Christmas Food and Fun Fair 15-Dec-07

My church having a fun fair, and i'm helping out in one of thestalls... Got food, games, show, blood donation etc.... $$$$ will goto church and charity. Charities like Teen Challenge, Assemblies ofGod Services Society , Joy Place and Joy Centre

Please do come support and have fun at the same time! Cheers!

S. Truett Cathy

The man who built his business based on Christian principles.. truly inspiring!
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Armed with a keen business sense, a work ethic forged during the Depression, and a personal and business philosophy based on biblical principles, Truett Cathy took a tiny Atlanta diner, originally called the Dwarf Grill, and transformed it into Chick-fil-A, the nation’s second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain with more than $2.274 billion in sales in 2006 and currently more than 1,300 locations. His tremendous business success allowed Truett to pursue other passions – most notably his interest in the development of young people.


Truett Cathy quotes

“No goal is too high if we climb with care and confidence.”

“Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else – our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.”

“I’d like to be remembered as one who kept my priorities in the right order. We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed, and the important things will not change if we keep our priorities in proper order.”

“You have to be very careful about what you say. More importantly, you have to be very careful about what you do. You never know how or when you influence people – especially children.”

“It is when we stop doing our best work that our enthusiasm for the job wanes. We must motivate ourselves to do our very best, and by our example lead others to do their best as well.”

“I believe no amount of business school training or work experience can teach what is ultimately a matter of personal character. Businesses are not dishonest or greedy, people are. Thus, a business, successful or not, is merely a reflection of the character of its leadership.”

CLOSED ON SUNDAY “I was not so committed to financial success that I was willing to abandon my principles and priorities. One of the most visible examples of this is our decision to close on Sunday. Our decision to close on Sunday was our way of honoring God and of directing our attention to things that mattered more than our business.”


7 Reminders For Building Children* by S. Truett Cathy,Founder and Chairman of Chick-fil-A

1. Every child I know who overcame long odds and grew into a responsible adult can point to an adult who stepped into his or her life as a friend, mentor, and guide.

2. Don’t be too concerned that your children don’t listen to you. But be very concerned that they see everything you do.

3. Be so consistent in your discipline that you’re boring.

4. Stop arguing in front of your children.

5. You may think children have outgrown the desire to be rocked to sleep at night. They haven’t.

6. Children will never believe in the covenant of marriage unless they see you living it with their own eyes.

7. How do you know if a child needs encouragement? If he or she is breathing.

* Excerpts taken from Cathy’s 2004 book: It’s Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men

Fix On Your Vision, Then Plot Your Course by Bob Proctor

You are your most important critic. There is no opinion so vitally important to your well being as the opinion you have of yourself. As you read this you're talking to yourself right now. "Let's see if I understand what he means by that... How does that compare with my experiences? – I'll make note of that – try that tomorrow – I already knew that…I already do that." I believe this self-talk, this psycholinguistics or language of the mind can be controlled to work for us, especially in the building of self-confidence and creativity. We're all talking to ourselves every moment of our lives, except during certain portions of our sleeping cycle. We're seldom even aware that we're doing it. We all have a running commentary in our heads on events and our reactions to them.

This summer, I had a wedding to attend in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I had a few days to spare, and my wife and I enjoy each other's company, so I suggested to Linda that we drive instead of flying. She readily agreed and started collecting the maps we'd need for the trip. As we plotted the course, we would be driving from Toronto to Detroit, Detroit to Cincinnati, Cincinnati to Lexington, Lexington to Louisville and then into Gatlinburg.

We were plotting the vision, you see, to get us from Point A to Point B.

When we got in the car to begin the trip, which city was I thinking of? …Detroit. I had to get to Detroit first; if I missed Detroit, there'd be a good chance we wouldn't find our way to the wedding at all.

Detroit was first on my list – that was my GOAL. After Detroit was accomplished, Cincinnati became my goal and so on … all the way to my final destination – Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
I've had people come up and tell me that they've given up on their big dreams because they never seemed to get closer, no matter what they envisioned or tried. The error they're making is that they're looking for their Gatlinburg, Tennessee while they're still sitting in the driveway in Toronto. In many instances, they're writing their Gatlinburg goal on a Goal Card I've given them, or they're writing it in a journal somewhere. This is all well and good, but if you're not also plotting your course to get from where you are to where you want to be … if you're not figuring out the first goal for Detroit, then following that plotline forward in progressive order, you're going to end up in Montreal instead.

You've GOT to plot the course. Figure out what you need to do between here and there and make those your goals. Once you have the course plotted, though, there are three very distinct rules of thumb I want you to remember.

First, just because you've plotted the course doesn't mean you can put your whole plan on auto-pilot. When pilots reach cruising altitude they'll quite often put the plane on auto-pilot and let years of genius physics and calculus computations steer the plane toward its destination. But even with auto-pilot, you've got to manually get the plane in the air and manually land it. And even with auto-pilot, you've got to keep an eye on your instruments and pay attention to possible curve balls Mother Nature might toss your way.

You cannot rely on auto pilot to get you where you want to go. You have to be personally involved and focused on the process.

Second, don't get so carried away with the details of plotting the action steps within your vision that you don't ever get out of your driveway. You know what I'm talking about – you see people around you do it all the time. They get so caught up in planning and charting and graphing their future that they never BEGIN it. This is fear in disguise – that's all it is. Your plan doesn't have to be perfect. Get the foundational elements in place and get moving.

Third, don't be so intent on motoring to Detroit that you miss the scenery along the way. You're on purpose... you're on your way... enjoy the journey, for heaven's sake. After all, that's what you're doing this for, isn't it?

A Compelling 'Why' by Denis Waitley

I have a suitcase for you. In that suitcase there is $1 million in cash. The suitcase is sitting in a building that is about an hour's drive from where you are now.Here is the deal: All you have to do is get to this building in the next two hours. If you get there before the end of the two hours, I will hand you the suitcase, and you will be a million dollars richer.

There is one catch, however. If you are even one second late, our deal is off, and you will not get a dime. No exceptions! With that in mind, what time would you like to leave?
Most people would respond to that scenario by saying that they would leave right now. Wouldn't you?

So off you go. You jump into your car and start driving for the building. You are excited and are already starting to plan how you are going to spend your million dollars. Then, suddenly, the traffic comes to a complete stop. You turn on the radio and find that there has been a series of freak accidents between you and the building and there is no way to get there!

Now what would you do? Would you give up and go back home? Or would you get out of your car and walk, run, hire a helicopter, or find some other way of getting to the building on time?
Now let's suppose for a minute that you are driving to an appointment at your dentist's office. The traffic again comes to a stop. Amazingly, there have been freak accidents between you and your dentist's office. What would you do then? Probably give up, go home, and reschedule!

What is the difference between these two situations? It all comes down to why. If the why is big enough; the how is usually not a problem. This compelling why is connected to your personal objectives, mission statement, or magnificent obsessions. It is the basis of your motivational support beam. Truly motivated people are able to identify and tap into the power of a compelling why in everything they do.

Fulfilling God's Purpose by Derek Prince

Psalm 138:8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands. NIV

It’s good to know that God has a purpose for each one of us. The Scripture there does not say that the Lord will fulfill my purpose; it says the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. There’s a great difference. I may have one purpose; God may have another. God does not guarantee that He will fulfill my purpose, but He does promise that He will fulfill His purpose.

And then the psalmist goes on to say, “Your love, O LORD [and that means ‘your covenant-keeping faithfulness’], endures forever.” When God commits Himself to us to fulfill His purpose in our lives, that is a commitment for time and for eternity.

And then, maybe out of a situation of desperation, the psalmist says, “Do not abandon the works of your hands.” I remember once being at the deathbed of a lady who was dying of cancer, a strong believer. She read that last verse in the version of The Living Bible: “You made me; don’t abandon me.” And she had strong assurance as she read those words: “You made me; don’t abandon me.” But that’s for each one of us. God made us; He will not abandon us. He has a purpose; He’s going to fulfill it. Maybe it won’t be your purpose, but it will be His purpose. That purpose will stand sure and unshakable no matter what you go through. - Derek Prince

Thirsting After God by Os Hillman

2 Kings 2:9 ..."Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit"....

The first requirement to move in greater power and authority in God is to hunger for it. Yet even this hunger is born from God. Elisha hungered after God. Elisha saw many miracles as Elijah's servant. But he wanted more. He wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit. When he asked Elijah for this, the prophet responded, "You have asked a difficult thing." It wasn't because it couldn't be granted. Elijah knew that with great anointing came a great weight of responsibility and difficulty.

