Verse of the Day - God's Word

"And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Luke 4:4

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Click on the "Thy Word" to listen and view this wonderful song by Maranatha Singers:

"Thy Word"

A beautiful and inspiring song from the Maranatha Singers that talks about the word of God - the BIBLE. May we all be blessed by this music... Thy word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path. ...

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Who Belongs In Your Life?

Ruth told Naomi, "Where you go I will go." You can spend your life anywhere with anybody doing anything, then suddenly meet someone and sense that there is a connection between you. It's what made Elisha quit farming and follow Elijah, an eccentric prophet; it's why Timothy hung out with Paul, an old man soon to be executed. You know intuitively, "I won't reach my destiny without you in my life." Looking back you realise if you hadn't met that certain person, or taken that phone call, or read that email, you wouldn't be where you are today.

On the other hand, "Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye" (Ruth 1:14 NIV). Now Orpah's leaving didn't make her a bad person; it just meant her part in the story was over. Recognise when somebody's part in your story is over, otherwise you'll just keep trying to raise the dead. David pleaded with God for his newborn baby's life. "He fasted....spent the nights lying on the ground...and....would not eat" (2 Samuel 12:16-17 NIV). But when the child died he had to accept that there was nothing more he could do, so he "got up....washed...changed his clothes....and he ate" (2 Samuel 12:20 NIV).

Acknowledge when something is over. If God means you have it, He'll give it to you. If you've tried to make it work and hasn't, accept His will in the matter. Get up, go for a walk, buy yourself a new outfit, treat yourself to a good meal; start living again! Never beg anyone to stay with you against their will. Their leaving is no accident; it just means God has something better in store for you (and possibly them too), so trust Him and move on!

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Bible reading: Ruth 1:16 (New International Version)

16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

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The Great Commission - Article

The Great Commission: starting where you are in your life mission
by Rick Warren

You're welcome to take this article - written to church members - and adapt it to your own needs.

"You don’t have to go very far to find your Samaria. It’s right next door."

Everybody’s life mission is unique, and only you can fulfill your life mission. The moment you become a believer, the moment you step across the line and give your life to Jesus Christ, God has an assignment for you.

Many of the parts of your life mission are unique, but there is one part of your life mission that we all have in common.

It’s this: God wants you to tell other people about what’s happened to you. He wants you to share your testimony, your lifestyle, and your witness.

In other words, He wants you to share the Good News. The Bible says it like this in Acts 20: "The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to tell people the good news about God’s grace."

Once I become a Christian, a major part of my life mission is to invite people into God’s family.

Jesus said in John 20:21 - "As the Father has sent Me, so am I sending you.”

What has He sent us to do?

The Bible tells us in Acts 1:8 - "You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, in Samaria and in every part of the world.”

This is a very, very important verse: it not only tells us what we’re supposed to do; it tells us where we’re supposed to do it.

First, it says, "You will be My witnesses.”

Have you ever watched a courtroom trial? You know what a witness is - a witness is somebody who shares from personal experience. "I saw this ... I heard that … I watched that ….”

Witnessing does not mean you have to be a theological expert. It doesn't mean you have to be pastor or preacher. It simply means you share what God is doing in your life.

Besides, people expect pastors to talk about Jesus. But when your pastor talks about Jesus Christ, some people think, “Well, he's just the paid professional. He's the paid salesman. Of course, he's going to talk about God.”

On the other hand, when you talk about what God’s done in your life, you are demonstrating that you're the satisfied customer! Who has more credibility—a paid salesman or the satisfied customer?

You are the authority on your life. Nobody else can share your witness. If you don’t do it, that part of your life message will never be heard on this earth.

And that’s a tragedy. If you don’t say it, nobody else is going to say it for you. We are to witness and share what God has done in our lives and what’s happened to us since we became believers.

Where are we to do it? We’re told to take the message to four places:

“In Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria and in every part of the world.”

What does that mean? Am I supposed to get on a plane and go over to Jerusalem to share my faith?

No. Remember when the disciples were hearing these words from Jesus, where were they? They were in Jerusalem.

Here’s the point. Start where you are.

What’s your Jerusalem? It’s your family, your friends, and your co-workers. That’s your Jerusalem. You start with the people closest to you. You don’t have to go somewhere else first. You start with the people in your own sphere of reference.

Then it says you go to Judea. Judea was like the county. What is your Judea? At Saddleback, we live in Orange County, with 2.5 million people.

