My Joy and My Crown

My Enjoyment:

Phi 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Praise the Lord!!, by our Lord's grace and mercy, He opened my eyes and grant me the revelation to see what is meant by 'my joy and my crown'.

1)This revelation came when i felt sick last week (yes, still in the mist of recovering), i have this strong feeling when i could not see them last Thursday for the lunch and pursuit, and the sms that send by them to comfort me did i realized that, indeed they are my joy and my crown. Cause they have to sacrifice their time for the pursuit and yet, i could not made it, why sacirifice? cause we have to go and pick up from Ngee Ann Poly to Singapore Poly and together we have pursuit at Nanyang Poly. It is from this incident that somehow i got to understand what does Paul mean by "my joy and my crown". Of course, not forgetting those saints from Campus (NUS, NTU, La Salle), and my youth and my group of young people. Let me explained further:

It's like when i coach a team of athletes and they had won the race, even i may not share the medals with them , but they are my joy and my crown, Glory be to HIM for such a revelation. And i prayed that the team of godly athletes that the Lord has entrusted them to me, i will put my best effort (of course, it is Christ who empower me) to lead them to finish the Heavenly race, and together we will have the crown of glory.

2) I was very happy and joyful when a few saints took an extra effort to come back and say goodbye to me during one of the funeral wake, again, they are like my children whom our Lord has given me to take care of them. It does gave me lots and lots of encouragement, Thank you, saints and U, Lord Jesus. Seeing them all growing in the Lord are my joy and my crown.

As for my wife,

When the saints telling me how good my wife is, i felt that she is my crown. As i thinking of how to put it in a more practical way, what i can say is : She filled my lack, she is always there doing those things which i am lack. She indeed my helpmate, she knew my weakness , and she will cover that weakness for me by making sure that i will not forget things or making sure that all the household things are met. Yes, i will be lost without her because she is the other part of me. And i can say that i really depend on her, she is the other half to made me whole.

And in my eyes, she is indeed excellent. Pro 12:4a : An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,(ESV)

Praise the Lord!! This is the great “push” for me to serve the Lord, and seeing everyone of them that i am serving standing firm in the Lord are my joy and crown is a great revelation to me. Truly they are all my beloved. Lord thank you for this precious revelation.

Home 2 - Lord's day meeting and love-feast

Praise the Lord, a picture indeed worth a thousand words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, here are some of the photo taken were taken 2 weeks ago, Home 2 Lord's table meeting and Love-feast.
All are invited. Pls come and join us........


Heb 10:25
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom is with some; but encouraging one another , and by so much the more as ye see the day drawing near.

Press on dear saints, do not stop meeting lives, cause the day are drawing near!!!!



Joh 21:15-17
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

Remember to do His wills, K? sheperd and serving ones.


Joh 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Thank U Lord for the love of the saints!!!!!



Gal 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.




Psa 133:1
A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!



What can i say, bro.............................enjoy the Tender Loving Care (TLC) of the saints and Our Lord Jesus Christ.





Mat 25:21
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Our 2 beloved faithful "Chinese" translators. Thank you bros.



Psa 119:9
BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his path? by taking heed according to thy word.

Will continue to pray for young man in the church, continue to run with us the Heavenly race, Ok, bro kelvin and bro li da.




Mat 10:42
And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

Lord, why no one serve me?

U know why??????, perhap it is about time to share to all of u my testimony. How i was brought into No 1, Derbyshire Road (Meeting hall 1), March 1987 . Yup, almost 20 years ago. Praise God for His Grace and Mercy.

It all happened one Sat afternoon, March 1987, being a sportman then (pls do not doubt, seriously, i was much fitter then). I was invited by my cousin to join them for 'captain-ball' at the present baptist church just across the road. Unfortuately or perhap fortunate, the main gate was closed (they only open the side gate). And being not too sure of the location, i found out that there is another 'church' (at that time, to me, church is a building, but of course, if u do not know, 'church' is actually the 'called out' race, called out from the darkness of the world, into His marvellous Light. We are the children of Light, and we are called the 'Church'). So i walked in and at the invitation of some "youth" - (sis siew lay was one of the them), i stayed for the youth meeting. And i was baptised the following week.

