Be Available for the Unexpected

I love my own space when I travel especially on long-haul flights, actually on any flight. The main reason for this is my pretty hectic schedule. The moment I board the plane I am already exhausted, need my own space to rest, sleep, zone out and enjoy the flight.

On 25^th of October, my wife (Colleen) and I boarded a flight from Bali, Indonesia to Singapore. I followed my routine by getting comfortable on my seat - blanket over my legs, my head on the headrest and pillow on my lap. It wasn't long, after takeoff, I dropped off peacefully. No, not from alcohol, but from few hours’ sleep I had during the conference due to late nights and early mornings.

After about 30-minute power nap, I was wide awake, ready to enjoy the great on-board cuisine of Singapore Airlines.  As we were about to eat, I noticed the lady on my left bow her head and pray.  I turned to Colleen and said "I think she is a Christian" then wondered if she attended our conference.  I didn't recognise her from the conference of over 300 delegates from the nations of Asia and Oceania.  I turned to her and asked what she was doing in Bali.

Well, the remainder of the flight was truly amazing and very special as Tina (from Singapore) started to share a little about her life, her family and her career.  As she shared her stories - things that she was struggling with and what she is trusting God for in her life, we both realised that this was a ‘God moment’. God's timing is always perfect, in a right place, right time with the right people.  It was truly a divine appointment and a divine connection.  

Colleen and I had wonderful time encouraging and speaking the word of the Lord to Tina. We both know that the Bible says, "The truth of God's word sets people free”.  After speaking and sharing, her countenance begins to change.

Tina told us that when she saw that her seat was next to ours, she felt that there was 'something special' about us.  Maybe it was my 'white hair' or my sleepy look on my face... ha ha. Tina’s colleague came and offered a seat with her; however, she declined as she 'sensed' that she needed to be with us.  I am truly amazed how God orchestrates things. Amazing.

Before the plane landed in Singapore, I asked Tina if I could pray for her. With eyes closed, I began to pray and minister to this special woman of God.  With tears streaming down her face, the Holy Spirit ministered in a powerful and special way, speaking words of encouragement and allowing God to minister prophetically as well.    

As we disembarked, Colleen and I gave Tina a big hug. We felt that this was truly a 'God moment’, a real special moment with an amazing woman.  Thank you Tina, may God richly bless you.

Be available for the unexpected 

There are so many opportunities to make a difference and to add value to people's lives.  #bwlife

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Activate The Gifts In You

Being a very practical person when reading and trying to understand the spiritual truths in the Bible, the following two passages of scripture have become very real, powerful and profound in practical application.
   
Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 20:28

"... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Three Words - Love, Love and Serve  

 

The second LOVE and SERVE is a result of the first LOVE.  As we love God with our heart, soul and mind, with our entire being, this will result in an overflowing desire to love and serve people, in God's way and only His way.

 

How do we truly love and serve people in God's way?  How can we take that abundance and overwhelming love that God gave us, to practical love and serve people around us? The key is to activate the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit has deposited in each one of us. How do we love people?  Activate the spirituals gifts and use them.  How do we serve people?  Activate the spiritual gifts and use them.  The Holy Spirit has given us gifts not only to be used in the church but in everyday life.   

The key is to activate the gifts.  To activate means to put into action.  If you don't use the gifts God has given you, they will lie dormant.  Once activated, you will discover that the gifts will grow, develop and God will keep pouring into your life.

Let me give you one example i.e. the gift of prophecy.  Prophecy means to encourage, to edify or to build someone up. How do we do that?  We do that with words.  We all need to be encouraged every day. Find an opportunity today to activate the gift of prophecy. Encourage your friends, your colleagues or your family with words that are uplifting, that are positive, that builds them up and makes them feel worthy.  

It is one of the most exciting experiences you will ever have when you love and serve someone by activating the spiritual gifts in you.  Last week I had a wonderful opportunity to activate the gift of encouragement and through a young lady. This was her reply a little later on that day, "Talking to you earlier gave me a spiritual boost again. Your aura and your words really made an impact. I know I still need more of that. I hope to see you soon and be able to speak to you again and hear you talk."

Let's make the world a better place by making a difference in people's lives by activating the spiritual gifts that God has entrusted to us.

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You Can Make A Difference

I started this blog yesterday and entitled it with "You can make a difference". Then got caught in meetings for the rest of the day.  It so happened that what I wanted to write about, I had it experienced that gives this blog much more meaning and impact.

If we continue to expose ourselves to events of the world, it can be quite disheartening and somewhat morbid.  Read about what's happening in Egypt, floods in China, school children dying in India because of food poisoning, people being murdered in Syria, North Korea demanding that their ship be released etc.  If we subject ourselves daily to these, it does affects us. Sometimes the effects can be felt in our lives.  Sometimes it manifests as fear, depression and it can immobilise us that we withdraw into our own cave for safety.

But this blog is about 'you can make a difference'.  No matter who you are, you can make a difference. If you are alive today, you can make a difference. If you are breathing, you can make a difference.  It's a choice we make "daily" to make a positive difference in people's lives - by adding value, moving people forward and by the very words we speak. 

Let me share my story about what happened yesterday.

After a couple of meetings, I spent the rest of the afternoon at Coffee Bean Greenbelt, wrote my blog and responded to few emails.  Upon entering Coffee Bean, I noticed few young professionals to my left - they smiled at me. Then, I ordered my double chocolate ice coffee and found a seat in the corner to start my blog.  After a few minutes, I noticed that they kept looking at me... not sure if they have ever seen a foreigner before but I tried to focus with what I was doing.

After a while I noticed one of the young ladies making her way over to my table, started a conversation and was asked if I could share my table with her. She wanted to know if I wanted to buy property in Manila. They are Sales Consultants for a company in Manila. After telling her that I wasn't interested in purchasing a property, I got to ask her questions about her life. This was truly a God moment.  She was so inspired by our conversation that she returned to her friends and about 15 minutes later, two friends came over to talk to me. Their opening line was "my friend's life has so changed, we want to talk to you". 

The first young lady emailed me last night and this is what she said "I'm the one you met earlier at Coffee Bean. I would just like to share that just by meeting you and speaking to you for a few minutes really made an impact in my life. You somehow uplifted my spirit again. 

I remember mentioning to you earlier that I've been stuck in a rut for quite some time now and just the other day I really was asking for guidance from the Lord. I asked him to show me any signs or point it out to me that there's more to all the bad things that I've been experiencing lately and I can get through this no matter how hard it gets. You see, I'm used to feeling so low. It happens to me quite often.. I really prayed for guidance this time and its amazing that I met you! What are the odds, right?! Its amazing how it happened. I never expected it. 

Talking to you earlier gave me a spiritual boost again. Your aura and your words really made an impact. I know I still need more of that. I hope to see you soon and be able to speak to you again and hear you talk. You are amazing. I hope to be the same for everyone in the near future. Thank you, Bernhard."

I am looking forward to meeting them next week with their friends. 

We can all make a difference by making ourselves available to people.  Listen, inspire and motivate people in their calling and destiny.  Let the words that leaves your mouth make a positive impact and bring change to the amazing people around us.  My challenge to you today is to make a positive difference to your sphere of influence. Find one person to believe in. Find one person to encourage. Find one person to motivate and inspire.  

You can make a difference!

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