What are you packing for THE JOURNEY?

A reality check.

Vacations. Trips. I was just thinking because my highly-anticipated trip to Bangkok is postponed indefinitely. I've already made up a list of what to pack, and where to go, when I'm there. For most people, making lists is definitely a must, when they decide to go on trips. Like, if I go to a backpacker's inn, I would have to bring my toothbrush and towel along. Whereas if I'm going to be in a hotel, I'd not need to bring those items.

What are some things that you will always take with you no matter where you go?
For a long time now, it used to be my bunny, Anastasia.(stuffed with love from Marks and Spencer.) When I am feeling a little homesick, just looking at her face and silly ears made me feel much better. Every church camp without fail, she would be one of the first things I'd pack, on my list. So I think all of us have little things, particular to us that we have to bring, just to remind us of who we are, or to remind us of home. Maybe it's that special shampoo your hair cannot survive without. Maybe it's the perfume you always use, or the chain you wear around your neck. Like it or not, we have to recognize that we form attachments to little things around us that gives us some normalcy or stability, familiarity in our lives. And so we pack these little things into every journey.

But what is the destination?
For almost all journeys, we will most likely be aware of our destination. And if you look at it this way, Life is one big journey, too. We pack and throw away our books, notes and stuff from the time we graduate. And we make plans, either to study again or to work. If we decide to study, we need to pack for the journey. Buy school clothes, books, stationery. The list goes on and on. And then, we pack and unpack again. And sometimes the stuff can be reused for other journeys, so we keep them. Some stuff have to be chucked out. Mum's doing a spring-clean of the storeroom, so the stuff is now sitting in my hall. Lots of my past art stuff that I can never bear to throw away, but it's been years, and they do take up a lot of space, so maybe some of it has to go. I have 3 guitars in the storeroom. 2 of which are slightly damaged but the cost of repairing it might not be worth it; the other one just needs some restringing and knob replacement. But no one wants to see them thrown away, or has the heart to bring them downstairs, at least not yet. So maybe they will sit in my hall for a week or two. Is it time to move on in your spiritual journey? Maybe there are some things you are carrying in that heavy backpack of yours that you need to throw away. Hurts from your past relationship. (Yes, I do need to throw away some things, delete some photos, and memories.) Work-related stress? I don't think you need that. So why not put it down for the moment. Leave it by the pavement, here. If you decide that you need it again, you can always pick it up later. How about your Pride? The "I used to do things this way" thinking. Maybe that doesn't work for the NEW place you are going to. Unpack it too, and buy some new thinking on the way to your new place.

To know where is your destination hugely determines your choice of what you are going to pack for the journey. For long journeys, you need to bring along a Bible. Unlike physical journeys where we are sure of where we are heading (to Thailand, to a new school, a new workplace, parenthood, etc), in YOUR spiritual journey looms a more important question: Wait a minute... Just exactly where am I heading to?

Not many people know. Some people choose to remain ignorant and sort of stagnate. They think: Oh, since I don't know the destination, just let me be here. So they become pew potatoes, some people who are 'there' but never really going anywhere. Some have lost the fact that they are packing for their spiritual journey. So they just waste their lives away, never really making an impact to anyone or doing anything really worthwhile. Some know the destination (Eg I have a full time call) but are unsure how to get there, or when, or why.

But God knows. That's a comforting thought ain't it? And a more comforting verse, in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord.

Plans to prosper us and not to harm us.
Plans to give me hope and a future!...WOW. You mean God actually has plans for my life?

Last cell, I shared that there are seasons for everything. Almost like the four seasons - for me it's a time of spring, new things. Renewal! And not so cold anymore, too. In Ecc 3: God has made everything beautiful in His Time. And later, it says: I know that everything God does will endure forever. Isn't that the best promise from our Abba Father?

Every answered prayer... lasts forever.
Every miracle of healing...lasts forever.
Every thing you did to show God's love to someone...lasts forever.

Every plan God has for you lasts forever.






Let your spiritual journey be determined by God. God will lead the way for you. You don't have to worry.

HAPPY PACKING AND BON VOYAGE!

Reading for deeper perusal: Ecc 3

Remember His Love

Lead me to Calvary...Lead me back to His Love.