Second, humility comes before honor. Elisha was known as the "servant of Elijah." How would you like to be known as "the servant of John"? Your name is not even mentioned. This was the preparation of Elisha. It has been the preparation of many men of God. Consider Joseph, the servant of Pharaoh. Consider David, the servant of Saul.

Third, Elisha committed himself totally to his calling. The Scripture says when Elisha was called to join Elijah, the younger man left his farm business completely. He slaughtered his oxen and had a great feast for the community. It was all or nothing. He could not fall back on his farm trade if his new venture didn't work. This demonstrates Elisha's pioneer spirit in stepping out, not knowing what was ahead.

Do you want greater anointing in God? "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you" (Jer. 29:13-14a). Begin thirsting for God's anointing in your heart today. This is the starting place.

Creating a Positive Attitude to Achieve Positive Results by Mark Victor Hansen

Your attitude determines the state of world you live in. It is the foundation for every success and every failure you have had and will have. Your attitude will make you or break you.

Attitude creates the way you feel about people and situations. Your actions are a result of your attitude, which, in turn, creates a reaction from others. So, basically, what you think ... you get. It is your attitude towards God and others that determines the resultant attitude toward you. Incorporate a positive, joyful attitude and you'll have positive, joyful results. Put out a bad, negative attitude and you've failed before you begin.

I know it sounds simple, but the truth is….it IS simple!

WHERE DO NEGATIVE ATTITUDES COME FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Negative attitudes come from thinking negative thoughts over and over until they have become a part of your subconscious – they've become habitual, a part of your personality. You may not even realize you have a negative attitude because it's been with you for so long. Once you have a bad attitude, you expect failure and disaster. This expectation turns you into a strong magnet for failure and disaster. Then it becomes a vicious circle. You expect the worst - you get the worst - your negative beliefs are reinforced – you expect the worst – you get …

. . . Got the picture?

SO, HOW DO WE SHIFT OUR THOUGHTS AND CREATE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE?

It takes work, but creating anything of value takes work. In order to have a new attitude we have to change our subconscious thinking. How do we do this? By analyzing every thought we have until positive thinking becomes habit. You're merely replacing an old habit with a healthy habit, much like replacing exercise for smoking.

You can't just stop being negative – you have to replace those negative thoughts with positive ones.

Some people would say, "But negative situations are a reality. They just show up in every day life."

This is absolutely not true. Situations are a reality, yes. They do show up. It is your ATTITUDE that makes a situation positive or negative. It's time for you to realize that YOU are in control of how you think and feel – no one else on earth has this power unless you give it away. Take control of your attitude, and you take control of your results.

"Your state of mind creates the state of your results."

Obedience-Based Decisions Versus Skill and Ability by Os Hillman

1 Chronicles 14:15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle.

The Philistines were attacking. David wanted to know how to respond. His first inquiry of God revealed that he was to attack the Philistines straightaway and God would give him victory. David followed God's instruction and gained victory. Shortly after, the Philistines mounted another attack. "So David inquired of God again, and God answered him, 'Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees' " (1 Chron. 14:14).

David was a well-trained warrior, a strategist. Yet, we find that David's dependence on God to direct his efforts was very great. In fact, after he won the first battle, he went right back to inquire again. This is the most important lesson we can learn from this story. God told David to attack, but only after he heard the marching in the balsam trees.

How many times have you or I operated in the marketplace based only on our skill and ability, without seeking to know the details of God's will in the matter? David could have simply assumed that since he had won the last battle, surely God would give him victory the same way. No. David had learned that communicating with the living God is the only sure way of victory. His skill was not enough. He had to have God's blessing.

How many times have we worked in our business life the same way each time only because it was the way we did it last time? What if God has a better way? What if God has a different plan than ours? "So David inquired of God..." These are the important words that we are to learn from. We must be in such relationship with God that we are constantly inquiring of His mind on every matter. When we do this, we can expect the same results that David achieved-success in our endeavor and recognition by God.

"So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear him" (1 Chron. 14:17). This is the reward of obedience to God. We don't have to build a name for ourselves. God will see to it that we are honored for our obedience. He wants to make known those servants who are willing to obey Him at all costs.

Getting Money Right – What You Deserve by Jeffery Combs

Isn't it about time that you got right with money? When I say "right" what I am talking about is getting money right emotionally. Money is a very controversial subject in our society. Mention money to almost anyone and it will bring out a certain level of discomfort because almost everyone lacks money. Statistics say that 97% of our population works for 3% of society. Only around 4% to 5 % achieve a six figure income and one-twentieth of 1% of society achieve a seven figure income. "Why is it," I ask, "that so many people struggle when we are living in a world with so many opportunities to create wealth?" In this information I will be presenting what I believe to be the reasons that hold so many people from receiving the money they deserve.

I have personally coached hundreds of great people in the last six years whose struggles with money issues have caused them to sabotage themselves over and over. One of the first questions to ask when it comes to money is, "Who was my role model when it comes to money, prosperity, finance, and abundance?" For most of us it was our parents and for them it was their parents. Let's also state that this information is not about blaming anyone. You are now a grownup and your perception of money is now up to you.

The next question to ask is, "What did I learn in my education about money?" Typical high school curriculum includes courses about economics and government but nothing about how to attract money or how to have a healthy relationship with money. Traditional education teaches how to acquire job skills, and prepares students to get paid what a particular job is worth, not what the individual is worth. Making more money requires education about free enterprise and how to get paid what the free market bears; getting paid on your terms and your time frame, and learning about service and value. The more valuable you become through the service you provide, the more you make. This is not about working hard because if that were the case, then all of the world laborers would be millionaires.

Over the centuries money has gotten a bad rap by being associated with corruption, greed, pain, and the misuse of power. A perception grew that somehow the rich deprived the poor and that wealthy people were bad people, were not loveable, were disconnected from love, and were greedy. The sad fact is that most people just don't believe they deserve to have money freedom or peace of mind. I believe that you can be rich, spiritual, and prosperous, and that with your abundance you can create love and compassion using your wealth to assist others strengthen their skills so that they too have the opportunity to be prosperous in life's ways.

Most of us have been taught that "Money is the root of all evil," but the actual quotation from the Bible is, "The love of money is the root of all evil." Money itself is neutral – not good or bad. It is paper and metal that symbolizes an exchange of goods and services. Money is an energy that you either attract or repel. It is the negative emotions around money such as greed, obsession, and power that can bring negative experiences, and that keep most people from it.

In the last several centuries there has been radical change in opportunity, philosophy, and ways to create wealth. Many courageous forerunners paved the way for new thoughts and ideas about prosperity, abundance, self sufficiency, and enlightenment. Just in the last hundred years brilliant writers and speakers have emerged like Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie, Earnest Holmes, Katherine Ponder, Florence Scovel Schinn, Earl Nightingale, Louise Hay, Jim Rohn and Tony Robbins, to name a few of my favorites that have assisted me with my enlightenment. A whole consciousness of self-help and personal development has become available to the masses. Bookstores and coffee bars are now as popular as some of the old traditional night spots, and we now have access to coaches and mentors to be emotionally, financially, and spiritually fit.

People now realize that they are responsible for their own empowerment. They see that assuming responsibility can bring them prosperity and allow them to become more and to do more. For this to happen, people have to have belief in themselves and grasp the idea that they can control their lives. In our me-too, microwave, lottery-mentality society very few people ever put the proper thoughts and proper actions together at the same time to provoke the results they deserve. Plain and simple, most people don't believe they deserve prosperity and abundance. They want, wish, like to, if only, pray for a miracle, and most of all want for change to happen. Sorry, it doesn't operate that way. Too many people tiptoe quietly to their graves looking back only to say – "I wish I would have!"

