IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME

It’s Christmas time. Christmas is an exciting time of joy, love and fun. It’s time of extending love. It’s a time of meeting up with people. It’s time of food, music and laughter. It’s a time when we can invite our friends over and have a meal. It’s time of balik kampong, relaxing amidst the struggles of modern day living. It’s a time of exchanging gifts.

The greatest gift you will ever receive is the gift of life. 2000 years ago, God took the form of a human being on that Christmas day. What an act of love and humility. He came to save us from our sins. He came to give us life – new life, abundant life and eternal life. This is the greatest gift we will ever receive. This is why we celebrate Christmas.

I am looking forward to our Christmas Eve service tomorrow. It’s great to come together to proclaim His miraculous birth. Looking forward to Christmas day as we fellowship over a meal. This Sunday after service, we head to Penang and spend some time with mum and dad.

See you all next year. 2010 here we come.

Is.9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Fruitful New Year

MIRACLES, MIRACLES, MIRACLES

We all have so many needs – spiritual, physical, emotional, financial, relational, etc. Amidst all the struggles that we go through, there is so much of dissatisfaction, pain and hopelessness.

The Bible says in Mk.10:27 that “With God all things are possible.” Our God is real and loving, and wants to meet your need. Why does God want to do miracles?

• Because God loves you
• Because God is all powerful
• Because Jesus died for you and rose again from the dead
• Because God may be glorified

Miracles are divine intervention by God. It is the supernatural invading the natural, God meeting our needs.

My wife and I have personally experienced the miracle power of God.

• In 1984, my wife was miraculously healed of a back condition. The specialist had said that she had a curvurture in the back. She was suffering in pain. One day as we went for a Christian meeting and as they prayed in Jesus name one of her legs grew 2 inches (one leg was 2 inches shorter than the other leg). She felt the healing touch of Jesus and since then has had no back pains.

• In 1990, I was ill – severe chest pain, giddiness, head pains. The specialist thought it could be cancer of the brain but it was not cancer. But I was still sick. One afternoon as I was reading my Bible, I saw a dark cloud come out of me and I was miraculously healed. The Bible says that “He sent His Word to heal and deliver (Ps.107:20)

It has been our desire that we want to see everyone experience God’s goodness and power, live victoriously and be blessed. God does mjracles. If you would like to receive a touch of God, join us this Saturday (19 Dec) and Sunday (20 Dec). Leaflet enclosed. Bring your friends.

Health Tips

Everywhere people are talking about health. Newspaper advertisements on slimming, hair care, skin care, healthy foods, right vitamins, etc. are predominant. What to eat, what not to eat? How to lose 10 kg in 5 days? How to look younger? One of the favorite television programs these days – "The Biggest Loser" And even our Government of recent has been conveying their concern about need of Malaysians to cut down on sugar. And of course don’t forget the various exercise machines.

All this is important because we definitely need to take care of our physical body but people don’t realize that man is a three part being – body, spirit and soul. And so many times our spiritual, emotional and mental conditions affect our body and yet we don’t deal with it.

God’s desire is that all of us may prosper in all things, be in good health even as our soul prospers (3 Jn.2). So God wants you to be healthy. Yes, He wants to heal you because He is your healer (Ex.15:26). But He also wants you to be healthy.

What are the Health Tips from the Bible? Here are some.

1) Relating to God
Pro.3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

Learn to trust God, pray, fear Him and depart from evil. Have a personal relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ

2) Receiving and Obeying God’s Word (the Bible)
Prov.4:20-22 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
Jos.1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

To walk in good health we need to:

• Give attention to God’s Word
• Incline your ears to God’s Word
• Do not let them depart from your eyes
• Keep them in the midst of your heart

3) Being careful of our speech
Pro.13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Prov.16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

What you sow is what you reap. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. To walk in health, learn to speak graciously.

4) Having a joyful attitude
Prov.17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Always have a happy and pleasant disposition

And of course. Please live a healthy lifestyle of proper rest, the right food and proper exercise.

Do take care of your health

HANDLING WORK STRESS

Our work place is such an important part of our lives. Apart from bringing-in much needed finances, we spend a lot of time at work. At least ¼ of our day is at work. So how do we handling it?

