Change - We need

Hi Ephesians!

Here to post a excerpt of a book I'm reading "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands" by Paul David Tripp.

Commenting on Isaiah 55:10-13.

¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

¹² You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD's renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed."

He comments on how God's Word should transform our lives.

But why is it that we do not see it in our lives?

He writes "But a truly effective ministry of the Word must confront our self-focus and self-absorption at its roots, opening us up to the vastness of a God-defined, God-centered world. Unless this happens, we will use the promises, principles, and commands of the Word to serve the thing we really love: ourselves. This may be why many people read and hear God's Word regularly while their lives remain unchanged. Only when the rain of the Word penetrates the roots of the problem does lasting change occur." pp. 24-25

Now ask yourself this, how many times have you cling to promises of God that you like or are comfortable with, remembering hard and always thinking about it while skimming through the hard and difficult commandments? Have we not read the Bible for our own? Do we not show just self-centeredness that makes our reading of God's Word a mere duty to fulfill our 'duty' as a Christian so as to please ourselves or our leaders?

The issue is this do you "Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and all your strength?" This is our root problem: We do not love God as we should, and we love ourselves more than we should, and unless we recognize that, we will never be loving Him as we should.

May this be our prayer "O Lord, grant that I may desire You, and desiring You, seek You, and seeking You, find You, and finding You, be satisfied with You for ever. (St. Augustine)"

Primary and Secondary duties

Hi all, it's been a long time since i last post anything.

Below is a excerpt of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon, preaching on this verse 'Pray Without Ceasing’
Sometimes we think we are too busy to pray.
That also is a great mistake, for praying is a saving of time.
You remember Luther's remark, "I have so much to do to-day that I shall never get through it with less than three hours' prayer." He had not been accustomed to take so much time for prayer on ordinary days, but since that was a busy day, he must needs have more communion with his God. But, perhaps, our occupations begin early, and we therefore say, "How can I get alone with God in prayer?" It is said of Sir Henry Havelock that every morning when the march began at six, he always rose at four, that he might not miss his time for the reading of the Scripture and communion with his God. If we have no time we must make time, for if God has given us time for secondary duties, he must have given us time for primary ones, and to draw near to him is a primary duty, and we must let nothing set it on one side.

Isn’t it true that many a times we put the secondary things before the primary? May we never be found getting a day without reading His Word and praying, building our relationship with Him day by day.

Happy Birthday

Happy 16th Birthday to Wei Song!


Wasn't able to wish u in person today, so i'm doing it over the blog.
As you grow older, may your knowledge and love for Him grow too!


It's not only our minds that need the input, truths from the bible are real and relevant in our lives.
And as you grow in your knowledge, you begin to delight more in God.
May this be true in your life as well!

Psalm 19:7-10 (English Standard Version)

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
⁹the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.

Happy 500th Birthday John Calvin

July 10th marks the 500th Birthday of John Calvin.

Not sure who he is? Read on to find out about this GIANT in the Christian Faith

John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509 in Noyon, France. He was brought up in a Catholic family, his father had wanted him to be a priest, but after many year of studies, he was a trained lawyer. He lost his mother a few years after he was born.

Not much was known about his conversion, all that he wrote was

"God by a sudden conversion subdued and brought my mind to a teachable frame,
which was more hardened in such matters than might have been
expected from one at my early period of life"

Soon after he published his most important work "Institutes of the Christian Religion", a gift from God through Calvin whose work is still read and re-read even today.

One particular doctrine that he contributed much was to Christ being the Prophet, Priest and King.

In 1536, war broke out in France, Calvin left France intending to go to Strasbourg, wanting to live a solitary life reading and writing. However, due to military movement, he had to detour in Geneva, spending a night there.

In God's timing and plan, William Farel (another Christian at that time) knew about Calvin's arrival in Geneva and sought him. When Farel found Calvin, this is what he spoke to him according to Calvin "he proceeded to utter an imprecation[curse] that God would curse my retirement, and the tranquillity of the studies which I sought, if I should withdraw and refuse to give assistance, when the necessity seas so urgent." words in [ ] are mine.

Then marks the start of the life of John Calvin, the pastor of Geneva.
Calvin continued to pastor in Geneva till his death on 27th May 1564 at the age of 65. He was buried in a unmarked grave.


To know more about our GAINTS in church history, I highly encourage you to read 'The Legacy of Sovereign Joy' by John Piper. It's a short, easy to read and enjoyable book. Through it you will get to know about the lives of Augustine, Martin Luther and John Calvin.

A video to end off.

Hello from alice spring

Hi guys,

I'm writing from Alice Spring in Aust. It's a semi-wu-lu town.

Many things have happened, and I've bought some small gifts for u all, so don't worry about not having gifts.

Today is also the last day of holidays for u all!

Hope you have had spent your holidays wisely. Hope that you also had time to reflect and think about God's Word too, since most of the time during schooling you would be 'too busy'.

Few more months before your O levels begin. Jia You for your studies.

I'll post more updates and thoughts that i've been having for this trip when i have more time.

Please continue to keep my brother and me in prayer, especially for our health and also our safety when we are traveling around.