Why Jesus Prayed

I look first to Jesus for clues to the mysteries of faith, and regarding prayer he did not seem to share some of my biggest struggles. He never wondered whether God exists, whether anyone is truly listening. He never questioned the importance of prayer; indeed, he would flee a crowd of needy people in order to spend time alone with God, and sometimes devote all night to the task. The way Jesus talked, prayer made everything else possible.

Jesus seemed fully at ease with the Father and at unease with the world. For him, prayer provided a refreshing reminder of cosmic reality, the 'view from above' so often obscured on planet earth. Sometimes Jesus reminisced about that hidden realm: praying at supper the night of his arrest he recalled 'the glory I had with you before the world began'. Occasionally he felt such frustration with conditions on earth that he would let loose with a sigh: 'O unbelieving generation, how long shall I put up with you?' Jesus came from a place where God's command met no opposition; he knew exactly what he was asking when he instructed us to pray, 'your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'

Just as Jesus reminisced about his suspended identity, in a few rare instances the Father brought it tenderly to mind. 'You are my son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased,' God said as Jesus emerged from the water at his baptism. He heard a similar word of reinforcement at the Mount of Transfiguration - a close encounter that left his disciples face-down on the ground, terrified - and yet another at a melancholy moment shortly before his death. Each time, bystanders heard the voice and were startled by the phenomenon. Jesus, a refugee from heaven, felt comfort, not astonishment.

From his thirty-something years on earth, we have only these three glimpses of a supernatural boost. The rest of the time, for spiritual nourishment Jesus relied on the very thing we reply on: prayer. Jesus counted on prayer as a source of strength that equipped him to carry out a partnership with God the Father on earth. Jesus freely admitted his dependence: 'the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing.'

In a telling comment Jesus also said, 'your Father knows what you need before you ask him.' He could not mean that prayer is unnecessary, for his own life belied that. He could only mean that we need not strive to convince God to care; the Father already cares, more than we can know. Prayer is not a matter of giving God new information. Instead of presenting requests as if God may not know them, it might be more appropriate to say 'God, you know I need this!'

And this is how Tim Stafford found a sort of resolution to his questions about prayer:

Here, I believe, is the key to understanding what is most personal in prayer. We do not pray to tell God what he does not know, nor to remind him of things he has forgotten. He already cares for the things we pray about ..... He has simply been waiting for us to care about them with him. When we pray, we stand by God and look with him towards people and problems. When we lift our eyes from them towards him, we do so with loving praise, just as we look towards our oldest and dearest friends and tell them, though they already it .... We speak to him as we speak to our most intimate friends - so that we can commune together in love.

- Prayer : Does it make any difference

January 09

Yes I'm quite free at the moment so a look back of 1 month is possible. Then again, its not like it's a happening month anyway, haha.

Finally managed to really rest this month after hectic schedules @ the tail end of 08 and rest means not going out @ all. To be able to stay @ home from Mon to Fri till cell grp feels awesome. It's like a hermit who hid in the cave and is out after his training, lol. The rest was necessary though, health hasn't been great recently, must be due to age catching up, all the exercises and i still fall sick. For now, it's back to normal so can enjoy the CNY better, Yeah !

This month aside, the time i've left before i eventually find and start work is short. The freedom is something i'll definitely miss but the most impt part is being able to spend time with my parents. Once you work, u have so little time even to yourself, i'm treasuring every moment of it for now ! Will work out an internal plan in order to still give time to family and friends, that's for sure. Where did i put my checklist ah, hehe.

I've been blessed lots for a few mths alrdy, not having to plan or organise gatherings or meet ups much with ppl. It's always the other way rd, kind of enjoy it lots but ya, i need to play my part as well in maintaining friendships so i'm back to the usual routine le, haha. It's necessary, after all, with cell grp on fri, svcs on sat, the time to even talk to someone isnt always readily available. I can come to church earlier and leave later than most and in betw, those who r ard on sat, you don't really catch them after service at all. So wat's the next best option, msn or facebook lo, but still face to face is the best. Never mind, if last year, i had all sorts of funny combo of ppl to hang out with, i'm sure God will plan it out this year as well if its in accordance to his plan. It should be an interesting year ahead in knowing ppl better.

