The Word by Isaac Wimberley

I have been listening to this for awhile now and I love it when Isaac Wimberley came out to shared 'The Word' using his God given creative gifts. The word exemplifies the Christian Faith, as I listening to this it brought me to tears and stirred my longing for more of God. I actually stumbled on this when I was feeling down and deceided to listen to Kari Jobe's version of the Forever.

The Word" by Isaac Wimberley  (6:40)

"If there are words for Him then I don’t have them. 
You see, my brain has not yet reached the point where it could 
form a thought that could adequately describe the greatness of my God, 
and my lungs have not yet developed the ability to release a breath 
with enough agility to breathe out the greatness of his love. 

And my voice, you see, 
my voice, is so inhibited, restrained by human limits 
that it’s hard to even sing the praise of… 
You see… if there are words for Him then I don’t have them. 

My God, 
His grace is remarkable, mercies are enumerable, 
strength is impenetrable,
He is honorable, accountable, favorable, 
He is unsearchable yet knowable, indefinable yet approachable, indescribable yet personal, 
He is beyond comprehension, further than imagination, constant through generations, 
king of every nation. 

But if there are words for Him then I don’t have them. 
You see, my words are few, and to try to capture the one true God, 
using my vocabulary will never do, 
but I use words as an expression, 
an expression of worship to a savior, 
a savior who is both worthy and deserving of my praise, so I use words. 

My heart extols the Lord, blesses his name forever, 
He has won my heart captured my mind and has bound them both together, 
He has defeated me in my rebellion, 
conquered me in my sin, 
He has welcomed me into his presence, 
completely invited me in. 
He has made himself the object of my sight, 
flooding me with mercies in the morning, 
drowning me with grace in the night. 

But if there are words for Him 
then I don’t have them. 
But what I do have is good news, 
for my God knew that manmade words would never do, 
for words are just tools that we use to point to the truth, 
so He sent His son Jesus Christ as “The Word”, living proof, 

He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation, 
for by Him all things are created, giving nothingness formation, 
and by His words he sustains, in the power of His name, 
for He is before all things and over all things he reigns, holy is his name, 
so praise him for his life… 

The way he persevered in strife, 
the humble son of God becoming the perfect sacrifice, 
praise him for his death… 

that He willingly stood in our place, that he lovingly endured the grave, 
that he battled our enemy and on the third day rose in victory

He is everything that was promised, 
praise Him as your risen king,
lift your voice and sing for one day he will return for us 
and we will finally be united with our savior for eternity, eternity. 

So it’s not just words that I proclaim, 
for my words point to “The Word” and “The Word” has a name, 
hope has a name, 
joy has a name, 
peace has a name, 
love has a name 
and that name is Jesus Christ." 

Holding on Through the Storm

What do you do when the storms in life come? In life we face storms... they are unexpected and out of our control. Being a Christian does not mean that life is a bed of roses or storm free. In fact Jesus told his disciples that they will face trials (John 16:33). HOWEVER, the trials are there to strengthen us, give us the courage to overcome. You see every disappointment is an opportunity for a miracle. Does storms drives us away from God or closer to God? 

You may face storms in your life, it could be financial problems, marriage problems, no one understands you or even that little lie that says 'Give up, it will never work, nobody cares''. David in the bible returned home and found that his enemies destroyed and stole everything from him. His own men wanted to stone him. He had no one to turn to. Now imagine if you were in David's shoe what would you do? He could allow grief to conquer him and sink into depression, give up and quit. But no, he chose to encourage himself in the Lord and I believe it was in Psalm 34 that you see his response. One of the things I noticed in the Psalm is how David chose to praise God despite the circumstances. Praise is a weapon for warfare, Praise brings down what is high and make it small which causes us to overcome. Sometime it's hard to give Praise when life is hard but that is when it means the most. That's why the bible says to offer up a sacrifice of praise. It can be hard but in the end it's worth it, it's your energy, it's worth your time. Through praise, faith will arise and we will have the courage to overcome.

Terry Law in his book Power of Praise And worship wrote
God is not interested only in the praise that we give him in times when things are going well. He is after that praise that comes in the midst of great trial, great difficulty , grief, sickness, demonic oppression, temptation, relational difficulties, and financial problems. He still requires praise. When we give it to Him in time of difficulty it means all the more to Him. We are operating according to the principle of sacrifice.

1 Peter 4:12 (The Msg)Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. 

So don't give up! You see God is not interested in the right circumstances but the right response, when you have the right response you are able to overcome the storms in life just as the great men of God like Job, Paul and David did. 

