Reflections from Bernard Tumaru

When We Are Ready

I learned something important today about God's love for us.

We often wonder why God takes so long to bless us. We get frustrated when we do not get things immediately. We become impatient and start to question God.

I have asked the same questions whenever I wanted something badly. I become worried and frustrated when God does not seem to answer my prayers. I remember Him telling me, "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you," and yet it does not seem to be the case at times.

Like everybody else, I have focused so much on those words that I have forgotten a much more important point. For after those immediately come the following verses "Who among you fathers if whose son asks him for bread gives him a snake instead?" Key words: father and son. The relationship that we should have with God is like between a father and a son!

How more often than not that we treat our relationship with God with a degree of impersonality? God has become too impersonal for us that we neglect to act as obedient children should do. God, as Father only wants the best for His children, and basing from His own judgment, he knows who we are and what we are capable of.

God knows who we are! He wants to bless us so much but He also knows that sometimes we are not ready. We are not ready to face the 'consequences' and responsibilities of His gifts. He knows how much we want things badly but He also knows that our characters are not prepared to receive those blessings. How often have you heard people pray for good health but yet are not committed to exercise everyday? Or individuals who want to find a good wife and get married and yet continues to be self-involved and selfish?

But then you may say, "But I have seen people in the world who got married and continue their self-centered ways." That is true, but just the same, that person was never ready for the responsibilities and most often the marriage ends up in painful separation or divorce.

God as our Father wants to bless us. But most importantly He wants obedience from us as His true Sons/Daughters. If you find yourself praying for the same things over and over again for a very long time maybe you should stop and reflect what God wants to change in you so that you may be ready to receive those blessings and the responsibilities that come with them. He is such a wise and loving God that He knows which gifts would help you or ruin you, which ones you can manage and you can not cope up with. As His true children, we receive this loving and extra special attention from God.

So next time we pray for things, our prayer should be "God, please prepare me for all the many blessings you want to shower upon me. May I have the right heart, mindset and character to be able to face the challenges of those gifts, that I may use them for the benefit of your kingdom."

It does not matter whether you are praying for a relationship, a good career, a new car, better lifestyle or having children, our Father would want to make sure that His Sons/Daughters are in the best position to receive it.

Praise and glory to God, the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ!

Message from David Teo

Hi all,

We (David Teo, Shirley, Jessie & May) will be going to NZ for our adventure self drive trip from 2nd May to 14th May.

Please be praying for us to have safe and fruitful trip. We really need God in our journey to protect us.

Our flight detail :

Flight Out : 2nd May 08
----------

Flight QF 320
from Singapore (SIN) on Fri 2 May 08 - 19:45
to Sydney (SYD) on Sat 3 May 08 - 05:15

Flight QF 45
from Sydney (SYD) on Sat 3 May 08 - 08:35
to Christchurch (CHC) on Sat 3 May 08 - 13:35

Flight Back : 14th May 08
-----------

Flight QF 206
from Christchurch (CHC) on Wed 14 May 08 - 06:45
to Sydney (SYD) on Wed 14 May 08 - 08:10

Flight QF 5
from Sydney (SYD) on Wed 14 May 08 - 15:50
to Singapore (SIN) on Wed 14 May 08 - 21:50

Sharing from Shirley Goh

Time

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.

There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with those important to him. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over "his side of the fence" as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture... .Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box? " Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days, the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an
envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! - Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most...was.. .my time."

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the
moments that take our breath away,"

Time has a way of getting away from all of us relatives,friends ,near
& dear ones.
TAKE THE TIME...NOW.
Remember the past, plan for the future but the present is very precious.

Good News from Kota Kinabalu 2

Dearest NE region,

Another good news letter from Loriot...

with love,
Grace and Zq

KK Update 2

We are so grateful, excited and encouraged by your continuous mails and prayers! Gods work is still encouraging us here in Kota Kinabalu. Last Sunday marked the best attendance we ever had in a looooooooooong time!! We had 20 (12 disciples)head count!

Bible study lesson with Jumil continued to sin studies. Hes been coming to every meetings and hangouts! Really awesome guy. Last Sunday service, he brought his younger brother who just finished Form Five and is looking for a place to further his studies.

Rebecca (Grace cute little friend in KK!) came to church last sunday and loved it! She stayed for fellowship over lunch! Today I had the privilege to join my wife for the study with Rebecca. She got this pure heart that really hungers for the truth . Really pure hearted girl. Very hard working, alert, and totally discipline!! (Grace, personally I am very confident that she is going to make it!! Like you said, Super Open....) Shes looking forward to come to church this sunday. Bible studies with her has been fixed on every Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Wei Kean the UMS student Bible Study lesson is also still on. and so is Michelle.

Last Sunday, my wife brought a friend name Prisilla. Very friendly girl but yet to work out time to study the Bible. The Chinese sister Ching Yeun also brought her brother Ah Ming.

This week Wednesday the church took a whole day of fasting. Meanwhile, I cooked porridge for everyone, mixed with 2 ayam kampong, brought it to the mid week meeting and we broke our fast together!! Every single grain of rice in that porridge was licked!! It was an awesome night followed by an exciting Bible Trivia Quizzes!!

I also had the privilege to get connected with Halbert (Penang) and Karmen (JB) for a morning prayer on wednesday morning through SKYPE! This was initiated by Halbert. That was really cool inspiring.

