A divine appointment
Today I had an interesting time of fellowship with two parents of our youths who are intercessors for our church. I was feeling tired after a day at school but it was a time which really refreshed my spirit as we spoke and shared about what God is doing at Wesley.
I happened to have tea with them after I went to get my haircut by one of them. They shared their concerns about their children, one about her worry for her son who is not really 'into' YM, and another whose daughter has gone to City Harvest 'for a while'. We spoke about how another of their children had been previously very dry and had been visiting other churches, but as we did the 'Salvation Equation', he remarked that we cannot compare with other more charismatic churches and judge, because the Lord has His way with the youths in YM. When I heard that, my heart was glad, because our youths can see that the Lord is working in YM.
We also spoke about some of the things that we do for fellowship sunday. And honestly, these are frivolous things....playing LAN, going to the video arcade, watching movies....there is nothing wrong inherently, but they expressed their concern if every fellowship sunday we were to either go watch movies or bowling. Is it a cultural thing at Wesley MC? If we are building a ministry here, then what are we building for the next generation in Wesley? Are we going to have a generation of Christians who are comfortable and inward-looking?
We need to teach our youths biblical fellowship. One of the mothers said that she was praying that we will begin to do the things which will build biblical fellowship in our church. The Lord says, go to the widows and the orphans and to the poor and needy...maybe we need to consider doing that for our ministry? Because where we are, in Wesley Methodist Church, whatever our background is, we are very sheltered. When she shared that, something stirred within my heart, which I will not choose to share at the moment. All I will say is that the Lord has reserved for Himself '700o who have not bowed the knee to Baal'. And from where we are, we cannot see them. They are the intercessors who are praying in their own closets for YM, upholding us in prayer, and for them I give thanks, because the Lord really desires us to grow and be a people who will make a difference in the world.
Another confirmation that the Lord wants to effect this change is that PIC has shared with the pray-ers that certain mindsets and traditions in Wesley have to be broken, and the hidden army is praying in accordance with his leadership. This is something which has been on my heart...the fact that some things in Wesley need to be changed. We cannot do some things in the ways that we have been doing them. We need to break out of the moulds which have constrained us for years so that we can move in step with where the Spirit is leading us. The hidden army is praying and the change will come in the Lord's time. Let us be encouraged to persevere on even when the going gets tough in YM. He is faithful.
We ended with prayer. I believe that the Lord is moving. It was indeed a divine appointment and I felt my spirit being refreshed even though physically I was tired.
We need to keep praying.
I happened to have tea with them after I went to get my haircut by one of them. They shared their concerns about their children, one about her worry for her son who is not really 'into' YM, and another whose daughter has gone to City Harvest 'for a while'. We spoke about how another of their children had been previously very dry and had been visiting other churches, but as we did the 'Salvation Equation', he remarked that we cannot compare with other more charismatic churches and judge, because the Lord has His way with the youths in YM. When I heard that, my heart was glad, because our youths can see that the Lord is working in YM.
We also spoke about some of the things that we do for fellowship sunday. And honestly, these are frivolous things....playing LAN, going to the video arcade, watching movies....there is nothing wrong inherently, but they expressed their concern if every fellowship sunday we were to either go watch movies or bowling. Is it a cultural thing at Wesley MC? If we are building a ministry here, then what are we building for the next generation in Wesley? Are we going to have a generation of Christians who are comfortable and inward-looking?
We need to teach our youths biblical fellowship. One of the mothers said that she was praying that we will begin to do the things which will build biblical fellowship in our church. The Lord says, go to the widows and the orphans and to the poor and needy...maybe we need to consider doing that for our ministry? Because where we are, in Wesley Methodist Church, whatever our background is, we are very sheltered. When she shared that, something stirred within my heart, which I will not choose to share at the moment. All I will say is that the Lord has reserved for Himself '700o who have not bowed the knee to Baal'. And from where we are, we cannot see them. They are the intercessors who are praying in their own closets for YM, upholding us in prayer, and for them I give thanks, because the Lord really desires us to grow and be a people who will make a difference in the world.
Another confirmation that the Lord wants to effect this change is that PIC has shared with the pray-ers that certain mindsets and traditions in Wesley have to be broken, and the hidden army is praying in accordance with his leadership. This is something which has been on my heart...the fact that some things in Wesley need to be changed. We cannot do some things in the ways that we have been doing them. We need to break out of the moulds which have constrained us for years so that we can move in step with where the Spirit is leading us. The hidden army is praying and the change will come in the Lord's time. Let us be encouraged to persevere on even when the going gets tough in YM. He is faithful.
We ended with prayer. I believe that the Lord is moving. It was indeed a divine appointment and I felt my spirit being refreshed even though physically I was tired.
We need to keep praying.
just write sumthin'......?
It's been a long time since I've written...
or rather, it's been a long time since I've been able to write. The working world is really tough and there is little compassion afforded when you fail. Some are more blessed to work in more forgiving environments, but still, overall, we still have to 'eat of the ground through painful toil', for that is the curse which resulted from sin.
