Pray & see God @work

I got a SMS this morning from my daughter: “Pray for me. J”

Today is supposed to be a school break but she needs to be at school

for training. It’s going to be a long day for her at school. All the

dance routine and training for the coming school performance.

“OK. Dear God, give Euodia the strength and joy for her CCA and all that she will be doing today. Bless her day and guide her in what she is doing. Thank you Lord. Amen! J”

As I sent the SMS to her, my mind was suddenly filled with Phi 4:6,7:

“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Revised Standard Version)”

Many years ago, this was one of the first few verses that I, as a young Christian was taught to memorize and apply. How nice to know that my daughter is also learning to call upon the Almighty God.

On further thought, Phi 4:6 is also today meditation verse from the 40DITW (40 days in the Word). We are supposed to pronounce each word and ponder over it. What strikes me this morning from this verse was the word “in everything”. How often do we come to God in prayer only at the last resort, as in: “when all else fail, pray”. How often we like to rely on our own strength to get things done and when we do a good job, rejoice in our own strength. Isn’t it that this is the way of the world and not of Kingdom’s way? The Kingdom’s way is to “rejoice always, pray constantly, gives thanks in all circumstances …” and “In all your ways, acknowledge Him …”

OK. So it is that I went through the day  praying short prayers in many situations. There was a difficult technical job to be done. After some struggle and much prayer, I think I found a method to it. There was a meeting with a government body that my boss supposed to host. And he fall sick today! So I am to take over. And he vaguely explained to me what he wanted to discuss. Arh, I am caught in a tight situation. Pray, pray and just like the spirit leads. Thankfully, it turned out well.

Prayers do make a difference, and I see the invisible (hands of God at work) today!

Agape

  

Doing Mission in my own country?

The phone rang on Thursday night.

The cell leader asked, “Did you go through the Bible discussion question? Can you skip question number 2 during the Bible study discussion tomorrow?”

Last Friday was my duty to lead in Cell group Bible discussion. The topic was on Mission and reaching to the nations. Question number 2 deals with our attitude and behavior towards foreigners in our country, Singapore. This is a touchy topic in Singapore where 45% of the people in this country are foreigners.

I paused, and out of respect, say, “OK. We can do that.”

Perhaps, she knows the group better and how they feel about foreigners. But, isn’t it a waste of opportunity for a time of Christian education to teach our flock how to love the “unlovable”, if they find it hard to accept so many foreigner in Singapore now?

While many Singaporeans are crying foul on the country being crowded out by many nations in fluxing into this tiny country, perhaps … perhaps God is actually bring them to make mission easier for us? We now don’t need to go overseas to do mission, we can do it right at our work places, hawker centers, tuition centers, playground and even MRT.

OK, I am not pro-government or pro-foreigners. Although, I still prefer to keep the population small, but out of the inconvenient, maybe we can make use of the situation and learn to be more mission-mindedness, more caring and sharing, and be more thoughtful and culturally sensitive.

Hmmm… that is when I moved the hold Bible study discussion on the concept of cultivating mission-minedness. I even printed out my sermon notes and distributed to all the participants, which included my thoughts and reflections.

So, now, each time I make contact with a Myanmar, an Indian, a Chinese, a Pinoy, a Malaysian, it should be an opportunity to sow seeds for the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 28:19

“Go, therefore and make disciples of all NATIONS…”

Agape