It's God! =)

God can speak light into the darkness...
God can speak health to the sick...
God can speak strength to the weak...
There is power in words...

And as Jesus is, So are we in this world...
There are many things that I can't do...
But Jesus can...
So I must stop looking at the me in the mirror...
And feeling so small and helpless...
If I respect Jesus,
I must respect and love myself..
For as Jesus is, So am I in this world...

I quit belittling myself...
I quit feeling inferior and helpless...
I want none of that...
And I am not scared of anyone who wants to belittle me...
I am not defined by what they say about me...
I am defined by what my creator says about me..
And he says I am fearfully and wonderfully made...

This is the truth...
We are the gems of the LORD...
Precious gems..
And gems look best in the light..
Truth is light..
Jesus is light...
You might not know it...
Or you might be too afraid...
To stand in the light...
Because you are afraid that all those around you...
Will see your flaws...

But truth be told,
If you clothe yourself with the truth of the LORD...
All they will see is God's glory through you...
So be of good cheer..
Smile...
For smiling requires faith...
and faith is nothing but..
the confident expectation of good...

I understand that it is important to be humble...
Arrogance lead to many injuries...
Wounds in the heart that take years to heal...
By all means be humble...
But not to the extent of trampling over your own ego...
You are a prince/princess of God...
Always remember your value...

The world might judge you based on the worldly...
That's all they can see...
They will judge you based on your looks, your wealth, your dressing, your status...
But that's all nothing to LORD...
God values that that can't been seen with worldly eyes..
He values humility, kindness, compassion..
And above all,
He values love...
Love your neighbour as yourself.

I would like to issue a challenge...
To myself... and to all of you whom I love...
Do not judge others based on the world's values...
For you are no longer of this world...
You are living in this world,
But you are not of this world...
Train your eyes to see the good in others...
The diamonds hiding admidst the dust...
For those who seek goodwill shall find it...
And those who seek trouble shall too recieve it...
Therefore, always look for the good in people...
It is not easy to find a perfectly good man..
But it is even harder to find a man with no goodness in him at all...

Love yourself..
For by the measure you love yourself, you will be able to love others..
For the command is to love others like you do yourself...
If you are overly harsh to yourself...
It will overflow in your way of dealing with others...

Love yourself...
But do not be self-focused...
To the extent that you are self-focused...
That will be the extent in which you are depressed..
For the self is always imperfect...
And in our needless quest for perfection...
We find ourselves failing...
The only perfect thing in this world is love..
God is love...
Jesus is love..
Focus on Jesus..
He is your divine distraction from self-obsession...
Self-obsession is indeed the fastest way to depression...
Instead of focusing your energy on loving yourself and those around you..
You knit pick on all your tiny flaws...
And seek to hide or cure them...
The one who is most able to love..
Is the one who has already settled all issues with himself...

Be hospitable to all...
Kindness, hospitality and selflessness are not traits of the flesh...
They don't come naturally to people...
They are traits of God...
And will flow into your lives..
When God enters your life...
Be kind to strangers...
For when you show kindness to another...
You are blessing God...
Your greatest service would not be just praise and worship in church...
It would be service to God's people...

There is not one human in this world that is not created by God...
And not one who is not destined for salvation..
All are lost...
And need to be found...
Those who are lost yearn in their hearts secretly for the LORD...
And will gravitate towards the LORD...
So hesitate no more...
Extend your hand to save God's lost sheep...
For you yourself was saved the same way...

God is good...
And all the time..
God is good...
He creates each day afresh...
And whether you know it or not...
It is a day that the LORD as made..
You should rejoice and be glad in it...
Because for each new day...
God provides new manna for you...
You will be able to reap much from this new day...
All the blessings that God has in store for you...
Waiting to be discovered...

2 Corinthians (5: 14-21)

How my church got it's name - New Creation Church

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians (1: 3-11)

The God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the same comfort we ourselves have recieved from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hears we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves bit on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Miracles

Was waiting for training... Sitting near NTC observing the clouds (which can be quite dreamy and lazy act for all you stressed people out there)... But for me.. it was so amazing... Especially when I thought I could have become blind just a few days ago... sort of makes seeing mean so much more.. Thank God I am fine...

