Saturday, October 24, 2009

He Prunes For He Loves

God has been taking me through a time of refining and moulding... man, it's painful. At times I feel I can't do it no more... feel so defeated... feel the devil out there mocking and laughing... ye know?

But I feel God's heartbeat too... He says, "It's hard but you gotta go through it. Remember your prayers?"

"For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."
- Heb 12:6 (NLT)


"For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."
- Prov 3:12 (NLT)

I've been watching Joyce Meyer's Podcasts almost every night, and this lady has that anointing that just spoke so much into my heart. I'm trying to take baby steps to change parts of me that's unpleasing to God... and as much as I want to try to hard, God has reminded me that it is not by the works of man, but only by the Grace of God that one can be saved. And that in itself, God has used at least 3 ocassions to remind me that it is by His Grace that I am saved!


For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.
- Eph 2:8-9 (NIV)

I very much believe God is trying to do a certain work in me... and in the words of Joyce Meyer:

"... so often we want to live sloppy lives and want to have God come and deliver us. But the truth of the matter is we don't learn anything if He does that. Now God is a miracle working God and I'm certainly not saying He won't do a miracle to get you out of debt, but I will tell you this, and I believe it with all my heart, and that is - if we would do what we can do, God will do what we cannot do. But if we won't do what we can do, then God won't do what we can't do."

At the end of last year, we planned new year resolutions for the year of 2009. And I would say 2009 was not an easy year... I didn't have a heap load of resolutions, but all I had was one thing - and that is to move more in God's Spirit, not by might, nor by strength, but only by His Spirit.


'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
- Zechariah 4:6b (NIV)

And the Lord began to do His work in my heart. He first had to refocus my foundations to Him himself, and not man. He did major changes in my life and did what He had to do to get my eyes back on Him. And when He did so, He allowed trials and testings to come my way, and which I have actually stumbled and failed a couple of times... but each time His Grace and Mercy endured me through the journey.

A month ago, I was entering a point of devastation in my spiritual growth... though all seemed great on the outside, I was struggling to press into His Presence. There were just too many distractions in my life.

Someone prophecied over me and a vision she had was that God was laying pieces over pieces to add to the foundations of the structure that He is building within me. This process of laying deeper and stronger foundations was what God was doing in my life. And honestly, the process felt slow and long... and it did cause me to wonder where I was running...

Came another prophecy a day later... where I was seen running very hard in the race... but I was running without knowing direction. And because of that I was feeling exhausted and confused. God was encouraging me to press on and continue to SEEK HIM for a clear direction, a clear finishing line, that when I find it, I will be able to focus all my energies and strive towards the finishing line.

Two weeks later, at Joseph Advance, God used a brother to speak to me regarding my spiritual gifting... and I gained a revelation through that. I always thought that my spiritual gifting could be used in a certain way... but I had been restricting the direction which I was using my spiritual gift... when there could have been another calling...

And on a side note, just yesterday, I did a spiritual gifts assessment and I indeed had an inclination towards that spiritual gift, but the exercising of the gift wasn't in the direction I thought I would have used it. I really thank God for the sequence and confirmations He has been revealing to me in my life. And this is not the end... cuz we prophecy and know in part!

Back tracking to Joseph Advance... a day later at Church, there was a prophecy spoken to me again. And this time I was told that, "It's not the right timing. God has His timing for the things that I desire to see come to pass. I don't need to try so hard on my own, but instead, I should rely on His Spirit and in God's timing, they WILL come to pass. And that I should rise in faith to see these things happen."

Back then when I received the word, I kept it in my sack... I was thinking, "Is God talking about this??? But I'm doing so well in that now! How could it be?"

So I wrote it down... and kept doing what I was doing....

Recently... God has deepened something within me... in these grueling days, God had to go deeper and dig out the residual sins and transgressions within me. He made me realise that all I was really relying on was my human strength. MY OWN STRENGTH and MIGHT.

