Yeah... These songs are great... Planning to use one of them for the recruitment drive... Is it ok?
Yong Quan
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
sooo as i said i would post today.
to say the least. my spiritual level now is like kinda lukewarm? like i dont think i've been spending alot of time with God/ doing QT...
and i still cant bring myself into doing homework or studying. even though thats beside the point.
but i mean.. ok as im writing this..these song's lyrics just happened to be sung at that point.
we are your people and we won't be silent.
so... what i got from that is that how can i tell people that im a christian. if my studies are so crappy. i mean its like... at the ignite conference. "im a christian. ask me why?"
people will be like... HUH TIANYI'S A CHRISTIAN???
and so yahh even thought applies to me alot i think this is one of the ways that we (or I) can improve on... in the way we live our lives sometimes..... wah quite cliche i think i heard something about living our lives propperly for God before somewhere.
to say the least. my spiritual level now is like kinda lukewarm? like i dont think i've been spending alot of time with God/ doing QT...
and i still cant bring myself into doing homework or studying. even though thats beside the point.
but i mean.. ok as im writing this..these song's lyrics just happened to be sung at that point.
we are your people and we won't be silent.
so... what i got from that is that how can i tell people that im a christian. if my studies are so crappy. i mean its like... at the ignite conference. "im a christian. ask me why?"
people will be like... HUH TIANYI'S A CHRISTIAN???
and so yahh even thought applies to me alot i think this is one of the ways that we (or I) can improve on... in the way we live our lives sometimes..... wah quite cliche i think i heard something about living our lives propperly for God before somewhere.
Friday, January 11, 2008
everything, in a nutshell
hello everyone!
i'm so sorry for my extreme tardiness this time, ack! not good, not good. anyway, part of the reason has been because i've been too busy catching up on sleep and also haven't really thought of anything much to share. but tonight i've finally decided to sit down and type this out so yeah :)
okay, i've not done my usual start-of-the-year journal entry but i have thought through what my resolutions for the year, and one of the biggest one is to spend everyday with Jesus. last year i've been pretty consistent in terms of QT but there have still been times when i was lazy and just didn't do QT, and one of the worst times was on my birthday! when i was so happy opening presents and reading cards that i slacked off and didn't read my Bible (ironically). so yeah, this year my resolution is to do QT everyday, and beyond that, spending time outside of QT thinking of God too. i find it quite a challenge, especially when school starts and my mind is mostly filled with thoughts of dieee haven't done my readings etc. haha.
another resolution that i have is to really study God's Word this year. i think i've reached a stage where i want to really equip myself with a thorough understanding of the Bible, and not just of the "easier", familiar passages in the New Testament. partly because i want to be better at defending my faith, but also because i want to know more about who God is. and this is the verse that spoke to me.
"4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4)
i don't know how i'm going to get the feeding that i need though. currently, i feel that i get the solid teaching of the Word most during messages, but it depends on the speaker too. but yeah i want so much more teaching, especially of the Old Testament. i guess for the year ahead i'm just going to be like the crowds in Jesus' time, who flocked wherever there was good teaching. thankfully, so far God has been good and has brought me to several CCC events where i really received good solid teaching of the Word. hopefully that will continue.
as for my spiritual life, i guess right now it has been okay. recently something happened that made me quite burdened, but thankfully, it has forced me to turn to God more in prayer and He has proved greater than all my troubles. it's really really comforting to know that God is there for me!
on a related note, i guess you all could pray for me because i'm also at a point where i'm seeking direction for my life. i've been serving in church for quite a while (since sec3 actually), but somehow over the last couple of months i've come to realise that that is not enough for me. i want to see God's higher calling for me. some have asked why the need to, but i dunno, for me i just want to start streamlining my ministry. e.g. if God calls me to be a pastor, right now i'll start looking for opportunities that will equip me with the skills needed for pastoring. i just want to stop serving haphazardly, and to start training myself properly.
however, this period is very challenging because i am being asked to serve in such-and-such areas and it's difficult to just say no let me wait on God first. it's taking a lot of faith to believe that God will speak in time for me not to annoy anyone with my tardy reply, and also to believe that God will eventually speak. another challenge i face is discerning between God's best and God's good. what if i don't like God's best for me? (i.e. it's not my first choice of service) what if i miss out on His best because i make a decision too hastily?
