Double Portion

free men.

2012-01-26T00:35:00.000+08:00

"Early on, I made the mistake of wanting spiritual feelings to endure and remain romantic. Like a new couple expecting to always feel in love, I operated my faith thinking God and I were going to walk around smelling flowers. When this didn't happen, I became confused.

What was more frustrating than the loss of exhilaration was the return of my struggles with sin. I had become a Christian, so why did I still struggle with lust, greed, and envy? Why did I want to get drunk at parties or cheat on tests?"

---excerpted Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller

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If only people knew how free they actually are--that struggles with sin will seem of less and less of a conflict as they learn more and more about what Jesus has already accomplished for them. God sent His Son to die for us in spite of our sinful nature. What love!

The finished work is greater. :)

bucks for bunks.

2012-01-26T00:31:00.003+08:00

wow it's been many months since i last posted! : )

but anyway: USD 38 for someone to be able to sleep in a bed. It'd mean a lot to the person on the street... and to Pastor Matthew too. : )

Bucks for Bunks from The Dream Center on Vimeo.

chilling.

2011-03-18T20:30:00.000+08:00

"Sometimes I will enter into God's presence and I won't say a word. I used to think I had to talk all the time when I was with God. Now, it's more like a flesh-and-blood relationship. Some days I'm chatty and full of things to tell Him; other days I say nothing the whole time. Sometimes my conversation with God is energetic and animated; other times I'll just sit and meditate. It reminds me of times with my dad. Without question, we love each other. Sometimes we'll drive someplace and the two of us will talk nonstop; other days we might drive an hour without saying anything. Either way I'm still comforted because I'm in his presence."

- The Cause Within You, Matthew Barnett

shared vision.

2011-03-18T18:53:00.000+08:00

"You can be good friends and have lots of fun with someone without accomplishing anything of value; but when you are yoked up with one or more people who share your vision, you'll produce great things together, even if you never become best buddies."

-The Cause Within You, Matthew Barnett

cause.

2011-02-12T01:38:00.000+08:00

These days, I can't help but think about LA. So much had been caught.

we're part of something, greater.

reasoning.

2011-02-07T22:02:00.000+08:00

^{Isa 1:18}
“ Come now, and let us reason together,”
      Says the LORD,

      “ Though your sins are like scarlet,
      They shall be as white as snow;
      Though they are red like crimson,
      They shall be as wool.

--------

When I fall, you reason with me, with outstretched, nail-pierced hands.

What manner of reasoning is this?

yet i know that it is knowing You that sets me free.

key.

2010-09-12T23:28:00.000+08:00

"I'll do whatever it takes / to turn this around / i know what's at stake / i know that i've let you down"

"really? how can it be that You let me down? You never will"

"from now on, you hold on to the key to your heart. you decide who you want to let in"

..........

"this key, it belongs to You"

--------------

reflections.

2010-08-23T23:50:00.007+08:00

Rom 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

------------

The time spent in Vietnam on the most recent Genrev mission trip was precious time spent in His presence—we ran a bible camp for children who lived in Vietnamese tribes from the mountains near Ho Chi Minh city, alongside a Grace Seminar conducted by Pastor Keith, with their parents. Free from the distractions of work and the internet, it was easy to sense God’s presence tangibly. As we went about executing the plans we made for the children and letting God flow through us, I felt God speaking to me, even as He was speaking through me.

One of the things that God spoke to me about through this mission trip was on how we all truly are on equal standing with each other—regardless of the level of education we have received, the language we speak, the value of the clothes we wear, or even differences in age.

What I remember most vividly was how the little children received their nametag cards from me with both their hands, as I passed them out. I was instantly touched by that seemingly small gesture—who was I to them that they showed such honour to? Right there and then, I saw them as fellow King-Priests in Christ, just like myself. Covered by the blood of Christ, we truly are on equal standing, with equal access to the Holy of Holies—with the free choice to give God control over our lives; with the free choice to co-labour with God for His purposes to be accomplished in the establishing of the Kingdom.

I began to see how powerful it is for one to recognize the royal priesthood bestowed upon us through Christ, which is to be used for Him. As Paul states in 2 Cor 6:1 “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain,” we are invited to participate in His master plan of salvation for all. Knowing that you are a king and a priest, means knowing that you have the access to the unending riches of His power to heal, to deliver, and to plant incorruptible seed into the lives of others. On the last night of the mission trip, the team spoke into the lives of all the children, and anointed them with oil, planting seeds of destiny into their hearts. If we truly are the royal priesthood, then the words of life spoken over them will stand—and in turn, a new generation of royal priesthood will rise in Vietnam, all of them willing participants in God’s plan.

In time to come, when the harvest becomes visible for all to see, I believe that the land of Vietnam will be invaded by the blessings of God Himself, with Vietnam’s very own beacons of light rising up to take the land that God has portioned for them. The sons of God in Vietnam whom creation is waiting in eager expectation for, will be revealed.

speak.

2010-08-09T21:02:00.000+08:00

lifechanging.

----
more on vietnam later.

: )

take over

2010-08-01T00:25:00.000+08:00

Isa 41
¹⁰ Fear not, for I am with you;
      Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
      I will strengthen you,
      Yes, I will help you,
      I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
       ¹¹ “ Behold, all those who were incensed against you
      Shall be ashamed and disgraced;
      They shall be as nothing,
      And those who strive with you shall perish.
       ¹² You shall seek them and not find them—
      Those who contended with you.
      Those who war against you
      Shall be as nothing,
      As a nonexistent thing.
       ¹³ For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand,
      Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

-----------
and we're finally here. on the brink of vietnam--mission trip.

this is our portion, my portion, that indeed my enemies shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing.
let us give God our strength, the strength of our right hands, for He is saying He will hold it. And He will increase it. : )

2010-07-23T00:27:00.000+08:00

***
We're standing still in a moment of eternity
Where worlds collide and I feel the breath of heaven over me

: )

***

Jesus.

in this is love, not that we loved Him but He loved us.

2010-07-05T23:02:00.001+08:00

Penning this down before I forget to.

He always meets you where you're at. He longs to identify with you. For when He identifies Himself with you, you have deliverance.

***
Exodus 3
² And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. ³ Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
⁴ So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
⁵ Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

the Father came down to where His people are, in a burning bush--a bush burning with fire but not consumed, just like how His people were suffering in a burning furnace, under the whip of the Egyptians--suffering and burning but not consumed. He longs to identify with His people.
***
In the wilderness journey, where His people were living in tents, likewise God the Father so longed to be identified with His people that He came down to tabernacle with them, and to dwell in a tabernacle (tent) as well. Oh, how He longs to be identified with His people.
***
Joshua 5
¹³ And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”
¹⁴ So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.”
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”
¹⁵ Then the Commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

the Father came down to where His people are, as warriors about to take over the Promised Land. He came as Commander, with sword drawn. He longs to identify with His people.
***
When His people dwelled in houses made of concrete, He came down to dwell in a Temple, to stay close to His people. He longs to be identified with His people.
***
But that wasn't enough. That wasn't close enough for Him. He wanted to be even closer!

