Monday, August 04, 2008

PASSION - Kuala Lumpur

**sATurday Night**

The night before, I didn't sleep, I went to bed at about 4 am in the morning after putting my laundry up to dry. Set 4 alarm times, then took a short moment and prayed that God will wake me up to get ready to leave for the drive down to KL.

**sUNday Morning**

Got up at 8.50, then rushed to get ready to leave UTP. The drive was kinda long lah... John, Melissa and myself kinda got nothing much to talk about after brunch and we started talking about having costume parties in church! Anyways, we made it to KL at around lunch time.

We spent the afternoon, walking around Sunway Pyramid, shopping (window shopping lah), eating, and *pause* Show la pictures of lunch first...

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This is what Melissa ordered, Chicken and something Cannelloni

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Soft shell crab spaghetti

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and Chicken Cannelloni (very creamy pasta)

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John going to eat...

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John distracted by Melissa

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Then poses for the picture

SO... after lunch, we walked around summore, looked for Jack, went to the toilet, and I tried to meet up with the Bethany gang before the conference was a total failure lah. Didn't know where they were, and somehow we were just going different directions

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At around 4 pm, people were already lining up waiting to get into the conference hall. By 5 pm, I was there with the Bethany "crowd". So glad to see all of them again. Just had a few minutes of catching up and after taking a few photos and more waiting and sweating, we were running (not running la.. just pushed everyone in front through the gate faster) with the crowd into the conference hall.

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*my eyes look super small.. >< (The pic is kinda blur so please dun enlarge.. thanks)

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Chia Ming helped us take a few pictures... *Just make sure can see the Passion banner ya..*

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Jack and Mark

The place was buzzing with excitement, and I was excited too, but I didn't know about what. I wanted to know what God is going to do in the conference that night. Will it be just another concert, another conference?

After Chris Tomlin lead the first few songs, Louie came up to introduce us to Passion and what they are all about. When he got us to pray in groups of three, I could feel the presence of God so strong in that place, and I knew that God wanted to do something there, that God is going to do something in that conference that night.

The sermon that night was short and it was about grace, what we could not do, God did for us. And also a little part about why we are crazy sometimes, and I mean CRAZY! It really changed my perception about shouting, jumping and praising God in a way that we express ourselves to the ultimate, because God showed us His ULTIMATE love.

The message of God's grace was one that I have heard much, one that I have been very careful around, and last night, I realized the grace for me was as great as the grace He showed to other people. I have always felt inferior, and wanted more attention from God, like I wanted God to highlight me or something like that, but last night I realized that God has already loved me so much, I am already highlighted. I am already in His priority list, just as everyone else is. We are all important, and I feel that until we realize that for ourselves, we will never understand it no matter how many times people tell us.

Ashley's story was one that touched the core of my heart. Sometimes, I feel myself as such a "screw up" and doubt if God can forgive someone like me, or can accept someone like me, or change someone like me? The answer is YES He can, YES He can, YES He can! Ashley's life in Christ might be short in our eyes, but it accounted for much, it made Jesus known, she lived a life that made Jesus famous.

That was our prayer that night, that we would live a life that shines the name of Jesus, that we live a life worthy of Christ.

Isaiah 26:8 -

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

Yes God, for Your name and renown are the desires of my heart.

In a sentence, I would say the conference was awesome, life changing, heart changing, a reminder of why I go to church every Sunday, why I want to live my life as a Christian.

After the messages, we had more music, praising, and worshipping and praying for the city. God is awesome!

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We came, we saw, and we were changed!

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Greater things are yet to come, greater things are yet to be done.

God is the God of KL, the God of this nation, Malaysia!


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Be a part of this movement and visit the Passion blog

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P/S: Jakarta, we are praying for you! May God do in your hearts what he has done in ours...and may you rise up too as a generation for your city and your nation!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Heys..

Was going through blogs while taking a break from assignment.

Thanks for sharing this!

I have always felt inferior, and wanted more attention from God, like I wanted God to highlight me or something like that, but last night I realized that God has already loved me so much, I am already highlighted. I am already in His priority list, just as everyone else is. We are all important, and I feel that until we realize that for ourselves, we will never understand it no matter how many times people tell us.... Sometimes, I feel myself as such a "screw up" and doubt if God can forgive someone like me, or can accept someone like me, or change someone like me?

I guess, there are many out there who also experience and thought the same thing as you, including me. You are not alone.

Just like what you mentioned.. "The answer is YES He can, YES He can, YES He can" Praise God.

As for you and all of us, be encouraged that He already has a plan for each of us in life. A plan to prosper us, not to harm us, to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

He has chosen us and set us apart for His purpose. "You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. The the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (John 15:16)

And praise God that all His gifts and His call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29)

Even sometimes we feel inadequate and not worthy, seasons changed.. but His love for us remain the same.

Know that you, ern, are God's workmanship, created in Jesus to do good work which God prepared in advance for us to do. God's masterpiece, you are.. So is the rest of us. Take heart!

=)