January, it means a new time slot for service and till now, i totally don't know how does it feel like ! Finally, this coming sat can be down for a proper time till mar, yes ! Don't let John know i said that, haha. Still, God has assured me and it's great to have the joy again to serve in this ministry and to experience the different type of challenges presented when u try to teach very young kids. 1 of the gd things is they are very entu, so its easy to get them to learn though listening to the lesson is a totally new ball game. Learning how to be stricter 1st then can befriend them, that's wat the teachers/parents themselves say, their own kids included. It's been fun and getting to learn about God in different ways as well. Sometimes, the lessons which are so simple to understand for ppl like us are the most difficult to apply even if on the surface we say we agree to it. So yes, when u have the most honest and frank ppl ard you, you'll learn you need to improve on things if they do point it out and yes they point it out to you in front of everyone! It's a blessing i haven't been on the receiving end yet of major things, hopefully never!

That's that for jan. Not too much happenings. Now is CNY period, so mtg up with relatives and friends will be a gd time of catching up. May each one of you who read this post too be blessed and recharged by the Lord during these few days of rest from your usual hectic work life.

Thanksgiving - '08

There are lots to give thanks for in 2008. Family, school, friends, cell & ministry. I'll mention just these 5 main topics in summarized form.

Family

Thankful for the extended time of schooling to just spend time @ home even if words are not spoken @ times. On most occasions, the mere presence @ home is enough to make one's parents happy. And to them for providing whatever i ever needed. The lord has bless me lots through my parents, which I'm grateful for.

School
Sure glad it's over. Yet it been a special time in life, not entirely about learning what's been taught the past years books wise but life as a whole and what are the important things to chase after and maintain. Thank the Lord for the many friendships that grew especially with various groups of friends the past year. Learning to overcome failures and setbacks and moving on and persevering to reach the end goal has been good lessons to undergo. The lord has brought me through this phase of life, it's been an unique journey the last few years.

Friends

A great year indeed to maintain and move deeper into friendships with the usual gang, spending time together, encouraging and spurring one another onwards in our own individual lives. Despite the time and distance constraint @ times, the Lord has been blessing me lots through each unique person that I've known 8 yrs and counting now(and of course, some of you whom I've known for around 3-4 years already). And many thanks as well to the many new friendships God has helped me built upon, it's been a wonderful time of getting to know those I see week in week out a lot better other than the usual Hi's and Bye's procedure.

Cell
A learning experience filled with its own ups and downs. Thankfully, more ups with the occasional downs to keep oneself in check with reality. Throughout the year, it's been a excellent journey alongside everyone else. God has blessed me lots from the lives of those around me.

Ministry
A whole new ball game! Interesting year where one gets to know even more people better and across the generations as well. I thank the Lord for my class, that every Sunday spent with them have been a blessed time of knowing both the children and God as well. And the children camp itself, a fantastic experience of working with people from another church. A year where I learn to give to ministry 1st my time and energy before every other person/thing as well as been able to learn and grow despite the constant absence from services.

2008 - Life in a nutshell

Life

Under the sun:

> control will always slip out of our grasp
> relationships will always disappoint
> work will leave us frustrated
> pleasure is always fleeting
> wisdom is never an adequate guide
> spirituality usually give in to legalism
> life ends in decay and death

Above the sun:
> control leads to surrender to God's will
> relationships lead to trust in God's love
> work leads to labouring for God kingdom
> pleasure leads to a hunger for God's coming
> wisdom leads to a humble curiosity to know God
> spirituality leads to embracing God's wild heart
> life leads to a joyous celebration of death and resurrection.