Just a few weeks back, my dad lost my dog when he brought the dog down for a early morning walk... My mum panicked and woke me up at 5AM to go down to look for the dog... I was very upset... It is not only once or twice but every single day.. that I wake up and feel so lucky I have such an adorable God-sent lying beside me...

I got up, washed my face and ran down to look for him... I shouted his name for a whole 15 minutes and just when I was about to give up... I decided to walk to the bottom of my flat and scream once more... Just one last time... (Bearing in mind that my dad has been searching for him for 1 entire hour prior to me)... And guess what? He responded to the last call.. My little God-sent came home by himself... All the way from Changi Village where he was lost... He had to cross two roads and climb one overhead bridge to get back safely... and He did... The greatest miracle of all... God responded almost instantly! I never had to pray or scream out for his help... He came long before I could even speak his name... Somehow, all I had to do was to feel enormous pain and he would come to my rescue... Amazing yah...

It all happened when I was at the brink of desperation.. Just a moment from crying desperately.. I literally felt my heart breaking... and at that moment... My loki came back to me...

The ironic thing is... the night before... and the morning after i grabbed loki back into my arms... I gained nothing new... But I felt so much richer... You could have asked me if I wanted one million dollars or Loki.. and my answer would have be a straight LOKI!!!

Realise how lucky I am...

Same thing regarding my eye injury.. the impact of the turning kick was so significant... my eye just went blank for awhile... and when it happened, the first thing I thought of was "Shit, no more Asian Martial Arts fair for me." Ironic yah? I should be worried about bigger things like not being able to see my loved ones anymore... Or be able to observe the beautiful sights of the world ever again...

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Clouds are such amazing phenomenon... How God creates beauty with simple water droplets... Such great beauty with such simple things...

Bitching

What's one of the most beautiful things to listen to in this world?

Someone saying something good about you behind you back... And you happen to just walk by...

What's one of the most painful things to accidentally stumble upon?

Someone saying something bad about you behind your back... And you happen to just walk by...

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I can attempt to be an A+ Christian here and tell you to take no regard to what others think about you... and have no regard for anything in this world... But to tell you honestly, it is almost humanly impossible to ignore what others think about you.. Especially when we are just we...

Of course one day when we become multi-billionaires and own houses and cars and have our own personal fan page on facebook, we can possibly ignore mean comments... But look? Haven't you noticed that many beautiful young celebrities commit suicide after listening to some mean and harsh comments about themselves?

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Though we can not prevent people from saying nasty things behind our backs.. we can try to prevent ourselves from bitching needlessly and carelessly...

I am not saying that bitching is bad. In fact, I am saying that its good... We all need to bitch about people from time to time.. Unload that stress.. vent it out on someone or something (like a blog)... then move on in life... Nothing better than bitching to get an obstacle out of your mind... Especially if you are a woman... trust me... there's some 'bitching' gene encoded in our system... We need to talk about our problems..

Though bitching is not bad.. You must make sure you bitch to the correct person... Someone who understands you enough not to judge you based on your bitching session.. Someone who loves you enough to allow you to unload... then swiftly forget the information... and love you like you're the most innocent and adorable thing in this world...

If you bitch to someone who doesn't know you enough.. or someone who is immature, he/she might not be able to handle the information.. Instead of being your pillar of support, he is likely to pull away from you... much like you are some evil let loose from hell... and he would probably imagine that you might too bitch about him behing his back... and thus, as a result lose faith in you..

Truth be told.. Our world is so far from ideal... Even christians bitch all the time.. My parents bitch about us (my sister and I) all the time... and I have heard loving couples bitching about their boy/girlfriends behind their backs... but do they still love each other? YES...

It is precisely because they still love each other that they can be so seriously affected by the 'bad behavior' of the other party... this inspires them to have to bitch about it in order to unload some stress... Besides, its a natural correcting mechanism to seek opinion from a friend in solving our relationship problems...

Therefore, it is ok to bitch about people... I have seen so many examples of people who complain about one another... then go back to doing incredible selfless acts of love to one another... So it appears that bitching is not mutually exclusive from love...

Do not be affected by the mean things you accidentally stumble on when you walk past a pair of conversing friends... At least they care about you enough to discuss about you... Try to find an appropriate place and person if you wish to speak badly of someone else... Do not do it in the open or when the party in discussion might be somewhere near...

