Never For Granted

Asia Conference 2008.
Singapore Expo, 19-23 Nov 2008.
Forecasted to be fully packed...!

Over 19,000 delegates from more than 70 countries all over the world, are forecasted to flood Singapore Expo. They are coming with one single purpose in heart, to seek God and find revelations of His will that will change the course of their lives for ever.

They are coming with burning passion. They are willing to pay the price. They are willing to go the extra mile. And when I say this, I really mean they really are...

Today I was 'poked' by God, through a-very-tender-yet-awakening message I heard from our Pastor. The message is all about Asia Conference. But to me personally, through this message, God has gently reminded me of one basic-yet-long-forgotten principle: we ought not take things for granted.

Too often we complain, too often we grumble, too often we murmur. And in the next split second, we become very ungrateful people who start taking things for granted...

Our job, our relationship, our health... and maybe they are just a few examples.

In our cell group meeting this morning, my cell group leader asked me whether I would attend the first evening session of Asia conference. I replied her lightly, "Probably I wouldn't".

Things began to stirred up inside my heart as I was hearing Pastor's explanation about Asia Conference. I was pretty much startled after hearing a huge number of delegates and the great efforts they have made to be able to attend this 5 day conference. I was amazed.

At that very moment, I felt God spoke to my heart, "See, how people have been so willing to come. See, how great are efforts they have made."

And God brought my mind to ponder my words spoken 3 hours earlier to my cell group leader, "Probably I wouldn't come."

What a contrast to the people out there! I thought.

I began to realize there are things I have been taking for granted. To me, the free time I would have after office hours, the convenient transportation, plus the relatively short travelling distance from my office to the conference venue, somehow doesn't always interprete that I would come? Oh...!

I was really convicted that instead I should be thankful for everything God has given me: the free time after office hours, the convenient transportation, plus the relatively short travelling distance. My spirit responded, I said in my heart, "Lord, sorry, I have been taking this privilege to come for granted. I won't do so again."

Now I know that God has carried me back to His truth through this simple lesson. I learned that I am to be a person of gratitude, a person of thankfullness, a person full of appreciation.

So now I want to freely say, "Lord, I'm grateful for such a privilege to come and seek You in this Asia Conference 2008."

Reshape my characters and redirect the course of my life as You perfectly will.

Here I am, Lord, refine me like never before. All for Your glory.