• Is your work place a pressure cooker?
• How are the relationships at work? Are your colleagues helpful?
• What’s your boss like? Is he/she understanding?
• Are you overloaded and underpaid?
• Have you been misunderstood? Have you been falsely accused or wrongly treated?
• Is there preferential treatment and injustice?

So how do you handle pressures at work. God “What do you want me to do?”

Some keys that has helped since joining the work force in 1983 - working as engineer/manager with Tenaga Nasional and then serving the Lord as a pastor since 1994

a) Realize that God is in control and has a great destiny for you.

Rm.8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

God has got His best for you. God is in control. Yield to Him, and all things will work together for good. Your work place is part of God’s plan to fulfill your destiny. Realize the big picture in your life

b) Don’t be impulsive, do what God wants
You may be going through tough times but don’t respond impulsively. Know what God wants and do what God wants. Position yourself to hear what God is saying and do what God is saying.

It is in tough times that we grow spiritually. Difficult job situations enable us to trust Him and not rely on ourselves. It moulds our character, helps us relate with all kinds of people and grow in our decision making.

• Is God teaching you something through this situation?
• Does God want you to move or stay?
• Is the situation helping you grow spiritually?

c) Watch your Christian testimony
Your work place is a mission field. What we say, how we react is a reflection of Christ. You may be the only Christian that some of them would ever meet. You need to maintain your Christian testimony. Our work place is a strategic opportunity to impact people for Jesus

d) Release your problems to Christ
Cast you care on Him. Learn to commit your problems to God. As you pray, release it to Him

1 Pet.5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

e) Be faithful and diligent
God requires us to be faithful and diligent in our work place, It was the faithful servant that was rewarded. Be an example in your work place.

f) Take care of yourself.

• Are you taking time to pray and feed on God’s Word?
• Are you part of a Cell Group where you can grow?
• Are you serving the Lord in your local church?
• Are you having a healthy diet and enough rest?

Rm.8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

You are more than a conqueror. Life’s struggles are instruments God uses to mould and shape us.

Time Management

Hi everyone,
How have you been? Just want to share how important it is to manage our time well amidst all that we face. Let God’s Word minister to you today.
Do keep in touch, If this article has blessed, do reply.
Believing God’s best for you
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It is so important for us to manage our time well. The way we manage our time will determine our destiny. The Bible says

Eph 5:15-17 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

God wants us to be careful in the way we use our time. Time is one of the most valuable resources that we have. It is more valuable than money. Life is made of time. We must make most of our time. We must be good stewards of what God has given us. To waste our time is to waste our lives.

Where we are today is linked to how we have spent our time in the past. Where we will be in the future will be determined by the way we spend our time now. Our life is determined by how we spend our time.

4 keys of Time Management that will revolutionize your life

T – Trust God
Entrust your time to God. Have a relationship with Him and allow Him to shape your time. Your most important appointment of the day is your appointment with God. Be conscious of Him throughout the day.

I – Invest into your time
What you sow is what you reap – the Law of Sowing and Reaping. Sow into your time. If you want to reap something in the future, you need to start sowing now. Sow things that God wants. Sow your priorities.

M – Manage your Time

• Schedule your time, plan your day. It is like a road map that will ensure proper use of time eg. for prayer, God’s Word, family, studies, church, etc. It will help you avoid impulsive living
• Coordinate your day, decide your priorities, do not waste time running around, do not spend too much time on insignificant things
• Be flexible when necessary, allow time for unscheduled tasks or emergencies
• Live a disciplined life
• Evaluate your day. See how you can improve for tomorrow

E – Establish Priorities

• What are your priorities in life?

1. God comes first - take time with God.
2. Family comes second – take time with family.
3. School, work, church – studies (study hard), work (work diligently) and church (serve wholeheartedly)
4. Others – personal interests, recreation, games, social activities, etc

• Know what God wants us to achieve. Have a vision, establish goals. Your goals control the direction of your life.(Pro.29:18)
• Determine how much time you need to spend on your priorities

Be good stewards of the time that God has given you. You do not have time to do everything that you want to do. You can only do the things that God wants you to do

Always ask “Lord Jesus, what do you want me to do?”
To be successful, you must manage your time effectively. Successful time management will enable you to please God, consistently achieve your goals, reduce/avoid stress and fulfill your destiny.

