friendships,our estate

thanking god for the past years

2012-01-24T23:29:00.000-08:00

hi all :)
just wanted to share with you guys my life some stuff ive reflected during crux about the past 2 years (its wordy.. just skip to the reflection part if you want)
when i was young , so veeryy young
So actually, i was born in a christian family , and i stayed in china for a few years when i was younger .My mom didnt force me to go church or anything so at that time , i dont think i went to church or anything , i cant really remember ... but at that point i really didnt know about god or anything. GOD was completely foreign to me.
so as a child, i didnt go for bible study nor did i go for sunday school.so i was completely blank

Primary School
When i came back during my primary school years,i went to another church's children ministry and i didn't know anyone there, or knew anything they were talking about. because of that, i actually thought that church was so boring and i didnt like it, or even wanted to go.I didnt even BELIEVE it. I would take any opportunity not to go to church.

Secondary school
When i was in secondary school,my mom wanted me to go to church for some reasons .my church didnt have a youth service so i went to the adult service with my parents (my brother moved to westly church with his friends),there, i felt completely out of place . i just didnt like it , i couldnt relate, couldnt understand.It just felt so annoying, moreover i was being forced to go.
At that point i completely drifted away from god, i wouldnt go to church or anything. i would just believe in myself and myself alone. there was no god to me.

Then came my upper secondary school life, which was filled with struggles and lots of tears .
At that point of time i was really struggling with school work and i felt so stressed up.my grades were becoming lower and i completely did not know what to do.
My mom realised that that church wasnt really helping me nor did i felt anything from it. so we went to lighthouse(around 2nd 1/2 of the year?),hearing the service there was actually very good. there we met joel (we knew him last time when our family went to china i think ) and he invited me to cell and speedlight.It was there did i really started to know about christ and started believing in god.

And then there was 2011 . N level year. Because of last year, i felt i really needed to listen more in class and such. in that year, many things happened . and even though they did, i was able to carry on without much of a struggle (thank god, will elaborate later).

The reflection
Crux was my first church camp that i attended and i thought that it was a really good journey.It really made me reflect on my past years and how my relation with god was. During the camp i think i could really feel his pressence and i felt a lot lighter. previously i was just carry everything myself , but during and after the camp, i felt so much more free.
During the sharing, i also realised that god had really blessed me throughout the years , even when i didnt believe in him.
its just so amazing,how god was willing to wait for me,even if its a few years, and that , he never forsake me.

so i want to thank him for
- Waiting for me, even though i had forsaken him for so long.
- Guiding me along when i didnt believe in him
- Showing me i didnt have to walk alone anymore
- Wanting to save me
- Showing me more about myself through experiences ( eg how i was overconfident in s3 and made my results drop like crazy --> until 2nd half of the year )
- Strengthening me in those experiences
- Overcoming the struggles (esp s4 when i had to redo half my dnt journal after half a year)
- Blessing me with good N level results i wouldnt think was possible (all glory to god )
- My dad who was diagnosed with diabetes last year, and is doing pretty well now
- My family
- My friends
- a lot a lot more
And of course... You guys! >:D

and i wanted to say , if you really cant feel God's pressence and is spirtually dry that -

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

After so many years , He never forsake me, and he wont forsake you !

Praise the lord
-Roxanne

Bye 2011 , Embark on 2012.

2012-01-01T23:15:00.002-08:00

Hey Cell ! :D

As 2011 has ended , it's been a great year !
Let's look at what we had done in the past year :>

2011
Jan - Chalet!!!
We had Night Cycling , BBQ , Awesome Games , bonding together.
Thank God that he has watch over us all !

March - Lisa's Birthday !
One year older , 17th haha no more sweet 16th.
Went to "The Cafe Cartel " for Celebration .
PS: too bad i wasn't there , sick ):.

March - Fiona's Farewell >:
Remember that we were at her house's lobby
Each holding on to a Letter that says " WE LOVE YOU FIONA "
After that we went to the coffee-shop to Lunch
Something Singaporean as she would miss it!
We had our "Last Meal" together , It was Burger King(takeaway)
Went to Viewing Area to Nom nom nom.
Made her a "Card Book" for her to read (Y) Cell mates are the best.

April - Roland's Birthday
It was after Good Friday , I didn't expected you guys to celebrate my
Birthday really. Esther bought a Chocolate Cake(dislikes chocolates)
But nevermind what matter is the Heart!
Thank you Cell (:

May - Fiona's Demand haha! :>
She posted on facebook saying , she want's chalet when i come back haha!

June - Ducky M n J's birthday . The twins haha.
Remember that cell waited for them at thy Tabernacle
For the Prayer meeting to end.
Gave them a surprise when they came out (:

July - LOVE SG
When Muggers come together they mug right? haha.
Cell went to SMU to study , but end up playing!
They made a photo for LOVE SG too (:

Aug - Marcus Seah's Birthday ALSO National Day.
Made Birthday Card , done by each n everyone of the cell :D

Aug - New Family member!! Elizabeth Low :>
Melody's Primary school friend !(10years n counting)
Altho we didn't met for long she enjoys the time spend with us :>
We love you too ! heh..

Aug - Jem Jem Birthday
It was still early but we celebrated his birthday together ! :D

Aug - Hammer's Birthday ! (Hannah)
She just came out of the washroom , walk over into the crowd with a surprise.
A birthday song was Sang , a Cake pop out :D
Happy birthday Hannah!

Sept - Fiona Came back for 3weeks!!
Cell went to Changi Beach to Lepak Lepak!
Played games , took sunset group photos :D

Oct - CELL BLOG ALIVE AGAIN !
Thanks Marcus Quek for thy Effort made !

Oct - Hannah , Alena , HuiMei , Roxanne
O level N level , They waited for it n it's here.
God Blessed them (:

Oct - Melody's n ZhengDong's Birthday Celebration.
Changi Village for Food :D
Went to Changi Beach to sit down , chit chat :D
Love the Sharing we done man .. (:

Nov - Carmen's Birthday
Celebrated her Birthday at Church , Birthday Cake n Cards!

Nov - Marina Bay Outing with CELL.
It was a secret that WeiXiong didn't wanna tell us where his taking us.
So we Train to Town , Split into 2 groups .
One went to get StarBucks , the other get FooD!
Then we meet up again at Marina Bay , Sit down n Lepak !
Enjoy taking some time off from the Stress of Life. HAHA
Then we went into MBS , The Noose LIVE was there .
Walked around taking photos (:
Then we Head out to have another walk around MBS .
Photos with Reindeer , the water platform .
Some Super models photo Session? HAHAHAHHA!!

Dec - Camp Unify / Crux
I really enjoyed myself at Crux , i'm sure you guys do too.
Can't wait for the Next year's Camp !!

Dec - Christmas !
Drama @LET , Story about Hazel .
After we went T1 for Late lunch
Then we was thinking of what to do next .
Some wanted Airport , Movie n etc.
End up we went to watch "Sherlock Holmes" Awesome show 5/5 stars !
Then most of us were tired so we went home.
But some wanted to lepak awhile , so we went to Koi/Askimo
What a fun Day , not neglecting the Present , cards n candys.
Christmas is about our God (:

Dec2011-Jan2012 -Cell's Chalet!
Tho some can't be able to come due to school work.
We all had fun yeah?
Awesome Night cycling , went to the viewing area .
No serious Injuries , Thank God for that! :>
Then we had Captains Ball . My Team Lost , but it was FUN!!!
Soon weixiong came , we were all super tired .
When he said "lets go Changi village"
I was thinking of going back to sleep already haha.
End up we went to some CoffeeShop to have supper.
The Next day everyone woke up around 11am ?
Breakfast was served :D
Then we had Melody's lesson - What are your treasure? :D
After BBQ! We started from 3:30pm till like 4am? haha.
Thanks weixiong for ordering MORE than enough food !
Sheryl , Felicia , ZhengDong Drop by even tho they are busy haha :>

It was an Awesome Chalet
God has watch over us all . (:
Also a Great Start of the New Year !

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !

PS: There's more but i couldn't find pictures / remember :X

amazing

2011-12-24T02:17:00.000-08:00

hey guys! just got back from my hongkong and china trip three days ago:). So i wanted to testify about how god has made me improve my maths from a f9 to a b3. When i was young, i always fail my maths since like pri 4..i think... So its not i was stupid or what but its because i hated maths when i was young. During maths tuition i would always be like tired or sleepy and would just ignore what the teacher says. I would also give excuse to go toilet or go kitchen grab a bite>< haha. As years pass, my grade for maths from pri 4 began to deteriorate till sec 4(ok this is kind of embarrassing to admit but it is true). My parents have been trying to help me and they prayed for me too.Then, sec 2-3 i try my best to improve maths by practicing and studying maths but even though i practice i still fail because i think i did not know how to study maths and how to memorise the concept. I thought of giving up..i cried out to god during sec 2 and i was like why why did i fail??i practice it i should have pass... then when i was sec 3, i was upset and didnt really cared about my maths, i still did try my best but in my mind i know i would fail...and i did not have confident in it..same goes for sec 4. Until n level 2010, my teachers keep telling i can do it same goes for tuition teacher and that time i prayed to god that he will help to give me wisdom. So when i got back my results and though didnt make it to sec 5 i pass my maths. My parents was happy for me and thats when i began to realise that glimpse of light.. After 7 years of trying to pass maths i finally did pass in n level 2010 which was a c5, i know its very low but i did pass:). So repeated sec 4 and this time i was confident about maths because i know that if i try harder probably there wil be a miracle. During sec 4 i got a b3 for mid year and c5 for prelim which is not so good due to careless mistakesT.T...but anyway, now i completed my sec 4 n level in 2011 i got a b3 for maths^^ it made me really happy and i thank god for helping me to stay positive and confident for maths and also not giving up. Thank god for helping me to pass maths after 7 consecutive years:) Praise the lord!! I hope he can continue to give me wisdom and help.me in maths.And also wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!:D Adios!

-hannah

Trust God no matter what for we will be victorious!! :)

2011-11-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

"The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust

in Him" (Nahum 1:7) so....

"Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (Psalm 2:12).

So, if any of you guys are feeling doubtful, cast your cares onto to Lord!

"Casting all your care upon Him, for he cares for you"( 1 Peter 5:7)

No matter how bad the situation is, it will all turn out to be good! :)

For we are not born to be defeated by the Devil. When the way gets tough, the tough gets going. God says," Arise, go over!" So don't sit there in defeat, QUIT brooding in bewilderment! Shake off that feeling of frustration or doubt AND ARISE!!! Be strong and of good courage, be very courageous, do not be afraid and neither be dismay for God said that he will be with us and HE will not fail us nor forsake us. :)

Think victory, not defeat. Speak triumphant words, not defeat. Act like a conqueror, for in Christ............................................. WE are one! :)

-Damian :B

CELL CHALET 2011

2011-11-29T09:15:00.001-08:00

HEY CELL, these are the details & tentative plan for our 2011 CELL CHALET! :D

Date: 30th December 2011 - 1st January 2012
Venue: Costa Sands Resort (Downtown East)

DAY 1:
1pm: Meet for lunch @ Downtown East
2.30pm: Check-in
3.30pm: Captain's ball
5.30pm: Dinner (Picnic by the beach)
7.30pm: P&W + Lesson + Prayer
9.30pm: Night Cycling

DAY 2:
7.30am: Wake up + Wash up
8am: Drink Milo
8.15am: Morning worship + Devotion
9am: Morning jog
10am: Breakfast
11am: P&W + Lesson + Prayer
1pm: Free & Easy (Taboo/SPUD/Charades/Ultimate Ninja?) + Light lunch
5pm: Start Fire for BBQ
(Thanksgiving for 2011 & New Year resolutions for 2012)

DAY 3:
7.30am: Wake up
8am: Morning worship + devotion
9am: Breakfast
10am: Pack up
10.30am: Check out
(Go for Speedlight!)

Things to take note:
1. This is just a tentative plan, please feel free to share any suggestions/ideas (:
2. Joel will be notifying the 2 lucky persons who will be delivering the lesson soon! (To start preparing early)
3. Please confirm your attendance with Marcus Seah ASAP, we have yet to repay Lisa for the booking fee. (Those who don't confirm soon, we will just include you & force you to pay regardless of whether you turn up, hehe D<)

Godliness in the Last Days

2011-11-25T22:06:00.000-08:00

2 Timothy 3

Godliness in the Last Days

¹ But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Like what Wei Xiong has been reinforcing during cell group, let us remember to constantly keep the cell & each other in prayer, that we will remain Godly & united in Christ in these last days! & continue encouraging each other :D

Consuming fire fan into flame,
A passion for Your Name,
Spirit of God fall in this place,
Lord have Your way,
Lord have Your way with us

-Melody

2011-11-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! I've drafted this post twice because it was too long and i was worried it might actually bore you guys. So this is the summarised form of my original post :)

So how's your 2011 been? Can you guys believe we're coming to 2012 soon?!?! Like omg time really flies huh.. Anyway i want to tell you guys about my year! This year has been a really tough one for me. But this year was the year that i really grew closer with God and really let go of my worries and leave everything to God. This was also the year i discovered who mattered to me, and who didn't. This was also the year i realised exactly how fortunate and blessed i am to have such a wonderful people around me.

Here's a little background knowledge of me for the benefit of those who don't know. I have two older brothers, 27 and 28 years old. And since I'm the youngest plus am the only girl, my parents and basically everyone doted on me a lot. Whatever i wanted, i received. I never really had to fight or do anything in life because everyone else will just do it for me. You know how parents are supposed to support their child when they fall? Well, i don't think i ever fell because everyone was there 24/7 that i don't even have the chance to experience failure. That was until 10 January 2011 when i received my O level results...

For those of you guys who don't know/confused as to why i retook my O levels, I'll clear this doubt once and for all. I got d7 for both my e math and combined science. Oh i graduated from Greenview Secondary in 2010. I failed the subjects i wasn't supposed to fail at all because it's considered as important subjects in Singapore's education system. But most importantly, i failed my parents, my teachers and those who believed in me. I have always been the one that didn't want to disappoint anyone, and I've disappointed those that mattered the most to me. When i received the results that day, i didn't cry. I guess i thought that crying wouldn't make any difference so i decided to move on.

Fast forward to a week later~ I decided to retake my O levels this year. Yeah, me facing the exams all alone by myself. And then.. the thought of telling my friends, relatives around me was just horrible. I mean, it's usually the normal routine to take o levels and then proceed to a jc/poly and not retake it again. I think what hurt me the most was that i disappointed my dad so much that he was literally speechless that he didn't scold me at all. In fact, no one in my family scolded me. At that point I'd rather they scream and shout at me, or even chase me out of the house. But they didn't, they showered me with love and concern instead which made me feel even more guilty for not studying hard enough last year.

"Eh you go to what school ah?"

"Er... I'm retaking my os...."

"Huh? Why?!"

"I failed my math and science..."

Yup, i had to go through this exact convo for at least 20 to 30 times. And every time my chest would just get so tight that i could hardly breathe. Usually, i love to meet new people.. but i hated meeting new people because i know that i have to tell them about this. And then.. i got used to it. It didn't bother me as much as it did mainly because my past is not equivalent to my future, but it still bugged me a little when i have to tell people this.

I didn't really care about what people said about because they don't know my story and i guess I was misunderstood somehow? Back in secondary school, i wasn't considered a bad student. I went to school on time, followed school rules, didn't make any of my teachers cry, did my homework. I was actually not a bad student. I guess i was too lazy and when i decided to really work hard for the O levels last year, i was too late. And i wasn't entirely focused because of.... a boy. I have to admit it wasn't his fault that i didn't do well, no one is to blame except me for my failures. I was focused yet distracted i suppose? Text msges will be sent at least 10 times per hour with me smiling like an idiot after sending my msg. And you know what? I actually knew that i didn't have a future with this boy and yet i decided to go for it. I was practically digging my own grave at that time. Ah puppy love~ (i hope you guys won't change your perspective of me once you all know about this)

After my exams this year, i discovered that not only was i distracted, i forgot someone that's really important in my life. God. Honestly, during that period i didn't go to church, didn't pray at all. I wanted to just depend on myself and i guess that's where i went wrong? So guys, we are literally nothing without God. I learned it the hard way, and you know what, i thank God for putting me through this tough year because he knew that i would come through with it :)

Gosh this is so long, i hope you guys aren't bored!

