A time for everything

There's a time to play, and a time to get serious.
A time to stay simple, and a time to think critically.
At this defining age or transition from childhood to adulthood, I do believe it is the time for me to be serious and just think critically about 'big' issues in life.

The past week and the coming week was, going to be hectic and long. (Should the long hours spent in the parade rehearsals). Gotten MC this tuesday, thank God I am recovering from my flu/cough/sore throat.
The recent days had taught me many, 'Being contented in whatever state I am' is one key value I learned and hope to continue to cultivate upon.

Now that I got my FBI materials, I should be reading them (especially when I am like 6-7 weeks behind), yet time seems not to permit. Still, FBI lessons has become so much more comprehensible thanks to the materials. I am slowly  beginning  to enjoy the really practical lessons learnt from each lesson. The eagle, man, ox, lion characteristic of the gospel and Cherubim are just some things I for the 1st time heard and learnt. Yet, amidst all the content, there always the beauty, harmony that comes with the central message of the Bible. It's about how 'every word' can be used and 'lived' out. Oswald just told me he is taking next semester :)

Praying for rest and strength, to stay humble and focused on the cross as Good Friday draws near. Thank God for all the guys in my GCSS, it's humbling to be able to 'teach' them. (The preparation and the accountability).
Getting the guys to memorise verses every week also makes me accountable in a way, haha.

To remind myself: This week verse: Romans 12:6 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;"

Wait- what a beauty

It seems anger and resentment has been getting the better of me these days. And I don't wish to turn this blog into a place I vent my complaints.
Saw this poem in one of those inspirational posters in Popular, and this really captures the beauty of WAIT.

Wait
by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

'>.<'

This two sites never fail to keep me thinking.

http://www.vincentcheung.com/
http://churchwhisperer.com/2010/03/09/feeding-the-dog-in-one-another/

Finally a looooonnnnngggg weekend, with one block leave on Monday.

What a week!

This week could have been worse, I thank God for providing sufficiently.
The weather was kind this week, with rain
The pace started picking up on Tuesday night when our battalion when for a 2 days 2 nights exercise. That means sleeping outfield, eating combat ration, getting bites from mosquito.
Apparently things turn out so much better than expected. We got to sleep on different vehicles (for most of the time, in fact), had snacks and soft drinks with instant noodles as our meals. Mosquito bites were really rare, thanks to the mosquito coils and repellent sprays. Everything was good less the comfort of beds. Ha.
Friday marks the start of many parade rehearsals we are going in preparation for two major parades. Parade rehearsals is always under the merciless sun and just half a day of drills already left my skin slightly red and burnt.
Saturday was duty day. Thank God one of my friend swapped with me his sentry duty with my prowling duty. This means no prowling (walking around camp) which often can be real tiring after 4 shifts of it. Doing sentry is basically standing and even sitting down at the gate area.

Today was kinda tiring. I sort of taught the younger guys for the 1st time today. It definitely wasn't easy. No amount of preparation can remove the nervousness. Haha. Soccer in the afternoon was draining, especially when there wasn't adequate rest the night before.

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人在做，天在看 is one quote that somewhat talks about you reap what you sow. There somewhat this link to today's message which struck me on how God is the sole audience of your words and actions, not men.
The chorus of a song I heard also talks similarly.
"Is it gonna burn?
What you build in this life.
Is it gonna burn?
Will you lose it all?
When your work is tried.
Will you lose it all?"

I have been reading quite a bit of christian books recently (the book on the prayer of Jabez this week), yet I think nothing beats the truths found in the Bible. Have been trying to go back to reading some new testament books, praying for strength to do it despite the rather hectic weeks coming ahead.

Philippians 4:8 talks about mediating on things that edify, are loving....
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.


Too tired and clouded to continue with my chain of thoughts. Thats all for now.
Continue to seek God and ask just like Jabez.

SAM-yoo-el 's'

I searched online and apparently my name is pronounced: SAM-yoo-el
I learnt also in FBI that the 'el' has the meaning of  'the strong one' which is of God.
Really interesting. And I am not the only Samuel around.

My parents had lunch just now with 2 wonderful ladies from our church. My brother and I joined them towards the end and that short session with them had me desiring to pray for the sons of these two ladies.
These 2 ladies who obviously are close friends, (auntie lilian and another auntie) are the mothers of Samuel(s). And surprise as it is, both of their sons are called samuel, with the same surname lee. What's more, I heard they got the same A level grades this time round. (something like 4A1B, which is insane, haha)
I do remember them coming to church, well, only a couple of years back. Not sure when, how and why they left, but it's been awhile and I am only reminded of their presence by the faithful attendance of their mothers.

I 'gathered' some information about how they're doing in life right now. Both finished A's' and are really brilliant. Both are enlisted to army not long ago. samuel lee, son of auntie lilian has a heart condition (something about irregular heartbeat), and it sounds quite serious. The other samuel, shirley's brother is in tekong. I am guessing fitness might be an obstacle for him.

NOW to why I am sharing all this. Of course I hope you will 'share this burden' of praying for them just as I am burdened to pray for them this week. Pray for their 'heart' condition to be right, health for auntie lilian's son, strength for the other samuel. Pray that they will come back to church really soon. Pray for God to work by providing opportunities to really interact, share with them and for His mercy (something I learnt) to withhold that 'hard knock' on them.

Do your best!

Would like to share this little story (not exactly one though) I read on Jim George's book, 'a young man after God's own heart'. This story somewhat relates to me and brought me back to the simple task of just doing your best.

"A missionary from India told about an army officer who stopped by to have his shoes shined by a poor Indian boy on the street. The lad (boy) launched into his task with such enthusiasm and vigor that the man was utterly amazed. Instead of an ordinary, slipshod performance with an all-too-eagerly outstretched hand for a tip, the boy worked diligently until the leather sparkled with a brilliant luster.
The officer asked, 'Why are you taking so much time to polish my boots?'
'Well, sir,' was the reply, 'last week Jesus came into my heart and now I belong to Him. Since then, every time I shine someone's shoes, I keep thinking they're His, so I do the very best I can. I want Him to be pleased.'

As life gets routine and slothfulness and shortcuts seems ever so present, I am glad I am reminded to do my best as:
-We give God glory when we do our best.
-We represent the Lord Jesus, therefore we do our best.
-We serve the Lord and not men, so we do our best.
-We provide a living model of our risen Savior when we do our best.
-We fulfill God's purpose as we do our best.

To polish and shine a pair of boots ain't no easy task, I can assure you cause I don't like to do it and had never done it well.

I recently heard on my music player of the children song I had learnt a few years back. 'Faithful in little things, cause little things make big things. Great things are done by doing little things everyday. Small things make all things, tiny things make tall things, faithful in little things every day'

I liked the second stanza of this song,
'When I had a little job, I would always do it.
Never thinking it's too small but quickly hopping to it.
Though the job I'm told to do seems so small to me,
God can use a tiny seed and make a great big tree"

There's a video on youtube of the children of a local church presenting this song.
FBC Children's Choir - "Faithful In Little Things"

I figure it's all about being found faithful by doing your best in all the little daily activities in life. Sorting out the roles of fellowship and service as God leads.