Who's there?

Horton Hears A Who was a fantastic show.
You'll learn:

1. Every person is important, no matter how small.
2. A sense of purpose takes you beyond your clumsy, mortal capacity. There are things bigger than yourself worth fightin for.
3. Think light. Light as a feather. Some hanging bridges aren't as flimsy as they look.
4. There is no such thing as 99% faithfulness.
5. Pay attention and listen real good to notice the quiet desperation of people around you. You may hear voices you didn't know you could. (This is NOT absolute truth: "When you can't see it, hear it, or feel it, it doesn't exist.")
   
6. Our animosity and prejudice can mean others' peril, because we're so busy fighting each other instead of recognizing we're on the same side of humanity.
7. Don't love harmony more than truth - it's called denial with a capital D-ception.
8. Those who don't seem to amount to much can prove you wrong in the moment of crises. Character is revealed in difficult times.
9. Our need to be 'right' can be so wrong.
10. The meanest person deserves forgiveness. He who is forgiven much, loves much.
11. There is a very real enemy threatening the lives of millions. A speck is not just a speck. There's life in the tiniest growth in the womb - not allowing it to live is called abortion.
12. God creates providential moments. You may be the right elephant in the right place at the right time - and find a needle in a haystack, or a microscopic speck in a sea of clovers. You only mustn't lose hope.
    

A Call to Continue to Pray for Malaysia
23 March - 11 May
50 days of post-election prayer (from Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost Sunday) to proclaim God's power and renewed grace for the healing of our land

You-Who!!
Guys, the election may be over, but prayer ought not be. The call continues, and God is sounding the trumpet across all states through those who are faithful, who will stay alert to keep watch like the 10 virgins awaiting their Bridegroom. Don't be content to stay at the foot of the mountain, but keep the lamp of intercession over our city and nation ablaze by seeking His face continually, day and night, so the oil won't run out. Don't stay at your camp, but move towards the tent of meeting with the Lord, and ask that His glory be revealed as Moses asked. May He cause all His goodness to come by.

In these 50 days, let's ask Him to reveal heavenly purposes and strategies to every prayer group and gathering. As you commit yourself to pray, don't let anything deter you from persevering in prayer, either in your own prayer group or in your own prayer closet. Start one if you have to, meet with likeminded brothers and sharpen each other. Hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and journal as you discern, and keep on pressing on...

I've chosen to be committed to these 50 days. God, sustain me as I position myself for your outpouring of grace. Recognize and respond to this call for prayer rising in this generation, a movement of revival that is enlisting holy & passionate warriors into His Joel 2 army. The threat of the enemy is very real but He is real-er! On May 11 (Global Day of Prayer), why not call your prayer group together and ask for an outpouring of God's Spirit on our land?
Knock, knock!
Who's there?
Ima.
Ima who?
Ima be prayin' 'til GDOP :)

1 Cor 2:9 ~ But it is written, 'Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.'

You Know I Do

"...We only want to hear the voice of God and not human opinions, for we know that when the Lord reveals his will to us and we obey, our mission will be a success regardless of the results. Success is obeying God. Failure is when we don't obey God..." ~ Back to Jerusalem by Paul Hattaway

And that is absolutely true.

In so many instances, we choose to trust the opinions of men. Often to our own detriment. Because men no matter, how well their intentions, are incapable of being all-knowing and all-able. Men cannot say to you, all things will work for your good. Divine plans and purposes are not in men's hands. But God -- He can. He says He will cause all things to work together for your good, and not only does He mean it, He can actually fulfill that promise. Give you that assurance so you can stop fearing failure. Men cannot be impartial as much as they wish to be. I often try to be impartial, and sometimes it feels as if I am. But even in the most objective of my opinions, I cannot make all things work together for good.

When God says to do something, I'm learning to walk in complete obedience. Not partial. And this is so overwhelming. Just think of all those times you felt you could ignore the voice of God. And those times you have ignored it. Yesterday I spent some hours just meditating on this. That I wanna be totally completely in tune with what God tells me about. At the drop of His hat, in a way. Just knowing that nothing else matters at all... don't you understand, all God really wants is your heart in love with Him? Soaked in His love. Trusting, secure. Unfaltering obedience. I shudder at the thought of forgetting His voice. That I have a Father who promises rest when I just trust enough to do what He asks of me.

