Principles for People Development
adapted fr John C. Maxwell's Developing the Leader within you
"My success in developing others will depend on how well I accomplish each of the following:
- Value of people. This is an issue of my attitude.
- Commitment to people. This is an issue of my time.
- Integrity with people. This is an issue of my character.
- Standard for people. This is an issue of my vision.
- Influence over people. This is an issue of my leadership.
Fr my own experience and through observation of other leaders who excel in this vital area, I have discovered that there are three areas in which successful people-developers are different from those who are not successful in developing others.
Successful people-developers:
1. Make the right assumptions about people;
2. Ask the right questions about people; and
3. Give the right assistance to people.
Successful People Developers... Make the right assumptions about people
Motivating others has always been relatively easy for me. For years I was asked, "John, how do you motivate people?" My pat answers were things like, "Stay enthusiastic"; "encourage others"; "lead the way"; "believe in people." I would watch others follow my advice and be successful for a short time, only to fall back into the old habit patterns and the resulting low morale.
Observing this downward cycle, I would ask myself why the people who took my advice couldn't continually motivate others. Then one day it hit me! I was giving them the fruit of my motivational gifts, but not the root. They were writing down my outward answers without the benefit of my inward assumptions about people. My assumptions about others are what allow me to continually motivate and develop them. In fact, a leader having the right assumptions about people is the key factor in their continual development.
An assumption is an opinion that something is true. My assumptions about people largely determine how I treat them. Why? What I assume about people is what I look for. What I look for is what I find. What I find influences my response. Therefore negative assumptions about others will stimulate negative leadership of them. Positive assumptions abt others will stimulate positive leadership of them. Here are several such assumptipns about people that I have found to be extremely valuable.
ASSUMPTION: EVERYONE WANTS TO FEEL WORTHWHILE.
The most successful teachers, writers, managers, politicians, philosophers, and leaders, and leaders who deal with people instinctively know this simple fact: Every person in the world is hungry. Yes, every person in this world is hungry for something, be it recognition, companionship, understanding, love -- the list is endless. One thing I kalways find on a list of peopel's needs is the desire to feel worthwhile. People want to feel important! Donald Laird says to always help people increase their own self-esteem. Develop your skills in making other people feel important. There is hardly a higher compliment you can pay an individual than to help that person be useful and find satisfaction and significance. I believe that!
My travel schedule is heavy, and often I stop in the terminal in San Diego to get my shoes shined. Melvin, the man who shines my shoes, has become a friend. As we talk I always try to bring two things into the conversation. I enquire about the Little League tea he coaches, because that is the love of his life. And then I tell him, and anyone else who might have been listening, that Melvin can polish shoes better than anyone I've ever known.
~ To be continued ~
Monday, December 8, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Forgiveness and Trust, Is there a difference???
Hey everyone, it's been a long time ever since I saw e blog with a new post.
I had decided to post again is because I felt that it's a time where I share God's word with everyone again. Of course, it's done with a heart of thanksgiving, there are wonderful testimonies that I have to share, because I believe that whatever He had bless us with, we should always give thanks no matter what circumstances we are facing in our lives, we should always open up our heart to His word, so that more of His miracles and works can be done in our lives. In the bible, it states that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”-James 1:17-18
I believe that the first step to waiting a miracle from Him, is to trust and have faith in Him. For it's faith in Jesus that make us children of the living God. Certain times, when we are betrayed by our friends, we know that God's will is for us to forgive, but deep down in our hearts, our spirit is filled with anger, anguish and hurt that we are unwilling to release.
Firstly, it is largely because we don't understand what is forgiveness, that's why we don't know how to forgive that resulted in us not wanting to forgive. But the word of God had said and commanded us to forgive anyone who had hurt us or criticizes us, and it not only said to forgive, but forgive immediately, or even bless that other one who had hurt you in one way or the other.
Forgiveness and trust is 2 different things, we can forgive immediately, but trust from others or your trust towards others had to be gained or earned. I always could not understand or differentiate what these 2 things mean, till I read it in a book which is used for our cell group discussion right now, "The purpose-driven life", that I fully realized the true meaning behind each word. By differentiating and understanding between the two words, forgiveness and trust will definitely be beneficial for every one of us, because there are so many things in life that we can't predict or control. Humans tend to be negative, selfish and demanding, this is an undeniable fact that both you and I can't escape from. We might not be selfish, negative, but in us there's definitely something that others can't tolerate. We are imperfect ourselves, but certain times we expect others to be perfect, isn't humans weirdoes?