He so longed to be identified with His people that He gave His only Son as a propitiation for our sins so that He could be identified with our spirit-man, and dwell in US. So that nothing, NOTHING stands between Him and us. So that He is able to identify Himself, with the very cores of our being.

***
Mind-blowing?

big < 3 : )

2010-06-19T15:05:00.001+08:00

John 3:16 in the Amplified:

¹⁶For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (^[a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

-------
God has a heart bigger than all of our hearts put together. A forgiveness and trust in His creation to an extent that He's able to use people who've not got it altogether, to magnify His largeness of heart. A heart that finds ways and means to give, give and give. To uplift spirits, to heal hearts, to empower dreams.

What with the recent boy scandals revolving around the Church, insensitive comments by pastors, Mike G's cancer hoax couple years ago--God is not taken by surprise : ) Using broken man to bring about revival in itself is 'scandalous' to the world. But His heart is for the world.

It is the scandal of God's amazing grace.

--------
http://www.jesusculture.com/articles/prophetic-word-for-2010

: )

room.

2010-05-31T13:53:00.002+08:00

Gen 26
19 Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek [Dispute] because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah [Opposition]. 22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth [Room], saying, "Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land."

---------

He will give me room, whichever way I turn--staying in restful increase.

you are MORE.

2010-05-28T00:07:00.003+08:00

'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you build,
But what He built to forgive you,
And what He built to make you know.

casting cares.

2010-05-24T21:21:00.000+08:00

^{1 Peter 5:7}
"casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

*
go away, ghosts.

missing the Dreamcenter. : )
*

Coffey Anderson - All Ye (Remix)

keeping it simple.

2010-05-23T20:16:00.000+08:00

"In a recent radio interview I was sternly asked by the host, who did not consider himself a Christian, to defend Christianity. I told him that I couldn't do it, and moreover, that I didn't want to defend the term. He asked me if I was a Christian, and I told him yes. "Then why don't you want to defend Christianity?" he asked, confused. I told him I no longer knew what the term meant. Of the hundreds of thousands of people listening to his show that day, some of them had terrible experiences with Christianity; they may have been yelled at by a teacher in a Christian school, abused by a minister, or browbeaten by a Christian parent. To them, the term Christianity meant something that no Christian I know would defend. By fortifying the term, I am only making them more and more angry. I won't do it. Stop ten people on the street and ask them what they think of when they hear the word Christianity, and they will give you then different answers. How can I defend a term that means ten different things to ten different people? I told the radio show host that I would rather talk about Jesus and how I came to believe that Jesus exists and that he likes me. The host looked back at me with tears in his eyes. When we were done, he asked me if we could go get lunch together. He told me how much he didn't like Christianity but how he had always wanted to believe Jesus was the Son of God."

-excerpted Blue like Jazz, Donald Miller

-------
Perhaps that's what we're called to do.

To talk about a Jesus that not only loves you but who actually likes you. Who actually likes to spend time with you. Who wants to hug and kiss you every moment of every living day.

Even though you're so unlovable.

*
Jesus didn't invent the term Christianity. We did. He came to say, I love you. : )

*
Imperfect people pointing people to a perfect lover.

Planetshakers - God Is Able

more of You.

2010-05-16T18:51:00.001+08:00

***
Take me deeper than I've been before,
Take me further God I long for more
Take me higher that I've been before,

Jesus I want more,
Jesus I need more
***
Luke 16:10a He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.

you're faithful.

2010-05-15T21:11:00.003+08:00

every day.

***
Your love is the rock that I cling to.
Your name is the tower that I run into.
Your strength is what lives my head when it's bowed low.
Your song is the light that shines through my window.

And like the sun after all of the rain is gone,
The morning without any cloud comes.
With a picture of Your love.
And when I think of the stars so high over me,
The moon in the darkness lets everyone see
A picture of Your love.

After the rain has fallen,
...the sweetest name remains on my soul.
After the rain has fallen, after the clouds all roll away,
...the sweetest name remains on my soul.

Cause You're faithful, You're always the same.
Your faithful, know You never change.
Your faithful, You're always good. always good.

Though I walk through the valley of shadow of death,
I have no doubt, You've already gone ahead.
My fire by night, You're my cloud by day.
Though ten thousand fall to my right and my left,
under the shadow of the Most High, I find rest.
My fire by night, You're my cloud by day.

a courageous generation.

2010-04-25T22:15:00.006+08:00

------------------------
1 Samuel 14
¹² Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.”
Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” ¹³ And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them.
.
.
.
²¹ Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle. ²³ So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.

-------------------
time to arise, and shine. : )

words.

2010-04-22T00:59:00.004+08:00

seems like the word for this season is ... about watching the words you speak.
Life and death is in the power of the tongue indeed. : ) Speak forth life, then.

glimpse of heaven.

2010-04-19T23:30:00.000+08:00

if only we catch a glimpse of heaven. wow. how can we ever be disappointed?

that is powerful.

--------
more on what's going on, later : )

breakthrough.

2010-03-12T21:10:00.000+08:00

2 Samuel
¹⁹ So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”
And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim (Master of Breakthroughs).
---------

It will be a season of breakthroughs for many.

Sharing on breakthrough with some of the closer ones some time ago, I decided to check out Bethel's sermon of the week that night and was pleasantly surprised to see the title "The Spirit of Breakthrough". And now? Subsequent Sermon of the Week titles were "Pursue, Overtake, Recover All" , and the most recent: "The Anointing for Breakthrough". (amazing revelations by the way)

Pastor also shared an amazing message on Meditation last Sunday, which I see as the very key to breakthrough. (get that message) and now this. God wants us to see breakthrough. In every area of our lives.

Even then, breakthrough for a purpose. Breakthrough for others to ride on your breakthrough. Breakthrough for His glory. Breakthrough to enable us to carry out His desires placed in our hearts. Breakthrough just to know He is Lord of all. Breakthrough to birth hope. Breakthrough to show love. Breakthrough.

-----------
Leaving for a good 2 weeks come 8 hours.

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http://www.box.net/shared/60hm3jyoda
Kris Vallotton's message on Taking your Inheritance.

.

2010-02-26T00:11:00.000+08:00

John 1:47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

"Nathanael herein was an Israelite indeed, that, like Israel, he wrestled with God alone (Gen. 32:24), prayed not like the hypocrites, in the corners of the streets, but under the fig-tree."

referenced http://www.biblebrowser.com/john/1-47.htm

----
John 1:51 He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

reconciliation.

2010-02-25T00:23:00.000+08:00

the whole of tonight was spent talking after dinner with a precious bro who's about to step into another chapter of his life. Much talk about God, His will, His power, His grace; seemingly unanswered prayers, hopeless, helpless situations; and the reconciliation of them both.

Natural optimist? or too much trust in God?