The Father is looking for those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Worship is anything you do that pleases God's heart. Even 'doing' as in, just sitting there thinking of Him. Not activity as we know it. But just being aware of His heart all the time, and ever so often 'checking in' to whisper, "God, what's on Your mind now?" To just worship, just reveling in being alive in His hands. His presence living in you.

I was reminded last night, I don't care what happens in the future, to my life, whatever that is taken away from me, whatever that remains, whatever falls apart -- but only to know Christ: His person, His power, His pain. Like Paul, "...whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ...everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him,...I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death..."

nothing else matters as much.

He loves me, I love Him. That's success, my life wins, 'cause my life is in Him and I'm a-keep on moving forward... (Life is Beautiful - Jaeson Ma)

"Do you love me more than these?"
Yes, Lord. You know I do.

Operation Smile

You seldom find movies like this. Got both my parents to have TV dinner with me when I saw this on Astro last night. It was a refreshing change.

Here's how the story goes:
Katie, a teenage girl from Malibu, California, finds herself in the throes of growing up, facing her parents, her boyfriends, her sexuality and a privileged life. Half a world away in rural China, Lin, who shares the birthday with Katie, faces a much different reality. Because of facial deformity, she lives a life of fear and shame. Her father, Daniel, has devoted his life to her, with hopes and dreams that her circumstances will change one day.

The opportunity comes with the discovery of the worldwide "Doctor's Gift" program. Katie signs up for a trip to China. Once there, she is deeply touched by the work, which prompts her to take off on her own to find Lin. A "smile" is brought to Lin's face, Katie finds her soul and their extraordinary connection becomes a life-changing experience for both girls.

This movie is based on the work of the charity organization Operation Smile - Changing lives one smile at a time.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I was touched by Katie's honest reluctance to face reality. When she arrived for her volunteer mission in Shanghai, she came face-to-face with some of the kids she had to work with. Mostly she had only seen them in their heart-wrenching state on photographs back home in CA. "I can't do this," she whispered in sobs. "It's different when you have to see them up-front like this."
And then you watch how she took a bold step to find Lin, and overcame her heart's fear.

It struck me, because I know how true that is: to fear feeling so much for people. Fear that the love they need, you cannot give. Fear to be so close to those who need help, when you're so finite and weak yourself. When you touch, smell, see, feel people who need to know unconditional love and the power of God, people so different, treated so inhumanely yet human like us, but not knowing Him...so close to God's heart...man, it's hard. Thought of Matthew 28:19-20, God's Operation GO!

This movie was a good reminder not to be afraid to reach out. Wherever you wanna go for a mission. We GO still.
Changing lives one soul at a time.

Word.

TRACK

Never realized there was so much carried within this word.

track
Pronunciation: \'trak\
Function: noun
1 a: detectable evidence; b: a path made by or as if by repeated footfalls; c: a course laid out especially for racing; d: the parallel rails of a railroad; e (1): one of a series of parallel or concentric paths along which material (as music or information) is recorded, (2): a group of grooves . . . 3 a: the course along which something moves or progresses; b: a way of life, conduct, or action . . . 6: track-and-field sports
(from Mirriam-Webster dictionary)

went for a jog on the beach at sunset on wednesday, asked dad along so he could take some sunset shots (i had a hunch sunset would be great that day). turned out to be true...it was beautiful.

brought lil' toby along too, my samsung mp3 player from low yat plaza. you gotta know i hadn't jogged for awhile now, so i didn't expect much. did a whole lotta stretches as i just stared into the horizon, then i started off toward my left. jogged on and on and on, while toby kept playing. didn't feel too breathless, i was surprised i reached where my usual end-marker was, and i could still turn around and jog some more. song after song toby set the mood, made my mind a lot more focused, and kept me going even after i felt i had 'done my run'. then it occured to me the word 'track'. like, 1. jogging track, and 2. music track.

two thoughts popped into my mind:

1. JOGGING TRACK
i love running. not just the sunset, the endorphins, the sand, the smell of the sea. it can transport me away. i step onto the beach and i'd just feel closer to God than i would've felt rest of the day. and almost everytime i'd reflect on my heart's condition and think about how short-sighted i had become or how i might have lost sight of the eternal scheme of things. reminds me how much physical training relates to all of LIFE: the importance of discipline, focus, sacrifice, diet, marathon (vs sprint) living, passion. keeps me on track. God expands in my heart.