And may of them still need to hear the Good News, and, no doubt, there are many in your Judea who also need to hear the Good News.

Then Jesus says you’re to go to Samaria. That’s like the county next door. But the Samaritans were culturally and ethnically different from the disciples. The third place you take the message is to people of a different culture, language, ethnic group than you.

Do you know anybody who speaks a different language than you do? Since I live in Southern California, I can tell you that there are 187 different languages spoken within driving distance of my church!

My point is - you don’t have to go very far to find your Samaria. It’s right next door. Have you ever been to a fast food restaurant? There’s your Samaria!

Then Jesus says go to “the ends of the world.” For hundreds and hundreds of years, Christians couldn’t obey that part - literally - because the ability to travel was extremely limited. In fact, for many years the human race didn’t even know the world was round.

But today, there are many opportunities for believers to go on a short-term trips that lead them to the “ends of the world”.

Our goal at Saddleback is to encourage every member to have at least one overseas experience.

So that’s the mission. Start with your Jerusalem. Move on to Judea. Then to Samaria - and then to the ends of the world. While you’re there, share the Good News. Invite others into God’s family!

God's Word - The Seed Of His Blessing - Article

God's Word - The Seed Of His Blessing
By Andrew Wommack

A true revelation of God’s Word is the single most important element of a victorious Christian life.

The Word of God often refers to itself as a seed. There are a total of forty-four verses in the New Testament where the Greek word “sperma” was translated “seed.” This is the same word from which we derive our English word “sperm.”

To conceive and give birth to the miracles you need, you must first plant God’s Word like a seed in your heart. Conception cannot take place without first planting the seed. There has only been one virgin birth, and the birth of you’re miracle won’t be the second.

I constantly meet Christians who pray and believe for God’s intervention in their lives, but remain frustrated with the results. It’s because they are missing the seeds of conception; they just don’t know God’s Word.

In Mark 4, the Lord taught three parables which illustrate that the Word is to the kingdom of God what a natural seed is to a harvest. The first of these parables, the story of the sower, is the key to unlocking all the Word of God (Mark 4:13). If we don’t understand these truths, Jesus said we won’t understand any of His other parables.

There are many life-changing truths in these parables, but one fact must be understood to get the full benefit of this teaching. The Lord used the comparison of His Word to a law of nature that is unchangeable, not an institution of man.

Here’s what I mean. You can cheat or manipulate nearly all systems that men have created. The legal system can be beaten, letting the guilty go free. Our educational system can be beaten, passing students who haven’t really learned the material. But you can’t change seedtime and harvest.

What if a farmer waited until he saw his neighbors reaping their crops before he sowed for his crop? Regardless of how sincere he was, or the justification for not sowing his seed at the proper time, he would not reap a crop overnight. The law of seedtime and harvest cannot be violated.

This is why our Lord chose to compare the way His Word works to a seed. There is a germination process of the Word of God in your life that takes time and can’t be avoided. In the second parable of

Mark 4, Jesus said in verses 26-29,

“So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”

The seed is the Word of God (verse 14), and the ground is our hearts (verse 15). Our hearts were created by God to bring forth fruit when His Word is planted in them. Just as a seed has to remain in the ground over time to germinate, so the Word of God has to abide in us.

Jesus said in John 15:7,

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

What would happen if you planted a seed in your garden and then dug it up each morning to see if anything was happening? It would die and never produce fruit. You have to have faith that the seed is doing what God created it to do.

Some people put God’s Word in their hearts for a day or two, but if they don’t see fruit almost immediately, they dig up the seed through their words and actions and wonder why it didn’t work. You have to leave it in the ground over time. Then, there are also different stages of growth.

Mark 4:28 says,

“First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”

Many people are impatient, wanting to bypass the growth cycle and get the full ear right now. I’ve actually had to tell people that what they were believing God for was not going to happen, not because the vision wasn’t good, but because they were expecting a complete ear of corn immediately.

For example, one of our Charis Bible College students came to me who had never held a job, had been in a mental hospital, and had lived on welfare his whole life. When he heard the teaching on prosperity and vision, he started dreaming big. He had a plan to buy and renovate an old hotel. The total cost would be over four million dollars.