Still, don't lose heart for it can officially become "Now O'clock" at any minute. There are 86,400 seconds in every single day; 1,440 minutes, 24 hours, one day, one week, one month, one year, one lifetime. We can change at any moment. Is it hard or is it easy? You are one thought away from success or one thought away from failure. It is a choice we have the opportunity to make every single day.

I believe God wants us to be rich, prosperous, and free. God did not create fear, it is manmade. Fear overrides most people's dreams and objectives. Most people aren't even able to identify what they are afraid of. All they know is they are struggling just to keep up with the other sheep in the pasture. You have to get past the thoughts that money is bad and will somehow taint you. Abundance is natural and spiritual. Money will not deprive you but could actually enlighten you. Many of the great teachers have given credence to the idea that abundance is spiritual and that it is the power of your thoughts that creates abundance for you.

If you are wealthy more often than not you will be dispersing your money commercially and charitably, supporting many people around you and adding to the velocity of overall wealth. There are literally trillions of dollars passing about electronically on any given day, and those signals are literally passing by you at all times. If you stop and think about it, there are millions of dollars flowing through your body at the moment. Imagine making a slight flick of the wrist in order to stop some of that money in transit so it sticks with you. A flick of the mind is a flick of the wrist. Money can be good – greed is not good. There are no reasons why you can't be very rich, very rich in fact, and still be a very valuable generous spiritual person with a huge heart and compassion for everyone.

Our Distinct Advantage by Joe Stowell

“The LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Have you ever felt that if God were to show up today as often as He did in the lives of the people in Bible times, you too could be a spiritual hero? It’s easy to think that people like Abraham, Moses, Paul, and others had a distinct edge because God showed up in spectacular ways to talk with and tell them exactly what to do. We think that if Jesus would just appear and give us the lowdown on life face-to-face, we could all be the smashing success for Him that we always wanted to be.

But it’s not just the people of the Bible who leave us thinking that we must be second-rate Christians. All you have to do is go to a prayer meeting where someone gives a glowing report on the way in which God dramatically answered their prayer, while your prayer list remains full of unanswered prayers. Let’s face it. It’s easy to grow discouraged and sometimes even disillusioned with our less-than-spectacular Christianity. And when that happens, our walk with Christ becomes ritualistic and unenthusiastic.

But before you get depressed, it’s possible that your expectations and perspectives are out of whack. When we think that all Bible people had it good, we should note that God “showed up” in Abraham’s life only about once every 15 years! Abraham had no Bible, no small-group fellowship, and no exhilarating worship experiences, yet his steadfast faith is celebrated in Hebrews 11:8-19. And even though Joseph was unrelentingly faithful to God against great odds, for many years God didn’t “show up” to rescue him from his plight. Yet he hung in there because he knew that “the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:21). Paul had only two direct encounters with Jesus. You can count on it, the rest of their lives were pretty ordinary, a lot like yours and mine.

It’s easy to think that Joshua and God’s people in the Old Testament were unusually blessed because God promised to be with them (Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Joshua 1:9). But we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the same promise is given to us in the New Testament (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus Himself promised that He would not leave us as “orphans” but would send the Holy Spirit to be in us and with us (John 14:16-18). In fact, if anybody has an edge, we do! God dwells within us in the person of the Holy Spirit to convict, comfort, guide, and encourage. His 24/7 presence is waiting to be tapped and used no matter where we are or what we are facing. We have the full revelation of Scripture that the Holy Spirit uses to teach and direct our lives. No Bible hero had the privilege of having a Book that could be carried, read, memorized, and used in transforming ways to tell them everything they needed to know about God and themselves—but you and I do!

You may still be saying, “Yeah, but God hasn’t done anything for me lately!” If so, remember that if He does nothing more than save us from sin, cancel hell, and guarantee heaven, He has already done far more than we deserve and enough to keep us happily praising Him for the rest of our lives!

Now’s a good time to start rejoicing. You’ve been blessed with all you need for growth and glory! Tap the resource.

Failure That Leads to Godliness by Os Hillman

1 Samuel 22:2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader....

God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God's anointing. Perhaps David thought, Why am I living a life as a fugitive? I am the next king of Israel. Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him. Others began to hear of David's successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army-and an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor" (see 1 Chron. 11:10).

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the marketplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, a farmer, and a doctor.

The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God's Kingdom-if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.

On The Road Again by Joe Stowell

“For God… made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

I hate being lost. I’ve always had a good sense of direction and can usually find my way around without much trouble. But on the rare occasions when I lose my way, I hate not knowing where I’m going (and, being male, it’s unthinkable to stop and ask for directions!).

It used to be that we could rely on a good map to help us get around, but now with tools like MapQuest and GPS systems, we have no excuse for being lost. And in some situations we really can’t afford to be lost. A bride on her way to the church where her groom is waiting doesn’t want to end up on a dead-end street! And the man driving his pregnant wife to the hospital had better know how to get there—and fast! But more importantly, if you are a follower of Jesus you can’t afford to be lost!

Following Jesus means that we stay on the road with Him. And, if you ask me what road Jesus travels, I would answer that His road is the “Glory Road.” Throughout His entire life and ministry, one dynamic was always in play. He lived to demonstrate the glory of His father. When John summarized the life of Jesus (as though someone had asked him to describe Jesus in 25 words or less), he pointed out that Jesus “made His dwelling among us” and noted that the disciples had “seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only . . . full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Simply put, Jesus came to glorify God by showing us what God was really like. He traveled that glory road all the way to the cross where the love, mercy, grace, justice, and holiness of God were demonstrated in a dramatic moment of servanthood and sacrifice.
But it wasn’t just at the cross. In all of His relationships and encounters, He showed us what God, His Father, was like. The glory of God’s compassion touched the blind and they could see. The glory of God’s intolerance with religious pride and hypocrisy was clearly seen in Christ’s dealing with the Pharisees. God’s justice and advocacy for the poor and oppressed became evident when Jesus turned over the tables in the temple and chased out the thieves who were overcharging poor pilgrims who simply came to worship God. God’s faithfulness and loyal love was consistently demonstrated in Christ’s patient tolerance of the often misguided thoughts and attitudes of His disciples.

So, to be a follower of Jesus means that we must be on the road with Him—the glory road. That’s where He travels. And, you’ll know you are on the right road when your life looks more and more like Jesus in attitude and action, because He is “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3). You’ll know that you’re getting up to speed with Him when you see all your relationships and encounters as opportunities to make the qualities and characteristics of our glorious God clearly seen and experienced.

It’s easy to get lost. Satan has lots of off-ramps, side roads, and detours. In fact, he loves it when you are lost. But all of his off-ramps eventually lead to living for our own tainted glory and the fallen glory of Satan himself. And believe me, that’s never a pretty picture.

Psalm 132:3-5,8 by Derek Prince

“I will not enter my house or go to my bed—I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob. Arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. NIV

Those words were spoken by David. He’d become conscious of the need to bring back to Jerusalem the ark of the Lord, which had been taken by the Philistines. But he’d come to realize also that he had to prepare a place, find and prepare a place, before he could invite the Lord to take up His resting place in the midst of His people. And there’s an important principle there, we need to prepare a place for the Lord before we ask Him to take up His residence with us.

There are two great hindrances, I believe, to the Lord dwelling with us. Each of them in English begins with the letter “p.” The first is pride, the second is prejudice. As long as we’re arrogant and haughty, we do not have a place for the Lord. As long as we’re occupied with our own ways, our own thoughts, our own concepts, we’re determined to make God act the way we think He ought to act. Those two barriers of pride and prejudice can keep the Lord from finding a resting place in our hearts and lives.

So let’s remember that before we invite the Lord to make His resting place, to come with the ark of His might and bring the fullness of His presence and His blessing, we have to be sure that we’ve prepared an appropriate place for God to rest in.