Well this is all for today. More good news to come. We love you all and thanks again for all your prayers.
Loriot and family

Good News from KK Church!

Dearest NE region,

Thank you so much for all your prayers for the KK church. We are so moved to hear from Loriot and karen of how faithful God has been in KK. It's a revival that has made all the trips there so special and worth it! To all the brothers and sisters in KK, we love you and we respect every single one of you as you go out doing God's mission. You are constantly in our prayers. Zq and i will be going again in June and we'll be bringing our whole family. God is so kind...air asia has free tickets promotion at that time. 4 other sisters from KL will be joining us and some from singapore. i've been praying to God daily to be fruitful since Jan 3rd. it'll be exciting if Rebekkah makes it. Below is Loriot's good news letter....

Love,
Grace and ZQ

On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 9:29 PM, Loriot Moujing wrote:

Hi ZQ and Grace, how are you? The KK church here owes you guys so much!!! The encouragement, Inspiration, Prayers, etc. etc.etc. Since the singaporean left kk mid of march, the kk church has not been the same! The fire is still blazing. Juliana's mother Betty that was restored is doing well. Physically she has not been fine though. We are also still following ups on the contacts you gave to us. Let me share with you some of these awesome news.

Chris Emin followed up with one of the contacts through email. He is studying at the local Polytechnic and has been praying since last year for someone to come and study the Bible with him. He is yet to arrange his time to meet us.

The UMS (University Malaysia Sabah) student Wee Kean met by micheal and came to church service has been hanging out with us. We have brought him out for tea tarik near the campus and he love to hang out with us. Two studies have been done with him and the next study is on tuesday night this week!

Sister Anna brought his brother for dinner at my house last Friday. His name is Jamil. He stayed on enjoying the fellowship and later followed us boys for a hang out at the UMS. He is 22 years old and studying at PTPL College for Diploma Teknologi Makmal Perubatan. PTPL (Pusat Teknologi dan Pengurusan Lanjutan) group is affliated to the Managemant and Science University (MSU). On Sunday he came to church and we studied the bible right after. He want to seek God and want to continue studying the Bible! Super Open. I felt like he really is a gift from God! His goal later is to be able to help his Dad to become a christian! Infact, the father has already been asking how to be a christian! This Wednesday we will continue the study and go hang out!!

My wife and sister Jihen met and studied seeking God with Rebecca on saturday last week. This is the girl that Grace met and was fired up about!! After the study she really want to come to our church service BUT she was required to work on accounts every sundays! She also is in her final year at the same college that Jamil is studying!! and besides work and studying she also give tuition part time! She work to support herself and her family. So she really have no time to come to church! So last sunday at work, she decided to ask her boss if she could take time off to go to church. To her surprise, the Boss ask her to take sundays off!! Incredible. I really believe this is from the LORD! And what amaze me is that these two great studies we now have goes to the same college!! I really believe that God is opening more doors through these two studies!

CK introduced this women name Michele to the church many months ago. She has been coming on and off to various activities organised by the church but never really was open to learn about christianity. Last sunday she came to church with another friend. The chinese sister ching yeun has been following up with her closely and they have build up good friendship. On sunday I preached in Bahasa about the Prodigal Son. After the service, she spoke to my wife that she would like to start studying the Bible! That was so awesome.

Last Sunday, My wife Karen brought a mini cooker to church and cooked pizza for everyone!! She used her Tupperware deep pan to cook!! What a way to deepen the fellowship!! Everyone stayed on for great fellowship and at the same time enjoying freshly cooked pizza!!.

Lastly, we are still working on the couple bonny and his wife. He has not been free to meet us. But the wife has been coming. However, the sisters will continue to work on with the wife first.

Well, this is all the good news. more to come. let us stay in your prayers as we continue to shine here. love you all and God bless.

New Widgets!

Hi Christians!

I want to announce the addition of two new widgets to our North East blog! These are in addition to the other helpful very helpful widgets we now have such as the Chatterbox, Calendar, Bubbleshare photo album, and Online Sermons from church.

The new widgets are:

1. Window widget to Disciples Today
2. And Window widget to Special Events announced in church.

AS your administrator, I have been trying the best I can to make sure that our blog remains updated and functional. Hopefully everybody will take full advantage of its benefits as our blog enters its 2nd mothlyversary.

If you have any other suggestions and ideas to improve our blog, please let me know. Of all the ministries in Church, only NorthEast, Campus and Teens have their own blog. So I want to congratulate everybody for their contribution to making this blog. Let us truly use this God-given tool to bring our faith higher and to know and worship God.

God bless!

We Welcome a New Brother

We welcome a new brother in the Kingdom of God!

Our new brother is Yi Xiong, fruit of our brother Jeremiah.

Jeremiah recounted the story of how unfaithful he was when evangalizing in Ang Mo Kio. There he met Yi Xiong.

At first Yi Xiong wasn't very keen in attending church because he felt it to be so far away. I remember in the car with Raymond when Jeremiah told us about Yi Xiong's problem. Raymond suggested that Jeremiah invite Yi Xiong instead to study the Bible. Suprisingly, Yi Xiong was open about it.

It was through perserverance, desire to save someone, and God's faithfulness that Jeremiah is able to baptize Yi Xiong on March 30, 2008.

From us in the North east, welcome to the Kingdom brother!