We want our friends to be faithful, helpful, our parents to be understanding and loving, but think and consider for a moment, are we faithful, helpful, understanding and loving to the people around us? Have you been a good buddy to your friend, a good child to your parents? Are there times where you yourself had failed them? How do you feel? This is something that is very secret that only you yourself know, and most of times we won't want people around us to know, so that we can maintain the positive image of ourselves in their hearts.
I believe that you will want to take some time to reflect about certain things that we expects ourselves to do, some values that we will want to commit yourselves to. Certain times we want to change, but does not how to go about doing it. I had been through such situation as well and I think most of the times, people do went through it, but if today you are determined that you will want to change and make a difference, I’m sure that you will be able to do it! But do you first believe that you can? If you think you are ready, I will start sharing the differences between forgiveness and trust.
Forgiveness is to let go of any hurt that a person had inflicted on you, especially your close ones, certain times only forgiveness to others will ensure that we ourselves are release. Often, we are too busy hating others that we suppressed ourselves, inflicting much more "injuries" in our heart. If you believe Him, then let Go, then you can let God, entrust God to do even more in your life. For example, if one day you own a house and hired a famous designer to decorate your house so that it will look impressive, but when the designer starts generating ideas for your house, you comment that his design for the kitchen looks terrible, colour for the background in the living room is too dull, putting that paint in your room will destroy the whole perfect atmosphere and so on…we have first allowed and asked the designer to do up the house for us, but have we allowed him the freedom and space to let his creative juices flows. If we did not give him a chance to do it, how do we know that it will not work out? Besides, he is someone reputable for such job! Now think back again. Isn’t that the same case with our Daddy above? He is our creator, He is God and that’s why He does not make mistakes because He can’t! He is perfect, holy, and righteous! When we face circumstances in our life, there’s always a tendency for us to take life into our own hands, thinking that we know what is best for us. Since we have first make the decision to surrender our lives to Him, should not we play our part to obey and follow His instructions, to allow Him to have more room to do more great works in our lives? Unless we place that complete trust and faith in Him, or else we can’t possibly be waiting for any miracles to happen! Remember He is the one and only person that creates miracles and all good works are from Him, because He is God-that’s why He is in control of all things and make no mistakes!
However, friends, don’t be fooled!! Trusting means that you believe with all yr heart, the person that you share things with. Trust has to be earned. You can forgive someone immediately, but it doesn’t mean that you need to trust that person immediately. Allow me to give you another example. For instance, if one day you had shared something that has always been staying closest to your heart, to a best friend, but unfortunately he disclose it to another person. He even went to an extent to tell everyone that he knows. He had made you embarrassed, had made you lost all the pride, all the trust for him and let you feel humiliated-not respected as a friend. At that moment, very naturally, the first reaction will be to hate him, never want to have any ties with him anymore and you will even want to take revenge-by hitting him, pay back evil for evil. Friends, bear in mind and tell God: “Father in Heaven, your grace is sufficient for me, by your grace, I will forgive him just as you had forgiven me as a sinner and even redeemed me with your one and only son, Christ Jesus. Amen.” Remember, Jesus did not commit any sins, but He was rejected, cursed, humiliated, and shamed just because of you and me!! Now you had only been through such situations, but how about this man who did nothing wrong but was condemned, going through pains that He could be freed from. If you don’t forgive this person who had done wrong to you, God can don’t forgive you as well! We have sinned; we can’t deny the very fact that we are imperfect in many ways. We need His grace and desires to be forgiven, in the same way, that friend desire your forgiveness too!
Contrary to that, if the person continually betray your trust (which you still need to forgive every time), but remember trust works both ways. You trust the person because he had proved to you that he is worthy of that trust. You will need to work for that trust. You can’t be walking up to a stranger and tell him or her everything about your personal life. But only your close ones will know. However, when a stranger accidently bumped into you and all your files dropped onto the floor, when he apologized, you will still forgive him right? Do it in the same way!
I guess I know why sometimes we find it hard to; even I myself had times that I struggled with too. Reason is usually because we had committed ourselves to the friend and trusted them so much, but suddenly when things take a turn, we feel like we have been taken for granted and not being respected. To humans, respect is really a priority. Why people strive to earn so much money, is because they want to get respected by people. Why people go after material things like branded clothes, it is because of pride (which is because they don’t want to be looked down). Why people drive their children to get good grades, it is because they do not want to “lose face”. There are a lot a lot more examples if you take a careful notice again. But people are creatures that really desire to be respected, to be treasured and to be recognized. It also takes me a long long time to cast away all the pride to burry the hatchet with my friends. There is always thoughts that says: “it is not my fault, why must I take the first step to say sorry to them, they also have a part to play and they had hurt me too.” Guys, don’t have to escape anymore, the fact is that He desires peacemaker. Everyone love peace and want peace, but as His children, we have been entrusted the responsibility to spread the love, the joy and the peace that He had placed into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. And now, it is time for us to learn to stand in the gap and draw the “lost sheep” back to the shepherd.