"LORD, CHANGE ME"

Hi everyone,

It is such a joy to write to you again on the blog. As we see the events in the world, there are so many things that are happening. The winds of change are blowing. We live in a time of continuous change. People are elected on the promise of bringing change. Everywhere, everyone is expecting change.

Over the years, my desire has been to see everyone coming to experience God’s goodness and power, living victoriously and being blessed. This has been our ministry’s philosophy. And yet so many times we see Christians living in mediocrity and sometime even in defeat. They know promises of God and yet fail in the process. Like the children of Israel, they perish in the wilderness without reaching the Promised Land. Why is this so?

The answer – they were not willing to change.

Why do people not fulfill destiny? Because they are not willing to allow God to change them. They are not willing to apply the principles of God’s Word to their lives
Why do marriages fail? Because people do not want to change. They do not want to work on the issues and change.

This has been one of my biggest problems in ministering to people. People are not willing to face issues and change. It is amazing, if one of their car tyres was punctured, they would fix it immediately. You don’t see people driving around town for years with one flat tyre. And yet we live year after year, with punctured emotions, punctured thoughts, punctured speech, punctured relationships, etc. We must deal with issues in our lives. .

Why do people find it difficult to change?

• Their hearts have grown cold. They do not have an abiding relationship with Jesus (Jn.15:4,5)
• They do not want to put effort. Change involves effort, dealing with yourself involves work
• Change deals with their pride. They feel there is nothing wrong. This is their perception and they perceive wrong. When one resorts to blaming others, then there is a serious question of their own spirituality.

It is always easy to focus on others and not ourselves. It is always easier to look at the speck in someone else and not see the log in our own lives. We need to deal. And the person we need to deal is we ourselves. We are our biggest trouble maker.

Isaiah 43:18,19 “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

God wants to do new things – roads in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, breakthrough living, fulfillment of dreams, miracles and healing, destiny fulfilled, impacting our community. Yet we must make a move to change – from the old to the new. When we change our family changes. When our family changes, our community changes, when our community changes, our nation changes.

For the new to come, you got to release the old. For the new tenant to come in, the old tenant must leave.

Questions that you need to ask daily?

• How much time am I spending with God?
• Is there any area in my life that needs to change?
• What are my thoughts and words like?
• How am I relating to the people around me?
• What does Jesus want from me today?

Let’s continually check ourselves first. You can experience great things today. Position yourself continually before God and allow Him to change you. Face issues in your life and ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

NB. If you need any help, please call or email us.

FULFILLING DESTINY

God has made each one of us special. Each one of us has a distinct purpose and our whole life’s journey is to fulfill that purpose. We must become and move to what God wants. We must fulfill destiny.

So how can we fulfill destiny?

Phil.3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

1) Release the Past
“Forgetting those thongs which are behind”

Our past must never prevent us from reaching our future. So many of us are locked into our past – sins, unresolved conflicts, frustrations, disappointments, injustice, betrayal, relationship breakdown, etc. We learn from the past but the past must never hinder us. We need to release it and move on.

Confess every sin to God (1 Jn.1:9). Do not hold any form of bitterness, guilt or condemnation. Release every disappointment to God. The Bible says in 1 Pet.5:7,that we need to cast our burdens on God because He cares for us.

2) Moving Forward in the Present

Keep moving forward in your Christian life. The problem with us as Christians today is that we have forgotten to do the basic things. What about our prayer life? What about our reading, meditating and obeying God’s Word? What about our commitment and serving in our local church? What about our caring for people? What about our reaching the lost?

We need to move forward. Like a bicycle, if we don’t move we fall. If we don’t move forward, if we are not growing daily that means we falling back. Sow into your relationship with God. Yield and abide with Jesus. (Jn.15:4,5) Allow the Holy Spirit to help you.

3) Press-on to God’s Purposes
Paul say “I press on that I may lay hold for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me,.” “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God I Christ Jesus.”

