The Power of Homeschooling

The power of homeschooling...

Pruning plants and feeding his terrapin in the morning while kids rush to schools.

People study hard and work hard to reach one end goal: retirement --- so that they can prune plants in the morning when they wake up.

My boy starts from retirement. For he is complete in Christ. Lol. #homeschooling 

P.S: On a serious note, perhaps retirement should not be your end goal in life. Life is bigger and much more than that.

Who Is Ruling The Governmental System?

Who Is Ruling The Governmental System?

I find it rather interesting whenever Christian leaders talk/preach about placing our trust in the local gahmen, for they believe that every decision is made for our good.

Because it's not Bible.

The Word does not teach you to trust in princes (Psalm 146). There is no command from God to trust in them. We are only told to pray for them (1 Tim 2:2).

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience... - Ephesians 2:1-2

The chief prince who is ruling the course of this world and the governmental system is the prince of the power of the air. There are many Scriptures that talk about it.

But none talks about trusting in them.

If we don't speak Bible from the pulpit, then it is mere human opinion that has no authority, no matter how mega your church is. It is presumptuous to call the sheep to trust the princes when our trust should be the Father.

The Under-shepherds will account for the instructions given to the sheep. For with great influence comes great responsibility.

Disclaimer: This post is not specifically written about any country, but in general.

Difference Between Praying and Hinting

Difference Between Praying and Hinting

Few days back, my son shared that he wanted something. I said, "It is not good (nor wise) for you to have it. So we won't be buying it for you.'

I added, "If you really want it, you ask Jesus on your own."

He proceeded to do it.

Earlier today, he said to me, "I feel that what I asked Jesus is going to come soon."

So I took this opportunity to teach him a principle, saying, "When you ask God to bless you with something, you do not tell anyone else. Otherwise, you are hinting others to get it for you and it is not from God."

I continued, "Neither do you tell anyone that you are praying to God for something, because that's not prayer. That's hinting. And it's not from God even if somebody blesses you with it."

"If you pray, you need to trust Him, and there is no need to tell others."

He nodded and asked, "But can I tell you and Mum?"

"Yes of course!"

There is enough of 'hinting prayers' in the Christian communities and even on the social media by Christians. For goodness' sake, this cow must be killed.

What Kind Of Environment?

What Kind Of Environment?

Few days ago, my son and I were swimming in the adult pool before he went to the children's pool at the furthest end to play with a 5-year old boy.

When he came back, he shared with me that he just played with a 5-year old boy because the latter requested.

I often take the opportunity to practise hearing God's voice. So I said to him, "Don't tell me his name. I will ask Jesus."

He replied, "Okay! (Excitedly)"

I paused, and said, "I see the letter J... James."

He answered, "Correct!"

And we had a teachable moment right at the pool where God showed Himself real to my son over and over again.

Living and demonstrating His presence as a lifestyle in front of our child creates an environment where he realises that God is real and is not bound to the four walls of a church. God is not found in a religious activity, a Sunday school or a corporate setting. He is found wanting to engage with us in our daily living. He is more relevant than mere Sundays and mid-weeks.

Recently, we were asked if my son would like to join his friend for a church camp. We declined and said, "If it's a secular camp, we would be glad to send him there with your kid, because it is easy to separate what the world teaches and what the Kingdom teaches."

"But if it's a Christian camp, we would be very careful, because we do not know what it teaches, for religion that teaches half truths would make a child confused and it is hard to unlearn what he has absorbed as a young child."

It took many years for me to unlearn religion and re-learn the Kingdom, so we would not want to put J into that kind of environment.

Christian environment does not mean that it is always good. On the other hand, secular environment does not mean that it is always bad. I believe that the key is to know how to bring God in clarity into our child's environment.

P.S: Yeah we are a weird family. That's why we chose homeschooling and made decisions that are in the minority.

#fathering101

Experiencing His Providence and Abundance

Heb 13:5 is in the context of finances. We often quote "I will never leave you nor forsake you", but we forget that He is referring (in this passage) to the needs of this world. While you are not of the world, you are in the world and would need what the Gentiles need.

