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We are in God's hands. He celebrates our life.

3/31/2020

I want to share something very personal with you today. Forty years ago today, I gave birth to my first born, Amy Elizabeth Perozich. Today, I celebrate what would have been her 40th Birthday. Celebrate? Yes, I celebrate the gift she was to me for sixteen days, not nearly long enough. However, she changed my life forever. Even today, I wonder how her sisters and her would have gotten a long. What would have she done with her life. Would I have more grandchildren from her and her husband. We never forget those we love, especially if they are our own children. We never forget them. We never cease wanting them to be with us. This is how God feels.

What would I give to have her here today? I would give all I have except the lives of those I love. God went beyond that. God's love is greater. God gave His only Son. Why? Because we were lost. We were dead. We were dead in our sins. It was the only way God could save us. It is the only way we are saved even today. God has us in the palm of His hands. He knows where we are. God is in control. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He will save us. He has a plan for each one of us.

Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb..."

So, what do we do? We do our part as 2 Corinthians 7:14 tells us, "...humble ourselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Hind sight is 20/20. In this year of 2020 it's not a year to see or vision as some say. No. It is a year to speak. This is the year to say what God is saying and what He wants us to say. Our words carry weight.

ACTION STEP: Begin to speak to this virus to die and for the people of God to stand up and take their place and take authority that Jesus died for them to receive. Jesus is the name above all names. Every knee must bow, including the knee of COVID 19. We need to join our voices and pray protection over all those in the medical field, the nursing homes, retirement facilities, the elderly, the compromised in their health.

God we join our voices and pray for the safety of our president and our leaders, and those in authority.

Your part and my part in stopping this virus is using our authority and standing together in unity with one voice and one heart. Jesus has already paid the price for our healing. Let's stand and receive it--and refuse to let it go.

Here is a great YouTube to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j4i70Mxrkw

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WHEN GOD CHANGES Your PLANS

3/30/2020

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We are all in a state of "Changed Plans." No one would have ever expected our lives to be as they are. Of course the Prophets were warned as in the days of old to prepare. Apostles were urging their congregations and the world that they needed to get their houses in order, purchase food, save the lost and be ready to be confined to their homes. However, few listened and even fewer heard.

Many had their own good ideas. The problem is good ideas are not always "God ideas." We see this in the life of the apostle Paul: "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them" (Acts 16:6-7).

When we are sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit we are not taken back or surprised by the events of the day. When we are stopped in our tracks from going in one direction, or doing things one way--God can give us another way, or even make a way where there seems to be no way. the problem is--it may not be good feeling, fun or what we want.

Just as it happened with Paul, a sincere disciple of Christ, it can happen with all of us. We may want to go certain places and do certain things, expecting God to go with us. However, sometimes the pathways we choose for our lives during a particular season may not actually be the pathway of God for us. We may not like the choices others make for us. But, the Word of God tells us to abide by the laws of the land or those in authority. "Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow." (Romans 13:1-2)

Paul had a vision of a man appealing to him to come to Macedonia and help them. (Acts16:9). "Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them." (Acts16:10).

So, although Paul had had different plans, he and his company headed off to Macedonia. On the way they ministered to a group of women meeting for prayer. One of them was an influential part of the community and "she and her household were baptized" (Acts16:15).

Next, they encountered a demon-possessed slave girl and when she was delivered, her masters seized Paul and Silas and had them beaten and thrown into prison (Acts16:22).

This serves as a reminder that we have no guarantee that we will get a pass through trials and trouble. In fact, sometimes obeying the will of God will actually get us into trouble. But Gods plans are always far superior to our own.

In prison, Paul and Silas sang praises to the Lord and witnessed to the jailer, who in turn was transformed and baptized along with his entire family (Acts16:33). And just think, all this started with a man appearing to Paul when he was praying at night, saying, "Come and help us."

The power of God is always found where the Spirit leads you. But, the Spirit of God will never lead you contrary to the Word of God. God does not contradict Himself. What He says, He means. We can always obey God and those in authority, because the Word of God will not contradict itself. God is not confused. God is not wishy washy. God is hot or cold, black or white and never grey.

When God wants to do something, nothing or no one can stop Him. We can pray, but never underestimate the power of God. He can make a road through a sea, a dead man live and a donkey talk.

ACTION STEP: Just because we are quarantined does not mean the work and will of God stops. God is still speaking. There is still time to do what God would have us to do. There are still lost people who can't hear the voice of God. There are still prayers needed for the sick, the lost and the bound. You may not physically be able to go somewhere, or do something, but the Spirit of God is not quarantined. Our prayers are not bound. God is still a Way-maker, Miracle Worker, Light in the Darkness!