What must we press-on to? God’s purpose in our lives, We need to be focused to fulfill God’s destiny. We need to work towards God’s purposes. So how do we press on?

· Pray persistently – you have got to pray. Prayer is the means God uses to fulfill His purposes
· Believe wholeheartedly –You have got to believe. If you can believe, all things are possible to them that believe
· Persevere fervently – Pressing on involves perseverance. Don’t give up. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

You life’s journey is to FULFILL DESTINY

We want to see you experience God’s goodness and power, live victoriously and be blessed

If you are free this Sunday15/11/09, why not join us for our service at Holiday Villa Subang, 10am, Victorian Ballroom. We will be looking at “Running with God’s Vision” – a study from the book of Habakkuk. It is going to be awesome. Why not bring a friend with you.

NB. If you need any help, please call or email us.

SEEKING GOD’S WILL (Part 2)

SEEKING GOD’S WILL (Part 2)

The most important thing in life is to walk in God’s will. Walking in God’s will results in experiencing God’s favor.

Remember you are special to God and God has a great plan for you. To see that plan fulfilled, we need to yield to God and make Him our priority (Rm.12:1; Mt.6:33). We need to make right decisions. Life is about decisions and we are sum total of all the decisions that we have made.

So how do we make godly decisions? There are 7 principles of seeking God’s will. Last week we looked at the first 3, this week we look at the rest.

Remember Step 1 is the most important. When making major decisions, ensure that all 7 are there. Don’t just act on one or two.

Step 1: The Bible, God’s Word
God will speak to us through His Word, the Bible. This is the primary way that God speaks and guides us (Ps.119:105). Every decision must be in line with God’s Word. It must never contradict God’s Word. As you read God’s Word, God will speak to you. Ensure you have a daily Bible reading and allow God to lead you.

Step 2: The spoken Word, Rhema
God wants to lead you through His spoken Word. God speaks to His people. He is a loving Shepherd and you need to hear His voice and follow (Jn.10:3,4). God speaks to us through the inner voice, visions, dreams, audible voice, spontaneous thoughts, etc. Always position yourself to hear what God is saying. Wait on Him.

Step 3 :The Peace of God
God can lead you through your inner witness – the peace of God in your hearts (Phil.4:9). The Holy Spirit dwells in your heart, and if it is God’s will you will definitely have the inner peace in your heart. If you don’t, wait.

Step 4: Circumstances of Life
Rm.8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose".
As Christians, God is in control of our lives and has allowed circumstances for our good. God leads you through your circumstances. Through your circumstances, you can see how God is directing you to fulfill His purposes.

Step 5: Godly Counsel
Pro.11:14 'Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety".

Prov.12:15 " The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise".
A wise person will seek counsel in making decisions. An unwise person will be content with his own opinion. When making a decision, seek godly people to pray along with you and counsel you.

Remember if it is a family decision, both husband and wife must agree.

Step 6: Godly wisdom

Jam.1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him".

God can give you godly wisdom. Wisdom is the practical application of knowledge. Here are some important questions that you need to ask in making major decisions:

• Does the decision help me grow spiritually?
• What would Jesus do?
• Is it in line with God’s plan for me?
• Will it help me fulfill God's will?

Step 7 : Godly desire

God can lead you by giving godly desires. A lot of times when God wants to lead, He may give you godly desires to fulfill His plan. For example, person with a full time call will have an intense desire to serve and see souls saved (Rm.10:1)

God wants to lead and guide you. Take time to pray and seek God.

Ps.32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Make right decisions.

NB. If you need any help, please call or email us.

We want to see you experience God’s goodness and power, live victoriously and be blessed

SEEKING GOD’S WILL (Part 1)

The most important thing in life is to walk in God’s will. Walking in God’s will result in God’s favor. We will see His plans fulfilled in our lives.

God has a great plan for you.
Jer 29:11 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.

And yet so many times as Christians, we do not follow Biblical principles of making decisions. We want to do it our way and as a result we live a life of defeat and discouragement.

Life is about decisions. There are some major decisions that we all need to make – marriage, job, college, full-time call, etc. Mistakes in major decision will have serious consequences on our future. Remember we are a sum total of all the decisions that we make. Where we would be in the future would depend on the decisions that we make in the present.