Read Romans 12, you will understand what I mean.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
God's promises
Author James Montgomery Boice once told this story about a French lady who was taught to put Bible promises in a box when she was young. Whenever she felt down or discouraged, her month would tell her to take out one of the promises, read it and let the Scripture verse encourage and cheer her up. It was a very difficult time during the Second World War and at a time when she was feeling terribly discouraged, she rememebered this little box with Bible promises. She searched for the box and when she found it, she began to pray, "Oh Jesus, if only I could just find one verse in this box that would cheer me up and lift my spirits!" As she prayed, she tripped and fell, spilling all the verses out onto the floor. At that point, God spoke to her and said, "My daughter, there is not just one promise for you - all the promises of God are for you!"
That's the truth: God's provision is extraordinary, and His resources of grace and riches are abundant. If you grasp this amazing truth, it will assure and anchor you firmly at all times in His abundant grace, enabling you to live the extraordinary life in every circumstance.
In Philippians 4:19, Paul declares, "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." And Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the church at Philippi. He is indeed a God of 'More than Enough" - our Jehovah Jireh, our provider.
I pray tt we will all hunger n taste of His goodness. Amen.
That's the truth: God's provision is extraordinary, and His resources of grace and riches are abundant. If you grasp this amazing truth, it will assure and anchor you firmly at all times in His abundant grace, enabling you to live the extraordinary life in every circumstance.
In Philippians 4:19, Paul declares, "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." And Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the church at Philippi. He is indeed a God of 'More than Enough" - our Jehovah Jireh, our provider.
I pray tt we will all hunger n taste of His goodness. Amen.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Questions about LIFE(this big word)???
Just had the urge to really post something, felt that Lord had a word for everyone of us here...But first, share a good news with everyone here, some might had knew but not everybody..Zhenhui had nearly accepted Christ on Tue, but due to her strong Buddhist background, she feels obligated to obey her parents and still remain in that religion. Well..lets continue to pray hard for her, that God would touch her heart, that parents would soon come round to the idea. Pray for her that the word of God may stay closest to her heart and that she may seek refuge in Him whenever she had any trouble. Lets Praise the Lord for the great works that He had done in all our life. Believe Him for the impossible, because He made all things possible!(It might sound a bit silly and insensible, but it is definitely true!)
In life, there is always ups and downs, we rejoice at times, and might be pregnant with sorrows the next moment. Our feelings are just as unpredictable as the weather, we do not know what would be happening to us the next moment as well..but somehow many of us does take things for granted most of time. Recently, life had been really a challenge for me, i believe it shall be the lowest point for me right now..during this month, i had experience failures after failures, temptations after temptations, trials after trials..it not just drained me emotionally and mentally but physically too..my health had not been in good condition too:( At times, i am really in despair, desperation, that i felt like giving up everything and return to the original point where i has started this run. I asked God: Why? Why is life just so hard and unfair! I had been putting in my best and whatever that i am able to, why does things keep stopping me from moving forward in life and why, when people just do that little, they could reap as much, that is totally unfair! Has God not made everyone of us to be fair?
Think and reflect again, do things really always works this way. Look at little children over in countries like Africa, Cambodia, Sri Lanka (the list goes on and on..), do they have a choice? Everyday we woke up, we can decide what we are going to do with our day, but how about them? They do not have a choice, they have to even fight for their homeland in order to have a shelter over their heads..they have to worry whether where to find their food for their next meal..but here we are making a fuss what to eat, where to eat, whether how terrible is the food! They are just about the same age as us or even kids who are much younger then anyone of us! Have we ever give thanks for all that God had provided, and that He had allow us to live in a place of comfort, without any fears and worries about safety or about the question of having sufficient food..they desire education, but circumstances left them without any choice! But what about us? We complained, we go all the way out to irritate our teachers and play a fool in class..we could ruin, tore and destroy our books-its all at our mercy, but now think before doing that, they could not even get a proper piece of paper and a proper pen to write on! But that is not the point..the point is that God had place each and everyone of us in a special position that we would shine as bright as the stars in the skies..have you ever wondered what He had called you to be? Had you miss His point for your life? How will you react or what will be running through your mind at that day where He sits on the judgement seat and set this question for you? Have you been breaking His heart, with things that you know that you should not be doing but yet insisted on doing it-disobedience. Or have you always been asking for His forgiveness everytime when you did something wrong, but yet you had never have the heart to learn the lesson of true repentence? Remember God IS love, without love, there is no meaning to life. Without His perfect and unconditional Love, i am very sure to say that there would always be this little corner in your heart that is empty..this emptiness is for Him! Nothing in this world, not money, not any material possessions, not fame and not be love from your spouse or parents could ever fill up this place. He created everyone of us, He know us at the back of His hands, and even better than anybody..Imagine, u invented a toy car, you had planned every little details of the car, the little parts of engine and shape, how it should be, in order to perform to its best. You created it because u had interest in it, you love this particular object to be your companion and would always be proud of it. God works the same way as well!!!