I find it hard to say anything but to trust that God's working for the good in your situation when I'm not in the middle of it myself. Yet oftentimes we are called to be that listening ear, and that encouraging voice that says "YES. the Father IS right there with you.", even though it might seem like these words are laced with ignorance. It's true. I guess that's living by faith. Faith that all these things happen for a reason. That somehow the turn of events work to edify you the believer who chooses to hold on to the very heart of God, the core of Himself that says "Yes, I want to bless you, I want to love you, I want to make all your crooked places straight."

What reason is there to live, if not for Him? He is the only treasure I have. He is the only reason worth living for. And He is God of the Breakthrough. Your breakthrough.

love.

2010-02-12T18:27:00.000+08:00

1 Cor 13
¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing.
------------

the heart behind everything we do, is love.

the message is simple.

it

is

love.

bigger than me.

2010-02-07T17:46:00.000+08:00

i just cannot even begin to fathom what God is doing these days. : )

milk and honey.

2010-01-02T12:55:00.000+08:00

Joshua 5:12 "They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year."
----

The first entry on Charles Spurgeon's Morning by Morning devotional to start the new year. Could it really be confirmation of what was said during the last service of 2009? 2010, the land of Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey. We will eat of that fruit.

love.

2009-12-28T20:52:00.000+08:00

"You can give and not love, but you can't love and not give." -Kris Vallotton
----------

Judy came up with a brilliant, spontaneous idea to buy some of the office cleaning staff surprise presents for Christmas and the New Year, and I absolutely loved it. The smiles received were precious, especially from the 2 aunties who work in the canteen. So many of us walk past these office unsung heroes every day, we look right past them, so much so that when I approached the first aunty, she was a little taken aback. Looking into her eyes, I tried to explain as best I could why I was giving her a present, and then to the other, as she emerged from the washroom. No agendas, no strings attached. Just to show a little love. Just to let her know that she's appreciated. Just to deposit a little of His Kingdom.

Yet every single day we travel to work, looking past every single person on the train, on the bus. We see life's imbalances and we pretend that they don't matter. ... and yet the fullness of the Holy Spirit, You have given to us, Your power to wield.

What is this love You have for us, O God? that we'd never be able to fully grasp? even so, Your Kingdom is so full. Too full to be able to be contained. So complete. And so beautiful.

Let this power of Your new anointing fall.

Love, Just Because.

---------

Pastor Matthew Barnett of the LA Dream Center: "I used to think of preaching to thousands, but now when I preach, I'm always thinking about the one."

Kris Vallotton: "People's opinion(s) [contrary to our own] doesn't give me the right to not love them, in a felt way...", "We're not called to pound seed into concrete..." and "Love is going to move us from invasion, to invitation..."

Kim Walker: "We're never the same after we encounter the love of God..."

Apostle Paul: "...and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Jesus: "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

your kingdom come.

2009-12-19T10:06:00.003+08:00

Matt 6
¹⁰ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
----------

Attended a good friend's baptismal service last Sunday, and it was something that the pastor talked about that struck me. Praying "Your Kingdom come" in every situation. That's so powerful. Because the Kingdom of God is always full. Because the Kingdom of God always has power to change. To deliver. To show love. To rebuild dreams.

As I walked home that night after a Sunday's worth of work, the last few words I heard through my headphones were the words from this verse and from this song. And I thought, wow, it really is true.

Hillsong United - You Hold Me Now

*EDIT*

oh wow, it's no wonder I've never heard the last part of the song before. It's only featured on the Faith+Hope+Love rendition of You Hold Me Now. the song link above doesn't have it. Be sure to listen till the end. : ) Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be done. So powerful.

thoughts.

2009-12-12T23:29:00.001+08:00

encounter.

2009-12-09T23:34:00.000+08:00

King of Kings.

even more so, Bro of Bros. =)
-------
Oh, how He loves us!

"His presence, His love is so, thick, and tangible, in this room, tonight. And there, are some of you here that have not encountered the love of God. And tonight, God wants to encounter you. And wants you to feel, His love. His amazing love. Without it, these are just songs, these are just words, these are just instruments, without the love of God it's just like we're just up here, making noise. But the love of God changes us. And we're never the same, we're never the same after we encounter the love of God. We're never the same after we encounter the love of God. And right now, if you haven't encountered the love of God--and you would know, because you wouldn't be the same, you would never be the same again. And if you, if you wanna encounter the love of God right now, you'd better just brace yourself...because He's just about to blow in this place! And we're going to encounter the love of God, right now, so God, I speak to all the hearts, and I ask God that every heart be opened right now, every heart be opened, every spirit be opened up, to You God, to You, and a love encounter, a love encounter from You tonight. A love encounter from You tonight!"
--Kim Walker

will.

2009-12-04T11:49:00.000+08:00

Psalms 32
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.

2009-12-03T07:38:00.000+08:00

all, or nothing?

=|

dream christmas.

2009-11-20T18:07:00.002+08:00

Dream Christmas from Press Play on Vimeo.

iheart.

2009-11-03T20:48:00.000+08:00

"is it fair to walk past a homeless man and give him nothing in the assumption that he'll spend it on booze or cigarettes or would you suggest he go out and get a job?"-Joelhouston

*
love. and not judge. without Christ, we can do nothing.

nouns and verbs.

2009-10-31T01:00:00.000+08:00

"And as my very essence is a verb," she continued, "I am more attuned to verbs than nouns. Verbs such as confessing, repenting, living, loving, responding, growing, reaping, changing, sowing, running, dancing, singing, and on and on. Humans, on the other hand, have a knack for taking a verb that is alive and full of grace and turning it into a dead noun or principle that reeks of rules: something growing and alive dies. Nouns exist because there is a created universe and physical reality, but if the universe is only a mass of nouns, it is dead. Unless 'I am', there are no verbs, and vertbs are what makes the universe alive."
---excerpted, The Shack, WM. Paul Young

goodness.

2009-10-27T23:00:00.005+08:00

"Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."

---excerpt, The Shack, WM Paul Young.

belief.

2009-10-26T20:25:00.000+08:00

and there it was again. wow what confirmation on Sunday, after a great time spent in the word on Saturday.

Abraham believed God--and he became the father of many nations.
Smith Wigglesworth believed God--and he raised more than 14 people from the dead.
The Roman Centurion believed God--that God's spoken word was enough for his servant.
Simon Peter believed God--and he caught fish.

haha! it just blew my mind away! becos God can do anything! and He will do everything GOOD! Rev Col Stringer also spoke about the awakening that he feels we're on the brink of--i can't wait. God is so gracious though, to not impose His views on those who choose not to believe He can do things that are out of this world--i need to be like that. He gave us free choice. and i really should honor that, too. : )

love.

2009-10-24T13:13:00.001+08:00

I feel like, the love revolution is on the brink of breaking out all over the globe. Maybe it already has. : )

2 love projects spontaneously conceived at 2 different places at about the same time. Singapore, and Melbourne. Project Love, Just Because, and Project: Share The Love. Reminded me of the crazy things the Dreamcenter does back in LA. We've received radical grace. now it's time to impart radical love.

I don't know how. Only You do.

Oh and MatthewBarnett's coming to town! : )

who's with me.

