Vocab - Despotism

Learned a few words today - Despotism, Nepotism

DESPOTISM
In Oxford dictionary, it is defined as The exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.
Despote in French, means absolute ruler and that's how the word is derived. 

One of a few example of this word that's being used in a proper sentence construction as listed below:

• The fact is that every Christian government that preceded them thought that Christianity implied tyranny, despotism, and the oppression of non-Christians.
• He wanted to free Europe from tyranny, oppression and despotism.
• I do admire in that work your condemnation of arbitrary power and despotism as destructive of freedom.

NEPOTISM

As defined by Oxford dictionary, it is The practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
Derived from French, Nepotisme means nephew. It is later said that it's the privileges bestowed upon the nephew (close relatives).  

It goes with a few example below:

• Re-registration is necessary to avoid corruption, collusion or nepotism among civil servants.
• Those at the top indulged in nepotism, power politics and failed to give the Church a lead.
• Such nepotism is common among post-Soviet central Asian leaders.
• his years in office were marked by corruption and nepotism

A good revelation from Ps. Steven Furtick on the utilization of our talents. It takes time, diligence and obedience to fulfill the supernatural callings in our lives. In this video, Chris Brown talks about the perseverance that we need to stay on to pursue our dreams. The illustration is done with his journey on pursuing the creative effort on song writing.

http://stevenfurtick.com/elevation-worship/elevation-worship-on-songwriting/

The Kingdom of God is demonstrated with Power

This verse appeared to me twice today as I was viewing some miracles videos conducted by some of the true followers of Christ.

1 Corithians 4:20 - "For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power."

I'm still not sure what God is trying to tell me but through my instinct, He is telling me to talk the walk as the kingdom of God requires action to demonstrate its power. 
This couldn't be wrong anymore as I have held myself from praying and blessing others, thinking that this might be a bit crazy doing this in an islamic state. There could be certian level of danger for being accused of spreading gospels to the muslims. 

But that reminds me again that if God has asked of something from us, He will make it happened no matter what. Which means victory is in God's hand and none of us should worry abou the consequences as God is the Author of all things. 

Why Speaking and Praying in Tongues?

In Acts 2, there is an account about Jesus' disciples receiving the tongues of fire as the Spirit enabled them during the day of the Pentecost.

The disciples started to speak in they very own tongues covering each native languages. People made out of Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, Rome, Cretans and Arabs, all of them were amazed by the languages used to declare the wonders of God.

Why praying in tongues? Essentially, this is God's way of ministering to His people. We often magnify our shortcomings in terms of language when we attempt to minister to others. Language seems to be the road block in communication. But God doesn't see this as a show-stopper. He can still use us to speak His word. He is able to convey the message through tongues. Remember, God doesn't work our ways, because He is the Way. 

Wait no longer, let us start to speak and pray more in tongues !

Discerning God's will to pray and heal.

How do you know who to pray for standing in the midst of teh crowd?
The best way that the street evangelist Todd White claims is to pray to the Father every single morning with this prayer.

Lord Father, I don't' want to see people through my eyes but Yours. 
I want to see people through the hearts of heaven. 
-Todd White - 

As we pray, God moves

I am contemplating whether to publish this entry but I think I should. This entry has something to do with faith and trusting God. Though this might seems small in the eyes of many but I believe God is hearing every single urgent prayer from us when we pray out loud to Him.

On the wheel I was fetching WK as we were on our way to attend Adam's performance. As an early warning given out by Terry, he claimed that there will be traffic congestion around the destination we were heading to. Along with the text, he attached a notice of warning to the audience outside the hall that the ushers hold the rights to refuse the late comers. Little did we know how bad the traffic would be, I started to launch myself into prayer. 

I was thanking God for the traffic and asking Him to make the traffic smooth so that we could reach there on time. Judging from the normal condition, a Sunday afternoon is the peak among all the time for the slow traffic. But the weird thing as I was praying along, the cars were moving despite the numbers and they are moving in a relatively normal driving speed. 

Just as we would about to reach Straits Quay, we were held up by a traffic light. I thought we were not able to make it since there was only 10 minutes more before the show starts. The light turned green and off I sped toward our destination. In my mind that time, I was estimating how much time I should take to find a car park space since there were separate events going on within that parameters. But some how my instinct was telling me that I should go for the nearer car park block. 

The queue for the car park was quite fine but we know that it's not easy to get one as others were waiting for their turn to park. My instinct worked again and I drove way up to several floors instead of waiting at the lower level waiting for outgoing cars to move. Immediate turn after I have made my climb, I saw an empty space. Straight away i maneuvered my car to that empty and I was done parking. 

The time was still ticking, we need to find out way to the PAC. Believe it or not, my instinct just worked perfectly fine yesterday. None of the ways that I have made had actually failed me. I made all the right turning and finally we managed to reach the door step 2 minutes before the door was shut for performance to commence. 

At that moment, I couldn't stop thanking God because I believe He has shown me the way. I know I have good memory but from time to time I failed to recall what I have remembered. We might not realise that God works in small little things. It is not the point anymore to see whether things can be accomplished but I do see God moving as we pray. 

Prophecy on my ministry

It's our Arise and Build pledge day tomorrow. In cell group, we were asked to pray for the person next to us and it was a great privilege that LJ was my prayer partner.

He started to prophesy into my life. He first sensed a great struggle in me, a wall that I have not fully brought down. Yes indeed I have been wrestling with myself, I turn away from God when I faced problem. I always have this confidence that I can deal with the problem myself but rarely I present the problems before God.

It's so hard in me, like a metal that's extremely solid to be broken down. It requires more than a tool that is able to thoroughly break the inner core of the"hard rock" inside me. The "hard rock" is referring to the stronghold that is preventing me for allowing God to work in me.

As the prophecy continues, LJ told me that God will continue to break me until the very core of my inner pride and flesh are broken. Suddenly I just felt that God was spoken directly to me like a prodigal son. I have been far from being in the presence of God and God is trying to seek access into my life again. And I never thought it would come this way.

LJ also told me that my ministry will only start after my stronghold and inner core is broken. To allow this process to accelerate, I would have to allow God to intervene into my personal matter. So it's more to God's way now than mine. 

God I don't know whether this is real but I will mark your words today. Come and change me as I need your presence to lead me to my destiny and ministry. Sorry for always turning away from you, however I expect a great encounter with you in time to come.

A Thousand Years

In love with this song I am. With a rather simple chords, I have already played over 20 times and sung it like 30 times and it is still stuck in my head.

Though I have not really noticed this song before Phoebe Tan recited it in our annual church camp last year. A catchy song with great meaning. It reminds me about the Lord Jesus, who really loved us that he has died waiting for us to reconcile with Him. Like a song dedicated to Him, I will keep singing.

YouTube Link to the song:

"A Thousand Years"

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years

                                            I'll love you for a thousand more