From a KFC lover

Hi Daniel 2 guys

 A Temptation of a KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) lover:

Scene 1: I will take a drive, but I won’t go near KFC

Scene 2: I will drive by KFC, but I won’t go in

Scene 3: I will go into KFC but I will not look at the menu

Scene 4: I will look at the menu but I will not buy anything

Scene 5: I will buy a box of chicken, but I won’t open it

Scene 6: Open it, but not smell it

Scene 7: Smell it, but not taste it

Scene 8: Taste it, but not eat it

Scene 9: EAT EAT EAT!!!!!

Temptation always comes by way of a thought. As guys, we face countless of temptations daily. From the story, If you decide not to go for a drive in the first place, you wouldn’t get to eat that yummy KFC.

When you realise that your initial thought would end up leading you to sin, would you decide to STOP that initial thought and MAKE IT CAPTIVE to the obedience unto God?

I would!

 we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corin 10:5)

Love D2 guys!

Jimmie Thongkul

Be angry like Christ

Paul admonished: “Be angry, and yet do not son” (Ephesians 4:26). If you wish to be angry and not sin, then be angry the way Christ was: be angry at sin. Turned over the tables; don’t attack the money changers.

People

God has brought many people into my life. For the past 22 years, I have encountered different kinds of people.

Some of them have planted a garden in my heart.

Some of them left a deep scar in my heart.

Some of them have passed away to be with the Lord.

At times, I wish that I don’t have to meet this kind of people but God stratigically managed to brought them to me anyway. I wish that this specific kind of people – people who are “nice” to me, would be with me for the rest of my life but God moved them away from me. I also wish sometims that this kind of people shouldn’t exist in this world but they are right here on this very planet!! What an immature thought but come on, we all think like that to those who we don’t like, right? I’m just being honest here.  As a relationship person, I tend to attach myself with people. I rely on people. For the people whom I love, I have a high expectation on them and when they cannot reach that It hurts me badly. God is gracious to me. He tend to bring people who I tend to attach to away from my life for He doesn’t want me to hold on to people but Him. How can I serve God effectively if I keep holding on to the people, if I keep hoilding on to what they said, what they did to me? 

All in all, I believe God allowed me to meet all kinds of pepple so that He can use them to grow me and in this I thank Him and I am grateful to you, people! For my ”Nice people”, Thanks for crossing my path and be with me – although it was just a short while and I wish we could have been together a just little longer but you have impacted my heart greatly -, you have planted a garden in my heart that it will never be withered despite time. Thanks to those who have hurted me  - because of you, I understand the true meaning of godly forgiveness and learning to let go and let God - in this I deeply thank you too.

For people around me - thanks for coming to my life. You mean so much to my life and I love you because God loves you! I always thank my God as I remember you (Philemon 1:4)

My only fulfillment

 Daniel 2 Life Group had a chance to welcome our first time visitor from Korea – David. He didn’t come to know us through CCM. No one from our group invited him to come.  No one evangelised to him

Here is the story …..
 
What happened this morning was that I had to go to immigration to sort out my visa issue. While I was waiting to be called, there was a guy came and sit next to me. Then, this guy started to talk to me and we kept talking and talking. Later I found out that he is from Korea. I always have a tendency to ask all Korean people “are you a Christian” but for this guy Holy Spirit stirred in my heart to ask him frankly whether he is a Christian or not. So, I asked him right away “Are you a Christian”. Then, out of his excitement, he said “Yes”. He told me that this is his 2nd day in Brisbane and he was praying and looking for a church and an accommodation. He told me that God has intentionally led him to me. At that very time, I also felt the same in my heart. I felt that God must have led him to me. I could sense in my heart that he is not just a Sunday Christian but he is a Christian who have a relationship with God!

I managed to tell him about our church and LG. I didn’t expect him to come to LG tonight at all but he came! In fact, he misunderstood me that LG is in UQ so he actually went to UQ, thank God to Chris who helped me traslated to him over the phone and we eventually managed to bring him to join D2 LG at my house! 

Chris was talking to him after LG finished and she told me that David is a faithful servant of God. He has been serving as a worship leader back in his church in Korea and his vision is to do a mission work in India. After LG concluded, he grabbed a guitar and played P&W songs that we sang tonight! We were so amazed! He is now staying at my house at the moment (he is still looking for an accommodation and I’m sure he will find one soon) and we will get a chance to welcome him once again to our church this sunday.

God has a great plan for everyone of us just like how he has for David! We are just tiny tots in His mighty hands. What happened to David reminded me of this famous scripture “But seek first His Kingdome and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33) ” I believe David did so, that is why God met all his needs. Moreover, from this incident, it made me realise of the only fulfillments in my life:

This is my only fulfillment; it is to be a part of His great plan.

This is my only fulfillment; it to serve my brothers and sisters in Christ.

This is my only fulfillment; it is to worship Him all the days of my life. 

This is my only fulfillment; it is to be used by the King!

Thank You, God for being so tangible in our lives. You are so close to us, Father.

Conviction of February

February is a harvest period of all uni student groups of Hope Brisbane! CCM QUT,UQ,GU and every single one in Daniels and Judahs are praying hard and working hard in order to catch as many fish as possible for the glory of the Lord. Our very heartbeat is to see the lost turn back to the Father. Our love for the people have grown tremendously at this very period of time. February is a busy period, I agreed, but despite the busyness, God’s business comes first. We are not burning out but we are burning in. Our hearts are burning! Because we are so excited to welcome and shake new visitiors hands and we hope that through our smilies, they too will come to enjoy the relationship with God like how we do.

As for myself, sometimes,  it is not easy as a full-time worker to serve the Lord in a student grouop. Yet, God spoke to me cleary throughout this month of February through the scripture in

2 Samuel 24:24 

 ”But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

This scripture has become my conviction of this month of Feb. It is my determination for this month and for the rest of my life that I WILL NOT serve God that I cost me nothing but I my service unto God to cost me something. During Feb, I can say without being ashamed that my service unto God costed me something. During CCM QUT market day on the monday, I decided to take a day off from work which I wouldn’t get paid as I am still employed on casual basis. To calculated it into dollar tearm, I gave up $150 to serve on the CCM market day. On that day, it also costed me a sunburn on my neck! Also what about my energy, time etc. It costed me something!

Through that I was overjoyed as I have given up something to serve my God who gave His all for me! Money and a sunburn is nothing compare to what Jesus has done for me and it is nothing compare to seeing one more soul being saved for Jesus. 

May we ask ourselves this question everyday “does my service unto God cost me something?” If it doesn’t cost us anything, maybe we are not serving God, maybe we have to give up self more to His service. Abraham gave a costly service unto God. He gave his only son Isaac. Are you willing to give up your “Isacc” for God today?