so yeah a lot of things for me to think about. haha. yup that's roughly all la, see you guys on saturday! :)
i'm so sorry for my extreme tardiness this time, ack! not good, not good. anyway, part of the reason has been because i've been too busy catching up on sleep and also haven't really thought of anything much to share. but tonight i've finally decided to sit down and type this out so yeah :)
okay, i've not done my usual start-of-the-year journal entry but i have thought through what my resolutions for the year, and one of the biggest one is to spend everyday with Jesus. last year i've been pretty consistent in terms of QT but there have still been times when i was lazy and just didn't do QT, and one of the worst times was on my birthday! when i was so happy opening presents and reading cards that i slacked off and didn't read my Bible (ironically). so yeah, this year my resolution is to do QT everyday, and beyond that, spending time outside of QT thinking of God too. i find it quite a challenge, especially when school starts and my mind is mostly filled with thoughts of dieee haven't done my readings etc. haha.
another resolution that i have is to really study God's Word this year. i think i've reached a stage where i want to really equip myself with a thorough understanding of the Bible, and not just of the "easier", familiar passages in the New Testament. partly because i want to be better at defending my faith, but also because i want to know more about who God is. and this is the verse that spoke to me.
"4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4)
i don't know how i'm going to get the feeding that i need though. currently, i feel that i get the solid teaching of the Word most during messages, but it depends on the speaker too. but yeah i want so much more teaching, especially of the Old Testament. i guess for the year ahead i'm just going to be like the crowds in Jesus' time, who flocked wherever there was good teaching. thankfully, so far God has been good and has brought me to several CCC events where i really received good solid teaching of the Word. hopefully that will continue.
as for my spiritual life, i guess right now it has been okay. recently something happened that made me quite burdened, but thankfully, it has forced me to turn to God more in prayer and He has proved greater than all my troubles. it's really really comforting to know that God is there for me!
on a related note, i guess you all could pray for me because i'm also at a point where i'm seeking direction for my life. i've been serving in church for quite a while (since sec3 actually), but somehow over the last couple of months i've come to realise that that is not enough for me. i want to see God's higher calling for me. some have asked why the need to, but i dunno, for me i just want to start streamlining my ministry. e.g. if God calls me to be a pastor, right now i'll start looking for opportunities that will equip me with the skills needed for pastoring. i just want to stop serving haphazardly, and to start training myself properly.
however, this period is very challenging because i am being asked to serve in such-and-such areas and it's difficult to just say no let me wait on God first. it's taking a lot of faith to believe that God will speak in time for me not to annoy anyone with my tardy reply, and also to believe that God will eventually speak. another challenge i face is discerning between God's best and God's good. what if i don't like God's best for me? (i.e. it's not my first choice of service) what if i miss out on His best because i make a decision too hastily?
so yeah a lot of things for me to think about. haha. yup that's roughly all la, see you guys on saturday! :)
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The Foothold
"And do not give the devil a foothold" Ephesians 4:27
A new year... Another 51 weeks to go before the new year comes again... Anyway, I really want to thank God for my new class for the next two years! It is really awesome! I mean, seriously, God really answers our prayers pretty fast. During the prayer meeting on the 29th of Dec, '07, Ben, Reuben, Matthieu and myself are in one big prayer group, and when Ben was asking us to ask God what he wants from us in the new year (I think) this part of a song keeps playing on my mind, like some broken record.
The Bright and Morning Star
The Great I Am You are,
Jesus
Jesus
The King Above All Kings,
Creator of all things,
Jesus
Jesus
The song is titled "Jesus" from the Never Stop album. (I think it is in the Saviour of the World album too).
For today's sharing, I would like to share about the book I am reading again "Every Man, God's Man" (was mentioned in my earlier post). Now i want to share about Chapter 8, cos God spoke to me again. The chapter is entitled "Do not give the devil a foothold"
Anyway the chapter starts by talking about D-Day during WWII, it depicts the Allies (USA) trying to take the beach of Normandy which the Germans were trying their very best to hold it out. So it is like, when books describe scenes like that, naturally your mind would wander and try to picture the scene right? Anyway i see machine guns blazing and a lot of men falling. Yeah anyway... the book goes on to describe a period after D-Day started, that the US troops have finally secured one tiny ground on the Normandy beach. (Secured as in "with no bullets shot at them and a safe area to rest) From that tiny ground, the Allies took over the beach in a matter of hours.