However, if we pursue the wrong priority, we will definitely walk out of the Kingdom life.

His presence is the guarantee and the reminder of His promise in Heb 13:5. His presence is the assurance of His unfailing supply. 

The spirit of greed (wanting more money) disqualifies you from experiencing His presence.

But the spirit of contentment qualifies you to acknowledge His presence and receive His divine providence.

Bible knowledge does not equate to Kingdom living. It takes deliberate decision to act on the Word in order to experience His life more abundantly.

Is Earning Well Wrong?

Is Earning Well Wrong?

I was asked, "Wilson, is it wrong to desire to do well and earn more money to provide for our family?"

Sharing my five-cent worth...

The desire to provide for our family is godly, since God is Jehovah Jireh who provides. But the desire to earn more money (and do well) will become a powerful force of distraction for a believer to walk in the Kingdom.

In my industry, I haven't encountered a successful top Christian agent who walks in the Kingdom. At least among my limited network.

There is a reason why Jesus said that we cannot serve both God and Mammon. It is impossible to have both.

There is a reason why Matthew 6:33 exists and we are told to seek first His Kingdom.

There is a reason why the Word says that you cannot sow two kinds of seed in your field.

When our focus is on earning well, the Kingdom will take a back seat. While it is good to be thankful to God, testifying that God helps us to earn alot of money has little or no impact in the Kingdom. Why? Non-believers are also earning alot of money without God.

But what we can ask ourselves is this... 

"In the midst of earning well, how much impact have I done for the Kingdom?" 

"How much Kingdom-reality have I reflected in the midst of earning well?"

"How much I have given away to bless others in proportion to what I have earned?"

I am not a top-earner. I don't focus on earning alot of money. I wish I can, so that I can go around blessing people. But I know that if I focus on that, the Kingdom will take a back seat in my life.

The Kingdom is more important to me. And I am blessed to have a very supportive wife who doesn't seek after Mammon, because she knows my heart for the Kingdom. In fact, there are still alot of things I want to do, but I'm holding back in this season of my life.

In a nutshell, there is nothing wrong to desire to earn more, but we must weigh the impact we have for the Kingdom.

Response To His Manifest Presence

Recently, in the daytime, I asked J, "People respond differently to God's manifest presence. Some feel heat/warm/fire; some feel electricity; some feel tingling, some feel wind/cool air, some laugh, etc.

What do you feel?

J: For me, I will yawn.

Papa: You will what??!

J: I will yawn when I feel His presence.

Papa: Are you joking? I have never heard before.

J: I'm serious. I yawn. I'm not joking.

I thought my son was joking. But I decided to test it out. When I released God's presence on him, he yawned a few times. Then, I asked him to speak in tongues and be connected to God's presence. While praying in tongues, 𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐄𝐏𝐓 𝐘𝐀𝐖𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆!

I went to look up more about yawning. Apparently, to my surprise, excitement, anticipation, change of emotions, and even change of body temperature can cause yawning.

That's new to me. And I think my son is a pretty interesting boy.

Stand Corrected

I have been educating my son since young that he is a good boy, not because of his behaviours and actions. He is good because Jesus made him to be good.

Because he's a good boy, he can choose to have good behaviours and actions.

Today I stand corrected by him.

I saw a teenage boy clearing his bowl and tray at the foodcourt. So I said to my son, "Look. This is a responsible boy."

My son replied, "No. He isn't a responsible boy because he cleared his tray and bowl. He is a responsible boy, therefore he cleared his tray and bowl."

Brilliant! He is absolutely correct!

Property Testimony

Property Testimony

Met up with a couple friend cum clients as they wanted to explore options for their property portfolio.

After advising them on how to proceed, our conversations were mostly spent talking about God.

When they found out that my whole family is UV, they were pretty curious how we "lived" our lives despite having financial commitment as a homeschooling family with one sole breadwinner (who does not draw a monthly salary).

Thought this would be an encouraging testimony to those who are looking to the Father as the Provider.

No V no job policy made alot of people chose the V. Because some think that there is no other way for God to provide.

