living church. Without that, everything we do is meaningless as most of the time we find ourselves tired and lost because we carry out activities and planning just for the sake of doing it. Christians of this generation, it is time that we raise our hands and pray, for our personal needs, our church, our nation, society and the world. I believe it is by none other than consistent prayer that we can make a difference and impact the world!

Why do Christians fast during Lent?

        Why do Christians fast during Lent, or do things that we don’t usually do? Is this on line with the teachings of the Bible? Or is it just something that we randomly think out? [Originally written and posted by Reverend Lau Sie Ngiu, translated by Paul Ling]

        “Lent” is a 40-day period of fasting before Easter Monday, its climax being the “Holy Week” i.e. the week before Easter, followed by the joyous Easter,even the Pentecost (also known as Whitsunday) that comes after that. This is the spiritual training that numerous Christians from past generation churches do in order to commemorate the suffering of Christ’s sacrifice, to remind themselves that they “were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)
In fact, in 1st to 3rd century A.D., churches mostly fast for 2 to 3 days. For instance, Christians in Rome would fast and pray overnight during the 40 hours before Easter to commemorate Christ’s death and burial. Until 4th century A.D., this habit extends to forty days, once it reaches the dawn of Easter, the fasting atmosphere totally removes then the joy of Easter and Pentecost immediately follows. Moreover, followers stop fasting, also not kneeling to pray in public worship service to rejoice the “victory through Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)!

       The 40-day fasting period, is the light we obtain from Moses, Elijah and Jesus Christ. 15th century B.C., Moses was there with the Lord at Mount Sinai, forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water, and he received the Ten Commandments and Laws from the Lord. Even as he came down the Mountain, his face was radiant because he spoke to the Lord! (Exodus 34:28-29) 9th century B.C., Elijah was at the downside of his serving, even after he looked to die, he experienced two times where angels appeared and supply food and drinks to him. After he ate and drink the second time, “Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” Over there in a cave, he heard God’s voice and saw God’s glory (1 Kings 19:1-14). 1st century A.D., the incarnated Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days before he went out to preach. The result of it was the fulfilment of Holy Spirit, victory against temptation of the devil, and not leaving the Path of the Cross because of food, pride of life and prosperity of the world. Instead, obeying the will of the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly, walk towards the cross, into the cross and ultimately out of the grave, accomplished the great work of Salvation, bringing human and the creation out of the emptiness, sin, death and power of the devil!

        This way, I think that the church’s traditional practice of 40-day fasting during Lent, is fundamentally sound based on the Bible. Of course, there are various methods of fasting. Some choose to fast one or two meals per day to spend more time reading the bible and praying, or reading spiritual books. Some fast meat, some resolve to spend lesser time watching television or playing games in 40 day, some reduce their living cost to do more charity and donate to the poor. Regardless of the method of fasting, what’s most important is sanctifying ourselves and purifying our hearts with God’s Word, to renew ourselves with strength, to be even more able to love our home and love other people with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength, just like how we love ourselves, to participate in the expansion of God’s kingdom and the great cause of renewing and transforming our country. 

In my experience of fasting in Lent, blessings that the Holy Spirit gave me includes,
1. Fostering a more restraint and patient character,
2. Eliminate certain lustful, negative thinking and emotions that has entangled me for years, 
3. Being more sensitive to the voice and advices of the Holy Spirit,
4. Knowing more clearly the specific will of God, e.g. matters regarding my future and family.

2014-02-19 鞋子（一）‏

你知道吗？“Christian（基督徒）”这两个字在新约圣经总共只出现了两次。如果注意去观察，新约圣经较常使用的字眼是 “Discipleship（门徒）”。弟兄姐妹，今天我们信耶稣不是单单拿到了进天堂的免费入门票，然后就停止或结束了。我们在世上的职责不是单做一个信徒，而是一个跟随耶稣基督脚步的门徒！

来自纽西兰的一个著名布道家上台证道时做了这么一个举动。他邀请一个姐妹和一个弟兄上台，脱下自己的鞋子然后穿上彼此的鞋子。脚板比较大的弟兄穿上姐妹那狭窄的鞋子显示不舒服，而姐妹穿上弟兄宽大的鞋子也是如此。之后布道家就问会众说，“今天你所穿的信心的鞋子是否与你的体格相称？”