*
"you can keep on looking but I think I've found it..."

Press Play - Break It Out

heart.

2009-10-18T20:20:00.000+08:00

1 Kings 3:⁹ So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
--------
in need of direction.

sorry.

Heaven's Priority.

2009-10-11T17:19:00.000+08:00

Please to listen to this: http://www.ibethelmedia4.org/sotw/files/heavens_priority_92009_11_00am_96.mp3

I can't say it any better.

Show the love of Christ.
-----
Matt 12: ³⁰"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

this way and that.

2009-10-02T00:39:00.001+08:00

Numbers
²¹ But Moses said, "Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!' ²² Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?"
²³ The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you."
----------------
Personal experiences are often used as references to what should/should not happen; what should/should not be done. It's sad but true--that we dimensionalize God that way. We believe that He should work this way, and no other. Until He throws a curveball answer to your prayer.

I've been thinking about this for some time now, thought i'd take some time to pen down my thoughts. It's tough--even the great healing evangelist Benny Hinn has been maligned for dabbling in sorcery when all he did was to cast a demon out of a woman, albeit forcefully. Just because you haven't seen a demon cast out in this way before doesn't mean it's all a hoax. In the same way, if you haven't seen the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit, it doesn't mean that He isn't real. The Holy Spirit inside of us will separate the meat from the bones. He is closer to us than we think. And He doesn't humiliate. He's pure love.

Don't dimensionalize Him. How do you limit someone who's limitless? it's mind-boggling.

William Seymour prophesied a greater awakening a 100 years from 1909. A greater awakening as compared to the Azusa Street revival. A revival with greater creative miracles and a greater outpouring of love? I can't wait. : )

worship.

2009-09-29T16:04:00.002+08:00

Exalted, You will ever be exalted
You are worthy of honor and praise
Adore You, I will ever stand before You
To worship and praise You all my days

*

surrender.

2009-09-14T00:11:00.002+08:00

"Surrender is not the surrender of the external life, but of the will; when that is done, all is done. There are very few crises in life; the great crisis is the surrender of the will. God never crushes a man's will into surrender, He never beseeches him, He waits until the man yields up his will to Him. That battle never needs to be refought."

"After surrender--what? The whole of the life after surrender is an aspiration for unbroken communion with God."

-Oswald Chambers. My Utmost for His Highest.

*
if only you knew. : )

over and underneath.

2009-09-05T18:29:00.000+08:00

it seems these days, i've been hearing through songs. so i'm going to carry on with this next one also by Tenth Avenue North:

I hear You say,"My love is over. It's underneath.
It's inside. It's in between.
The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.
The times that you question, 'Is this for real? '
The times you're broken.
The times that you mend.
The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.
Well, My love is over, it's underneath.
It's inside, it's in between.
These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.
The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.
The times you're hurting.
The times that you heal.
The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.
The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.
I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.
I'm there through your heartache.
I'm there in the storm.
My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone.
I don't care where you fall, where you have been.
I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.
It never ends."

it's true.

strength.

2009-08-31T23:31:00.000+08:00

i fail. but You're there to say, it's ok. Thanks.

flying.

2009-08-21T19:46:00.000+08:00

oh you've stolen my heart. Yes You have. : )

Precious Holy Spirit, would you come fill me?

*
Many reminders the past few days of my days in LA. just said goodbye to a precious brother yesterday--missed him as much as i missed LA. He's in good hands. : ) SW, took me back to my first blog entry on the dreamcenter and i realize : ) it was just me and God the Spirit.

the Holy Spirit is the power of God. and God the Spirit will be breathed into those dry bones, my dry bones, in these days.

*
"Don't you understand? He's all I've got!" - Kathryn Kuhlman
[excerpted from Benny Hinn's "Good Morning, Holy Spirit"]

Good Morning, Holy Spirit

2009-08-20T10:01:00.001+08:00

missing my church, the Dreamcenter.

more on mills.

2009-08-11T21:17:00.001+08:00

the glory realm.

*
God's not just hearsay. =D

o prophesy.

2009-08-10T10:23:00.001+08:00

so 7th August, Friday. we all went for Joshua Mills session to see if we could get a glimpse of a gold dust shower. i walked away with something deeper.

in the midst of free worship, he sang on the dry bones. he invited the four winds to breathe on the dry bones. he invited the cloud of glory to fill up the place. o wow what a manifestation. : ) he specifically invited the glory into Singapore. what a time this is. it felt as though revival was about to break out upon our land there and then.

"the answer is My Spirit of revelation".

i was laughing, and crying all at the same time.

Brooke Fraser - His Glory Appears

*
Psalm 63
1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

*

where dreams come true!

2009-08-05T22:22:00.002+08:00

Oh God You're so good! : ) doesn't this just blow your mind away? The healing power of the resurrected Christ.

Part 1 of 4

part 2 of 4

part 3 of 4

part 4 of 4

and click here for the written testimony.

Oh wow. hahaha! restoration and open eyes for all! i love the last vid, where the girl had the presence of the Spirit come all over her!

dry bones.

2009-08-02T23:06:00.002+08:00

today, i want to talk about the dry bone army that God's breathing into-(see July 4, 2009).

Kris vallotton spoke briefly on the dry bones: "we're not called to give a commentary on how dry the bones are, and what they used to be"
and that "we're called to call those things that are not as though they are, and have out of the dry bones, a mighty army"-The Tipping Point Part 2, July 14, 2009

Pastor today set the congregation free to boldly pray for people who have needs, calling us "the army of God".-August 2,2009

and i reviewed the tweets for today and found this:
"@MatthewBarnettGood night folks. Ready for a rather powerful and emotional service tomorrow. God is going to bring life to dry bones."-August 2,2009

tell me there's nothing insignificant about this dry bone army... :D

*
exciting times.

what are You up to? :)

too sweet =)

2009-07-23T22:08:00.002+08:00

army.

2009-07-04T15:01:00.004+08:00

Ezekiel 37
¹ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."

⁴ Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' "

---
so i asked God how i should start this blogpost, and he showed me this passage. spot on.

i was in the train station some time the past week, coming home from work, when i realized how broken we all really are. just observing the rushing people in the station made me realize how fully imperfect we all are. i grew up thinking my father was perfect, and i thank God my image of a father was kept from being tarnished--even so, i look at my own broken life and can't help but feel helpless. how about those who grew up in abusive homes, separated parents? kids who wanted to stay out as long as they could just so they could spend as little time at home as possible? and that's just one of the many issues plaguing our race as the clock ticks by every moment. it's so...helpless. i felt so helpless. and imperfect.

then i saw a human tide of crippled, helpless, broken people, holding crutches, lifting hands. and God said to me: "this is my army." and at first i was taken aback. not even sure if i heard right. and then i realize that He's right. if that were true, then every one of us could be in this army. because every one of us is broken. we all are crippled. so we all qualify to be in His army.

v¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

*
somehow, out of this mess we've all gotten into, God has triumphed. We will all come to life.

*
Brian and Jen Johnson - I was Created to Worship

the body.

