Jesus
was crucified from the foundation of the world yet there was no room at
the hotel for Him to be born. Therefore the Son of God had to be born
in a dirty stable.
What does this tell us about life in God?
Just because God is in your destiny doesn't mean everything will work
out perfectly. And when things don't go well it doesn't mean God isn't
in it.
On the other hand, smooth sailing doesn't guarantee that you will arrive on the shores of your promise land.
I have found that sometimes God causes storms to blow you on course.
Other times you discover your destiny on the way to look for your
donkeys.
But if you seek Him with all your heart you will eventually windup at your God ordained destiny.
-KV
No one could have put it better. Oh God help!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Jesus Boleh! - HeartDriven Taiwan Trip 2013
It's a miracle that I am typing this right now, right here, from Taiwan. Just 2 days ago, the situation was really very unfavourable with me being stuck in KL, Msia.
Just last Wed, 5 Jun, I was refused entry into Singapore because I had a "SPECIAL" stamp on my passport due to the student visa on my passport. In brief, I had to renew my passport because I needed more than 6 months validity on my passport to purchase the ticket for this trip. With that settled, I went back to Msia with a stamp indicating that I had to go to the immigration office in KL to get the visa. When I came back to KL, I went to the immigration office as instructed but I was turned away by the officer there as they wanted the college to do it for me since I was a student. So when I asked my college for help, I was advised to renew it only when I returned for the next semester.
Little did I realise that I would be turned away at JB's custom (Msian side) due to the stamp. The officer insisted that this stamp had to be resolved in KL immigration office and he would not grant me clearance to leave Msia. With that my parents (who drove up to KL to fetch me home) were forced to me behind in JB and I was alone with a backpack, heading back to KL on a bus.
Arriving back in KL at 4am, and going to college to seek assistance at 9.30am, the drama continued. So at the immigration office, the officer said that I was legal to be in Msia because I had a valid student visa. Despite that, I had to wait 3 working days (normally visa transfer or cancellation takes 1 day as stated on their banner regarding the number of days it would take to process the stated there). So Friday, I was at the office for the whole day waiting and hoping to hear good news, but to no avail. To the surprise of my Msian church mates, I showed up in church that weekend and asked them to pray for me.
Come Monday, I spoke to one officer, and he said he knows my case and will try to get the boss to do it. Only at 5pm did he tell me that his boss had been out the whole day, so no one could do it.
Tuesday, I went to the office again, spoke to another officer who said, "I know, I know" and that he will get it process. I waited till 5pm again, to find out that nothing was done.
So I missed 2 rehearsals and and was getting annoyed about the whole process that was taking so long, but even so I was at peace. I didn't get angry or feel the need to go and shout at someone at the office but to speak to them with respect and ask them to help resolve this matter. Ryan then sent me a text on Tuesday night that the band were praying for me and told me not to worry, that he believed that God would make a way when there seems to be no way. That God would turn this impossible situation around to reveal His glory.
Lesson learnt: Even in doing "God's work", we may seek do things our way and think that it might be faster. Thank God that I stayed true to my convictions (and refused to resort to bribery for them to process my passport - contrary to the advice of some of my Msian peers).
Wednesday morning, I went to the office and met the same officer as Tuesday. I spoke to him again and told him about my trip and I needed my passport to get back to SG today. So he took a look at my air ticket, and went, "13th, isn't the 13th tomorrow?" and I replied, "Yes, Sir. It is tomorrow and I have to get back to Singapore ASAP." and he went, "Oh! Like that ah. Like that this one is urgent!" and wrote down "Urgent" on my paper, took my number and said that he will process it now. He was the guy in charge of this. He told me to come back after lunch to collect my passport.
Finally. At 3pm on Wednesday, 12 Jun, I received my passport!
I really thank God, even though, being very honest here, that I was upset because I felt so unprepared for the trip, missing out on rehearsals and wasting so much time in KL, that one day before the trip, I managed to get back to SG at 12 midnight (9 hours before the flight to Taiwan) to join the band.
This answered prayer has encouraged the band. I am so glad that one of them actually shared with his cell and got them to intercede for me.