Why is it a tough year? Because i had to watch my friends move on to different institutes, make new friends, learn new things while i was just stuck in 2010(not literally); studying for my O levels. No teachers to scold me when i didn't do my work, no teachers to grade my assignments. One pillar of support was gone. And i had to watch my parents' faces when their friends asked where i was schooling and etc. Simply heartbreaking. Which parent doesn't want their child to move forward in their education? It wasn't their fault that i didn't do well, it was mine and i didn't want them to shoulder the "blame" for my results because it wasn't fair at all. I didn't care about what others think about me, i cared more about my parents feelings more than anything else.

I never had a chance to experience failure. So when it did, it hit me really hard. Many times this year, i just simply refused to talk to God. I guess i was angry with him? You know those shows that we watch on tv, when the girl is angry with her boyfriend and refuses to talk to him and he is just there for her even though she's furious? Yeah, that's how i felt.

I can't say that this year was a bad year, because it's not. This year has been a training year for me~ I matured a lot spiritually and emotionally! Usually I'm every one's xiao mei mei, i still am but I'm more sensible, independent and stronger now :) Now, if any problem was to come my way, i'll be like "Oh please, my God is bigger than you can?"

Plus, i found out who really cares about me and i wouldn't have known if i wasn't going through this difficult stage in my life. Because true friends will stay by your side during your toughest moments right? Honestly, before that i felt that everyone was fine without me and my presence was no longer needed. But my clique showed up 1 day before my first paper to give me a "fun pack" filled with lots of tidbits and fruits, so i was really glad that they remembered. And of course you guys who msged and asked about my papers. I really am grateful for all your prayers :) Thank you guys so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 Especially to Hui Mei, Melody and Felicia. Thank you girls for your concern<3

Have a blessed week you guys!!!! :) And remember that God is always there. God is like a ninja you know, he works in ways you cannot see ^^ Ok... it sounds kinda strange.. But you get the point right?! Hahaha! God bless!! <3 Love you all :D

Alena :)

Our Father is Love

2011-11-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, i read something from the book "Knowing the Father's Heart" by Dr. David Eckman. It's some good stuff.

Something interesting i read:

" Churches often have a nebulous figure called God the Father -- and it appears He has nothing to do. The Son does it all. The Father is among the jobless, a distant unemployed figure. This is not what the bible teaches, but it's often how churches present Him.

Sometimes the Father is represented as a malevolent figure. He is angry at humanity over its sin, but the Son has been able to appease His outrage by dying a cruel death. The Father ends up appearing to be threatening and dangerous, as if the Son and the Spirit have to restrain Him from going on a binge of destruction. But whether He is completely nebulous or dangerously angry, He is not involved. And this view creates a very monumental problem."

some food for the thought. Do we view God the Father in this way? He was the one who sent Jesus to die for us, so that the veil would be torn and would could indulge in a deeper relationship with our Father in heaven.

I know some of us are burned out. Dont give up the race and continue to strive for God's glory. My dear brothers and sisters, you are not alone in this.

in His love,
Marcus Jairus.

intentional prayers

2011-11-14T05:57:00.000-08:00

Intentionally Conveying a Message to God

So I chose the words: Prayer is intentionally conveying a message to God. And that prayer can be at least five different kinds of message:

You can ask for something—this is the most basic meaning of prayer, and God delights for his children to ask him for help. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
You can praise him or marvel at him or give expression to your adoration of him. “Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:2-3).
You can thank him for his gifts and his acts (which is not the same as praising him for his nature). “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign” (Revelation 11:17).
You can confess your sins and tell the Lord that you are sorry. “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).
And finally, you can complain to the Lord. “With my voice I cry out to the Lord. . . . I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him” (Psalm 142:1-2). Now here, again, language frustrates. So are you saying, Pastor John, that it is good to have a complaining heart toward God? No. Philippians 2:14: “Do all things without grumbling or questioning.” It’s not good to have a complaining heart. The heart should trust God in all his sweet and bitter providences. So why then do you say we should complain to the Lord? Because sometimes our hearts do complain about the circumstances God has given us, even though our hearts shouldn’t do this, and it is better to consciously direct it toward the Lord than to think he doesn’t see it. Acting like you are not complaining is hypocrisy and will make you a very phony, shallow, plastic person in the end.

So prayer is intentionally conveying a message to God. And that message may be asking for something, praising God for something about him, thanking him for some gift, confessing your sins to him, or complaining to him.
==================================================================

let's make our prayers intentional!

Coming Home ;D

2011-11-07T03:51:00.000-08:00

Hey peeps!

How's life in sg? For Poly kia, how is it like in tertiary education? JC kia, how does it feel like to almost complete year 1? I might not be able to completely understand how you guys feel, and never will but it works both ways. So what im saying is that, this post may sound emotional and stuff but just bear with me cause i really want to share my experience with my beloved cell which i miss dearly~

Jang jang!!! My 8 months course is almost over, and in fact, today is my last day of school, and next come my finals. Just another 28 more days before i return. How do i feel? I dont even know how to feel. Happy cause im going home? Maybe to a certain extent. But here comes the tricky bit. Im studying in an international school, where people come from all over the world. Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan.... just to name afew. What's going to happen after that? Desirably, everyone graduates and proceeds to Melbourne University. However, we cant have everything going our way. People fail, people disappoint you, people have better plans for their future or whatsoever, things just did not turn out the way it was expected to be. Just to illustrate, when we were in secondary school(which is something all of us can relate), you and your friends might promise each other to work hard and go into the same JC/Poly course etc. Some of you guys manage to do it, but not all, and i suppose most people did not for everyone is of different standards and is difficult to ask someone to give up their bright future just for their friends. Looking back, things changed didnt it? Friend that you call shadow, you now only meet them once/twice a week at most. You've made new friends in your current institution and now they are your new shadows. Mentality changed, image changed, everything changes for what makes you you are those whom you are close to. But thankfully you guys are all in Singapore (yes im overgeneralizing, but its something worth to treasure), there can still be often meet ups and stuff. But in my case, i highly doubt that Koreans that choose to go to Canada would ever want to come and visit friends in Melbourne. Afterall, air tickets aint cheap (if not i would have flown back every holiday), and Melbourne is not even their home country.

I did mentioned once that the bond you make overseas are very different to those you make in Singapore. Nope they are not inferior/superior over each other but just different. Over here, friends play many different roles. When you are sick, they are your family that takes care of your, buy you food, take you to the doctor and make sure you eat your medicine. When you need competition and motivation with school work, they become your arch enemy(in a good way), they give you stress, provide healthy competition and many other roles which are too many and too complex to name. People like my roommate, Andrea, we literally eat shit and sleep together (this is my first time having a roommate, a very different experience indeed!) I cant imagine parting these friends that are so dear to me. I cant imagine leaving this hostel which i once called home, all my housemates, this bed which i actually invites me everytime i try to study. I dont know why I did it, but i just did it, maybe to make myself aware of reality. I ripped all the photos on my wall (more than a 100), leaving only 28 of them, each day ill rip another one out. It totally made me realize how little time i have left to spend here. It was like tearing out a part of me, it hurts. No matter how much i said i hate being in Melbourne, or how much i suffer, how reluctant i was to go into the departure gate, i grew a bond to my current environment and it hurts so bad to change. To lose friends is one of the worst part of all, just like how i cannot bear to leave you guys, i couldnt make myself believe that i only have so little time left, and that valedictory might even be the last time seeing their faces.

All these thoughts flooded my brains, I couldnt even settle myself down to study for finals. So i prayed. I ask God, if he knows how cruel it is to ask me to make and break a bond within 8 months. Stupid question right? I know. I continued asking more stupid ones. "Why do I have to study so hard to get into Melb U when all my other friends that said would be with me for at least another 3 more years alr gave up?" "Why am I studying so hard? Why am I so stress? Why am I here, leaving my princess-like life in sg to a place where Ive got nothing, and when i found things and people to treasure, everything changes." As most of you know my quiet time is 70% p&w, if you dont then now you know. I just keep singing waiting for my answer, and indeed i got it. Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' Ive come to realize that it was his plan from the start, to bring these wonderful angels into my life to make this bond, for me to learn from them, to spread his love. And also thank God for the invention of Facebook. Why go to Melb U? Cause I am blessed with his wisdom, knowledge and discipline that i have been praying for years and hence my results are to glorifying him and thus i am working hard. Why work so hard so much so that my body keeps breaking down and malfunctioning? Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are commanded to take good care of it. Do I not know? Im fully aware of that. So why am I overdoing it? Do I not trust that He will bring me into Melb U. So now Im taking a step back, doing what i can do in moderation and also enjoy the last few days that i have with some of my friends, it totally made me happier. I thank God for that. Why am I here? He place me here to train me, my character, learning how to love, witnessing the reality that breaks his heart, learning how to appreciate my family and friends, so much more to name. I truely thank God for this precious experience that he granted me. I LOVE HIM ;D

Last but not least, Im really looking forward to go back to sg!!! I really miss you peeps~ JUST ANOTHER 28 MORE DAYS!!! EGGCHITING!!!! ;D

Seeya peeps!

Cheers

~Fiona ;D

From Marcus to You

2011-10-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

Hey, how's it going? Now with the formalities out of the way, I shall share about something. At first, I didn't really know what to share. But then something hit me during the week.
Well, in my class, there is this girl who is socially awkward. And because the other class informed our Personal Tutor about this little situation, the class leader had to make her feel welcome. But in my opinion, she and us (the class) were on different wavelengths. We were just very different people from different sides of the world. Then, I saw that my classmates went all out of the way to make her feel comfortable. And I felt that is was unnecessary because if she will feel out of place, and if we wanted to make her feel comfortable, we had to somewhat put on a front, which was tiring and not worth while.

Moreover, she was not really making the effort to gel with the class, for example, she doesn't go to lunch with us. So at the back of my mind, I was thinking, do we have to go out of the way and countlessly invite her??

THEN BOOM... I realised that is what God taught us, and He himself is a example of His word. How many times did God go out of the way for us? Countless! So i realised that we as Christians should do as we are taught.

Even if we are dreading to do it, we still have to make a small effort, then God can do the rest, as long as we have a willing heart. Trust me, inside I am killing myself to be nice to her. But I am learning....still learning.

Well that was the end of this week's big story, I hope that it did us some good:D

Another Seed

2011-10-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

I think this will be the second time that I am posting something up onto the cell blog. Have been really busy with my school and other stuff. Today, I have the urge to read up some of the messages online, in which I found one of the messages really meaningful to everyone of us.

In life, everyone is bound to be disappointed at a certain time frame. Some which can be easily forgotten while some might be etched deep in our hearts. These had therefore become a stumbling block in our life which prevented us from moving forward as we keep holding on to them instead of leaving them unto God.

According to the story of Cain and Abel, we all know that both of them are the son of Adam and Eve. Like every other siblings, they loved each other despite occasional fights. Cain got angry at Abel, thinking that God preferred Abel as Abel's offering was completely burnt up on the altar but his just smouldered a bit. Anger aroused, Cain killed Abel. In Genesis 4:8 "Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him".

Knowing that the acceptance of worship depends on the heart of the worshiper - Cain's heart was wrong; Abel's heart was right.

Adam and Eve would have been devastated. In Genesis 4:25, "God has appointed another seed unto us." So, even if we are at our lowest peak and lost of hope, God always has another option for us and that will be one in which He thinks it will be best for us. God has already plan everything ahead even before the event occurs and that Him appointing another seed and doing something new in our life.

From the word 'seed', we know that it will grow into a beautiful flower in the future. Likewise, God planting another seed in our life would mean that our future will be even better than before. This would only happen if we let go of the past such as our disappointments, angers, etc. and just keep moving forward.

God has another seed plan for us!
The future will be brighter than the past!

[Post Motivated By Joel Osteen]

Hope those who are feeling down or have something etched deep in the heart for a long time, be motivated by this as God has another plan for us. Another seed..

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future."

Cheers! (^.^)
-Carmen

2011-10-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

These are a few things that I came across recently that ties together pretty well!

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
-Titus 3:3-7

Again, Daniel 9:18 is reinforced. Not because of our righteousness but because of His mercy.

Failing to acknowledge this is PRIDE.
Pride: Claiming authorship for something we do not deserve. (Kenny's sermon on Healing of Pride)

Moreover, it is important to acknowledge this in order to have "doubt that comes from ingratitude: by knowing that you're a sinner and in need of grace." (Kenny's sermon on Questioning God)

We should have the same attitude as that of Pastor Edmund Chan:
"When I reflect upon my own life, I gratefully see God's redemptive signature on it too. In spite of my pride and prejudice. In spite of my dirt and darkness. I discover it is not so much my story, as it is His story. A story of God's gracious redemption of my life."
-Cultivating Your Inner Life, Chapter 1 My Inner-Life Pilgrimage.

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory

-Mel

Convictions

2011-10-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

HAI Guys!

Been long time since I've really been really really close to God(cause i keep never come) but i know he is always around me guiding me and showing me the way. The previous week I have forgotten him at times and yet he still shows me his love and mercy is unending.

Yesterday i practically went for the New Balance Run for 10km. Totally unprepared because haven't been training or running much. But i made a short prayer that i would survive and i did. I know this may seem small but its the small things that reminds me of his love and grace and protection that is with me. Even though i had a few blisters on my feet, i came upon this verse even though it was totally out of context: "Surely God is my help, the Lord is the one who sustains me." from somewhere in Psalms. Surely God pulled me through the run and gave me strength.

I want to share something i read up on during my quiet time as well. Its from the book Cultivating Your Inner life by Edmund Chan. This guy mentions that our inner life has at least five dimensions mainly: Our inner compulsions, convictions, conscience, compass and composure.

To me, inner life is something people don't see. Something under the surface and hidden in each and every one of us. However, today i shall share about compulsions. He mentions that if left unchecked our negative compulsions would fuel our self destructive behavior. I think its rather true in a sense that our compulsions come from our feelings and emotions. Be it selfishness or hate, simple provocations by people that we dislike can simply force us to have such negative compulsions. Knowing this, I know I have some anger issues like seriously. I choke up all these bitterness and harshness inside of me before i blow up like a volcano. However, i tend to forget to seek god in these moments of temporary anger. Knowing this I am still trying my bestest to seek him whenever such events occur so that i do not hurt friendships with friends and family members. I believe that compulsions are an important part of our lives. Sometimes driven by fear or aspirations we tend to make decisions and do things that are not appropriate. Everyone has compulsions. But the He says: "My farce is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." We are only human. Let us rely on God to over come all these compulsions we have as we know he would always be there to guide us and love us :)

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Let us be reminded of his plans for us always and that he is always by our sides no matter what and ready to hear our prayers if any.

Have a great week all~!
Jared

The Pace of Faith

2011-10-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

The Pace of Faith

Then we are about to die so much of life looks different. So much former frenzy seems foolish. When we lie on our deathbed, 99% of the jitters of our life look ridiculous.

So why not learn it now? In the words of Isaiah 28:16, “He who believes shall not be in haste.” Trusting in a loving and sovereign God takes the jitters out of life. I have a pastor friend who never seems to be in a hurry but gets gobs of work done. When people are late he does not waste time pacing the floor. When a fuse blows in the middle of the service he does not fret and fume. When things don’t go his way at the board meeting he doesn’t chew his nails off or tense up. You get the distinct impression that he knows something you don’t know. Sort of like the person who’s read the book already and knows the outcome.

His secret is Isaiah 28:16, “He who believes shall not be in haste.” Believes what? That God is God, and is always at work for those who trust him. If God is at work for us when people are late, and when fuses blow and when board meetings don’t go our way—if God is always at work in everything for our good, then why be in a frenzy? Why get the jitters? Why be in haste?

When Paul says, “The life I live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me,” he means: “Moment by moment I feel confidence that the love which moved Jesus to the cross for me is also moving him now to work in my circumstances for my good.” That’s why Paul could say, “I have learned in whatever state I am to be content" (Philippians 4:11). He believed in the present power and goodness of God and so he was not in haste: no frenzy, no jitters.

Haste makes waste. Waste of peace. Waste of health. Waste of joy. The Lord is never in haste for he has all things under control. What a steady power should mark his people! We dishonor him by our fretful hurrying. The children of the king do not panic when they lose their keys.

Picture a sergeant in Israel’s army at the Red Sea as Pharaoh approaches from behind. He is in much haste and in a great frenzy, flitting about preparing a flotilla, organizing teams to fetch wood and rope and pitch and tools, staying up late, fretting over the lazy workers, bemoaning the shoddy work. Then early one morning a great pain grips his chest, and his left arm goes numb and he becomes nauseous. His workers carry him to his tent atop the hill. And the last thing he sees is the waters of the Red Sea opened with one divine whisper, and the people walking through to safety, leaving his flotilla behind.

