Love on the streets

16th of September was a great day of love. We were having spiritual parenting review class yesterday and we were asked to go on the streets to share gospel to strangers. It was a very welcomed invitation by my own basis, hasn't been doing this for a long time.

It was refreshing to be able to walk on the streets and does the thing that Jesus did, touching lives on the streets. Be it believers or non-believers, in one way or another lives were touched through Jesus's ministry on the streets.  We were divided into groups of 4, myself, alven, kelvin and leayee formed a team and we decided to go to a place where many people might not know: The real Old Town. Yes, its the real Old Town and I've directed them to an unknown place for many people: A 'food court' behind Chen Moh.

Thats the place where I used to be for breakfast and lunch during my primary and early secondary school time. First thing arriving in that place, I heard people talking about Jesus. Just sitting behind us, we were listening to them while we were having our meal. Then at the right moment, we stepped in. Lea Yee stood up and one of the guys at the back were telling the others whether want to ask her about something or not. Perhaps because we were wearing all for Jesus t-shirt, so having heard what they were up to, lea yee invited them to ask. At the same time I stepped in to the scene and started a conversation with them. Really thank God for the chance to talk to them, having shared my testimony with them and hopefully one day these seeds that I had planted would grow!

After the first approach, we went to a bus station for a second attempt and we saw an old folks sitting by the bus station. Alven and I approach that uncle, and started conversing with him. It was like all these were not coincidence but were planned in some sense. The uncle started to tell us about his frustrations and suffering, pains and tests he was going through. At the end when we prayed for him, he cried. Random? No, I don't think so. I believe it was God's will and plan for us to be there at the time to encourage him, to pray for him.

Thank God for this wonderful experience once again, this is what we are supposedly be doing, spreading love on the streets!

Character X (1) -- Humility

Humility is good, isn't it?

After the burial of my grandma, I got a chance to sit side by side with my wonderful aunt Har Bee. I was talking to her about what I had observed about young people of this generation. I told her: Talented, but lacking the character and attitude to succeed in life. And she nodded, agreeing on what I've said. It was very heartache to have said that, but thats what I saw from young people now a days. 

Humility is definitely one of them. From my observation, teenagers and kids are getting more and more talented. Each generation bettered the previous. Perhaps its due to DHA or the different exposure if compared to generations before. Now here is where the problem is: Because each generation is becoming more and more skilled or talented, thus for them, it doesn't make sense for them to listen and obey the orders of the older ones. Humility is not an outward action only because it requires inward decision to create an outward expression. Thus humility comes right from the inside, from the very inner part of a person.

In the scriptures God showed us how He perceive of humility. As written in Ephesians 4:2 " Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Humility meant so much to God, Israelites had struggled so much between arrogance and humility, as God had mentioned to them in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If mt people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Humility does not only apply when we were dealing with an older personal, it also applies when we are dealing with younger personal. Normally we would have thought that humility only applies when we were talking to the elders, however I believe a stronger humility comes when we are able to be humble to listen to the younger ones. We take one example from the bible as an example: David and King Saul. King Saul had a very humble beginning, having orginated from the smallest tribe in Israel yet God gave him the throne because of his humility in his early days. On the other hand David was a teenagers during the reign of King Saul, and there was this giant Goliath from the Philistine. David offered King Saul that he would fight Goliath, however he looked too small and skinny compared to his opponent. At that moment King Saul was humble enough to have listen to this young little teenage boy who does shepherding and agree to let him goes to the battle. And the outcome? The giant was down.

Matthew 18:3-5 "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Jesus Himself is the greatest act of humility, having come down from heaven to earth to be with us, suffered and crucified on the cross. He honored the elders and welcomed the children. Humility meant thousands to God, for God is always searching for a humble heart that He could use to turn this generation up side down.

My grandma of my mother's side had passed away last Tuesday. She was an angel when she was living her life on earth: never complain, never scolding, never criticizing; always joyful, always encouraging, always comforting. She might looked ordinary in many people's eyes, but not mine. She was a warrior, a true warrior with a gentle heart. Her humility and love towards others made me felt more for losing her. 

Young people, respect the elders and listen to the younger ones. 

The Power of Tongue

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. " James 1:26

This verse has strucked my heart. Very true indeed, for everything we speak, everything that came out from our mouth, could bring an impact that everyone of us cannot imagine. Words from our tongues can do 2 things, either build or destroy ourselves and the others. In Proverbs 12, we could see the effect of our tongues on the lives of people.

I am bearing such a guilt in my heart for some words that I've spoken recently. Though it doesn't hurt anyone, but the Holy Spirit convicted me so much that I felt such guilt in me, an unbearable feeling that I hasn't experience before. As I was dealing with this guilt, God spoke to me, pointing out the root of the problem: My tongue.

I recalled what Ps Jessie had shared in the prayer meeting last Tue, she said that God told her that her temper would destroy her if she is not cautious enough. And that strucked my mind, as if God is telling me Kenneth, your tongue is going to kill you if you are not cautious enough and bang! It was so direct. I was convicted and I confessed the sin of my tongue and let it all to Him.

Words from our tongue does wonderful things, you can praise, sing, or curse. Its a choice, whether you want to say it or not. Remember, no one force us to speak unless we wanted to. Thank God! Lesson learned!