2009-06-27T10:54:00.002+08:00

Romans 12
⁴ For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

-----
the body of Christ has been on my mind of late and these verses are so apt. it's interesting noting the reactions from a couple friends recently, having shared with them the things i've experienced and seen, coming from where i come from, having tasted what the Spirit has allowed me to.

Restoration to the Church has come in many forms and i do agree that we as unique members of the body, have our individual part to play in God's inevitable plan, even for those of us who haven't fully embraced the new things that the move of the Spirit has initiated in these last days. i, myself, am guilty of judging others and i do pray for new mercies and understanding as i grapple with these concepts. it really is difficult, and i'm starting to feel a tinge of sadness for the sometimes divisive nature of our words which stem from our own individual beliefs. i need to be reminded that we all have our own part to play. we all are unique members. we all are mighty tools because God Himself is mighty, and Jesus Himself is inside us.

This is my season of intimacy. What does it mean to "need God"? He told me, "I don't want to share this intimacy I have with you, with others". Does it matter to me if someone doesn't get the same revelation, enjoy the same music, get the same words, that i do? does it matter to me if someone else doesn't experience God the way i do? does it matter to me that the other person sees God the way i do? i find myself doing that all the time, getting defensive whenever someone cautions me that i should be doing re-checks on what i'm feeding myself, feeling a need for someone to look at things frommy perspective. but is it enough for me to know for myself? Oh how He craves intimacy with me. it's so raw and personal. you don't share these things!

oh Spirit guide me. Even now, I miss the Dreamcenter back in LA, and also the Bethel experience, even though that was only for a day. but it's as if a portion of the spirit from these 2 awesomely different churches now lives in me, infused with my 7 years back home. a new spirit-man perhaps. i don't know what to expect anymore. : )

"Hold on to intimacy. Does it matter to you what downloads other people are getting from Me? and what downloads I'm giving to You?"

is this surrender?

http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/7750

intimacy.

2009-06-26T10:23:00.004+08:00

draw closer to Me.

and all these things, shall be added.

*
Press Play - Angels Sing

fill this place.

2009-06-14T02:42:00.002+08:00

Amos 9

¹¹ “ On that day I will raise up
The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,
And repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins,
And rebuild it as in the days of old;

¹² That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,”
Says the LORD who does this thing.

i relooked the chapter and realized what a vision Amos must have seen. Israel's destruction and her eventual resurrection. v8 says "...Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob..."

Bill Johnson spoke about the 30 year dream he had, and the rebuilding of the tabernacle of David, a place where it was just the ark. where people were drawn to worship. and to be in awe. a place of 24 hour worship! a tabernacle so radically different from the tabernacle of Moses with all its adornments.

and the fruit? v12 "That they may possess the remnant of Edom (the world)". Bill does emphasize that the possession of the remnant is a fruit. it's not the main thing. the main thing's worship. and as we worship:

Isaiah 60

¹ Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
² For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.

³ The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
⁴ “ Lift up your eyes all around, and see:

They all gather together, they come to you;
Your sons shall come from afar,
And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.
⁵ Then you shall see and become radiant,
And your heart shall swell with joy;
Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.

something Bill said was so profound: "we as worshippers are positioned to summon nations to their destinies."

we worship, we obey. God does the rest : )

so much more.

Press Play - Fill This Place

no coincidence.

2009-06-06T07:30:00.003+08:00

i was walking around by myself just outside the security check-in counter inside Orlando airport, just looking at the people go by, sitting at the cafes, dragging their luggages past me.

then what jem said some days ago hit me again. there is no true coincidence. even the seemingly random presence of the kid sitting opposite you at the mcCafe while you're munching down on that mcSpicy burger of yours. no coincidence. he's just...

...there.

even if God doesn't tell you to do something about that person sitting right next to you in the busy subway train, that doesn't mean that person's there by coincidence. :)

waiting for our flight back to nyc...

no one. :)

2009-06-03T20:55:00.002+08:00

in all of the earth, and all of the heavens

we found there is no one, no one like You.

=)

Brian & Jen Johnson - I Was Created to Worship

openly receive.

2009-05-29T02:39:00.005+08:00

soaking in God's presence the entire Sunday. spending time with the angels and friends. revelation after revelation. wow.

Bethel, heaven on earth.

and what is it about the church that never sleeps?

...we've so much more to receive. and to give. =)

Genesis 28

¹¹ When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. ¹² He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. ¹³ There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. ¹⁴ Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. ¹⁵ I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.

Brian Johnson - Greatly to be Praised
*

indeed, You are great, and greatly to be praised. : )

overwhelming.

2009-05-28T15:15:00.005+08:00

what a day.

yosemite, half-dome.

i felt so small. God You're so big...

take me.

gripped.

2009-05-21T10:25:00.004+08:00

finally done with all my packing, almost. hopefully, i'll transfer most of my stuff to my parents when i meet them in new york in a couple weeks.

was two days of fun bringing the law gang around LA, and also a chance for me to visit all my favorite spots again. i never realized how much i love santa monica and the promenade. it's always so... refreshing. and happy.

last night was spent at Weller Court, orochon ramen, and then pinkberry just down the street. thank God for His sharpness--I had this uneasiness about this guy at the Office Depot parking lot who turned out to be the parking attendant. he must have called the tow truck on us, but we left just in time--and found another outside pinkberry.

then it happened. as we were leaving pinkberry, a black, possibly homeless man, came up to me asking for change. one of the many i've encountered here. despair in his voice. pleading eyes. outstretched hand.

i forced myself to look away. and i walked away.

i don't know why, but it was different this time. something just gripped me. my heart sank. my shoulders were suddenly burdened. i was so pissed at myself, for having walked away. we made our way back to their hotel in hollywood.

i couldn't explain it but my spirit was crushed on the way back from their hotel. it was like he needed God and i knew it. that man needed to know that God is good. even in his situation. he needed to know that he can still dream.

but i walked away, still.

wake-up call?

this song. made me cry.

Press Play - One Life

because every word is so true. what would You have me do?

the terminator speaks!

2009-05-16T13:53:00.002+08:00

usc commencement 2009

closer

2009-05-10T14:41:00.001+08:00

Rom 12
8Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in our teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality' he who leads, with diligence' he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness

i think i'm starting to catch a glimpse of how big You are. wow. : )
the word says "to earnestly desire the best gifts..." (1 Cor 13:31). The "best gifts" that we need to covet earnestly are the ones that Jesus and the Holy Spirit has chosen for us to possess (--Bill Hamon). everyone has their part to play in this. the destiny of the world seems to be unfurling before our very eyes--choose to be part of His greater plan!

there is the good, the acceptable and then there's Your perfect will.

share Your secrets with me...Your unending mercies. even eternity's not enough for me to fathom how great You are!

thisispressplay: launch week...May 19th!

2009-05-07T23:39:00.000+08:00

Nashville! from Press Play on Vimeo.

******

buy a cd, save a life.

the search.

2009-04-27T13:30:00.003+08:00

The more i seek you,
the more i find you
The more i find you, the more I love you

I wanna sit at your feet
drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breathe, hear your heart beat
This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming

*
Gateway Worship - The More I Seek You

hope.