Bethlehem, Bethlehem! Your God never sleeps or slumbers. Do not fret or be anxious. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. He is at work for you right now. Trust him. Steady your pace. For “he who believes shall not be in haste.”

Paced by faith,

Pastor John

========================================================================================

hope you guys find it useful
-marcusq

gossip

2011-10-04T02:44:00.000-07:00

hey cellies,

hope you guys aren't too burned out during this week (:
just wanna update you guys an last week sermon by Alvin Chia

"Dispelling Gossip"
overview - the reality of gossips and how biblical principles can be applied to help us guard against them

Talking TO people rather than ABOUT them
- be it good or bad
- informative updates on the person is a more sophisticated version of gossip (so it's still gossip)
- to become like Jesus rather than being in our own fleshly state
(since offences are bound to occur between imperfect humans)

Definition of gossip:
- Proverbs 26:20 ["where no wood is, there the fire goes out; so where there is no talebearer (a person who maliciously gossips or reveals secrets), the strife ceases."]
- gossip acts as the wood for the fire that cause strife

*james 3:10
"from the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so"

so let's remember to guard our mouths in our everyday activities, and instead use our mouth as means of grace, for edification and love.

More importantly, continue to ground yourself in the Word of God and cultivate your inner life with Jesus as the anchor.

For what we develop in our inner life, it will overflow to the outside. Wisdom in thinking, brokenness in attitude, competence in ministry and God's presence in our lives.

To love others as ourselves and to esteem them above us, to seek to show hospitality when your brother/sister is in need.

By asking God to purify our heart and taking out our heart of stone, we can ensure that we speak of the Spirit and not of the world (for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks)

So let's ENCOUNTER the truth, EXPERIENCE the truth and EMBRACE the truth, which is in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

And we can do so with our daily spiritual disciplines, since there is no short cut to this renewing of the mind. (Romans 12:2)

have a great week ahead (:

- marcus jairus q.

2011-10-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a verse to ponder on before we present a request to God.
"We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy."
-Daniel 9:18

And I know I'm weak
I know I'm unworthy
To call upon Your name
But because of grace
Because of Your mercy
I stand here unashamed

_________________________________________________

Hey guys,
If you haven't noticed, we've stopped our weekly short sharing in cell. (Probably because we are always short of time) Since the cell blog has been revamped, I think this is a good avenue for us to do our weekly short sharing! It will be similar to the weekly blog sharing we used to do. (if you still remember) I will just randomly thumb one of you every week to share something on the blog k, thanks! :D

-Mel

back up

2011-10-02T04:19:00.000-07:00

after a long time, the blog is back up (:
since messaging you guys is quite disturbing in a way,
i've decided to revive this dead blog

feel free to post all anything you wish to share here!
including interesting sermons/lessons you have heard
do post any questions here too!

hope we can continue sharing!

In His love,
Marcus Q.

Evangelism

2011-02-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share something i experience this week. Evangelizing to a dear friend of mine.

So it was 2am in the morning, i receive a SMS asking me if im going to my class chalet, everything started very ordinary. Then i was bored, we continued our conversation on MSN. Changing topic after topic until we reach the sensitive, religion!

He told me that he is a buddhist. I was really uncomfortable when the conversation reach here though. Now i have 3 choices.

1. say that im a christian and brush everything else away and continue with the next topic

2. share the gospel but risk our friendship

as u ppl know.. i have not much friends in tms. So i treasure them. Moreover, the previous time i tried evangelism i screwed it up! losing a friend, a big thing to me!

Dilemma!!

But i have this urge to share the gospel, so i started planning how to make it sound natural and everything, then i said a short prayer and started sharing the gospel.

friend: im a buddhist.

fiona: oh so wat izzit about? ( this is to make my natural entrance.. not that im interested )

friend: alot of teaching.. not too sure. nv got too involve in it.

fiona: oh. im a christian.. [ gospel ]

friend: but I watch documentary..they say Jesus was in fact a rebel><

i thot evangelism only has one barrier.. the courage barrier.. soon to to realize that i was wrong.. he started asking me questions like..

friend: where is heaven? Greek says heaven is on a mountain..Olympia..

And when i told him that Papa God can heal.. he tell me..

friend: sounds like some 乩童 like that..

friend: that means in some Taoism..they get some person who can sort of connect to the spiritual world..den 作法 to let deity enter their body...

As i explain more questions came along..

friend: then everyone in this world will never ever die??

friend: so you celebrate a persons death?? O.o

friend: nvrm..you know everything in this world has to be cycled.. so when people say god created them..at the same time..people created god..

friend: then where does god came from??

friend: without god you are nothing right?? so without you..god is nothing also.. if there is no people to believe in god..there will be no god..unless you tell me other animals believe in god..

friend: okay..if there is no people and other animals in this world, then even if there is god..he would no one to praise him..as good as a nobody..

friend: okay..the universe..martins would praise himself? and bible says alot..some can be accurate..some are contradicting..some may not be that true..

more questions of this sort. firstly i wan to thank God that this conversation in on msn, so i have the time to run through my "notebook" in my mine to find the correct answers that i saved during cell and sermons. I was super nervous every time i am posted a new question, it felt like i was sitting a test that would determine his future. and these questions wasnt easy. knowing the answers is one thing. explaining without using terminology is anothing. whether he is able to accept anot is a totally different thing. the challenge was to give the correct answer without distorting and sound persuasive at the same time. but as u know, godly measures are all diff from earthly stuff this made it even harder for me to explain. what made it worse was.. bickering is how we communicate.. -.-.. u can imagine!! 2 stubborn person arguing!!

even after those hard work. i failed. he brushed it off by saying..

friend: hahha..very long never argue with you like that le.. so shiok!

but i know ive alr did my best and planted the seed.. maybe someone else will sow it.. idk.. i want to thank god that the friendship wasnt broken.. and also i realize the importance of the knowledge of the scriptures ;)

it was a valuable experience. and thats all i have to say.. pardon my grammatical errors.. its 5:38am alr.. im not going to even read through so u ppl can change it for me.. GOD BLESS!!

-FIONA!!

CELL CHALET PACKING LIST.

2011-01-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

100% EFFICIENT PACKING LIST FOR 2011 CELL CHALET:

By Melody,♥

(doesn't include what you're going to wear to check in)

-5 pairs of shorts (including for at night)

-3 own tops (including for at night)

-Both Cell Tees

-5 sets of undergarments

-1 pair of slippers (where there actually)

-Own cutlery (Plate, Cup, Bowl, Fork, Spoon)

-Insect Repellent

-Toiletries (Tooth Paste, Tooth Brush, Towel, Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, Face wash, Moisturiser)

-Cell phone + Cell phone chargers

-Contact Lens Case+Solution+Spectacles (for those with Lenses)

-Compact Mirror

-Hair comb

-Sunblock lotion

-Deodorant

-Bible

-Plastic Bags for dirty clothes

-Water Bottle

-Hand Sanitizer (optional)

-Shades (optional)

-Cap (optional)

-Jacket (optional)

-Sleeping Bag (optional)

-Poker Cards (optional)

-Camera (for those in charge of photography)

photos

2010-12-06T06:24:00.000-08:00

Is God the Author of Sin?

2010-11-23T19:57:00.001-08:00

Is God the Author of Sin? There is no more obscene or profane thought then to imply or suggest that the thrice Holy God would in any manner be accredited as the author of sin. The very idea is scandalous blasphemy and is most repugnant and repulsive to all moral minds. Yet, it is the very charge that some make against the teaching of the absolute sovereignty of God and His omnipotent control over all events in time.

This is no novel device by the enemies of truth. They attempt to set forth a completely absurd premise and then try to pass it off as the alleged teaching of others. This is the common, but dishonest means by which charges have always been brought against truth and it is the same today. The enemies of truth draw a false inference themselves, or suppose that the doctrine leads to such an inference, and then charge it as what others actually hold and teach. There is one maxim which should never be departed from among Christians: “A person is not to be held liable for the inferences which others may draw from his doctrine; and he is never to be represented as holding and teaching that which others suppose follows from his doctrine. He is answerable and liable only for what he avows.”

What is the source and cause of sin in the world and what is God’s relationship to sin? One of the references the framers of the Confession of Faith gave as a proof-text is James 1:13, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.”

First, we must make a distinction between, evil and sin. A simple distinction is that “sin” is the behavior of man in his relation to God. It is the transgression of the Law of God. It is an expression of man’s enmity against God. While it may involve our conduct towards others (murder, robbery) it is the product of the wickedness in our hearts. So David in the confession of his sin of adultery and murder said, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight...” (Psa.51:4) and he prays that God would “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (v.10)

Sin is the evil that man commits as the results of a sinful heart. Evil is the product and consequences of sin. It is what happens among humans. It involves sickness, death, sorrows, calamities, earthquakes and hurricanes. God warned Adam, “for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen.2:17) All evil is the product and consequences of Adam’s sin.

In Isaiah 45:7, God says, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil. I the Lord do all these things.” The Hebrew word “ra” translated “evil” is in other places translated “sorrow,” “wretchedness,” “calamities, but never sin. God is not the author of sin. God is the source and cause of evil as an act of judgment against sin. The evil that God brings forth may not be His punishment for sin that the individual has committed, as in the case of Job and the blind man in John, chapter nine, or of the innocent who die in storms, earthquakes or wars, but it is always the product or consequences of sin.

In Amos 3:6, we have the question, “Shall there be evil in a city and God hath not done it?” Arthur Custance says in his THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GRACE, that “the Hebrew word “asah” rendered “done” in this passage is a word which may mean “doing” or “making” (nearly two thousand times), or it may mean “appointing.” The former is by far the more frequent rendering in the King James Version.”(Page 268)

If we understand the distinction between sin and evil, we will have a better understanding of this verse. Man, of his own initiative, never brings about judgment for sin. It is a manifestation of God’s holiness that produces His judgments as a consequence for man’s sin. The death of Jesus Christ was therefore both a wicked thing and an evil thing. It was an expression of the wickedness of men. It was an evil thing in that Sinless Christ suffered on the cross when He was made to be sin for us. The Holiness of God caused His wrath to fall on Christ and He died for sin.

The source of all sin can be laid on Satan. Our Lord said, that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning…a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44) It certainly is clear that Satan is the one that tempted Eve and Adam to sin. It is through Adam that sin “entered into the world, and death by sin;” (Rom.5:12) It is also very clear that Adam’s sin did not take God by surprise. We are told in 1 Peter 1:20, that Christ was ordained to be the sacrificial Lamb of God for sin “before the foundation of the world.” Here then is the source of the problem in the minds of some, “If God ordained that sin should enter into the world by Adam, does this not make God to be the author of sin?”

The solution to the problem is to be found in the distinction between God’s secret will and His revealed will. Not that God has two wills, but rather that He has a will that has been revealed to man by His Word and another part of His will which has not been revealed. This is clear from the words of God in Deuteronomy 29:29, “The SECRET things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are REVEALED belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of His law.” Man is responsible to God to keep His revealed law. This is the basis of all judgment. The writer of Ecclesiastes summaries this in chapter 12 and verse thirteen, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

All men, in every place and in every age are responsible to God, to fear Him (reverence Him) and to “keep His commandments.” This is the bases on which God judges all people in every age and from all walks of life. Even those who have not a written copy of the Law of God, have both the witness of creation and “the Law of God written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;” …so that they are without excuse… in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. (Rom 1:20; 2:15, 16) “Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)

Then every mouth will be “stopped” and “the whole world” will be made to acknowledge that it is “guilty before God.” (Rom.3:19) All people are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph.1:2) and since “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Rom.3:11, 12)

O LEVELS

2010-10-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

hey guys, time has flew by so quickly siaaaaa. hahaha

ALL MUST JIA YOU AH!!!!!!!

in times of distress, in times of joy, let us always turn to Him, giving Him praise in any circumstance.

lets not give up yet(:

continue our qt yea!!

all the best, and grace to you! (:

-justin

PATIENCE

2010-08-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

-the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain without complaint, loss of temper, or irritation.
-the ability or willingness to suppress annoyance when confronted with delay.
-quiet perseverance
biblical: the ability to stand firm in spite of dissapointment or hardship.
personal: the ability, when things dont go according to your plan or schedule, to trust that God's plan for the situation is better.

¹ I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry. -Psalm 40:1

Have you ever seen a young dog out for a walk with its owner, the dog straining against the leash at every step? Never quite happy with the master's pace or choice of route, it nearly chokes itself lunging this way and that. But the master's pace never changes. For all its straining, the dog doesnt get where it's going any faster. It's just more exhausted when it gets there.

You dont see so many old dogs straining at the leash. They lope along enjoying the scenery, sniffing at the occational tree, barking at the occasional squirrel. They dont wear themselves out trying to lunge ahead. They've learned that they're better off going at their owner's pace, saving energy, enjoying the walk, taking it as it comes. They've learned to trust that their owner is going to get them where they need to be. Impatience grows from a mistaken belief that you should have control over things that you just cant control -the passage of time, for instance, or traffic jams or little sisters. Impatience is straining against the leash as if that might get you where you want to be faster; but you only wear yourself out and make yourself miserable trying to hurry things that cant be hurried.

It takes five to seven minutes to cook a frozen pizza. That's just the way it is. You can stare hungrily at the oven all you want. You can drum your fingers impatiently on the counter. But it wont make the pizza cook any faster. Of course, you could also pull the pizza out after a minute or two, but only if you arent bothered by a patch of ice in the middle of the pizza topped by unmelted strips of mozzarella. Good things -liked fully cooked pizza -come to those who wait.

Impatience is a good way to make yourself miserable. Refusing to accept things that you cannot change only wears you out. The real problem with impatience, however, is that it's a form of unbelief. The impatient heart says (though maybe not consciously) "If i were in charge of the universe, i think i'd run a tighter ship." A patient heart is a trusting heart. It accepts and rests in the fact that God is good and his plan is perfect, whether you understand the plan or not.

³¹ But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. -Isaiah 40:31

God is good to those who are able to wait for him, to trust in him. He gives them a quiet kind of strength that keeps them going long after the childish outburst of impatience have exhausted themselves. Wait patiently for the Lord . His timing is perfect.

Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. -Hebrews 10:36

Its one thing to say you believe that God's plan is perfect in a general sense. The key to patience, however, is to trust that God's plan is perfect in this particular situation - situation where you're tired of waiting, or confused about the way things are working out, or annoyed with the person ahead of you in the drive-through line.

⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. -Galatians 6:9

This hard place in which you perhaps
find yourself is the very place in which
God is giving you opportunity to look only to Him,
to spend time in prayer, and to learn long-suffering,
gentleness, meekness-in short, to learn the depth of
the love that Christ Himself has poured out on all of us.
- Elisabeth elliot

Final thought:
God, i know your timing is perfect. And yet it's hard to wait. Strengthen me. Help me to trust in your wisdom, your goodness today, in this situation. In every situation. Amen.

-Taken from a book, enjoy(:

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. -2 cor 9:8

God's grace is able to provide you sufficiency in all, and all in abundance. so awesome!
So............ have faith(: great week ahead.

-lisa

Happy Day!

2010-07-30T21:12:00.000-07:00

2010-07-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

yo everybody! how ur everybody week? good? well, its my turn to post!:) anyway these days been doing the fast and pray. its quite hard as the food ur always so tempting and the aroma smell always make ur saliva drool.... so now im going to share my verse with you all which is Psalm119:105,160 " The word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. THe word is true from the beginning:and every one is righteous judgements endureth forever."

Second verse, Hebrews 10:35 -36 " Cast not away therefore your confidence, which halt great recompence of reward. For you have need patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise"

thats all!
byebye !

-hannah

2010-07-21T07:14:00.001-07:00

HEY

2010-07-21T05:50:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, as you guys been notified by Joel:

we'll be celebrating joel and alvin's bdae this coming friday.

location? : for those who dont know meet at bedok mrt at 730pm

time & date? : 23rd july at 8pm ( this coming fri )

pls inform joel asap whether you're goin or not.

GERLAD & KASLINA

2010-07-05T01:06:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

two new members to our cg !

Gerald (sec4)

Kaslina (sec2)

Hope you guys enjoy our cell group and learn more about God and continue to grow in Him.