My point is not to go fight a war for the fun of it, but my point is that this can be applied into our spiritual lives. For example... argh I'll just give an analogy. P.S if it is related to anyone living or dead, it is totally coincidental ok?
John, a Sec 4 kid, has a great passion for God. He is actively serving as a CGL intern. He has great academic results, popular in school and in church. But, he has a terrible weakness for smoking. As in, he was a passive smoker and he allows his classmates to let him breathe some smoke in once a week. His thoughts are such that :" Aiyah, once a week only mah! I can stop whenever I like" So he just keeps this skeleton in his closet alive.
Soon, one of his xiong dih (hierachy in class) offers him a cigarette stick. John ponders:" God will allow one stick lar... I suppose" John took the stick.
Sooner or later, John was not only smoking, he was sniffing glue as well. By now he felt very distant from God. He keeps thinking:" Oh no! Somewhere in the Bible, God says that our bodies are a temple of God. I corrupted it with drugs!!! Now how? Now how???" John felt very withdrawn from God. He denied the fact that Jesus died for him, since he felt that he was too bad for God to rescue. Soon he left church and a few days later, a newspaper report rose and it read that John had commited suicide.
So what can we learn from this analogy? Personally I feel that this is one case that the devil finds a foothold and starts fighting for the rest of you. In the book I was reading, the author said that the devil will look for your weakness and manipulate it. Once he gets a steady ground, the devil will fight long and hard to get the rest of you down to hell with him. But God will save us. He never failed us once at all. I mean, just ask yourselves, When did God ever fail you? (crap I'm sounding like a preacher... sorry)
During Sat's Youth service, after the message, Euclid prayed for me and he told me this "No matter what you do, it cannot pull you away from God's love" (forgive me if i quoted wrongly, Euclid!) It is SUUUUPER encouraging lar, such an awesome God can love a sinner such as ourselves, He loves us SOOOO much that He could send His own son down to die for our sins!!!
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:7
God will provide us the resources and the weapons needed to whack the devil back to Berlin (sorry I just studied History today abt WWI and I REALLY hate Germany)... But I suppose we gotta stay strong, bonded by the Spirit of God. I read this from somewhere (again, I cannot remember where)
Stand together, pray for each other and continue to seek God, and the devil will find no place to bombard with his flaming arrows of lies
Yup... that's about all I gotta say... See you all this coming Saturday!!!!!!!!
A new year... Another 51 weeks to go before the new year comes again... Anyway, I really want to thank God for my new class for the next two years! It is really awesome! I mean, seriously, God really answers our prayers pretty fast. During the prayer meeting on the 29th of Dec, '07, Ben, Reuben, Matthieu and myself are in one big prayer group, and when Ben was asking us to ask God what he wants from us in the new year (I think) this part of a song keeps playing on my mind, like some broken record.
The Bright and Morning Star
The Great I Am You are,
Jesus
Jesus
The King Above All Kings,
Creator of all things,
Jesus
Jesus
The song is titled "Jesus" from the Never Stop album. (I think it is in the Saviour of the World album too).
For today's sharing, I would like to share about the book I am reading again "Every Man, God's Man" (was mentioned in my earlier post). Now i want to share about Chapter 8, cos God spoke to me again. The chapter is entitled "Do not give the devil a foothold"
Anyway the chapter starts by talking about D-Day during WWII, it depicts the Allies (USA) trying to take the beach of Normandy which the Germans were trying their very best to hold it out. So it is like, when books describe scenes like that, naturally your mind would wander and try to picture the scene right? Anyway i see machine guns blazing and a lot of men falling. Yeah anyway... the book goes on to describe a period after D-Day started, that the US troops have finally secured one tiny ground on the Normandy beach. (Secured as in "with no bullets shot at them and a safe area to rest) From that tiny ground, the Allies took over the beach in a matter of hours.
My point is not to go fight a war for the fun of it, but my point is that this can be applied into our spiritual lives. For example... argh I'll just give an analogy. P.S if it is related to anyone living or dead, it is totally coincidental ok?
