“New Year, New Blogs“, my 1st newsletter of 2010, was intended to be followed up with a second segment, but things just snowballed and well, half the year has now gone by.

In the past few months, I was on a number of days of MC (falling sick, not recovering fully and falling sick again) in the midst of attending 3 developmental courses, and preparing to share on 3 occasions.
I have also just completed some of the design on CreaComm’s ministry newsletter MGC (Making The Gospel Click). Download the PDF for a read.

Thank God for His sustaining grace to put things in place and greatly strengthen me when I was feeling weak.
Here’s a glimpse of the 3 sessions, sharing about online ministry:

- At IED@SG 2010…

This is the 2nd year that we have organised this event in conjunction with Internet Evangelism Day on the last weekend of April. Different churches, ministries and organisations were represented even in the smaller turnout this time. There was great interaction during (the catered) lunch together and when we got into “action circles” for small group sharing.

As a result from this, a few of us have met to brainstorm ideas for our church websites and/or Facebook pages, with the goal of  reaching out  beyond the church. Please pray for wisdom, vision and resonance, as we develop and try out ways to use new media.

- At SOLEAD (School of Leadership)…

This is the 1st time an e-mentoring session has been conducted for our new staff training, Solead. The class was very attentive and a few of them commented that they found it interesting. During the training, there was a “hands-on” section and the 9 of them started responding to actual mails, beginning a 10-week challenge as e-mentors.

One question in the reply templates asks the visitor how he/she actually found the website. Here are replies from some contacts:

“When I was updating my Friendster site I saw a message above my profile telling about God. I click it and I found your site. I prayed and things just turn out amazingly!”

“Actually I was just browsing my mobile since I was connected to wi-fi in our house. Then as I was browsing I just noticed your website on the top. So I don’t hesitate to open and read.”

“I saw the banner at www.dictionary.com, so I click to check it out.”

I am constantly amazed how God is prompting people,  to “stumble” on our websites!  He prepares hearts to be willing, and ready to send in a response. This is also a testimony of the “rise” of the mobile sites where people are accessing the internet from their smart phones. Praise God for the wonderful work He is doing!

- At LENG KWANG BAPTIST…

Since the beginning of the year, I have been exploring the “Page” and “Group” functions of Facebook, (this was the intended 2nd “segment”, which could have been entitled “New Page, New Group” ). It was to see how to help my church have an online presence, in the (waiting) “absence” of a church website.

I had the opportunity to share more about this and my e-mentoring ministry in church to fellow LKers (I have same initials and similar-sounding name as my church… ).  It is my desire to see greater awareness and participation, to explore and use these platforms as a natural extension of living life and being a witness.

From Mid Year on… the mails keep coming!

It is a joy to see God continue to work in people’s hearts through the ministry of e-mentoring. There were 2 days in the month of May when more than 30 mails were received within one day!
Here are some actual comments just in the past couple of months:

“Is there really a God?”

“I love God. I want to make changes to my life.”

“I wish not to commit more sins because I can’t follow Jesus anymore if I commit sins, right?”

“My parents forbid me to go to church and said that I can only choose my religion when I’m 18 so I was wondering how do I pray at home?”

“I want to accept Christ but do not know how? I read the bible but when I attend church, I do not have the courage to step forward when they announced to welcome new comers. I supposed I have not know more about Jesus yet.”

Yes… the mails keep coming and the need for online missionaries increases proportionately. Would you like to prayerfully consider coming alongside and volunteering as an e-mentor?

I would love to hear from you!

Blessings,
Lay Kuan

“You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.”
Psalm 40:5 ESV

>>> Download the PDF version of this page: PurpleClick Jul’10

Without His tears, there is no comfort
Without His death, there is no life
Without His blood, there is no pardon
Without His cross, there is no crown

Without His shame, there is no glory
Without His grief, there is no joy
Without His stripes, there is no healing
Without His cross, there is no crown

Lamb of God, You bring salvation
And with Your grace, our hearts are sealed
Lord, with Your tears of love, You bathed our sorrows
In Your eyes we stand revealed

Without His tears, there is no comfort
Without His death, there is no life
Without His blood, there is no pardon
Without His cross, there is no crown

Have you heard of the phrase: “The opposite of love is not hate…but indifference”?

