Inspiring woman of 77th Street

Elim Chew. You keep hearing about her. Today she's featured again in Mind Your Body and I'm amazed to find that she's a Christian. Such a great testimony then, to God's goodness...

When asked what challenges does she face being both a Christian and a businesswoman, she says: "We go through challenges whether we are Christians or not, except that as Christians, we know that whatever challenges we face, we have God behind us. That is our ultimate purpose".

When asked What is the secret behind the success of 77th Street? She replied "Extraordinary determination. The willingness to do what others won't. And I pray, pray and pray!"

This teaches me something. That to be successful, one must somehow go out and do something that others won't. Be crazy. Be different. Then you can vision success in some way. If not, it's merely surviving. It also reminds me of this passage from ROMANS:

Romans 8:31 "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies......."

Verse 35 - "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."


Praying in Faith

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

About prayer - sometimes, we don't have faith in prayer?

"How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?" Romans 10:14

"Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our message?' Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ [ the Bible]. But I ask: Did they not hear?... ...concerning Israel he [God] says, 'All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.'"

We think prayer won't help us unless we move our butts and do something. That is true, but only partially true. What happened to the FAITH in prayer? The knowledge of the true POWER of prayer?

I have faith in praying AS we do our work diligently. THEN ONLY God can work in the picture. If it is just working diligently (going about our daily doings making our daily decisions) and GOD is out of the picture, then we are surviving - on OUR STRENGTH alone.. and not HIS GRACE.

Then one day we will get burnt out, and one day we will question the meaning of our direction. BEcause there is no greater vision or maybe it is a self-serving/self-fulfilling vision that we have for our lives (Selfish and narrow). No greater purpose. No greater glory - which is supposed to be for God.

When we have been satisfied with our achievements (happy enough with the glory gained for oneself) we ask .. what's next? Is this it after all? so meaningless?


And yes.. if you ask me.. I am truly vouching for Romans. The book of Romans here. Call me pushy. I don't mind.

"Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: DO not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. .... ... ... .. we have different gifts, according to the grace given us. " Romans 12:1-8

Romans 13:14 Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of your sinful nature.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.