John, a Sec 4 kid, has a great passion for God. He is actively serving as a CGL intern. He has great academic results, popular in school and in church. But, he has a terrible weakness for smoking. As in, he was a passive smoker and he allows his classmates to let him breathe some smoke in once a week. His thoughts are such that :" Aiyah, once a week only mah! I can stop whenever I like" So he just keeps this skeleton in his closet alive.
Soon, one of his xiong dih (hierachy in class) offers him a cigarette stick. John ponders:" God will allow one stick lar... I suppose" John took the stick.
Sooner or later, John was not only smoking, he was sniffing glue as well. By now he felt very distant from God. He keeps thinking:" Oh no! Somewhere in the Bible, God says that our bodies are a temple of God. I corrupted it with drugs!!! Now how? Now how???" John felt very withdrawn from God. He denied the fact that Jesus died for him, since he felt that he was too bad for God to rescue. Soon he left church and a few days later, a newspaper report rose and it read that John had commited suicide.
So what can we learn from this analogy? Personally I feel that this is one case that the devil finds a foothold and starts fighting for the rest of you. In the book I was reading, the author said that the devil will look for your weakness and manipulate it. Once he gets a steady ground, the devil will fight long and hard to get the rest of you down to hell with him. But God will save us. He never failed us once at all. I mean, just ask yourselves, When did God ever fail you? (crap I'm sounding like a preacher... sorry)
During Sat's Youth service, after the message, Euclid prayed for me and he told me this "No matter what you do, it cannot pull you away from God's love" (forgive me if i quoted wrongly, Euclid!) It is SUUUUPER encouraging lar, such an awesome God can love a sinner such as ourselves, He loves us SOOOO much that He could send His own son down to die for our sins!!!
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:7
God will provide us the resources and the weapons needed to whack the devil back to Berlin (sorry I just studied History today abt WWI and I REALLY hate Germany)... But I suppose we gotta stay strong, bonded by the Spirit of God. I read this from somewhere (again, I cannot remember where)
Stand together, pray for each other and continue to seek God, and the devil will find no place to bombard with his flaming arrows of lies
Yup... that's about all I gotta say... See you all this coming Saturday!!!!!!!!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
What is this love, given to us,t saved my life, the selfless sacrifice
hey everyone.
ah i guess i'll just cut to the chase.
i haven't had a good week at all seriously. i've had stuff ranging from school...to cca to friendships
and.. well i was really discouraged lah i guess.. mostly for the 'friendship' section.
cuz i mean... i suppose the older youths like josh,minwei,joel etc etc have like...been really waiting for this revival in the youth lah.. and then. suddenly unexpected problems begin to show up and stuff...
And just because of that. friendships get threatened. people get hurt. and trust is pretty much lost in the process as well..
well. i really didn't know what to do back then lah i guess...
i guess i was feeling really angry at the people who started the problem and i really just wanted to slap them or something....
but yeah... God revealed to me through a friend that like...would that really be what God wanted me to do?
and even though it was really really hard.... i guess... me ,******,****,**,****** all pulled through lah i guess.... which im really really thankful for! :D
and i was super dooper touched by the worship last sat by the way. cuz yeah the lyrics Hosanna in the Highest really spoke to me. like... whenever we have problems. God's always there in his throne just waiting for us to call out to him (:
and um.... yeah lah please pray for my studies toooo.... that i'll really really study this 2 years cuz i dont wanna go for Con Camp cuz its during the june and dec hols and i really really wanna go youth/church camp!
and my willpower is seriously just failing me. for now i guess.
ah i guess i'll just cut to the chase.
i haven't had a good week at all seriously. i've had stuff ranging from school...to cca to friendships
and.. well i was really discouraged lah i guess.. mostly for the 'friendship' section.
cuz i mean... i suppose the older youths like josh,minwei,joel etc etc have like...been really waiting for this revival in the youth lah.. and then. suddenly unexpected problems begin to show up and stuff...
