Being a witness to our Family Members

This daily devotional below may make sense to some of you if you ever felt that you were able to be transformed spiritually while journeying with each other in YAM, but that nothing at HOME changes. Your parents, siblings, etc still see you as the same old you..... and worse, you find that you can't behave "differently" and end up behaving Like the SAME Old You.

Ever felt like that? Or could it be that we never really "tried"? Or "Tried" but stopped?

I've struggled with that that so many times with my own family too before, that I wonder whether it is because I"m not living out my life "loud" enough to show them that I have been transformed.

Nevertheless, we live and let God touch them in His own time. WE just have to be open to HIM in case He should ever use our lives as a witness to our own family members.

AND the Best part is.... We don't actually know when that time will come. SO we have to be patient. That's where the challenge is isn't it?

Just a thought of the day.

God Bless,
Sam

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A Prophet without Honor
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
11-30-2009

"Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house" (Mark 6.3, 4).

Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to spiritually impact your immediate circle of relationships and family? Jesus warned us of this phenomenon. We often relate to family and friends differently because they have a history with us that no one else has. They most likely have not had the privilege to witness the spiritual transformation that you have experienced and is evidenced by others in your life.

The spiritual authority that others may recognize in you is not there with your own family and friends. "After all, you're just my sister or brother, with whom I fought, played, and lived everyday life," is what is thought. Jesus was more qualified to be a carpenter than the Son of God in his own family and community's eyes. It was too difficult to change old perceptions of someone they knew so well. So too, is it for your family members.

The sad result of this mindset is that we often do not experience the same fruit of ministry in our family's lives that we do outside this circle. It is an unfortunate truth. "Jesus still healed a few sick people," meaning there is still a remnant of faith that can receive from you and I. Ultimately, God determines the fruit of our lives. Do not allow spiritual pride to prevent you from freely giving to your family and friends when they do not receive you in the way you think they should. You don't know which "few" God will choose to touch through your life.

Many did not receive Jesus. Therefore, many will not receive you. Nevertheless, allow God to touch the few in your circle He chooses to touch through you.

A Testimony for Gav & Jane

Hi all,

Let me write a little testimony for Gav & Jane in tribute to their wonderful marriage yesterday!

(official pictures with Jeanette!)


I've known Gavin since around I guess, 1999 when we went for YISS together. We were in the same group then! He had an ah-beng-ish hairstyle and looked quite fierce in his green school tee then and I was quite frightened of him before talking to him. But it turns out he had an amazing capacity to make people laugh and that's how I knew him then at first -- A person who makes other people laugh. :)

Later we joined ministry YAM in 2001 and throughout the years, I just recall one thing that Gavin once said, that "Ministry is for Life". To make that statement, "Ministry is for Life" is an amazing thing. It shows that even if he might not be in YAM, he may still be serving God, somewhere, some place and doing some other thing for GOD!

As for Jane, what more can I say? She is an inspiration for all of us, to be courageous to love someone, to be simple and cheerful and to simply Love God with all our hearts, our minds, our souls and our bodies. It is only apt that Jane and Gav walk together in the rest of their life, within the calling of "Ministry" that God has brought them into thus far.

How can one focus on the eternal so much? That is what also impressed me about their wedding. Centrered around God and prayer, they really make a firm stand of their faith, within the world we live in that is so ready to forget about God. But Gavin and Jane reminds me that GOD is the reason to live and be in "Ministry" for.

It's only when we have a GOD-Perspective like them, that we see life differently. We will then be able to sustain through ups and downs of life especially while serving God, because Ministry is for Life.

Colossians 3:1-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

So thanks to Gav & Jane for being an example for us, to love and serve God and each other as brothers & sisters in Christ. ;)

God Bless,
Cheers!
Sam

Congrats Gav & Jane!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV).

Congrats to Gav & Jane on your big Day! Your wedding was truly a joy!

God Is Not About YOUR Success

Thought this was meaningful yet again!

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God Is Not About YOUR Success
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
11-02-2009

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (John 12:24-26).

God is all about your death so that HIS success can be realized through you! This is why the Church is having such little impact - there are too many believers who have not yet died to their old nature so that Christ can live fully through them. When believers come to the end of themselves they will lose their lives to Him and live through the power of the Holy Spirit and begin to see the reality of a living gospel that impacts lives, workplaces, cities and nations.

"Much of modern Christian enterprise is 'Ishmael.' Born not of God, but of an inordinate desire to do God's will in our own way - the one thing our Lord never did," said Oswald Chambers. The psalmist describes what it means to live in our own strength:

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves" (Ps 127:1-2).

How does one die so that Christ can be our all and all? It usually takes a crisis of significant proportions for most people to relinquish the control of their lives. It means we come to the end of ourselves and our striving to control the events in our lives and we finally come to the place where we can say, "Lord, I surrender. Please take full control of my life."

Have you come to this place with God in your life? Let go and let God make you a success His way.