2007 Thanksgiving..

I have more than 1 thanksgiving so I shall give a summarized sentence..

Thank God for growing closer to my family over the year.
Thank God that my sister is pregnant.
Thank God for my girls in Gkidz ministry.
Thank God for His perfect timing in all seasons of my life.

okie here's the one thanksgiving for a victory in 2007 grace asked us to post during processing.

thank God that i was voted by my peers as most-valuable-person (MVP) for my overseas community involvement programme :)

Moving into the FINALS!!!

We're on to the finals!!!
Read more about the match here...

Singapore Polo team in FINALS!!

加油 Pastor！

Just did a quick calculation after Singapore's lost to Malaysia (in polo) today.

Malaysia's Goal Difference is +33
Singapore's Goal Difference is +1.5 with one match in hand

The weird thing is that I do not see Pastor Khong's name in any of the Singapore's match reports. Let's continue to pray for him...and the team and that the team will win whenever he plays!

Yay! Go Team Singapore! Go Go Ps Khong!

Keep pastor in prayer!

Singapore's Polo team made it to the next round!! This is exciting.. May it indeed be a Year of Victory!!

Hannah Tan Jing En...

More pictures of Hannah!!! Managed to capture one of her precious smiles.. Check out her dimples!!! She was sleeping most of the time though.. but that's what babies are supposed to do.. SLEEP!!!

FS looks kinda tired.. pray for strength as she nurses herself and Hannah.. :-)

Let's welcome a new addition to the family!!

Ms Hannah Tan Jing En
Safely entered this world on 5 December 2007 @ Mt Alvernia Hospital
Weighs 3.85 kg

Congrats to Seth and FS!!! Let's keep them all in prayer! For protection over the family. For strength and wisdom for the new parents!

More pictures tomorrow!! :-)

Cluster camp pics..

Dear all,
Pls click on the link to view some of the pics... Look out for the remaining pics from our cluster's blog.. coming soon (i think.. hehe)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ah_pao/sets/72157603235805068/show/with/2046783397/

ESTHER

Heya! For the benefit of those who couldn't make it on Thur, i've uploaded the lesson here. (Sorry, a bit long as i dunno how to put attachments.) The last question in red is our reflection for this week. Please post your reflection as a comment to this post.

luv,
choi.


Outline
Royal Banquet
-The story opens with a royal banquet by the Persian King Ahasuerus (v 1-9).
- Queen Vashti refused the request of the king to attend his banquet and thus forfeited her claim to the throne (v10-22).

Esther becomes Queen
- Esther found favor in the eyes of Hegai and eventually became Queen.

The Moment of Crisis
- Mordecai’s refusal to bow before Haman incited him against the Jews.

Notes

The story of Esther is similar to other stories in the Bible, e.g. Joseph ( Gen 37-50), Moses( Ex 2), David (1 Sam 29-30), Daniel etc. Can you tell what is common among them?

In each of these stories, a gifted Israelite is taken into the palace of a foreign king and there is granted an opportunity to preserve the life of God’s people.


The unique feature about the story of Esther is that it teaches about God’s provision for his people without ever mentioning God in the book.

God is like the author of the script of the drama which unfolds in the story. Given the “coincidences” at key moments in the story, there is no room for doubt that the events happened as they did because they were planned that way by God.


God’s Sovereign Grace and Divine Providence
The situations in our lives are not always the way we want them to turn out. E.g. the place we live, the people we must associate with everyday, the problems we encounter. And these things may not be our fault. We may be the victim of circumstances, or we may have made decisions we thought were right but did not work out as expected.

Mordecai understood God’s sovereign grace and divine providence. He said to Esther, “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14)


Esther is no safer than any other Jew. When it is known that she is Jewish, her life will be endangered too. Mordecai is convinced that God cares for his people, and if He doesn’t use Esther to deliver them, He will use some other means. He is a sovereign God.



Application
- God is sovereign and He is able to turn difficult circumstances round to work for our good. This includes the wrong decisions we have made.

- This, however, does not mean we should live our lives in total disregard for the will of God, and then expect Him to clear up our mess. The result is unhappiness, sorrow and regret, as many Christians can testify. The consequences of willful sin can be unbearable.


- The sovereignty of God simply means that when we put our lives in Christ’s hands and yield ourselves unreservedly to Him, we can be certain that He has a great plan for us. He can use everything that has happened to us in the past and every circumstance in our present experience to help carry out his plan.