I finally found the answer as to why things had been working in such a way..because failures is the best teacher, because failures bring forth humble character and humility before God, it brings us back to seek, to ask from Him and to increase the reliance on Him. Fear of the Lord prospers a man! Pastor Khong had mentioned that God way to up is always down, God way to success is always failures..without doubt, failures brings pain to our heart, tormented our souls and totally destroyed our confidence towards life and goals which we had first set. But contemplate about the fact that if anyone invention should had been destroyed or that some parts had been broken down, would the person not feel anything? Then think about how God really feels again..God cares, He sees and He is concerned for things that we are concerned about, or rather He is even more concerned than we are, because we meant more than anything else to Him.When you are DOWN to nothing..God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!
People, no matter what might had taken place before, pray and ask Him for wisdom to resolve all problems. If u had loved someone before, u would definitely understand that if u truly love someone, u would go all out for them. What more, we are talking about this Daddy that had already given up His precious and beloved son for all our sake, had that not display any love? We can give by not loving but we cannot love by not giving. Matthew 7:7: Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock on the door and it will be open to you...Ask from Daddy and He is sure to give generously to you! Always wait faithfully upon Him, He would never bring disappointment, but He honors and sees every effort that we had put in. Love God and serve men, serving people is never an easy task, but as long as put in your heart and soul, you will reap what you had sown. Believe! Faith in Jesus makes us Sons and Daughters of the living God..When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, 'Jesus, could you get that for me?' And lets all rejoice for we know clearly in all our hearts that He is waiting for us to join Him in heaven, and preparing us for eternity. FAITH, HOPE & LOVE. Today, are you ready to take on this challenge???
P.S Sorry for the terrible language being used.
In life, there is always ups and downs, we rejoice at times, and might be pregnant with sorrows the next moment. Our feelings are just as unpredictable as the weather, we do not know what would be happening to us the next moment as well..but somehow many of us does take things for granted most of time. Recently, life had been really a challenge for me, i believe it shall be the lowest point for me right now..during this month, i had experience failures after failures, temptations after temptations, trials after trials..it not just drained me emotionally and mentally but physically too..my health had not been in good condition too:( At times, i am really in despair, desperation, that i felt like giving up everything and return to the original point where i has started this run. I asked God: Why? Why is life just so hard and unfair! I had been putting in my best and whatever that i am able to, why does things keep stopping me from moving forward in life and why, when people just do that little, they could reap as much, that is totally unfair! Has God not made everyone of us to be fair?
Think and reflect again, do things really always works this way. Look at little children over in countries like Africa, Cambodia, Sri Lanka (the list goes on and on..), do they have a choice? Everyday we woke up, we can decide what we are going to do with our day, but how about them? They do not have a choice, they have to even fight for their homeland in order to have a shelter over their heads..they have to worry whether where to find their food for their next meal..but here we are making a fuss what to eat, where to eat, whether how terrible is the food! They are just about the same age as us or even kids who are much younger then anyone of us! Have we ever give thanks for all that God had provided, and that He had allow us to live in a place of comfort, without any fears and worries about safety or about the question of having sufficient food..they desire education, but circumstances left them without any choice! But what about us? We complained, we go all the way out to irritate our teachers and play a fool in class..we could ruin, tore and destroy our books-its all at our mercy, but now think before doing that, they could not even get a proper piece of paper and a proper pen to write on! But that is not the point..the point is that God had place each and everyone of us in a special position that we would shine as bright as the stars in the skies..have you ever wondered what He had called you to be? Had you miss His point for your life? How will you react or what will be running through your mind at that day where He sits on the judgement seat and set this question for you? Have you been breaking His heart, with things that you know that you should not be doing but yet insisted on doing it-disobedience. Or have you always been asking for His forgiveness everytime when you did something wrong, but yet you had never have the heart to learn the lesson of true repentence? Remember God IS love, without love, there is no meaning to life. Without His perfect and unconditional Love, i am very sure to say that there would always be this little corner in your heart that is empty..this emptiness is for Him! Nothing in this world, not money, not any material possessions, not fame and not be love from your spouse or parents could ever fill up this place. He created everyone of us, He know us at the back of His hands, and even better than anybody..Imagine, u invented a toy car, you had planned every little details of the car, the little parts of engine and shape, how it should be, in order to perform to its best. You created it because u had interest in it, you love this particular object to be your companion and would always be proud of it. God works the same way as well!!!
