Blessed 2015 to one and all!
You’ve probably made your plans. Your calendar is already full. But before you dash out to handle the 1,001 items on your to-do list for the new year, STOP! Yes, I am very aware that everything seems urgent and important. But amidst the many things that are vying for your attention, have you considered the ONE THING of utmost significance?
That was the focus I felt to bring to my family as we gathered on the first morning of 2015: ONE THING. Drawing from Psalm 27:4-5, Luke 10:41-42 and Phil 3:13-14, we explored the common thread that held these passages together:
With so many things to attend to as king, David declared, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” Although Martha meant well, busying over many things, Jesus told her that Mary had chosen to spend time with Him and to hear His Word, the one thing that was good and needed. Regardless his achievements and accomplishments, only one thing had Paul’s pre-occupation: knowing and gaining Christ that he might win the prize!
This is a needful reminder for believers who live in a very fast-paced society where there is an over-emphasis on multi-tasking and productivity [Read: I Not Busy].Our importance is often defined by the numbers of things we do and by how tight our schedules are; so tight that God only features as an afterthought or is merely brought in to endorse and bless our plans. And where ministry is concerned, it is all too easy to think we are doing many things for the Kingdom and yet miss the King. Ouch!
2015 will indeed be exciting for Archippus Awakening as we will introduce some fresh initiatives after a year of baby steps. For starters, I am starting an expository journey entitled “KINGDOM101” that we may know the King, embrace His Kingdom and receive our assignments. There will be a Special Introductory Session on Wednesday, 4 February, 7:30pm before the main series starts in March. Click here for more details. As I prepare to teach this series, I humbly covet your prayers, recognising the immense responsibility I carry as a teacher of the Word. Thank you.
Also, note the dates of 6 & 7 March. Discussions are underway with Kingdom partners to co-organise the next Awakening Event. “Jubilee Gospel: Declaring the Favourable Year of the Lord” will be a very timely conference held in conjunction with SG50, featuring Dr Kim Tan and Pastor Peter Tsukahira. More information very soon, so watch this space!
After sharing “Building Marriages on the Rock” at Full Gospel Assembly in Nov 2014, I have been given another opportunity to conduct this as a one-day seminar at Toa Payoh Methodist Church on Saturday, 14 February 2015, Valentine’s Day. Please feel free to share this with your contacts so that more marriages can be blessed and built up on Jesus Christ. For more information and registration, please contact TPMC or visit their website.
With my ministry schedule and Archippus Awakening’s focus on knowing and fulfilling our God-given kingdom assignments, it is all too easy to fall into the same do-do-do trap. Whilst I am very clear of my assignment and tasks for the new year, I must not lose sight of the one thing that makes all the difference – an intimate relationship with the Lord.
This applies to our family life as well. As the children grow, there are more and more things to look into. This year, we will officially have three teenagers in David, Sarah and Aaron! Esther will sit for the PSLE and Ruth, her P4 exams. And we are still praying for breakthrough in Deborah’s and Anna’s eczema conditions. Our family and homeschooling dynamics keep changing as we discover each child’s needs and inclinations. Talk about many things! Oh how we need to remember the one thing!
What’s more, our family is also trekking through another major transition. Our season with Covenant Vision has drawn to a close and we are presently seeking the Lord for the next community of worship. With the uncertainty and adjustments up ahead, all the more we must lay hold of the one thing that truly matters: time in the Lord’s presence even as we seek His direction. Please pray with us concerning this. Thank you.
Dear friends, this is my prayer for you too in the new year. Do not be so distracted by the many things in your life that you miss the one thing leads to abundant life. Where the work of the ministry is concerned, do not be consumed by Christian activity that you miss your kingdom assignment. The rich young man in Mark 10:17-22 thought he did everything as required by the religious system and yet was told by the Lord that he still lacked one thing. When asked to choose that one thing – to follow and serve Jesus as a disciple – over his many things, the young man left forlorn. Yes, it is deceptively easier to do Christian stuff than to follow Jesus and fulfil His purposes. This year, let us not be doing a hundred things and miss the one thing the Lord has prepared for us.
On this note, allow me to wish one and all a blessed new year again! Thank you for journeying with us through 2014 and we look forward to your continued partnership in 2015.
In His Name and for His Glory!
One Day At A Time 