- God has a purpose for you, right now, right where you are, no matter who you are, where you live, to whom you are married, what you have experienced in the past, or what you are facing in the future. In fact, He has allowed you to come to this place in your life for a specific purpose, “for such a time as this”. He has something specific for you to accomplish in your present situation, and He wants you to look for the opportunities in that sphere of influence.


- As believers, we are a part of God’s great program on earth. We have a destiny. God does not want us to moan our plight and look for a way out. He will be honored if we claim His Grace to be what He wants us to be and do what He wants us to do in our present circumstances. We must take advantage of the opportunities He has made available to us in the here and now. He may later open up wider spheres of opportunity if that suits His purpose, but that is in His Hands. Our responsibility is to let Him use us where we are.
- God is at work in our lives just as definitely as in Esther’s. Our circumstances may not be all we would like them to be. But we can thank God for them anyway. They provide Him with the opportunity to demonstrate His sovereign love and care, and for us to glorify Him. Rom 8:28- And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”.

Q: Recount some of the problems or circumstances you have faced in the past that you now realize God has worked out for good.

Q: What are the present circumstances in your life that you wish were different? What opportunities to glorify the Lord are provided by these circumstances? How can you serve the Lord in them?

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God is.....

Compassionate
Persistent
A God Of Second Chance
A Miracle Performer
Commander
Powerful
Disciplinarian
Teacher
Healer
Environmentalist
Giver & Taker Of Life
Love

Source: Funny Pictures (2003)

Book of Jonah

(Permission of use obtained from author)

No time to read the book of Jonah?
Need some pictorial help in visualising the story of Jonah?
Click on the picture to read the Jonah comics!

The Steward Exercise

We have an ultra-interesting application this week, I want to invite all of you to join in! And in case those who were at processing thought I wasn't serious about it...well, this entry shows that I am, so, please do homework hor! Here goes...

Consciously note your week's expenditure for 8 Oct-13 Oct.

While doing this exercise, remember that we're assuming that this is a typical week. So don't try to deliberately curb your spending. If you are giving tithe this week, divide your tithe amount by 4 and add on to your week's total expenditure.

After you have done your recordings of expenditure at the end of Sat, observe from your spendings the following:
1. Are you content with what you have? (i.e. are you content with what you've spent on...or do you want more?)
2. Do you give to God first?
3. What are the things we spend on?
4. Do you give to the poor?

We are to be good stewards!

3-Step Bible Study Process

(Taken from "Living by the Book" by Howard G. Hendricks & William D. Hendricks)

(1) Observation: What do I see? (TSLA)
a. Terms: key words (e.g. "but")
b. Structure: grammatical (e.g. what is the Subject/Object), literary (e.g. cause &
effect, question & answer)
c. Literary form (e.g. poetry, epistle, narrative)
d. Atmosphere: setting, author’s feelings

(2) Interpretation: What does it mean?
a. Questions: keep asking
b. Answers: find answers from observation process
c. Integration: put answers together into a meaningful whole

(Tip: The longer time you spend on making observations, the shorter time you take to interpret the passage and the more accurate your interpretation.)

(3) Application: How does it work?
a. For me: personal application for credibility & authority before you teach the Word
b. For others: for effective ministry

:p

oops couldn't stop myself from adding the exclamation mark on the picture...

anyway i added ur family devotion schedule on the side...and it links to the post on the book.

Reflections on Daniel 6:10-23

Reflections on Daniel 6:10-23
How can we grow in doing what is right no matter what's the cost?
1. Foster a close relationship with God
2. Always Pray
3. Always be thankful
4. Always trust God
Daniel is one of my favourite character in the bible because like David, he has a very close walk with God and is called the highly esteemed by God.
In passage 6:10-23, we see Daniel's actions in work with his faith. Regardless of the harsh decree issued by the king, he fearlessly continue his daily routine, that is to pray 3 times a day. Obedience to God is better than sacrifice. And God honors him and save him from the seemingly hopeless situation of death.
For me, what I want to catch from Daniel is his admirable trust in God.
"And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." (Daniel 6:23)
Sometimes, we may be weighed down by many wordly worries in our lives but when we turned our eyes to God and trust Him to help us, it's then that we truly live out what we believe in - that Jesus Christ is Lord.
So just want to encourage all of you, no matter what circumstances we are in, let us always pray to God and trust in Him in everything.
Amen!

