Being content.

Hi all! I saw the photos of D2 (and other Hope members) help in the cleaning of Brisbane. Great job guys and praise God! It's really encouraging ^^

I'm now still in the Philippines and it's now my turn to post and something on our blog. So here goes ^^

Ever since the start of my trip God has been speaking to me about contentment.

On the day of my departure to the Philippines, my parents drove me to the airport. We got talking about me having the possibility of being boosted to business class except for economy. And, it really got my hopes up - really high. What followed after that was instead of lining up and checking in to economy class - I was pulled aside to check in with the business class and they even got me to sign tags for my bag with a shiny silver 'B' - for business class. But I ended up in economy class in the end.

It's day 5 now of my trip to the Philippines, and God has just been teaching about contentment all this while. As I read His Word, talked to Him and through different experiences I had here - it was all about being satisfied with what God has done already.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

This kind of contentment is contentment based on the fact that Jesus died for us, saved us and reconciled us to the Father and that we have a hope for Heaven. All other things are secondary to these. When our eyes are focused on this first and foremost - it becomes true to us that we can rejoice about these in any circumstance.

'Thank You Lord for forgiving my sins'

'Praise God for saving me'

'Praise the Lord for eternal life'

As I was boarding my plane to the Philippines, I looked at my ticket trying to figure out if I was in business class or economy. I was a bit panicked 'coz the staff there announced that they would board business class passengers first. I eventually saw the 'E' on my ticket.

On the plane I thought things over a bit more and I realised that - I got so caught up with expecting to be in business class I forgot that I was only paying tax for my ticket back*. I realised even more how blessed I was when I googled a few minutes ago how much a return ticket is from Brisbane to Philippines. I really do thank You Lord ^^

My encouragement to all those reading this, let's always fix our eyes on Jesus. Let's never loose sight of what He's already has done for us - that's one thing we can always be happy about.

Philippians 4:11-12, "Not that I am speaking for being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation, I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."

*Mom works with an airlines so family gets discount ^^

Brisbane's flooded!

As you all know Brisbane City and surrounding areas are flooded.

but

Praise God that the water didn't rise today to what was expected.

so

Let's continue to pray that God will continue to keep everyone in Brisbane (and QLD) safe and that for whatever purpose He's allowed this to happen, people would respond to Him.

Happy New Year Friends!! Even as we’ve already entered into 2011, I’m sure that at every path we have turned we have people asking our new year’s goals and resolutions.

Maybe you are thinking about your 2010 goals and dreams. You feel as if the reason you’re not ready to face 2011 is because your 2010 is not yet completed. Today I was reading in a devotional, “The birth of the vision is often followed by its death and then its resurrection.” How true is that, I have seen it often and even experienced it personally myself. I believe that this is not just limited to vision alone, but also with our hopes, dreams, promises and desires. Perhaps in 2010 there has been a promise or a dream that is yet unfulfilled and you are losing hope. Hope that God will ever fulfill it.

Yet I will exhort and encourage you, in John 12:24 “..unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” How true are the words of God, how much wisdom there is in it. Many a time, God will use the situation to bring about internal change in us. It is because it is something we treasure so much that God can use it most effectively to mold us. Continue to have hope and continue to ask the Lord to open your eyes to things He wants to teach you.

For those who are excited and dreaming of the brand new year ahead, I have one word for you and that is “GLORY.” This is personally what the Lord has been speaking to me and challenging me about. For myself everywhere I turn whether be it in the Sunday service preaching, to praise and worship, to personal quiet times. The word GLORY keeps appearing.

According to the oxford dictionary!! (My best friend) there are a few different meanings, noun (1) high reward or honor won by notable achievement, (2) magnificence, (3) praise, worship offered to God, (4) ring or halo around head of Christ and saint, verb (5) take great pride or pleasure in. I remember one particular bible verse that I read that really brought out the meaning for me and hit home. In John 13:31-32 “..Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.” When I read that verse it just speaks bounds about the glory of God, and Jesus came to glorify God and that in laying His life down God is glorified and when God is glorified Jesus is glorified too! Amen!!

I sincerely hope for those excited and those even apprehensive about the coming year that you’ll choose to bring glory, to glorify Him in every thought, action, deed and attitude. As we choose this day to serve Him whole heartedly and surrender everything especially areas where we still fear and doubt, we will be satisfied and His joy will begin to be poured out in our lives.

As John Piper always says: ‘God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him!’ and I couldn’t agree more…

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all Daniel 2!

Wherever you may be in the world.

"For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:5)

Updates!

It's been a while...

What has Daniel 2 been up to since the Legacy Conference?

