So tired out today...nearly got into a few blowups with some men in my unit

But physically I grow weaker, hopefully spiritually I grow stronger

Something I posted on my Facebook which I think I'll just put here too.

A personal prayer that expresses my goals, wishes and hopes this new year
By tagging you I wish to encourage and provoke you to think
Just to share


Dear Abba Father

This new year
Full of promise and life
Many things I want,
But only few are needed
and they are the most important

First, dear Father
Grant me the patience to wait
The discipline to pray
The heart to intercede
And the spirit that daily faints
to be in Your presence
Grant me each day my daily bread
And the Water of Life
That I may continually feast
And never hunger again

Grant to me also
A heart of discipleship
Wisdom to guide, sensitivity to needs
My Balm of Gilead,
Grant it that I be a balm to the wounded and hurting
For this world many grieves abound
But only one Joy is sufficient
Give me a heart that weeps for the lost
Remove my complacency, my dismissive spirit
Help me not to judge, not to scorn, not to despise
But help me to be the bearer of Living Water
to parched souls,
cold hearts,
broken spirits
poisoned minds

The paths of life sprawl before me
Myriad, Variant, Transient
Yet whither do I turn
If naught without Thy counsel?
Dearest Shepherd may it be
that You be my compass and map
to shut doors that no man can open
and open doors that no man can shut
least of all myself
That You may lead me along paths of righteousness
Thy Will fulfilled
Thy Word obeyed
Thy Wisdom cherished
Till I reach gloryland

Teach me dear Lord
to see through Thy eyes
pray through Thy Will
care with Thy heart
worship with Thee enthroned
Keep me humble before thy Sovereign Will
Keep me grateful before Calvary
Keep me focussed before Thy Commission
That this year
And evermore
My life may be a sweet aroma to You

In Thou O Father, Son and Spirit
I give thee thanks
MAy it be doNE

17 Feb 2010
Ash Wednesday
First Day of Lent

Bible reading: Matt 6:1-6, 16-21

The practice of faith

What is our motivation for acting out our faith? Here Jesus challenges our notion of Doing good works in order to win recognition and acclaim from the people around us. Comparing the approval and praise of men to "earthly treasures" that will perish in time, Jesus persuades us to aim for our Abba's approval, "the Father who sees in secret will reward you" and to place our treasure in heaven ie the approval of our Lord. We have to realize and seek to please God rather than men. Ultimately, if we serve to please others, our service and faith have no eternal value. Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

Applications:
1) Is my service in my ministry and my daily devotion to God genuine and focused on winning the approval of God, not man? Sometimes ministry can be demanding and I can get distracted by the form, not the substance. At the same time, I must be on guard that I am not serving to make myself more popular or attract attention but out of my love for God.

2) How much does other people's view of me affect the way I serve and obey God? Does the opinions of others, negative or positive, make me change my service just to fit them? In the area of outreach, do I just go through the motions to assuage myself, or do I really dare to provoke and challenge my friends out of love for them? Do I dare to make unpopular but Godly decisions?

Commitment:
Do not allow myself to be swayed by emotions or expectations in doing God's work.
Pray for my faith life to be real and genuine such that others around me will also be drawn to the Truth of God's love.

First of all, don't ask about the blogskin

Secondly,
Ash Wednesday is tomorrow

Lent begins

This year a Lent like none other...at least for me

I will be using my blog to record down my reflections too

So the Songwriting progresses.

So far I have 2 completed songs which I'm quite satisfied with, and many other bits and pieces here and there which I've yet to string together. My prayer is that my songs that I write are able to touch through hearts and draw them back to the Creator of man and music. For the purpose of creation, after all, is to give glory to the one who created it.

This year opens with much promise and much challenges, both for myself in ministry, discipleship and my outreach, and also for our church as a whole. A few of the goals I have this year(though they have yet to be planned specifically):

1) Win 12, disciple 12-self explanatory

2) Talk less, do more, listen more, care more

3) Deepen existing relationships with people

4) Deepen my communion with God

5) run a marathon

6) Write more songs

and some more to come.

1 year and 5 days left till ORD.

hopefully I will make the most of all the opportunities God sends my way.