21st Nov – had good meeting in Singapore Saturday church and then went to Logos Singapore retreat. Had good sessions with those who came that night.
22nd Nov – some of the students prayed for the greater part of the night (part all night) while I took my rest. Had a good walk at the beach (always loved the beach) and more fellowship and Q & A before end of the retreat time. Sis Wai Yin and team did a good job of the whole organization together with COG members.
23rd Nov – Will be having a good week with my family (especially son and daughter whom we see less often than we get to see all the church members from COG). Look forward to a good family week break in Singapore. My son and daughter will get to meet their grandma whom they have not seen for over a decade and I will meet up with some of my brothers and sisters from my side of the family (will meet up with my wife’s side sometime next year). It will be a good week in the Lord with family and loved ones.
The Bible speaks much regarding families serving the Lord together. We have Moses, Aaron and Miriam; Noah and his imperfect family; Jacob, later Israel, and his very large family; and in the New Testament we have James and John with Peter and Andrew; the half brother of Jesus became a pillar in the church and Mary, Jesus’ mother, became another pillar in the early church, too. It is good and right for families to serve the Lord together. Although each family member must discover their place in the Lord and learn to respect each other’s separate and unique call, there can be wonderful harmony when all the flesh and blood family love the Lord and serve God together in one church. One must be careful not to create a dynasty for it is God who give gifts to the church and God’s system is never based on physical bloodlines but just spiritual lines of His calling. One must always avoid favouritism caused by flesh and blood and instead adopt a meritocracy by which every one is qualified only by the Lord Himself. Always the heart is more important than flesh and blood. Once these basic lines of understanding that meritocracy is the way and that spiritual relationships can surpass natural relationships, then family lines will fall into its natural place and become a blessing rather than a hindrance to the work of the Lord. It is important to learn to relate to our own natural family for it is through such that we practice and apply the principles of the Bible. For some families it is easy while for others it is harder because of the blood ties but whatever it is, it is our responsibility to not neglect our parents or loveds ones within the range of our inherited responsibility to care for them.
Papa God, we pray for all our spiritual family. We pray for all their spiritual and flesh and blood family relationships. Extend the power of your love to each one of them, our loved ones, freinds and partners in the ministry and students and members of Your body in Jesus Name. May each one find the ease to walk in the love of Christ both to the physical and spiritual famil