It really was a grand plan. I complimented him for the fact that he was dreaming and told him to keep dreaming big. Then I told him that it might work for someone but it wouldn’t work for him. Why? Because this person had never believed for a dime before. There has to be “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”

You may think that’s not so. It’s possible that he could have won the lottery or the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes. It’s possible, but that wouldn’t have been God. God’s kingdom operates on laws, like the laws that govern the fruit-bearing process of a seed. God will not give you the full ear of corn if you haven’t seen the first blade.

That’s the way God’s kingdom works. And this is precisely the reason most people don’t see God’s best come to pass in their lives. They think that since God loves them, He will just grant their request regardless of whether they put the miracle of the seed to work or not.

Look at what happened after Jesus taught His disciples these principles of the seed.

Mark 4:35 says,

“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.”

In a sense, Jesus was giving them a test. On the same day that He taught them the principles of God’s Word as a seed, He gave them a seed. He said, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” He didn’t say, “Let us go halfway across and drown.” The disciples had a seed from the lips of the Creator that gave them authority over the creation.

What happened? A two-hour trip turned into a fight for the disciples’ lives. Instead of using the seed the Lord had given them, they did all they knew to do in the natural and then got put out with the Lord.

They said in verse 38,

“Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

This wasn’t a cabin cruiser. Jesus was in an open boat full of water (verse 37) sloshing all around Him. He was well aware of their plight and yet was trying to sleep. They wanted Him to pick up a bucket and bail or row or do something.

How did Jesus respond? Did He apologize and say, “I’m sorry guys. I was really tired”? No!

Instead He said, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (verse 40).

Jesus was telling them that they should have stilled the storm. If they would have operated in faith instead of fear, that’s exactly what they could have done.

The Lord did His job by giving them the seed of His Word. Their job was to take the seed and make it work. Instead, they doubted Jesus’ love for them and thought He wasn’t pulling His weight. Likewise, we often complain to the Lord, “Don’t You love me? Why aren’t You healing me or prospering me, etc.?”

God has done His part; He has given us the Word. For example, the Lord doesn’t give us money directly. Deuteronomy 8:18 says that the Lord gives us the power to get wealth. The power is in His promises, His Word. As we plant those promises in our hearts, the truth of His Word germinates and prosperity comes.

Healing operates the same way. There are numerous scriptures that get the point across that God’s Word is health to all our flesh. Here’s two:

“For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Prov. 4:22).

“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Ps. 107:20).

Yes, a person can get healed without planting God’s Word in their heart. It comes through the prayers of others with the gifts of healing (1 Cor. 12:9), but it is not God’s best. We should never be too proud to ask for help, but the proper way to get healed is to take God’s promises of healing and plant them in our hearts until they release their life-giving power into our physical bodies.

This law of seedtime and harvest operates in every area of our lives. If we will plant God’s Word in our hearts, then allow the seed to germinate and the plant to grow to maturity, we will reap the fruit of a harvest. That is God’s best!

I cannot tell you strongly enough how important it is that you know God’s Word and that you plant the seed of His Word in your heart long before you need the fruit of the harvest. It could mean the difference between prosperity and poverty, or even life and death. I believe this is so important that it’s the very first class I teach to new students at CBC every year.

My teaching series A Sure Foundation will help you understand the power and importance of God’s Word in your life. It will help you go beyond the “touchy-feely,” emotion-based thinking that many mistake for faith. It’s not about what you feel; it’s about what has been planted in your heart and come to full fruit. It’s the foundation to receiving the promises of God.

So, make this year your personal Year of the Bible and build a sure foundation in your own life. It will be the best decision you have ever made.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

Do I Have A Choice?

Written and photographs by William Ting
Mission Trip to Cambodia 17-24 Nov 2007

This is a long overdue report but after some thought, it is better late than never.

I have never planned to go to Cambodia for mission last Nov because of my work. It was because one of my very important projects was due to complete in Nov. I couldn't afford to miss the commissioning date. But because Bro Paul one day came up to me and told me "William, you are going to Cambodia". I said "Do I have a choice?". Anyway, that was history now. I decided to go in faith. True enough, my project was completed on 14 Nov 2007. I went with peace in my mind.

The response for this mission trip was overwhelming. At the beginning, more than 20 people registered for it. Anyway, on the departure date, there were 21 people.

Group photo with family members at Miri Airport

We were divided into Team A & B which was led by a qualified doctor each, ie, Dr. Roy and Dr. Lau. I went with Team B.

We stayed overnight at the Bible College in Phnom Penh. Early the next morning my team left for Svay Rieng which is near the Vietnamese border.

