2017 The year of the Unfathomable(s)
2017 truly has been something. It is the year of the unfathomable(s) where you'd just never thought this would happen. But to give you an idea, let's just say it was a roller coaster ride that doesn't stop but immediately transitions to the ext roller coaster to 2018. As the ride comes to a slow, it is also moving back up for the next dip. But this is not about 2018. It is about 2017.
We shall go through the unfathomable(s) chronologically-ish through key moments. Both good and bad.
1. The start of M.O.T.H
The program that I was preparing in the past 7 months in 2016 had finally been brought to fruition. Matters of the Heart or MOTH was going to be tested out among the MCKL students on discovering identity. Obviously up till now the module is constantly being revamped to fit the student's needs and growth. But the idea here is never would I have thought of creating a program from scratch let alone run it. Truly humbling because I came to realize how much work was needed and even now it still needs lots and lots of work.
2. Girlfriend
Yes, I then got a girlfriend. And not a day goes by which doesn't warrant my utmost gratitude for her. For her patience, love, and kindness to me.Such a character forming moment to be in a relationship revealing each other's hearts. She is my better half. The moment I told God I was fine being single, God sent her to me. But make no mistake, our story is not the general ones. I will spare you the details, but how we got together will not happen to the rest. But in whatever manner one gets into a relationship I know God will always be able to redeem it.
3. Started preaching (Church and alumni CF) and also preaching in Bahasa Malaysia.
So preaching engagement started pilling up. 2018... goodness... But yeah. My church invested in me to allow me to capacity to preach to a congregation for the first time on a proper Sunday service. The pastors placed their trust in me and allowed me my first few sermons and in all my stuttering and nervousness I allowed the Holy Spirit to use this broken vessel.
I was also invited by my youth back in Melaka to preach in Bahasa Malaysia for the first time. That was another challenge.
And I am always grateful to be invited back to my alumni university to share his word in the Christian Fellowship I grew up in.
4. Went to Bali
I was being envious that my girlfriend has traveled all over and I... no where far. So I said God, it is fine that I do not go far. I have you. I felt God was like... "guess what, look where I am going to bring you? Bali"
My pastor decided to bring me to a pastoral gathering with the rest of the Foursquare pastors from Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia to observe and learn and chill. Truly grateful.
5. Went to the Elephant Sanctuary in Kuala Gandah
My boss decided during that semester I had more time. She threw me the job of being host to a group of American students and professors from Messiah College. Prepared their logistics, transport, and helped them where I could. Guess what, went to the Elephant Sanctuary. Played with the Elephants.
6. I became a prayer coordinator with a team for National Conference organized by FES.
It was the first time I went to Sibu. To help out in National Conference and through serving it has blessed me tremendously. To see how God just works in the conviction of the hearts of our young Malaysian minds. To pray along side with them. I am humbled.
7. Joined St Paul's Theological College
As my speaking engagements started pilling up. I decided I cannot write sermons depending only on books, podcast, commentaries, study bibles and what not. It was time for formal education. Or at least I was convicted to do so. To go through proper training in a seminary that makes sure all that we learn ends up in worship of the one true God. Saint Paul's Theological College was where I am studying now.
Unfathomable. Never would I have thought I would be a theological student in a seminary.
8. Be more involved with church
Throughout the years, I will be honest, there is no perfect church. There never will be. And I find it amazing and humbling to be the case because in such a space it allows the Holy Spirit to be the hero to redeem the church in all its brokenness.
As out of sync I was with the church and I prayed really hard on my convictions and heart. God's answer that has been impressed upon my heart was "No, go no where. Stay here. Serve this church. In light of God's Kingdom that is to be expanded, this is the local church I want you to be a part of"
So regardless of whatever issues the church may face (as with alllllllll other churches, please let's not have this my church is better than yours talk), it is the body I will serve and devote myself to. Moving not to victory but from Victory. And in leading the Bible Study group, I have grown to care for them in my limited capacity, to want to them grow in all of Christs likeness by constantly pointing them to Jesus as I to in my weakness look to Him daily.
9. Stand up comedy
Ho ho ho, this is something I tell you. Who could have mustered the courage to do stand up comedy? Main material was me imitating the staffs in MCKL. Was a good experience with great feedback on encouragement to do more and areas to improve. Should I do it again? mmmmm...