The Katinas acapella

2010-06-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

SHARINNGGG

2010-06-21T08:18:00.001-07:00

HEY PPL(: its finally my turn to share (having had to chase u all to share HAHA)

wanna share wut God has been trying to drill into me
well, its something bout outreach.

everytime we see new peeps in church we ( including ME ) tend to neglect them or keep in our own circle of frends.

i feel that i have sometimes sterotyped certain ppl and that everytime i'm like pai seh to tok to new ppl.

but God tells me otherwise, cus at one stage in life, i had once been like any newcomer - heart hardened. Yet i forget that a touch frm our Father, an all consuming fire, can melt the hardest and coldst of hearts.

so to get to the point... i feel that whenevr there is a newcomer- ANYONE
we shld always approach he or she. i mean jus ask for his or her name. it wun hurt rightttt.

we cant continue to let people pass us by. tho we DO have to realise this, we shld nt get discouraged if we're rejected, for it is ultimately God's Soverignity ( will ) to draw he or she to Him.

"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same"

Matt 5:46
HMM.... now for the verse of e weeeeek(:

ya know when we face troubles, we can always rejoice and have HOPE, for we know that we have a Father that nver slps nor slumbers and is ABLE to help us in the worst of situations(:

"21This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

22The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.

23They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

24“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.”

25The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.

Lamentations 3:21-25 (NASB)

some translations say "21 yet i dare to have hope". ( wah seh HAHA ) cuz Jeremiah realises that he serves a GRACIOUS and all POWERFUL GOD(:

isnt it great to have a God that is ABLE to overcome in the worst situations, when we SEEK Him? (:

HAF A GREAAT HOLIDAY(:

in God's LOVE,
justin ^_____________^

OF YA, MEET UP FOR LOVE.SG VID TMRW THXTHXTHX

Love

2010-06-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

-ZD

INDESCRIBABLE

2010-06-15T08:29:00.001-07:00

Act fast

2010-06-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

hey guys, hope your holiday is going well and you'll are resting well.

just wanna share something i read yesterday on a book i got from my aunt, the title is "heaven is so real" by Choo Thomas.

"the first part of the vision was more like an impression rather then a visual experience. it seemed as if the whole world were excited. earth's environment was noisy and busy. then i began to see what all the activity was about.
the air was filled with white, moving objects. as the vision clarified, i saw people wearing white robes flying throughout the air. people were popping out of the earth everywhere and flying up into the air. the sky was literally filled with flying people, like birds in migration."

the whole part of this was a vision God showed to the author about rapture and what is too come.

" i saw my one-year-old granddaughter. she was wearing a white robe, and her hair had grown to shoulder length. she looked pretty grown up. at first i saw her at her house in normal clothing. then suddenly she was wearing a white robe and flying through the air. i was dumbfounded by this vision. it certainly seemed to confirm that the lord would be returning in the near future.
then i saw my daughter's ten-month-old daughter. she does not have much hair right now, but in the vision her hair was down to her shoulder, and, like my other granddaughter, she was flying through the air."

while this is to show us that rapture was not something far away.

what really felt sad was that further down the chapter, it tells us of what is going on to the rest who was left behind after the rapture.

"the joyous vision changed. i saw people who did not ascend with the others. places on earth had been disrupted, some had been turned upside down. it was noisy everywhere, and people were in an obvious state of panic. terror was written on every face.
people were running wildly. total pandemonium reigned. it seemed as if each person was searching for someone or something that they could not find. i began to cry like a little child as i watched people running down the streets. they were screaming and yelling. some were trying to throw what few belongings they possessed into vehicles such as cars and boats."

the whole reason I'm sharing this today is that the thought of christian being rapture is a fascinating thing, but i was truly afraid that those who do not get raptured have to suffer pain and misery... it made me really scared for my family and friends as most of them were not Christians and have a high chance of getting left behind...

i just want to let you'll know that the timing stated in the book when Jesus is coming is near, and that we really do not have that much more time to spare to save those around us. so we've got to act fast or there will be no way to undo what is to come...

OK, so that's all for my sharing, sorry 4 being like so serious, anyways enjoy your holiday and rest well :)

-ZD

2010-06-13T05:44:00.000-07:00

grey front
grey back
yellow front
yellow back.

vote for the colour...

Fiona.

What is that?

2010-06-13T03:39:00.000-07:00

Hey, everyone! :) It's my turn to share now... I found this rather interesting and touching video about a father's love for his son. I'll talk more about it after you have finished watching. Enjoy:)

So, after watching this, i think it's good for us to start reflecting on how we treat our parents. Sometimes we tend to complain that our parents are naggy or bothersome and we might find it annoying. However, think about all the times that they have put up with our nonsense when we were young! :) Therefore we should never forget to honour our parents in whatever we do :)

J (eremy)

2010-06-11T05:36:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys! :) How has your holidays been so far? Good? Bad? Whatever the case is, just enjoy it while it lasts! :) So I've been just surfing the web and i came across a story that i would like to share. :)

The Long Silence;

At the end of time, billions of people were seated on a great plain before God’s throne. Most shrank back from the brilliant light before them. But some groups near the front talked heatedly, not cringing with cringing shame - but with belligerence.

“Can God judge us? How can He know about suffering?”, snapped a pert young brunette. She ripped open a sleeve to reveal a tattooed number from a Nazi concentration camp. “We endured terror … beatings … torture … death!”

In another group a Negro boy lowered his collar. “What about this?” he demanded, showing an ugly rope burn. “Lynched, for no crime but being black !”

In another crowd there was a pregnant school girl with sullen eyes: “Why should I suffer?” she murmured. “It wasn’t my fault.” Far out across the plain were hundreds of such groups. Each had a complaint against God for the evil and suffering He had permitted in His world.

How lucky God was to live in Heaven, where all was sweetness and light. Where there was no weeping or fear, no hunger or hatred. What did God know of all that man had been forced to endure in this world? For God leads a pretty sheltered life, they said.

So each of these groups sent forth their leader, chosen because he had suffered the most. A Jew, a negro, a person from Hiroshima, a horribly deformed arthritic, a thalidomide child. In the center of the vast plain, they consulted with each other. At last they were ready to present their case. It was rather clever.

Before God could be qualified to be their judge, He must endure what they had endured. Their decision was that God should be sentenced to live on earth as a man.

Let him be born a Jew. Let the legitimacy of his birth be doubted. Give him a work so difficult that even his family will think him out of his mind.

Let him be betrayed by his closest friends. Let him face false charges, be tried by a prejudiced jury and convicted by a cowardly judge. Let him be tortured.

At the last, let him see what it means to be terribly alone. Then let him die so there can be no doubt he died. Let there be a great host of witnesses to verify it.

As each leader announced his portion of the sentence, loud murmurs of approval went up from the throng of people assembled. When the last had finished pronouncing sentence, there was a long silence. No one uttered a word. No one moved.

For suddenly, all knew that God had already served His sentence.

Hehe. How great is our God right! Yup, that's all so.. bye! :)

- Alena :D

A really really quick post :)

2010-06-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Hi. erm its like 2am so emma gonna make a real quick post ya?

Just wanted to firstly thank god for letting samuel find back his phone somehow! i think that it really shows that the church is god's home and not anybody else's!

Secondly wanted to thank god for allowing me to be alive. ya so ytd i went to chompang to eat barbeque steamboat with my frens (u guys shud try it sometime) den after that we did the usual crazy thing, play around in trolley and stuff and we went to this slope which was dam dark but was really scary. Yes yes obviously i pushed my friend in the trolley and guess what, there was a hole in the road which caused the trolley to fly with him inside and me outside. my whole leg crashed against the trollley and i cant go church later cos of that but i think me and my fren are safe :) THANK GOD.

Lastly i just wanted to thank god for the week that it passed by so quickly such that the time spent in scl passed in a twinkling of an eye.

SHAriNG START HERE:

i was doing my qt when i went passed a few really really cool verses:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

I think that this verse really shows us how life can be so much better if we truly did love our enemies, love everyone around us. Imagine a world where everyone is kind, patient, never rude, never proud, never boasting, never self seeking, never easily angered and does not keep record of pple's wrongdoings... Impossible? not really. I think that deep down in our hearts we just need to have such a mindset where we would treat others the way u would want to be treated.

I think that what i wanna really say is that LOVE IS ALL AROUND US! GOD LOVES US! he keeps us safe from dangers everyday and i think its really kewl that we have such a god. Trust in him and he will not fail you. ! (Corinthians 13:13 faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is LOVE! ) even in some days where we are really pissed off (i have a lot of these), we should still remember that god loves us and that we should always love our siblings, friends and enemies. His loving arms wont let us go! REMEMBER THAT! kk gtg sleep now. TAKKAIRE ALL!

JARED.
(ps. i'm really sleepy, sorry for any mistakes or nonsense i write)

" I'M WITH YOU"

2010-06-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

He's always there.

2010-05-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Alright firstly i know i delayed my post for so so so so long so i wanna say sorry! (esp justin hehe) Sorry ar. But yeah i am gonna post now! Hehehe. Hope that everyone is doing fine! (Joel, esther and all you fantastic cell mates! =) )

I have been thinking of what to share and i also asked God about it. And i think He wanted me to share about is something which i had experienced during the exam period and something which i am very very sure everyone has also experience before.

During my exam time ar... It was quite crappy! Cause i was too busy doing all the last minute studying and stuff that u had no time for QT and really kinda forgot about God. Then whenever i was in a difficulty i would ask God why isnt He working in my life. I kept doubting Him. Well i pratically forgot that He was always with me and beside me even when i think that He is not there. This is something which we all usually face too right. There were times when i really felt like shit and went to church wanting to really really feel His touch but didnt. During praise and worship i would pray for Him to work in me and touch my heart but i just coudnt feel Him. Even when i asked for Him to at least show me some evidence or things which could encourage me i fail to see... It was till one of the days of my exam, the night before my amath paper 2, I wan so discouraged cause i kinda gave up on amath paper 1. While i was during my last min revision suddenly my amath teacher smsed me saying i did well for paper1. I was so surprised and the first thing i thought was to thank God. His super duper awesome right. I mean He really really works in ways we cant see. Like really when we thought that His not there and God's not working in my life, but the truth is He is always there! FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER!

So i the thing i want to share with you guys is bascially that we should never doubt God cause its like we arent putting our trust in Him. We must always always know that God is with us so that we wont ever let the devil put in thoughts in our tiny head of ours. And pray always cause prayer is like a bazooka which ppl use in war. Haha. Its powerful! :) The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. -2 Chronicles 15:2
TAKE CARE EVERYONE!!!
Love, Ray =)

Jesus, Our Rose

2010-05-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, got something to share :D

-marcusq

all that i seek

2010-05-19T06:01:00.001-07:00

All That I Seek

Nearer to you my Father
I rest in your presence
Abide in Your goodness

Your mercies are new every morning
Your tender embrace
It quickens my Spirit

Your love endures
You are my fortress and my sheild
All that I long for is You my joy and strength

Cos Jesus You're all that I seek
I'll turn to You in times of need
My Saviour Your grace covers me
I'll hold to You whenever I'm weary

sell fish, HAHA

2010-05-13T05:09:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, just want to share with you a story I read.

Sell fish or selfish??

One fine day, God wanted to grant a wish to a fish monger, who was a hard working . He was also generous and kind to the people around him.

God said:" My son, you have been hard working and caring to your neighbour. So, i have decided to grant you a wish. But, whatever you wish, your neighbour will have DOUBLE. I will give you one day to decide what you want to wish for."

After God left, the fish monger sat down and started to think.

"If I want a car, my neighbour will have two. mmmm..... If I want a ton of rice , my neighbour will have 2 tons of rice ."

The more he thought, the more selfish he became. Soon he thought of a very CUNNIG wish.

The next day, God appeared to the fish monger.

God said:" My son, have you decided what to wish for??"

The fish monger replied:" Yes. Since you say that whatever wish I make, my neighbour will have double, then I wish , . . . . .that You will remove one of my eye !!!"

God look at him, disappointed and said:"Very well, your wish will be granted."

At an blink of an eye, GOD removed the fish monger's left eye and his neighbour, BLIND ( both sides).

The moral of the story is one should not be selfish. Selfish only will lead to a lose-lose situation.

Philippians 2.3,4
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,but with humility of mind let each of you regard one anotheras more important than himself;Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also forthe interests of others."

LARRISA'S BIRTHDAY

2010-05-12T22:57:00.000-07:00

HEY PPL.

Larissa's bdae details:

Date: 15th May
Day: Saturday
Time: 7 pm onwards
Venue: Coasta Sand Resort

*pls confirm whether you can make it with her , cuz she needs to order the food.

THANKS(:

STUDY HARD GUYS!

justin

JESUS, the name above all names

2010-04-29T04:59:00.000-07:00

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. James 5:11

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

God is full of compassion, let's behold Him. . .

To carry His compassion..

To love a world thats broken. .

To be His hands and feet. . .

Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:15

I will give.. with the life i've been given and go beyond religion

To see the world be changed. .

By the power of Your name. . .

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter4:8-10

remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:20

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

"The righteous will live by faith" so that by faith we might receive the promise of the spirit.

Surely faith without action is dead. . .

Let your kingdom come. . .

Pleasing to You

2010-04-18T04:15:00.000-07:00

Hey guys + gals(:

great day to praise God yea?

haha, wanna apologize for the song i played during cell, kinda screwed up.. (DONT PITY ME. thank you)

i think i should practice even harder before i play (thanks for telling me sam), cant really blame the tuning also heheh. really sorry yea? will promise to practice harder for next time, i assure you.

Anyways, hoped you still enjoyed the P&W :D + great time of sharing.

Hey, also wanna remind you all that ANYONE can post ANYTIME, and please feel free to do so (you are very encouraged to do so)

I wanna share this few verses that i read up during my QT, really spoke to me.

Matthew 18:21-35

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents (millions of dollars) was brought to him.

25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'

27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii (few dollars) .He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.

33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'

34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

As God forgives us of our sins we've gotta forgive others too, dont be like the ungrateful servant, and forgive others. It's not hard, but imagine how hard it was for God to forgive us for our uncountable sins

We must always walk in His path to victory. learning from Him every step of the way. We may stumble, but He always has His grip on us, with His staff and rod, never to lead us astray.

Always learn from God alone.

"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11

Have a victorious week ahead guys. LOVE YA :)

God Bless,

marcusq.

LISTEN & ENJOY

Alone With God

2010-04-14T03:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys! I just want to share with you this article which I received through an email.It spoke to me alot and I hope you guys will be encourage and be bless by this...

"'...the Lord...is a jealous God.' "
Exodus 34:14 NKJV

God is jealous of anything that takes His place in your life, especially a 'relationship idol'. You say, 'What's that?' It's the lie that convinces you your happiness depends on another person. When you look to somebody other than God for security, purpose, worth and contentment-all the things He willingly provides-He's jealous. So tear down that idol! Yes, it's hard to have nobody to share your life with, or come home to. But when God wants you to hear His voice, sometimes He silences all the rest. Has it occurred to you that you're alone, not because nobody likes you, but because God is drawing you to a deeper place of intimacy with Him? 'How can I know?' you ask.

1. Joshua was alone when God gave him the plan for conquering Jericho.

2. John was alone on the island of Patmos when Heaven opened and he wrote the book of Revelation.

3. The Bible says, 'Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.' (Genesis 32:24 NIV) That's when God changed his name from Jacob, deceiver, to Israel, prince with God.

When you don't know who you are, you'll allow yourself to be swallowed up in somebody else's life in order to find worth and fulfilment. You'll think you need them in order to enjoy being you. No, let God tell you who you are. After all, who knows you better? The only way you'll discover your true identity, is by being alone with God!

Jason :D

My worth, ♥

2010-04-13T06:33:00.000-07:00

(Pause the music player & play my song! ^^)
if you want the song mp3 you can ask me ;D

Even if the world turns its back against you, even if you are feeling unloved, even you think you're not good enough or even, a liability, know that...

♥God loves you & you are beautiful & wonderful in his eyes.
"God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27
Therefore, he values you highly! You are his treasure, his masterpiece. Your soul is so valuable to God that he sent his Son to die for you

♥The LORD will never leave you & his love will never change. People may change, disappoint you, break promises, leave you, give you false hopes, lies, but "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) "God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."" (Hebrews 13:5)

♥He is faithful. No one on earth can be so true to you like how God is, "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." (1 Corinthians 1:9)

♥He is always there for you. Even your earthly best friends can't be there for you ALL the time, unlike the LORD. "If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:8-10

♥He is our ever-present help in times of need, & will keep you from all harm as you are very precious to him.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Make of the heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, not the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121

♥You are so precious to him that he prepared treasures in heaven for you

"and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you" 1 Peter 1:4

Therefore, we should not put our trust in man: hypocrites. but in the never-failing & almighty GOD.