2009-04-23T10:09:00.006+08:00

Imagine that. The great hope we have in front of us. It really is the great hope that we have. Imagine a place-- no sorrow, no crying, no death, no pain. Streets of gold, and much love to show. I'm excited.

No weeping
No hurt or pain
No suffering

No darkness
No sick or lame
No hiding

You hold me now

Hillsong United - You Hold Me Now

Classes end in a week.

a new day.

2009-04-20T23:42:00.002+08:00

just up. and it feels like it's going to be a great day today

hiking on saturday, soccer on sunday, and hillsong united tonight live @ the nokiacenter. just a couple projects left to complete--2 weeks to the end of school.

and what an awesome service by Gateway Church's Robert Morris this past Thursday.

I give You control.

Robbie Seay Band - New Day

thisispressplay.

2009-04-08T23:04:00.000+08:00

Press Play Loves LA - part 2 from Press Play on Vimeo.

Shunammite woman

2009-04-04T00:51:00.002+08:00

Again, service at the dreamcenter spoke right to my heart. I knew I had to surround myself in worship last night, and I did. loved the songs that were played.

Pastor Steve Kelley, a former associate pastor of Hillsong Church Sydney, now pastoring the Wave Church @ Virginia Beach, VA, spoke. And wow, did he speak words of life. The spirit of increase. Expansion.

2 Kings 4: 8-37 - The story of the Shunammite woman who received a word from Elisha, conceived and bore a son, son dies one day in the field, she then looks for Elisha, Elisha revives the dead boy--lying on top of him, mouth-to-mouth, eye-to-eye, hand-to-hand.

1) The timing of God

2 Kings 4

¹⁸ The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers.¹⁹ "My head! My head!" he said to his father. His father told a servant, "Carry him to his mother." ²⁰ After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. ²¹ She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.

²² She called her husband and said, "Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return."

²³ "Why go to him today?" he asked. "It's not the New Moon or the Sabbath."
"It's all right," she said.

It wasn’t a New Moon, Sabbath, conference, healing meeting, church service. there was no angelic visitation. No ‘occasion’ for that miracle. Truth is, too many of us are just waiting for a word from God, waiting to for God to move in a tangible way, waiting for that timing of God. In the story, it was just a normal day when the Shunammite woman’s son fell dead.

The timing of God is not about all these things, events. It’s about being faithful in everyday life. It is found in doing what is put before you today. Earlier in the chapter:

2 Kings 4

⁸ One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. ⁹ She said to her husband, "I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. ¹⁰ Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us."

The Shunammite woman, she was faithful in doing what she was called to do—to feed that Man of God.

2) Prophets or anointed are sent

Elisha, the prophet with the anointing of God, was sent to the Shunammite woman.

3) Shunam

Shunam was a border town to the main town that Elisha eventually rested—Mount Carmel. And Shunam means “uneven place”. Elisha, the anointing, was passing through. The anointing was passing through. Passing through.

Meaning the woman, was living on the edge of her breakthrough (on the border town of Mount Carmel where Elisha, the anointing, was). But she wanted the anointing in her house.

2 Kings 4

¹⁰ Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us."

She wanted the anointing right where she was.

Push against the limitations, the smallness. There’s an anointing coming our way, but it won’t stay there, we have to push our limitations. Do we want God passing through? Or do we want Him living here?

4) She starts feeding the prophet, feeding the anointing

Whatever you feed, COMES BACK.

5) Elisha wants to give back/ paycheck

Whatever you sow, you will reap. If you sow good seed, you reap good seed. He’s going to mark your kids, your family, everything you do.

6) She says she doesn’t have need of anything

She didn’t know she was in need. It’s the saddest thing if you are in need, but you don’t know you’re in need.

BUT.

Gehazi could see her need. Aren’t we glad that God sees the needs that we don’t see? What grace.

2 Kings 4

¹¹ One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. ¹² He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite." So he called her, and she stood before him. ¹³ Elisha said to him, "Tell her, 'You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?' "
She replied, "I have a home among my own people."

¹⁴ "What can be done for her?" Elisha asked.
Gehazi said, "Well, she has no son and her husband is old."

That’s her need right there. Gehazi – “seer in the low places”.

So thank God that He can see me even when I’m in the low places, when I’m so disqualified—He qualifies me.

7) The child grew up, and went out to his father with the reapers

The child represents “potential”. As we continue feeding the anointing, our child grows up. Our potential reaches maturity (the child helps out in the harvest).

BUT

It is when your potential is growing fuller when it’s under attack the most. (WOW)

2 Kings 4

¹⁸ The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers.¹⁹ "My head! My head!" he said to his father.
His father told a servant, "Carry him to his mother." ²⁰ After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. ²¹ She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.

So what do you do?

2 Kings 4

²¹ She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.

The Shunammite woman CARRIED HER POTENTIAL TO THE PLACE WHERE SHE PUSHED.
She lay the boy on the couch that she prepared for Elisha. She put her ‘dead’ potential into the place where she made room for God. Where she pushed. (WOW)

2 Kings 4

²⁴ She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, "Lead on; don't slow down for me unless I tell you." ²⁵ So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, "Look! There's the Shunammite! ²⁶ Run to meet her and ask her, 'Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?' "
"Everything is all right," she said.

She didn’t believe that the boy was dead. She didn’t believe that her potential was gone. Everything is all right. And she placed her potential to the place where she made room for God. It doesn’t matter what your situation is, it matters what you believe.

2 Kings 4

³² When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. ³³ He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD. ³⁴ Then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out upon him, the boy's body grew warm. ³⁵ Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out upon him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

Back at her home, the prophet (the anointing) stretched over the boy. The Shunammite woman laid her lost potential under leadership. (WOW)

So how do you know if your potential is under covering?

Eye to eye: when you see things the way your leader sees things

Mouth to mouth: when you say things the way your leader says things

Heart to heart: when you have a heart for the things that your leader has a heart for.

And then, my potential will RISE.

That spoke volumes to me, and answered my every hurting need. Check out the real deal:

Pastor Steve Kelley @ Angelus Temple:

http://dreamcenter.org/dcLive/OnDemand/4-2-09.html

I won't be able to say it any better.

Angels Sing.

2009-04-03T13:36:00.003+08:00

You see, see in me what I can't see

Believe in me in my unbelief

Strengthen me when I'm so weak

You know I love You

You light, the corners of darkness in my life

You answer when no one can hear my

Cry for my rescue

The clouds open up, and my world sees a Savior

You make, the angels stand and sing

You make, Heavenly melodies

You make, my life forever free

You know I love You

You make, everything wonderful

You make, each day more beautiful

You make, life unbelievable

You know I love You

Check out the last song on the worship set:

http://dreamcenter.org/dcLive/OnDemand/3-15-09.html

and listen to the whole sermon if you can. : )

the song I'm waiting for on Press Play's album release.

A sermon that spoke right to my heart this evening. Pastor Steve Kelley from Virginia Beach.

thisispressplay.