We Will not Be Shaken

Can't wait for the new album by Bethel!! I had the chance to watch the whole session in iBethel.tv and it's awesome!

We will not be shaken is about encouraging people to 'not be shaken' in times of trouble, but trust in God. Brian Johnson was given a prophetic word to sing the phrase We will not be shaken and it spontaneously came out during a worship session in church.  We will not be shaken is now available in iTunes.


One of my favourite is No longer a Slave. Here is the lyrics for No Longer a Slave

Verse 1 

You unravel me, with a melody

You surround me with a song Of deliverance, from my enemies    

Till all my fears are  Gone

Chorus            

I’m no longer a slave to fear
I  am a  child of  God 

                                     

Verse 2

From my Mothers  womb                                 

You have chosen me

Love has called my name                            

I’ve been born again,
into your family            

Your blood flows  through my veins

Bridge

You split the sea, so I could walk right through it

All my fears were drowned in perfect love  

You rescued me, so I could stand and sing  

 I am child God

Word For Today

Kris Valotton shared this during his communion message and it really spoke to me. Hope this inpires you too!

The only way you can lose is to stop trying! Sin can't defeat you, the grave can't hold you, death can't have you and the devil can't stop you. You are incredibly loved, unreasonibility powerful and unimaginably protected. Your past is forgivinen, your present is blessed and future is predestined for glory. The Lord loves you, the angels serve you, the devil fears you and creation awakens for you. You can do the impossible, dream the unreasonable and ask for the unimaginable. You are royalty....never...never...never give up!

I have been on hiatus for so nearly 2 years now and I truly missed the time when I blogged and share my personal revelations from God. Keep this space posted, will be doing it more this year :)

Successful Student Ministry

LOVE LOVE THIS!! TOOK it from Perrynobles blog and as a student leader this has really helped me a lot!! Enjoy :)

#1 - Support and Vision from the Senior Pastor

If you are going to have a thriving student ministry you’re going to do so because you’re leading volunteers and students with the same heart and words that are emphasized in every major platform of your church. I cannot accentuate this point enough. The best-case scenario for a ministry that ignores this point is a ‘flash in the pan’ momentary success that ends up splitting a church up because there were 2 visions…aka Di-Vision. Student ministers that embrace their leadership’s heart for people will avoid frustrations and pave the way for a healthy church long after their season of leadership is over.

#2 - Teaching the Bible

Every human being on planet earth needs the Gospel. Humanity is universally broken and therefore everyone needs the good news of Jesus Christ. No matter the demographic, the Gospel is the universal language of life and hope and healing. Preach it. Say ‘no’ to other things/activities in order to say ‘yes’ to teaching the Bible. Otherwise we are not being the church, but rather some kind of new version of the YMCA or Boys & Girls Club or daycare. Every student in our ministry needs the life altering words of the Bible.

#3 - Evaluation and Follow Up

Once your vision is clarified and the wins are known, then evaluation and follow up is a next step. This is where momentum really starts to get built. Challenge. Change. Progress. Find a way to weekly celebrate the people that are doing a great job in your ministry area. Don’t just talkabout how they are doing a great job, but talk to them about how they are doing a great job. What you celebrate is what others will replicate, so work on the art of celebration. Likewise, you must point out the opportunities for improvement and you must talk to the individuals that are responsible for improving (this is a true test of love). Commit to this discipline weekly with your team leaders. It will change your culture.

#4 - Relationships with Students

Relationships are the glue of every ministry. They are what take a ministry from a one night of the week gathering to an everyday of the week lifestyle. Truths may be preached from the platform but they will be learned and applied inside of the context of relationships. We must value them. Cultivate and celebrate leaders who make this a priority. Remember what you celebrate is what they will replicate, so make a big deal about relationships in your ministry. Leader, you must model this, not simply say it.

#5 - Grit…Willingness to work hard!

WARNING: Here’s my soapbox. Historically, I think lots of student ministries don’t win because of good ol’ fashion laziness. If you’re the youth guy who plays video games all night, sleeps in every morning and are constantly the last one to staff meetings… WAKE UP! Heaven is real and so is Hell. Jesus taught the parable of talents and I think it’s a great parable for youth workers. God might bless you with something more if you invest what’s in your hand now and stop burying it in the back yard. Don’t whine because someone else has more. Realize that there is no one with a greater voice and opportunity to change the future of the church than you and the folks you are pouring your life into.    

The secret place

The secret place is where you hear the father heart of God speaking to you. The voice that is powerful yet tender. You will know what the father heart is thinking of you, over your situation. Come back to the secret place, blessed are those who have yet not seen and yet believed. 

