I'm now on Wordpress!! So link me @ http://joncarlwong.wordpress.com ! :)
Jon.W
John 4:34-35
"My food," says Jesus, "is to do the will of Him (God) who sent me and to finish His work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest?' I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for the harvest.
Sometimes it's so easy to be caught up with putting food on our tables, it's so easy to be consumed with the busyness of the world, and I think this is one of the greatest ploy the enemy uses us to stop us from advancing the Kingdom of God. Can we be like Jesus, and say that "our food" is indeed to do the will of the Father, to OPEN our eyes and LOOK at the fields?
Or are our eyes shut oblivious to what's happening around us, but yet, being so microscopic in our views, only focusing upon ourselves?
Let's OPEN our eyes to the things around us...
Let us LOOK at the harvest...
Let us SOW and REAP, for NOW is the TIME!
Jon.W
I have been thinking about "Worship" recently, and what it really means. From the many books I've read in regards to Worship, the authors will time and time again reiterate the fact that worship the way lay-people see it (Singing Praise and Worship songs during a service) - is just but an overflow of our daily lives.
Sunday service worship should just be an expression of our daily worship to God - and one thing that is required in it is - CONSISTENCY.
You read the scriptures, you see many who have started out the race well, but ended up falling into sin. It gives me a good reminder that consistency is very, very important in our walk with God. It is a long-hauled race, and it requires us to remain focused.
We tend to forget that Worship and the Word of God comes together, and the most beautiful worship songs are often created through scriptures in the Bible. Likewise, be consistent in reading the Word of God.
Be consistent.
Jon.W
LoudFest 2009
19-21 MARCH • 7.30PM
THE CORNERSTONE
11 East Coast Road
The Odeon Katong (beside Katong Shopping Centre) Level 3
Join Audacious Live, Ps. Glyn Barrett and more at LoudFest 2009 this 19-21 March!
Be inspired and equipped through an exciting lineup of workshops ranging from: Creative Arts, Multimedia by local Christian artists, Worship Band workshops by the Audacious band and lots more.
Conference admission: Full conference S$35 • 1-day pass S$15
Night meetings are free. All are welcome.
The full conference fee includes a goody bag with notebooks and vouchers.
Invite your unchurched friends, especially the young for the evening rallies.
Check out the conference website www.ignite-asia.org for more information on the event.
Jon.W
My goodness gracious me!! It's already March, and time seems to be whizzing by!! The first quarter of the year is almost up, and before you know it, we'll be celebrating Christmas and the New Year once again.
Even as I evaluate my own personal progress for the year thus far, I thank God for His grace and providence in seeing me through. Indeed, it is a great encouragement to know that whatever we might sow through labour and tears, God will return us with a harvest, and with songs of joy!
What are you sowing in your life today? Just continue to persevere in whatever you're doing, and trust that God will grant you the harvest! :) Reap with JOY!
Psalms 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
Meanwhile, despite the extremely busy schedule I seem to be piling up, I just thank God for every free moment I have with Elizabeth! Time is somewhat scarce, but the scarcity of time, makes every moment even more precious. =)
Jon.W
Just had a Tung Ling gathering yesterday with the follow SOL-ers, and it was a fantastic time of getting together and just sharing with each other what God has done in our lives since graduation.
"What God has done in our lives..." It made me wonder what God can do in such a short span of time. In just such a short span of time, God has sent out a few out into the mission field, He has called a few into full-time minisry, He has purposed a few to be placed strategically in the market-place to reach out, He has placed a few into the community to make a difference into the lives of people... God has done plenty, just in such a short span of time...
And after listening through all the respective sharing of the classmates, one common denominator is prevalent in the sharing; that as long as we are willing hands and feet for God, He can do wonders, He can do anything. Question is, are we God's willing hands and feet? Are we able to just give up the 'cares of the world' and follow God whole-heartedly, are we able to put both hands on the plow and just do the works of God? Or do we allow circumstances in life to plague us!
The enemy is smart, definitely smart. Sin or distractions from the enemy doesn't come with a HUGE poison sign to warn is. It creeps in subtly, and before you know it, it's something that hinders us from doing more for God?
What are the distractions in your life that, possibly is hindering God from acheiving His FULL purpose in YOUR life? Perhaps it is being too caught up with making money, or too caught up getting good grades. Perhaps it is friends, or relationships that is hindering you. Emotions is a fantastic gift from God, but that too, can be a distraction to our walk with God. Even ministry can be a hindrance to what God can achieve in your life.
I know some people who love to plan everything, from step A through step Z, but ultimately, let us remember that God is the ultimate planner of our lives. Only if we allow Him too.
What has God done in your life recently? Think about it. And if for some reason, God doesn't seem very visible in your life, perhaps it's about time to once again, seek Him, and allow God to take control of your life.
Then, surely goodness, and mercy, will follow you all the days of your life.
Jon.W
Seeing people worship passionately always give me the goosebumps, and even more when I see children just worshipping God. An amazingly cute kid just bellowing out, "I see grace". Beautiful song, cute kid. Enjoy! :)
Jon.W
Yesterday, during Zone 3, we were discussing about "Goals", and what we want to achieve in our lives. Short-term goals to be exact. I was just thinking about it, and I realised that many of the goals that were mentioned, were all about "Self-enhancement". Goals that were somewhat, self-centred and almost, an egocentric way of thinking.
So whilst we were jotting down our 'Short-term goals', I jotted down a list of things I hoped to accomplish in my life time.
I would like to:
1) Learn how to swim properly
2) Learn to dive, and dive with sharks too
3) Do a round-the-world trip for an entire year
4) Sky dive
5) Get my Masters in divinity/theology
6) Have a decent looking physical body
7) Have a penthouse apartment
8) Worship lead in the Indoor Stadium
Any many, many more...
But even as I was sitting down, thinking about what I want in life, I was reminded once again, as much as it is important to know what you want in life, to have aspirations and goals, it is even more important to love the people around you.
Many of us have a list of things we hope to achieve during our life-time on earth. Perhaps, we might actually cross off the things on our list, but eventually, it is the people around you that matter, it's the people that you love that should take precedence over our 'task list', isn't it?
To me, life shouldn't be about goals and achieving them (Not that I think that they are not important - of course it's good to have goals in life), but really, life is really about spending time with the people you love, seeing the people who mean the world to you succeed in life. These are the things that make me happy, and take priority in life.
Even as some of you might know, my paternal grandma is currently in a very critical condition, and I was wondering to myself, if I were lying on my death bed, what would be my thoughts, and really, I don't think I will be wondering about my achievements in life. I won't be wondering what my net worth was, but I'll be thinking about those that I love, those that love me, those that stood with me till my last days, those that I know will remember me.
We sometimes take our Christian walk with God the same way. We list down 'tasks' we need to accomplish. Quiet time, done, check. Prayed, done, check. Shared the gospel to one person this week, done, check. Worshipped God, oops, not yet, better do it.
We sometimes take our ministry the same way. We strategise means and ways to best make our ministry more effective, we think of the greatest way to maximise resources to share the gospel...
But even as I was pondering about it, Jesus started from building relations, first with His disciples, and then to the followers. He first met their needs, as a friend, before instructing them as a Rabbi.
As much as I agree that it's very important for us to have goals in our life, let us not forget the essence of who we are. We're people, we're living stones. Life brings life, death will bring death. Let us influence people with our lives, let us be good testimonies through our actions. Let us love in action.
Jon.W