Friday, March 27, 2009
Cutting Down VS. Centering Down => Pay It Forward
Perhaps we've been busy with work, studies or even activities. However, I urge you to take some time to get your eternal perspectives right and learn to CENTER DOWN instead of cutting down. What's the difference you may ask? Cutting Down VS. Centering Down
1. Reduce Busyness vs. Reduce lostness
2. Temporary Sense of Relief vs. Re-calibrating my compass
3. Relief vs. Rest
4. Deals with outer life vs. Deals with inner life
5. Catching my breath vs. Re-igniting my vision
6. Vicious Cycle vs. Solution
7. Make Jesus part of my schedule vs. Make Jesus the center of my schedule
In the midst of our busyness, Give Thanks for all things work for the GOOD of those who love Him, who have been called according to His PURPOSE! (1 Thess 5:18; Romans 8:28).
The bible tells us in Psalm 90:12~"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Perhaps, we have allowed time to swiftly fly past us, without even catching a glimpse of it. But it's never too late to start now, walking in obedience & faith one step at a time. L.I.F.E = Living It For Eternity ( journey WITH GOD). "Take up your cross daily." (Luke 9:23) So for this coming Easter, Let's Dream Big. Start Small. Build Deep.
Remembering what Ps Aaron preached last Sunday "Reaching Out With Jesus' Love":
People don't really care how much we know, until they know how much we care!
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." ( Prov 11:30)
Soul winning is not just a task to be handled, it is an ART to be mastered. "To win" = "TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP". Soul-winning must be RELATIONAL.
Step #1: BLESS the lost: Speak Well, Encourage and Praise others.
Step#2: FELLOWSHIP with them: Taking initiate to Spend Time with them.
Step#3: Look out for a NEED that you can meet.
"Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs"
Step#4: PREACH the gospel to them: Accept people the way they are without approving their lifestyle.
Jesus' style: He started out by 1st winning them over as friends, then to the Lord.
Soul-winning and witnessing is "not hard-selling" the gospel. An effective and exciting life of evangelism is waiting for you if you choose to SERVE others rather than sell to them.
Let me remind you that it's not easy to be Jesus'deciples."Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."(Matt 16:24)
- To deny self: Take our wants & desires down from the throne, & place Jesus & His will as a governing power in our lives.
- Cross signifies death & total sacrifice,not just a burden to be borne.
- Lose life for Christ's sake: Giving it in servce & In total submission, to live lives of complete to will of God to gain eternal life.
John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me, & I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing.
I was just doing my devotion. And I was enticed by this verse. Have you ever noticed how this verse ended? It ended with "apart from Me, you can do nothing" not "he". Amazingly,"you" refers to each one of us, which means it involves everyone, to firstly abide in Him, then serve others.
Campus Crusade's Vision statement: Building movements everywhere, so everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus Christ.
If you have time, click "Pay It Forward" and watch this trailer. It simply starts from 1 person, to pass on his/her acts of kindness to his/her 3 friends, then his/her 3 friends to another 3 friends and so on. Just like how Jesus, himself, discipled the 12s, and the 12s preached the gospel to the nations, even up till now, the gospel is still spreading on, let's not stop the Great Commission, but continue the great work of our Christ Jesus,yeah!
Let's not take our Salvation for granted. Salvation is not meant to be kept within us, but for the needies. Mark 2:17 "When Jesus heard that, he said to them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval." "
The Great Commision
Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Pistis Elpis Agape,
Yogroom Gal
6:22 AM
cell group, out!
cell group, out!