I struggle because teaching is such a tough job. I struggle because now that school has started full swing I am no longer able to do as many things as I hope for YM, being the lack of time or energy or health. I try, but I realise that I can only do so much. I struggle, and ask God why. Why am I stuck here. I want to go out into the world for you, God. Why? I don't get many answers. But one of them comes from last year's camp....'necessary place'.
Why do I still want to write? Why am I rambling on and on?
I do so because my Lord Jesus is still faithful. Even in poor health and tiredness, in times of struggle and desperation and even frustration, He is still faithful. God has blessed me tremendously and i must remember to give thanks. And He reminds me that He is still at work in my life and in YM today.
Yesterday, at the YM Comm meeting, there was some sort of a spiritual breakthrough. We departed from the usual finishing of agenda, to praying as a committee. We spoke about the need to listen to God in our ministry, and perhaps how we haven't been doing that. And we began praying. We were reminded that our leaders need to be united so that the Lord can bring about His revival in us--that was the prophecy given to us many years ago. We were reminded that we need to love God first and foremost with all our heart and with all our mind and with all our soul and with all our strength. We need to remember our first love for our Lord which we have forgotten through our endless driving in ministry. And we need to love one another.
Another point that was mentioned....the church in Acts had alot of disagreements, but the Lord still worked through them, because they were a PRAYING CHURCH. Much more is accomplished when we pray much rather than when we do much. We need to pray as a church. As YM. And even in my frustration of not being able to attend prayer meetings whether it's because of my BB in school or camps or YM Comm meetings, I praise and thank God because He has raised up a generation of prayer warriors from the youths. As I walked past Rm 310/311 yesterday, I realised that the Lord doesn't need me. He is a jealous God, and he is more jealous for His Name that I ever will be. And He will raise up His children so that His 'house will be a house of prayer for the nations'.
So, even as in due time we will embark on the book of Acts during YSG time, let us not remember only the missionary journeys, or the lives of the apostles, or the places that Paul went, but let's remember that the great work of God is done through His praying church.
He is faithful.
--jiemin =)
or rather, it's been a long time since I've been able to write. The working world is really tough and there is little compassion afforded when you fail. Some are more blessed to work in more forgiving environments, but still, overall, we still have to 'eat of the ground through painful toil', for that is the curse which resulted from sin.
I struggle because teaching is such a tough job. I struggle because now that school has started full swing I am no longer able to do as many things as I hope for YM, being the lack of time or energy or health. I try, but I realise that I can only do so much. I struggle, and ask God why. Why am I stuck here. I want to go out into the world for you, God. Why? I don't get many answers. But one of them comes from last year's camp....'necessary place'.
Why do I still want to write? Why am I rambling on and on?
I do so because my Lord Jesus is still faithful. Even in poor health and tiredness, in times of struggle and desperation and even frustration, He is still faithful. God has blessed me tremendously and i must remember to give thanks. And He reminds me that He is still at work in my life and in YM today.
Yesterday, at the YM Comm meeting, there was some sort of a spiritual breakthrough. We departed from the usual finishing of agenda, to praying as a committee. We spoke about the need to listen to God in our ministry, and perhaps how we haven't been doing that. And we began praying. We were reminded that our leaders need to be united so that the Lord can bring about His revival in us--that was the prophecy given to us many years ago. We were reminded that we need to love God first and foremost with all our heart and with all our mind and with all our soul and with all our strength. We need to remember our first love for our Lord which we have forgotten through our endless driving in ministry. And we need to love one another.
Another point that was mentioned....the church in Acts had alot of disagreements, but the Lord still worked through them, because they were a PRAYING CHURCH. Much more is accomplished when we pray much rather than when we do much. We need to pray as a church. As YM. And even in my frustration of not being able to attend prayer meetings whether it's because of my BB in school or camps or YM Comm meetings, I praise and thank God because He has raised up a generation of prayer warriors from the youths. As I walked past Rm 310/311 yesterday, I realised that the Lord doesn't need me. He is a jealous God, and he is more jealous for His Name that I ever will be. And He will raise up His children so that His 'house will be a house of prayer for the nations'.
So, even as in due time we will embark on the book of Acts during YSG time, let us not remember only the missionary journeys, or the lives of the apostles, or the places that Paul went, but let's remember that the great work of God is done through His praying church.
He is faithful.
--jiemin =)
This prayer blog is started to help us in Wesley Youth Ministry have a collective journal of God's dealings with each and every one of us. In time to come this blog will be a testimony to God's faithfulness to YM, as we look back through the months and the years and see in hindsight how the Lord has been working in and through us.
If you feel that you have anything to contribute to the blog, to give thanks to God for answered prayer, to encourage the body of Christ, or share what God has been speaking to you through prayer and QT, please email your entry to jiemin11@singnet.com.sg and include your name as you would like it to appear on the blog.
God bless you!
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