I finally found the answer as to why things had been working in such a way..because failures is the best teacher, because failures bring forth humble character and humility before God, it brings us back to seek, to ask from Him and to increase the reliance on Him. Fear of the Lord prospers a man! Pastor Khong had mentioned that God way to up is always down, God way to success is always failures..without doubt, failures brings pain to our heart, tormented our souls and totally destroyed our confidence towards life and goals which we had first set. But contemplate about the fact that if anyone invention should had been destroyed or that some parts had been broken down, would the person not feel anything? Then think about how God really feels again..God cares, He sees and He is concerned for things that we are concerned about, or rather He is even more concerned than we are, because we meant more than anything else to Him.When you are DOWN to nothing..God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!
People, no matter what might had taken place before, pray and ask Him for wisdom to resolve all problems. If u had loved someone before, u would definitely understand that if u truly love someone, u would go all out for them. What more, we are talking about this Daddy that had already given up His precious and beloved son for all our sake, had that not display any love? We can give by not loving but we cannot love by not giving. Matthew 7:7: Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock on the door and it will be open to you...Ask from Daddy and He is sure to give generously to you! Always wait faithfully upon Him, He would never bring disappointment, but He honors and sees every effort that we had put in. Love God and serve men, serving people is never an easy task, but as long as put in your heart and soul, you will reap what you had sown. Believe! Faith in Jesus makes us Sons and Daughters of the living God..When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, 'Jesus, could you get that for me?' And lets all rejoice for we know clearly in all our hearts that He is waiting for us to join Him in heaven, and preparing us for eternity. FAITH, HOPE & LOVE. Today, are you ready to take on this challenge???
P.S Sorry for the terrible language being used.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Why in the world do we work?
Dear girls,
I attended the "Why in the world do we work?" Seminar by Pastor Benny Ho.
And I think it would be especially beneficial for Wanglu as well as Yanhong and Sihua who would be starting work soon. And I think it is also useful for the rest of us as the principles of work and rest are the same. :)
GK Chesterton:
It is the late afternoon when the children grow tired of their toys; that's why they start torturing the cat."
Eric Fromm:
"The kind of person we become is very much influenced by what happens to us during he workday. That is why where we work, with whim we work, what we produce; how we produce it and how we relate to our workmates have far-reaching significance!"
Session 1: The Theology of Work
3 Biblical Perspectives
1. Work is a COMMAND
Genesis 2:15
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Exodus 34:21
21 "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
(As God has commanded us to work, and since God deserves the best, we shall do our best.)
Genesis 2:2
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [a] from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
(And it's only after sin, that work became toil.)
Genesis 3:17-19
17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,'
"Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return."
(And Adam sinned not because he listened to his wife, but because he ate from the tree. Jesus gave His life, and redeemed EVERYTHING, thus toil shall be work for us, and no longer toil.)
Colossians 3:22-25
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Colossians 4:1
1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Proverbs 22:29
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
he will not serve before obscure men.
2. Work is a MEANS TO OUR GROWTH
Romans 8:28-29
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
(Many times instead of letting God transform us, we change jobs. Not to say we can't change jobs, but if God has put us where we are - GROW UP before you move on.)
Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
Howard Butt wrote in his book "The Velvet Covered Brick":
"To love those below you is not so fifficult... You can love those below you without affecting your pride. Your posture is superior condescension, madnanimous moral conceit. But to love the man above you is different. To love him without flattery or self abasement, to love him without bitterness or resentment, to love him in the midst of conflict and pain: to love the man above you is love's highest hurdle - you cannot get over it alone. You cannot do it without the Cross inside lifting you up."
3. Work is a platform for MINISTRY
Matthew 5:13-14
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
(God is only pleased when you are where He wants you to be. Do you feel God's pleasure in what you do?)
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We 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.
(All of us share this ministry of reconciliation. For the vocational ministers, the pulpit is the one on stage, where they preach from. For the rest of us, marketplace ministers, our pulpit is our work desks.)
John 15:16
16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.
(For all Christians, God is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. And we are funded by fruits of our labour.)
1 Timothy 5:8
8If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Matthew 6:33
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2 Cor 4:18
18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
(This made an impact on me, as I realised why it is usually so fruitless to think about the material, to think about what I could get from the work that I'm doing... as it boils down to what I am working for? Eternal rewards, or temporal material gains?
