MIRACLES ON OUR DOORSTEPS

I was in Brisbane, Australia for one month. I had a great time catching up with my friends. During my stay, I took some photos of the city. The weather in Brisbane is beautiful all year round! I love this city!


MIRACLES ON OUR DOORSTEPS

I really believe with all my heart that the miracles of God are waiting to happen right on our doorsteps. The more we believe, the more we pray, the more we expect God to move; the more we are likely to see the intervention of God in our families, businesses, health and community. What is impossible for us is possible for God. God has entrusted to us both His kingdom and the Good News. We are carriers of God's kingdom and His message of love, hope, peace, healing and restoration.

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2

A creative miracle story

God distributed His power and authority to every believer in order to demonstrate His love. God’s message is confirmed through signs and wonders. I recently attended the School of Healing in Sydney held by Randy Clarke and Bill Johnson. A pregnant lady stood on the stage and testified how tumours forced her reproductive system to be surgically removed. The doctor told her that she could never give birth. This lady went to a Christian camp and received prayer. Sometime later, she became pregnant because God performed a creative miracle by creating a new reproductive system in her body.

God can perform creative miracles today!

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." 19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. Mark 16:15-20

A miracle healing story

I interviewed a man at the School of Healing who had numbness in his thumb because the surrounding nerves were damaged and disconnected. After prayer, he felt feeling in his thumb once again and the scar from a previous operation in his thumb disappeared. God restored the nerves in his thumb and removed the scar from the previous operation. Let us believe God for more miracles on our doorsteps.

God will confirm His message with the demonstration of His power.

CHOCOLATE & LOVE

We went to Max Brenner, a famous chocolate restaurant at the Gold Coast, Queensland, to celebrate Pastor Lance's birthday. It was my first time at Max Brenner. They serve chocolate with just about everything. They even have a chocolate making machine in the restaurant! I couldn’t resist taking lots of photos at this interesting place. We had wonderful fellowship over a chocolate drink and chocolate pancakes.


CHOCOLATE & LOVE

Here is a YouTude music video clip by Jaeson Ma that really touched my heart.

The song from the video is based on the love of God written in 1 Corinthians 13:

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8b.

It is wonderful to know and experience the love of God and to allow this love to flow to others around us. Let's consider how we can demonstrate God's love in practical ways to family, friends and neighbours. God's love is unlimited and it is for all to embrace.

STEPPING OUT

I had a wonderful week of spiritual refreshment when I attended a conference featuring Bill Johnson called “Kingdom Culture”, followed by a personal retreat at the Sunshine Coast. I was blessed to hear the teaching about the presence of God at the conference. Then I spent two days practising how to usher the presence of God in my life at the Sunshine Coast. Here are some photos of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

STEPPING OUT

Have you ever attempted to do things that were beyond your natural ability, whether in school, university, the workplace, business, family or ministry? In the past 20 years of my Christian life, I have attempted some things that were beyond my natural ability. I know that without the help of God, I would have failed, or done poorly, in my tasks, goals, visions and dreams. I believe God desires for us to do extraordinary things in life with His empowerment like Peter walking on water. Read Matthew 14:25-33

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 14:25-33

Jesus is a supernatural God! He walked on water when no one else could. He desires for us to do extraordinary things for Him just like Apostle Peter who walked on water. I would like to share three reasons we step out for God.

Stepping out when God speaks

Apostle Peter desired to walk on water, but he only stepped out of the boat after hearing the invitation from Jesus. We should step out when we hear the voice of God speaking to us. Recently, I was invited by a Christian organization to be a speaker at a prison. I was afraid to share in a prison because I had never done it before. As I was praying about it, God reminded me of Apostle Peter walking on water. I felt God encouraging me to go and speak to the prisoners about His love and plan. I obeyed God even though I was a bit apprehensive about it.

We can step out confidently when God speaks to us to do something beyond ourselves.

Stepping out knowing God is faithful

The Bible says God’s love never fails. He desires to help us succeed in life. Whatever He asks us to do, He will support us. God is faithful in bringing His purpose to pass in our lives. We are bound to faces challenges when attempting to do great things in life and doing the will of God. The storms will come, the winds will blow, the rain will fall, but God will always be there for us to give a helping hand. Jesus held up Apostle Peter when he started sinking.

The One who calls us to step out will always be there in troubled times.

Stepping out because God is God

The disciples acknowledged the presence of a living God when they witnessed the miracle. God wants us to know and experience His reality. He is God and He can reveal His power in our lives. God wants us to acknowledge His divinity. He is God and He is in control of every situation. The world is in His hands. Jesus was acknowledged to be Son of God because He has attributes of God.

I went to the prison and shared a message of God's love and prayed for healing for the inmates. God healed many people from all kinds of pain in their bodies. A man who had a hearing impairment was healed by God after prayer. God was moving powerfully through me and other Christians in the prison because we stepped out and obeyed Him.

We can trust in God's Words because He is God and never changes.

YOU RAISE ME UP

I am so blessed to have so many friends from around the world. I had a great dinner with Graeme and Jane at a Japanese restaurant in Singapore. I really like eating sushi because it is very healthy. Here are more photos at the Skypark in the Singapore. There is a big swimming pool on top of the Skypark! Imagine swimming with such a beautiful view from the skyscraper.

YOU RAISE ME UP

We all need someone to raise us up in times of sadness, disappointment and discouragement. It could be a family member, a friend, a relative and God. God promised in His word that He will raise us up from the depths and give us a second chance.

I am reminded of the adulterous woman sentenced to death by the Pharisees in the Bible. Read John 8:3-11.

3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

The Pharisees wanted to stone the adulterous woman because she broke the law. They wanted to see how Jesus would react to the situation by asking for his verdict. Instead of passing judgement upon the woman, Jesus asked for any person that committed no sin to throw the first stone. Everyone slowly back off and moved away because they knew they had all have committed sin in their lives. Jesus told the woman that He did not come to condemn sinners but to forgive sinners. Jesus commanded this woman to go and leave her life of sin.

There are times in our lives when we feel like a failure before others and God. We should not despair because we have a God that did not come to condemn us but to raise us up from the old life of sin into a new life with Him. God always gives us unlimited chances to begin a new life with His love and power.

We can have a new beginning and fresh start with God anytime. We don't have to remain in the pit forever because God is ready to raise us up.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.