Church life is like walking the Hemmant Trail in Freaser Hill, where we had our YYP conference 2005. For those of us who were there, we begin our journey together, but when it come to obstacles, ie steep slope, slippery slope, etc, we help one another, be it we knew him/her or not (we may not know all the saints). And we move on till we complete the 1.0 KM trail.

So in the church life, we have to learn to help/serve one another. We have to take the Pro-active role. Instead of waiting to be served, be the first to serve. Be the first to know the bros and sisters. And that is me. Glory to His Name.

The secret of us, brothers that we can be here together since 1987 or earlier for some, ie Bro Sam, Bro Alvin, Bro Steven Lee, etc is that we spend lots and lots of time gather together in the meeting hall. We study, pray, read the words of God, and even swim together. Today, all of all are married. Praise the Lord and Glory to His Name.

In fact, i was sharing to one of the sister who is in the young pple to take up some initiative to gather the group together after the meeting, instead of waiting for serving one to organise the bi-monthly love feast, she can have a own 'tib-bit' , or even simple 'salad' feast. But of course, beside having to know each other better, gathering of saints is also the time where we are able to edify and strengthen each other faith.

So, for those who are still waiting to be served, wait no longer!!!!!! Love and be loved, serve and be served.

Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Attention! attention to all the father and father to be.

Job 1:5
And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.

Dear father(s),
I enjoyed very much thru the sharing of this verse thru a bro. Yes, one of the way that we can to serve our family is to pray for them first thing in the morning. Ask ourselves, how often do we pray for our wife and our children? shame on me, seldom.

Praise the Lord, even since i have that fellowship, i prayed for my wife and my children every morning. Father(s), let us do this. K?

云彩

云彩

(一) 我的生命死而复活，自从我看见云彩，

越过一片死寂荒漠，远远的显现出来，

衪像光明火柱， 照亮黑暗道路，

燃起人生新希望， 定住我的脚步。

(二) 我的人生变得充实，正当我迎向云彩，

宇宙万物真理柱石，千百年历久不衰，

衪是神所经营， 活神显于肉身，

给我无比信心， 给我无比温馨。

(三) 我的生活何等豪迈，因我已拥有云彩，

弟兄姊妹坚强的爱，围绕我不至摇摆，

真理照亮我的灵， 恩典无穷无尽，

从此我心有所归， 不再叹息徘徊。

(四) 我与你们已经融合，也化为这朵云彩，

天空多么灿烂明亮，不怕那弯曲世代，

让我大步向前去， 将这见证高举，

愿她光采更壮丽， 直到永世不渝。

(结) 主，啊! 主，啊! 让我放下各样重担，

生活在光明的云彩。

。

Godly Success In Marriage

Coming Soon !!

Who will cheer for me?

Praise the Lord, as i was listening to "Be thou my vision", few things came to my mind:

1) Lord, renew my vision.
2) Who will cheer for me?
3) The Chinese Hymn : “云彩”
4) I remembered Heb 12: 1-2
5) Bro Pao

And it almost bring tears to my eyes. For i know that our Bro Pao has joined the cloud of witnessess cheering me. Of course not forgetting our Bro Tai Chwee and Sis Yu Yen.

Thru Heb 12:1-2. Hallelujah, I am strengthened thru His words. Even if there are no one on earth to cheer me, i know that i am surrounded by a cloud of witnesses cheering me to finish the race, not forgettng our dear Lord Jesus Christ too.

As for me,I prayed that thru His Strength, Mercy and abundant Grace, i wll continue to cheer, encourage and strengthen one another to finish the race. And i also prayed that more saints will do the same things as i do, that is, to edify, encourage and strengthen one another.

Press On....Press On...... Let us run and finish the race together.

Heb 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do not STOP meeting, and pls come for prayer meeting.