Though love and hate are seemingly on opposite ends of a spectrum, they embody the same intensity of emotion and resolve. When we love something deeply, we would also hate something to the same degree that threatens what we love.

So does someone who has not known sadness (which is not likely if you are alive and well… haha… precisely making my point) really, really know what happiness is. We go through life’s twists and turns, and emerge, hopefully more poised for future twists and turns… and growing in our love for God and for others. It’s about being more and more like Jesus, and how He lives through us. It’s mirroring what He has been through for us to help us face life’s challenges! What a sacrifice of love!

I sang the above song “Without His Cross” with a choir on Good Friday.
I especially love these 2 lines:

- “Lord, with Your tears of love, You bathed our sorrows.”
Jesus cried too! Cry with Him, He identifies with us.
Feel His love in our times of sorrow.

- “In Your eyes we stand revealed.”
There is nothing we can hide from God.
Do not fear or hesitate in approaching Him.

Receive His healing.

“…with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me. We’ve shared, learned, prayed, and grown together.

On this final day, I simply want to pray for your story…

Lord,
Thank You being the Author of our lives.
And thank You for the woman who is reading these words.

I imagine her, leaning toward a computer screen or peering into a cell phone.
I wish I could be there with her, to wrap my arms around her in a hug of celebration and declare, “We did it!”

I’m so glad that You are there… in each moment, every word of her story.
You know what is happening now, both the happy and the hard.

So I pray You will surround her with all she needs.Write every line of her life with love, sweet Jesus. Hold her close to You when she aches, give her joy that overflows when she is happy.

In every scene, every moment be near to her heart.
And bless her story, Lord. Bless all who share it with her too.

We have just begun to see all You have in store.
We wait with anticipation to see what You will do…
and we surrender our stories to You.
Amen.

And now I’ve got some fun surprises for you as a little “thank you”!

First, I hope all of you have thought about your Story Statements. I kept trying to think of another formula to add to the one we did. But I really think it’s just about you and Jesus having a conversation to see what else might need to be said.

And after you do, I’ve got a surprise for you! I asked my friend Mandy, who is fabulous and creative (and is allowed to use a hot glue gun, unlike me), if she would design bookmarks for all of us so we can remember this journey. She will personalize one with your Story Statement!

Here’s mine…

(front & back)

So go see Mandy and find out more!

Also, this series was focused on our present and future. Many of you asked how to record your pasts so that your story could be a legacy for your children.

I shared your desire with our friends at Thomas Nelson. They’re releasing a new book called Reflections from a Mother’s Heart: Your Life Story in Your Words.

Y’all it has not even in stores yet! But because they think a lot of you, I have a copy to give you! Just leave a comment before midnight on Friday to enter. They’re also providing a giveaway on (in)courage today!

Will you help me show our appreciation by visiting their new site, Blessing and Truth?

And speaking of giveaways, I’ll announce the winner of the $50 gift certificate to DaySpring and (in)courage tomorrow when we kick off our next series, OUT of INsecurity! (We’ve done a lot of giveaways lately. Hope you don’t mind–I just love sharing!)

We began this challenge with one word and I’m going to end it with the same…

Woo-hoo!

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QUESTION:
What’s one thing you’ll take with you from this challenge?

Purpleclick:
Taking part in this challenge has reaffirmed the special and real need for women friendships.
I’m looking forward to life to life sharing in both offline and online communities, using the thoughts and insights that you have shared. Thank you Holley for… being you!

(February 18, 2010 at 02:25AM)

And yet, I stared at the ceiling the other night with many of the same questions going through my mind. What will happen next? What does God want me to do? What about…?”

In the quiet of the night, a whisper came to my heart, wrapped itself around my worries…

You don’t need to know what, you only need to know Who.

Just like that, I realized this journey wasn’t about what I imagined.

Yes, we’re to understand our past, who we are, and where God may wants us to go in the future.