Where was the faith? Where was my trust? Did I even believe?

"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe."
- John 6:35-36 (NIV)

God also impacted me within my heart, with other verses regarding trust, faith and believing.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
- Heb 11:1 (NIV)

The test of the Lord is difficult when it comes.... the trials are grueling and painful at times... and know what? I didn't make it... I failed the test... and I felt so horrible and condemned. Yet after that, God picked me up from the miry clay, and told me He loves me. He is teaching me and moulding me as a person... He is preparing me for His works... He is preparing me to the promises He has for me.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)


"For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."
- Heb 12:6 (NLT)

That's right... that's so right..

Today I went to life group with a solemn heart... But I also prayed, that God would lead me out of my fix. That God will give me a new start and strength to stand firm in Him. The devil may have taunted me or tried to lead me away from God... the devil may have tempted me and tried to make me walk towards the hole of sin... the devil may have placed thoughts of condemnation or giving up in my mind, but I have collected all these and threw them back in His face!


"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
- James 4:7 (NIV)


"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
- John 8:36 (NIV)

Know what? God is faithful, forgiving and merciful - and His Grace abounds so deeply and endureth forever!

God spoke to me and I saw - I saw where the past few months had been leading from and to.
Tracing all the way back to my new year resolution, and then prophecies... and my current situation... it seemed like it had all unfolded, not fully, but almost all revealed.

Yes! How could I have missed it? That God was helping me to realise that I had chosen to walk in my own strength all this time? Even at times I claimed so boldly that I wanted to walk by His Spirit, how much time have I spent trying to seek Him and asking Him for an increase in His Spirit in my life?
How many times have I claimed that 'trust God, things will be fine', yet go on and try to resolve issues on my own, jumping ahead of God before He can show me the promises He had for me?

Even in a simple ambition that I had, I had jumped ahead and picked up the reigns of my life again. God had led for awhile, but somehow, I had slowly taken the reigns of my life back in my own hands again. My goals, my dreams and direction in life.... I had sidetracked.

Today's Bible discussion spoke deep in my heart:

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
- Matthew 6:21

"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."
- Psalm 86:11

It reminded me of the prophecy made about me few weeks back.... to trust God for the things that I desire to see to come to pass in God's timing. But first now, I should be seeking God's and calling upon Him, and trusting Him!

I don't know why it took me so long to realise what God was doing... or why it took such a long route before I came to this spot. Like what Joyce Meyer said....

"....you could tell me just like that, what God's been dealing with you about. But you haven't done it yet. He's not going to change His Mind. If you're waiting to see if He is going to change His mind, I can tell you, He won't change His mind. I've been around the block a few times, and in the end... .... God will get His way, or you will be very unhappy. ...Mum ain't happy ain't nobody happy? God ain't happy ain't no Christian happy!"

"...I might just push some of you over the edge tonight, where you just kind of say, you know what? I might as well just get this over with and do this God's way, and move on and stop fighting it, because I'm miserable. Get your soul under control!"

That's right... I want to just get on and stop fighting God's way... or else I just won't have that joy and peace that comes from God. I know God has plans to prosper me that works for the good for me if I love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
- Romans 8:28 (NIV)

"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom."
- Songs of Songs 2:15 (NIV)

Thank God for His Saving Grace and His faithfulness... that I can stand before Him and have a loving relationship with Him. Jesus called His disciples to pray against falling into temptation... but they fell asleep. So many times we are like them disciples... we pray but our flesh weakens us to and cause us to be sleeping Christians, instead of praying Christians.

"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
- Luke 22:39-46

Not by might, nor by strength, but only by HIS SPIRIT!

I decided to pack my dreams in my bag again... and wait for the day God opens the door for me to do it for Him.... as my desires and focus are fixed back upon God... and my treasures once again placed in the Lord's Kingdom...

I'm going to NZ tomorrow! Yep yep... in about 28 hours, I'll be on the plane! Wee!~ How exciting~!