It came to a point where I couldn't enter the showflats; I couldn't conduct viewings; I couldn't return to the office. Yet none of these could cause me to compromise on what I truly believe in.

Crisis does not change you. It reveals what is inside of you. If Christ is in you, crisis squeezes Christ out of you. If God is our Provider, then we need to stop trying hard to orchestrate results and stop making choices that make ourselves bigger than Him as the Provider.

During that challenging period, I had property owner who suddenly contacted me out of nowhere, saying, "Wilson, I know that you are UV (cos I posted alot on exposing the hidden). Hence, I only want you to sell my property. Because I only trust you alone."

Yes. It's a privilege to be trusted by people. But the main thing to me is the powerful testimony of God's faithful providence as I put my trust in Him. He honours your faith in Him.

We often think that there is no other option when faced with tremendous pressure. But how much do we really trust Him?

May we as believers walk in a different spirit from the world.

You Become What You Pursue

You Become What You Pursue

We always become what we pursue. The pursuit of success will make you become more and more like the world. It is impossible to go after worldly success and remain kingdom-minded.

Yes on our lips, it is possible. But in our heart, it is impossible. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What you pursue reveals your treasure and what your heart is truly seeking.

This is why the Bible tells us to 'Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness..." (Matt 6:33).

The Kingdom of God is not vague or mysterious. It is not so broad that we can simply put our own interpretations into it. The Word defines it clearly in Romans 14:17 that the Kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel is the Righteousness of God revealed (Rom 1:17). And the Righteousness of God is Christ (1 Cor 1:30).

Peace and Joy are the results of having Right Standing with God. It is impossible to go after Christ, the Righteousness of God, and live without Peace and Joy in the Kingdom.

The opposite is also true. If we lose a sense of peace and joy within us, it reveals that the pursuit of our lives is not the Kingdom of God, but worldly success.

Your pursuit is what you become. If your pursuit is success in the world, you become like the world, no matter how much religion you put on your lips.

If your pursuit is the Kingdom of God, you become like Jesus. For He is Righteousness, Peace and Joy.

There is no option to have both the Kingdom and the world (mammon). He is a jealous God. Not jealous against you, but jealous for you. For He knows who you would become by your very pursuit.

Waking Up To Bible Reading

Wah. The first thing he woke up to do today is to read the book of Judges on his own, before taking his brekkie.

When the inspiration comes, let him be and don't let him have his breakfast 😜

Expectations Of You

Expectations Of You

Both God and people have expectations of you.

People's expectations of you are often selfish in nature. They want you to be in a certain way because of lack in their lives. So they put their hope on you, in hope that you would meet their needs (aka expectations of you).

God, on the other hand, is different. His expectations of you are rooted and grounded in agape love, because He has great opinions of you. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬 in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. - Eph 1:3

The word 'blessed' comes from the word 'eulogy' (in Greek). It means 'to speak well of'. God has good eulogy for you and me. 

Because of His good expectations of us (in Christ), He always spoke well of us. His eulogy for you and me contains every good, spiritual blessing.

How do you handle people's expectations of you? Ignore the expectations, because you cannot become what they want you to be. They need to grow up in Him, not you.

How do you handle God's expectations of you? Acknowledge the expectations, because God sees the possibility in you in Christ. And we need to grow into it.

A Breach Of Faith

A Breach Of Faith

If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord... - Lev 6:2

The Old Testament reveals that sinning against the Lord is a breach of faith. It started from Adam. When he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he sinned. He committed a breach of faith.

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. - Rom 14:23

I like to read a verse from front to the back and back to the front, and word by word, separating them and piecing them back together.

The opposite is also true. Sin is what does not come from faith. In other words, when we sin, we act contrary to faith. We commit a breach of faith. We step out of the 'faith-relationship' with God.

In the Old Covenant, sin could be unintentional and intentional (read Leviticus). In the New Covenant, every sin is intentional (and deliberate), because we have received the power not to sin (Gal 5:1). There is no unintentional sin. Every bit of it is by our deliberate choice.

Since every sin is a breach of faith against God, if we sin, we are saying, "God, I don't trust You in this area." Because we are not walking in faith (Rom 14:23).