10. Became a Heng dai
Honoured that my friend here dug me up to be heng dai cause he needed me. It was a pleasant experience to be his shield and sacrificing my life at the gate crashing event and to watch these two couple exchange their vows.
11. Appointed the CF chair.
Somehow, I was appointed to be the next CF chair for the year 2018. But took office sometime in November. I have to really dig deep and just really fall flat on my face to ask God for His wisdom and strength to guide and oversee the CF. I know I cannot do it with my own effort.
This role is nothing fancy. It is a lot of work and commitment. And I ask that the Lord enables. But God has placed in my heart the desire for His word and for His people to know His word so I faithfully take every step with that desire to where the Holy Spirit leads.
End the year with this beautiful lady
And I ended the year with this beautiful individual Yen Ping at my side. Attending a colleague's wedding. Best part was 2017 best nine photo... I guess all the followers on instagram decided that the best nine photos was actually just one. They decided that the best thing to happen to me was her.
I won't argue.
Conclusion
What is my goal sharing with you all this? Well for one, it is the year I never would have anticipated. Every step of the way God has led me, it never crossed my mind it would be like this. Which makes life such an adventure. I bet there are a lot more that I missed out. But this is what I would want to share at this moment.
Amidst all this it was not easy. I made tons of mistake. I had tons of burnt out moments. Stresses. I got scammed for the first time. Blunders after blunders. I was so discouraged that I entertained the thought of quitting my job. I will spare you the details but I am just grateful that God's love is steadfast and his mercies are fresh each morning. He has faithfully seen me through the year and I am left with nothing but gratitude in tears.
2018 will be a whooole new step. A whooole new CRAZY. And I shall leave that for 2018.
I am sharing my life and how God has worked through it. As I reflect I can only gaze upon my Abba Father on how I surrendered my desires and heart and my kingdom to Him to built his and it is worth it. Not my will but His will. But His will is best and nothing less. Besides, to even utter that I wanted MY kingdom to be built was the traces of Adam's sin right from the moment of the garden of Eden. Again I humbly say God does not work similarly detail to detail in every one's life. But I dare say this, whatever the methods, journey or circumstances, God's goal was always that he would be the ultimate gift, the one whom will be glorified, the one whom we will enjoy, the one whom we will depend on regardless of whatever situation. "That whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul"
We shall go through the unfathomable(s) chronologically-ish through key moments. Both good and bad.
The program that I was preparing in the past 7 months in 2016 had finally been brought to fruition. Matters of the Heart or MOTH was going to be tested out among the MCKL students on discovering identity. Obviously up till now the module is constantly being revamped to fit the student's needs and growth. But the idea here is never would I have thought of creating a program from scratch let alone run it. Truly humbling because I came to realize how much work was needed and even now it still needs lots and lots of work.
2. Girlfriend
Yes, I then got a girlfriend. And not a day goes by which doesn't warrant my utmost gratitude for her. For her patience, love, and kindness to me.Such a character forming moment to be in a relationship revealing each other's hearts. She is my better half. The moment I told God I was fine being single, God sent her to me. But make no mistake, our story is not the general ones. I will spare you the details, but how we got together will not happen to the rest. But in whatever manner one gets into a relationship I know God will always be able to redeem it.
 |
| What wonderful hands she has |
3. Started preaching (Church and alumni CF) and also preaching in Bahasa Malaysia.
So preaching engagement started pilling up. 2018... goodness... But yeah. My church invested in me to allow me to capacity to preach to a congregation for the first time on a proper Sunday service. The pastors placed their trust in me and allowed me my first few sermons and in all my stuttering and nervousness I allowed the Holy Spirit to use this broken vessel.
I was also invited by my youth back in Melaka to preach in Bahasa Malaysia for the first time. That was another challenge.
And I am always grateful to be invited back to my alumni university to share his word in the Christian Fellowship I grew up in.
4. Went to Bali
I was being envious that my girlfriend has traveled all over and I... no where far. So I said God, it is fine that I do not go far. I have you. I felt God was like... "guess what, look where I am going to bring you? Bali"
My pastor decided to bring me to a pastoral gathering with the rest of the Foursquare pastors from Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia to observe and learn and chill. Truly grateful.