Yet ultimately it’s not about us, it’s about Him.

Our role in the story is to say “yes” to what God asks of us each day.

As we do, our story unfolds as He plans…

word by word, line by line, page by page, all the way to

The End.

* Have you written your Story Statement? We’ll revisit those in the last post of the series tomorrow!

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TODAY’S QUESTION:
Catch up on anything you missed in the Rest of Your Story Challenge (click “next” at the bottom of each page).

Nope, this is about a different kind of love, a different kind of story…yours.

But let’s start with the rain first.

One day as I gathered books and stepped into the hall I saw a familiar face wearing a smile and holding an umbrella. My future husband came to walk me through the rain. And my love story came to life.

Years later, during a difficult storm in my life God used that memory to show me that He, too, wanted to walk me through the rain. And my love story came to life.

Almost half a decade of hurt and hope went by. I shared what God had done with other women. It helped heal their hearts too. And my love story came to life.

We’re made for love. And it comes whenever the divine shows up in the ordinary, whether that’s through family, friends, a cause that captures our hearts, or totally unexpected moments.

Lean in and I’ll whisper a secret…

It’s not about happily-ever-after.

It’s about eternity.

God is the Author and He is love. (Hebrews 12:2, 1 John 4:16)

That means we’re all living a love story.

And not just on Valentine’s Day but forever.

Now that’s worth celebrating!

_______________________________________

TODAY’S QUESTION:
Share a love story from your life.
(Remember, it doesn’t have to be a romantic one…just a time when your heart felt real love.)

Purpleclick:
I AM SO LOVED… by my family. Especially my dad, who just helps me know the love of the Father in such tangible ways. I cherish every moment!

(February 15, 2010 at 12:16AM)

That means some days (okay, a lot of days) my emotions try to get the best of me. So I’ve been asking God what to do with all these feelings.

As I prayed and pondered, this little sentence popped into my heart…

Emotions make great messengers and bad bosses.

Emotions aren’t sin. They’re actually really helpful. They tell us what’s going on in our stories. Even Jesus was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”

So imagine a messenger running up to you (mine has a ponytail, cute t-shirt, and a mocha for me in her hand…thought you’d like to know).

If we listen to what the messenger has to share with us, turn to our Boss and ask, “What should we do about this?” then all is well.

If we turn back to the messenger and our back to the Boss everything changes.

Our emotions speak into our stories.

The Author gets the final say.

p.s. Keep thinking about your Story Statement…we’ll get back to them soon!

_________________________________________

TODAY’S QUESTION:
What are your feelings saying? What’s true?

Purpleclick:
Tears well up easily… especially that time of the month. And they well up most of the time as I’m reading or typing during this challenge. Yes, emotions are not a bad thing… I wish people will not equate being emotional as being incoherent/not objective. I feel deeply… I can’t care less. It takes time to process, with the Author Boss and other close individuals, and I am thankful for their patience and love.

(February 15, 2010 at 12:01AM)

So when I showed up to speak at a conference for the wives of worship leaders yesterday, I vowed I would change my crazy ways.

And I felt quite calm until realizing the other speaker was Jackie Kendall, the best-selling author of Lady in Waiting.

Then I began to quietly hyperventilate because I LOVE her. I did gather my wits long enough to take in her brilliant and hilarious talk. One insight she shared smacked me across the forehead like a wet noodle. Schloop!

Jackie said part of the Greek word for contentment means “to raise a wall against.” A Scripture that has been on my heart came instantly to mind…

“Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Contentment isn’t my strong suit. Not my strong suit, dress, skirt, shirt, or tie. I have high expectations. I whine. I’ve got a stack of “if only’s” a mile high.

I viewed contentment as a barrier…something that could block my dreams.

But suddenly I saw it as just the opposite…protection for my heart.

Contentment doesn’t mean faking it, being a doormat, or becoming passive. It doesn’t mean we don’t dream or grow.

Instead it simply means our hearts choose to be satisfied with what God gives us today. Then we partner with Him to move toward what He has for us tomorrow.