♥"This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its root by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."" Jeremiah 17:5-8

♥"It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." Psalm 118:8

♥, Every single letter typed out by,

Melody

(i apologize for any incompetence)

Remember your ABC

2010-04-13T06:24:00.001-07:00

Remember your ABC

Avoid Negative Sources, People, Things and Habits

Believe In Yourself

Commit Everything You Do To The Lord; Then Your Plans Will Succeed

Don’t Give Up

Enjoy Life Today; Yesterday is gone and Tomorrow May Never Come

Family And Friends Are Hidden Treasures. Seek Them And Value Them.

Give More Than You Planned To Give
Honor The Lord.

Ignore Those Who Try To discourage You.

Just Do it!

Keep On Trying, No matter How Hard It Seems. It Will Get Better.

Love The Lord Your God With All Of Your Heart, With All Of Your Soul, Strength And Might

Make Your Lord Your God Top Priority

Never Lie, Cheat, Or Steal. Always Strike a fair deal

Obey God’s Word And Store up His Commandments In Your Heart

Practice Make Perfect

Quitters Never Win And Winners Never Quit

Read The Bible And Commune With God Everyday

Stop Procrastinating

Trust In the Lord Your God And Do Not Depend On Your Own Understanding

United We stand, As One Body Of Christ

Visualize and have faith That God Is Going To Do Wonders In Your Life And That he Has a Plan Installed For You

Wise People Store Up Knowledge But The Mouths Of the Foolish People Destroy Them

Xccelerate Your Efforts To Bring More People To Christ

You Are Unique Amongst All Of Nature’s Creation, Nothing Can Replace You.

Zeal Will Do More Than Knowledge

Bible verse: Romans 8:14-17

Those are led by the spirit of God are children of God. You didn’t receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear once again. Instead you receive the Holy Spirit, who makes you God’s child. By the Spirit’s power we call God “Abba.” Abba means Father. The Spirit himself joins with our spirit. Together, they give witness that we are God’s children. As his children, we will receive all that has for us. We will share in his sufferings if we want to share in his glory.

P.s it’s a random bible verse with no link to ‘Learn Your ABCs’

By Larissa

His Grace is sufficient

2010-04-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

Here's my sharing... some stirrings these weeks and here's sort of what i learn? ;) ok, grace -> no matter waht you have done,no matter what you have become, no matter how you have rebelled against God, he stoops down and says," none of that matters, you're my child, and I LOVE YOU."

My sin is great; Your Grace is greater (:

so awesome right......i know. How great are God's love, mercy, grace and power! I want to share 2 chronicles 20.
12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you:'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.
17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "
18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.
19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful."
21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:"Give thanks to the LORD,
for his love endures forever."
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
29 The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

Sometimes our focus seems to wander off, wander off to the earthly things that can only fill us temporarily, wander off to living on own strength, wander to some lalaland. . . . Then when you have realised how deep a hole you have dug for yourself. Left there helpless.... He will reach down to raise you up, for His arm is always long enough

SO. . . THE BATTLE NOT YOURS, BUT GOD'S. BE STILL, HE'S THERE. . . :D

Just like what the people do in verse 18-22. Seek God and pour out all your worships that will satisfy God and nothing else. Worship is a powerful weapon too!

For those who is not feeling well, everythings not going well, feeling stress, feeling down, facing difficulties, facing failures or whatsoever... Don't be discouraged! Just look at how God can preform :D

He has been merciful to you. His blessing have never be based on what you could do for him; they have always been based on his sheer-loving kindness. in the same way, it is your privilege and duty to show mercy to those around you.

Actually being emo, sometimes is not a bad thing yeah? It makes you think ;) hehehehe. Lastly,may God teach us His ways that we'll be able to walk in truth with an undivided heart(:

" There is none like you, no one else can touch my heart like you do and i could search for all eternally long and find there is none like you..."

-Lisa (:

Eastercamppp!!

2010-04-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

Hey you lot!!
Joel decides to updatee and praise God for a lovely testimony he has created in my life.

Lately, Ive been to an eastercamp!!
In coonawarra!!
not that you guys know where that is.
Anyway, some background details
1) I was asked to cell lead in the camp
2) Its an OverseasChristianFellowship Camp where different OCF centers all around victoria, Australia come together for a God focused camp.
3) Chase is not a real name, it is to keep my friend's name in confidence.

So heres how the story goes... ...

I guess at first I was so focused on wanting to be a good leader, and some1 who could just give and make an impact on the lives of my group members that I forgot to go to camp with an expectant heart, one where i wanted to recieve from God.
So, when during center sharing they were like. Joel, what are you expecting to get out of this camp, I was like... huhhhh... ermmm.. i dont know??
Lol.
So i decided to refocus myself on God instead of the people in my group, afterall, how could God impact lives through me if I was the one trying to impact lives and not let him work through me?

And i realised that thats what i really wanted from God in this camp, to see him working through me to touch the lives of others, and to see him just move so strongly in the camp.
But as i looked around, I realised something so different from the easter camp i had back in 2007 when i was in trinity.
These people had gotten so comfortable, so cold towards God.
They werent completely surrendering themselves to God, moving out of their comfort zones to just praise him.
And that prevented him from moving in our midst.
This reallyreally frustrated me, because they paid money to come to this camp, they came all the way to move away from the hustle and bustle of life to just spend time alone with God and in the end, they arent going the full way to want to see God move.
It was so bad, it sharted to affect my own experience with God, along with a bunch of other burdens I carried during that camp.
Then on the second day, my friend Jeremy, last min asked me to help him to backup sing on stage.
I was like.. ohhh ok....
but inside i was super scared... my voice isnt really the best in the world. and itll be like.. my first time on stage singing in front of so many people.
But praise God, everything went smoothly, as we just focused on God and not the people around the room. There were a couple of hiccups but nothing major and everyone said we did a good job afterwards.

Then came center sharing on the second night. And as i shared with my friends about my frustrations with how people were holding back, and refusing to move out to give themselves fully to God, I was struck by my own inhibitions when i was on stage. And i revised my statement, telling my friends that I ad no right to feel angry at them, because I guess, I also experienced what they did, having to try and move out of my comfort zone to 'perform' in front of so many people.

So, I guess i grew more desperate for God, and, especially on the night of ministry (3rd night) during praise and worship, I just completely surrendered myself to God. I decided not to focus on how the people were not surrendering themselves, and focus on him himself. That just made me surrender myself even more. And it was a beautiful beautiful thing, because that spread to a few others around me as well. Then we were called to pray for one another, so I got hold of my friend beside me, Chase, and started to just pray for her.. I knew that God had put her beside me for a reason. I prayed for total surrender, and for God to just be the center of our focus. But we hadnt finished praying yet when the next song started to play, Hosanna. So we just continued to support each other and held on to one another as we sang with all our hearts.
And after a few minutes, she fell to her knees, crying.
I guess, even then i didnt know what to do, I was like, should i pray for her, or should i just continue in worship?
So i just laid my hands on her, to show i was there to support her, but i just continued in worship... And again and again i felt prompted to pray for her.. but i resisted, just like jonah resisted and ran from God's call for him.
But the promptings kept coming, and, when some1 came over to her, I felt guilty that I hadnt prayed for her and now some1 else would.
But that person just offered her a tissue, and left.
And i was stunned. So i took the opportunity, and finally went to pray with her.
And i knew just the right words to say, I prayed for breakthrough, for our biggest tragedy to become our biggest victory, for God to make a way where there seems to be no way, I prayed using psalms 23, I prayed for his omnipresence and his always being with us and carrying us through our trials and temptations. And I prayed and thanked God for the beauty of the complete surrender of her soul to him.

Later on, I saw that not many people had been moved by God, and many had become bored with prayer and had moved outside to go out of it. And again I was displeased.

On the bus going back home, I sat next to a friend called JoonHui, and as he started to talk to me about his experience with camp, and how it was such a blessing to him and how he treasured it because it may not have been great, but it was still something, because he had been running from God for manymany years prior to this, I was struck by his testimony, and i was ashamed at how selfish I was. I expected things from God that he chose not to do. I had prayed for him to move into the camp even when people had hardened their hearts, and i had been disappointed whe they had not, I had focused on my wll, not his. I had claimed that the most beautiful thing was a soul completely surrendered before him, but yet I had ignored the beauty of that one soul from Chase, and I chased after manifestations of God, to see him move in our camp over many people. And i realised finally that, the camp had been a great success. Me, who has wantd to be a vessel of God, even as my singapore cell goes on outreach missions, to learn as well to evangelise to others and impact their lives to God, had made a difference. I had been foolish and stupid and I had wanted to do everything within a day, moving multitudes of people. But God has once again humbled me, and showed me that it is by his strength, not mine, and it is in accodance to his will, and not mine, that I do what I do, and that my labours bear fruit in accordance to what he wills, and that i should be satisfied. Out of those hundreds of people, he chose to work through me. What more could i ask for?

It turns out that there was just yet another miracle in store, as i went to dinner with Chase that night when coming back to the city. She shared about how she was facing depression and how it was a daily struggle for her, and how she had come back to Christ and rediscovered him and his direction for her life once again in the camp. She had foud direction in her life once again. And i had prayed all the right things for her that night, without knowing it.

Our God truely is an awesome God.

On a side note, I went horseback riding and my horse decided to stop in the middle of the road and pee! hahahah.
The horse was superfunandawesomeee =))

-J

Tc and Godbless!

2010-04-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

hey guys!! this was the game we played after easter hunt:D hahas!! we played under fiona void deck:). the easter hunt was fun as everyone had a hard time finding those eggs especially the kinder joy chocolate:) hahas! happy easter!

uploaded by:hannah:)

GOOD FRIDAY

2010-04-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

hey guys, as you all know yesterday was good friday (:

In the midst of all the easter cheer and relaxation, we shld take some time to consider what Christ did on the Cross for us and thank Him for being our once-and-for-all Lamb.

Romans 5:18 tells us that, “But God demonstrates his
own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.”

1 Peter 3:18 says that, “For Christ died for sins
once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put
to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

happy Good Friday,
justin

Glory to God

verse by marcus s.

2010-03-30T04:07:00.000-07:00

James 1:2-4
consider it all joy...when you encounter various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lackin in nothing

This week, we may encounter many ups and downs, but bear in mind that the downs may be times that God is testing you. We should not give up but perserve till the end. To do so, one many look unto the Lord as he is always there for us. We shoul all lead our lives right with God even through all those bad things that we have been though, even if they are really crappy, cos at the end of the Day God might be testing us, :) have a wonderful month ahead

Holy Ghost Meeting

2010-03-26T18:56:00.001-07:00

Hey cellies,

Wonderful and amazing time at the Holy Ghost meeting on Friday, thank God for His presence

It's just so amazing, overflow of emotions. Laughing, crying, you name it.

Hope we can go as a cell grp nxt time if we wan :)

a touch from the King, which we never deserved but received fully.

-marcusq.

Highest place.

2010-03-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

Soar on wings like eagles

2010-03-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?

The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us – and all of us will experience them – we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God’s power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.

Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

The Bible says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” Isaiah 40:31

-lisa

The Power of Your Name

2010-03-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

Let Your Kingdom come.

-marcusq.

Lentor Residences

2010-03-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

GOOD JOB, GET EM UP REAL HIGH GIMME GIMME THAT HIGH FIVE

Ah I've always wanted to go to an old folks home. It's not as cheery as I thought it would be but still. It's really quite sad to see the old folks left there without their family for whatsoever reason. Anyway I really hope the way we presented the gospel impacted at least ONE person. It's worth it then. Anyway, we should keep spreading the Word everyday, not just during these events ya. Ok I must practice what I preach hahaha.

Matthew28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. and surely I am with you always, to the very end of age.'

God's love is strong, and He loves the hard hearts!

Sincerly sam.

Wheee~!

2010-03-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

Hey Ya'll!

Joel reporting for duty.

Just 1 more day until the outreach event.. omgg im so excited.. *even though im not there*

Soooo... to show my invisible support, I have provided two simple verses for you guys =D

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; for the Lord your God will be with you whereever you go. -Joshua 1:9

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:16

I know its something new to you guys and most of you probably havent even visited an old folks home before, much less perform in front of them.
And i know that some of you are feeling small, you just wanna go through the motions, get it over with, and you feel whatever you do isnt gonna make an impact.
Some of you might even feel inadequate, as if youre not good enough as a Christian, not holy enough to do this.
Some of you are feeling scared, afraid at the prospects of going up in front of random strangers to show them the love and the good news of God.

But whatever your case is, God is with you.
And remember, that God judges not who you are now, but he looks at what you can be.
He looks not at the outside, how confident we are, how handsome/pretty we look, but at our heart and our intentions, whether we are doing it for him or for other reasons.
And God works for the good of those who love him.

So whatever it is, remember my last lesson to you guys.
Put on that full armor of God,
and empty yourselves as willing vessels, that he may do mighty deeds on Earth.
Let him come forth as (Heb 12:29) consuming fire that will burn away the enemy and sin, that all who oppose him will not stand. And let him also come forth as (Mala 3:2) a refiners fire, and shape and mould his people for his glory.

you are God's chosen army.
stand and fight.
-J (btw, please dont sign on with the SAF after reading this.)

OUTREACH PROGRAMME FINAL PLAN

2010-03-17T04:15:00.001-07:00

Hey guys.

We are officially doing the "Parable of the Lost Son" or more known as Prodigal Son. Read Luke 15:11-32 for more information

Meaning? Prodigal son, is a parable of Jesus about heaven and the sinner who repents. A young man leaves home and becomes lost and ruined, then repentant, he returns to be received with joyful welcome.

But we are only doing the skit till verse 24.

Here are the roles for the skit: (if you are uncomfortable and dont want them please sms me thanks)

Father: ? [Jason / Damian / Samuel]

Son : ? [Samuel / Damian]

Servant: Zheng Dong, Justin, ?[Hannah / Kiew Ray / Fiona]

Bad friends: Melody, Marcus Q, Jared (not sure if coming), ?[Kiew Ray / Fiona]

Farmer: Evangeline, ?[Jeremy]

'Lovely' Piggy: Lisa, ?[Damian]

Props needed:

1. Poker cards
2. Paperbag
3. Fake cash card
4. Fake money (e.g. monopoly)
5. Cardboard & Markers
6. Pig noses
7. Some sort of basin (for the pig to eat from) :O

For the acting and scripts, will tell you guys on saturday.

Here's the plan, we will meet about 2 hrs earlier be4 the outreach programme to learn the roles and script, kinda impromtu.

any questions feel free to ask. Thanks & God bless

-marcusQ.

i coloured this ! HAHA

Planning outreach programme

2010-03-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

hey guys.

Planning to meet up on Wednesday and Thursday for the preparations

- any preferred timings???

If you didnt know we are doing the story of Elisha helping a woman

Read 2 Kings 4:2

Anyone willing to take on these roles??

- Elisha
- Woman
- children1
- children2
- creditors/debtors

extra:
husband
neighbours

IN URGENT NEED OF ACTORS. haha

Sms me if u want any of the roles, much appreciated. OR we would have to start voting HAHAH.

with lots of love,
marcusq

OUTREACH PROGRAMME DETAILS

2010-03-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! just a reminder the outreach is confirmed on the 20th March from 2pm to 5pm.

This is the amended breakdown of our planned activities: 1.45pm: Reach Lentor Residence and fetch the elderly from their rooms/wards to the main hall. (the name of the old folks home)

While we are walking/accompanying them down from wherever they are we will take the time to talk to them, get to know them, try to show them that we care.

2.10pm-2.45pm: We start a mini concert for them, where we will be singing some hokkien/chinese/english songs on stage for them to hear, and maybe one of our kids can tell them a little story pertaining to christianity?? There will not be a salvation call, but along the way if any of them wants to know more our kids will be there. I will be emailing you guys the songlist later this week. If possible please go through with your kids this coming sunday! Very simple songs.