Laughter by Zig Ziglar

Laughter is a great stress reducer. If you have never read Norman Cousins’ account of his experience of self-healing as described in Anatomy of an Illness, I encourage you to do so. When diagnosed with an incurable illness, he brought a movie projector into his hospital room and watched reel after reel of old classic comedy movies, laughing himself into hysterics. He found he could relieve his otherwise significant pain on a consistent basis through laughter. That practice, along with some other novel therapies, resulted in his healing. He left his prestigious journalistic career and taught on the faculty of a major medical school about the power of the mind and emotions in healing the body of disease.

Next to love, laughter has been described as the second-most powerful emotion we can express. It has been said that laughter is like internal jogging—it stimulates the respiratory system, oxygenates the body, relaxes tense muscles, and releases pleasure-producing chemicals in the brain. You cannot laugh and be mad, laugh and be tense, laugh and be stressed. Laughter is low-calorie, caffeine-free, and has no salt, preservatives, or additives. It’s 100 percent natural and one size fits all.

Laughter is truly God’s gift to humankind. You can get high on laughter but never overdose. Laughter is contagious—once it starts little can be done to stop it. Laughter never felt bad, committed a crime, started a war or broke up a relationship. Laughter is shared by the giver and the receiver. Laughter costs nothing and it’s non-taxable. Laughter is a trend-setter. If we can find ways to laugh first thing in the morning, it may in fact set the trend for the rest of the day.

Let me close by telling you the most important use of laughter I have ever discovered: The ability to laugh at ourselves. I stopped taking myself too seriously years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. Don’t get me wrong—I’m still serious about what I do. But not so serious that I can’t be the first one to laugh when I mess up (which happens all too often—it’s why I spend so much time laughing!). When you’re the first person to laugh at yourself, you leave little room for others to laugh at you.

This is adapted from Zig’s book Better than Good.

Obedience-Based Decisions by Os Hillman

Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.

So often we as a society equate numbers with success. The larger the conference, the more successful we deem it. The larger a church, the more we believe that God is blessing. And so on. I recall planning a conference one time. Registrations were not where I felt they needed to be a few weeks before the date of the event. It wasn't long before I began to get "under the pile" about the level of attendance. My friend, who was organizing this conference with me, called and asked how I was doing. I had to confess where I was. He immediately reminded me of my own teaching in this area. We are all called to be led by the Spirit, not by outcomes. "If God called us to put on this conference, then the outcome is up to Him if we have done our part." He went on to explain how he learned this lesson in a similar way a few years earlier.

He and a friend were led to host a Bible study group. His friend was to speak. It was nine o'clock and they were the only two people there. His friend was discouraged and was ready to leave.
"No," said my friend. "We have done what the Holy Spirit directed." He then stood up and began to welcome people as though there were many in the room. (No one was in the room.) He introduced his friend and they began the meeting. A few minutes later, people began to straggle in. By the time the meeting was over, ten had shown up, and one man in particular was impacted by the meeting.

Being led by the Spirit often means we must not use the world's standard for success as our measuring stick. You never know what an act of obedience will yield at the time. We must leave results to God. Our role is to obey. His role is to bring results from our obedience.

Do you make decisions based on the potential outcome or by the direction of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you overly evaluate the pros and cons without consideration to what the Holy Spirit might be saying deep inside? We are all prone to make decisions based on reasoning alone. Ask God to give you a willingness and ability to hear the Holy Spirit and to obey His promptings.

Labor That Works Miracles by Jim Rohn

Two thousand years ago on April 15th one of Jesus' disciples came to him and said it was time to pay taxes (that's how I know it was around April 15th), but they had no money. In response to his disciple's statement Jesus said "no problem". Now why could he say "no problem"? Well, word had it that Jesus was a miracle worker. If you hand a problem to a miracle worker what they are inclined to say is "no problem". You've got to hang out with people like that.

I belong to a small group and we do business around the world. These guys are all miracle workers. What an incredible group. If you hand any of them a problem guess what they say, "no problem". How many books will they read to solve a problem? As many as it takes. If they need to consult - how much consulting will they do? As much as it takes. How early will they get up? As early as it takes. "No problem"... you got to hang out with people like that. You cannot believe the thrill of being associated with miracle workers, people who will do whatever it takes to get the job done and perform miracles.

When asked about paying the taxes Jesus said it was "no problem". In fact, he said it was going to be easy - he told the disciple to just go fishing. Now it couldn't have been any easier than that, especially for this disciple whose name was Peter, because Peter was a fisherman. Now if you can fish and you should fish and you don't fish - then that is why you do not get a miracle. But Jesus told his disciple to go fishing and the first fish that he caught to look in its mouth. Peter, who was used to strange things happening, agreed. Well, the first fish Peter catches, he looks in its mouth and finds coins. Peter then adds up the coins and they are exactly enough to pay his and Jesus' taxes.

"Wow!", you might say, "That is a miracle!" Here is why we call it a miracle - simply because we don't quite understand how it works. That's all. Doesn't mean it doesn't work, it just means we don't quite understand how it works. Which is true of all miracles. In fact, for most of us – our whole life is a miracle.

How about this miracle... God says if you plant the seed I will make the tree. Wow, you can't have a better arrangement than that. First, it gives God the tough end of the deal. What if you had to make a tree? That would keep you up late at night trying to figure out how to make a tree. God says, "No, leave the miracle part to me. I've got the seed, the soil, the sunshine, the rain and the seasons. I'm God and all this miracles stuff is easy for me. I have reserved something very special for you and that is to plant the seed."

I have found in life that if you want a miracle you first need to do whatever it is you can do - if that's to plant, then plant; if it is to read, then read; if it is to change, then change; if it is to study, then study; if it is to work, then work; whatever you have to do. And then you will be well on your way of doing the labor that works miracles.

To Your Success,Jim Rohn

Consistency

Recently, I just pondered upon the fact that our walk with God can sometimes be one turbulent affair.. Sometimes, we can be so on fire for God, then at other times, we can get tired and don't feel like worshipping God.. But God is merciful and His grace is sufficient for us to seek His forgiveness... and we can get back to His presence once again..

My question during this time is: How can we stay consistent, and constantly on fire for God.. to hunger for Him, to know Him more and more, to want to experience Him everyday of our lives, so much so that we can't live a day without Him...??

The answer came to light as I was having a chat with Pastor Mark before he left for Haggai Institute on a leadership training program.. He says to surround ourselves with excited people all out to seek God.. His youths were what kept him and Aye Lan going.. And from there, i understood the point he's making..

I have learnt that before, but somehow discouragement sets in from time to time and I have to constantly remind myself to stay focused on God.. Then i realised i have been trying to do it on my own.. To a certain extent, I am able to control my thoughts to put a godly perspective to negative situations and circumstances in my life.. but i guess in the long run.. i might burn out.. So to keep myself always pumped up.. I have to surround myself with excited godly people who are on fire for God.. and wants to see more of God in their lives...

Excitement feeds on excitement... Enthusiasm feeds on enthusiasm... and i know that the most important step right now is to commit my ways to Him, and then work on improving myself one step at a time.. to make it a habit to guard my heart and my thoughts by focusing on the positive.. to dwell on the holy, the noble things of God.. (Phil 4:8).. and i know that by doing so, i can bring excitement to the cell group.. and from there they get fed by this enthusiasm.. and we keep one another motivated to run the race for Him!

i truly desire to see the Great Commission fulfilled.. the salvation of more people.. that i can serve alongside more disciples for His Kingdom.. that we are strengthened in the knowledge of the Word of God.. and filled with His Holy Spirit.. that we live an abundant life in Christ Jesus!

So thank You O God for this renewal of heart.. may this body of mine be used for the glorification of Your Name.. as I devote my life to stay consistent and be hungry to seek You everyday.. that You grant me strength so that I can soar on wings like an eagle.. and most important of all, that more people can experience Your great love for them.. Amen!

As A Deer by Joe Stowell

Wow.. This is one great article that opened up my mind why King David chose a deer to identify his hunger and thirst for God...

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." Psalm 42:1

Several years ago my wife Martie and I had the unique experience of going on a camel safari in the desert of the United Arab Emirates. We rocked back and forth on top of those ugly beasts for an hour as we perused the quiet of the desert. In the course of describing the attributes of camels, our guide mentioned that they could live for 3 months without water. They are obviously built for the desert.

