Deuteronomy 9:1-6

Not Because of Israel’s Righteousness

 ¹ Hear, Israel: You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. ² The people are strong and tall—Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?” ³ But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.  ⁴ After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. ⁵ It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ⁶ Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. 

Read this passage for qt ytd and it helped me understand that God gives us gifts and talents, assign to us leadership, not because of our righteousness, not because we did something to earn it but He's doing so such that more may turn away from their sinful ways and be drawn back to Him. Just few days ago, there was a sub-d meet where timothy shared about renewal; particularly renewal three areas: renewal in identity, renewal in vision and renewal in leadership. On the point of renewal in leadership, he emphasised that leadership is not something to be earned. In my mind, i was actually wondering so how does leadership come about then? My question was answered answered as I read and understood this passage. Very clearly, God is saying to Israel, you have not earned this. It is not because of your righteousness that I am giving you this land to possess, but because of their wicked ways, God is showing them His power through Israel, by letting them dispossess nations stronger and greater than Israel themselves (v1). And God is doing so to fulfill His will and promise, for His Kingdom to come.
Thus, I understood that when God gives to certain possessions, gifts, talents or assign to us leadership roles, it is not because we did something to earn it, it is not because we are good/better than someone else, but only so that His will may be fulfilled through us, and His glory may shine through us. So let's put comparison and performing aside but focus on being someone God can use to advance His Kingdom =)

a little breakthrough coming from a hoping heart..

hihi, just want to share over here about a little breakthrough that i went through this tuesday during the soft condensed matter physics class. It's the first lecture for this module and there were only 4 students taking the class. The horrifying thing came when the lecturer said that since the class is small, let's really try to get to know each other and got us to introduce us one by one. haha but the lecturer's a nice guy though =) yups, and so the first person went, he asked him to say his name, related modules he had taken, year and what's his future plan. I was like OH NO... the lecturer is gonna make me say to the whole class that I want to go into counselling/social work after taking physics course??!! Though all the while I have been (partially) openly making plans about pursuing a career in my interest, there was still this part of me insecure about letting my professors know about such plans that i have. I have never been able to share to my professors about my future plans. So immediately my mind actually started to think of excuses and what to say to smoke through his question. And being in the ultra mini class, my turn soon came. I introduced my name, my year and waited for him to prompt the rest one by one. And when he actually reached the question what's my plan for the future, i just said i'm not intending to further study, hoping that he'll just move on! haha but he didn't, he continued to ask what i want to do, and still avoiding to answer, i said work, and he continued, what field/area? I was like OH MY GOSH, THIS IS IT... and i finally said that i'm interested in counselling.. and the whole class was commenting that it sounds like psychology field and there was this guy sitting behind me, whispering into my ear: "you're in the wrong course, it's still not too late to change.." felt very uneasy at that point of time, but at the same time i felt my trust in God in this area actually grew. I realise that it is important that I am not ashamed of this truth about myself. I am proud of where God has placed me and I am also proud of the talents and passions that God has given to me. Though they don't seem to link and connect nicely and is a very uncommon pair, I believe God as the God of miracles and God of the impossibles. I embrace this is who I am because I believe this how He created me to be.

Also, during one day in my qt, i read this verse 2 Cor. 3:12 "Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold." I was immediately captured by this verse because of the rhyme in hope and bold, and reading it once more, I realise how powerful this verse is. Because we have a hope, because we believe that something is going to happen, we have courage, we face up to the things/ challenges we have and we are not afraid nor in fear. I really think this is very cool! haha and in a sense my breakthrough is an experience of this verse, that i have hope in God for my future and that gave me courage to proclaim what i see and understand of my future to everyone. =)

Secure in Heart (Book Review)

 This book my shepherd made me read, due to the many struggles that I faced due to my insecurities. Reading this book has blessed me with good perspective and encouraged me to not stop looking to God and trusting in God. 

Secure in Heart

By Robin Weidner

Some thoughts on experience of reading the book:

A very practical book, giving guide on handling all kinds of insecurity faced by women. Emphasizing again and again that the insecurities we face are not the result of our inadequacy but how God made us to have an intimate relationship with Him. All our emotional needs can be met by God, however many influences from media, satan and many who are of the world, tempt us to believe that we have to strive to meet these needs instead of looking to God who is our creator and ultimate provider.

Providing many practical guides, this book effectively helps every women face her daily battles with the father of lies (satan) and helps her look to God and go through life’s many challenges victoriously, recognizing that every challenge comes with the opportunity for great growth.