And just because of that. friendships get threatened. people get hurt. and trust is pretty much lost in the process as well..
well. i really didn't know what to do back then lah i guess...
i guess i was feeling really angry at the people who started the problem and i really just wanted to slap them or something....
but yeah... God revealed to me through a friend that like...would that really be what God wanted me to do?
and even though it was really really hard.... i guess... me ,******,****,**,****** all pulled through lah i guess.... which im really really thankful for! :D
and i was super dooper touched by the worship last sat by the way. cuz yeah the lyrics Hosanna in the Highest really spoke to me. like... whenever we have problems. God's always there in his throne just waiting for us to call out to him (:
and um.... yeah lah please pray for my studies toooo.... that i'll really really study this 2 years cuz i dont wanna go for Con Camp cuz its during the june and dec hols and i really really wanna go youth/church camp!
and my willpower is seriously just failing me. for now i guess.
renewal
hey guys...
i'm not sure if i shared in my previous posting but God has been really good to me these few days? haha. basically, during the last part of 07, i was feeling incredibly dry and even during the transformers camp, i wasn't very 'touched' or anything, there was no spiritual high for me although of course, i was very encouraged by the work God was doing and the way in which He answered my prayers for the camp.
but anyway, i'm the journalling sort. i've been journally quite faithfully since maybe like when i was 19. yes, looong time ago but ya, during my dry period, i felt like it was so pointless to journal coz i had nothing much to say. u know how we usually start off with thanksgiving and all? i felt like i had nothing to say and journalling had just become a chore although it's a good way to properly pray coz i write down my prayers and it helps to have something to look back to when answered prayers come along and i need confirmation and stuff. but anyway, i decided to just stop journalling out of habit and to take things a little easier. again, since maybe about 19, i've made a point to do my qt first thing in the morning to set my focus right for the day and stuff but maybe at the start of the new year, i was lamenting to God about the state of my spiritual life and i decided to do thing differently. i will only journal when i want to and i won't do my qt out of habit. hmmm. i sound like a terrible person now but the truth is, God responded and has somehow put this new zeal and desire in my heart to spend time with Him. now, i journal at night or in the afternoons, whenever i feel like i want to and when i read the bible, it's no longer dry and boring but i'm learning new things everyday. and i can honestly say that i'm excited about what the Spirit has to reveal to me in His word daily now. i wake up in the morning and i'm happy coz i can sense His presence in my life tangibly :)
i'll share some things that He has taught me la. some of it might seem quite duh but it was so refreshing when He opened my eyes. i'm reading the book of Romans now and somehow, this phrase popped up at me, 'Spirit of holiness' (1:4) and i was so wow and then as i was pondering it, i was like, of course la, He's the HOLY Spirit what. and then i went on to consider what that means and i realised that the Holy Spirit is holiness itelf. His character is personified in His name and it dawned upon me that i cannot ask for the Spirit to fill me if i am not holy coz unholiness is antithetical to Him. i'm not saying that we can be holy on our own efforts but that we must have a spirit of humility to ask Him to reveal our sins to us, to confess and repent and to have the blood of Jesus wash us white as snow. and we can be holy by seeking to have an attitude of obedience to His word. it is ridiculous to speak of holiness without mention of an obedient and surrendered life. so yeah, the concluding point from this pop-up would be that we cannot ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit if we are clinging on to unholiness.
yes, the second thing is a very familiar passage from Romans 12:1-2
'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.'
this was quoted to me by doreen yesterday. i can't remember the context of the situation but this morning when i woke up, i was pondering it. it's a familiar passage that i had to memorise in the past and it's a blessing to commit His word to memory la. something i hope to do more often this year :P but anyway, as i recited the passage to myself in my mind, i was struck by the word 'transformed' coz obviously, that reminds us of the recent camp and the answer to being transformed is encapsulated in the verse. to not conform any longer to the ways of the world and to have our minds renewed. the first would be pretty obvious. to be aliens and strangers in the world, to be set apart for God etc. the second part, the renewing of our minds, how does that happen? i believe that it's through the study of His word, allowing it to judge our hearts and thoughts, allowing if to be a purifying and focussing agent in our lives. the reason why i say focussing is coz i believe the bible helps us to declutter. not just like our physical lives but also our emotional lives. forgiving enemies, pressing on ahead, having our security in our identity in Christ. the word of God does so much more than the little i've mentioned.