What a contrast to the sleek, “type A” gazelle the writer had in mind in Psalm 42. Bounding through the meadows and the forests, the deer is satisfied and sustained on a regular basis by water. He needs it and yearns for it in his fast-paced existence.

How easy it is in the midst of our abundance to be far more like the camel than the deer. Rarely sensing a need for God, some people can go for months without desiring Him. For some of us, life has been a long stretch of religious and secular activity without any sense of utter dependence on Him or sincere desire to know Him. The problem is that we weren’t built for life in a spiritual desert. We were built—redeemed, in fact—for regular, satisfying access to the refreshing presence of God in our souls.

So what is it that keeps us from really longing for and seeking Him? Of all the things that make us like the camel, none is so glaring as the sin of self-sufficiency. We have relegated Jesus to the sidelines, while we go about our business. Cultivating him as our soul mate and supreme necessity for life has somehow escaped us. But it hasn’t escaped Him. He still knocks at our heart’s door to offer the sweet fellowship that only He can bring (Revelation 3:20).
Let’s drink deeply, living in Jesus more like a deer and less like a camel.

YOUR JOURNEY…

Am I more like the camel or the deer? Why?

*A deer, I can't live without God.

Do I spend time in the Word daily? If yes, what have I been learning? If no, why have I been neglecting this time with God?

*Yes.. daily! This past week, I have been praying about the great commission given by Lord Jesus: church growth, cell group growth, personal growth.. I think this is our number 1 purpose in life.. and that's why I focus myself to look into my personal mission statement - to make disciples of all nations, help us all grow strong in God's Word, to be full of Holy Spirit's fire, that we can live an abundant life in Christ!

What have I just learned about my self-sufficiency? How has God’s Spirit and Word refreshed me today?

* There were times i want to feel like a camel, to be self-sufficient in terms of finance, but I realised if I put my focus on You O God, and seek Your Kingdom first, You have always blessed me with more than enough. So dear Lord, may You reign in my life, even as I grow in wealth, help me to remember that it is You who has given me the ability to create wealth.. that i apply the parable of talents correctly, to be a good steward of all that You have given me.. to do good, to honor dear2, to honor parents, to bless Your church, to bless others, to remember the poor.. that we can all live an abundant life where You are glorified beyond measure. Praise You O God! Amen!

Mission Statement

To make disciples of all nations, that we all be strong in God's Word, full of Holy Spirit's fire, and live an abundant life for Jesus Christ, our Lord.

1 More Day!

I am so excited that I can't sleep... haha... i see our helpers putting so much effort and prayers into getting our wedding logistics up and ready.. I appreciate you all so much!

The best part is they have a round the clock prayers to cover esther and i...
that is so unexpected and we feel so honored...

Thank you Lord for bringing them into our lives.. i really treasure this relationship with them..

Starting with the guys, there's andrew (my coordinator and former NTU room mate), there's roland (the big guy who run all the logistics in church, wow), tuanyee, patrick, anderson, alan, jeremy, ben, jeremiah, lupin, jason... and not forgetting shiming... whom i pray will soon be able to join us...

Then the girls.. charlotte, chellie, audrey, soks, gwen, rachale, eileen, lyme, rouhphin, jiamin...

There.. the fellowship of the believers.. thank you all so much.. and the priviledge to serve alongside all of you for our Lord.. =)

Today is the last day I am to be a bachelor, but even before esther and i were to get married, our courtship was one where when people see me, they see esther, and when they see esther, they will see me... so i never really felt like i was a bachelor, because esther is always a part of me and a part of my life during our courtship days... praise you Lord!

So tomorrow, that same feeling will continue, except now our relationship is now enhanced by the fact that we are now married to each other, two becoming one flesh, and a marriage ordained by God.. wow so exciting!

Dear Lord, may esther and i continue to serve You as one for the rest of our lives, to be part of the body of Christ who is in us.. that we can please You in living out our married lives together, to honor You, to praise You always, to worship You, our God, our Saviour, our King.

Bless You O Lord... Thank You for this special day You have made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.. Hallelujah!!

2 more days!

2 more days to wedding.. Getting excited.. I pray God can help me be a good husband.. because I am really blessed to have a great girl like Esther, warm, friendly, encouraging, trusts in me, and loves me for who i am.. Yeah!

To Live Life to the Fullest

I guess this will be my first blog entry where I share my thoughts, opinions, and feelings... haha:p

All this while I have been thinking on what to share, but somehow I kept procastinating about it.. so I took my time to blog articles that I had read and was inspired by.. to keep a collection of articles that has made an impact to my life, and that I want to apply them, so that I can live life to the fullest.. making the most of my abilities and being satisfied by the rewards that come from doing so..

Sometimes, I wonder... so what if I share my thoughts here on the web? Who's going to read it? I know for sure my dear2 will... (wink:P)... besides her, who else? Maybe tuanyee and min.. cos they are the two I know who knows that I have a blog.. haha:P

Then again I wonder.. what do I want to share... I know for sure I will not want to blog about gossips, complaints, miserable stories, sacarstic remarks about our Singapore government that I read in some blogs.. Cos I know in our lives, we already have so much burdens and struggles, so why make it even worse? And besides, I really love Singapore.. I am grateful for our government who set the vision and puts the various systems in place that has helped our country prosper, and this is a place I truly call home...

Then comes the next most important question.. why do I want to blog? Why spend time writing down my thoughts for people all over the world to see, where I could have some privacy to my life, and time for my other interests like reading, exercising, watching movies with my dear2..

As I began to ask these questions, the thoughts become clear.. and everything I learned in the past start to surface... and on this Father's Day, I want to dedicate my 1st blog entry to my loving God the Father in heaven, and to my Lord Jesus Christ!

Ever since I accepted Him into my life.. my life has truly been transformed.. And on baptism day, I remembered saying that.. my life will not be wasted from now on.. I want to hold on to those words.. My desire is to truly live life to the fullest and I know now that it can only happen with Jesus in my heart..

Because all this while I have been searching for meaning in life, I really don't like the idea of just going to work, coming home, eat, sleep, grow up, get married, have a baby, then a 2nd baby, see them grow up, retire, go back to dust... There must be something more than this.. yes I know all these are part of life, and a process that I have to go through, but then behind all this, is there something else? Something beyond this normal way of living... what would that be??

And all the answers came as Jesus came into my life... the meaning in life becomes clear.. that as I grew in the knowledge of the Bible, God's Word, I understood why I had been so restless in the past, because after attending countless seminars before I was a Christian, wanting to improve myself, to become a better person but yet still not seeing results.. I realised the missing link... And it is that all those knowledge and the meaning in life that I was seeking are actually from the Bible itself.. and I just need to go to the 'source' and all my questions about life would be answered!

Once I got clear on that, I began to hunger for more.. I studied the Word, I listened to audio sermons, I paid close attention during Sunday service, I joined a bible study group.. wow! And my life began to change for the better.. I am not as confused as before, I know what to focus on.. And I truly understood what it means to live life to the fullest..

And it all has to start from having a great relationship with God, with Jesus.. In the past, I used to think it's something that I am seeking in life, perhaps money.. but now I realised even with all the money in the world, I won't be happy at all.. so now I learn to seek God first, and it's through prayer that I have a heart to heart talk with Him, that I know He loves me and wants the best for my life.. that when I walk right in His ways, according to the righteous standard set in the Bible, that He will bless me with everything that I have ever needed for in life.

I have learned to be dependent on Him and I am truly grateful that He found me. From now on, I want to live out the rest of my life to serve Him, that I do the things that please Him, and to use the gifts and talents He gave to me to make a difference in other people's lives, to be a good steward of the money He provided, and in my daily tasks I perform, my way of conduct, my speech, my actions, will all reflect the character of Christ...

And the next important event happening in my life right now, is Esther and me getting married. I thank God that He has blessed me with such a wonderful girl in my life, who is always so encouraging, so loving, so playful (haha:P), like a best friend in my life and she completes me. (Thank you dear!)

I really want to be a good husband who loves my wife, a good father in future, a good servant of God and I pray O God, that you help me be one, if I may ask, that you give me more of your Spirit, so that I can have the wisdom to be the man worthy of your calling. Thank you Lord, in Jesus' name I pray, Amen!