May this trip be a relaxing and great experience, covered and protected by God and just a great time to escape and spend some time with God. I pray that I'll also deepen my fellowship with Set Yen and really catch up on how she's doing in her walk with God.
Talking about my colleague, Set Yen, if y'all haven't known her... I just wanna praise and thank God that she came to know the Lord just about 2 months ago! Praise God... God answers prayers!!

I remembered the day when I booked the tickets with her... but then God gave me a vision.. and that is, the both of us going there together under God's covering!

Amazing... God is good!!

Alright... Just so I can bid blogger goodnight... and get some rest cuz I still gotta work in the morning (ooh, it's 2:15am now). But yeah... Please pray for me if you have some time... I need to over come and learn what God wants me to learn, most important... is to know God more and more!!! And of course, be so close to God that I can be called 'His Friend'.

Before I end... some photos!


Spring Time in Brisbane - Jacaranda Blossoms



A spring blossoms picnic with my lab:
Michelle, Me, Melissa L, Mel, Set Yen, Fenny and Vicky (oh, Teija's holdin the cam) left to right



WAM Dance Team on Stage
(Some days a spirit will take you and guide you there....)


Afternoon Service Team


My bday Road Trip with Wen Huey and Kwayti Venurs.. to Red Cliffe!


Triple SLURP!



Yummy Oysters! Cheap and Fresh! Slurp..! I had 14 of them... felt like an oyster after that.... but it's GREAT!


Marvelling and seeping within God's Awesome Creation


Nag nag nag ah..?


Can't stop laughing man~~ cuz we almost slipped and fell.



Beautiful bridge that I drove on cuz I missed an exit.... wee!!


Veon's Bday surprise.. she couldn't stop laughing in surprise!!


Welcome to this awesome drama - The Five Weird Sisters


They were a bunch of weirdos.... and nerds...


And they decided... they might begin to transform...



They took of their nerdiness... and began... but that wasn't enough!



Say HELLO to their awesome stunning beauty!


Check out my awesome headstand!


Woops! Gotcha!!



Hope Brisbane Afternoon Service Dinner



Surprise?? One day before my bday.. I had this cake from Tues to Fri for breakfast!!


Kudos! Happy Birthday to me... :)

Thanks everyone for making my 23rd bday so special.... and also, thank God for making my 23rd so special... a special time of realising it's not about ME, but about Him... and that my birthday really isn't anything... so I didn't expect much this year... but it was still such a great blessing to have everyone bless me in so many different ways...!

I was actually extremely surprised to receive so many gifts from everyone... so thankful... then Evelyn told me she thought my love language is gifts. Wahaha.... no oh, my love language isn't gifts! Haha... ok, let me clarify that.

My most prominent expression of love language is gifts... but my receiving love language is not wor... lol...
Wee hee hee....
But I'm really greatly blessed and whao!! I can't find my camera adaptor to upload the photos of the different gifts... and there wasn't much photos taken on my bday itself too... but the experience was AWESOME!!

Well, I might upload some nice photos from NZ if I get time... if not... till then!

Thanks so much everyone.. for your prayers and blessings... and just being there for me at all times.... it means a lot! :)

I learnt - the most valuable thing one can give to another is TIME. Because time is something that money can't buy... and something that once you give, you will not get it back. Time, is the best present you can give anyone.

May I encourage everyone to continue to serve the Lord and His people and keep up the sacrificial attitude of giving... and we'll see God's blessings just pour out in our lives.... and there'll be a great reward in Heaven waiting for us!!!

Take care y'all, and God bless!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

It's not about Me

Ps Wen An showed this at Joseph Advance...

It's funny... but on a deeper level, can we be convinced that it's really not about us?



Who are we really exalting...?

May this video give you a laugh.. and also speak into your heart...

Monday, October 5, 2009

Revelation in Journey Unfolding


Hello everyone! It's me again! No.. it's not about ME (in the words of Miss Booms~)..! It's just me here writing again! Hee hee...

