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.