Haven't posted anything for two weeks. I haven't been busy with the very last week of training and catching up readings and assignments. The 2 months training was finally ended. On one hand, I am happy that now I have more time free up for my own, for family and friends; on the other hand, I really missed the time that all of us trainees gather together to study God's word, to find out what God says about business and really wanting to do something for God.
It was amazing how all of us just bonded. The friendship and trust that built between all of us (both trainee and trainer) through the training was so incredible. To see us, just willing to bring down our walls and to open up to one another, not worrying about being vulnerable among others were tremendous to me. All the testimonies and experiences that we share with each other were such an encouragement to me because it just confirmed how God is so faithful to us and He is so loving to us. It was such a life changing experience to learn what's it mean to live a life with God and for God, and also what's it mean to have kingdom of God on earth.
In this coming month before flying to South Africa, I will be working hard to finish all my study and getting myself spiritually ready for the trip. I really pray that God will show me more about Him during this month and continue to strengthen me for this ministry.
Praise the Lord!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
God's Love
I've been saying "God loves us" many times throughout the blog, but how?
God sent His one and only son to die for us sinners so that we can be reconciled with Him again.
But let take a minute here to think about it. What does that really mean? I guess those who have kids may understand this concept a little better here. Letting your son die for others is not something easy or trivial. I believe one can die for someone out of love. But to let your son or somebody you deeply love to die for others…… hum that a different question and may be I will let the parents to answer the question. I am not saying there is no bad parent who doesn't care about their kids, but God loves his son very much, so let’s keep that scenario.
For parents who love their son so much, is it quite impossible for them to let their son die for somebody. Not to mention when that somebody is not even a good person.
And God sent Jesus, his son. Have you ever think about the fact that God can actually use any method He wants to reconcile with us, but why did He choose to do it the Jesus way? The way that is so painful to Him.
Because that's how we, limited human beings, could fully understand His love.
That is how much God loves us.
God sent His one and only son to die for us sinners so that we can be reconciled with Him again.
But let take a minute here to think about it. What does that really mean? I guess those who have kids may understand this concept a little better here. Letting your son die for others is not something easy or trivial. I believe one can die for someone out of love. But to let your son or somebody you deeply love to die for others…… hum that a different question and may be I will let the parents to answer the question. I am not saying there is no bad parent who doesn't care about their kids, but God loves his son very much, so let’s keep that scenario.
For parents who love their son so much, is it quite impossible for them to let their son die for somebody. Not to mention when that somebody is not even a good person.
And God sent Jesus, his son. Have you ever think about the fact that God can actually use any method He wants to reconcile with us, but why did He choose to do it the Jesus way? The way that is so painful to Him.
Because that's how we, limited human beings, could fully understand His love.
That is how much God loves us.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Forgiveness
One thing I learn from the training is "to forgive".
A lot of times, the things that we try to hold against others really only matter to us and not that much to the other parties. Sometimes they don't even remember or have any idea what they have done to you. And you are the one who holding all the hatred, grudges, grief and pain inside your heart.
Some of you are waiting for the others to say sorry, to say that they are regretted for hurting you. You want them to acknowledge that they have wronged you. Some of you are not able to forgive yourself for things you've done, doesn't matter how many times you've apologized, you still hold it against yourself.
However, without you even knowing, the pain that's kept in your heart has gradually drained you down so much that it has blocked your heart from receiving God's love and healing and has stopped you from doing what God has planned for you. That's what Satan wants not God. God loves us, and he has paid an extremely high price for us that is enough to pay off any bad deeds. So learn to forgive and leave the judgement to God. Just like Jesus, He chose to die for us before we even asked.
Forgiveness doesn't start with the other side, it starts from you. Right there in your heart. Choose to forgive others before they say sorry. Make a commitment to yourself, say to yourself or write it on paper that you will choose to forgive him/her because Jesus has done the same for you. Pray in Jesus name for God's grace to be with you.
Is not easy, yes is definitely not. Who say following Christ is easy? But you are not doing it alone, Jesus is with you and you will not be forsaken.
Leave it to God for He has used love to trade in your pain. =)
A lot of times, the things that we try to hold against others really only matter to us and not that much to the other parties. Sometimes they don't even remember or have any idea what they have done to you. And you are the one who holding all the hatred, grudges, grief and pain inside your heart.
Some of you are waiting for the others to say sorry, to say that they are regretted for hurting you. You want them to acknowledge that they have wronged you. Some of you are not able to forgive yourself for things you've done, doesn't matter how many times you've apologized, you still hold it against yourself.
However, without you even knowing, the pain that's kept in your heart has gradually drained you down so much that it has blocked your heart from receiving God's love and healing and has stopped you from doing what God has planned for you. That's what Satan wants not God. God loves us, and he has paid an extremely high price for us that is enough to pay off any bad deeds. So learn to forgive and leave the judgement to God. Just like Jesus, He chose to die for us before we even asked.
Forgiveness doesn't start with the other side, it starts from you. Right there in your heart. Choose to forgive others before they say sorry. Make a commitment to yourself, say to yourself or write it on paper that you will choose to forgive him/her because Jesus has done the same for you. Pray in Jesus name for God's grace to be with you.
Is not easy, yes is definitely not. Who say following Christ is easy? But you are not doing it alone, Jesus is with you and you will not be forsaken.
Leave it to God for He has used love to trade in your pain. =)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter !!
It's amazing how Easter and Christmas become such a universal holiday today that people around the world will all celebrate these two holidays together. But how many of those who celebrate Easter and Christmas really understand what the celebration means. Easter is not about Bunnies and eggs, so as Christmas is not about Santa Claus. Nevertheless, they are definitely two of the most joyful days to celebrate. Christmas and Easter summed up what Jesus have done for us: Jesus' birth and death & resurrection which has completed love and justice for us all.
How?
Complete Love - God, out of love, sent His one and only son Jesus to the earth to die for us, so we can be reconciled with Him again.
Complete Justice - Jesus, the son of God, holy and sinless, died for us sinners just to pay for our debt, so that we are set free. Coz' the wages of sin is death!
God's love is precious!
How?
Complete Love - God, out of love, sent His one and only son Jesus to the earth to die for us, so we can be reconciled with Him again.
Complete Justice - Jesus, the son of God, holy and sinless, died for us sinners just to pay for our debt, so that we are set free. Coz' the wages of sin is death!
God's love is precious!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Obedience
Lately I've been praying for direction on work and callings. I've been praying for months, but have not heard anything from God till this past Wednesday. God told me that He is not showing me anything coz' He want me to learn how to rely on Him first. When I heard it I was like God, are You serious?!??? haha this really show how obedient i am !!
I started to think about what does it mean to be obedient to God. And I realized that obedience is one of the key element to follow God. And I totally see why God want me to go on this venture. Because to follow God in the business world is one of the most denied area that most and is also one of the area that takes most courage in terms of obedience and faith to make it happen.
Here is a very simple example, one of God's character is integrity. God hates lies, and God is the truth. There is no gray area for honesty in God's eye. However, it is one of the most denied area in business. To be truthful to our customersand employees is not easy and is not the norm most of the time. Especially in thing that touches money.
It takes faith to obey God, and the experience of people who went through the venture in the past told me stories after stories about how business owners put faith in God and miracle just happened in merely ten days. That really reminded me what Jesus said in Luke 17:6 “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
This is how much God cherish our faith and obedience. Obedience always comes with faith and faith will grow through obedience.
I started to think about what does it mean to be obedient to God. And I realized that obedience is one of the key element to follow God. And I totally see why God want me to go on this venture. Because to follow God in the business world is one of the most denied area that most and is also one of the area that takes most courage in terms of obedience and faith to make it happen.
Here is a very simple example, one of God's character is integrity. God hates lies, and God is the truth. There is no gray area for honesty in God's eye. However, it is one of the most denied area in business. To be truthful to our customersand employees is not easy and is not the norm most of the time. Especially in thing that touches money.
It takes faith to obey God, and the experience of people who went through the venture in the past told me stories after stories about how business owners put faith in God and miracle just happened in merely ten days. That really reminded me what Jesus said in Luke 17:6 “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
This is how much God cherish our faith and obedience. Obedience always comes with faith and faith will grow through obedience.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Glorify God through Business
How do we go about using business to glorify God?
Identifying the impact of a business gives business owner a different view of what influence it is making in the society. A business can impact and reach out to many more people than what a church can. Think about the influence circles of a business, they include employees, clients, venders, competitors, customers ... etc. Exploring what impact a business can make help business owners to see a different purpose of the business and how it can be aligned with God’s plan.
Through the training, we learn about how to practically apply biblical principals to run a business so that God's character is reflected. We look at 10 aspects of a business: Purpose, Products, Positioning, Presence, Partnering, Process, People, Place, Planning, and Profit and understand the biblical basis for each of the Ps. We use these bases as our guideline to work with business owners. Identify where the Ps of their business are and the gap between where they could be if the business is aligned with God's will. And then, together with the business owners, we come up with strategies and action plans to minimize the gap.
This is what I am gonna be doing in South Africa, sound interesting right! =)
As believers, not all of us are called to be pastors but all of us are called to preach the kingdom of God. Luke 9:1-2 And he [Jesus] sent them [his twelve disciples] to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Identifying the impact of a business gives business owner a different view of what influence it is making in the society. A business can impact and reach out to many more people than what a church can. Think about the influence circles of a business, they include employees, clients, venders, competitors, customers ... etc. Exploring what impact a business can make help business owners to see a different purpose of the business and how it can be aligned with God’s plan.
Through the training, we learn about how to practically apply biblical principals to run a business so that God's character is reflected. We look at 10 aspects of a business: Purpose, Products, Positioning, Presence, Partnering, Process, People, Place, Planning, and Profit and understand the biblical basis for each of the Ps. We use these bases as our guideline to work with business owners. Identify where the Ps of their business are and the gap between where they could be if the business is aligned with God's will. And then, together with the business owners, we come up with strategies and action plans to minimize the gap.
This is what I am gonna be doing in South Africa, sound interesting right! =)
As believers, not all of us are called to be pastors but all of us are called to preach the kingdom of God. Luke 9:1-2 And he [Jesus] sent them [his twelve disciples] to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Purpose of Business
When I ask, what is the purpose of business? One will answer the purpose of business is to maximize long-term owners'/stockholders' value.
And if I ask, what is the purpose of man? Believers will say the purpose of man is to glory God, we are created to glorify God.
How could this two concepts come together and make sense?
The bible said God is the creator of all. He created heaven and earth and every living creatures. And so, God is our ultimate long-term owner, everything belongs to Him including business. In that sense, the purpose of business is to maximize God's value. And maximizing God's value results in glorifying Him.
The purpose of business is to glorify God.
Based on this concept, REP believes that aligning purpose of business with God's plan brings forth the kingdom of God on earth.
And if I ask, what is the purpose of man? Believers will say the purpose of man is to glory God, we are created to glorify God.
How could this two concepts come together and make sense?
The bible said God is the creator of all. He created heaven and earth and every living creatures. And so, God is our ultimate long-term owner, everything belongs to Him including business. In that sense, the purpose of business is to maximize God's value. And maximizing God's value results in glorifying Him.
The purpose of business is to glorify God.
Based on this concept, REP believes that aligning purpose of business with God's plan brings forth the kingdom of God on earth.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Going on my first mission trip in June
This coming June, I will be going on a mission trip with rēp (Repurposing Business—Transforming Society® ) to South Africa, Cape Town, as a consultant for local business firm. Our mission is to help business owner to see what God is doing in their business and converging their work and faith together for greater good. We believe that business is a calling from God and by repurposing businesses, we can eventually transform society and yet nation.
As many of you know, that I am fundraising for this ministry and my goal is to raise $5000. Thus, I am writing this blog to share my learnings and experience with you all.
Especially for my sponsors, I would like to keep you all posted with the training that i am going through now as well as what will be going on in the venture later on.
This is going to be my first mission trip ever, I am excited yet nervous. And I believe that God will do great things through this ministry.
As many of you know, that I am fundraising for this ministry and my goal is to raise $5000. Thus, I am writing this blog to share my learnings and experience with you all.
Especially for my sponsors, I would like to keep you all posted with the training that i am going through now as well as what will be going on in the venture later on.
This is going to be my first mission trip ever, I am excited yet nervous. And I believe that God will do great things through this ministry.
Thank You so much for supporting me!
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