Today, I implore you to have the courage to say, "Lord, I do not want to live simply for my will. What would you have me do? Where do you want me to go? Let your will be done in my life. Teach me how to pray Your perfect will." Then watch God do miracles!

Be sure to (LIKE) or (SHARE), or leave a reply. Let me know you are reading. You are my only way of knowing I am not wasting my time. Perhaps, God is wanting me to go in a different direction?

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Are we living in the last days?

3/27/2020

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Most people are living with an ear to the news--but only American news. When I ask people about the locust in Africa or the earthquakes in Utah, Croatia and Hawaii, they look at me like I'm from another planet. Locusts the size of cities are devouring the crops and fields of Northern Africa and moving into Ethiopia, Egypt and Yemen. Locusts number 40 million per square km in some parts of East Africa. The swarms have been so bad that planes have been severely damaged and even grounded. (https://www.sciencealert.com/africa-is-having-its-worst-locust-swarm-in-decades-and-the-destructive-potential-is-unprecedented)

2 Timothy 3:1-13 (KJV)
3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

As I ran around my local neighborhood I noticed people mowing grass, putting on a new roof, digging up the ground to put in an in-ground pool and installing generators. Kids are playing and driveways and sidewalks are covered in a rainbow of colored chalk drawings. I ask myself does anybody really know what is happening here? Are these days of the COVID19 just an early spring break for parents as well as children? Are we aware of the signs of the times? Is anyone praying and seeking the face of God--while we face a questionable tomorrow? I know we are in a transition? I want to stand on a mountain top and yes, "Get your house in order! Get in the house! A death angel is passing over!" I wonder how many know the story of the blood above the doors? How many know that when the death angel saw the blood it passed over? The catch? The people had to stay inside the house. I am not saying we can't leave our physical houses--but we have to remain within the household of faith--the church; under a pastor who cares for the condition of our soul.

We don't hear about it but there have been 35 earthquakes in the last 30 days as of today that measured >5.5 magnitude. (From Volcano Discovery web site) My pastors just got back from Croatia, the day before an earthquake hit the exact location they were staying.

God calls his church, in every generation, to live in light of this remarkable truth: nothing now stands in the way of Jesus’s return. After his perfect life, sacrificial death for us, resurrection from the grave, and ascension to heaven to pour out his Spirit on his church, the next major movement in the history of the world is the second coming of Christ.

ACTION STEP: Make sure you are right with Jesus. Then, make sure your children have an a surety of salvation. Ask them if Jesus were to come, do they know they would go to heaven? Explain what happened in Genesis and why they need a Savior. Kids aren't saved just because they grow up inside of a Christian home or go to church. No one is promised tomorrow. Tomorrow may very well not come. We have today. Let's make the most of it.

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Fear Not!

3/26/2020

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“Fear not!” is the most repeated command in the Bible.
In fact, it's been said that there are 365 “Fear nots” in the Bible — one “Fear not” for every day of the year!
Lloyd Ogilvie in Facing the Future without Fear even said there are 366 “Fear nots” in the Bible, one for every day of the year, including Leap Year!

When we read the book of Job we see his greatest fears came upon him. Fear is like a magnet drawing what we fear towards us. Faith is referred to as a shield--it deflects the fiery darts of the enemy of our life. Now more than ever we need to live with Ephesians 6:11. "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (KJV)

ACTION STEP: I am not telling you not to wash your hands or that it is okay to leave your homes. I mean during Passover they put blood on their door post and those that stayed in their homes were spared when the death angel passed over. Passover ends April 16, 2020. I am praying and believing this plague will be stayed by then. Until then, I am putting on my armor, washing my hands, obeying the laws of the land and practicing social distancing. But, I m NOT IN FEAR! I am in FAITH that "No weapon formed against me shall prosper..." Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV). Feed your faith and starve your doubts to death.

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Fear Not Series #7~Amid all the bad news in the headlines, the Good News of Jesus Christ is more relevant than ever.

3/25/2020

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Amid all the bad news in the headlines, the Good News of Jesus Christ is more relevant than ever. “The world has a virus infection that is far greater than all the viruses we’ve ever known throughout its history. That virus is sin,” said Edmund Chan, leadership mentor of Covenant Evangelical Free Church. “And with this virus, there is absolutely no immunity, no survivors, and no hope. And it infects 100 percent of all humanity. No one is spared from this.

“The world is in need of a Savior. The world is in need of salvation.”