I don't know if there's anybody out there who's going to read this, but I pray that each message I write from now on, will somehow be found by a person who is searching for it and needs it at the right time... and if it's you.. that the message can touch your heart, that you can be, like me, find the true meaning in life.

May you be blessed,
Victor

God The Father by Derek Prince

God the Father has ever been the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Christ has ever been His Son. In Ephesians 3:14-15, Paul says: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”

This passage shows us not only that God is the Father of Christ, but also that the office of fatherhood in all the earth is derived from and established on the pattern of the office that God the Father holds within the Godhead. All fatherhood is a projection of the nature of God the Father.

A Pointed Challenge

In his influential and very practical teaching, “Husbands and Fathers” (in a moment I’ll tell you how you can receive a copy on DVD), Derek points out that, because of the principle stated above, every father is called to function in three important spiritual roles in the home — that of prophet, priest and king (or governor).

At one point in that teaching, Derek presents a pointed challenge:

Check your performance in each of these three areas, and ask yourself some relevant questions:

1. As priest of my family, am I faithful in regular, daily intercession for them? How often do I thank God for them?

2. As prophet, how well have I represented God to my family? Have I given them a picture of the loving Father in heaven? Or must I acknowledge that the picture I have given them of our Father God is actually an unattractive caricature?

3. As king [head of my household], have I ruled my children with a discipline that combines love and firmness and that prepares them to take their place in society as responsible citizens? Have I set boundaries for my children that protect them from the evil forces at work in the world today?

What is your response to these questions? Do you recognize that you have indeed “sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”? That is no reason to be discouraged or to give up. God convicts us of our sins not in order to condemn us but to direct us to the remedy He has provided for us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Clearly, as we approach this Father’s Day, every Christian man (and every person who loves one), needs more spiritual insight about this vitally important three-fold role.

The Art of Being, Doing and Having by Zig Ziglar

One of my favorite phrases is, "You've got to be before you can do and do before you can have." In short, you have to be a person of character and do the right things, and then you can have the things you really want. To make the "be, do have" theory valid, look at some examples in your own life.

1. Draw two vertical lines to make three columns on a sheet of paper.

2. At the top of the left-hand column, write BE; in the middle column, write DO; and over in the last column, write HAVE.

3. In the right-hand column list all the things you really want in life, whether it's an education, good family relationships, a beautiful new home, a luxury automobile, a trip around the world, to lose weight--you name it.

4. Work your way down the center column identifying the things that you have to do in order to have the things listed in the right-hand column. As an example, let's say you want a successful marriage. To do so, you must be willing to share your innermost thoughts and concerns with your mate. You must carry more than your share of the workload, encourage your mate when he or she is down, and defend your mate against criticism. You need to remember special occasions. Be particularly helpful when your mate is having a bad day or is not feeling well, or has had a tough day at work. Apply the philosophy that "you can have everything you want out of this marriage if you just help your mate get what he or she wants." Everybody's list varies because each of us has unique needs, beliefs, and interests. However, the formula remains the same.

5. Go to the left-hand column and identify what you have to BE in order to DO so that you can HAVE. To have a successful marriage, some of the things that you must be are faithful, attentive, loving, caring, helpful, empathetic, encouraging, persistent, committed, kind, thoughtful, considerate, and responsible. Not having all these qualities at this moment is okay, because they're all skills, and skills can be developed.

You can use this basic formula for whatever it is you want to have. Look at what you have to do in order to accomplish your objectives, and then examine yourself and determine what kind of person you have to BE in order to DO so that you can HAVE.

What in the World Are You Doing? by Chris Widener

This week I want to talk with you about leaving an impact legacy. "What is an impact legacy?" you may ask. It is how you impact people and the world around you. You see, many people glide through life and do not make much of an impact. That is unfortunate. Others though, those driven by a purpose and passion for living, are continually making the world a better place and making an impact wherever they go. That's what I believe you want to do.

In order to help you reflect on this during this week, I want to ask you a question: What in the world are you doing?

Here is the typical life - typical, though not everybody does it this way. But for the most part, people's lives generally go something like this:

You're born
You eat and sleep
You play with toys
You go to school
You play little league
You go to school
You learn to drive
You go to school
You leave high school
You go to more school, but you pay for it now
You get a job
You get married
You buy a house
You have kids
You watch your kids eat, sleep, play and go to school
You work, work, and work
You retire
You die

That's the basic life, isn't it? I know there is more to it, but that is about it for most people.

Here is that question again: What in the world are you doing?

I mean, what are you doing besides the typical "enjoying yourself while you are waiting to die" scenario? What kind of impact are you making?

What I believe sets the successful apart is that they don't just live the average life. They don't just pass time. They make an impact. They have something compelling in their life that drives them - something that gives them an answer when they are asked that question: What in the world are you doing?

I'm helping children.
I'm creating a business that supports many families.
I lead a church.
I am defending our liberties.
I am raising great children.
I'm teaching others to improve their lives.
I help people have fun.
I create memories for people.
In other words, successful people always come down to this:

I make an impact and help other people by (fill in your purpose here).

What in the world are you doing?

If you want to be successful, you need to be able to answer that by describing how you help others. Because if you aren't helping others - if you aren't making an impact - you are just taking up space, eating food and waiting to die.

Here's the question for you to answer this week and what to do with your answer:

What in the world are you doing?

If you know, then you are good to go - live it and make an impact!

If you don't know, then maybe you need to reflect on what you are doing, what your life is about, and how you can explode the mundane bubble you may be living in!

The world needs impact makers - so live to be one!

God's Promises by Derek Prince

Psalm 119:140
Your promises [O God] have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. NIV

What a beautiful truth, God’s promises have been thoroughly tested. They are not just theories, they are not just abstract theology, they are something that stand the test of life and circumstances. I want to give my personal testimony in line with that.

For about forty years, I have lived by the promises of God. I have proved them in many different circumstances—in war, in famine, in sickness, in loneliness, in bereavement, in misunderstanding. There’s a promise of God that meets each need that arises in our lives and those promises stand the test, they really work.

Probably at some time or another some human being made you a promise and didn’t keep it, you felt let down, hurt, disappointed. But I want to assure you of one thing, that when God makes a promise, He keeps it. There are millions of people in the world today that can testify from personal experience that God keeps His word. His promises are reliable.

Don’t be discouraged if people have let you down, don’t become embittered or resentful, because that won’t help you, but just turn your eyes to God. Focus on His faithfulness, concentrate on His promises and you’ll find that thy have been tested and tried. - Derek Prince

Overcoming All Odds by Os Hillman

Have you ever had your back against the wall so badly that if something didn't happen to change your situation, you were sunk? King Hezekiah was one of Israel's greatest godly kings. One of the greatest challenges to his reign came when the king of Assyria threatened to attack Israel and wipe them out. The Assyrians were the local bullies of the region and had wiped out all other enemies in their region.

They mocked the idea of having a God who could save them.

Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, "The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria" (Isaiah 36:14b-15).
The marketplace is full of "Assyrian kings" who mock the idea of a living God who delivers. Without God's help, Israel would not overcome. Their backs were against the wall. They would be destroyed.

King Hezekiah saved Israel because of one act. He prayed; and because he prayed, God moved on his behalf. In fact, God moved so powerfully that Hezekiah did not even have to fight the battle.

Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning-there were all the dead bodies! (Isaiah 37:36)

The king of Assyria was even murdered by his own sons. Imagine seeing your enemy totally destroyed without one hand raised in battle!

God wants to act on behalf of His children if they will call on Him. One of the motives Hezekiah had in seeking God's help was "so that all kingdoms on earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God" (Is. 37:20). This is what happened. God was glorified.

God wants to let your marketplace know that God is a living God. He can deliver. Seek Him today for the crisis in your life. Keep your motive pure and God will surely answer.

Cash In On Your SKills by Loral Langemeier

In an earlier article, I talk about cash machines. The cash machine is a legally structured business entity you set up to profit from your existing skill set and experience.
It generates more money to fuel your wealth cycle, the self-perpetuating cycle of asset and income. Building and sustaining a viable business, or cash machine, is how you create and support your wealth.

