Faith Stories

I had the opportunity to meet a foreign chef who works at one of Singapore’s five-star hotels. God has blessed him with a wonderful wife and five children, all before the age of 32. Through years of hard work in different countries, he has risen to the position of Senior Chef in his current role. I got to know him better after we worked together on two projects outside of our regular scope. Recently, he reached out to me on WhatsApp and shared the following: “I’m asking for wisdom, and I’ve also spoken with W. about this. If you were in my position—God has entrusted me with a position of authority. In our line of work in hospitality, having weekends off, especially Sundays, is very uncommon. Because of my role, I have the option of taking every Sunday off so that I can worship God, and that is my priority. At the same time, I’m struggling with the thought that taking every Sunday off might mean I’m using my authority for my own benefit instead of using it to serve others. Part of me wonders if there’s a selfish side to it.” His message reminded me of a similar struggle I faced when I first started working in a highly competitive industry. I was working seven days a week, and there were times when I had to choose between going to church on Sunday or going to work. I made the decision to honor God. I chose to attend church on Sunday, have lunch with my family afterward, and then return to work to support my colleagues. I reminded him of what God says in Exodus 20:8 and Deuteronomy 5:12. After creating the world in six days, God rested on the seventh day and made it holy. One of the Ten Commandments also instructs God’s people to keep the Sabbath day holy. My advice to him was that, since he has been given the opportunity to take Sundays off, he should continue to honor God by attending church and setting that day apart for worship. He should not feel guilty for doing so, because he is putting God first. Honoring God by worshiping Him on Sunday is an act of obedience, not selfishness. He can continue to serve and support his colleagues faithfully on the other days of the week while making every effort to keep the Sabbath holy. I believe that when we honor God and obey Him and His Word first, He will honor us and bless us in ways beyond our imagination. Ultimately, He desires our hearts and our time with Him. I was encouraged to know that this chef is intentionally setting aside Sunday for the Lord and seeking to honor Him above all else. Footnote: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” — Exodus 20:8 “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.” — Deuteronomy 5:12

“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day.” - C.S.Lewis Depending on God starts daily. I am learning that yesterday’s trust doesn’t automatically carry into today or tomorrow, and each morning requires a fresh surrender to Him. When I was a new believer, I thought that trusting God and storing up faith in my heart once would last me a life time of supply; however, that’s not how faith actually works. Every day brings new challenges, new worries, new tendency to rely on myself, instead of on God. Every day I have to choose, again, to lean on God, instead of my own understanding. I seek God’s help to make this daily effort of reliance on Him a regular rhythm of His design, like a breathing exercise, a necessity, not a burden, and a fresh start without any frustration or boredom that I have to start this daily. This reminds me of God’s manna prepared daily for the Israelites in the wilderness after they have left Egypt. The Israelites even complained about the same manna everyday. They have forgotten their sovereign God, their faithful Provider and they have neglected to thank Him for their daily food. I pray for grace to begin again today, to rely on God’s fresh supply of grace each new day, to bring my yoke to Him, instead of my carrying yesterday’s leftovers. To surrender all to Him. Let me begin all over again, relying on You, Lord, completely, in every area of my life, with a fresh faith and new surrender, just enough for today, and tomorrow, I will start all over again. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

God has spoken to me in many ways: through a Bible verse, the wise counsel of another Christian, direct from the church pulpit, and a simple willingness on my part to obey. There were weeks and even months between Him speaking in one way and then another. At that time it felt like forever and ever. God is rarely in a hurry to speak. He is slow (lento): we are swift and hasty. It is because we are but for a time, and He has been for eternity, since the very beginning. Hence, Grace, for the most part, acts slowly, gives slowly. He works little by little. God is never late, nor is He ever in a hurry. He is inclined to speak to those who show themselves truly hungry and thirsty for a fresh encounter with Jesus. He encourages us to pause and pray, to resist the temptation to rush when we interact with Him. He lets us embark upon a season of seeking His face and waiting for Him. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 God didn’t say I will inevitably find Him the moment I seek Him. Rather, He promised to be found when I seek Him with all my heart. There is something about the posture of my praying and the wholeheartedness of my seeking - my determination, my desperation and my desire - that moves the heart and attracts the attention of God. Eventually, He answers, in His time, but never late. “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” - Romans 12:12

“Lord, You are my guide, the shepherd of my life Through the hills and valleys, You're always by my side Calling me by name, chosen me with love Blessing me abundantly, Your promise will never change Every step I make; You lead me with Your grace Your love, Your hand, will hold me close to You Every step I take; You lead me with Your grace Your love, Your hand, will guide me through the path of grace.” - G.T. “There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel - that will stand” Proverbs 19:21

“Learning to pray is learning to trust the wisdom, the power, and the love of our Heavenly Father, always so far beyond our dreams. Things we feel sure we need for happiness may often lead to our ruin. Things we think will ruin us, if we believe what the Father tells us and surrender ourselves into His strong arms, bring us deliverance and joy.” - Elizabeth Elliot “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26 May God reveal to me the burdens of my heart today, amen.

What touches you in the morning when you wake up ? Reading emails, messages on the phone or reading the news ? For a very long time since my working life, the single most important pursuit is for financial independence and securing the future for retirement. Health and time for family, prayer took a second seat. Until the day my father passed away. How do you lose a Father so dear it devastates and upend my entire life for a long time. My father has been the pillar of my well being while I pursue worldly achievements. He held onto the same teaching principles of being self sufficient, independence, pursue of greater knowledge and make one self capable. Since five years old, I was sent to Singapore to study, away from my parents in Indonesia. My student life in Singapore molds me to my father’s teachings. I graduated and finished higher education. Now as I am hitting 60, my two children have their own careers, my wife is still as happy as she was the day I courted her. My attachment to my father’s teachings are a distant memory since he passed on some 10 years ago. Reflecting my life that has went so fast from the day I arrived in Singapore like a blink of an eye. Question, what is this life all about ? I will expire one day. I am no nearer to self actualisation than the days God gave me the abundances. I am still trying to overcome detachments from everything that I have, aspire and those that holds me down. (Matthew 6:19) Then I’ve no fear, peace and got a reprieve while praying. Then the next morning I woke up, the attachment, the pursuit and everything else all came back again and the mind to detach cycle repeats again. Everyday I’m looking for his words to stay in his words. I sometimes dread the morning when I wake up. I pray every morning. News, emails and phone messages took a second seat. I’m still in the valley, I haven’t got out yet, I don’t know how long is this path. If any it would just be a journal of journey, no conclusion yet. I don’t pray to expect anything from God but pray for a detachment and whatever God leads the path for the choice I made I’m ready. God had given me abundance (Ephesians 3:20) for so many times for so long, unexpected and without asking, as I am still lost now. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking in the valley of death (Psalm 23:4) but I’ve no fear. Perhaps God meant me to taste something, reflect and appreciate something, share something before I expire. I do not know, but only the path to God is clear. I pray today is a good day. Psalm 118:24