2009-04-01T03:30:00.000+08:00

Fav Spots in LA part 2 Teaser from Press Play on Vimeo.

LA.

2009-03-25T00:25:00.000+08:00

wow, so many in town. Chris/Celine in LA for their spring break, Limin this Saturday, Mikey and Jeremy last night.

fun.

back.

2009-03-22T10:53:00.000+08:00

back to LA from a good 7 days in NYC. my last night was spent sharing thoughts with a friend, about how so many people have so many needs that need to be filled. making that difference. mm. more on that later, perhaps.

a little less than 2 months before I graduate and that's really quite fast.

thisispressplay.

2009-03-20T02:36:00.000+08:00

Press Play's Favorite Spots In LA from Press Play on Vimeo.

isa 30:21

2009-03-19T22:02:00.000+08:00

^{Isa 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

*
hearts burning, fog clearing, vision sharpening.}

the heart of determination.

2009-03-18T13:20:00.002+08:00

destiny?

Matthew Barnett - Living the Determined Life

show me.

*
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

http://www.dreamcenter.org/donate/adoptAblock.html

2009-03-18T08:56:00.001+08:00

Revival is not about how many people you pack into a church building,

but how effectively you impact the community around you. So how do you change a city that has been influenced by every form of crime, drugs, violence, and sexual perversion?

The answer: ADOPT A BLOCK

faith.

2009-03-16T08:44:00.001+08:00

2Sa 23:1-5 (NLT)

¹ These are the last words of David:

   “David, the son of Jesse, speaks—
      David, the man who was raised up so high,
   David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
      David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

² “The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me;
      his words are upon my tongue.
³ The God of Israel spoke.
      The Rock of Israel said to me:
   ‘The one who rules righteously,
      who rules in the fear of God,
⁴ is like the light of morning at sunrise,
      like a morning without clouds,
   like the gleaming of the sun
      on new grass after rain.’

⁵ “Is it not my family God has chosen?
      Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.
   His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail.
      He will ensure my safety and success.

*

2009-03-13T15:42:00.002+08:00

Lev 17:³ Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it ⁴ instead of bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to the LORD in front of the tabernacle of the LORD -that man shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood and must be cut off from his people.

never saw this before. present Jesus as our offering to God our Father, to walk boldly in the Holy of Holies--and not be considered guilty. we need to know what we're presenting as a sacrifice and to whom--not just sacrifice it as a ritual/tradition.

mm.

2009-03-12T16:33:00.002+08:00

what could have made a man lose all direction when he's having success all laid out for him?

it was a tragedy. i wish he had known the love that's greatest of all. Condolences, nonetheless.

thisispressplay

2009-03-11T13:54:00.001+08:00

The Pool (Episode #3) from Press Play on Vimeo.

2009-03-09T14:10:00.001+08:00

need to indulge in Your embrace. more.

thisispressplay.

2009-02-27T13:25:00.000+08:00

Press Play Hits Phoenix (Episode #2) from Press Play on Vimeo.

*

2009-02-18T09:16:00.000+08:00

Here I am humbled by the love that you give
Forgiven so that I can forgive
Here I stand, knowing that I'm your desire
Sanctified by glory and fire

i'm so small. but You're so big.

driving truth.

2009-02-14T12:06:00.005+08:00

once again, Thursday service @ the dreamcenter was a refreshing midweek boost--the thought-provoking and challenging issue of motives and intentions. What's really driving the truth that we're pushing in our cart? Pastor Brad Reed speaks on Driving Truth.

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Simply put: blessed are those who have no ulterior motives.

Pastor Brad went on to touch on enlightened self-interest, especially in business. The intention to say that you have someone's best interests at heart and yet have another agenda behind it. Gap's (RED) products, Starbucks Shared Planet, Budweiser's Drink Responsibly campaigns... these are all true, but what's driving these truths?

whatever you connect with emotionally, you support.

Matthew 6 ¹"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

²"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

So everything we do must be motivated by the love of Jesus Christ. The point being: you can have Truth in your cart, but if the devil's pushing it, no one's going to receive it. What's pushing the agenda of your life right now?

In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira and how they kept part of the proceeds of the sale of their land and not being honest about it. They wanted the 'perception' that they were giving all they had but they were really not. They could have told the apostles that they were keeping part of it etc, the point being that they weren't truthful. They had an agenda of their own, while parading the Truth in the cart they were pushing in front of them.

So what now?

Hebrews 4:¹²For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart

If we want to have pure intentions in whatever we do, we can't be doing it on our own. For the spirit might be willing but the flesh is weak. We need the Word of God to expose us for what we really are--the carnal nature that we possess.

James 1:²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

So looking into the mirror on a daily basis, and asking God to show you what areas are lacking, respond.

Get in the Word.

Pastor tells us that a simple gauge of your intentions is your dependence on God now versus your dependence on God when you first got saved.

Paul's progression:

1st: he says he's the least of all the apostles

2nd: he says he's the least of all the saints (Christians)

3rd: he says he's a sinner in need of a Savior

at the end: He's a sinner of whom he's chief (the Chief of Sinners).

wow. Staying broken and getting more broken for God.

Gauge: if you sit consistently in church and think that the message is not for you all the time, do a heart check.

Is giving God glory what's driving your life, or giving yourself glory? If you aren't, your life won't be as fulfilled as it can be.

Blessed are the pure in heart.

the amazing part? God never expects you to change on your own. Just ask, and it shall be given.

Take all of me.

*
Hillsong + Delirious? - Majesty (Here I Am)

thisispressplay.

2009-02-11T10:03:00.001+08:00

Episode #1 - An Introduction from Press Play on Vimeo.

press play.

2009-02-07T13:32:00.001+08:00

get the pre-release here.

buy a CD, save a life.

rain down.

2009-02-06T12:18:00.005+08:00

It rained in LA today. Actual rain. Pouring rain. Blessings from heaven.

Had to wait it out inside GFS so I plugged in my earphones and turned on my ipod, and was again refreshed by a beautiful song i've heard some time ago and wanted to share, but somehow didn't get to. Till now.

had a long moment of thanksgiving. of the Lord's favor, and His grace. of how graciously He has helped me, even those moments when i thought it was all me. it's funny. it's exciting, really, to lean on His grace every breathing moment, and then marvel at how blessed you really are. like the presentations i've had so far this semester, all rather unprepared, but trusting in God's favor really makes the difference. i wonder if it's the light of Jesus they see.

the first verse of the song didn't take long to hit me. i don't know why, but it's this God-given miracle that i keep coming back to. that gives me strength. dwelling on a couple other issues, it's also funny how skeptical of other people's intentions you can get because you can't resist the temptations that you encounter. but then God helps you overcome all of that and then you realize that you actually can. it's like a light-bulb that turns on inside your head. you look and see where you were from, and now where you're at, and you're that much more grateful.

Call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. :)

Gateway Worship - We Cry Out

Father of life seated on Your throne of grace
It’s only by Your mercy we are saved
Lord, You have said if we call upon Your name
We and our families will be saved

release.