2. MUSIC TRACK
ever been amazed at the power of music? i realized that's what music does. whenever you're sad, some song your friend reminds you of can cheer you up. when you're angry, or bored, or frustrated or just apathetic, just the right song puts you back on 'pitch'. and when you're happy, hoo! "you can play that again!" it keeps you going in life. you can feel disheartened, wanting to give up or plain sick of life, but when you choose to worship God with your heartsong, it lifts your spirit and heals you inside and there's strength to move on. He'd come and speak to you. and you can keep on running the race long after you thought you had no more energy to run on.

isn't that like life? each of you have a destiny, and sometimes you reach a point you don't feel like you can go on.
"no, i just can't!"
"it's too hard."
"maybe i'm not cut out for this."
"maybe my dreams are just that: dreams."

you gotta keep on to the track God has for you. puff. puff.
got-ta-keep-on-tuh-rack. running out of breath.
impossible is nothing.

read this in one of those books that changed my life, The Blueprint --- what is the best thing you can do with your life? find out what God is doing in this generation of yours, and give your whole life to fulfilling it. press on to pray God's Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven. there's no bigger picture, no greater cause worth your whole life. many of us lose sight in the ratrace, we become blind to the fact our lives aren't about getting born, growing up, getting wasted, doped up, partying and having fun, settle down, have kids, work to the bone, and grow old and die. THAT'S NOT DESTINY, PURPOSE. THAT'S RESIGNED TO 'FATE' and 'CIRCUMSTANCE'.

we live our lives like we're in a sprint and not a marathon. not stopping to take stock, reprioritize, have time to know our Creator God (because we're too cynical, educated and sophisticated), set some goals that don't only include you but the world's future for eternity. but we give our time, energy, prime years of our lives to many different things...and though they may not all be value-less, how eternal can they be? at 30+yrs old, disillusionment sets in. weariness. ALL RUN OUT. END OF OUR TRACK. for what?

what is the best thing you can do with your life? find out what God is doing in your generation, and give your whole life to it.

Hang On!

You have no idea what God is capable of. But every step leads you to a piece of
it. Imagine a nail that you drive into a piece of wood. Such a little thing, but
it holds much weight. It's strength lies not only in itself, for an improperly
driven nail is capable of hanging nothing but may even fall off on its own. When
driven in well, straight, on-target, it holds hundred times more than its weight
in alignment with the strength of the wood that holds it in place.

God's promises and your faith are as close to each other as 2 wires in a switch. as the switch is pressed, power is released. promises are waiting for you. only Joshua and Caleb could operate it.

3 levels of Fs to increase >
increase your FAITH Matt 21:21)
FOCUS (Gen 13:14-17)
and FIGHT (Eph 6:10-18)

If the LORD delights in a man's ways, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. - Ps 37:23-24

Blessed is [Janice] who listens to me, watching daily at my doows, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. - Prov 8:34-35

God @ Work. Keep watching out 'cause He'll continue to blow preconceptions, perceptions and perspectives away!

Just like a twister, your situation looks terrifying on the ground but to God, the biggest twist is at the top where He is spreading your problems in order.

As in Isa 11:2-4, the Spirit of the LORD will rest on [you] - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD - and [you] will delight in the fear of the LORD. [You] will not judge by what [you] see[s] with [your] eyes, or decide by what [you] hear[s] with [your] ears...

"Decide in advance that you're never going to quit, that you'll abound in the Lord's work no matter how high the pain, you'll keep showing up, trusting, serving, proclaiming the gospel, discipling, shepherding, leading and casting the vision. THAT'S COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP! Stay on course." - Bill Hybels (cf 1 Cor 15:58)

free...like a dog?

yesterday helped dad with the lawn after my dance work-out. felt so good to get some physical training, hoever little at a time. again, i tried to acquaint myself with the dog next door. he growled at me and moved away. dad says it's the most pitiful dog in the whole world. sometimes i'm pleasantly moved by dad's softness of heart. he can be grumpy and all, but underneath that roughness he's just...aww. he said that 'cause he sees the poor dog's chained to this rope all day long, for i forgot how many years. so he's only allowed to move within the circumference along the length of that rope to which he's so cruelly chained all of his life. no physical training for you, my friend :( is that what it means to be domesticated? chained up, angry, no trashing garbage bags, no exercise. you can't even pee and go for walks like most house dogs do. there was this patch of soil amidst the surrounding grass, worn out by his laying on it so often...so pitiful and friendless.

