In the Kingdom of Heaven

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “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. - Matthew 18:1-5(NIV).

God Is Truthful

“The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” - John 3:31-36(NIV).

Compassion VS Indifference

Compassion in the home includes:

·    Realizing each other’s needs for love and attention, and planning outings and activities to meet those needs.

·    Sensing each other’s need for respect and listening to ideas with an open mind.

·    Seeking to understand another’s struggles from his or her viewpoint and experiences.

·    Being willing to give up activities that could disappoint and hurt one another.

Rewards of Compassion:

·    Favour: A person who diligently seeks the good of another will receive approval and favor of those who observe their unselfish actions.

·    Friendship: Becoming involved in the life of another brings a deeper level of intimacy and friendship.

I will:

·         Stop to help.

·         Listen when other want to talk.

·         Give of my resources to help those in need.

·         Look for lasting solutions.

·         Comfort others without regard to race, gender, faith, age, or nationality.

"He Has Made Me Possible"

Brothers & sisters in Christ,  

May the peace of God be with you.

My name is Adeline Lim, I am from Miri. I am just a young believer in Christ, I started to join GMC in 2007 and I started to join cell group in 2008. I have never thought that I am able to serve the Lord in this way even to stand here today is an “Impossible” to me. I am always not convinced that I am being good enough to share with others. I am still a person who needs to be transforming into Christ likeness. So in order to live a Christian life, I have decided I should serve the Lord as much as I can.

This was my 3^rd trip to Selangau. The first trip was last year August 2009 and the second trip was on November 2009. After the two previous trips to Selangau I still do not have the confidence that God would use me like how he would use others, all my previous teammates are gifted and talented. They could lead smoothly and effectively. I think I have only managed to assist them in a small area only. It was a BIG challenge for me to join the mission trip because I am not fluent in Malay and definitely not understanding any of the Iban language.

The reason why I decided to go back to this mission trip is because I wanted to continue to serve the Lord.  We can only serve him with our heart and yet he doesn’t need anything from us, therefore we should try our best to serve him in the area that we are gifted. During the two previous mission trips I have actually build a strong relationship with the local people at Selangau. They are all very warm hearted and friendly nice people. I wanted to go back and to see the transformation of the people.

There is a “BIG Difference” of this trip compare to the two previous mission trips. It is something that I have never expected. When I promised to join the 3^rd mission trip then only I found out that all my previous teammates were not going and I was anxious and extremely worried but I have already promised that I will attend the first meeting. So during the meeting I had brought up a discussion suggested to postpone our trip so that others were able to join us. But my team leader responded that we should go on this date because it was a school holiday and all the children would be around. They assigned me to lead on children ministry. At that moment, my mind was like having “Millions of Impossible” of how could I lead? There’s a language barrier and I am so young in Christ. When I went home, I had the thought that I should not go and I couldn’t sleep the whole night I even thought to call my team leader to cancel my name. But I have been thinking the whole night if I don’t go, I won’t be able to find a replacement in such a short notice. I put my faith in God and my family prayed for me so I decided to go lastly. 

Praise the Lord on the next day my younger brother, Addam decided to join me to the mission trip. On the last week itself, 6 people from Bintulu Immanuel Church decided to join us. There are all very gifted in Children Ministry. They are assigned to teach the children. I myself and Monica will lead on the singing and Artwork. We only practiced for 2 times on the children songs even I was so nervous when leading the singing but GOD DID AMAZING WORK, the Holy Spirit was with us and the prayers were answered. The children enjoyed the singing and responded well. They were very eager to learn. Thank God all my teammates were very supportive and encouraging to each others. We made it!!!

I praise God because He has made me possible. I never thought that God will use me to lead and bless the children. I am very joyful because I can praise the Lord and God has built my confident to serve him.

“GOD WILL MAKE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE”

Thank you!

Sharing by Adeline Lim

Posted & Photos by Peter Yong

Made New In the Attitude

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:22-24(NIV)

The Lord Will Provide

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
      "Here I am," he replied.

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
      "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
      "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"  "Here I am," he replied.

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."  - Genesis 22:1-18(NIV)

Made Alive in Christ - It is the Gift of God

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephehians 2:1-10(NIV)