In cell yesterday, we shared about L-O-V-E again...
Because love is important - not only important. It is essential. Some shared that falling in love gives me a fuzzy feeling inside, you feel happy - overjoyed, silly with anticipation, and having the pleasant feeling of knowing that there is someone who wants to listen to you. Love is meaningful, for some it gives the purpose of life. And TzeYang shared, "Ït is the reason he wakes up every morning!" And for those of us who have fallen in love before, some of us have done really stupid things for the person we love! One guy shared that he met his love at the bus stop (this was way back in sec school) and on v-day, gave her a big bunch of silvery, heartshaped balloons (and she had to carry it around the whole day). For me, the most romantic thing I ever did was to fold a whole box of those tiny paper cranes for my boyfriend. I'm not good in origami, but I remember for the whole period before v-day, I would fold those cranes. It is super tiny and it takes me 5 mins to fold just one. So, during math lesson, chinese lesson, watching tv... I was folding, folding, folding. I wanted to fold up to a thousand cranes but... could only manage 400+.

After we broke up I wanted it back but he wanted to keep it, so... ...
After that, I was so tired of origami that I never folded a single crane again. =P

In my last sojourn overseas, I met a Swede. Actually I spent v-day with him, because I travelled, as a birthday gift to myself and it overlaps the day. He bicycled from BKK to SG to Melaka. Way cool! I really admire him for that. During our conversation, we talked about family, and I asked him about his. Actually, his wife was supposed to join him but she had died of cancer. I was sorry to bring it up and asked him if he was okay. He said something that I think I will remember for the rest of my life.

"LOVE is like LIFE itself. Sometimes you wonder why you have chosen this life with this person. Other times, you cannot imagine a life without. I do miss her, but it's okay, life is like that. As long as I know there is ALWAYS a place in my heart for her, it's okay."

This year, Spring comes late for many countries. I know in Korea, and Sweden, it was still snowing, up to 2 weeks ago. In our spiritual lives too, all of us have seasons. Ups and downs, births and deaths. New phases of life. Changing jobs, positions, graduations. For myself, I believe I am going through a season of renewal. I feel like I've gone through long months of winter. Cold! Even though I've never doubted God's love for me. He still answers my prayers. But through last year, I don't feel that I had a heart for God. Maybe, I was too distracted by my relationship. Maybe, my priorities shifted. Maybe... I'd never know the reason. But you know what? Don't kill yourself because you are experiencing winter right now. Think of it as though you are waiting for Spring.

Do you know that God loves you?
Which season are you now in, spiritually?

In all my doings I realise one thing. If you really want God, you got to get a touch from Him. No amount of counseling, encouragement or scolding will help. You have to reach out to Him.

Remember the FIRST TIME you met the person you love?
Remember the first time you fell in love... with God.

After Easter, as we remember the cross,
we remember the road to Calvary...

I hope all of us, will also remember His love.


Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
for the Bible tells me so.

Developing our Relationship with Other Christians

Read Whoever loves God must also love his brother. – 1 John 4:21

Developing my Relationships with other Christians
Do you think it is essential to develop relationships with other Christians? Why?
Small group is a platform where we can grow in our relationship with God and others. As you observe and learn:
· How others overcome their problems with God’s help
· How God heals and transforms people,
· How God uses the cell to reach out to those who do not know Jesus (TCC: Trinitarians Care and Connect!)
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (E.g. teaching one another how to play musical instruments)

In what ways, are you developing your relationship with other Christians?
· Being regular in cell and cell activities(Hebrew 10:25)
- God’s words says that in the last days, people will fall away and abandon their faith, being in regular fellowship with other Christians helps us to be encouraged in our Christian walk.
· Being humble, gentle, patient and bearing in love (Ephesians 4:2-3)
· Interested in others’ needs (Philippians 2:3-4)
· Carry each other burdens (Galatians 6:2)

What is one thing that you think the cell or yourself can improve on so that we/you can develop our/your relationships with other Christians in our cell/Share one thing how being part of the care-cell has benefited you
· Support in times of need and crisis.(E.g. Being there in funeral, hospitalization)
· Forgive one another’s faults
· Be an encourager
· Let's be involved in support ministry, serving as host, as serving is a privilege!

Being regular in carecell benefits us a lot as God’s people we should love one another and forgive each other faults. And from this comes a powerful effect in John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.
Acts 2:44-47
This is the visual picture of what a care cell is like. It was a community that touched lives- people were edified, released and transformed. And as a result, many more became Christians because of the lives of the community.
Let us continue to love one another and to forgive one another faults and also to have fun and laughter as a cell!