I was very encouraged by the sharing of our bro Kian Heng on sat yyp meeting via some saints who have attended the meeting (i am currently serving the youth, different group).
He shared that the reason for him to come for prayer meeting was because he was encouraged by a brother whom bro Kian Heng found him resting in the foodcourt after his dinner, so that he may have the extra mile, energy to attend the prayer meeting.
Praise the Lord for this brother who took a rest after his dinner, little did he know that our Lord use him to speak to our bro Kian Heng. May our Lord also speak to you right now.

Heb 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

To me, no doubt all the meetings are important, but the meeting that our enemy work "EXTREMELY HARD" will be? Yes , it is Prayer meeting. satan will tried all ways to stop our Lord's children to come together to pray.

This is something that our Lord has shown me, and i pray that our Lord will open all your inner eye to see . This is the core centre where we can co-work with the Lord.
Imagine if there will be 100's of saints coming to prayer in ONE accord..... just as in the book of ACT recorded in the early day....

Act 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Act 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,
and another portion,
Act 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

So i am excited, are u? youth and young people and those who have not attended a prayer meeting before, let us all come together, praying together, i believe not only the older saints are encourage and strengthen to see all of us coming for prayer meeting, surely our Lord is happy too. Seeing us coming together, ONE HEART, ONE MIND PRAYING IN ONE ACCORD TO HIM.

In fact, for years, many older saints has been prayer for us. DEAR SAINTS, Let us all raise and come. Together thru prayer we will built up His church. Amen and Amen.

Demand in His Love.

This is for you, Sis Dawn

Psa 86:6
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.

Alexandra, the greek king

Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the
way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring
him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army,
his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.

He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his
last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would
not permit Him to reach his distant homeland. So, The mighty conqueror
lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He
called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I
have three wishes, please carry them out without fail." With tears
flowing down Their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's
last wishes.

" My first desire is that," said Alexander, " My physicians alone must
carry my coffin." After a pause, he continued, " Secondly, I desire that
when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the
graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have
collected in my treasury." The king felt exhausted after saying this. He
took a minute's rest and continued. "My third and last wish is that both
my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin ."

The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes.
But no one dare bring the question to their lips. Alexander's favorite
general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. " O king, we
assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do
you make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: " I would like the world
to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians to
carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really
cure any body .They are powerless and cannot save a person from the
clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted. The second
wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the
graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come
with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything
with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase
wealth .And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the
coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world
and empty handed I go out of this world ."

With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer
him and breathed his last. . . . .

Hall 1 Love Feast

Praise the Lord for His Church

Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the
way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring
him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army,
his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.

He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his
last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would
not permit Him to reach his distant homeland. So, The mighty conqueror
lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He
called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I
have three wishes, please carry them out without fail." With tears
flowing down Their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's
last wishes.

" My first desire is that," said Alexander, " My physicians alone must
carry my coffin." After a pause, he continued, " Secondly, I desire that
when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the
graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have
collected in my treasury." The king felt exhausted after saying this. He
took a minute's rest and continued. "My third and last wish is that both
my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin ."

The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes.
But no one dare bring the question to their lips. Alexander's favorite
general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. " O king, we
assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do
you make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: " I would like the world
to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians to
carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really
cure any body .They are powerless and cannot save a person from the
clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted. The second
wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the
graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come
with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything
with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase
wealth .And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the
coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world
and empty handed I go out of this world ."

With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer
him and breathed his last. . . . .

Ecc 1:14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

The Spirit of Serving One Another

Praise the Lord,

Let sing a hymn before my sharing for this morning:
"this is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, for this is the day that the Lord had made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is the day that the Lord had made."

I received a wonderful sms this morning that strengthen me and fill me with joy.
It is our Youth and Young People turn to do the cleaning for hall 1 love-feast. I have request a bro to be the i/c for one group, unfortunately he is attending 2pm Lord's table meeting. But Praise the Lord, this morning he sent me a sms asking me whether can he do the cleaning before attending the 2pm Lord's table.

What a joy! what a joy! In in bro's eye, it may be a small thing, but in the Lord's eye, it is a big thing.
The Lord did say :

Mat 25:21
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Of course, i ask him to have lunch with the saints first before doing the cleaning. And thereafter he will attend 2pm meeting.