Well well... this time I've been 'a little' more regular.

Visited the gym once again after such a long pause due to hectic rehearsals and ministry... but as I jumped on the threadmill today, I was surprised I could still do 4.4kms! And the jog was great because I forgot my ipod... and because I forgot my ipod.. I had a great jog with God... God spoke so much... :)

Just walking and thinking a lot lately... hanging out in my little space, just God and me, plus many random thoughts I had to capture... but after awhile given up capturing them. Instead, I enjoyed the time just thinking through all the things and just analysing them together with God.

It's amazing... and God spoke and moved!

You know, after I blogged on Friday... I'm here again. Some may wonder, what can happen over just these few days? Ya know, ya don't!


Friday was productive in itself. I'm totally amazed by how God spoke to me as I took Him along the journey to life group. Life without a car initially seemed though once again, to have to climb up Carmody Hill... But when I took my first step, the second seemingly became easier. Another step added another and somehow I've returned to my first few times walking to life group with such vigor and excitement in those early days...

Even as I type now, those moments are flowing back from memory bank into the theatre of my mind. Thank God for Facebook (for y'all who got no facebook, what are you waiting for!)

Facebook documented memory - Part 1:


Those days where I first had Praise and Worship in an awesome family - Judah 5.


And the little keyboard that belonged to Vei that just kept the boys amused...


Different ones who were still around and now moved on to different places....
Oh... haven't I changed much..?
(haha)


My 21st birthday - also my 1st birthday as a Child of God...
I'll never forget this day ya know...? In the lovely restaurant of Cybercity, with an awesome bunch of brothers and sisters and my angel big brother who whipped a cake out from nowhere...


Farewell for the 8 'celestial beings' crossing over to Judah 6 from Judah 5...
That was the first time I experience someone from my spiritual family leaving....




Then the first Oceania Convention I attended.... A Contextualised Church.

And a good O bunch of friends - thank God for Robin and Patrick who drove us through the night on a road trip to Byron Bay. And of course for Cintia, our forever awesome navigator.



 My Water Baptism - 1 year and 1 day old Child of God.


And the colourful and lively Judah 5! Once a J5 forever a J5!
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And of course, God has His plans... so we moved on... and we grew... and I went to Judah 6...




Check out this awesome family of Judah 6!




Qian Zi doing a 'lion dance' performance together with me.



Daniel organised it with these other few... It was a fun one! We had little Tang Yuans, Mooncake, food and cake. Yum... And cultural explanations and singing by the guys and girls!



And this blessed day that God has made us together - Mid Autum Festival night.
A great J6 Family!

Yeah... God has been great... and that was just yesterday... look at the progress over the past 2 years... photos do tell a lot, don't they? People age!! Aha! But hope you haven't realised that.... :) Well, and people mature and grow...

Reminiscing another part of my walk with God... not only with the friends that God has blessed me with... but how God knew and made me from the start... now that I traced back my steps... long before I knew it, God had already prepared my heart to love performing arts.

And as I browsed through Facebook... I found many photos that amazing depicted and drew a picture of how God has taken the little that I had and taken me thus far... it's amazing...


WAM Christmas Drama in 2007...


 Ooh.. Daddy Wei Hong, Mummy Lucy, Sister Leann and.... the camo jacket baby?
That's baby Shannon....
Once a happy family...



Grew up happily when the kids were still young....



Few years later.... the family was in a mess...
What will happen to the family?

Wish they recorded the drama that year.....!
Anyway, I'll remember the drama - the first time in my life performing a drama in front of such a big crowd.

Then things didn't stop there... God encouraged me to take on... DANCING!

And I brandished my wushu skills for the first time for WAM:

Oceania Convention 2008 - A Contextualise Church

And then...
15th Church Anniversary 2008:

I did Jazz and Contemporary...

Here's the Video...


At times I wanted to give up.... because it took too much time... because the success brought me pride... because it was hard to be humble in the front line...