In the real estate industry, each time when we feel that we need to 'make things happen', or exaggerate stuff, or exaggerate marketing gimmicks, or start telling white lies... we are saying, "Father, I don't trust You to provide for me. I will provide for myself." It is an intentional sin.

This is just one example. We are all not perfect yet in every area. But if we sin, instead of just asking God to forgive over and over again (which He did), we need to see from His perspective and ask, "Father, how can I trust You more in this area? Would You show me a greater revelation of who You are in this area so that I can walk free from sin."

Sin is just the fruit issue. Faith is the root issue. Unless we focus on the root, the fruit won't change.

Revealing Himself Plainly

Revealing Himself Plainly

Jesus often spoke in parables to the multitudes, the Pharisees and His disciples. Parables bring division to the groups, because only those who genuinely seek Him will find out the truths in the parables.

His disciples always had the opportunities to dig deeper into the parables by communion with Jesus. It was part of their privilege as they had intimacy with Him.

Nearing the fulfillment of Jesus' assignment on earth, He made an important point.

“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father." - John 16:25

'The hour is coming' has been used a couple of times to indicate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The way He speaks is going to change when the Holy Spirit comes (John 16:26-27).

This means that unlike what we were taught, Jesus didn't receive parables from the Father and then shared the parables with the people. He received plainly from the Father (through the Holy Spirit) and turned it into parables for the people.

In John 16, He told His disciples that He would stop speaking in parables (figures of speech) about the Father. The Holy Spirit would speak plainly about Him.

In other words, the mystery of the Kingdom is no longer going to be a mystery when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples. This is why Paul said that "we have the mind of Christ" to understand the depths and the thoughts of God through the Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:10-16).

You receive what you believe. If you think that God's voice continues to come in parables, you will receive the parables. If you think that the Father is able to speak plainly through the Holy Spirit, you receive what is clear and simple.

Technology for Kids

My son is 9 and in a few months' time, he will be 10. He knows very little about using an iPad and digital technology. My wife has asked if we should let him learn some coding/digital technology since almost every kid is exposed to it.

I shared my heart and the reason why we are homeschooling him. Because we do not plan to go with the flow. We have often been going against the tide, not that we purposely want to do so, but I guess God has given that assignment to us to will and to do according to His good pleasure.

Just last week, my niece-in-law said, "Uncle Wilson, you are living life on the edge." Though she was referring to something else, it was a good reminder of a quote that I learnt in YWAM which I haven't forgotten. It says, "If you are not living on the edge, you are just taking up space."

The nation that we have grown up with has provided us with so much comfort, that we have edged the Holy Spirit out. Is He really our True Comforter? He is most 'manifested' when we step into uncomfortable situations.

Recently, I passed my son an old iPad for him to do his Koobits. He was extremely delighted. But he didn't know how to use it. He didn't know how to download a photo and use it as wallpaper. Call me crazy, but I actually take delight in that ignorance. For I know his potential, and I know the strength of this new generation of kids. It's way easier for them to learn technology than to unlearn it.

While the iPad is given to him, there are restrictions. 

- No game is allowed to be downloaded 

- No social media is permitted. He can watch Youtube when one parent is present with him.

- He can only use the iPad with permission for the purpose of researching for information

- With the increase of his self-control and focus comes the increase of the usage of iPad

Why do we (as parents) make ourselves so miserable when we could have just thrown him the tablet and set ourselves free? Because responsibility comes with a price to pay.

One of my friends asked me, "How long are you going to protect him?"

I replied, "Until he is ready."

He responded, "How do you know when he is ready?"

I said, "I won't know until he is ready."

We often want tangible measures as Singaporeans. But there are alot of things that cannot be measured, especially when it comes to personality and character. I trust the Holy Spirit to guide us as we lean on Him, the true Father.

We love that our son is truly engaged socially with people of all ages when he meets them. A child who is so engaged with technology (at early age) will be disengaged when it comes to real-life conversations. I encountered so many of them. And this is one of the reasons why we make the tough decision to do what we do. #homeschooling