Departure to Svay Rieng at 5:00AM - 4 hours journey

The road was mostly tar sealed except for a dusty stretch of road under construction. We stopped at a ferry point and there were so many "traders".

Scratch resistance Ray Ban sunglass, US$1 each. Anyone? US$ is freely used in Cambodia.

Delicious looking prawn. I had no idea how much they cost and neither was I brave enough to try them. I was told that I might get "food poisioning" if I was not used to the food stuff there. As a precaution, I already had Hep A&B injections before I went.

On arrival at Svay Rieng, there was a crowd waiting for us. The local Methodist Church is run by a Korean missionary who mastered Khmer language in three months.

This girl was very sick and had been waiting since early morning. She needed specialist care and there was not much humanly we could do except to ask for divine healing.
After the doctor had seen the patients, we prayed for them. We also provided them with some basic medicine.In addition to medical ministry, we also did children ministry and some social concern, eg, cutting hair.

After cutting my children's hair for the past 20+ years, Pastor Kim trusted his hair to me!

After three days and seeing over 200 patients, we finally bid farewell to Pastor Kim. We hope to return again.

Farewell Pastor Kim, family and friends

Living condition
I came from a farming background and I am used to stay in worse condition. Therefore, I found the living condition in this mission trip very good. Food was basic but Pastor Kim was so obliging that he "supplemented" us with fruits and other goodies. Thank you Pastor Kim! Also, the church is very near to Svay Rieng city (10 minutes walk away) and looking for any extra that might be needed was quite simple.

I noticed that Cambodian meals normally consisted of just two "dishes". Pastor Kim's wife made Korean pancake for us!

Fruits, etc, provided for us by Pastor Kim.

Evangelism

There was plenty of opportunity to evangelise to the people there. In this trip, our primary objectives were to do medical, social concern and prayer for the sick. In future trip, we should get ourselves more prepared for evangelism. Our team did not evangelise to as many people as we would like to. But the other team was more successful.

Stick to the Plan

Today God is saying to you, "While in process, stick to plan!" Nothing takes God by surprise. He's a master planner. Joseph discovered that when your family turns against you, your friends let you down and you finish up in trouble, God still has a plan. Looking your situation could say, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20 NIV). When your situation seems too hard to handle and downright impossible to explain, remind yourself that God said, "I know the plans I have for you."

Some of us are not sure God has made up His mind about us, so we keep trying to earn His favour. Give it up! Receive the truth that God, for Christ's sake, has decided to bless you. And when God decides, temporary situations or the actions of others don't change His decision. There's nothing the enemy devises against you that God hasn't already made 'a way of escape' for. Paul writes, "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also made a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it"(1Corinthians 10:13).

Observe: (1) In times of testing you discover how faithful God is. (2) He knows what you can handle. (3) He will "make a way" so you can exit this season stronger, and ready for what He has next. So stick to the plan. The fact that you have a problem is a sign that you have a promise. It's only a matter of time before God reveals the solution. I know the plans I have for you. Jer 29:11

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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Missionary In Cambodia

Extracted from TMC
(Victoria, our past administrator is now a missionary in Cambodia)

Written and emailed by victoria s/m ck

Friday, 16 January 2009

Praying for the needs of the church during Sunday worship pastor in blue shirt Last September, I took a mission team to a small church for community work and children ministry. Everyone had a good time of learning and teaching even though there was a language barrier. In one of the health talk, the team was teaching the children how to brush their teeth and I noticed even the grandmas (a few of them) were joining in. One particular grandma was toothless and she was happily brushing her gum and laughing over it as well. She has a very big heart too, though she is living in poverty, she adopted 3 young orphan boys whose parents were killed in an accident. She has poor eye sight due to cataract but she is very fervent for the Lord. In this church, there is a group of grandpas and grandmas who are very fervant for the Lord and nothing will deter them from coming to church on Sundays. They are all poor church members who have no income. The younger members are mostly farmers or factory workers. This church doesn't even have chairs to sit. I had shared before about their offerings - they gave rice as an offering. This church has witnessed some miraculous healings in the past. The sick could not afford to go to the hospital or if they did, the doctors gave up on them so the only choice they had, was to turn to God. God answered their prayers in various ways.