Christ makes the difference. Our lives are far from meaningless, because he infuses our lives with meaning.

A new commandment I give unto you
That you love one another
As I have loved you
That you love one another
As i have loved you
By this shall all men know
You are my disciples
If you have love one for another

Stand in Awe of God

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

"Believe it or not"

Time sure flies, 5 months of planning and within a short span of 4 days, the camp has concluded. Through it all, it's been a great experience of seeing 1st hand how the Lord is building up a new generation of his people for his works, having a chance to work with people from another church who bring in their unique ways of doing things as well as knowing more people in the body of Christ within such a short space of time. Here's a short recap and thanksgiving for the camp.

Last min preparations

Immediately after my 1st paper on Monday, I was down in church to tie down loose ends and dropped by again on Wednesday till quite late to finish up things. With some help, managed to come up with the score board and putting it up. Haha, took almost 2hrs to do up everything.

Thursday - 1st day

Had a good start in the morning, explaining things to the children and though we didn't manage to play a mass ice-breaker, the kids seem to be warming up to one another as well as being in the mindset for the camp.

This is a very rare camp to witness in terms of food wise. Really have to give thanks for the very fact that we didn't waste food at all ! Imagine 2 full trays of white rice, all eaten up ! Yes, the children ate like monsters, going for 2nd and even 3rd helpings. That's what u call good food in the hands of kids growing up! It's great as well that we had enough to fill up every child. Can't say for the adults though, haha! Maybe u guys should join next year, i lost almost 2kg the past few days due to camp and exams, haha. Now where are all those people who mention they are tipping the scale :p ?

Games. Super stressed out due to so many limitations such as age, venues and stuff. In the end, everything fell into place nicely. Just enough games(5) and station masters. Thank the Lord for creative ppl who modified the games further to suit the younger ones. And yes ! A very big thank you to each one of you in M'kk who helped me brainstormed the games, each one of you have been a blessing to the children. And not forgetting the weather as well. The weather report said it was going to rain so we prayed for shine and wooo, it really was a shiny afternoon alright !

Kids love movement so yes, we did have a camp song which the children all enjoyed and thank the Lord for YCCA side who managed to come up with the actions for the song and bless the children through it.

Friday - 2nd day

To make sure the adults themselves didn't get lost in PP, had to walk around and take pictures so that there won't be lost sheep :p The lord bless us with good weather, enough people to help run the stations and the children all had fun @ the various stations

Saturday - 3rd day

Kite-making ! Praise the Lord for enabling the leaders to learn fast on how to make one and that the children all love their self-made kites. We even managed to fly them and the evening ended with a very nice rainbow just outside DCB.

Talent Night. Really thankful for 3 creative and happening MCs who came up with their own script to host the Talent Nite. The children too enjoyed themselves with their own performances as well as the mini-games segment. We played charades and the best combo was " The camp commandent is sleeping in church!"

Sunday - Last day

It was time to say bye bye. We had a good time and the children from COR side put up a good performance from the camp theme song.

This is to me a challenging and yet faith building week. Learning to trust that despite all the factors that i had to work with, God will put things together and provide the people to help out as well. It's great to have a prayer answered after a few years, the chance to work with another church doesn't happen often so yup, thankful for it. Sometimes, u do wonder are you alone in doing things and do people know what's happening in your life. Really thankful for the support and prayer from many of the adults who know i was going through exams, they've been great encouragements.

One thing which i know have to be improved on is faith itself. Learning to let others have their ways of running things, learning to depend on the Lord even in the midst of exams and many more isn't easy but each new experience hopefully will enable me to believe and trust that God will carry me through bigger things in life in the future. And yes, thanks as well to each one of you in M'kk for your prayers and support, it's wonderful to know that as you care for others, there are others out there who care for you.

A Crazy Group of camp leaders, haha. They've been a wonderful bunch to work with.