wow. i'm learning things as i'm writing them out. God is way cool :)
anyway, my resolution for this year would be to read the bible more and to know His word better coz that's important :)
i'm not sure if i shared in my previous posting but God has been really good to me these few days? haha. basically, during the last part of 07, i was feeling incredibly dry and even during the transformers camp, i wasn't very 'touched' or anything, there was no spiritual high for me although of course, i was very encouraged by the work God was doing and the way in which He answered my prayers for the camp.
but anyway, i'm the journalling sort. i've been journally quite faithfully since maybe like when i was 19. yes, looong time ago but ya, during my dry period, i felt like it was so pointless to journal coz i had nothing much to say. u know how we usually start off with thanksgiving and all? i felt like i had nothing to say and journalling had just become a chore although it's a good way to properly pray coz i write down my prayers and it helps to have something to look back to when answered prayers come along and i need confirmation and stuff. but anyway, i decided to just stop journalling out of habit and to take things a little easier. again, since maybe about 19, i've made a point to do my qt first thing in the morning to set my focus right for the day and stuff but maybe at the start of the new year, i was lamenting to God about the state of my spiritual life and i decided to do thing differently. i will only journal when i want to and i won't do my qt out of habit. hmmm. i sound like a terrible person now but the truth is, God responded and has somehow put this new zeal and desire in my heart to spend time with Him. now, i journal at night or in the afternoons, whenever i feel like i want to and when i read the bible, it's no longer dry and boring but i'm learning new things everyday. and i can honestly say that i'm excited about what the Spirit has to reveal to me in His word daily now. i wake up in the morning and i'm happy coz i can sense His presence in my life tangibly :)
i'll share some things that He has taught me la. some of it might seem quite duh but it was so refreshing when He opened my eyes. i'm reading the book of Romans now and somehow, this phrase popped up at me, 'Spirit of holiness' (1:4) and i was so wow and then as i was pondering it, i was like, of course la, He's the HOLY Spirit what. and then i went on to consider what that means and i realised that the Holy Spirit is holiness itelf. His character is personified in His name and it dawned upon me that i cannot ask for the Spirit to fill me if i am not holy coz unholiness is antithetical to Him. i'm not saying that we can be holy on our own efforts but that we must have a spirit of humility to ask Him to reveal our sins to us, to confess and repent and to have the blood of Jesus wash us white as snow. and we can be holy by seeking to have an attitude of obedience to His word. it is ridiculous to speak of holiness without mention of an obedient and surrendered life. so yeah, the concluding point from this pop-up would be that we cannot ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit if we are clinging on to unholiness.
yes, the second thing is a very familiar passage from Romans 12:1-2
'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.'
this was quoted to me by doreen yesterday. i can't remember the context of the situation but this morning when i woke up, i was pondering it. it's a familiar passage that i had to memorise in the past and it's a blessing to commit His word to memory la. something i hope to do more often this year :P but anyway, as i recited the passage to myself in my mind, i was struck by the word 'transformed' coz obviously, that reminds us of the recent camp and the answer to being transformed is encapsulated in the verse. to not conform any longer to the ways of the world and to have our minds renewed. the first would be pretty obvious. to be aliens and strangers in the world, to be set apart for God etc. the second part, the renewing of our minds, how does that happen? i believe that it's through the study of His word, allowing it to judge our hearts and thoughts, allowing if to be a purifying and focussing agent in our lives. the reason why i say focussing is coz i believe the bible helps us to declutter. not just like our physical lives but also our emotional lives. forgiving enemies, pressing on ahead, having our security in our identity in Christ. the word of God does so much more than the little i've mentioned.
wow. i'm learning things as i'm writing them out. God is way cool :)
anyway, my resolution for this year would be to read the bible more and to know His word better coz that's important :)
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Direction
Wow, sorry I wasn't able to find the time to post on the blog coz the month of December was seriously hectic. Ever since camp I was busy with the Teban Christmas Party Games Stalls, following that was the Thanksgiving Video and in between were a number of family gatherings and people calling me up for advice, Christmas Cards, Christmas Shopping, meeting up with friends, trying to exercise (just started 2 days ago after a 1 month absence, my body is aching =D)... Phew, finally I've some time by myself infront of the computer without something to be worried about.