2.45pm to 4.15pm: We will play a game with them. Based on what the reachlighters did for the golden pines elderly. We split the elderly with their respective kids into 4 groups. There will be a large snakes and ladder board displayed by the projector. Each group will take turns to roll a big-furry-soft-toy-dice. If they roll a six, then the piece moves 6 steps. Whatever colour they land on they will have to take a card and do whatever the card says. It'll be funny things like maybe balance some balls or something. Whichever group reaches the end point wins!

4.15pm-5pm: We have a game of bingo! Each elderly has a bingo card. Numbers will be called out. Whoever gets bingo first wins first prize! Then second prize! Then third prize! THen consolation prizes.

5pm: We will sing them a song together on stage, thank them for the wonderful time we've had, and tell another story, an analogy about christ. Then we will accompany them to the dining area. We will NOT be accompanying them for dinner because we would probably be more of a liability than an asset if it comes to assisting them to eat.

Just a reminder it takes merely 10mins bus ride from Yio Chu Kang MRT station. Also, bus 39 from pasir ris takes merely 25 mins to get to Lentor Residence from Whitesands bus stop.same goes for 969 from tampines 858 from changi 965 from sengkang. They are all highway buses.

-from Esther's email

Refined in Him

2010-03-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hey dudes, didnt post last week cause decided to let melody put up her testimony :)

Came across this verse during my QT.

Proverbs 12:16
"A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult"

Haha, i realised that i get annoyed very easily, which i am asking God to correct me in.

We are children of God and i believe that we cant get angry and annoyed at things whether big or small.

Yupp, and i came across another verse. I feel this is for the people who arent feeling good about their results.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
" give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ"

it's hard, but we dont just praise Him in the good times and don't in the tough times. We've goota praise Him all the time :0

but u ask me what will i get out of this?

Job 23:10
" But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold"

let Him refine us yea?

We may be faithless at times,. but rmb He's always faithful and there to pick us up.
"When there was only two footprints on the ground, it was then i knew it was Him who carried me" (on my bday tee) :)

Yup, so guys have a great hol and always rmb to thank and have faith in Him in whatever you do. But faith w/o works is dead, so pray, ask and do your best and glorify Him in your actions :D

You are our Majesty.

GOD BLESS BROthers and SISters :D

-marcusq.

2010-03-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

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hope this minister's to your hearts! :)
-Ray!

2010-03-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hey guys and girls! I promised justin like i think one month ago that'll I will post something!

. Firstly I really should thank God for what He has done for me so far! Thank you for the cell = you guys!! :) We have so much fun together every time we are together and there is never once that no laughters will be heard!

. And also Mel's accident was really a miracle!! Really awesome to see how God's power is shown. I mean her spects did not break but the car's window broke right?? (Correct me if im wrong!) God is great!

.Also lets pray for this coming sat outreach event ok. Like what wei xiong said, ask God to let us know how to pray to the old folks and how to speak the gospel to them!

.Pray for our leaders that they are doing well in their studies!! JOEL HOW ARE YOU!!! And that they will have sufficient strength for everyday. (just enough strength to live for the day... HAHA)

.Lastly let us all continue to read the bible and pray everyday! We can and will be powerful warriors for God! Study hard and take care of your health too!!

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. -Isaiah 40:29

All glory to God!
-RAY =)

Time for Miracles,♥

2010-03-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

Melody's diary entry, 8 March 2010 to 9 March 2010

8 March 2010, 3.30pm
Cheerleading dry run & practise, as usual

8 March 2010, 5.37pm
Shit! Late for tuition, which starts at 6pm. Changed out of my cheerleading outfit, ran with all my might - from the design studio, down the stairs, up the stairs again coz' the exit was locked, went down the main stairs, passed the canteen & out of my sch gate, just thinking abt hw I will kena nagged by my mom if I'm late fr tuition.

8 March 2010, 5.40pm
BANG! I was dashing across the road when a dark blue,big,(i didn't notice brand) car at pretty high speed, knocked me. My mind was BLANK, thus, I didn't realize what had just happened. I laid there, by the roadside, not moving an inch - I was hopelessly weak & didn't have the strength to. I felt very giddy, & I was bleeding profusely. I thought I was going to faint - unconcious. However, I kept my eyes open BIG BIG, so that I won't miss the show. The car stopped & the driver a.k.a criminal came down, and called the ambulance. He seemed more concern about his unfetched Nanyang Primary School kids, rather than my pathetic condition, ugh!
Current thought in my mind after the blankness: shit, confirm kena nagged by my parents for not looking before I cross the road.

8 March 2010, 5.45pm
St. Margaret's security guard came out to check out what's happening, followed by the teachers, & both my principal & vice principal. The principal called my dad, & I was crestfallen upon picturing his anxiousness. Tears trickled down my cheeks.

8 March 2010, 5.55pm
After a long & painful wait, the ambulance finally arrived, along with the Paramedics & police. I COULD'VE DIED FOR GOODNESS SAKE. A few photos were snapped, WHEN MY HAIR WAS ALL MESSY & MY UNIFORM TORNED. I was carried on to a stretcher & sent to the hospital. On the way, my heartbeat rate was taken, & I was questioned by a pretty-looking policewoman.

8 March 2010, 6.10pm
Reached the hospital (I'll skip the minor details)
-Questioned by the nurse about my medical history
-Did a surface check up
-Parents & aunty arrived
-Went for X-ray
-NO BROKEN BONES/FRACTURES (THANK GOD)
-I was told that i can't CHEERLEAD FOR MY THURSDAY COMPETITION(*heart breaks/hyperventilates/faints)
-Did a dressing for my wounds & the antiseptic was a KILLER
-Collected my medicine & MCs
-Made a police report
-Answered lots of "ARE YOU OKAY?"s (thanks to my big mouth sch friends)
OH, & I WAS ON WHEELCHAIR THE WHOLE TIME!

8 March 2010, 10.15pm
After starving for hours, I HAD MY DINNER ^^ he he, so happy!

8 March 2010, 10.30pm
Reached home, did a thank God prayer with my family, washed up with wet wipes(coz' i COULDNT BATHE due to the wounds :l ) Sleep.

9 March 2010
(Skip the unimportant thinggggs)
My dad came home, telling me how relieved he was, as he had just spoken to my school's security guard(who witnessed the incident), who was very anxious as he said that the impact of the car accident was very great as I flipped & smashed against the car window & flew & the car.. here's the main point- THE CAR WINDOW ACTUALLY SHATTERED & THE CAR PLATE FLEW OFF & THE METAL WAS DENTED. Srsly, hw strong am I, I'm Edward Cullen la pls.
than the banger a.k.a driver a.k.a criminal, CALLED TO ASK FOR COMPENSATION as his car was spoilt-can't drive anymore. JOKE OR WHAT SIA?! who bang who, he shld get it right right?
Back to the point, my dad claimed that it was the protection of the angels that saved me, or else i could have.. said byebye? Look, it's just illogical tht a CAR BANG A HUMAN & THE HUMAN IS ALRIGHT BUT THE CAR IS SPOILT. therefore, it must be a MIRACLE righttt?
Only then, we actually REALLY realized how magnificent & wonderful God is to a shitbag like me. My dad was rly rly grateful tht he did unusual things.

In conclusion,
KEY point:
Car bang human = human is fine + but car is spoilt = illogical = miracle = God's amazing hedge of protection = THANK THE ALMIGHTY GOD

9 March 2010, 11.45pm
*Yawn* G'night!
& thank you all for yr concern, ♥♥♥

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS

2010-03-07T02:40:00.001-08:00

Awesome song. Enjoy :)

-Marcusq

RESPECT.

2010-03-06T05:30:00.000-08:00

Hey guys it's a nice Saturday night woo. It's been a looong week for mua I had a fever and some procastination bug that won't let go of me, but I really thank God for answering my prayers and carrying me through the week. Hmm and I want to share something He taught me this week.

It's about respecting God's anointed leaders. ( teachers, parents, coaches) For us, our coach has been giving us a hard time. There's always a point when we'll get angry with our parents or teachers, but sometimes God has put them in our lives for a reason. It's really up to us whether we wanna respond to Him!

Sooo REMEMBER, we should always pray and ask God what's the persons' purpose in your life. God will warn us, help us dicern and make the right choices. He's a prayer listening and prayer answering God HE IS AWESOME. YES just like you respect God you should respect all your leaders even though at times they do get on your nerves.

Yes I hope you've enjoyed your week and remember God is proud of ya .

Love,
samraz.

CHILDLIKE FAITH

2010-03-03T04:57:00.000-08:00

everything's okay, & evrything' alright! cause we've got Jesus in our lives(:

Hebrews 10:22

²²let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

-lisa(:

Just to say hi..

2010-02-28T22:25:00.000-08:00

Hey all!! its been awhile.. feels like half a year has gone past... and im like.. checking my calender and wondering why its only the 1 of march.. HOW COME IT ISNT TIME FOR ME TO GO BACK TO SINGAPORE YET?!?!
Lol..
Anyway.. things have been going ok for me here in melbourne..
I wont say great cause its kinda hard to make friends with the people in some of my courses i guess...
Here's my theory as to why: (I've moaned about it quite a lot to manymanypeople.. heheh)
80% of my course mates are angmo.
And the angmo guys wanna get to know the angmo guys, angmo girls and the asian girls.
The angmo girls wanna get to know the angmo girls and the angmo guys.
The asian girls wanna get to know the asian girls, the angmo girls and the angmo guys.
The asian guys are unloved.

So yeahh.. thats my predicament..
Fortunately for me, i still have a couple of friends left in melbourne from trinity days.. and i can make friends quite easily with the asian guys and girls, if i decide i actually wanna open my mouth to take the first step. but its still really hard to mingle.. especially with the locals.. cause when i talk to them this annoying slang comes on.. and i try to force it away.. but it doesnt go away.. and my speach is so restricted cause i keep watching what i say.. so it becomes super forced and uncomfortable.. plus with their lack of interest in us.. yeah... not a very good formula...

But i really thank God for supporting me even now, when i have like.. no friends.. to just send people my way that i can talk to, so i dont feel so lonely and stuff..
Like i randomly ran into my friend, Grace, when i had a free period in between.. and she bought me drinks and stuff and we sat and talked..
And Jolene, my old trinity friend, who came into the computer lab when i was super annoyed at the computer cause i didnt know how to enrol properly.. and she spotted me and helped me through the bigbig mess..
And Shirlyn, my primary school friend who appreciates all the small beauties in life, and lives upstairsss!! =DD
And Ean, who was such a great friend to me all the way, helping me through many of my problems..
And the bubbly aussie aquintance Georgina who sat beside me during my lecture and actually took an interest in me..
And many other people..

Its been such a blessing, to see how God has provided me with the love and care that I need to start up my year at uni straight and correctly.

Anyway, heard that you guys have been doing great!! =)hahah.
Let God continue to be the center and core of our cellgroup ok? =)
Just keep growing in him and let your light shine brightly. Because where the light is, darkness cannot survive.

(Romans 3:38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 12:5) So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all others.

This is part of the lyrics in the closing song of the video you guys gave me.

Somehwere out there, if love can see us through, then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true..

I know my God's love can see us through.

Take care and God bless,
Joel.

Burdens

2010-02-26T04:29:00.000-08:00

hi guys, my turn to share.. today i want to tell a story which i totally forgot where i heard it la but hope u don't mind.

its a story about a guy, who one day complained to god about all the burdens he is having. after hearing all the mans complain, god gave the man a bag and instructed him to put all the things that are of burden to him in it. next, god took the bag full of the man's burden and threw it off a cliff. they went down and what the man saw was that the bottom of the cliff was full of the same type of bags. god then told him
to look for lightest bag and bring it to him. following god;s instructions, the man went forward and after comparing the bags, he took the one that was lightest to him and took it to god.
god then said:" bag that u have chosen was the one you threw down in the first place." hearing this, the men fell into silence. but god then said:"instead of complaining to me bout your burdens, why not share it with me? i can lighten the load off your back."

so there are two moral of the story here, one is don't compare your burdens with others as theirs might be much more heavier then yours but u just don't know of it..
the second is "cast all your cares on him for he cares for you" 1 peter 5:7

Ok, that it folks hahas, hope u continue to have a blessed week ahead :)

-ZD

a second. a penny.

2010-02-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

hey guys, came upon a story, just wanted to share :)

One day, a believer asked God, "Lord, what's a million years to You?"

The Lord answered, "A million years? It's absolutely nothing to Me, but a second"

2 Peter 3:8
"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day"

Then the believer asked, "Lord, what's a million dollars to You?"

The Lord promptly replied, "A million dollars? Well, it's nothing much to Me. It's only but a penny"

Then came an awkward pause. Finally, the believer asked again, " Lord, could i please have a penny? just one penny."

Without hesistation, the Lord replied, "Sure, just wait a second"

God bless,
Marcusq

Victory in God

2010-02-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

hey guys, some songs to listen. enjoy! :D Have a good week ahead and always look to God in times of need. reminder: ZD, your turn to post :D

Deuteronomy 20:4

"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

God bless,

Marcus Q :)

Trust in Him

2010-02-21T05:13:00.001-08:00

Hey guys! :)

About my week... Like any other weeks, filled with lots of ups and downs. But this week there's especially more downs. :(

Why?
1. My teachers has returned most of the tests back, and I think my results are bad. :(
2. I have no idea what to do for my art coursework.

Well, it's too late to cry over a spilled milk right? So I'm going to study super hard for my next test! :) As for my coursework... I'll pray to God and ask for inspirations!

Secondary four is indeed a stressful year. But i know that God will be there to guide us right? :)

Joel, i miss hitting you. :( Hahaha!

Have a blessed week ahead guys! :)

- Alena :)

PHOTOS!

2010-02-14T07:09:00.003-08:00

Cool ppl

everyone laughing at themselves!

Joel going to cry soon.

Haha sam's speech.

Joel's crying HAHA...

Watching the video...

Shy evangeline!

HTHT!

Listening attentively!

Woah joel's serving!

Gathering at the twin's place! nice house!

Group photo!

joel's last lesson with us! Awwww.

Laughters

more laughters!

i know....

This is what you get from joel's lesson... HAHA

Cell steamboat! Yes joel we know u can cook la.

sam and marcus.s
Cool pic!

Enjoying the food!

Handsome la gilbert!

The guessing game ahhhhh!

No joel we wont give you money!! :D

Oh no someone pissed the chef!

Look how happy joel is when he has food ahahahaa!

Woah! Looking hot twins! :)

Finally want to thank God for such a lovely cell:) We sure are one great cell! But we know that we still have a lot more that we can improve and give right! So lets continue to grow stronger in the word and lets be a cell that will go out and evangelise and spread God's word! Thank God for all these wonderful events that had taken place:) All glory to God!!!!!
-Ray =)

The Eagle and The Chicken

2010-02-13T06:46:00.000-08:00

It actually a comparison between the eagle and the chicken.

An eagle is such a majestic and courageous bird which characteristics we can learn from such as not be afraid or face unfavourable circumstances with boldness and has it's aim which it'll work towards it and not grow tired.

Unlike the chicken who always runs away or hides from setbacks, it's like a chicken with it's head cut off - without any aim in life, and is eaily tired and lack courage.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hmm.. can quote from the book of Isaiah

Isaiah 40:31
"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Therefore the future holds hope for the whole world, which shows that God reigns over all :)

-Carmen :D

Administrative Matters

2010-02-07T08:40:00.000-08:00

Cellgroup Committees:

Outings Comm: Lisa, Justin
Praise and Worship Comm: Fiona, Samuel, Jeremy
Birthday Comm: Evangeline, Hannah, Melody, ZhengDong
Treasurer of the permenantly in debt treasury: Marcus S, Damian
Followup/WelfareCreative Comm: Marcus Q, Samuel, Lisa, Jared
Prayer Comm (for commander): Kiew Ray
Status Pending: Alena, Felicia, Larissa,

Outings Comm!
-Plan next major cell outing, 1st half of the year =)
-Recruit more manpower here?
-(Joel wants to go to universal studios singapore when he gets back from melb. *hintshints*)

Praise and Worship Comm!
-You guys need to find a new lyrics printer. (QRay is not in PnW anymore. Unless you can convince him to join back. Lol.) Really good stuff with the piano and the good ol' guitar =D

Birthday Comm!
-Eh, 3 people enough already laahhhhhhhh... wahlao 4... hahahah. Outings might need more people.

Treasurers!
-Find a way to not stay in debt. =/

Followup/WelfareCreative Comm!
-Maybe a new cell-t within the year? =)
-Occasionally call people up during the week, sms verses of encouragement maybe?
-Reminders for people in cell who have to prepare lessons for the week.
-Informing and reminding people to post on the cell blog for the blog sharing thingy! =)
-This comm might want 1 more person.
-Please split the workload or you guys'll die sad deaths from stress.

