God is calling out to the prodigal children, come back!
I am just so amazed by how God moves, having received confirmation after confirmation in the last few weeks!
Truly, we are entering into a season of the prodigal son. When His children who have left the church or back-slided or have avoided God for whatever reasons, are being called to come back to church. But aren't backsliders always being called back to church? Yes, that is true, but this time, it will be a mighty move, where God Himself is reaching out to His lost children, to call them back into His house.
The way I got in touch with W, an ex cell group member, is really so random and people will say it is just a coincidence, but I really feel that it is not by chance or coincidence, but it is a God incident.
My friend's facebook was dormant for awhile, and suddenly a few days ago, I got a strange message from her on facebook messenger. I wondered why she would message me after so many years, so I WhatsApp her to check if she really did message me on facebook. Turns out that her account was hacked, so I helped her report and eventually she got her account back. Anyway long story short, we decided to catch up over lunch, and we did meet up, after almost a decade.
Now, my friend W used to be CG helper alongside me and another 2 CG friends, back in Jurong West days. We were never really very close, but we worked together and went through discipleship together, under our CGL around early 2000s. Since she left church around 2008, we did not really keep in touch except for occasion comments on social media, so it was strange that we suddenly felt the need to reconnect.
During lunch, W suddenly confided in me that she had just went through a divorce and won sole custody of her daughter. I was shocked beyond words, but I realised that God set up this appointment for a reason. As I listened to her story, I felt prompted to share my experience as well. As I shared, I could see the tears swell up in her eyes, and I too started to tear a litte. But what was really amazing is that after sharing our stories, W suddenly said that she felt God calling her to come back to Him!
I didn't even have to ask if she was open to come back to church, she just told me, God spoke to her and told her to go back to church! Not only that, she mentioned that ever since she left church, she is still in contact with a couple of our ex cell group members, and they meet up 2-3 times a year, and one of the guys, D, also mentioned to her recently that he felt that God is calling him to go back to church, and specifically, CHC!
After that, I told her that actually I have felt that this is a season for the prodigal sons and daughters to come back to God, and not just W, I have suddenly through various seemingly random ways, managed to get in touch with ex CG members and ex church members who have left God and left church many years ago, and God asked me to tell them, it is time to come home.
We could feel the presence of God right there, at the cramped table in the crowded Tim Ho Wan. It's like suddenly I could see her eyes light up, it is not just her feeling, or my feeling, it was a confirmation from the Father God himself.
Thinking back, I thought I was an idiot, why didn't I just say the sinner's prayer with her right there and then? But perhaps, it wasn't the right time, as W felt very scared to go back to church. She said it is almost like going back to her ex-husband many years after the divorce, the pain and bad memories of why she left still linger.
I replied, in a way, she is not wrong, going back to God is a bit similar to going back to her ex, but it is also different, because God is and has always been, her first love, and also that God first loved us.
Nonetheless, this is another confirmation that I'm walking on the right track, that indeed God is calling His children home. Now, the next person I need to meet up with is F, whom I met 2 weeks ago through a mutual friend's birthday BBQ! Again, what a coincidence, or is it a God incident! :)
Father I pray that You continue to speak to all Your children intimately, soften their hears, melt the cold, hardened hearts with Your passion and fire of God, so that when it is the right time, I can bring them back to church, whether is it the church anniversary or Christmas or even simple cell group, Father I pray for all the backsliders to slide back to You, to enter into Your love and Your kingdom once again.
John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
Father, draw all men back to You, bring them back into Your house, where they may serve You with joy once again! Use me as Your vessel to bring in the last harvest in the last days! In Jesus name I pray, amen!
Truly, we are entering into a season of the prodigal son. When His children who have left the church or back-slided or have avoided God for whatever reasons, are being called to come back to church. But aren't backsliders always being called back to church? Yes, that is true, but this time, it will be a mighty move, where God Himself is reaching out to His lost children, to call them back into His house.
The way I got in touch with W, an ex cell group member, is really so random and people will say it is just a coincidence, but I really feel that it is not by chance or coincidence, but it is a God incident.
My friend's facebook was dormant for awhile, and suddenly a few days ago, I got a strange message from her on facebook messenger. I wondered why she would message me after so many years, so I WhatsApp her to check if she really did message me on facebook. Turns out that her account was hacked, so I helped her report and eventually she got her account back. Anyway long story short, we decided to catch up over lunch, and we did meet up, after almost a decade.
Now, my friend W used to be CG helper alongside me and another 2 CG friends, back in Jurong West days. We were never really very close, but we worked together and went through discipleship together, under our CGL around early 2000s. Since she left church around 2008, we did not really keep in touch except for occasion comments on social media, so it was strange that we suddenly felt the need to reconnect.
During lunch, W suddenly confided in me that she had just went through a divorce and won sole custody of her daughter. I was shocked beyond words, but I realised that God set up this appointment for a reason. As I listened to her story, I felt prompted to share my experience as well. As I shared, I could see the tears swell up in her eyes, and I too started to tear a litte. But what was really amazing is that after sharing our stories, W suddenly said that she felt God calling her to come back to Him!
I didn't even have to ask if she was open to come back to church, she just told me, God spoke to her and told her to go back to church! Not only that, she mentioned that ever since she left church, she is still in contact with a couple of our ex cell group members, and they meet up 2-3 times a year, and one of the guys, D, also mentioned to her recently that he felt that God is calling him to go back to church, and specifically, CHC!
After that, I told her that actually I have felt that this is a season for the prodigal sons and daughters to come back to God, and not just W, I have suddenly through various seemingly random ways, managed to get in touch with ex CG members and ex church members who have left God and left church many years ago, and God asked me to tell them, it is time to come home.
We could feel the presence of God right there, at the cramped table in the crowded Tim Ho Wan. It's like suddenly I could see her eyes light up, it is not just her feeling, or my feeling, it was a confirmation from the Father God himself.
Thinking back, I thought I was an idiot, why didn't I just say the sinner's prayer with her right there and then? But perhaps, it wasn't the right time, as W felt very scared to go back to church. She said it is almost like going back to her ex-husband many years after the divorce, the pain and bad memories of why she left still linger.
I replied, in a way, she is not wrong, going back to God is a bit similar to going back to her ex, but it is also different, because God is and has always been, her first love, and also that God first loved us.
Nonetheless, this is another confirmation that I'm walking on the right track, that indeed God is calling His children home. Now, the next person I need to meet up with is F, whom I met 2 weeks ago through a mutual friend's birthday BBQ! Again, what a coincidence, or is it a God incident! :)
Father I pray that You continue to speak to all Your children intimately, soften their hears, melt the cold, hardened hearts with Your passion and fire of God, so that when it is the right time, I can bring them back to church, whether is it the church anniversary or Christmas or even simple cell group, Father I pray for all the backsliders to slide back to You, to enter into Your love and Your kingdom once again.
John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
Father, draw all men back to You, bring them back into Your house, where they may serve You with joy once again! Use me as Your vessel to bring in the last harvest in the last days! In Jesus name I pray, amen!
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