Things have been going fine for me spiritually and stuff though I was slightly discouraged for a while during the worship session which Minwei was talking about. Was a bit disheartened that the Youths did not carry over all of that passion and enthusiasm when it comes to worship for God from camp back to our regular Youth Service.
But it was kinda short lived as I decided to worship God and put into action what I always encourage others to do; disregarding those around us and focus on Him. So yah, if it encourages you a little I was ministered to during that worship and basically it's been wonderful everything we gather to enter into God's presence. Albeit there are still some nagging worries at the back of my brain such as the Youth and myself not recapturing the fire back at camp, that the ministry would "stagnate" and not seek God more but just wait for camps to do that, people feeling left out, etc. I guess throughout the year God has time and time again taught me to just trust in Him and believe that He is going to do something great in our midst and ultimately it's His work. Everytime I had these fears, He has never failed to amaze me so I hope this year I will spend less time worrying (I struggle alot of this) and believing in our God as a God of power and that the seed He has sown He will see to completion. As for my part, it's to remain faithful.
Ooo, just recollected that I've got quite a cool personal sharing. Hmm, not sure if I should share it here. Perhaps another time when we meet up =). Oh yah, recruitment drive how sia?
Anyway, as I now find myself with quite a bit of free time I hope you guys can pray for me as to what should I do. Haven't really had the time to seriously consider which area I should move into. Should I get a job like most of my friends? If yes should it be full time or part-time? Should I attend somes courses at SBC instead? Or should I try taking up an internship at church? I'm really quite uncertain as to what exactly should I do but I'm more inclined to do something related to knowing / serving God. So what if my resume lacks one less job experience or if I run dry on my savings (I ain't getting any pocket money and my bank account consist purely of what I earnt during NS =p). Don't think I'll ever be given the luxury of 6 months free time. Hmm... but I still dunno sia and I don't want to do church related stuff, appealing as it may be, if it ain't where God wants me to be. What should I do now God?
Things have been going fine for me spiritually and stuff though I was slightly discouraged for a while during the worship session which Minwei was talking about. Was a bit disheartened that the Youths did not carry over all of that passion and enthusiasm when it comes to worship for God from camp back to our regular Youth Service.
But it was kinda short lived as I decided to worship God and put into action what I always encourage others to do; disregarding those around us and focus on Him. So yah, if it encourages you a little I was ministered to during that worship and basically it's been wonderful everything we gather to enter into God's presence. Albeit there are still some nagging worries at the back of my brain such as the Youth and myself not recapturing the fire back at camp, that the ministry would "stagnate" and not seek God more but just wait for camps to do that, people feeling left out, etc. I guess throughout the year God has time and time again taught me to just trust in Him and believe that He is going to do something great in our midst and ultimately it's His work. Everytime I had these fears, He has never failed to amaze me so I hope this year I will spend less time worrying (I struggle alot of this) and believing in our God as a God of power and that the seed He has sown He will see to completion. As for my part, it's to remain faithful.
Ooo, just recollected that I've got quite a cool personal sharing. Hmm, not sure if I should share it here. Perhaps another time when we meet up =). Oh yah, recruitment drive how sia?
Anyway, as I now find myself with quite a bit of free time I hope you guys can pray for me as to what should I do. Haven't really had the time to seriously consider which area I should move into. Should I get a job like most of my friends? If yes should it be full time or part-time? Should I attend somes courses at SBC instead? Or should I try taking up an internship at church? I'm really quite uncertain as to what exactly should I do but I'm more inclined to do something related to knowing / serving God. So what if my resume lacks one less job experience or if I run dry on my savings (I ain't getting any pocket money and my bank account consist purely of what I earnt during NS =p). Don't think I'll ever be given the luxury of 6 months free time. Hmm... but I still dunno sia and I don't want to do church related stuff, appealing as it may be, if it ain't where God wants me to be. What should I do now God?