Headlines that regularly ratchet up the local and global death counts are daily reminders of our mortality, forcing everyone to look beyond the routines of life and to consider what lies beyond.

"Memento mori;" we all will someday die, by COVID-19 or otherwise.

It is a matter of urgency that your church is able to look beyond your present difficulties and look out for opportunities to share the hope that we have in Jesus.

“We need conversations on deeper issues,” said Ben K. C. Lee, pastor of RiverLife Church. “Is the meaning of life and our time on this earth the prolonging and preservation of life for as long as possible? Is it to be occupied with temporal things: material wealth and comfort? Or is it to fulfill Jesus’ desire to see all the rooms in our Father’s house that he has prepared being filled to the brim?”

This starts with a public, visible expression of the victory and hope that we have in Jesus. There is an unprecedented opportunity to share the reason for our posture of faith amid fearful times, said Chua Chung Kai, pastor of Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

“We do not live as those without hope—that’s what the gospel is all about! But we have friends, neighbors, and family who do not know that hope. They may open up to share their fears and concerns during such crisis,” Chua told CT. “As the Old Testament prophet Daniel wrote [in Dan. 12:3], "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."

The panic is tangible. But so, too, can be the love of the church, said Chua.

ACTION STEP: “These are gospel moments. We can spread love, not fear, nor the virus. Let’s not waste this epidemic.” Be bold in your prayers. Be a leader in the day in which you live and speak life and hope! Reach out and with Good News!

PS: Step away from the stress and breathe if only for 5 minute. Yesterday, I over did it. I worked too hard. My heart got tired and so my flesh was stronger than my spirit. So, last night I gave myself a "Time-out". Then, I gave myself time with God. Today, I am in line--Spirit-Soul-Body. Don't live Soul-Body-Spirit. If you don't understand this reply here and I will share more on this with you.

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Fear Not Series #6~Love your neighbor. Good deeds will go a long way with a fearful public.

3/24/2020

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"Be the one who lights a flame of love not fear! Faith is as contagious as fear, but much more positive and purposeful." RP

Love your neighbor. Good deeds will go a long way with a fearful public.

While much of the secular world’s response to the virus has been inward-looking, driven by fear, pastors in Singapore agree that the COVID-19 situation presents a God-given chance to shine in the darkness of the moment. However, for that to happen, the church must look beyond its own concerns and awaken to the opportunity.

“Having put in place the necessary measures in the church, we realized that this crisis has presented an opportunity to help and reach the community,” said Lim Lip Yong, executive pastor of Cornerstone Community Church.

After the initial window of adjusting to the new normal, churches have begun to observe how their local community has been affected. The needs are both practical—such as education on public hygiene for the elderly—and emotional, with panic and uncertainty the prevailing mood in the weeks after the first confirmed cases surface locally.

“One of the distinct things that we wanted to affect was the atmosphere of the community,” Lim told CT. “At the onset of the outbreak, people acted in fear. In Singapore, panic buying took hold of many people. Healthcare workers were chased off public transport for fear that they had come into contact with outbreak patients. Highly discriminatory remarks were made against Chinese nationals.

Article continues below, “We can never fully remove these negative elements in society,” he said, “But what we can do is ensure that there are more positive vibes being generated than negative ones." So we sent our people out to care—to be kind, and go the extra mile to help.”

Among other efforts, his church staff and members have reached out to migrant workers—many of whom have been unable to earn a living after projects were canceled due to virus fears—and taxi drivers, whose business has been badly affected with people choosing to stay home during this period.

Similarly, Christians across Singapore have kickstarted many acts of love and kindness, including:

A song of hope written by a 12-year-old.
Blessing neighborhood cleaners.
Giving migrant workers free masks and vitamins.
Making thousands of handmade notes to encourage healthcare workers.
Organizing a blood drive to help local blood banks that run low on supplies as people avoid hospitals.

Viruses spread quickly, acknowledged Lim. “But kindness is infectious too.”
Who is hardest hit in your area? Those directly afflicted with the virus? Those whose jobs have been disrupted by fear of it? Those emotionally weary of responding to it? Many of their doors would otherwise have been closed to the church, but Christians in Singapore have found new inroads through acts of love in this time of coronavirus.

ACTION STEP: Spread kindness! Viruses spread quickly, acknowledged Lim. “But kindness is infectious too.” Who is hardest hit in your area? Those directly afflicted with the virus? Those whose jobs have been disrupted by fear of it? Those emotionally weary of responding to it?

Many of their doors would otherwise have been closed to the church, but Christians in Singapore have found new inroads through acts of love in this time of coronavirus.