The "secular" becomes "spiritual" when the focus is ETERNAL. (Therefore, the question is WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF MY HEART?)
The "spiritual" can become "secular" when the focus is TEMPORAL.
(If work is a ministry, and my work becomes divorced from my witness, then I'm missing the point.)
4. Work is a vehicle to transform society
Dr. Peter Wagner:
"For years we have sought after transformation of our cities. We have prayed, held pastor prayer conferences, prayer-walked our cities, etc. Still, not one US city has been transformed. Why is that? I feel that I finally know the answer to that question. It lies in the fact that the pastors and church laders do not hold the authority in the cities where the change must originate. Business and government leaders hold that authority. So, until we in the church equip and release the apostles in the workplace, we will never see our cities transformed by Jesus Christ."
DOES THAT MEAN THAT OUR WORK IS ALWAYS OUR CALLING?
Answer: Yes & No.
2 Major Distortions:
Watch this space for more updates...
I attended the "Why in the world do we work?" Seminar by Pastor Benny Ho.
And I think it would be especially beneficial for Wanglu as well as Yanhong and Sihua who would be starting work soon. And I think it is also useful for the rest of us as the principles of work and rest are the same. :)
GK Chesterton:
It is the late afternoon when the children grow tired of their toys; that's why they start torturing the cat."
Eric Fromm:
"The kind of person we become is very much influenced by what happens to us during he workday. That is why where we work, with whim we work, what we produce; how we produce it and how we relate to our workmates have far-reaching significance!"
Session 1: The Theology of Work
3 Biblical Perspectives
1. Work is a COMMAND
Genesis 2:15
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Exodus 34:21
21 "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
(As God has commanded us to work, and since God deserves the best, we shall do our best.)
Genesis 2:2
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [a] from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
(And it's only after sin, that work became toil.)
Genesis 3:17-19
17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,'
"Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return."
(And Adam sinned not because he listened to his wife, but because he ate from the tree. Jesus gave His life, and redeemed EVERYTHING, thus toil shall be work for us, and no longer toil.)
Colossians 3:22-25
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Colossians 4:1
1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Proverbs 22:29
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
he will not serve before obscure men.
2. Work is a MEANS TO OUR GROWTH
Romans 8:28-29
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
(Many times instead of letting God transform us, we change jobs. Not to say we can't change jobs, but if God has put us where we are - GROW UP before you move on.)
Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
Howard Butt wrote in his book "The Velvet Covered Brick":
"To love those below you is not so fifficult... You can love those below you without affecting your pride. Your posture is superior condescension, madnanimous moral conceit. But to love the man above you is different. To love him without flattery or self abasement, to love him without bitterness or resentment, to love him in the midst of conflict and pain: to love the man above you is love's highest hurdle - you cannot get over it alone. You cannot do it without the Cross inside lifting you up."
3. Work is a platform for MINISTRY
Matthew 5:13-14
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
(God is only pleased when you are where He wants you to be. Do you feel God's pleasure in what you do?)
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We 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.
(All of us share this ministry of reconciliation. For the vocational ministers, the pulpit is the one on stage, where they preach from. For the rest of us, marketplace ministers, our pulpit is our work desks.)
John 15:16
16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.
(For all Christians, God is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. And we are funded by fruits of our labour.)
1 Timothy 5:8
8If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Matthew 6:33
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2 Cor 4:18
18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
(This made an impact on me, as I realised why it is usually so fruitless to think about the material, to think about what I could get from the work that I'm doing... as it boils down to what I am working for? Eternal rewards, or temporal material gains?
The "secular" becomes "spiritual" when the focus is ETERNAL. (Therefore, the question is WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF MY HEART?)
The "spiritual" can become "secular" when the focus is TEMPORAL.
(If work is a ministry, and my work becomes divorced from my witness, then I'm missing the point.)
4. Work is a vehicle to transform society
Dr. Peter Wagner:
"For years we have sought after transformation of our cities. We have prayed, held pastor prayer conferences, prayer-walked our cities, etc. Still, not one US city has been transformed. Why is that? I feel that I finally know the answer to that question. It lies in the fact that the pastors and church laders do not hold the authority in the cities where the change must originate. Business and government leaders hold that authority. So, until we in the church equip and release the apostles in the workplace, we will never see our cities transformed by Jesus Christ."
DOES THAT MEAN THAT OUR WORK IS ALWAYS OUR CALLING?
Answer: Yes & No.
2 Major Distortions:
Watch this space for more updates...