The Cambodia Experience

Written by Andy Chew. Tuesday, December 16, 2008. Posted by Peter Yong

Cambodia Mission Trip (Part II)

Last Sunday I shared my testimony during the church service, both the morning and evening sessions. The key point was we as Christians should make mission work as part of our Christian life. There are some members of our church who do just that: going for mission after mission. Praise the Lord for giving them that vision and a humble heart to serve in this manner.

Cambodia opens its door to the world. Along with progress and development came certain negative influences. Christian organisations around the world are working very hard to bring the Gospel to this land. An important strategy would be to help the local Christians to be on their own footing and be self sufficient. To this end both short term and long term mission works are an essential part to realise this vision. I am glad to know that there are already a number of brothers and sisters who have already signed up for the 2009's trip. Amongst them are two of my young colleagues in my department.

It took me 4 years before I signed up for mission work. The Disciple (I) course and the 40DOP campaign helped me to realise the importance of doing mission work. We as children of God need to offer ourselves as vessels for Him to use to bring the Gospel to others. The love of Christ and the grace of God is not for us to keep to ourselves, but to share with others.

I used these two videos during my sharing:-

(1) Cambodia Mission 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4GREuz4xfE

(2) Cambodia Children
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq_zDgX-DrM&eurl=http://andyshchew.blogspot.com/

Most of the photos used in the videos are taken by Dr Edward Tiong.

Glory to God.


Part 1 Sunday, November 23, 2008

Cambodia Mission Trip 2008

21 of us from different churches in Miri, Bintulu and Sibu participated in the mission trip to Cambodia this year. The team had the opportunity to do medical treatment/screening, social concern and children ministry at a number of locations, both in the province and Phnom Penh. The team departed for Phnom Penh on 15th November. Rev Jessica Tiong, Brother Steven Yeoh and wife Jennifer greeted us at the airport. We travelled by bus to the Cambodian Methodist Bible School, where we spent a night doing briefing and unpacking (of our luggage) and packing (for the supplies at the province). Early next morning we set out for the Takeo Province, and after two hours we arrived at Trapeng Reang Methodist Church. We stayed at the province for three days, during which time we carried out our medical mission at Trapeng Reang, Angkrosang and Prey Cheul Teal. After that we went back to Phom Penh, where we continued with our work at the Methodist School of Cambodia and the Cambodian Methodist Bible School. We also had time to visit places of interest, like the Faith Engine Vocational Training Centre, Khmer Life Vocational Training Centre, Central Market, Russian Market etc.

Here are some of the photos taken by me and Brother Peter Ting. More photos and stories will come once I have a chance to collect them from other team members.

Group photo taken in front of Trapeng Reang Church. Pastor An Meng Thai and his wife, Pastor Chanti were posted to this church at the beginning of the year.

Sharing of testimony at the church. I had the privilege of having the DS, Rev Prak Vuthy as my translator. Devotion - spending time with God. This is a very important part of the mission. Team photo at Prey Cheul Teal Church. Patients are many, doctors are few ....... Shirley helping with eye assessment.

Dispensary.
Working till night fall. Children ministry. Nail cutting.

Colouring contest.

Grace, our youngest team member. She's only 11.

Delousing.

Hair cutting.

After the haircut.

After shampooing and delousing. Doesn't she look different?

The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Children ministry at a local school. Julia, Siew Ping and Candy did a great job.
The young men at the Faith Engine, which provide a 3 months technical/vocational course on car repair.
The Methodist School of Cambodia, where Bro Steven serves as the principal. The school has 540 students now and has become the top school in the country.
The Cambodian Methodist Bible School, one of the two leading bible school in Phnom Penh. This was our "base camp" when we were back in Phnom Penh.
The BB and GB team. From left: Private Egbert Lau, Lt Margaret, Captain Andy, Lt Candy, Captain Siew Ping, Lt Julia and Shirley (she's from 3rd Miri, while the rest are from 4th Miri)
I mingled with some youths who were waiting for a concert. I chatted with the boy on my left (his name is Pol) while his friends looked on. He had not heard about Jesus. I shared the Gospel with him and then prayed for him. May God raise up a generation for His Kingdom.
Many thanks to all the people who made this mission trip a successful one - Rev Jessica, Victoria, YuXia, Betty, Bro Steven and wife Jennifer. Also not forgetting all the local pastors - Pastor Som Sarun, Pastor An Meng Thai and wife Pastor Chanti, DS Rev Prak Vuthy, and Principal of CMBS Rev Svay Youtheroath. Above all, many thanks to our Lord.