The secret place is more important than those seen in the open. Every prayer, desperation, cried in secret, even in the barren times you felt nothing and not see the reaping, it moved the Father the most. Because it's Faith that moved the father heart of God. Come back to the secret place.. just you and Him

The secret place is where you hear the father heart of God speaking to you. The voice that is powerful yet tender. You will know what the father heart is thinking of you, over your situation. Come back to the secret place, blessed are those who have yet not seen and yet believed. 

The secret place is more important than those seen in the open. Every prayer, desperation, cried in secret, even in the barren times you felt nothing and not see the reaping, it moved the Father the most. Because it's Faith that moved the father heart of God. Come back to the secret place.. just you and Him

Merry Christmas 2013

It's that time of the year again, every year I wish I have enough to be able to give gifts to everyone. Unfortunately, for a recent graduate that does not have a full time job for a couple of months its not easy to do that. I've come to realised I'm going to give what I can and have, be it if it is just a small Christmas card. If people can't accept that, then they are basing their friendships on what they receive rather than being remembered and just being together. I dislike the feeling of not being remembered (who doesn't?) especially during times like Christmas. But what I want to do is to let y'all know you are remembered and from the bottom of my heart I wish EVERYONE including strangers, aliens, stalkers, friends that I have not spoken to for awhile a MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU!! yes YOU!!!

Splatters and Bouncers

“Our response to discouragement holds the key to our future.

I’ve noted two types of people in the world: splatters and bouncers. When splatters hit the bottom they land with a thud and stick like glue. No matter what you try to say and do, there’s no use trying to pick up a splatter who has fallen flat. Bouncers on the other hand, pull themselves together and rebound after hitting the bottom. Give them a little bit of encouragement, and they will ride it back up to the top.

Everyone who falters has a choice: are you going to get up or give up? The difference between the splatters and bouncers lies in their attitude. Splatters bemoan their fate and blame others for their problems. Bouncers learn from their failures and find supporters to help them recover.”

John Maxwell

ExMe

Check out this awesome site!

www.exme.info

First post of 2012

I know I have not been updating my blog but I have been through a lot last year. There was a lot of stretching and growing for me which is painful... I think for the next few weeks the posts that you will read will be just a room for my thoughts, I'll post my thoughts publicly and not sugar coat on anything so if you would to join me in my journey of faith you're welcome to :)

For years I have dreamed of becoming a leader in the church, to do great things for God and extend his Kingdom. Last year the pastors in my church approached and asked me if I was willing to take the next step and be a leader.

I took the offer but little did I know I actually had second thoughts of becoming a leader in the church. I had a lot of flaws and saw myself as incapable of leading other people. I do not love people wholeheartedly, I really dislike doing administration and planning for the church or life group, comparing myself to other leaders I feel that I am so far behind. I feel like dropping everything and just go back to being a regular member serving in the church.

I don't know, the feeling is weird because I did not have this kind of feeling before I became a leader, I was more passionate, had plannings for the group/church and dreaming with God but now it seems that I just don't want anything to do with this even though I know the calling God has for me. I think it's lack of confidence and all the negative thoughts that just get in my head.

Those are just my ramblings but if anyone who knows anything about being in leadership or has anything experience please feel free to share, your comments will be greatly appreciated :)

Happy New Year 2012

Happy New Year to Everyone!! So what is your plan and resolution for this year? I know one thing for sure is to update this blog more often !

Off to Singapore and Malaysia

For the next two weeks I'll be going to Singapore and Malaysia for a much needed rest, to get away from the busyness, computer, and work. Not only that it'll be a resting period but I want to use this opportunity to enlarge my capacity spiritually as well. I can't wait to eat the good food, do some shopping and visit City Harvest Church, I'be been waiting all my life to visit the church and now is my opportunity :)

One of the simple yet most powerful thing I have learnt to do in my life is to make a list. As I'm going for a holiday I made a list of what I needed to do and buy, as a student teacher I have learnt to write a list of what I need to do for my class and my students, even in ministry I need a list of things that will help me focus on what I need to do rather than focusing on things that will burn me out or things that are not important.

Write down your problems, the things you need to do, your vision, your dreams. Fab asked me to plan what I intend to do in the next 5 years and what to achieve, along that the strategies on how to get there. It's simple but yet you'll realized how much it will help you in your life and how powerful it is :)

'Write the vision, make it plain...' Habakkuk 2:2

apologies + giving significance

Gone are the days where I used to update my blog at least once a week, and post posts that will somehow encourage different ones who stumble/follow this blog. I have been caught up with my teaching that I hardly have anytime for this anymore, but today I just had this sudden thought to check on my blog and I remember why I started writing this again, and I remembered that I wrote

"My heart is that through this blog, lives can be touched, bring encouragement and revival to their hearts. "

I do apologize that I have not been doing that lately but I will try and update my blog more.