Instead of focusing on what you can't do--focus on what you can do!

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Fear Not Series #5~ Expect backlash—from both outside and inside the church.

3/23/2020

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Expect backlash—from both outside and inside the church. Inflammatory comments about race and religion are banned in Singapore under the Sedition Act and the recently updated Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. However, since two coronavirus clusters formed in two churches, and negative associations have spread from the Shincheonji sect responsible for much of South Korea’s outbreak, the church at large has come under scrutiny as Christians continue to meet in relatively sizable gatherings.

The criticism is unfortunate but unavoidable; non-Christians cannot be expected to understand the tenets and teachings of our faith.

But more painful is the criticism that has come from fellow Christians with every decision their leaders have to make. Decide to suspend services, and be castigated for a lack of faith. Decide to continue to gather, and be derided as “socially irresponsible.”

If you are pastoring a church in an area where a case of COVID-19 has surfaced, prepare for unprecedented pressure from all levels: from your board to your staff to those in the pews. They will respond based on their own faith convictions and public health opinions. Be prepared to go deeper into prayer than you’ve ever gone. Be prepared for the reality that your decisions will not please everyone.

And be prepared to lose members no matter what. Churches in Singapore have reported declines in attendance of 20–30 percent, with even greater numbers opting out of elderly gatherings and children’s church.

One consolation, from the Singaporean church experience, is that you will likely be pleasantly surprised by how many of your members will step up to the plate to volunteer to serve during services or to bless the neighboring community.

Crisis shows the true character of a Christian. The anxiety around COVID-19 will allow you to really discern the spiritual state of your flock, said pastor Benny Ho of Faith Community Church in Perth, Australia, and a continuing committee member of LoveSingapore.

ACTION STEP: “If we respond to this crisis correctly, it can turn out to be a defining moment of discipleship for our nation,” said Ho. “In the face of imminent dangers, our priorities are rearranged. This is a great opportunity to have deep conversations about what we are living for. Are we merely existing, or are we truly living? Are we living for the right stuff? Are we marching to the right drumbeat? Are we governed by biblical or worldly values? Are we living for what really matters?”

What do you have to say? What do you believe? Leave your reply here. If enough people respond I will do a Blog on "Responses to the Crisis."

Be strong and of good courage!

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Fear Not Series #4~There’s no better time to up your church’s prayer game and your prayers.

3/20/2020

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"Resolve to be a solution to the problem not a stirrer of the problem."-RP

At noon every day since Valentine’s Day, the historic bells sound at St Andrew’s Cathedral in the heart of Singapore’s civic district, while phone alarms go off across the island. It’s a signal to believers that it is time to stop whatever they are doing for a moment of united prayer in the face of the COVID-19 threat.

“For such a time as this, unity is the key,” said LoveSingapore, a local prayer and church unity movement, in announcing its PraySingapore@12 initiative. “We believe in the power of prayer agreement. For such a time as this, we need every believer to arise and seek God together for Singapore. A prophetic act, just like the ringing of church bells, summoning the faithful to action when their village or town is threatened.”

In a similar move, the Assemblies of God of Singapore has called for united prayer across its churches at 7 p.m. daily, in an initiative it has dubbed COVID–19:00.

“It’s crucial that in times of crisis, the church rises up to be a standard,” said Dominic Yeo, general superintendent of Singapore and secretary of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship. “As salt and light, the church needs to stand strong in the Lord so that others can see the hope we profess.”

ACTION STEP: Stand up as a leader wherever you are. If you are a Father or Mother, Student or Teacher, Church member or Pastor--Stand up and lead in the fight against fear and the faith in an unfailing God. If you need prayer or prayer for a loved one or country leave a reply here and we will pray with and for you and your needs. Fear Not! God is in control and He loves us!

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Fear Not Series #3~There's no better time to up your church's tech game.

3/19/2020

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2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

While the Singaporean government has said an upgrade to the Red risk assessment level is “unlikely,” local churches have explored improvements to their video recording and live-streaming capabilities in preparation for a worst-case total lockdown scenario.

Seeing the need, various groups have put together websites and webinars with free advice for churches on how to switch to livestreaming.

For example, the Bible Society of Singapore partnered with ThunderQuote, a procurement-related startup founded by Christians, to launch Streams of Life, a resource center listing various livestreaming options ranked by difficulty level.

“It is a wonderful time for the ecclesia to exercise practical wisdom and explore creative methods of ministry,” the Streams of Life team states on its website.