But God told me to persevere...

It was hard.... God... if performing was going to make me proud... then I won't dance anymore...

God said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that YOU may have life, and have it to the full."

If pride was the problem, God would have His way of helping me overcome... I didn't have to give up dancing for that...The thief never got to steal after all... because....

The next season of life.... God revealed to me where all this patience and perseverance had taken me.
Joe came along, who discovered my dreams and was actually excited about it! I really thank God for Brother Joe who reignited this hope of mine that was about to die off...


And that's why we named our dance group - Project Passion.

It took some prayer and the blessings of our leaders to start this group.... and God blessed us greatly...

At Project Passion, we believe ALL can dance. For God has created our bodies to move... and dance! A wise lady from MnB dance once said, "You see the little children bopping their bodies according to the beats, that's the core and the evidence that God has created for ALL of us to dance. But the devil came, and stole it away from many ones, with lies of insecurity, low confidence and he gained his power through the media now. We got to claim dance back for God!"

And that's why at Project Passion, we make dance for everyone. For all who wants to dance and we want to reignite the passion and the fire in every single individual who has such a desire.

God is good! All the time.

And I thank God for the skills and gifts.


Multicultural Fiesta 2009

And recently....
Hope Church 16th Anniversary on 3rd Oct 2009:





Opening Ceremony Dance by WAM

And as a highlight of the year for the Afternoon Service, we once again presented the Multicultural Dance, with a little bit of changes.....

Afternoon Service Multicultural Dance

I don't know what to say, apart from saying that God has been great, to me. At times when I doubted, at times when I let pride get the hold of me... at times I let my selfishness reign above God in my life... But God's Grace had it's power to turn the tide over.

God has grown me so much in my journey with Him.... and it will continue to be a journey of trust and faith... it's not going to be easy... but everytime I look back.. I see God's hand in it... moulding this miry clay of mine... into what He has in plan for me.... What HE is going to make me into... and I'm excited! I am!

I love writing it down, and I know I see so much clearer and better when I do blog. Because things make sense whenever I blog and write down the sequence of God's work in my life, to realise that, hey, God had already planned everything from the BEGINNING...

I'm excited to see what God has installed for me for the years to come.

Changes are going to happen and it's inevitable. But whatever changes come, I will place my trust in God for the things to come and know that as long as I'm following Him and walking in His Will for my life... I am walking in safe hands and light. And no one bumps around aimlessly in the light, because we can SEE clearly... and have a clear direction. Even though we don't yet see the finishing line, we know, that God has a great plan for us..... for me, and for you.

Alright.. I can't believe it's 11pm already.. I've been writing for more than an hour now!

So I better go.. and rest up for a great day of work and prayer tomorrow!

Before that... let me share.. more photos!


Thank God... I'm finally able to drive alone!! :) I passed my test on the 1st Oct 2009!

Introducing to you the process of my bear bear's birth....



I shot the hoop at a game booth at EKKA...

 
The ball went in...!!



So I won the best stuff animal in the whole EKKA that I set my eyes upon the moment I saw it!
Way to Go!!!
Thank you Awesome Father God in Heaven!

Alright, Imma head to bed now! Have a blessed week ahead everyone! And thanks for reading my blog! =)
Drop me a note k? Hee... Ta!

God bless,
Shannon

Friday, October 2, 2009

Of late...

I think I've stopped for awhile now... thank God, it's blogging, not my walk with God.

At times it feels like my walk with God is like a race, indeed the Bible mentions it is. Our journey is a race.

Seasons come and go, my speed alternates drastically... at times I run, at times I walk, and at times I crawl... but each time I pray I don't stop. Because if I stopped, it may seem like a short stop, but the current pushes me back. We can't stop... no we can't.

So keep praying... and trust... and having that Faith! God works wonders and miracles, sometimes we don't know how and why... but... God is good!

Instead of writing heaps... let the picture tell the story again! :)

So Elane left (as mentioned in my previous entry)...