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I do however has learnt something for the past month on leadership which is to give significance.

Have you ever been to a conference and experienced something great? Have you ever been to a restaurant and the food tasted like heaven? If you answered yes, then there's got to be someone who has had a hand in making that happen.

Say 'thank you' - people love it when they are appreciated, they feel valued. It's simple but sometimes we don't do that often!

Text them, phone them and let them know! People will wonder if the things they did really was significant. Let them know that they count and they ARE significant.

Here's an excerpt from an email that I received from my high school teacher 2 years ago after telling her how much her teaching has helped me do well in my IELTS exam.

Hi Jason,

I can't tell you how much your email has meant to me. It is so rare in this job to get any sort of thank you, but your email helps me continue to believe that even though many students don't say it, they are thankful for the work we put in. Well done on your IELTS result. I still continue to examine IELTS and know how rare such a great result is.

Be a person that will give significance today! :)

Teaching

Gonna be my first placement for this semester tomorrow! I'm just praying for the kids to be good and I can teach well ... will be teaching math...algebra to be exact.. got to love algebra :)

Water Baptism

Loving this! Spontaneous Water Baptism, and really captures the importance of it, be blessed :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh4SFQP3RRY&feature=player_embedded

80 Followers and counting

So I have not update my blog in awhile because of my busy schedule with work and class, when I logged on to blogger to edit some posts I noticed I have 80 followers on my blog....wow! I have never imagined that it will reach out to people around the globe. It does not seem like a huge number compared to other celebrity bloggers out there but it is huge to me. It brought me a sense of achievement and joy that through this blog, it has touched lives and brought revival and hope to different ones.

I might not be a good communicator but I hope that through the revelations that gave me life, I hope that it too will bring you life =) Thank You and Bless ya!

Passion- Where is it

I remember people saying to me that they love my passion and zeal for God. How it inspires them and wants some of that passion for themselves. I'm always in passionate in my worship, prayer and everything I do for God.... However somewhere aorundthis year I have never been so down in my life, I have never experienced this in my 5 years as a christian. Like a marathon we give up once we are out of breath, or we feel that our legs can't move on anymore and we give up. I felt like giving up, felt like throwing in the towel and say 'okay I give up, I can't do this anymore'. The pressures of life, of people, money and the sense that everything is meaningless begins to set in. Where is my passion and purpose?

I believe that this statement I read from an article is true.. it says

People quit because they no longer believe in what they are doing.

I did not believe that I could make a difference

I did not believe that I could make an impact in an individual life

I did not believe that God loves me

I did not believe in my dreams

I did not believe in my destiny

I was drained and weary

...almost to the point where I decide to just drop everything and be a spectator or heck even change church for a season. (nothing against my church) just felt like running away

It took awhile, but thanks to God and my best friend and the most beautiful angel that God sent me (Baby Angela). She had to put up with all my complaints, pmsing and lack of passion, but with all her encouragement I managed to pull through. Seriously this girl is amazing.

God has been speaking to me about my mind, the thoughts that I think and along with the 'seasons' of my life. You see Jesus had to go through a season in his life where he had to be tested in the wilderness. Jesus was tested in His Identity and His Destiny (all these from Angela, see how amazing she is??) and resisting the temptation, the devil flees THEN the Holy Spirit came on him with Power. Are we utilising the Power of the HS in our life because the bible says the devil left Jesus until annother opportunity comes and when that time comes we have to overcome it with the power of the Holy Spirit.

We have seasons of spring time where there are dancing and singing with full of grace

or the summer season where we are tempted and needing to overcome like Jesus was in the wilderness

or the Autumn where we will begin to reap the fruits of what we sowed

or Winter season where we feel like losing our faith, and everything is just cold, even our hearts are cold.

No matter what season we are in. The key lies in the power of Praise, to praise God when you do not see it, to Praise God when you don't feel like it. why? because God is good and His love never fails even if we fail because when we are unfaithful, He is faithful. (2 Tim 2:13) He is our Hope, the anchor for our souls. That's just who He is. Know that God is out there holding YOU in His hands.

You can hope, you can rise, you can stand

He's still got the whole world in His hands-

33 Miles, Arms that Hold the Universe

What Faith can do

I have lost my dreams, lost hope, lost purpose.... but the lyrics to this song really spoke to my heart. Hope it blesses you too

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise