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When griping grief the heart doth wound,
and doleful dumps the mind opresses,
then music, with her silver sound,
with speedy help doth lend redress.
-William Shakespeare
For this cause
I had to pen down a 2 page testimony for the mission trip to Cebu, Philippines which I went on with a team from church. It'd be posted up on my church's website, and I thought I could as well put it up here...
Cebu, Philippines
10th – 17th March, 2008
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
The mission trip to Cebu was to be my first with Zion Full Gospel Church. Having developed a great desire to move out and serve in the mission field, I took the faith step of signing up and trusting God to do good things. It was by God’s divine appointment that I found myself part of the team embarking to Cebu, and it was to be a life-changing experience.
In a space of 7 days (and another 10 days in Thailand), I witnessed so much that the blessed majority would never even have known existed. I saw, heard, touched, smelt, and even tasted unimaginably far more than I ever could. It seemed as though we were transported to a whole different world, but yet it was so real. Dwelling among the rejects of society was as real as it gets. Forming a description of what I saw with my bare eyes in words just wouldn’t do it justice. God gave me something no paper, camera or camcorder could ever capture. He lovingly opened my eyes and heart to the great need of His land, to the present generation that is desperate and hungry for justice and truth. It was all etched, imprinted all over my heart. My eyes and heart captured the heartbeat of Christ, and I know His heart beats for His people.
God moves beyond the four walls of the local church. He moves far greater than He possibly could in the comfort of our homes, and I’ve counted it my greatest blessing to have felt and witnessed the manifested presence of the Lord take control out there in the mission field.
Through it all I’ve gained a much wider perspective of what missions really is. It isn’t about how equipped you are with the 4 spiritual laws. Neither is it about how well you know your theology. It definitely isn’t about how well you pray, or how eloquent you may be.
It’s about having a heart that’s willing. It’s about having the heart to say ‘God, I empty myself that you may use me as a vessel. May You take control.’ It’s about investing your lives into other people’s lives. It’s about obeying the call of Christ to bring the message wherever He wants you to, and it’s about expressing the message through action, that people feel the tangible love of God. Christ uses anyone He chooses and He chooses those that humble themselves before the King of Kings, ready to be used as a channel of God’s love. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, loud or soft, talented or not. God looks for the willing heart.
To know that I was nothing and have nothing when I was out there, was probably the greatest lesson I could possibly carry. For that was when God could truly use me, when I was weak and humbled, and it brings people to know, it wasn’t me but the work of the Holy Spirit. To avail yourself as an empty vessel is the greatest step, and it pleases the Lord.
It is true to say that ‘the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few’. A great multitude of people are just waiting to receive the Gospel. If we just ask for God to give us that compassion and burden for His people, the Church will grow beyond what we all thought it possibly could. God is limitless and does unimaginably far more than what we could ever comprehend.
I testify to the greatness of my God. My God was faithful in sustaining me and He brought me closer to Himself than even before. To have experienced Him personally is the only thing that is above everything else. So beautiful, to dwell in the sweet presence of the Lord. And I know, the real church I belong to, is the Church out there, where Christ’s heart is.
Ian
Humble Servant
Zion Full Gospel Church
9 April 2008
signing off at 12:12 AM
When I say I'm a Christian
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not shouting “I've been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I was lost. That's why I chose this way”
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble, and need Christ to be my guide
When I say, “I am a Christian” I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don't think I know it all
I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible but God believes I’m worth it
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I do not wish to judge
I have no authority. I only know I’m loved
signing off at 11:31 AM
The Real Call
God's probably not crying out for more full time workers;
He's crying out for more full time Christians
signing off at 1:26 AM
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Ian, 21
iancll@hotmail.com
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