From here we see the power of prayer and that God is above all obstacles that were preventing me to come on this trip. Our God is the God of both the possible and the impossible. Just being here on day 1 itself has been a testimony for me. Meeting Singaporeans here in Taiwan has greatly encouraged me and their shared passion and vision for God's work really resounded strongly within my spirit. It's only day 1 and the sharing we had a while ago are testimonies about the good things God has done for us and we are so encouraged to expect more from Jehovah Jireh, God our Provider!
Truly His love never fails. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.
Just last Wed, 5 Jun, I was refused entry into Singapore because I had a "SPECIAL" stamp on my passport due to the student visa on my passport. In brief, I had to renew my passport because I needed more than 6 months validity on my passport to purchase the ticket for this trip. With that settled, I went back to Msia with a stamp indicating that I had to go to the immigration office in KL to get the visa. When I came back to KL, I went to the immigration office as instructed but I was turned away by the officer there as they wanted the college to do it for me since I was a student. So when I asked my college for help, I was advised to renew it only when I returned for the next semester.
Little did I realise that I would be turned away at JB's custom (Msian side) due to the stamp. The officer insisted that this stamp had to be resolved in KL immigration office and he would not grant me clearance to leave Msia. With that my parents (who drove up to KL to fetch me home) were forced to me behind in JB and I was alone with a backpack, heading back to KL on a bus.
Arriving back in KL at 4am, and going to college to seek assistance at 9.30am, the drama continued. So at the immigration office, the officer said that I was legal to be in Msia because I had a valid student visa. Despite that, I had to wait 3 working days (normally visa transfer or cancellation takes 1 day as stated on their banner regarding the number of days it would take to process the stated there). So Friday, I was at the office for the whole day waiting and hoping to hear good news, but to no avail. To the surprise of my Msian church mates, I showed up in church that weekend and asked them to pray for me.
Come Monday, I spoke to one officer, and he said he knows my case and will try to get the boss to do it. Only at 5pm did he tell me that his boss had been out the whole day, so no one could do it.
Tuesday, I went to the office again, spoke to another officer who said, "I know, I know" and that he will get it process. I waited till 5pm again, to find out that nothing was done.
So I missed 2 rehearsals and and was getting annoyed about the whole process that was taking so long, but even so I was at peace. I didn't get angry or feel the need to go and shout at someone at the office but to speak to them with respect and ask them to help resolve this matter. Ryan then sent me a text on Tuesday night that the band were praying for me and told me not to worry, that he believed that God would make a way when there seems to be no way. That God would turn this impossible situation around to reveal His glory.
Lesson learnt: Even in doing "God's work", we may seek do things our way and think that it might be faster. Thank God that I stayed true to my convictions (and refused to resort to bribery for them to process my passport - contrary to the advice of some of my Msian peers).
Wednesday morning, I went to the office and met the same officer as Tuesday. I spoke to him again and told him about my trip and I needed my passport to get back to SG today. So he took a look at my air ticket, and went, "13th, isn't the 13th tomorrow?" and I replied, "Yes, Sir. It is tomorrow and I have to get back to Singapore ASAP." and he went, "Oh! Like that ah. Like that this one is urgent!" and wrote down "Urgent" on my paper, took my number and said that he will process it now. He was the guy in charge of this. He told me to come back after lunch to collect my passport.
Finally. At 3pm on Wednesday, 12 Jun, I received my passport!
I really thank God, even though, being very honest here, that I was upset because I felt so unprepared for the trip, missing out on rehearsals and wasting so much time in KL, that one day before the trip, I managed to get back to SG at 12 midnight (9 hours before the flight to Taiwan) to join the band.
This answered prayer has encouraged the band. I am so glad that one of them actually shared with his cell and got them to intercede for me.
From here we see the power of prayer and that God is above all obstacles that were preventing me to come on this trip. Our God is the God of both the possible and the impossible. Just being here on day 1 itself has been a testimony for me. Meeting Singaporeans here in Taiwan has greatly encouraged me and their shared passion and vision for God's work really resounded strongly within my spirit. It's only day 1 and the sharing we had a while ago are testimonies about the good things God has done for us and we are so encouraged to expect more from Jehovah Jireh, God our Provider!
Truly His love never fails. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.
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