Pursuing God

by | Dec 10, 2021 | Yin Yapei, • Timely Word •

Over the past few months, I have been preoccupied with work. Even though it’s an office-hour job, there have been just too many things to be done. I had to stay back almost every day trying to catch up with the demanding workload. Even after work and on weekends / those days that I took leave, I couldn’t help but think about work-related matters. Sometimes I had to continue communicating with patients, their families and other department colleagues after work or on days off. Amidst such a routine, I still tried to pray daily and still read at least one page of the Bible daily. However, time spent with God was hurried, short and kind of formalistic. Deep inside I knew that my vital connection with God had been almost cut off.

I constantly felt both physically and mentally tired and sometimes burned out. I found myself becoming task-oriented – not enjoying work and helping the patients, but just working for the sake of completing tasks. I had forgotten God’s Word which I used to keep in my heart and tried to live out. I lost joy and peace, and also felt a lack of love and compassion towards others.

However, God has continued to be patient, faithful and good to me and my household. He helped me at work, so that the things planned and coordinated for most of the patients were carried out smoothly. He gave me opportunities to pray for some of the patients and for the family members with their permission, and also during my bedtime prayer. He provided encouragement for me through my husband who has been a “hybrid” in joining both the church he had been attending before marriage and also YCKC. His desire and pursuit for God has been an encouragement and reminder to me. God also blessed me with auntie Josephine who took up the role of “Life-on-Life” guide to me for one year, and shared valuable life experiences with me. So many blessings to count and give thanks to God.

I long to serve God. But God reminded me how could I share the joy of salvation if I myself had lost such joy, and how can I love my neighbours when I couldn’t draw love and compassion from Him?

I re-recognized the importance and need of pursuing a close relationship with God intentionally. So I tried to listen to worship songs on the way to work and sing along in my heart, which helped me find joy in remembering God. And as I spent time recalling God’s love and commandments (or rather, being reminded by Him), my perspective towards work changed. I realised my work is for God, not for man; and I was reminded to love my patients for they bear the image of God and are not just tasks to be completed.

It’s not easy to draw near to God. But thanks be to God who will never leave us nor forsake us. He promises in Deuteronomy 4:29 that we can find Him when we seek Him with all our heart and soul, and He rewards those who pursue a relationship with Him (Hebrews 11:6). He is never far away.

by sister Yin Yapei

Be Thou My Vision​

by | Dec 14, 2020 | Yin Yapei, • Timely Word •

This year has been quite a challenging year for everyone, with many changes taking place. I went through some major life changes – relocating from the east of Singapore to the west, starting a new family, changing to a completely new workplace, and new roles and responsibilities at home and the workplace. In the new workplace, with an overwhelming amount of new things to learn each day, I often stayed back and went home late. On top of this, I have some friends and my in-laws to spend time with and care for on my days off. ​

It’s been physically and mentally draining. Some of the days, I became very tired and felt a bit lost – lost in the mundane routine of work and business. But I’ve been trying to stick to my daily Bible reading plan, which has helped me not lose sight of God and to be refreshed daily. ​

One day as I read 1 Peter 2:11-12, I was reminded that as God’s chosen people we are just “temporary residents and foreigners” (NLT version) in this world. Our real home is God’s kingdom. In the reflection section in my NLT study Bible, the author wrote, the Kingdom of Heaven came in a fuller sense in the person of Jesus Christ – “God with us”, and spread throughout the entire world as the Holy Spirit came to live in every believer. Our true loyalty should be to God, as citizens of heaven. While we are temporary residents here, we will forever be the people of God.​

The thought of being a citizen of God’s eternal and unshakable kingdom, and that one day all struggles and pains will come to an end, brought me great joy. ​

How then can we live as “temporary residents and foreigners” in the world and as citizens of God’s Kingdom, amidst a mundane and busy life? ​

I guess it’s really hard to find a standard answer. From my limited understanding, I reckon that the basic principle may be to learn to intentionally and constantly let Him be our vision. As we try to keep our eyes ​on Him, He helps us embrace His Kingdom principles and values, obey His Word and try to live out those principles and values.​

For example, God commands us to love one another. But there were times that I felt very hurt and angry because of other people’s words or behaviour and found it very hard to forgive and love. When I prayed for God’s help, somehow the scene of the Lord Jesus’ crucifixion would appear in my mind. This reminder of the price He paid to save me and His amazing love always humbled me and softened my heart. He helped me more quickly forgive the one who wronged me, and learn to love him/her, not holding grudges. ​

I have always loved the hymn “Be Thou my vision”. May God help us not to lose sight of Him no matter what life circumstances we face. May His Spirit continue to help us live in ways that prove we are His called and chosen people.​

May these lyrics be our prayer and reminder regularly:

Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart;​

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.​

…….​

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart​

High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.​

 ​

 By Sister Koh Yin Yapei​

EXISTENCE OF HELL

by | Dec 22, 2019 | Yin Yapei, • Timely Word •

Some years ago, I read a WeChat article about a legend, “The Well to Hell”. The legend purportedly holds that in 1970, in an unnamed place in Siberia, a team of Russian engineers, drilled a hole that was 14.4 kilometres deep before breaking through to a cavity. They lowered an extremely heat-tolerant microphone, along with other sensory equipment, into the well which was very high in temperature. The equipment recorded the tormented screams of the damned. I heard the soundtrack attached, and was greatly troubled. However, I was unsure if this legend was true, so I did not share it with others. As I searched the internet again, it confirmed to be a hoax.

 But hell does exist, and as the Bible describes, it is much more horrible. On another occasion, I read about the book “Beyond Death’s Door” written by an American Cardiologist named Maurice Rawlings. He was an atheist, but after hearing many of his patients, who survived clinical deaths recount their experience of either being in heaven or hell, he then became a devout Christian.

 In the account of Luke 16:19-31, it mentioned the rich man calling out to Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water to cool the rich man’s tongue, for he was in anguish in the flames of hell. So sometimes, when I feel very thirsty, I think of the extreme thirst the non-believers would experience if they die without Jesus.

Besides, while working in the hospital I have seen the death of many patients and the separation from their loved ones more often than others. Through all these encounters, God has put a huge burden for the unsaved in my heart. So, I have been praying for the salvation of my parents and my brother almost daily. I cannot bear the thought of seeing them go to hell and suffering horribly for eternity. I thank God that my mother received Jesus in 2016 (even though the strengthening of her faith in God is another daily prayer and challenge). I am holding onto God’s promise for me in Acts 16:31. I have also been praying for my relatives’ salvation, and have tried to share the Gospel with them whenever I return to my hometown yearly.

In my workplace, God had also given me the opportunities, courage, wisdom and empowerment to share the Gospel with my patients and colleagues. I have my regrets and failures, but I am learning to surrender it all to God, and do my part in His plan. We are not the saviours of the world, only God is. Hell is a reality and God is a loving Father who is longing for the return of His prodigal sons and daughters. Christ has already reconciled us to Himself and has given us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18), and God “is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Let us examine ourselves, we all know the Father’s heart. But our passion for God’s Kingdom and compassion for the lost could be hindered by our preoccupation with our addictions (e.g. TV dramas/games/novels) or stubborn sins (e.g. self-centeredness/ jealousy/ comparison/ complaining/ ungratefulness) and more. May the Holy Spirit help us examine the way we live, and help us “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and run the race with endurance” (Hebrews 12:1).

By Yin Yapei (YCKC Bulletin 22 December 2019)