On the contrary, if you wish to say good things about others... do it openly.. =) Might make you more popular than you can ever imagine...

God's grace... God's grace!!!

The Donkey Story

Scenario A:

A donkey with a man with a parcel... The parcel is strapped to the back of the donkey.... and the man rides freely on the back of the donkey.... carrying no burden...

Scenario B:

A donkey with a man with a parcel... The man, feeling pity for the donkey, decided to do his part by carrying the parcel for the donkey... In his ignorance, he actually believes that he reducing the load of the donkey.. Little does he know, that his effort is needless...

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Most of us are living lives like that of scenario B... Once we have accepted christ, our lives are different... All our weights and problems (like the parcel) are been carried by Jesus... and in his death, his blood washes all these sins away.... we no longer have to carry the burden... The picture of the donkey carrying us and our parcel is that of Jesus carrying our load and us... on the cross... where he died and paid the ultimate the price for our sin...

But yet, we condemn ourselves and map out idealistic impossibly difficult paths to follow ... To try to convince ourselves to play our part in helping Jesus.. In helping God do his work... Little do we know, that we are as silly as the man in scenario B....

When God starts a job, he completes it... It is entirely him - 100% ... Your part is to ride quietly on his shoulders and be restful and calm... Don't be silly to try to carry the load by yourself... God has it covered... Just pray for peace and stillness....

God's grace

I feel this impending need to re-explain the concept of God's grace.. I was browsing through my previous blog entries and I realised that my earliest blog entries are no longer assessable on this blog... It is thus essential that I re-explain this concept of God's grace which is central to everything else written on this blog... Central to what defines denise thong...

God's grace is the unearned and undeserved favour from God... A result of his love... A result of his sacrifise (of Jesus)...

It is one thing to work hard to lead a sin-free life... then run to your heavenly father for nods of approval and affirmation... Yes, you will still feel loved... but you feel the constant pressure to live up to that sin-free expectation... and when you do sin, you feel so condemned and estranged from the love of God that you become afraid to run to the LORD for help...

But my friend.. this is when the ironic and beautiful part comes in... God's love is nothing like the above... It is not based on merit or ability... It is not about impressing God... It is based only on one thing being you... No matter how horrible you are... or how badly you've behaved... you can never escape from God's love for you... In fact, God's love is really a source of provision, not a source of condemnation... It is when you fail to lead a sin-free life... that you must turn to God for help... And yes, he will answer and will bless you with what you lack... to lead the life he intended for you to live... He will definitely not punish you and critisize you...

As such, the church is not the house of saints... it is a hospital for sinners...

God's love transforms you

Love is such an amazing thing... It transforms you into a very different version of yourself.. Most of the time for the better... What actually happens when you are in love? Why do you behave differently? It is definitely not only attributed to your desperation to impress the person you love... This is evident from the fact that you act differently even when he/she is not around...

I guess this transformation is definitely due to the new identity that you have taken up... You are no longer just denise.. you are the one whom _________ loves... And thus, you act according... in a manner you have determined would please and make the other person proud... Somehow you feel that the person's always watching... You enjoy the attention as well as the nods of approval... Somehow, this feeling of approval... this stamp of love.. makes all the difference in the world.. It makes you feel lucky... Like striking a lottery...

With that said, I would love to write an entry all about love (between men)... and how it has filled my life and transformed me for the better.. but I would in fact be lying to you... Because the only love that has transformed me into a better person is that of the love of God... the love of Jesus...

In many ways, I feel that the love of man... is very much like a drug.. It makes you feel illogically happy for awhile... when you are with the person you love... you feel this illogical happiness and euphoria... But, very sadly, it leaves you feeling so insecure when you are away from the person... and ultimately... you are drawn back to that one you love to get another dosage of the drug... and probably even more than before.. Before you know it... you become clingy and desperate (addicted) ... you forgot how life was before that drug came into your life... you forgot to live without that drug.. and when you finally decide to give it up.. and cure that addiction.. you suffer from serious withdrawal symptoms.. This my friend, is not a metaphor... There really are withdrawal symptoms... They are characterised by self-esteem problems, heartaches, depressions and suicidal intentions...

