2015 – Do new things, 2016 – Do MORE new things!

Finally, the year 2015 has come to an end. Another new beginning is about to take place….

This year, I started to do something new.

1.    Pray More

It happened one day after the cell meeting. I realised that I have been talking too much and probably speaking too little edifying words. That was then I told myself: “Talk less.” And when I uttered those words to myself, I heard in my mind: “Talk less. Pray more!” An so the adventure of spending more time in prayer began each evening as I wrestle with the LORD over my life. Thank God, He heard me and granted my plea for my daughter’s scholarship. Better still, He speaks on unexpected occasions. On the Sunday service in about mid-August, an extra collection for mission fund was initiated; I was planning not to give to mission this year. Then as the bag was passing around and approaching me, I heard a voice: “Give, one hundred-fold”. It was a clear call for me to support the mission fund. So, in quick time as the bag came to me, I pulled out a $10 note and dropped into the bag. Later, as I was thinking about the incident, and wondering what this hundred-fold thingy meant, then it dawned on me that God will multiply my giving by returning it to me one hundred-fold what I have given for the mission fund. How will God make a $1000 come to me? I really have no idea, but that is His job if what I heard is true. Did I get the $1000? Yes. I did, in unexpected way. Praise the LORD! But why did HE give me this $1000?

I am still learning how to pray. More so, I am also learning how to listen to God’s voice. It is an exciting journey and I shall continue to pray and listen to God more in 2016.

2.    Be financially conscious

 It all started when Apostolic Pastor John Koe in several of this teaching and preaching mentioned that God told him to buy certain stocks in the stock market and the price rose after he bought them. That, to me is something totally new. I have never invested in stock, and also I don’t think God want to make us rich through the stock market.

I have $10,000 in a fixed deposit and honestly I don’t even know what the interest per annum is. Then sometime early this year, I saw a bank statement stating that for 6 months of deposit, my interest was $12.50. That really woke me up. I think I could do better than a 0.25% gain for a $10,000 in 6 months. And so, I read up on stock investing, started to open a stock account and put some money on blue-chips and more secure stocks. Initially, stock prices went up and I sold off these, and sure, I made some money for the first few months as the STI index reaches its peak in April 2015. Then, everything changed from May onwards and it was a downward movement. So I just hold my stocks and collect dividends, which is not bad either. The only loss is the paper-money loss in the stocks, which I believe in a long terms will recover. In late August 2015, the stock market dropped drastically. Prior to that day, I did something which seemed stupid at the time – I sold off some stocks even though it was below the buying prices. I didn’t know why I did that but I just felt terrible seeing the prices kept dropping every day. On that fateful day, 25 August when the STI index plunged, I quickly bought back many of all those stocks that I sold and some new ones. As quickly as it dropped, it then went up also and I made good gains. Things moved so fast that I wasn’t even sure what I did right. As the month of August came to an end, I found that I made a gain of $1001. The amount of money gained took familiar and I recalled the words – “Give, 100-fold”. I don’t think I will do what I have done in the stock market again as I really don’t know what I have done during that week when the stock prices fell. I am still holding to all the invested stocks mainly for dividend now. It is just too risky to sell at a loss and hoping to buy back at a lower price. But hey, that is a good method to make gains and I still used it sparingly when I am certain the prices of stocks will continue to drop and will recover in a short while later, which is usually true.

My sole purpose of wanting to collect dividend on the stock market is to prepare for retirement in a few years. Then, I can still use the dividends to give to charity organizations that I am currently supporting. With this investment and the dividends that I now collected, I started to give to Scripture Union, Singapore this year. I am hoping that this investment will grow and I can give to more organizations next year, in addition to those that I am supporting monthly for many years now – GMB, SA, NKF, St Luke Hospice and SBC.

3.    Mission Trip

This year, I went for my first ever mission trip to Sarangani, Philippians. I learnt many things there and that has changed my life now. I have written this in my previous post. In 2016, I will be more conscious and make an effort to go for mission trips and see how the LORD will lead. And the special thing about this trip is … the mission trip fee is all sponsored by God! The $1000 and a subsequent money gain were just enough for the mission trip for myself and my daughter who also went for the mission trip!! I didn’t need to fork out any money for the trip.  “When GOD gives a VISION, HE also gives the PROVISION!” Amen!

Isa 42:9 (NRSV)

See, the former things have come to pass, 
and new things I now declare; 

before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

For the new year 2016,  do more new things …

So, I will be focusing on 5Fs – Faith; Fitness; Family; Friends; Finance

Faith – Doing more reading on the Bible and writing about devotions as reflection-thoughts. I will post some of these reflections in this blog. I will make an effort to post at least once a month of my Biblical reflections. Definitely, I will pray more … and listen more.

Fitness – I must be more discipline to train for the Marathon. For the past few years, I did not do well for the Marathon. This year, I struggle to complete the marathon as my training was badly affected by the haze in September to early November. In 2016, I will work on strength, speed and cover more distance in my run. So, God helps me! (new target is faster than 5hr 7min)

Family – I thank God for my wife and the 3 girls. They are my inspirations and drive in everything I do. One of my daughter will be going to Australia and likely our next holiday trip will be there to. Hopefully, one day I will run the Marathon there also. (Wow, something new?)

Friends – I have been to Riverlife Church for 5 years now. In the coming years, I must get to know more people. So I will be looking out for new cell groups and see if I can grow in friendship.

Finance – I need to learn more and grow more in my investment. Then, I need to give more to charity and find a new organization to support in 2016. Presently I am thinking about Our Daily Bread (ODB) and TTC.

And so, have a Blessed New Year, 2016!!

Agape!

Isa 48:6 (NRSV)

You have heard; now see all this; 
and will you not declare it?

From this time forward I make you hear new things,

hidden things that you have not known.