i'd never wanna chain my dog up like that (if you live close by where i live and you're reading this, pls don't chain ur dog up like that). it struck me how naturally the desire for freedom come to us humans. but we forget our pets need a fulfilled and free life too. (let's not go into a theological or detailed discussion about true freedom here, shall we? that is a whole different story for another day.)

abt my leave, last night God spoke to me through:
proverbs 21:31 ~ "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD."
psalm 32:8-9 ~ "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you."

in a dilemma of the most frustrating sort. many are the plans in a man's heart, but the LORD's purpose prevails. and i felt God say, janice you've planned many things, you've tried to put into place stuff you felt was important to prepare your journey, but without Me you will not win. you are a warrior, but you will have no victory apart from your Commander. He will watch over you and ensure you win. you go, at His instruction. not men's. at His word, every plan that He knows is best for you will remain, those that are not will fall apart. He does not control you like a puppet so you can choose the way you should go with understanding and own will, but He won't leave you alone. victory rests with the LORD. RESTS. (thank you, wini and eric, for your timely texts with these verses).

rest in the victory of the LORD. see His deliverance on your behalf when you go where He leads you by faith in painful and scary obedience.

there's so much freedom in that.

Now GO!

Typed mid-air in flight on Mar 3:

"Am sitting in the new AirAsia airbus. Nothing special, ‘cept that the interior is a lot whiter and has a very plastic-ky look to it. Oh, and there’s more legroom. The toilet’s a lot cleaner too. Not that I was expecting much.

It was a great 3 days in KL. TOEFL turned out tougher than I thought. Did prepare with some study notes, just to get familiar with the new internet-based 4-part format. This time I made sure I called to confirm that the centre would be open. Will have to wait abt 14 more days for scores to be processed and sent to my uni.

Spent a bit of time pondering about the condition of my heart. But I found myself distracted. Couldn’t hold my concentration for long on a specific thought, my mind would wander off. Struggled to keep it focused, or from falling asleep. It disturbs me when this happens. A sharp mind is so essential.

What do you do when you find that you know what you are moving away from, but without a clue where you’re headed? It occurs to me now that to put it simply, Abraham was called out by a God he barely knew (at that time of his call); he was told what he would be leaving behind, ironically he was not told what he was getting himself into. Like, “hey, you! Get away from this spot to where I’m showing you.”
Ok, ready to go, just tell me which way.
“No, just go.”
Uhmmm…right. Think I need more directions that that. Anytime now.
“No, just go. Move. I’ll tell you after you’ve left.”
What, no co-ordinates? Which way??
“I said, just go! What you waiting for?”
B-b-but… aww, come on, man.
“No, YOU’re the man. I’m GOD.”
Silence.
“Now go!”

It’s termed the ‘call of Abraham’. The I-don’t-know-where-the-heck-I’m-going-but-I’m-going-anyway call. The don’t-ask-questions-just-move-it call. I don’t know about where you’re at in your journey in life but I can’t stop thinking about this lately about my own life. Wanna know each step of the way (down to every turning and elevation), have a good supply of batteries for your torchlight so you’ll always see where you’re going so you’ll never fear or stumble, a compass that actually points to true north (unlike Jack Sparrow's) with an excellent roadmap all the way? Has God ever really worked that way with you? That don’t seem like the God I know.

Do something today or this week that challenges your box of how life or God should function. Don’t manage your life to the point where there is no room for spontaneity, the supernatural, the divine and the beyond-you dimension. God IS real. And He knows you. What scares you to death? What’s your security blanket? Don’t be satisfied with where you’re at, but be open and obedient when you sense a deep stirring that there’s more to life than this."

Met so many wonderful people in those short 3 days. Wini, Tim & Matt; Alvin, Raymond, Calvin & Vincent; Hoon; Ps Vic & Kelly. One thing's for sure, everybody's travelling in life. We all would love to say we know what's ahead, yet I can surmise from my conversations with even these dear friends, that the journey is not the destination. the journey is the gift.

Now GO!
Because you’ll only know how to get there when you MOVE.