5. Went to the Elephant Sanctuary in Kuala Gandah
My boss decided during that semester I had more time. She threw me the job of being host to a group of American students and professors from Messiah College. Prepared their logistics, transport, and helped them where I could. Guess what, went to the Elephant Sanctuary. Played with the Elephants.
6. I became a prayer coordinator with a team for National Conference organized by FES.
7. Joined St Paul's Theological College
As my speaking engagements started pilling up. I decided I cannot write sermons depending only on books, podcast, commentaries, study bibles and what not. It was time for formal education. Or at least I was convicted to do so. To go through proper training in a seminary that makes sure all that we learn ends up in worship of the one true God. Saint Paul's Theological College was where I am studying now.
Unfathomable. Never would I have thought I would be a theological student in a seminary.
8. Be more involved with church
Throughout the years, I will be honest, there is no perfect church. There never will be. And I find it amazing and humbling to be the case because in such a space it allows the Holy Spirit to be the hero to redeem the church in all its brokenness.
As out of sync I was with the church and I prayed really hard on my convictions and heart. God's answer that has been impressed upon my heart was "No, go no where. Stay here. Serve this church. In light of God's Kingdom that is to be expanded, this is the local church I want you to be a part of"
So regardless of whatever issues the church may face (as with alllllllll other churches, please let's not have this my church is better than yours talk), it is the body I will serve and devote myself to. Moving not to victory but from Victory. And in leading the Bible Study group, I have grown to care for them in my limited capacity, to want to them grow in all of Christs likeness by constantly pointing them to Jesus as I to in my weakness look to Him daily.
9. Stand up comedy
Ho ho ho, this is something I tell you. Who could have mustered the courage to do stand up comedy? Main material was me imitating the staffs in MCKL. Was a good experience with great feedback on encouragement to do more and areas to improve. Should I do it again? mmmmm...
10. Became a Heng dai
Honoured that my friend here dug me up to be heng dai cause he needed me. It was a pleasant experience to be his shield and sacrificing my life at the gate crashing event and to watch these two couple exchange their vows.
11. Appointed the CF chair.
Somehow, I was appointed to be the next CF chair for the year 2018. But took office sometime in November. I have to really dig deep and just really fall flat on my face to ask God for His wisdom and strength to guide and oversee the CF. I know I cannot do it with my own effort.
This role is nothing fancy. It is a lot of work and commitment. And I ask that the Lord enables. But God has placed in my heart the desire for His word and for His people to know His word so I faithfully take every step with that desire to where the Holy Spirit leads.
End the year with this beautiful lady
And I ended the year with this beautiful individual Yen Ping at my side. Attending a colleague's wedding. Best part was 2017 best nine photo... I guess all the followers on instagram decided that the best nine photos was actually just one. They decided that the best thing to happen to me was her.
I won't argue.
Conclusion
What is my goal sharing with you all this? Well for one, it is the year I never would have anticipated. Every step of the way God has led me, it never crossed my mind it would be like this. Which makes life such an adventure. I bet there are a lot more that I missed out. But this is what I would want to share at this moment.
Amidst all this it was not easy. I made tons of mistake. I had tons of burnt out moments. Stresses. I got scammed for the first time. Blunders after blunders. I was so discouraged that I entertained the thought of quitting my job. I will spare you the details but I am just grateful that God's love is steadfast and his mercies are fresh each morning. He has faithfully seen me through the year and I am left with nothing but gratitude in tears.
2018 will be a whooole new step. A whooole new CRAZY. And I shall leave that for 2018.
I am sharing my life and how God has worked through it. As I reflect I can only gaze upon my Abba Father on how I surrendered my desires and heart and my kingdom to Him to built his and it is worth it. Not my will but His will. But His will is best and nothing less. Besides, to even utter that I wanted MY kingdom to be built was the traces of Adam's sin right from the moment of the garden of Eden. Again I humbly say God does not work similarly detail to detail in every one's life. But I dare say this, whatever the methods, journey or circumstances, God's goal was always that he would be the ultimate gift, the one whom will be glorified, the one whom we will enjoy, the one whom we will depend on regardless of whatever situation. "That whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul"
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