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
A purpose-driven life
THE MISSIONARY'S GOAL, courtesy of http://www.myutmost.org/09/0923.html
"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem." Luke 18:31
In the natural life our ambitions alter as we develop; in the Christian life the goal is given at the beginning, the beginning and the end are the same, viz., Our Lord Himself. We start with Christ and we end with Him - "until we all attain to the stature of the manhood of Christ Jesus," not to our idea of what the Christian life should be. The aim of the missionary is to do God's will, not to be useful, not to win the heathen; he is useful and he does win the heathen, but that is not his aim. His aim is to do the will of his Lord.
In Our Lord's life Jerusalem was the place where He reached the climax of His Father's will upon the Cross, and unless we go with Jesus there we will have no companionship with Him. Nothing ever discouraged Our Lord on His way to Jerusalem. He never hurried through certain villages where He was persecuted, or lingered in others where He was blessed. Neither gratitude nor ingratitude turned Our Lord one hair's breadth away from His purpose to go up to Jerusalem.
"The disciple is not above his Master." The same things will happen to us on our way to our Jerusalem. There will be the works of God manifested through us, people will get blessed, and one or two will show gratitude and the rest will show gross ingratitude, but nothing must deflect us from going up to our Jerusalem.
"There they crucified Him." That is what happened when Our Lord reached Jerusalem, and that happening is the gateway to our salvation. The saints do not end in crucifixion: by the Lord's grace they end in glory. In the meantime our watchword is - I, too, go up to Jerusalem.
This, I pray, for all of us. Amen.
"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem." Luke 18:31
In the natural life our ambitions alter as we develop; in the Christian life the goal is given at the beginning, the beginning and the end are the same, viz., Our Lord Himself. We start with Christ and we end with Him - "until we all attain to the stature of the manhood of Christ Jesus," not to our idea of what the Christian life should be. The aim of the missionary is to do God's will, not to be useful, not to win the heathen; he is useful and he does win the heathen, but that is not his aim. His aim is to do the will of his Lord.
In Our Lord's life Jerusalem was the place where He reached the climax of His Father's will upon the Cross, and unless we go with Jesus there we will have no companionship with Him. Nothing ever discouraged Our Lord on His way to Jerusalem. He never hurried through certain villages where He was persecuted, or lingered in others where He was blessed. Neither gratitude nor ingratitude turned Our Lord one hair's breadth away from His purpose to go up to Jerusalem.
"The disciple is not above his Master." The same things will happen to us on our way to our Jerusalem. There will be the works of God manifested through us, people will get blessed, and one or two will show gratitude and the rest will show gross ingratitude, but nothing must deflect us from going up to our Jerusalem.
"There they crucified Him." That is what happened when Our Lord reached Jerusalem, and that happening is the gateway to our salvation. The saints do not end in crucifixion: by the Lord's grace they end in glory. In the meantime our watchword is - I, too, go up to Jerusalem.
This, I pray, for all of us. Amen.
Monday, January 28, 2008
1 Cor 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
Wanglu's gifts:
- Singing (there's still a need to improve on singing skills)
- Sporty (enjoys a healthy lifestyle)
- Good personality (optimistic, helpful, friendly)
- Fast response (most of the time)
What others say:
- optimistic, friendly, helpful, strives to maintain a healthy lifestyle, plans things and her life well, good at singing, studying, organising.
- confident, talented, nice and lovely.
Yanhong's gifts
- understands things very quickly
- enjoys art
- meticulous
What others say:
- nice personality, friendly, kind to others, responsible & stable, enriches her life by learning Latin dance & other skills.
- gentle & nice, hardworking, cute.
Sihua's gifts
- dance
- sports
- singig
- is friendly, &
- usually does not think till it becomes too complicated
What others say:
- innocent, gentle, thoughtful, cares a lot about others, joyful.
Look out for more updates! :)
- Singing (there's still a need to improve on singing skills)
- Sporty (enjoys a healthy lifestyle)
- Good personality (optimistic, helpful, friendly)
- Fast response (most of the time)
What others say:
- optimistic, friendly, helpful, strives to maintain a healthy lifestyle, plans things and her life well, good at singing, studying, organising.
- confident, talented, nice and lovely.
Yanhong's gifts
- understands things very quickly
- enjoys art
- meticulous
What others say:
- nice personality, friendly, kind to others, responsible & stable, enriches her life by learning Latin dance & other skills.
- gentle & nice, hardworking, cute.
Sihua's gifts
- dance
- sports
- singig
- is friendly, &
- usually does not think till it becomes too complicated
What others say:
- innocent, gentle, thoughtful, cares a lot about others, joyful.
Look out for more updates! :)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
My soul now to stand...