Nothing more to say, but to encourage you to pick this book up, if you are a women this book tells you that you are not lonely in facing ur struggles but many other women face the same struggle as you and it is possible to be struggling in them victoriously, because God, our protector, our Father, our Creator, our Saviour never leaves nor forsakes us.

Secure in Heart is a book written to help every women deal with difficult situations in life as well as a guide to look to God to meet our emotional needs.

·         Every woman struggles with insecurity at one time or another. This book talks about many different hurting situations which we can still remain strong. Packed with true testimonies of how other women found comfort even in their most hurtful moments of losing a loved one, failed marriages and heartbrokenness of a betrayal.

·         Clear guide on using God’s Word to fight our daily battles

·         Encourage us to share our struggles and allow other women to be part of struggle by offering support, encouragement and an example of trusting in God.

1.       It is not wrong to feel and nothing to hide; God made us this way

·         Being open to God and people is crucial to overcome insecurity

·         God made women this way, embrace it, it is how we can connect intimately with God

·         Hiding leads you to loneliness; Satan deceives that No one understands

2.       Our worth is in God, not man

·         We are God’s daughters, His love for us never fails

·         His love is inexhaustible; His love is constant; His love is incapable of error; His love is non-retractable; His love is unceasing.

3.       All our questions of security can be answered by God

·         Am I Enough? God’s goodness Psalm 31:19, Psalm 86:17

·         Who can I count on? The Rock Psalm 40:2-3

·         Will I be rescued? The Anchor Psalm 18:18-19

·         Will I be Successful? The Guide Isaiah 30:20-21

·         Who will Protect Me? The Guard John 17:12,14-15

·         What Do Others Think of Me? The Advocate Galations 1:10, Job 16:19-20

·         Will I be Alone? The Comforter Psalm 119:75-77

Be a truly captivating women: Display your beauty through loyalty, commitment and faith to God.

Thank God for good results =D

Today is the day if receiving results. Once again, I was prepared for the worse. And this sem really is no joke. Because if i were to fail my module, it would mean that i have to stay back at least one sem if I were to continue with the plan of doing internship. and i really felt i could fail.
However, God delivered me with good results, actually the best sem resutls i have ever gotten. My sem GPA is 3.83, it's from 2.61 last sem lor! I'm really surprised that I could get B for my quantum mechanics 2. I know I worked very hard but i also know that there are many things that I do not really understand! haha It's for the first time ever that my GPA had ever increased. From sem to sem, it had always dropped! Really really thank God =)

Beginning this year, I foresee that it will be a period when i will be challenged in trusting God with my career in future, and I believe this is the first test, and He showered me with a great blessing. I think He must be telling me His favour is on me =) Thank God, and I will continue trusting in You =)

Serving in combined service..

ytd was a really exciting day. it was the first time i served in a combined service as an usher leader and the best thing is i didn't even know about it at all, i just went there and was asked to go into a meeting for the leaders. There were crop ups here and there but overall, everything had been good and i learned a great deal of things and i just think that this incident is so in line with all that God has been speaking to me about. To serve and give whatever little that I have and He will multiply.

firstly, the msg given to me was to meet at 12noon, so i told my people to meet at 12. turn out that 12 is the time for the leaders' meeting, so actually the other ushers need not reach yet. Thankfully they all forgave me for making them come down so early. Later on during the service itself, i just did what i could, not really knowing how to use the walkie talkie, i didn't even switch it on at first! alright in the end i still didn't use it at all! haha but i actually learned alot through the listening of the other conversations going on. It's really really different. In the normal services that we have, whatever we need to communicate, just walk to the person and speak, but at the combined service it is so big and the crowd is so large, we really need to watch out every corner.
Some key things i learned from this time of serving. I need to be alert and watch out for things going in every part of the auditorium. A leader leads well by giving clear instructions and clearing doubts that members have. I experienced that a leader is no one different from anyone else who really wants to serve God.

Looking back at this whole thing right after the service ended, i really felt that i had gone through this first time of leading usher in combined service in a 迷迷糊糊 manner. But after thinking more about it, i think God has a msg for me through this and that is that He has a great vision, He wants to complete something in this world that He has created and He has chosen to use me. Little as i am, small may be my contribution, God still wants to use me, and how wonderful is that for me to be chosen to do this work and be part of this work. I thank God and it really is my privilege =)