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…