随着年龄的增长，我们知识、学位和事业的鞋子也跟着我们一起长大。我们不断地在换这些鞋子，一生忙于追求更好和更有素质的鞋子。相比之下，我们信心的鞋子有多大呢？今天我们对于上帝的信心是否与当年我们在主日学决志信主时一样地幼小？要做基督的门徒，我们的一生必须是一个不断在寻找和换上合适的鞋子，一个追求成长的过程。倘若我们对这不合尺寸的鞋子不理不睬，久而久之将会习惯成自然，灵命变麻木，更是看不到‘换鞋子’的需要和急迫性。

或许有些人会说，“需要一直换鞋子还真的是太麻烦了，干脆就不穿鞋子吧！”断乎不可！不穿鞋子就好像失去了保护层，如同失去了耶稣基督的保护与倚靠！试想想，人在哪里才会不穿鞋子呢？当我们在屋子里，不打算出去奔跑或旅行，定下来安顿自己的时候我们才不穿鞋子。除非你打算一生封闭自己不去见这个世界，你才可以不穿鞋子。既然你愿意出去为自己的学业、事业、生活和家庭努力地寻找最好和最合尺寸的鞋子，那你信心的鞋子同样的也需要不断地更新和提升！

一个不适合的鞋子不能够带你走很远的路，因为魔鬼撒旦就是喜欢攻击那些信心鞋子太小或不合身的信徒。试看想象自己今天穿着很小的运动鞋与亲戚朋友们一起去爬山，几分钟内山上的树根与尖锐的石头就能严重伤害你的脚。各位读者，人生路途不也是这么的坎坷与凹凸不平吗？你是否正面对经济上的缺乏？今天你与丈夫或妻子的关系是否已被魔鬼撒旦破坏，甚至每天回到家家里都是鸡犬不宁？

马太福音11:2说“凡劳苦当重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。”亲爱的主内弟兄姐妹，笔者鼓励您读完这篇文章后花一点时间反思。你所穿上的信心的鞋子是否与你相称？从要就读哪一间大学到要穿哪一件衣服，人生总是充满选择的。在你人生的这个环节，你也可以立定心志把不合身的鞋子换掉，以致你一生穿上舒服和合身的信心的鞋子，帮助你面对人生的每一项苦难与挑战。下一笔会提到如何‘换鞋‘，所以请继续守定blessedspot.blogspot.com 谢谢！

Spiritual Journal #6

            “By this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (1 John 3:19-20).

            We all know things about ourselves that no one else knows—failures, faults, sins—that although confessed to God and forgiven by Him may come back to accuse us again and again. Recently I read a Christian book called Sex is not the problem (lust is) by Joshua Harris. The author talks about how we always try to set our own standards and limits as to what we should not do to avoid ourselves from committing sins. This verse, along with what I read from the book, reminded me that it is our heart that matters for everything we do flows from our heart (proverbs 4:23). I understood that our source of strength to repent from sins, is the sole confirmation that we as sinners are in desperate need of God’s grace to save us from the wrath of this contemporary sinful world.

Spiritual Journal #5

            On my flight back to Kuching from Sibu during the Chinese New Year’s break, I was blessed to be able to experience God’s work. Before I went onto the plane, I prayed to God for me to have the courage and ability to share the gospel with the passenger next to me.

            I was placed in the middle seat, so this aunty who is sitting on the outside had to let me in. We began talking and she asked me why I came to Sibu. After a short while, I managed to get her to listen to my testimony. I shared on how our God is an amazing God, one that plans the best for our life. I told her how the Lord has called me to the ministry and serve him full time as a pastor. She seems interested and she coincidentally has been someone who has been to the States too. However, due to it being a 30-minute flight, time ran out before I got to enter the topic of gospel and salvation. I did manage to ask her religion, she say she’s non-religious but she thinks every religion is good.

            Through this experience, I have felt motivated and look to share the gospel with every moment I can, even if there’s only a small amount of time. We might never know that the seed we planted will blossom some day. I believe as Christians, we should cherish every opportunity there is to share the gospel with anyone in order to accomplish Jesus’ mission to us in Matthew 28:19-20!