The Stand
by Hillsong United
Album: United We Stand (2006)
You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand
You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand
So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You
So I'll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand
So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You
So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Welcoming Fong Yee into God's family
On 13 Jan 2008, Fong Yee accepted the Lord into her life, and I just want to say, "Praise the LORD" (jumps for JOY!~Yoohooo! Can you hear the angels in the Heavens rejoicing?), and even though it took a bit of time to find bags left behind, it also showed that God is keeping an eye on us, and sent many angels to help us. :P
In today's psalm that everyone in church is reading:
Ps 17: 3 - 5
3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight (or direct your path).
So I pray,
Dear Heavenly Father, I lift up Wanglu, Yanhong, Sihua, Siying, Audrey & Fong Yee too you, that we will indeed trust you with all our hearts, and love you with our heart, soul and mind, that we may be mindful of you in all that we think, speak and do, and that you will keep our feet from evil, and guide us to righteousness, and Ps 17:15 says
15 And I—in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
so that we will become more like you. I thank you and I ask that You will guide us all this day and forever. In Jesus' most Mighty Name, Amen.
Inspired by Audrey's Deep Down in my Heart:
I LOVE YOU JESUS
D
I love You Jesus
G D
Deep down in my heart (2x)
Let's talk about
D
Deep, deep, down, down
G A D
Deep down in my heart (2x)
If u want to learn how to sing this song, I can teach! With actions!
Announcements:
1. Sm2s shall meet on Sundays, except for 3, 17, 24 Feb, and we will meet on the week's Wed
instead - 30 Jan, 13 Feb, 20 Feb.
2. Youth Cell will continue be on Sunday after service, and I will meet Siying, Audrey, and Fong Yee on Fridays.
Much love,
Esther-Soph
In today's psalm that everyone in church is reading:
Ps 17: 3 - 5
3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
4 As for the deeds of men—
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself
from the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
It's again a reminder for me, with the same mouth that I use to praise the LORD, nothing unbecoming, murmurings, speaking ill of others with bad intention, or bad language shall come forth:
Ps 17:3 - "I have resolved that my mouth will not sin."
And as we keep His Commandments, just like Proverbs 3:5-65 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight (or direct your path).
So I pray,
Dear Heavenly Father, I lift up Wanglu, Yanhong, Sihua, Siying, Audrey & Fong Yee too you, that we will indeed trust you with all our hearts, and love you with our heart, soul and mind, that we may be mindful of you in all that we think, speak and do, and that you will keep our feet from evil, and guide us to righteousness, and Ps 17:15 says
15 And I—in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
so that we will become more like you. I thank you and I ask that You will guide us all this day and forever. In Jesus' most Mighty Name, Amen.
Inspired by Audrey's Deep Down in my Heart:
I LOVE YOU JESUS
D
I love You Jesus
G D
Deep down in my heart (2x)
Let's talk about
D
Deep, deep, down, down
G A D
Deep down in my heart (2x)
If u want to learn how to sing this song, I can teach! With actions!
Announcements:
1. Sm2s shall meet on Sundays, except for 3, 17, 24 Feb, and we will meet on the week's Wed
instead - 30 Jan, 13 Feb, 20 Feb.
2. Youth Cell will continue be on Sunday after service, and I will meet Siying, Audrey, and Fong Yee on Fridays.
Much love,
Esther-Soph
Friday, January 11, 2008
Giving thanks for 2007... Welcome, Sabbath 2008
I rated the year 10/10. Who am I to rate it any less?
Mere man, I am, as said in Psalms 8:
3When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
Indeed, and it continues in the Psalm:
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [c]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
His words always spur and encourage, admonish, too, but always in love.
To always persevere, and overcome what's ahead:
Psalm 139: 23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
Daniel 12:13
They all lead to a promise. Isn't that amazing...?
God has been faithful. Have we?
Let's draw near to Him this new year... let that be our focus - to want to spend time with the LORD.
Much love,
Esther-Soph
P.S. U're very much welcome to blog in this space! Use (Type in) the following labels for each of your posts: Thanksgiving, Reflections, or Prayer Requests.
Mere man, I am, as said in Psalms 8:
3When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
Indeed, and it continues in the Psalm:
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [c]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
His words always spur and encourage, admonish, too, but always in love.
To always persevere, and overcome what's ahead:
Psalm 139: 23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Daniel 12:13
13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
(Given by Siying)
They all lead to a promise. Isn't that amazing...?
God has been faithful. Have we?
Let's draw near to Him this new year... let that be our focus - to want to spend time with the LORD.
Much love,
Esther-Soph
P.S. U're very much welcome to blog in this space! Use (Type in) the following labels for each of your posts: Thanksgiving, Reflections, or Prayer Requests.
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