In a similar vein, Singapore Bible College conducted an “Introduction to Instant Message Broadcast and Live Video Streaming” workshop, while digital-exploration ministry Indigitous partnered with church IT specialists to host a “So You Want to Livestream Your Church Service” webinar via the Zoom video conferencing platform.

Article continues belowChurch worship and AV teams are also navigating the music licensing challenge that livestreaming presents. Many local worship groups have explicitly granted permission for churches to play their songs on livestreams without fear of copyright or licensing issues.

Awaken Generation, founded by Calvin and Alarice Hong, was “keenly aware” of how small churches could find it difficult to afford livestreaming licenses for worship services. “Given the backdrop of things, we simply felt that it was really not the time to enforce our strict rights in collecting livestreaming communication fees,” the worship group told CT. “So it was our honor to offer these songs for use.

“They were written by and for the people of our nation, and it was our privilege to see them used as an offering as the nation rallied together to intercede and break down barriers of fear.”

Bible Study Fellowship’s 7,500 members in Singapore have kept up their weekly lectures and discussions via Zoom.

Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) chose to suspend weekly gatherings from mid-February as an act of social responsibility. “This decision was a very difficult one to make,” said senior pastor Daniel Khong. “We were constantly checking ourselves to make sure that we were not responding out of fear, and weighing out all the various considerations. But our main church building sits in the heart of a neighborhood with a population of about 46,000 people. With how dense this area is, this could potentially become a major cluster for the virus to spread.”

An unexpected result: The move to livestreaming seems to have strengthened the church community, Khong told CT.

“Many of our cell groups come together in homes to watch our service livestream. We deliberately end our livestreamed services early so that our cell groups can go out and pray over their neighborhood. Many have said they now feel a sense of responsibility for the spiritual well-being of their community, and some were even able to share the gospel with people they met.”

FCBC members are now on a journey of rethinking their understanding of church, said Khong. “The church today must be a people of purpose that are willing to go beyond the constraints of ‘place’ or ‘program.’”

ACTION STEP: Don't be one of the team members of your church, your workplace or life here on earth, that brings and speaks death; instead of life. Forge ahead to better habits of thought, performance and being! If you need prayer? Reply here. We will pray for you. Share this with someone who needs assurance.

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Fear Not #2 in Series~Be a leader in times of crisis.

3/18/2020

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“The first responsibility of the leader is to remain calm. Panic causes tunnel vision, which is terrible for decision-making. Strong leadership reminds people that God is in control of every situation and there is never a reason to panic.”

2) Be a strong leader. Your members will want guidance. “In moments of crisis, people are looking for leadership,” said Ian Toh, pastor of 3:16 Church. “The first responsibility of the leader is to remain calm. Panic causes tunnel vision, which is terrible for decision-making. Strong leadership reminds people that God is in control of every situation and there is never a reason to panic.”

Toh told CT his leadership team found their role was “to teach from the Bible, minister to and encourage those who are fearful.” The process drove them to their knees, seeking divine wisdom in an unprecedented situation.

“The biggest lesson that I have learned dealing with COVID-19 is the need to be humble as a church leader," said Toh. “There is so much that I do not know and have to learn. And that increases my desire and the need to seek the face of the Lord daily.”

As the virus continues to spread globally, church leaders around the world should be aware that their flocks are watching their shepherds intently. Signals of faithfulness will have implications long after the COVID-19 season is over.

“A senior leader once told me, ‘A leader’s action is a theological statement,’” said Rick Toh [no relation], pastor of Yio Chu Kang Chapel. “As leaders, we need to have a theological stance on all things.

ACTION STEP: We need to process our fears before God and let our actions be inspired by faith and guided by sound theology. Let not disease, or earthly decree, but doctrine guide our decisions.” God has NOT given us a spirit of Fear! If you are needing prayer or just want to share your fear? Feel free to leave a reply or prayer request here. We will join together and go to God for and with you.

PS: Today, my husband and I have been married 43 years! Happy Anniversary Babe!

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We are in God's hands. He celebrates our life.

WHEN GOD CHANGES Your PLANS

Are we living in the last days?

Fear Not!

Fear Not Series #7~Amid all the bad news in the headlines, the Good News of Jesus Christ is more relevant than ever.

Fear Not Series #6~Love your neighbor. Good deeds will go a long way with a fearful public.

Fear Not Series #5~ Expect backlash—from both outside and inside the church.

Fear Not Series #4~There’s no better time to up your church’s prayer game and your prayers.

Fear Not Series #3~There's no better time to up your church's tech game.

Fear Not #2 in Series~Be a leader in times of crisis.

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