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
hmm..
ok. obviously no one heeds what i said and tianyi the tooty used the thanksgiving service bit as an excuse. by the way, josh, i think u haven't posted for like a month. as u know, a new year usually comes with a resolution or many resolutions so this year's resolution will be that we all blog every 2 weeks as agreed upon several months ago :P
anyway, i realise once again that i didn't do what i told others to. i can come up with the usual excuses, been busy, was sick, am sick, don't like using the internet, whatever. but the excuses don't matter la. so i shall just share...
last night during the thanksgiving service, edward led 'at the cross' and what really touched my heart was the third stanza:
And when the earth fades
Falls from my eyes
And You stand before me
I know You love me
I know You love me
don't know why... maybe all the phelgm was going to my head but i was somehow able to imagine what it might be like if Jesus was before me. i've never been much good at this. when i was in sec sch, we went through this thing where we were guided as to how to reflect before taking the holy communion. the first part would be a revisiting the cross, imagining Him on it and the pain and stuff but i could never really do that. my imagination power's not that great. haha. but anyway, back to my story, i imagined myself before Jesus and i saw myself reaching out to Him and that's when i realised, He's my treasure. then the familiar teachings of Jesus came to mind too. about how where my treasure is, there my heart will be also and i told Him, yes Lord, i want my heart to be with You. i'm not sure if u all can empathise but sometimes i'm so unsure of where my heart is. but well, the bible does say that the heart is deceitful above all things but my point is that i was encouraged by what i just shared coz i've been feeling quite dry recently. but joanne reminded me on sat whilst praying for me that i will seek Him and find Him when i seek Him with all my heart so yeah, i guess that's something that the rest of u can pray for me regarding...
i was also quite discouraged by the week before's youth service when everyone seemed so dead and i was mulling over it the whole time after service, accounting for why i looked so moody during the block party and stuff (ps: i do have reasons for being black face. haha) but ya, at night when i was praying about it, i was reminded of something that jeremy shared during the music min meeting in i don't know which month. the whole thing about how the band is not restricted to the musicians and wls but also the congregation because the only audience is God and our desire is to have Him shout 'encore' and yeah, that's when i realised that whether a worship session is good or not is not dependent on the wl. so many times, i've felt like it was but it isn't. whether or not we experience His presence incredibly depends on His favour and whether we're earnestly seeking Him as one. the bottom line of it all is that regardless of how the congregation is responding, my own response has to be to worship Him myself first regardless. so yeah...
anyway, can pray for me la. i hate being sick... :(
anyway, i realise once again that i didn't do what i told others to. i can come up with the usual excuses, been busy, was sick, am sick, don't like using the internet, whatever. but the excuses don't matter la. so i shall just share...
last night during the thanksgiving service, edward led 'at the cross' and what really touched my heart was the third stanza:
And when the earth fades
Falls from my eyes
And You stand before me
I know You love me
I know You love me
don't know why... maybe all the phelgm was going to my head but i was somehow able to imagine what it might be like if Jesus was before me. i've never been much good at this. when i was in sec sch, we went through this thing where we were guided as to how to reflect before taking the holy communion. the first part would be a revisiting the cross, imagining Him on it and the pain and stuff but i could never really do that. my imagination power's not that great. haha. but anyway, back to my story, i imagined myself before Jesus and i saw myself reaching out to Him and that's when i realised, He's my treasure. then the familiar teachings of Jesus came to mind too. about how where my treasure is, there my heart will be also and i told Him, yes Lord, i want my heart to be with You. i'm not sure if u all can empathise but sometimes i'm so unsure of where my heart is. but well, the bible does say that the heart is deceitful above all things but my point is that i was encouraged by what i just shared coz i've been feeling quite dry recently. but joanne reminded me on sat whilst praying for me that i will seek Him and find Him when i seek Him with all my heart so yeah, i guess that's something that the rest of u can pray for me regarding...
i was also quite discouraged by the week before's youth service when everyone seemed so dead and i was mulling over it the whole time after service, accounting for why i looked so moody during the block party and stuff (ps: i do have reasons for being black face. haha) but ya, at night when i was praying about it, i was reminded of something that jeremy shared during the music min meeting in i don't know which month. the whole thing about how the band is not restricted to the musicians and wls but also the congregation because the only audience is God and our desire is to have Him shout 'encore' and yeah, that's when i realised that whether a worship session is good or not is not dependent on the wl. so many times, i've felt like it was but it isn't. whether or not we experience His presence incredibly depends on His favour and whether we're earnestly seeking Him as one. the bottom line of it all is that regardless of how the congregation is responding, my own response has to be to worship Him myself first regardless. so yeah...
anyway, can pray for me la. i hate being sick... :(
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