(By the way, I’m really glad the Apostle Paul said, “I have learned to be content in all things” because y’all, it’s going to take this girl some practice.)

So how does this relate to our stories?

“Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (aka the source of your story).”

Like the lock on a little-girl diary, contentment keeps safe what matters most.

p.s. I did not walk into the men’s restroom this time. But right smack in the middle of my talk, in front of Jackie and everybody, I did say I hoped Jesus would say “y’all” when we got to heaven. What?!? You can’t take me anywhere.

_________________________________________

TODAY’S QUESTION:
Am I the only one who struggles with contentment? What helps?

Holley:
I have been reading, reading, reading! You girls are so brilliant, beautiful, and funny too (a shout-out to my fellow “y’all” users)! Your words really spoke to my heart in ways I needed. I know I’ll be back to read them again when I have one of those days. Love y’all!

Purpleclick:
Contentment comes with authenticity, honesty and realness with ourselves and with others. Lots of that happening here (on your blog, Holley).

I think of the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

I read (ahead) on this devotional site I frequent: The Word For Today by Bob Gass, and Feb 17th’s, titled “Seeing Yourself As God Sees You” speaks to my heart on this topic.

The verse is : “…we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV) and one of the sentences that stood out is this: “Nothing about you surprises God.”

The Master Potter is at work!

(February 11, 2010 at 10.01PM)

A Story Statement is a lot like a Mission Statement. I like the word “story” because it implies creativity and freedom as well as reminding me that God is the Author.

Whatever you call it, the purpose is the same: to bring focus and intention to our stories.

There are many ways to write a Story Statement. Let’s start with the simplest.

Think back on everything we’ve covered: Strengths, Skills, WWW. Then create a sentence with this structure…

To bring + (what) + (who) + (how)

Mine: To bring hope and encouragement to the hearts of women through words.

(You can change “bring” to another verb if it helps.)

We’ll talk about how to add more to our Story Statements later.

How we live this statement will change many times during our story.

For example, I have a pitcher that I love. I’ve used it to pour lemonade, water, and tea. I’ve used it at parties, for my husband, and with family at the holidays.

If that pitcher said, “I’m just made to pour iced tea on Saturdays” then it would only partially understand its purpose.

That pitcher might feel like a failure if I wanted to use it to serve orange juice on Sunday mornings instead. But I would be happy about it.

God calls us His “vessel.” That means we’ll express our Story Statement in various situations, amounts, and times. The words we write down aren’t meant to confine us but rather to bring focus and then set us free to be used by God however He chooses.

For example, speaking encouragement to a tired cashier is just as much living out my life story statement as writing a book that will be read by thousands.

What God wants most in our stories is our hearts. After all, It’s not about the size of the word but the meaning behind it.

Big or small, He can use it all.

____________________________________________

TODAY: Write a one sentence rough draft of your life story statement.
(Use the structure above or your own way and spend less than 5 minutes on it.)

Suzanne: (a sister who wrote earlier and had a few of us ladies responding to her post)
Hi, everyone…
It’s a little after 6:00 p.m. I direct our Children’s Ministry so, Wednesday nights are worknights for me.

To be honest, I haven’t had a chance to read through today’s post and complete my assignment.

I just needed to post a prayer request. For my heart. It is really aching right now. I just need for God to surround me with His wisdom and peace. I feel that it’s best that that’s all I say right now but I just wanted to send this out because I know you all are praying women.

Thank you. Thank you.

Grace,
Suzanne

Purpleclick:
To build/maintain strong family ties and friendships through sharing “time”, creative ways, and believing in each other.

Suzanne,
It’s 10.15am in my time zone… Prayers are 24/7!
Just to share the chorus of one of my favourite songs: “God is too wise to be mistaken, God is too good to be unkind. So when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.” The Lord Himself minister grace and peace in your innermost being. Amen.

(February 10, 2010 at 08:18PM)

Suzanne:
Natalie, LayKuan and Debbie…
Thank you for your cups of cool water. I felt like I needed the “32 oz” cups tonight!:)

LayKuan…what is the name of the song you shared? Who sings it? I love those lyrics!