2009-02-06T01:23:00.003+08:00

Leviticus 14

49 To purify the house he is to take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. 50 He shall kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot. 51Then he is to take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn and the live bird, dip them into the blood of the dead bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 He shall purify the house with the bird's blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet yarn. 53 Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields outside the town. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean."

familiar? :) we're alive.

v50 He shall kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot. that's Jesus in an earthern vessel right there. He as a man.

v51 the live bird, dipped into the blood of the dead bird and the fresh water--we're covered in His blood and the washing of water by the Word.

v53 we go free.

shout.

2009-02-05T01:21:00.001+08:00

can't wait for the album release.

haha and the acoustics at church are so much better.

Momentum.

2009-01-31T02:38:00.006+08:00

Psalm 84

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

blown away by John Siebeling's sermon last night at the Dreamcenter. Thursday night's guest speaker exceeded expectations, and i heard so clearly.

Momentum. forward motion. living a life of momentum.

People living without momentum are allowing a moment in the past to define their moments in the future. dwell on that for a little bit. We can't live life looking backwards. and the part that blew me away was this: the moment in the past need not be a moment of failure, and of shame. it could very well be a moment of glory. a moment of celebration. wow. reliving that glory moment and allowing that moment to define your future moments. Are you stuck in a moment from your past?

Pilgrimage. A journey to a significant place. Verses 4 and 5 tell us that someone who is reaching for significance will be blessed. reaching for that something significant, that something greater than the self, and not having your eyes on the glory days or on your shameful past.

Pastor John then goes on to talk about how the first 2 tracks of U2's All That You Can't Leave Behind paints the pictures of both opportunities and getting stuck in you past and puts them side by side. Track 1's Beautiful Day, which speaks of the moments of opportunity while right after that, Track 2's Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of talks about the moments in our past we get stuck in. And the icon for that song in the album? it's a dot with four arrows pointing inwards toward that dot. Stuck in a moment you can't get out of. Stuck, and so void of straining toward the glorious future that God has for us.

So how do we get unstuck? Pastor John says we have to learn to be good forgetters--and to develop the gift of forgetting. moving on.

The bible tells us to accept responsibility to forget. Oftentimes people have victim mentalities--he/she did this to me; i wouldn't be able to forgive her etc. and so spiral into a situation where they get stuck in these past moments. But Psalm 84 says:

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;...

Even though God's people were passing through the valley (low point in your life) of Baca ("weeping"), they make it a place of springs... they make it a place of springs! (of refreshing!). They make it. Their attitude toward these seemingly unfair moments? they accept the responsibility to forget. and they make it.

1) Being a good forgetter means being a good forgiver.

There is no way to move forward without forgiving. Proverbs 18:19 says that "an offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city."

2) Being a good forgetter also means trusting God.

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

Forgetting means trusting God with all my stuff, all the baggage, the good the bad and the ugly, and trust that He works all that for the good of the believer.

To relive the past is to relinquish the future. Just the decision to look forward into the future can release the healing power that you need for your situation. Stop, turn around, and dare to face it.

Paul tells us in Phil 3:13- "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,..." It seems as if Paul's actually telling us to do two things. but it really is one thing. Forgetting your past, you strain toward the future. To strain toward the future, you have to forget your past.

Verse 7 of this psalm goes on to tell us that the believer will "go from strength to strength,

till each appears before God in Zion." Reminded me of the verse that tells us that we will grow from glory to glory just as long as we keep our eyes on our prize, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strength to strength, as we let go of our past and reach for our future.

Wow.

and earlier that week, i was listening to Hillsong's Blessed--a song based on Psalm 84. I was like -- this message is for me.

In awe.

Hillsong - Blessed

2009-01-29T00:51:00.004+08:00

Hillsong London - You are Here
*
The same power that conquered the grave
Lives in me, Lives in me
Your love that rescued the earth
Lives in me, lives in me

.

2009-01-27T16:35:00.002+08:00

it suddenly got colder in LA. almost cramped up both calves during soccer yesterday.

back from dinner at New Capital--a new found restaurant at San Gabriel. good food. and cheap dim sum in the day. ha.

the past wk had been awesome, and every day has been so memorable. i'd hate to leave. :) eagerly awaiting Press Play's album release on May 19 though--their songs have blessed me so much. Dreamcenter's an awesome place to be. it truly is a church that never sleeps. and a church that gives so much of God's love to community. it's crazy revival.

God is moving.

peace.

2009-01-24T12:26:00.003+08:00

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Coffey Anderson - Call On The Name

loving the rap =)

take the shackles off.

2009-01-22T01:37:00.000+08:00

back.

2009-01-17T00:31:00.005+08:00

back in Los Angeles.

couple weird dreams last night though. twisted. still shrugging off a bit of jetlag.

many thoughts this winter break, i really should have them written down cos it's so easy to forget. it's amazing how unbelievable vulnerable we all are though, how the enemy so easily uses our past to remind us of failure, and to inject worry too, and feelings of inferiority. but no, i'm not turning back. not when the prize in front of us is that good. there is something better, always.

"...Se Deus é por nós, quem será contra nós?"

*

another song to share, I love this one by Coffey Anderson. take a careful listen to the lyrics. enjoy. : )

Coffey Anderson - All Ye (Remix)

*

humble thyself in the sight of the Lord
say All Ye come in one mind and one accord

*

winding down

2009-01-10T21:56:00.003+08:00

currently online @ Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil:

1 night @ Cabo Frio, 1 night @ Buzios, 2 nights @ Arraial and 22 hours on a leito later, we find ourselves at the Foz do Iguaçu, bigger than any i´ve seen so far. yes, it completely pwns Niagara. ha.

the Argentine side of the falls proved to be spectacular. a multi-sensory experience. unbelievable. a whole day hike was followed by a great time having dinner (and beer, afterwards) with Johanes and Alejandro, fellow traveling backpackers.

a 16 hour bus ride to Sao Paulo awaits after a trip down to the Brazil side of the falls.

*

diving at Arraial exceeded expectations, especially at crappy vis conditions. about 10-ish turtles in total, couple moray eels and a sea snake was about what we could see. but still nice :) diving capital of Brazil, apparently.

*

wow. and it´s back to LA pretty quick. hm.

Cristo Redentor

2009-01-05T21:58:00.004+08:00

currently online @ buzios:

4 rough nights @ elmisti for the new year, revellion 2009 @ copacabana, the Cristo, santa teresa and having been caught in a thunderstorm on top of the sugar-loaf, there´s so much to be thankful for. :) grace overcomes all.

2 nights at arriaral du cabo and then it´s off on a leito to the Foz de Iguaçu for another 2 nights, booking accommodation on the fly. tons of fun. :)

the brazilians must be the happiest people in the world. great hospitality at the Botequim de Baiano last evening too. so much grace and favor.

looking forward to a week long of adventure and beach, and then it´s back to hard-nosed los angeles for one final semester.

Your love O Lord, reaches to the heavens

Matthew 17:2

There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.