The sequence of the blog sharing is as follows:
#1 ZhengDong
#2 Samuel
#3 Marcus Q
#4 Marcus S
#5 Melody
#6 Larissa
#7 Lisa
#8 Kiew Ray
#9 Jared
#10 Jeremy
#11 Justin
#12 Hannah
#13 Felicia
#14 Fiona
#15 Evangeline
#16 Damian
#17 Carmen <- (We are currently here for this week. Followup, please tell her yeah? =) ) #18 #18 Alena

Prayer Comm!
-Setting of prayer warrior each week.
-Reminders for prayer warrior.

Status Pending!
This is not a committee. You have no committee. WHY?!?!?!?!
But on a more serious note, consider what you can contribute to the cell, and just let Esther know which comm you wanna join when you're ready yeah? =)

Oh and Justin, youre the blog administrator right?
Ummm.. can you like create a new tab right under birthday babies, and list down the committees and their members, and the sequence of the blogsharing please? cause i know you guys'll forget whos in what comm.. =.=

Bye!
-J

Being a vessel for Christ/Armor of God

2010-02-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

Here's the less dry lesson, remade after the super dry lesson below =) I'll just use the verses you guys chose, cause if i use everything, itll turn out to be more dry than the other one.... Lol... And it's modified too, cause I can't really use my visuals here..... so yup..
hahah, enjoy

Ephesians 6:13-18 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perserverance and supplication for all saints.

So, the 6 pieces of the armor of God are: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit.

Today, we'll be looking at 6 titans in the bible, and how they applied some of the armor to their lives.
-Daniel and the belt of truth
-Joseph and the breastplate of righteousness
-Paul and the sandals of peace
-Moses and the shield of faith
-Esther and the helmet of salvation
-David and the sword of the spirit

Belt of truth: Daniel 6:26 I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom, people must fear and reverance the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever, his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.

This was said by King Darius after he witnessed Daniel's great testimony for God in the lion's den, where God shut the mouths of the lions so Daniel would not become their dinner.
We too should be like Daniel and proclaim the truth of the Lord, letting his light be a testimony in our lives.
Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven about and upon the earth beneath; there is none else.

Beastplate of righteousness in the life of Joseph: Genesis 39:7-10 Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after awhile his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said,"Come to bed with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her,"my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has witheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

We should learn to be like Joseph, putting on the breastplate of righteousness and run away from sin, living a righteous life of Christ in us.
Psalm 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart, I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Sandals of peace in Paul's life: Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

Paul recognises that God has destroyed the enemy, that any barrier witholding him from the Lord God Almighty is broken. So he was not afraid of any problems that presented themselves before him. We should likewise live with this inner peace amidst the storms around us.
Isiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Shield of faith in the life of Moses: Deuteronomy 1:29-30 Then I said to you,"Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes.

Even though, the rest of the Israelites were afraid to go to war against the people in the promised land, Moses stood firm on the Lord, entrusting the battle to God even before the battle had begun. Similarly, we should live by faith, and stand firm on the word of God and his promises.
Romans 4:19-21 And being not weak in faith, he (Abraham) considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither the deadness of Sarah's womb; he staggered not all the promise of God through unbelief: but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was also able to perform.

Helmet of Salvation in Esther: Esther 5:2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Esther broke the law by going into the presence of King Xerxes when he had not requested it. But the King, by the grace of God, pointed his scepter at Esther as a gesture of mercy. We should be like her, putting on the helmet of salvation by stepping forward boldly to our challenges and claming victory for the Lord.
Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.

Sword of the Spirit as used by David: 1 Samuel 17:45 David said to the Philistine,"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

David chose God as his weapon, and he used the power of the name of the Lord against an adversary everyone thought would overcome him: Goliath. In the end, David kicked butt. We should also use the power of the word of God to counter spiritual accusations and deception in our lives, and to move God's hand against the strongholds of sin.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, peircing even to dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Now take awhile and observe the armor of the different characters we have looked at today.
And now, take a look at your own armor. What would you want yours to be like?
The first question I'd like to ask you guys today is this: What do you want your armor to look like, everyone is a unique creation of God, called to a different purpose.
God's purpose in Paul's life was to establish churches and sustain them
God's purpose for Esther was to save the jews from destruction
God's purpose to David was to make him a conqueror and a warrior after God's heart
God's purpose for Moses was to re-establish the connection with his people and lead them to freedom in him
God's purpose in the life of Joseph was to spread His truth to Egypt, to the lowly and those of high status, to gel the nation of Israel together and to deliver them from famine.
God's purpose to Daniel was to give godly advise the Kings' and bring His light to the nobility.

How do you want God to use you?
-> In big congregations as a speaker?
-> To change the lives of friends and those around you?
-> To be the leader of a small group?
-> To go out and aid the needy in volunteer outreach programmes?
-> To mentor others?

The next 2 questions I'd like to ask you is this: What armor pieces are you missing in your life today? And how will it affect you in the ministry that God has called you to?

But, no matter what ministry we are in, our ultimate goal is this: Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

So be ready for this mission, be prepared. Put on the full armor of God so that (Ephesians 6:13) ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Now God can't use a heart that doesn't want to recieve him.
God can't use a heart that's full of other commitments either.
But God can use an empty vessel, and make it overflow and overflow and overflow with His blessings, with His love, to everyone else around him, to shake the nations.

So my last question for you today is this, are you ready to be filled, to let yourself be used by him?

-J's last lesson.
Have a great journey with God ya'll =)
Much love.

Being A Weapon For God!

2010-02-07T04:46:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!!
This is the dry, super boring, ewified one. hahahaha. that lacks focus.
But it covers quite a lot more than my lesson today.

So here it is: Being a weapon for God

David and Goliath
1 Samuel 17:5-7 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of his coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and one bearing a shield went before him.

3 entire verses devoted to Goliath's armor.
Goliath was a titan. A great warrior, and was equipped in the finest armor the world could offer him.

1 Samuel 17:39 And David girded his sword upon his armor; and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

David, in contrast, went onto the battlefield without any armor, armed with only a wooden stick, 5 stones, a bag and a sling.

He must have looked like a joke compared to Goliath.

This is a comparison made by King Saul between David and Goliath:
1 Samuel 17:33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth.

Basically, King Saul believed that David would get owned by Goliath. But what Saul was forgetting, was that God does not despise youths like David.

Matthew 18:3-6 And said, verily verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.And whoso shall recieve one such little child in my name recieveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

And that was exactly who King David was.
He was the youngest of Jesse's sons.
In fact, not only was he the youngest, but the ugliest, and the one who had to do all the chores and take care of the sheep, the insignificant one who had to stay behind while Jesse brought the rest of his sons to the sacrifice, the event Samuel had organised.

1 Samuel 16:11-12 And Samuel said unto Jesse, are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

In essence, David was the last amongst his brothers.
But because God had looked at David's heart, and saw the childlike trust he had in the Lord and his humility, this is what he said:
Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be the first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

And David, in his humility and trust in the Lord says:
1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, what shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

David trusted in God, and knew that the unstoppable juggernaut Goliath could be stopped, while the rest of the Israelites were shaking in fear. He talked about the defeat of Goliath as an inevitable event, while the Israelites were shaking with fear. He, the "last" in Israel, wanted to redeem Israel while his "betters" were shaking with fear.

And he recognised that every single one of them was a tool for God, that we are all part of His army.

1 Samuel 17:36&37 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out og the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

Look at what David says again in verse 37: The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

Delivered me -> Deliver me from the evil one
Deliver me from this exam, this test, just let me pass.
Save me.

David knows that without God, he is nothing. He can't win, and he can't even save himself. But he knows that with God, he is more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)
And that is why he chose God to be his weapon, refusing the armor Saul offered him in 1 Samuel 17:39. He didn't need that armor. He already had on the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:13-18)

v28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart, for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle

v33 And Saul said to David, thouart not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

v42-44 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his Gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

1 Samuel 17:50-51 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

-Yes you will be scorned at by your enemies
-Yes the people closest to you may disdain you and your authorities may belittle you.

But the Lord will be your deliverer, not by your strength but by His,
Not by our weapons but by His.

Isiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prospe, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
Romans 8:35-37 Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Back to the story: 1 Samuel 17:52-53 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and spoiled their tents.

Because of David, a servant of God, his cup which was empty, was filled up by God, until it was full. But God kept on pouring on and on and on and, as his blessings overflowed to the army of Israel, a change set in on them. These people, who, at one point, saw the Philistine army as invincible, now chased after their enemies.

This breakthrough all resulted because of one man's heart after God. One man, who, despite being lowly and ugly and young, desired to be used as a vessel for God.

Ok I editted this lesson a lil bit from the original. Took out repeated stuff in the actual lesson today...... so yeah..

-J

BONDING!!!!!

2010-02-07T03:50:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

nothing to share but hope that this can encourage us.

I feel that bonding is important.

Bonding is very important. It help us to encourage, concern, help each other. We are able to share our happiness and sorrow together. We can pray for each other to overcome our weaknesses, anxiety and fear.

Last year during the exams, i over came nervousness when you guys prayed for me. Thank you.

I am sec 2 this year. I am sure you guys know how i feel . . . . . . . . Pls continue to pray for me. Thanks

2010-02-05T02:31:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone:)

Jeremy here and CNY greetings to all! This year, as my school, St. Hilda's Sec, is undergoing renovation and the construction of a new air-conditioned multi-purpose hall, we are trying to raise funds for the project and are selling the limited edition Christian music CD by Warner Music, Faith 3 going at $25 each:D

If you are interested in purchasing the CD, you can approach me to pre-order first and I will tell you at a later date when the CD will be released, as it hasn't been announced yet . The first 10 people to pre-oreder will get a small complimentry bookmark:) So please help our school, ok?:D

Thanks,

J_eremy

Administrative stuffs.

2010-01-31T23:36:00.000-08:00

#1 Chinese New Year!!!!
Friendshipsourestate Cell cordially invites YOU to join us for steamboat this coming Friday, the 5th of February 2010.

Meeting time: 7:30Pm
Meeting place: Bugis Mrt station

Celebrate the festive season by spending some of your incoming HongBao money with us!!
See ya there. =)

#2 Carwash Outreach Programme!!!!

Working at the Carwash, o-o-O-O-o-o yeah, at the Carwash yeaahhhh!
-Extracted from the song Carwash by Christina Aguilera.

This Sunday, 7th of February 2010, 9am
Goal: We'll be washing celebrities' cars (such as Esther's mum) to raise funds for Golden Pines charity.
Don't forget cellgroup after that at 11!!
Things to bring: Probably an extra set of clothes. =), Ill confirm the list again.
Venue: (Im not suree... heheh... ill ask. =X)

Prepare for a wild, wet time!

-J.

Fruit Of The Spirit.

2010-01-31T22:38:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Here's the super dry long lesson on print.
Have fun readingggg...

So, what is the fruit of the spirit?
It is the products in a person's life after the transformational power of Jesus Christ.

Now, I'm gonna draw up three comparisons of the righteous vs the ungodly.

#1 Psalm 1:3&4 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so; but are like chaff which the wind driveth away.

Imagin blowing against chaff, does it fly away?
What about if you blow against a tree?

So the righteous are like trees that prosper and continually bring forth fruit, but the ungodly are without foundations and blow away in the wind.

Verse 2: But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night
=>The righteous meditate on God's word. That is how they get their firm foundations and the ability to withstand being swayed.

#2 Jeremiah 17:5-8 Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in the salt land and not inhabited.
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

In fact, the waters that the righteous drink of here are not just any waters. They are an endless supply of water that will produce everlasting life.
John4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

*Can you imagin a delicate plant in a scorching desert vs a tree beside a river getting everything abundantly? Which will die first?

The difference between the righteous and the ungodly here is that the righteous trust in the Lord, but the ungodly trust in men.

#3 Psalm 92:7, 12-15 7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish: it is that they shall be destroyed forever.

12-15 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing. To show that the Lord is upright, he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

The ungodly are like grass. Can you imagin giving grass to your girlfriend on Valentines Day? I think she'll slap you and dump you for some other guy. Why?
Here are some of grasses characteristics:
@Common
@Shortlived
@Plain, boring
@Doesn't produce flowers or any sort of fruit.

But the righteous are like palm trees and cedar trees.
Granted you wont wanna give those trees to your girlfriend on V Day either, but, here are some of their properties:
Palm Tree: Resilient, can weather the harshest of climates.
Cedar tree: Love-lived, and produce sweet fruit.

->God will supply us with the everlasting and inexhaustible grace that is fresh every morning, that will allow us to withstand the desert.

But the thing about fruit is that time is needed for them to grow. They need careful nurturing, and only when the time is right, will the fruit appear. You need the right seed, you need to plant that seed and nurture it on God. God will grow the tree and make it bear fruit.

However, many people seek to cut the process short. They get impatient, they try and do things of their own strength, in their own timing. That will not bear them fruit.

1 such person was Moses: Exodus 2:11-14 , 19
He wanted to make a difference in the lives of the Israelites, but he did it the wrong way, out of his own strength, and out of God's timing.
He was sowing the wrong seeds, grown the wrong tree and produced corrupt fruit.
As a result, they called him, in verse 19, Egyptian. Not Israelite, not man of God, not priest, but Egyptian.
Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt; and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.

Feed the spirit with more of itself, let it grow and multiply. Become less, let the spirit take control and become more.
The fruit of the spirit is not men's work for men, even out of good intentions, but men's work for God, for the Spirit, letting it use us as a vessel.

John 12:24 Verily, verily I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into a ground and die, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
->Die to men, to be born again in the spirit.

Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
What is cruicifiction? It is a horrible form of death reserved for the worst people.
So not only are we to kill sin in our lives, we are also to hate it and make the conscious choice to stay away from it.

Many people today view Christianity more as a form of bondage rather than freedom.
But lets look at what their view of freedom is.
-> The freedom to say vulgar words, the freedom to murder, the freedom to steal, the freedom to lust, the freedom to lie.

Is this really freedom?
Is it freedom when you lose yourself, every sense of who you are, when you move from your true identity as a child of God to become a slave to sin, when what you do out of freedom brings you bondage and restriction?

Galatians 5:13-21
The word of God gives support, not bondage.
It provides retraint, not restriction
The freedom of Christianity is the freedom to love, to be joyful, to have peace, to have patience, to be kind, to do good, to have faith, to be gentle and to have self-control.

V15 If we are free to sin, everyone will live for themselves and destroy everyone else.
V21 But we will not be free to enter God's kingdom.
V17 We, as Christians, are not free to sin, but are to live in the spirit and triumph over sin.
V24 A Christian, having recieved Christ, should turn his back on sin.

So then, what do we do to the weeds that choke up our tree?
Galatians 5:15 Weeds are self-destructive.
V17 And destroy the good seed sown by God
V24 So crucify them.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:11-12 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

Why did Peter withdraw out of fear of the Jews?
-He was afraid of losing favour
- He was a hypocrite in this account, and thus perverted the gospel.

But Paul (Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ) was not guilty of this.
How did Paul get the strength to withstand the temptation of doing his works for men?

This is what he says: Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me.
When I speak of living, I do not mean myself. As a Christian, I have been united with Christ.

Jeremiah 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when the heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Paul is like this tree that has been united to Christ, planted by the waters, his foundations run deep, he can withstand any temptations and he will continually bear fruit.

He further goes on to say: Galatians 2:20 And the life which I know live in the flesh, I live by faith of the son of God.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus; who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

For Paul, faith is the instrument that unites him to Christ, and in Christ Jesus he has wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Basically, Paul has all he needs. If he finds in Christ all that he needs, why should he be afraid, and why should he seek the favour of others?

Crucifiction of the flesh not only means death to sin, but also regeneration in Christ, the Spirit.
- You will be a new being, given a new lease of life.
- The chaff is now a tree, the heath is a cedar and the fruitless vine is now bearing fruit.

But the new man is not perfect.
The battlefield continues.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

But although the new man is a battlefield, he is not passive but active and will have to choose sides.
His resources will be to (Gal5:16) walk in the Spirit and (Gal5:18) be led by the Spirit, because he already (Gal5:25) lives by the Spirit.

Walking : Conduct, do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Being led: Conformity to the will of the Spirit, following where it guides you.