Not long after... my dear Xiao Rong left too.... sob sob... bye Kathy... Go.. China needs God... China needs you! But don't ever forget God's goodness to you here!

Now... a greater need to save $$ - another location in the world I have to visit now... Bei Jing!!

Bye bye - Kathy WUUUU Xiao Rong~~~
Renacting our Multicultural Sunday performance... here's the well knowned MJ Thriller movement!


Weet! But in the context of Man in the Mirror...

Bro Jay - ok.. obviously not Jay Chow... That's J-Lo.. not Jennifer Lopez... It's JAY LOW. Homeboy gone home now.


And then... the music drops when the picture coming up follows..
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BOO!!! My backyard's resident!

Long Carpet Python isn't it?

Tracing a little back... sorry my photos are not in order.. because Blogger doesn't allow me to upload them nicely!!
And because of my busy schedule....

I hardly find time...

To...

Blog....?

Yes.. that's right.

But... also...
I hardly find time to...
Erm...
Or should I say...

I prefer not to..

erm...

spend time...
on...

...
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.
.
Make up?

But I had to...
because....
it was...

a godly man and godly woman's....

Han.. and Joy's...

Wedding!!!


Congratulations!!
That's them and Judah 6!

Well... nice..!!
Beautiful and Charming couple...

Blessed and brought together, moulded as one, by the wonderful hands of our
Heavenly Father.

And of course...

Like I said earlier...

Let me show you one nice picture....
Of me and the guys... muwahahaha...

It's not because of the guys...

It's also not because of ME (in the words of miss booms~)

It's about....

Whao?! Somebody wearing a skirt...
and...

MAKEUP?!
dING Dong!
I want to thank, my papa, my mama, my jie jie, my di di, my moo moo... etc etc..

ok.. not funny...

Let's move on!

Bringing us a little forward now..!

Judah C Getaway @ Camp Burleigh on the 4 - 6 September 2009.

Upclose and Personal... we will soar with this FAITH, towards where He guides...

Our kite-making session was a success... check out our J6 vision:
Faith Hope and Love!

FAITH KITE!

The pre-process... Everyone listening.... how to make a kite!

At the nice peaceful cool breezy beach - the kwayti sisters decided a dolphin was necessary...
Name of Dolphin: Dory
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Mum and Cousin Shu Min came to Brisbane
9 - 23rd August 2009

Took them and Wen Huey horse riding in Numinbah Valley trails...

Mama, Shu Min and me with our horses!
Then we went to Ekka.. and I won a bear with my bball skills.. muwhaha..! Hey, I'm not boasting.. :)

We ate along during the trip.. too much for me to show you all the good food.. check out my facebook instead... but...
a hike up Mt Cootha was necessary!
Last but not least....
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In recent days...
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JG Advance Getaway at Redland Bay
25-27 Sept 2009
Themed: BURN
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God showed up... and hearts were changed.
He spoke, we heard.
He convicted, we repented.
He nudged, we surrended.
He called, we responded.
He came, we encountered.
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God moved, our hearts were changed... but our crazy outlooks... it's hard to change!! So...

Presenting y'all... the J6 core team!
Animal formation..

Convicted..? Or tired..?


Drama Series Coming Soon
Alright... not much sharing in this entry.... but yeah, have a little chill and laugh, sit back and relax... and remember to LISTEN... tune in to His channel... and let Him speak.
God is good... and God is good!
Today is Mum's birthday! Happy birthday Mama!!! And yesterday was sis's birthday, "Happy Bday Da Jie... mooo.."
All the good fun in Singapore without me.... but my heart is there! And yeah... hope they received my card....!
Last but not least...
Praise God! I finally got my driving license yesterday!! God is good!
The process of getting it was... a great one.. it was hard, but God spoke to me so much through it... and I hope I'll write it soon.... need time!
Alright... see y'all soon as I walk into a BUSY WEEKEND!
Church Anniversary!!! =)