The Five Wise Virgins

  "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed  [ d ] intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months." (James 5:17) In my devotional time with the Lord this morning, I felt a deep burning desire in my spirit to see ALL CHRISTIANS, walking in POWER. If you are a Christian and don't have this longing in your heart, I really encourage you to pray and ask God for it. What it means to be a Christian for me is to fully reflect CHRIST. His nature and character, and POWER. What 'kind' of power am I talking about here? Let's take a look at Acts 1:18. " But you will receive power  and  ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses  [to tell people about Me]  both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:18) It is the POWER of the Holy Spirit. POWER tha

John 3:22-30 (the Passion Translation) So they went to John and asked him, "Teacher, are you aware that the One you told us about at the crossing place-he's now baptizing everyone with larger crowds than yours. People are flocking to him! What do you think about that?" (verse 26) John answered them, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless God bestows it." (verse 27) What a remarkable answer that John gave to his disciples. From it I can somehow see that John was a type of God's servant who truly understood the calling of God upon his life. He was secure in the gifting and ministry that God entrusted him with. Each one of us I believe are involved in a certain area of ministry. It could be inside the church, in the marketplace, or even in the area of family. One of the dangerous things for us who are involved in a ministry is when we start to compare ourselves, or our ministry's success/failure with other people's. To learn from other

"Am I now  [ a ] trying to win the favor  and  approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." - Galatians 1:10 (AMP) A bond-servant of Christ. I have heard these words been spoken into my heart several years ago. And now Holy Spirit reminded me again of these words.  " Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant." - Galatians 1:10 (NLT) I am Chris's servant therefore pleasing people is not my goal. It is obvious that I am here to win the approval of God, and not of people. (paraphrased by me) Then here comes the question. How to be pleasing and win the approval of God? I have been thinking for a while and then I got to the point where I finally realized that the answer is undeniably (simple) :  JESUS. Jesus walked the earth as the "beloved Son in Whom Go

"Instead of shame and dishonor,  you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,  and everlasting joy will be yours." - Isaiah 61:7 (NLT) Few days ago before I went to sleep, God spoke to me that He only has "good plans" for me. It was really encouraging to hear God said that personally to me again, given the fact that I was in some challenging situation that past weeks. And just now when I was in shower, God opened my eyes to the "good plans" that He has for me specifically on the one that He has for my future marriage. Even though my parents are divorced, God promised me that He is going to use that, working and turning such situation for my good. Instead of shame and dishonor that I had been carrying or experiencing due to my parents situation, I WILL ENJOY A DOUBLE SHARE OF JOY. How awesome is that!!! I will enjoy a double share of joy in my life and in my future marriage! Hallelujah, praise the L

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:2-4) It came to me just like a click. I was just finished having cell group, then I came into my room. Suddenly, I had this desire to eat ice cream, since I just bought a new flavor ice cream with a very good price, which is half of its normal price :D  but then there was this voice in my heart telling me... "No, you don't need to eat that ice cream right now, you have the self-control."  And just like that, the thought of having an ice cream suddenly did not interest me anymore.  You know the thing is, since a couple of days ago, I started to practicing what I called "beholding Jesus". I learned from the Scripture t

Lead me back to the truth Coz now there's nothing i can remember but the feeling Clear me all the noise That keep me distracted from hearing Oh i just wanna hear your voice The only thing that calms me down Oh take me back to the moment The very last time when I saw you at the dawn Sitting here without knowing Will i ever see your face again Standing here with a longing  For you to come and take me forever Time flies memories remain Meeting you was a gain Because this girl was in pain And you gave her hope to dream again E.R.S Victoria, 5th October 2015

"All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s  within  us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy." - Romans 8:22-25, The Message This passage is filled with a large amount of HOPE. The Holy Spirit made me realize that I am carrying God's seed of promise inside of my 'spiritual womb', that is why I am feeling the 'birth pangs' . Sometimes I feel stuck, and get tired of waiting the fulfillment of God's promise in my life. I couldn't see it coming because I was focusing on th

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8 I have read or heard this verse for like hundred times, but somehow I feel like there's something missing, that is until now I haven't fully 'experienced' the POWER that this verse is talking about. Do I have the power in me? Has the Holy Spirit come upon me? How does it look like to have the power? What does it mean to be a witness to Jesus in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth?  What's the meaning of WITNESS? a witness is a person who sees an event take place. How then I become a witness? I recall of an event that happened in my life few years ago. I had a broken relationship with my father. I had this strong hatred in my heart towards him. I refused to meet or even talk with him. I didn't want to get close or even see his face

"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." (Colossians 4:6, NASB) I do want my speech always be with grace. Recently, I have been struggling with expressing my thoughts. The thing is I was just moved to Melbourne to pursue higher education in human rights law, and I found myself in a class filled with English-speaking people. Not just 'people', but law-minded people. And that's the thing. I encountered difficulties in catching up and actively engaging with certain discussion at my previous classes. And I realized it was mostly because I couldn't fully understand what the lecturer and my other classmates were saying. As much as I wanted to say something, I wasn't confident enough because I was afraid of saying something out of my failure to hear or understand the previous statements made by my lecturer or my classmates. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! (‭Psalm‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ AMP) Truly, there is nothing I want more than to be in His Presence. Listening to His Voice, exchanging words and thoughts with Him.  My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? (‭Psalm‬ ‭42‬:‭2‬ AMP) I miss you Lord. I want You more than anything else. Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence? (‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭7‬ AMP) My heart is exploding. My mind is racing.  Then this question arised in me. "Who am I Lord? and what am I to You?" O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. (‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭1‬ AMP) I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. (‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭1

I have read and heard the above words several times, in articles or television. And recently it echoed in my heart when God reminded me of what I am going to write down here. There are times in ministry when things just don't happen as plan and it's seem so hard to count on anybody. You are there alone. And there is nothing you can do about it. One thing God has taught me is to trust Him fully. And another thing, I've learned this. It is called 'back to default position'. Many times I have tried to figure out solution after solution just to end up with none. The solution is not out there to find. The solution is already in me. So I've learned. "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." (Matthew 23:11) This is not just the solution that I have to offer myself everyday. This is the default position I must be wherever, whenever and with whomever I deal with. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, be