Remember also to produce lasting fruit, not temporal, artificial fruit, and be satisfied. It is one of Satan's tactics to give some people a light taste of Christianity and be satisfied and not get the real thing. We need to discern true fruit from artificial fruit.

Thats about it! =)
If you've made it reading this far, you're pretty amazing.... lol..

Memory Verse of the week:
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Have a God blessed week!
-J

Spiritual Discipline

2010-01-29T18:36:00.000-08:00

As we know some of us don't read the bible everyday, and only read it when we're free of during church. During my CCA (Girls' Brigade), while devotion my school's church's Chaplin told us something about spiritual discipline. That we have to read the bible and pray everyday and not only when we are free.

The importance of the Bible:
It is the word of the creator God for life
It is about God and Man living together
It is to know him and make him known
We all know the importance of the Bible but do we make it important in our lives?

How do we know more about God through the Bible?

The Hand Method
Little Finger = Hear
Ring Finger = Read
Middle Finger = Study
Index Finger = Memorise
Thumb = Reflect/ Meditate
The importance of prayer
It is relating with God through Communication
While praying, most Christains pray for themselves first, however, that should come last when praying. Why? Because it is not about us, it is about God.

How to Pray?

Praise & thanksgiving
Repentance from sin
Asking for others
Yourself last in asking

For those who are feeling down or feel like giving up hope...
Cheer up! :) For you are a gift from God and a blessing!

" The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8: 10

To end this I have quote for ya'll:
" The Sun can break through the darkest cloud; love can brighten the gloomiest day"
-William Arthur Ward

-Evangeline

♥

2010-01-26T04:41:00.000-08:00

Prayer Requests for the week:

(except those "personal" ones)

♥Lisa's: -Thank God for Alena, & that she will continue to stay & grow with us.

-Discipline & diligence

♥Fiona's: -Recovery for her mom: she's sick.

-Devil to leave her friend's cousin: Addicted to the computer to a great extend that she casts curses of death unto people when she is being stopped.

-The cell's faith/growth in Christ & bonding btwn each other will last.

♥Justin's: -For Wisdom and for his tests: Chinese, Physics & Social Studies

♥Kiew Ray's: -Time Management

♥Jared's: -Recovery for Samuel's injured knee

♥Samuel's: -Completely depend on God for everything

-& not to steal his glory

♥Melody's: -A math & pure sciences qualifying tests/results.

-Courage to evangelize to school friends, especially my BFF: she's starting to believe!

♥Alena's: -For God to show her the path that He has planned out for her

-to have motivation to study

♥Marcus Q's: -Strength for the week

-Hockey match on friday

-Tests for the week

OK, tht's all fr now, (to be editted if thr r anymore PRs) if anyone has any other Prayer Requests, text/pm me, OK?

My purpose for uploading it here is so that everyone can pray for each other, yea? & continue praying fr th other usual things, from last wk's prayer items.

In Matthew, when Jesus was on earth: "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."" Matthew 9:36-38

Let us be the Lord's workers, and evangelize to those who have not receive him, give a chance to those who do not even know that he exists, to get to know him.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

Put God first in everything (although you might be too busy with studies), & he will provide fr you!

GBU!

OK, bye.

♥, Melody.

Chinese New Year!

2010-01-24T21:26:00.000-08:00

Hey all!!!
I was thinking, in celebration of Chinese New Year, and our traditional roots, maybe we should have like a cell outing to eat steamboat or something.
Kinda like a reunion dinner/whatever.. hahahaha

=)
Think I'll dump this project onto the new outings comm soon. XD..
But before I do, what do you guys think? do you have the time, do you wanna go, do you have the moola, things like that....?

After all, we are chinese..
As much as I hate to admit it.
Except for Samuel the Malay.

-J.

LIVING AS CHILDREN OF GOD(:

2010-01-24T07:50:00.000-08:00

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another"
John 1:16
thank God for always showering His Love on us. though how unworthy we are. we really don't deserve it. therefore each and every day of our lives is to honor God(:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
philippians 4:12

live you life to the fullest and continue to count your blessings even in time of trouble and darkness(:
live life as children of Light(ephesian 4:17 onwards)
great week ahead as you learn how to fear God and serve(:
-lisa

PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD(:

2010-01-22T15:58:00.000-08:00

When we don’t pray, we quit the fight.
Prayer keeps the Christian’s armor bright.
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
WILLIAM COWPER

Ephesians 6:10-20
The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Prayer is a awesome weapon that God has given us!(:
continue to thank God for His daily blessings on us(:

Philippians 4:9
9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

God bless!

Five Loaves and Two FIsh

2010-01-20T03:59:00.000-08:00

A little boy of thirteen was on his way to school
He heard a crowd of people
laughing and he went to take a look
Thousands were listening to the stories
of one man
He spoke with such wisdom, even the kids could
understand

The hours passed so quickly, the day turned into
night
Everyone was hungry but there was no food in sight
The boy looked in
his lunchbox, at the little that he had
He wasn’t sure what good it’d do,
there were thousands to be fed

But he saw the twinkling eyes of
Jesus, the kindness in His smile
And the boy cried out with the trust of a
child
He said: “Take my five loaves and two fishes. Do with it as you
will”
I surrender.
Take my fears and my inhibitions, all my burdens, my
ambitions
You can use it all, to feed them all.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are often like that boy when we're feeling small
And we worry that the work we do means nothing at all
But every single tear and every prayer is heard, and His hands can work miracles.
And every door that slams in your face, offer up in prayer and give you every breath that you have

All He needs is our AMEN.

Give HIM our five loaves and two fishes. Let Him use it as He will and surrender it to Him. For His thoughts and plans are way higher than ours.

Surrender your fears and dreams, all your burdens and ambitions
He can use it all, no gift's ever too small. Trust in Him

So take my five loaves and two fishes. Do with it as you will.

GOD BLESS- have a great week ahead ppl

justin(:

SEEK ME AND FIND ME

2010-01-20T03:52:00.000-08:00

There’s a mountain before me as I come to Your presence
Though my heart is so willing to receive
Wondering why all of my prayers seemed to fall to the ground
With every syllable I speak

And as I fall down before You, I’ve cried my last tear
I’m tried of forgetting all You’ve done
All the times You came to my rescue
When I was so weak
Growing weary from this race I run

But as I close my eyes
I can feel your embrace
As you usher me here before your throne
Reaching with your hand of forgiveness
You speak to me these words
With the love like I’ve never ever known…

“You will overcome
And the trials you go through
Will fall one by one
As my grace pours over you"

Chorus:

And you will seek me and find me
When you seek me with all of your heart
And not just a part
When the road that you travel
Seems like it never will end, I’ll be your friend
And in the times that you feel like
This world is so far from your home
You’re not alone
‘Cause I will never depart
Just seek me with all of your heart”

great song(: GOD FTW!

- justin

God's love

2010-01-20T01:32:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, how u week so far? eh i just want to share something i thought of the past few days, so hope u don't mind..

john 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"

i know most of you guys are familiar with this verse but there are people in this world who tend to forget this and when bad things occur around them, they put the blame on God, saying things like God do not love them. but in this verse God love us so much that he would sent his son down to save us sinners.

No parent in the world is willing to give up their children to save something else, but God truly loves us, to a huge extend. I'm not saying that our parents are bad :) just that compared to Gods love, it just not possible to measure..

So the main point is that if in the future, bad things happen to us, don't put the blame on God, but appreciate it as everything God does have a reason and it is to build us stronger for the things he have for us in the future.

Ok, so thats about it, hahas, hope u guys will continue to have a God blessed week X)

-zheng dong

Weekly notice

2010-01-17T02:06:00.000-08:00

PRAYER ITEMS

1. Speedlight & cell leaders
-For wisdom & guidiance

2. God's plan for us
- Lead us and direct us in the right path

3. Esther & Joel
- Pray for God to give them strength and guide them as they teach us

4. Speedlight
- Rise up to become leaders and take up positions to serve Him
- Grow in God, lead us the right direction

5. God in our lives
- Evangelism => boldness in our actions to preach His word with love
- Keep us from sin (e.g. pride)
- Become His tool to be used by Him in His plans

6. Cell group
- Attend regularly
- Learn more about His word (speak through Joel & Esther)
- Grow in His word

7. Kiew Ray's lesson next week
- God speak through Him & help him prepare the lesson
- Be fruitful & help us in one area of our lives (impactful)

8. Damian
- (his birthday)
- Thank God for him (blessing to our cell)

9. Studies
- Guide us in our studies and give us the concentration
- Study hard for His glory

Sorry if miss out anything. Just add it yourself. THANKS :)
=================================================================

Hey guys, thought of something we could do.

- In the CHAT BOX, say at least 1 thing to thank God for (everyday or week maybe)

This would actually be a good habit for us to adopt yea? :D

- We have to thank God for every little blessing we receive

God bless & have a great week ahead.

- MARCUS Q

hope you enhoy the song as i did

-Give our life to the Lord :)

2010-01-15T07:02:00.000-08:00

hello there(:
hope that the first two weeks of school have been going great for all of you!
but mine wasn't that nice):
was cramped with lots and lots of tests!
but there was one great thing: the secondary one orientation camp(:
had adam khoo workshop yeaterday, today and tmr, 13 hours straight each day
was kind of fun but cried a lot today, it kind of served as a wake up call to cherish the ppl around you

i dont really have bible verse to share but i've got a quote to share:
"when the going gets tough, never give up on the things that make you smile"

life is not always smooth but if we always stay unhappy about the setbacks we face, we wont be happy no matter what
instead think of the things that will motivate you to move further

have a great weekend(:
felicia

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO

2010-01-14T05:58:00.001-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAN!! ( I know tis is kinda late )

YOU'RE 1 YEAR OLDER (:

you've been a great cell group member and a joy in the cell.

a word of encouragement:

Ephesians 1:13 NIV

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal,
the promised Holy Spirit,"
happy birthday bro

MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK

2010-01-13T02:42:00.000-08:00

JEREMIAH 29:11

"..For I know the plans I have for you," declares the
LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future. "

Despite the circumstances, our Lord Jesus Christ is always in control. Though we sometimes don't feel that, He is always there. His sovereignty shall bring us thru'.

GOD BLESS for the week ahead (:

2010!

2010-01-04T06:44:00.000-08:00

We've had a wonderful and fruitful year in 2009, and now, as that chapter comes to a close, I just like to ask you guys to take a moment, look back at the year 2009, and reflect. Take a look at the things you feel you've done well, and the things that you feel you could've done better, at the good and bad choices you think you made. Now center your focus on God. Can you see him working through your life, building you up, making you into a stronger person?

It has been a victorious year, one where I'm proud to say we've all grown and matured immensely in, that God has indeed been working through us, and I can really see him moving amongst us, in our cell.

I'd like to take this time to make a confession and be a witness unto the greatness of God, in an incident which I'm sure many of our cellgroup is now familiar with.
Before I start, I'd like to say that I'm a very proud person, and at times, I forget myself and rely on my strength instead of God's. And when I saw the cell improve there were times where I let my pride overtake me, and I kept thinking that it was because of me, not God, not Esther, not anyone else who was the reason behind such a change. I was like.... Joel come back from Melbourne only then the change starts. I kept on forgetting that I was a tool for God and it was because of him that I could even do anything. And one day, God woke me up with a slap to my face.
It's been my dearest wish for the cellgroup for a very long time to open up, to be so bonded to the point that you all would open up and share with one another, without feeling shameful of breaking down, or telling each other your deepest darkest secrets so that we can all support one another in faith, in prayer and in our journey with God. I remember one day, on the first practice for the Chalet praise and worship, I was walking to dinner with Lisa and Fiona, and i shared this dream with them. I still remember the responses.. Lisa was all for it, encouraging me, and saying that anything was possible with God. Fiona was not so positive about it, and said that we won't ever reach the stage were we would cry freely in our cell. And then things progressed and I kept getting more and more proud. Until a rift started to grow between Fiona and the cellgroup. Then, during periods I kept on thinking that it was my fault that things like that were happening. I kept examining myself, thinking what was wrong. But once again, it was because of pride, that I kept on blaming myself. To my delusioned self it was still all about me. My fault. Slowly, I realised that I was sinning, that my proud had made me place myself before God. I thought I was the one in control of everything. And then during the chalet, on the first day, when i saw the whole cell playing Captain's Ball with one another, just having so much fun, I knew it was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. But still, I didn't know the message that God was trying to tell me. You see, at that time neither me nor Esther were participating, and yet the cell group was still having so much fun, being so bonded and united. It really wasn't all about me at all. But it was a turning point nonetheless. I went to the back of the chalet and just prayed and humbled myself before God. It was a wonderful time spent alone with Him, but after that, slowly, I started to lose myself in pride again and fell back into sinning. Then, when I was overseas on that fateful day, the sharing happened. No Esther was there. No Joel was there. Only the cell members, and God. And Fiona shared until she cried. Only when I came back to Singapore, only then did I know about it.
And it really is a miracle. Why? Because 1stly, it was a huge breakthrough in our cell. Its something that has helped us bond and grow, something that we've managed to get through together. 2ndly, it has helped Fiona grow as a person, God is moulding her character according to his great plan, telling her not to be so cynical and trust in the Lord to deliver. And 3rdly and lastly, The cellgroup had such a breakthrough, with my dreams taking place at the time when I wasn't around. It was something I'd worked so hard for, and I did not see taking place. It really humbled me, showing me that God was in control. If he wanted it to happen, it would happen, whether he used me or not. It wasn't about me, it wasn't for the glory of the 20 year old human being Joel, but for God's glory. And I knew then, for the first time, how to finally give God all the glory, and place Him as number one in my life.

For me, it took a full 20 years to fully understand that I could trust him completely with any of my problems. I hope that it will take less for you guys. Remember that everything we do is for his Glory, and that without God, like what Pastor Pacer says, Church is just a welfare community center. We will have no core, and nothing to be proud about. We will be empty.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen.

As the year 2010 is ushered in, heres to wishing all of us a blessed new year! Keep growing and keeping the faith! I believe that this year God will deliver unto us even more breakthroughs and blessings.

For those who weren't around, just to update you guys, our cellgroup will now be moving on towards reaching out to help save the needy and the lost. =)Some of the things we'll be doing include divisional outreach missions to old folks homes, hospitals and orphanages. To better equipt ourselves for all these activities, we'll be making a few trips down as a cell for miracle service. It'll teach us things like how to pray for the sick, and expose us to God's miracles. During this year, we will also be focusing on starting to bond as a division. We can do this by first bonding with them, getting to know them and then just caring for them, praying for them, sending cards of encouragement, calling them up, and even asking them out for meals and just for fun! Remember that we are all part of the same church, the same community with Christ as the center of our lives.

Also, remember to always build your relationship with God. Don’t stagnate! I challenge you all to read two chapters everyday for quiet time, and have a memory verse every week. It’s come to my attention that some of you guys don’t really know what to read in the bible. Yeah, its a bigbigbig book. So if you don’t know what to read, pray and let God guide you. You can also look me up, and ask for advice on what to read, and I promise to try and help you find somewhere to start =).
Now go forth and multiply, my pretties,..... go forth and multiply.. muahahahahaha

Hope you guys had a great first day in school!
By His grace,
Joel.

2010-01-04T05:40:00.000-08:00

hey guys!! its my turn to share:) its the first day of school!!! sianz!!!:0 felt so nervous on the first day, as for two month never really went back.Went into class,my hands and legs started to tremble... Anyway, just wanna share a verse with everyone:

Psalm 27:1,14--------->"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall i fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall i be afraid? Wait on the LORD,be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart wait on the LORD."

If any of you guys are feeling insecure or stress on the first day, say this verse to help calm ur nerves down...its like a good way to start ur day:)

from ur cell mates:),
hannah;)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

HEY CELLIES :D HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got your new year resolutions??? HAHA.

In 2010, i hope that we can continue to grow in God as a cell and really be a light unto His name.

anyways..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kiew RAY :D
May God bless you abundantly with good health and may you continue to walk in His wonderful glory

p.s. your name is going to be cancelled off the blog AGAIN. HAHA sad. i know. better take picture of it first :)

WATCHNIGHT!!

2009-12-30T05:24:00.000-08:00

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Hey guys notice here.

Here's the plan:

Before we head on to watchnight tomorrow we can meet up first. Watch movie (alvin & the chipmunks or sherlock holmes) and have dinner together?

sounds good??

we SHOULD be watching alvin & the chipmunks.. because they are sooo cute == (as the girls say)

Hope we can all meet up as a cell and come yea?