I pray that i will also learn from this young brother and have a heart and the spirit to serve one another. Instead of coming together with his parent with transport provided, he choose to take public transport in order not to "eat" but to "work", work in God's house.

Praise the Lord, pray that our Lord will raise up more youth and young people to have the heart to serve our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ.

Marriage

A) In the beginning

Man

i)Gen 2:7 : then the LORD God (formed) the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

-a)(formed) : Our God like a potter mould Adam, as being the 1^st man, He will carefully mould Adam from dust according to He image and likeness.

-Breath of life : contain every elements of God's virtue and attributes that our God want us to have.

ii)Gen 2:15 : The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend it and keep it.

-a) submissive to God, and to work and keep whatever the Lord has asked him to in the garden of Eden.

Woman

i)Gen 2:18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."

-- Helper fit for the husband.

ii)Gen 2:22 : And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

Gen 2:23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

Gen 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

a)-Apparently there were no 'father' or 'mother' during the time of Adam and Eve. Together, they were taken care of by God in the garden of Eden.

b)- likewise woman also contain every elements of God's virtue and attributes that our God want us to have.

Man +Woman = Fruitful and multiply & hold fast to one another.

Gen 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Gen 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (ESV)

B) In the new testament – Believer

Mat 19:5 : and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast (cleave) to his wife, and they shall become one flesh'?

:并且说：『因此，人要离开父母，与妻子连合，二人成为一体。』这经你们没有念过吗？

-Leave his father and his modther : inter-dependent on one another (husband and wife)

-Cleave

Thayer Definition:

1) to glue upon, glue to, cement. (And not 'val co')

2. to join one’s self to closely, cleave to, stick to

-Our relationship between husband and wife must be like 'elephant glue' and not 'val co'.

Mat 19:6 : So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." (ESV)

:既然如此，夫妻不再是两个人，乃是一体的了。所以，神配合的，人不可分开。」

[Strong’s G2201], “hath yoked together,” as oxen in the plough, where each must pull equally in order to bring it on. Among the ancients, they put a yoke upon the necks of a new married couple, or chains on their arms, to shew that they were to be one, closely united, and pulling equally together in all the concerns of life.

Christ is the source of strength in the Marriage

Gal 3:20 : I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

-For us, after we have received the life of Christ thru receiving of the Holy Spirit, our marriage lives must fully rely on our Lord Jesus Christ.

-Source of Faith : Rom10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

How to walk in the Lord b4 and after marriage

How to walk in the Lord as a couple (ONE) before and after marriage.

Before marriage:

1. Looking for a helpmate (for husband), and a companion (for wife).

• Intention of having a spouse.

• Process of looking for a spouse

• Congratulation ! U found it.

2. In the process of Courtship.

• Things to chat/fellowship, i.e. :like/dislike, hobbies, favourite book in the bible, favourite verse, how should we go on to built a house that love and serve the Lord, like children? etc.

• Pursuit / Prayer together.

• Be Truthful to one another.

• The role of a man, and a role of woman.

• Learn to made decision together.

• Lesson on submission and obedience.

• Forcing one another to change or learn to accept as he/she is.

• Meet each parent.

• Financial . i.e : Joint account, own account.

• Discussion / Preparation on Marriage, i.e. :wedding rings, when to get ROM, love-feast, wedding dinner or luncheon at the pool-side, wedding photograph, etc .

• House i.e : HDB, Condo, staying with in-laws, rent , etc.

• Peer Pressure almost the saints.

After marriage:

• No longer “U” but ONE (husband and wife)

• Our services (children/Youth serving) and meetings (prayer meeting, home meeting) before the Lord.

• Parent-in-laws' place : once a week or more.

• Relationship between Mother-in-law, husband and wife.

• Relationship between sibling-in-laws

• Area cleaning

• Daily meal

• Traditional Practices: “Ang-Pow” for Chinese New Years, Gifts for Christmas.

• Family Planning

• Children education : Choosing of primary school

• Children extra curriculum i.e. Ballet, swimming, piano etc.

• Children/Parent Peer Pressure :