The love of God however, has the same euphoric effect as the love of man... minus the withdrawal symptoms.. You won't wake up in the morning feeling insecure and helpless... In fact, you wake up each day with a confident expectation of good (faith) in your life... You are no longer just denise.. you are the denise whom God loves.. The one who God would have sent his son to die for even if you are the only one on earth...

It is God's love that empowers you to do the amazing... The more you are able to understand this concept.. the more independent and capable you become... Because you are no longer just a helpless, weak human being.. You are strong, blessed and LOVED by none other than God almighty... That really transforms you...

Matthew 5: 38-48

An Eye for an Eye

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have a your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your ememies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? do not even pagans do that? Be perfect , therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Tenderheart

Jesus Calms the storm (Mark 4:35-41)

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, " Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up , and the wave broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern. sleeping on the cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him. "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be Still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

They were terrified and asked each other,"Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

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The beautiful thing about Jesus is that he is both completely man and completely God... Like God, he has the divine ability to rise above all difficulties and challenges... he has authority over all in this world... but like man, Jesus has deep feelings of compassion..

Being raised by man, he understands completely well, how the human functions.... He understands human fears, helplessness and infirmities... And this is how Jesus Christ is able to provide for us completely... Because he does not give from a heart of supeority... Instead, he gives from a heart of love... because he knows how helpless we are and how much impact he can make in our lifes, the more he gives, the happier he is. In fact, it has been long preached that Jesus is more willing to give.. than you are to recieve...

I love this story because here you have a boatful of disciples... at the brink of death... yes.. they may be Jesus's disciples.. yes.. they may have just witnessed dozens of miracle healings and miracle provision... but they are still human.. how many of us can not panic when we are placed on a boat that is about to sink?

No matter how many miracles we have witnessed before, we will always have doubts on whether we would survive... Somehow the human tendency to demiracalise everything and explain it as a result of chance always gets the better of us.... and before long.. we find ourselves doubting the love and power of God..

Fortunately for us, Jesus understands our fear and understands our lack of faith... More importantly, he understands our desperation and need for IMMEDIATE help... Therefore, instead of carrying on his restful sleep... Jesus woke up immediately to calm the storm.. And almost instantly there was pin drop silence... the boat was completely still... completely peaceful...

So beloved, I am not writing this in attempt to encourage you to learn how to get a grip of yourself in tough times... Jesus did many things we humans can never do.. for one.. Jesus walked on water.. none of us can do that no matter how hard we try.... Therefore, I am writing this not to encourage you to learn to sleep during a storm.. It is impossible and almost inhuman to do so...

How many of us can fall asleep peacefully when our loved one is dying? Somehow, that would make us heartless and inhuman... In fact, it is our vulnerability that God loves and treasures... it is our humaness that is so precious... Therefore, do not feel guilty if you lack faith... It is as good as feeling guilty for breathing... why feel guilty about something you have no control over?

Therefore, when you are in dire circumstances, do not endeavour to be peaceful and strong with your own effort. Instead, be like the disciples.. call on the LORD when your need is dire... Do not be tempted to turn to your friends or to resort to political-scheming... All this won't save you.. Call on the LORD... and he will strip the circumstances of its might over you... and stabilise everything....

The fact that Jesus could sleep on the boat shows that he was confident that as long as he was on the boat, God would never allow it to sink.. He knew that, thus he could sleep deeply despite all the turbulence..

In fact, Jesus could have just ignored his disciples and carried on sleeping.. and when the morning came and the storm subsided, he could have lectured them and scolded them for their lack of faith... then stood up and said "see, you should all be like me.. I slept so soundly last night.. have faith like me."

But no. Jesus didn't do that... He calmed the storms immediately because he knew that humans were vulnerable... and easily subjected to trauma... Thus, he decided to do the loving thing... and provided peace back to the circumstances... Though either way, they would definitely have lived... He loved the disciples so much to ensure that not only do they live... but they lived well, and are fully aware of God's divine love and tenderheart towards them...

Similarly, this is the love that Jesus has for you... every single second of your life! =) God's grace, God's grace!

Proverbs 3

One of my friend's life verses... from the bible.. =)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones. (Proverbs 3: 7-8)