Well for one thing, many people have gone back to their home countries for holidays.
We sure do miss them T__T

But nonetheless we've been having great times here too - in wet wet Brissie ^^

D2 Girls bonding *sparkly*

Daniel 2 water baptism. Congratulations brothers Ming and Philip Yun!

Giant pizza dinner! Yum~

Stanley's Birthday surprise!

Day trip to Underwater World and Mooloolaba Beach.

Christmas 4 Kids! Wet but wonderful ^__^

Yan's Graduation. Congratulations!

Daniels' Christmas Party. Love Came Down. So red!

This year has been great! Watch out for more!

Looking Forward

Dearest Daniel 2,

Hope all of you had a great Christmas day (and boxing day for Brisbane people). I pray that you are still following through our bible reading plan, as D2 bulletin girl has been including the weekly reading plan in D2 bulletin. Last week and coming weeks, we are reading the book of Thessalonians. I would like to share a bit about what I have learned from 1 Thessalonians so far.

One of my favorite characters in the bible, Paul; he wrote this letter to the Thessalonians. Like the other books we read before (letters written by Paul to the locals), Paul was responding to the local circumstances with advices, corrections and instructions in which Thessalonians needed. I particularly like how Paul wrote this letter with personal illustrations that we all can relate to. For example in 1 Thessalonians 2:7 “Instead, we were like young children[a] among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,” and in verse 11 “11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,”. We can see Paul’s heart is like spiritual mummy and daddy of the people in Thessalonica.

God touched my heart as I was reading chapter 2 verses 4. It says “On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.” Paul is very clear with what God has entrusted to him, the gospel. Paul wanted to urge everyone to be clear that the message was true, and that his motives were pure. And a lot of the time, because human are weak, we fall into pleasing man instead of pleasing God, especially when we are involved in many ministries. I believe that it all goes back to the foundation of drawing close to God daily; asking God “10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10). And I believe it’s for all of us, no matter in what capacity or level of your ministry.

Last night we had a great time of cooperate prayer meeting, and Pastor Wilson shared about “Fresh” anointing, spirit of God, ideas and presence of God. He shared from the Isaiah 41:18-19.

18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights,

and springs within the valleys.

I will turn the desert into pools of water,

and the parched ground into springs.

19 I will put in the desert

the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.

I will set junipers in the wasteland,

the fir and the cypress together,

We prayed that in coming year, God will pour out more of His “fresh” sprit and presence into our lives. Many ones have responded to the prayer last night, seeking God, surrendering the past, asking God for healing, and to allow God to work in the inner hearts. As I was seeking God today, asking Him to prepare my heart to plan for coming year, God brought me to the illustrations of old and new wine skin in the bible. You can find them in Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37.

Mark 2:22
22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Yes, we need to first willing to surrender all of our past hurt, disappointment and things that we are holding to tightly which have stopped us to move forward; before we can contain all the new things from the Lord. What are your old wineskins? Are you looking forward for God to pour out new wine in your life in year 2011? Seek the Lord and ask Him!

Matthew 7:11
11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

God bless
KC

Alive Everyday

Blogging blogging blogging ...

At first i found myself not a big fan of blogging coz its a time consuming hobby and its really not a piece of cake thingy. Okay, i admit i'm a lazyyyy bum! Well, i guess it's because we are human and sometimes we just don't like to ponder back or reflect on what we've done throughout the day ... (i don't think you would like to spend another 20 minutes ontop of your quiet time to abuse your brain until your brain juice starts oozing out *yikes) haha... okay, jokes aside! But starting this year, i've started to like blogging and even reading others' blog. This actually helps me to remember things that God has done/given/blessed/spoken to me througout the day and maybe slowly capture His amazing plans for me. Hallelujah, and i sometimes share it with my shepherd too.

So what i would like to share with you today is from the QT material, the book of Colossians. Verse 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. This verse reminds me of the scripture in Heb 11:40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. God is always before us and before all things, because He knows the plans He has for us which is to prosper us and not to harm us. Recently God speaks 'hope' to me alot espcially for my current situation of looking for my 48days placement. God reminded of His grace and blessings He had for me before an He assured me that as i put my hope in Him and work with Him the plans He has for me will hold together. God even spoke to me that during the time of storm, i need to learn to soar on eagle wings. So, what does it exactly mean by 'soar on eagle wings' ?An eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks and when the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It taught me the lesson of not giving up because we cannot fathom what is God trying to do but to stay faitful in what He is doing and be prepared what in He going to do. At the same time, i need to ride on that storm and Praise Him for what He has done until He brings me through and receive the victory. That's why, this period is a golden moment that God can use His words to smooth out my rough edges like Ps. Wilson shared last Sunday. I need to continuosly grasp and capture His breath (scripture) so that i feel alive everyday.

A person who wants to hear God's voice must be a student of the Word
by Joyce Meyer.

Love

winnie