Ask yourself:
What motivates you to come for cell? Or do you struggle to come to cell and if so, why?
Have I committed myself to a community of believers (carecell)?
Is there any Christian brother or sister that I need to forgive and love?
(1 John 4:21, 1 John 2:9,11)
What can I do to show my love for my carecell members in a practical way?

Vitamin V

Our body requires vitamins to grow!

Vitamins are a group of substances essential for normal metabolism, growth and development, and regulation of cell function.Vitamins work together with enzymes, co-factors (substances that assist enzymes), and other substances necessary for healthy life. Each vitamin has specific functions. If levels of a particular vitamin are inadequate, a deficiency disease results.

I am going to introduce you to a new vitamin...vitamin V!

V stands for ... VISION.


A newbie said as an afterthought, “Oh, you mean our cell is called Light.” YES!
Matt 5: 14-16.

And being a city on a hill, a light of the world is our VISION. For YOU. For your cell.

speak LIFE! If you know me, so far, I seldom complain. Sure, my days at work makes me tired, and sometimes quite stressed. But I never see it that way. Even when I am very tired, I seldom complain, because God has blessed me with enough money to take cab home and go for foot reflexology… etc. I used to be someone who complains quite a lot. But I realized that it only makes you feel worse. And sometimes we need to have our downtimes, our ‘me’ times. That’s fine. But don’t wallow in self-pity for too long. Of course, if you have just broken up or got fired or something bad happened to you, I’m not expecting you to just swallow your feelings and pretend everything is all right. But instead of speaking badly, complaining about it, speak life into the situation. All of us have the power to speak life into others. When I was at the exhibition, I unknowingly revealed to strangers – in two different instances that my church is Trinity, that I am a Christian. Even though I was there to work, not to save anyone… but hey, if you have a heart for God and for the things of God, He will use you. I met an architect from DP architects and just proudly told him, hey you guys designed my church! They are famous architects who have designed many mega malls in china, dubai and Singapore. He agreed that yes, they did design it. And also, I met two people who worked in cisco – I mentioned that I often go to payalebar because my church is there! Then surprisingly one said, oh, his uncle is a pastor (Danny leong) in Trinity! So, you never know whose life is changed because you said one thing to them.

God has spoken to me lots during easter weekend, and I also noticed that Jesus never complained about his situation.

I always say, when you have a problem, don’t look at the problem and how big it is… look to the solution, not the problem. Many times we always forget that.

As a cell, I hope we can find good friends in this cell. We are here for a purpose. Mostly, because God wants us to be here, now, for this present moment. And also, I prayed for every single one of you to come. God has always answered all my prayers, and you are an answer to my prayers.

So...

Do you have a vision for your life?
What do you want to see take place for your life, today?



“There’s a difference between a dreamer and a person who has a dream. There are thousands and thousands of dreamers, but there are very few people who have dreams – and there’s a world of difference between them. Dreamers talk much but do little. They may hatch up wild plans and ideas, but you never see them happening. Dreamers lack discipline. On the other hand, a person who has a dream talks little but does much. You may not hear all about the dream, but if you watch, you’ll see it happen. This kind of person is driven by the dream.” –John C Maxwell , “Make Yours a Winning Team”

The will to live

(shared in Light cell, last month)
I managed to catch a few episodes of the show “Making Miracles” on Channel 8 – I honestly thought it was one of the better Mediacorp teledramas. In almost all of the patients in any hospital, there is one thing that differentiates them – the will to live. All of us have been to hospitals and funerals in the last days, and it’s always sad to see people who don’t have the will to live, or are waiting to die.

Jodi Picoult’s “The Pact” (book) explores the themes of teenage suicide and one thing I realized – the difference between suicidal people and non-suicidal – is that for those in their teenage years who keep thinking of dying, their life revolves around themselves. Their world is sadly, selfish, and adults are not allowed in. So when they are successful in dying, it is to make a statement to the world outside that hey, I don’t care anymore, I want to do what I like, I don’t want to be dictated by this world.

So what is important to you?

…And who is important to you?

I think everyone has someone important in their lives whom with they can share, someone who can be their punching bag… someone who loves them enough not to let them die.

It’s important to know what and who is important to you. Because, that will determine YOUR WILL TO LIVE.

“He will stand and shepherd his flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will LIVE securely, for then his greatness
Will reach to the ends of the earth,
And he will be their peace.” – Micah 5:4,5