We saw a rainbow – the Promise of God

Article extracted from TMC:

Written by lau mee ting s/m by ck

Saturday, 20 December 2008

Last weekend, 58 of us from TMC together with 3 staff from Doulos went to Rh Ensudin, Betong for a pre-Christmas celebration and baptism ceremony. Pastors and the group with those who come to be baptised Baptising: submerging 16 longhouse folks together with 6 brothers and sisters from Betong SIB gathered together for the baptism at the river near Ensudin. We were so blessed to have our Pastor Patick with us on this trip to perform the baptism. During the baptism, Pastor Sim of SIB Betong and two of his visiting friends who are also pastors from Indonesia helped to conduct the immersion baptism in the river. When those who had been baptized stood up at the river bank, they said "rainbow". Someone told us to turn round to see the rainbow. When I turned back, I saw one of the most beautiful, clear and hugerainbow. It stretched from east to west and was beautiful. Immediately someone remarked that God is going to bless these 22 brothers and sisters richly as He revealed Himself through the rainbow. I said ‘Amen' and thanked the Lord in my heart that He had revealed Himself to us in this manner and reminded me of His promises. After the ceremony, while walking back to the longhouse, I looked up and saw the Look carefully- a rainbow appears Rainbow at the background-His promise rainbow again though it was getting smaller and less bright. When all of us reached the longhouse, it started to rain and the rainbow was gone. It could not be just a coincidence that the rainbow appeared during that moment when the brothers and sisters were being baptized.. So I sing this chorus in my heart "How Great is Our God, sing with me how great, how great is our God" I always believe God is near to those who have simple faith like those folks in the longhouse. The rainbow incident reminds me that God is with us in the longhouse ministry - therefore I urge those who have not joined any longhouse mission trip, do make yourself available next year for a trip, as we have planned 10 trips for year 2009. Surely, God will continue to reveal Himself to us in various way - may we not miss the opportunity. Praise be to God!

God's Love and Ours

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. If we say we love God yet hate a brother or sister, we are liars. For if we do not love a fellow believer, whom we have seen, we cannot love God, whom we have not seen. And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love one another. 1 John 4:7-21

Verses of the Day - The Light

"You are going to have the light just a little longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Those who walk in the dark do not know where they are going. Put your trust in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." John 12:35-36

Verses of the Day - Living Water

"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:37-38

Who Are You?

Paul writes concerning the family of God, "Each one of you is a separate and necessary part" (1 Corinthians 12:27 TLB). But in order to determine where you fit in, it helps to know yourself. For example, what kind of working environment brings out the best in you? Do you thrive on routine? Are you motivated by other people's needs? Do you enjoy tackling challenges that discourage others? The Bible say, "God shaped each person in turn." which means you're not supposed to be a carbon copy of anyone else. And how about your relationships? Do you enjoy being part of a team, or do you function better alone? If you only come to life around people, you'll probably be miserable sitting in front of a computer all day. What lights your fire?

In the movie Chariot of Fire, Eric Liddell described his zeal for running in these words: "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."What makes you feel like that? There's a story about a man who was asked if he could play the violin. "I don't know, I've never tried!" he replied. When you think about it, it's a wise enough answer, because until you've tried something how do you know whether or not you'd be any good at it? For instance, a frog may be a great swimmer but it's a lousy flier. Some of us whose heroes are 'birds' walk around feeling bad about ourselves because we can't fly. You're not supposed to! God's Word says, "Be content with who you are" (1 Peter 5:6 TM). Stop flapping around out there and give yourself permission to be the person God made you to be!

7th Short-Term Cambodia Mission Trip

A short video clip on the 7th Short-Term Cambodia Mission Trip 15th - 22nd November 2008. Click on the link to view:-

Brotherly & Sisterly Love

Dances and Praises to the Lord

Hair Cutting

Doctor cares in the open, Prey Cheul Teal.

Health check for the needy, Trapang Reang.

The crowd and the needs

Children at the Trapang Reang's Church

Children at the Prey Cheul Teal's Church
The children at Angkrosang Church

The village's folks

With the children at Angkosang

The kids queuing for their nail to be trimmed, Angkosang.


Story telling and singing of praises

The Little Children

and Jesus

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Luke 18:16-17

Lovely faces of kids at the city's riverbank. On their background are some bird's eggs and money on the floor. They are diligently enjoying eating the eggs without paying much attention to passer-by. They are so naive and beautiful.