To recap, a cash machine will:
Feed your wealth cycle with cash flow;
potentially grow and appreciate in value;
provide you with experience in learning to earn; and
provide you with the entrepreneurial skills you need to run a successful business.

My next book, The Millionaire Maker's Guide to Creating a Cash Machine for Life, out in June, is a step-by-step guide for launching your own cash machine and for fixing one you might already have. It's a "how to" for the entrepreneur in everyone.

Most people are so focused on debt and getting out of it that they forget about building wealth. The cash machine is about expanding your life, not scrimping and saving. It's about making money first, and then managing your debt second.

Unlike traditional entrepreneurship, the cash machine is simple to start and sustain. The first step is to identify your skill set.

Your skill set is different from your dreams. Your skill set is what you already know, your fastest path to cash and the key to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Many entrepreneurs fail because they choose to pursue a business that requires a whole set of new skills, instead of utilizing their known skills. For instance, you (like many others) might dream of opening a restaurant one day. But let's say you are a school teacher. A more successful option, using your skill set, would be to open a tutoring company to start your cash machine -- that little Italian trattoria or French bistro of your dreams can wait.

The problem is that too many budding entrepreneurs have no idea what they're doing. First, you have to learn to earn, to generate cash and to run a successful business. Then, you can move on to starting that dream business.

In my gap analysis -- one of the key building blocks of the wealth cycle that I have mentioned -- the seventh question I ask is "What are the skills you use to make money?" For some, it's obvious: "I am a chef." "I write for a newspaper." "I design Web sites."

The paths for using these skills for a cash machine are clear: A catering business, a writing-services company and a Web site design business.

For others, it is less obvious. A lot of people have trouble understanding what their skill set is. They have to dig a little deeper. What you do for a living, your job, is not your skill set. The talents you bring to executing your job are your skill set. For example, being an accountant and keeping the books is the job, but the skill set is expertise with numbers and being well-organized and detail-oriented.

I know a garage mechanic who started a handy-man service company in his community. One "retired" stay-at-home Mom -- her kids having left the nest -- launched a business helping the elderly. Her skill set? Driving, organizing households, management, communication, health care, emergency procedures, psychology -- the list goes on.

And the skill set you use for a hobby might also make a great match for a cash machine.
I once worked with a man who, when doing his gap analysis, revealed that he also fixed dune buggies in the family garage in his spare time. This was almost an afterthought in his search for his own skill set, but it eventually led to the family cash machine in producing and marketing dune buggies.

My point is: Look everywhere. Brainstorm with your friends and family. Make lists of your hobbies, what you do in your spare time, your tasks at home, what industries you are familiar with. What do your friends and business associates ask you for help with?

This all might take some time, but it is worth the effort. The success of your cash machine depends on you choosing a business idea that is in line with your skills. Once you define your skill set, do your research and build your team; you are on your way.

You will find a skill that can become a cash machine. I've never met anyone who can't.

Psalm 119:92 by Derek Prince

If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have renewed my life. NIV

One thing is certain in this world, we’re not going to escape affliction forever. At some time or other, each of us is going to know the meaning of that word affliction. In the New Testament the apostles told the new Christian congregation that we must, through much tribulation or affliction enter into the Kingdom of God.

So don’t try to find a way through life that bypasses affliction, because if you do find it, it won’t take you to heaven.

But in your affliction, you need an anchor. And that’s what the psalmist says in those words that I read: If God’s law had not been his delight he would have perished in his affliction. When the pressures, the waves and the billows swept over him, when it seemed that his tiny little vessel was going to be carried away on those monstrous billows, he had an anchor. It was God’s law and that kept him.

And so he says, with gratitude, looking back on that experience, “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have renewed my life.” As we turn to God’s law in the midst of our affliction we receive from it life, new life, life that wells up in spite of all the opposition and the pressures against us. Out of God’s law and God’s Word there comes a life that is a stronger and more powerful than all the forces that oppose us. - Derek Prince

Hehe..I am here again dear!

And I ate Tim Tam for breakfast.. one only! haha:P

All the best for your job interview dear.. God is with you and be blessed! Yeah!

Good Morning Dear!

If you are looking for me, I am right here! haha:P

Wedding Invitation!!

Hi my fellow friends,

Esther and I will like to invite you

to our church wedding ceremony on

07-Jul-2007 Sat 11am

followed by a scrumptious buffet lunch!

You are most welcome to RSVP with us

with your postal address and contact no.

through my email below:

vcrfong@yahoo.com.sg

Hope to see you then!

God bless each and everyone of you!

Warm regards,

Victor Fong & Esther Poh

Weekly Devotional from Derek Prince

Psalm 119:49-50

Here is a word for you from the Word.

Remember the word to Thy servant, in which Thou hast made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy word has revived me. NAS

Has it ever occurred to you that there are times when we can remind God of something? The psalmist says here, “Remember the word to Thy servant in which Thou hast made me hope.”
You see, God gives us promises. Sometimes they come straight from the pages of His Word, the Bible. Sometimes God gives them to us in another way. It may be through a situation, it may be through a fellow Christian. But in one way or another, God makes Himself available to us in the form of His promises.

And they are given that we may have hope, that we may have comfort. They’re given to bring us renewal. The palmist says, “Thy word has revived me”—has renewed me.

So when you get a promise from God, hold onto it, don’t let it slip, don’t let it pass out of your mind, don’t forget it. And not merely should you not forget it, but you have a right to remind God of it. You can say to God, “God in your Word You said so-and-so. And I’m trusting in that Word and I’m asking You to make that word good. The word which gave me hope, the word that gave me comfort even in my time of trouble. Lord, I’m holding that word up to You now. I’m believing that You are faithful, that You’ve never made a promise that You will not fulfill.”

So remind God of His promises.

Seeing the Sacred by Cecil Murphey

I've learned something significant about marriage through watching you and Shirley," Todd* said.

My three-times-divorced friend had lived with Martha* for eight years. Periodically she pressured him to marry her, he refused, arguments ensued, and days passed before they made peace. Todd (who called himself "an unspiritual believer") admitted he was afraid of marriage.

"After three bad trips to the altar, I don't want a fourth failure."

Recently, he said, "I envy the relationship you and Shirley have. You two are committed to the covenant of marriage."

I asked what he meant.

"You love each other. But it's more than love, or even commitment. You're devoted to the covenant—the principle—of marriage. I've always given myself to the person. I loved the three women I married, but eventually arguments became serious and one of us walked out. But I've seen that no matter how difficult things get in your marriage, neither of you leave." He mentioned several problems Shirley and I had faced over the years, especially her serious health concerns. "I've watched you survive things that would have broken any of my marriages. You've put your relationship above your personal feelings."

The more I pondered Todd's words about commitment to the covenant of marriage, the better I understood. It all comes down to the difference between a promise and a vow. When I promise, I'll do the best I can to fulfill whatever I said I would do. If I promise to pay my mortgage every month, I'll pay it. Yet if serious or prolonged illness comes, or I'm downsized, I might not be able to keep that promise.

A vow, however, is sacred. It's a word we need to use cautiously. In the Roman Catholic church, priests or nuns make vows that go beyond their feelings. I'm sure some days Mother Teresa functioned better than others. But she didn't give up; she had vowed.

For me, a vow is like staking our lives on something so powerful only death can put an end to it. My faith in Jesus Christ is like that. Some days I don't feel spiritual, and at other times doubts plague me. But I don't turn away from God. Despite how I feel today, tomorrow my emotions may be different.

Good marriages are built on the same principle. The partners are devoted to each other, but they also have a commitment to something higher than themselves.

When I was a pastor, I saw many couples try to sustain a fantasy relationship. They pursued an ideal of unceasing love, expecting always to satisfy each other's needs for the rest of their lives. But feelings don't remain constant. People are passionate today and cool tomorrow. Eventually, reality sets in.