Praying for you,
Suzanne

Holley:
I love reading your Story Statements! So full of you, so full of HIM.
We are praying for you, Suzanne!

Purpleclick:
Hi Suzanne,
So glad to see your post!

The title of the song is “Trust His Heart”. The 1st time I heard it was a long time ago, sung by an all-guys group called “newsong” in an album “Light Your World”. I still have the CD… and just whipped it out to have a look and a listen… sweet!

There are a few YouTube videos I found. Try this.

There are some minor changes in the words, but I like the “original” better. God bless your heart as you listen to the song sung!

Below are the full lyrics. When I looked at the copyright on the CD cover… I see Dayspring!
Holley, maybe you can dig up some history!

Trust His Heart
By Eddie Carswell & Babbie Mason
1989, Causing Change Music and Dayspring Music/BMI and Word Music.

All things work for our good
though sometimes we can’t see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what’s best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So, when your pathway grows dim,
and you just can’t see Him,
Remember He’s still on the throne.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.

He sees the Master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don’t live as those who have no hope.
All our hope is found in Him.
We walk in present knowledge,
but He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry, He’s weaving you and me
to someday be just like Him.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.

He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you

(February 11, 2010 at 10.53PM)

To start from part one,

I messed up. Again.

I sat on the back deck thinking about what a failure I’d been.

What must God think of me?

I was writing in my journal as I had been every day.

Lately, I felt like God had been impressing on me to only write good things—compliments people gave me, ways He used me, blessings in my life. I didn’t know why He wanted me to do this, but I felt compelled.

But on this morning I sat and stared at the blank page. I began to write about my mistake. I finished and looked at  black and white evidence.

Then I heard a whisper in my heart…

Will you read the rest with me on Pearl Girls?

* Pearl Girls makes a difference in the lives of women. Right now they’re providing a safe house in Chicago and helping those with AIDS in Africa.

AND you can use today to catch up on The Rest of Your Story challenge…

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10 Minute Catch Up Plan

If you haven’t yet…

1) Find your strengths. (2 minutes)

2) Do the same for your skills. (2 minutes)

3) Answer the following questions. (2 minutes each)

WHO do your strengths and skills serve? Family, friends, etc.

WHEN/WHERE do you use them? Home, church, work, etc.

WHAT is the result? Others are encouraged, God is glorified, etc.

We’ll use all of this to create your Story Statement soon!

The Israelites had a holy GPS to the Promised Land and the journey still took a long time.

Jesus knew He was called to be the Messiah but He didn’t officially begin His ministry until age 30.

Esther spent a year on beauty treatments before she even met the king (sign me up for that one!).

It’s just one little letter but know is not the same as now.

I can feel guilty when I get to a place where I better understand God’s plan or what He’s calling me to do and it hasn’t fully come into being yet. Anyone else? Let’s just kick that to the curb, ladies.

I’ve done a lot of waiting over the last five years. And what God has gently revealed to me is this, if our hearts are open and we’re saying “yes” to what He asks of us each day then we’re where we’re supposed to be.

It may not make sense. It may seem small. It may feel silly. But sometimes God just has us stay.

Beth Moore said, “Hearts entirely surrendered to God can ordinarily be trusted.” If we have yielded to Jesus and handed Him the pen but all has not come to pass in our story then it is not time yet. Or God has something else for us that we’re being prepared for now. Either way, we have done our part.

That’s what this series is about…not making something happen but getting to the point where we are open and ready.

Our role in the story is to simply place our fingers on the edge of the paper and say, “God, I am here and waiting. Turn the pages as you will. And with all I am, all I have, I will go with you.”

p.s. Have you told us how we can pray for you?

________________________________________

TODAY’S QUESTION:
What’s your heart waiting on right now?

Purpleclick:
Waiting is not idling or doing nothing.
It’s vital preparation, especially in the heart department, to be ready for God to use us when the time is right. With God, it is always “worth the wait”!

My heart is waiting in anticipation for God to work in (more) people whose hearts will resonate with mine, who will journey alongside, with me in God-sized dreams.

(February 09, 2010 at 02:24AM)