As you seek God’s will, it is important that you:
· Have an abiding relationship with (Jn.15:4,5). Ensure you have your Daily Prayer Time
· Keep yielding to Him, desire to have His will not yours
· Have priorities in life to put God first (Mt.6:33)
· Take time to pray and seek God for decisions

So how do we make godly decisions? Here are 7 principles that would help you make right decisions.

Step 1: The Bible, God’s Word

Ps.119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
God will speak to us through His Word, the Bible. This is the primary way that God speaks to us. God’s Word will guide us. Every decision that you make must be in accordance with God’s Word. It must never contradict God’s Word. For example when God says “Do not be unequally yoked (2 Cor.6:14), it means a as Christians, we cannot marry a non-Christian.

As you read God’s word, God will speak to you. Have a daily Bible reading plan and allow God to speak and lead you. He is our Father and He wants to lead His children.

Step 2 The spoken Word, Rhema
God wants to lead us through His spoken Word. God speaks to His people. He is a loving Shepherd and we need to hear His voice and follow Him (Jn.10:3,4)

God speaks to us through:
· Inner voice - still small voice (1 King.19:12,13)
· Visions (Is.6:1)
· Dreams (Mt.1:20)
· Audible voice (1 Sam.3:4-10)
· Spontaneous thoughts

Position yourself to hear what God is saying. Wait on Him.

Step 3 The Peace of God

God can lead you through your inner witness – the peace of God in your hearts (Phi.4:9)
The Holy Spirit dwells in your heart, and if it is God’s will you will definetly have the inner peace in your heart


To be continued next week

MIRACLE BREAKTHROUGH

Our God is miraculous. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly (Eph.3:20). With Him all things are possible (Mk.10:27). This is God’s purpose for you. And yet we struggle with so many issues in our lives?

How can you experience a miracle breakthrough?
Let us look at the woman with an issue of blood in Mark 5.
Mark 5:25, 26 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

Here was a woman who had suffered for 12 years with a flow of blood. She was bound, isolated and lost all she had. She went from bad to worse. What do you do when everything is against you?

There is no problem too great that God cannot solve, there is no sickness too big that God cannot heal. This woman took 8 steps to experience the power of God.

Mark 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.

1) Keep Hearing
You have to position yourself to hear about Jesus. You need to position to receive. By hearing, hope came amidst hopelessness, and faith was released. What you hear and receive from Jesus is the seed that will releases the miraculous.

2) Let Go
Give up on trying to solve the problem yourself. You have to move to a stage of release where you simply let it go to God.

3) Press through
Although weak, she had to press through the crowd. Don’t quit because there are obstacles. If you want your miracle breakthrough, you have to press through whatever obstacle

4) Touch Jesus
This is the most important thing that you need to do. Jesus is God and He is the Way , the Truth and the Life. You must come to Him. Touch Him. Call upon His Name. Get to Jesus.

5:28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

5) Speak Faith
She opened her mouth and declared what she believed. You need to speak what you believe. This is the power of confession.

5:29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

6) Power Received
As she touched Jesus, she received her miracle breakthrough. The power of Jesus flowed through her and she was healed of her sicknesses.

5:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
5:31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
5:32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
5:33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.
5:34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Jesus wanted to know who touched Him. Someone had touched Him in faith and experienced His power. The woman came and fell down before Him and spoke to Him.

7) Relationship Strengthened
The priority is not the miracle but our relationship with Jesus. She fell down and poured her heart to Jesus. Jesus called her daughter. From just an significant nameless woman, she became a daughter. This is what Jesus does. He brings restoration.


8) Faith works
Jesus said to her “Your faith has made you well.” It is faith in God that will unlock the miraculous. Dare to believe God. If you can believe, all things are possible (Mk.9:23)

What are you struggling with today? – sickness, family struggles, disappointments, disillusionment, financial problems,etc. Why don’t you touch Jesus now, call upon His name and dare believe Him for a miracle.

Get ready for a Miracle Breakthrough. God bless you

Ps.Suresh Sundram

Do call us if there is anything we can do.