For example, a man called me six months into his marriage. "My wife snores," he complained. "I can't stand it." Obviously, the issue was more than her snoring. He'd awakened from a long-held fantasy; he finally understood she was human. I warned him that unless they'd built their relationship on more than mutual attraction, their marriage was doomed. (They later divorced.)
Todd also bought into the fantasy marriage—three times. "Every time I said, 'I do,' I held ideas of how marriage should function," he admitted. "I loved my wife—then." After several years, both became disillusioned. She wasn't living up to what a wife "should be" and he no longer felt the way he had when they first married.

"I understand one part in the wedding ceremony—finally," Todd said. "When you and Shirley promised to stay together 'for better or for worse, in sickness and in health,' you could do that because you have something else—something beyond your love for each other that keeps you together."

"For an unspiritual believer," I said, "that's amazingly insightful."

The commitment to God's principle of a relationship severed only by death transcends earthly things. It's powerful because it surpasses feelings and situations. It's a relationship that says, "Even though, and no matter what … we're still together." When two people are both bound by the same, unwavering vow, the marriage lasts.

Weekly Devotional by Derek Prince

Psalm 119:32

Here is a word for you from the Word.

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. NIV

What does it mean to be free? Does it mean that you just do anything you please at any time? That you throw off all order and restraint, you’re just self-indulgent, self-pleasing, self-willed. Let me tell you, friend, and I speak from personal experience, in my own life and in the lives of many others whom I’ve counseled from time to time, that’s not real freedom. That’s slavery. It’s slavery to self and it’s slavery to sin.

But there is a kind of real freedom that comes when God sets our heart free. The psalmist says, “You’ve set my heart free.” What’s the evidence? “I run in the path of your commands.” When we are truly liberated by the grace of God and the power of God, it’s not to please ourselves, it’s not to do our own thing, but it’s to be able to obey God and be able to obey Him with delight, to obey Him with readiness, not reluctantly, not grudgingly, but freely and joyfully.

The psalmist says, “I run in the path of your commands”: I’m not trying to find excuses for disobeying. I just long to know what you will is. And when I discover your will, I run in that pathway. There’s a note of eagerness, a note of excitement, that comes not from pleasing self, but from seeking to please God, from doing His will. The Bible says, “He that does the will of God abides forever.”

Cheeky Boy and Lovely Gal

Using Your Time by Zig Ziglar

The question often asked is do we really use our time to our own best interests? To the best interests of our family, and the best interests of our employer (or employees, if we happen to be the boss)?

A study was done at a typical American plant and it was discovered that the people working on the line and paid an average wage watched an average of 30 hours of television each week. The person in charge of the line watched an average of 25 hours of television a week. The foreman watched an average of 20 hours of television a week; the plant superintendent watched an average of 15 hours of television a week; the vice president of the plant watched an average of 12-15 hours of television each week. The president watched an average of 8-12 hours of television every week. The chairman of the board watched an average of 4-8 hours of television a week, and 50% of that time the chairman was watching training videos.

Apparently this study reveals that those with fewer television hours are those who climb higher, further and faster.

Could this be because much of the time spent watching television is either for entertainment or just to relax? Now all of that’s not bad, but I’m wondering if we were to reduce in the average person’s life the time spent watching television by only 20%, what would the family and financial, as well as health, benefits be? Chances are good there would be more time for relating with others within the family, more time for exercising, and more time for taking care of other important things that are always there for families to do together.

What about the contributions we could make to society if we reduced our television watching time by only 20%? Research shows that people who get involved in voluntary activities for the betterment of others invariably do better in their own careers and personal lives. There is just something inspiring about doing something for others.

Perhaps you are familiar with my quote, You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. It’s certainly something to think about, isn’t it? So, think about it – follow through and structure your time in such a way that you are learning and doing instead of just laughing and looking. Don’t misunderstand. Some laughing and looking is good. Too much of it will not take you from where you are to where you want to go.

Performing Miracles With Your Staff by Os Hillman

Exodus 4:17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.

What is the staff God has put into your hand? Is it being a builder? Is it being an office worker? Is it being a doctor? Moses' staff represented his vocation as a shepherd. God had something in mind for his vocation-to perform miracles. And awesome miracles He did! God turned the Nile river into blood with the touch of the staff. He turned the staff into a snake. He parted the Red Sea with it. These are just a few of the miracles God did with that staff.

When we yield our talents and abilities to the Lord, God can perform miracles through them. First, Moses had to yield what He had in his hand to God. Only after this took place could God use that staff. As long as Moses held onto it, God could not and would not perform miracles through it.

Until we come to this place with our heavenly Father, we will fail to see miracles performed in our work. He delights in showing His power through us. When we become an open vessel, we can expect to see things happen.

Have you given your staff to the Lord? Offer it to Him and see what He might want to do through it. Your life will never be the same.

Nice Hats

Protect the neighbourhood!

A Valentine for Your Marriage by Derek Prince

Like me, you may suspect that many so-called holidays are primarily designed largely to keep the greeting card companies in business. But I have learned over the years that they can serve as good reminders of certain spiritual principles.

For example, when Valentine’s Day comes around about this time each year, I take it as an opportunity to examine how loving I am toward others. It’s also an excellent time for husbands and wives to examine their marriage relationships and for families to strengthen their bonds of commitment.

I am aware that not every person who reads this letter is married. However, marriage is under attack right now. And every believer who has a special married couple in his or her life has a stake in seeing the God-given institution strengthened and restored.

A New Endangered Species

The headline in the recent issue of the New York Times told the sad tale:
“To Be Married Means to be Outnumbered”
For some time now, experts have been saying the traditional married-couple household is about to become a minority in this nation. Why?

Well, when you combine outrageously high divorce rates (even among believers) with the fact that most younger people today are understandably terrified of marriage—you get a culture in which the traditional family becomes the exception rather than the rule.

And according to the Times, we recently crossed that historic milestone. Here’s an excerpt:
Married couples, whose numbers have been declining for decades as a proportion of American households, have finally slipped into a minority, according to an analysis of new census fig­ures. . . . A growing number of adults are spending more of their lives single or living unmarried with partners, and the potential social and economic implications are profound.

“Profound”? Try disastrous.

Why are young people so reluctant to get married? These thoughts from Derek Prince offer us an answer:

I think many younger Christians today, partly because they’ve seen so little to impress them in the lives of older Christians who are married, have completely failed to see the tremendous sanctity and importance of marriage. I really don’t blame you. It’s a tragic fact that we’ve got, I suppose, millions of young people growing up today who have never seen a happy marriage.

However, let me say this to you: if you’ll turn your eyes away from human beings and look to the Bible, it will give you a picture of marriage.

God didn’t establish the lifetime husband-wife bond on a whim. He designed it to be the very best place to live, love, thrive, advance His kingdom and, of course, raise children. And as Derek so powerfully taught, he built it on covenant.

The Power of Covenant

You may have heard the term covenant used many times in reference to marriage. But have you ever known why God views marriage in a covenantal way? Derek Prince had a unique insight on this question:

There is one basic reason why marriages fail. And it is because people do not realize that marriage is a covenant relationship. And if they do, they don’t understand what’s involved in a covenant relationship.

How would a man and a woman view their marriage relationship as Christians who have a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ? Well, they enter into that relationship through a sacrifice. What sacrifice? The death of Jesus. Each one of them passes through that sacrifice. Then they turn around and they look at the sacrifice and they say, “That’s where I died. Now I’m not living for myself. I’m living for my mate. The life I laid down is now being lived out in my mate. And my success will be the success of my mate.”

Somebody asked a well-known evangelist once if a certain man was a good Christian. And he said, “I can’t tell you. I haven’t met his wife.” That’s a very good answer. If a couple are Christians, the success of the one will be seen in the other. You see, it’s a life laid down. I think the Bible teaches that.

Clearly, understanding covenant is a key to happy marriages and strong families.

Superman and Superwoman

Superman and Superwoman!

Power up! Tiu tiu tiu tiu..

Cheeeeessseeeee~!

Say Cheese~!

Cell Group

As of 12 Jan'07.. Watch how the group grows~!

The Two Cows..

Dad and Mum's 30th wedding anniversary

29 December 2006 - Wedding Photoshoot

Bzzzz Bzzzzz bei dian dao le... :P