Blessed Sabbath

It's 1.20am now and I have class at 9am tomorrow. Uh but who cares, I really need to share this.
(Sorry, no pictures!)

Deng Shuo (my roommate) brought me to this ulu-fied church tucked neatly along a small street. I would never have given that door a second glance had I walked past. The church is called Victory Family Centre, and it is supposedly from Singapore. Yes, SINGAPORE. Some coincidence huh? Has anyone heard of that church before? I haven't.

The furnishings inside were really warm and cosy. And it was a small church. I liked it the instant i stepped into it.

When the service started, I was completely awed by the way these people worshipped. They were Taiwanese, Mainlanders, couple of Austrians, a Singapore couple, and some others, but the atmosphere was so worshipful, so dedicated and beautiful. You could really sense their love for God just by being there. And familiar songs like Forever, My Redeemer Lives, I Stand in Awe - all in German. Oh, there was translation into Mandarin and I actually understood. Was strange trying to interpret a familiar song's meaning while listening to it sung in another tongue.

Halfway during the service, the worship leader just called for a spontaneous expression of worship from the people, and a couple of them just expressed how they felt, like one of them said she felt God's love being so, so beautiful (I think - it was German). It was amazing.

After the pastor's sermon, which was a bit difficult to follow because it was in German, albeit with translation (hey yes i understand Mandarin) - probably hard cause he kept talking about evolution - there was an altar call for believe and rededication. It felt so familiar, I couldn't believe it. Totally different culture, totally foreign land, yet people are the same. People's needs are the same. People need to cry out to God and experience His grace and love.

I don't know why I felt this so strongly, but when Deng Shuo raised his hand to be prayed for, something clicked within me. All this while, I sorta thought of him as a reserved, eccentric fellow who likes weird songs and claims to be clean even though I thought otherwise. It was sort of a mild racist discrimination (against a mainland Chinese), and I feel ashamed of feeling that way. But it was subtle, and I didn't even realize it existed until then.

At that very moment, I saw a brother (even with his weird ways) with similar values as me, a friend who needed at his inner being help and grace from Jesus. And he's only been a Christian for 1 year. My vision (figuratively speaking) sort of cleared, and I thought less of stupid superficial things like oh, where can I travel next... which European girl is pretty... how do I spend more time with people from countries other than Asia, and more of what are the needs of the people around me, have I been kind to them in the little things everyday. It was a direct message from God, and a direct answer to my prayer a couple of days before. To find a good church and to see things with His wisdom.

Thereafter, although I only gave 3 Euros for offering (budget lah, that's SGD$6 for a first timer!), I ate quite a bit of food and ice cream cake they offered - I need to give more next time. Heh. And oh yes, there was a Singaporean couple with a toddler. Instantly connected with them, like WHEW.

I don't normally post spiritual/religious stuff, cause it's not very me - but this was so impactful for me that I just have to share it. And I hope it may strike a chord with anyone reading out there. Yes, I have a lot less things to do and am sort of on holiday, but we can receive many things if we try to listen :)

Thank You for this wonderful day. I know You had it planned. May I not forget this too quickly, and continue to open my ears everyday.

God bless everyone out there, and Gute Nacht!