~ Posting on behalf of Huili

blog layout

hehe, i dunno what u all want leh :/

so i shall leave the blog like this first...

at least it looks more decent... o.O compared to the one where everything was squashed to one side...

Reflection on Nahum

Nahum

1) God is Awesome
2) Remember God is Awesome
3) Return to the Awesome God
4) Reveal/ Reflect/ Represent the Awesome God

In Nahum, God chose to afflict Israel no more. I was reminded of God's love. He chose me just as he chose Israel. I could have been destroyed just like Nineveh but God included me in His sovereign plan.

"The clouds are the dust of His feet" Nahum 1:3. God has been awesome to me and I want to be used by God to do awesome things. I want to hear Him, see Him, and know Him more intimately. I want people to know this awesome God such that their lives will be transformed in awesome ways.

I was reminded that God is not only a God of love, but also a God of power - power to save, vindicate, punish and destroy. Lets return to our Awesome God.

New Updates - Our Family Devotion Time Schedule

After discussion during last meeting, here's the new schedule....

20 Sep: Nahum (by Sharon)
27 Sep: Daniel (by Huili)
4 Oct: Jonah (by Grace)
11 Oct: Ecclesiates (by Jess)
18 Oct: Esther (by Choi)
25 Oct: ?
1 Nov: Malachi (by Joan)
8 Nov: Zechariah (by Yating)
15 Nov: Ruth (by Sharmaine)
22 Nov: Joel (by Eunice)
29 Nov: Isaiah (by Weiqing)
6 Dec: ?

Let's immerse ourselves in the Word of God, nourishing our souls.

reflection on Nahum

Hmmz... seems like no one else has blogged their reflection yet.... anyway, main take-away was to remember once again how Awesome God is... and as He reminded me of all the times He had seen me thru'...the joy and the pain.... once again i find myself speechless...and eternally grateful..

Memorise the 66 books!!!

Growing deep in the word of God

Dear all (esp those who were not at G12 meeting last thursday)

As discussed,

Each person will have to pick a book in the Old Testament to share. You do not have to share the whole book, it can be just a passage in the book.

To be presented during G12 meeting in any way you want it to be. (One person per G12 meeting). The sharing can be around 30 mins
- To share on one of your personal learning from the Book
- To share on one application that you can help the family to grow in.
(Someone pls correct me if i wrote wrongly)

Pls check with Fang Siang on the schedule and books that are still available.

Our Family Devotion Time

Okie, this may sound a lil abrupt cos there was supposed to be a preamble to this (Yating was supposed to blog about our last meeting, you see... Still waiting for you k? =P)

But, this is what we will be doing for the next few weeks...

20 Sep: Nahum (by Sharon)
27 Sep: Proverbs (by FS)
4 Oct: Jonah (by Grace)
11 Oct: Ecclesiates (by Jess)
18 Oct: 1 Samuel (by Huili)
25 Oct: ?
1 Nov: ?
8 Nov: ?
15 Nov: ?
22 Nov: ?
29 Nov: Joel (by Eunice)
6 Dec: Isaiah (by Weiqing)
13 Dec: Zechariah (by Yating)

Joan, Ady, Sharmaine & Choi may not know what's going on yet. You'll know when you join us for the next meeting.

I'm reading "Living by the Book" by Howard G. Hendricks & William D. Hendricks to equip myself for our devotion time. Tune in to our meetings for great treasures uncovered....

Testing

Hi

It's me learning how to post blog again :)

I'm now at Jeremiah & Titus for my devotion...at my office, we're doing Isaiah...

:) FOr He knoWs the plans for u! Plans to prosper & not to harm u. Plans to give U HoPe & a FuTure! May God bless U with this confidence in Him!

Thank God for seeing me thru everyday at work! Letting me have wonderful colleagues and workload. So blessed in these 2 years :) At work, we emphasize the being rather than the doing. Are we the Mary at Jesus's feet or the Martha jealous of Mary?

I asked the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.

I hoped that in some favoured hour
At once He'd answer my request,
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

"Lord, why is this?" I trembling cried,
"Wilt thou pursue Thy worm to death?"
"'Tis in this way," the Lord replied,
"I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may'st seek thy all in me."

John Newton.

Devotion by Ps Shufang

Love God with all your weakness
by Jon Walker

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind ….'” (Luke 10:27 NIV)

No doubt it sounds strange, but in order to love God with all your strength, you have to admit that you are weak and that your strength is limited.

By doing this, you acknowledge God as the true source of your strength, and that in your weakness, he is strong. You become strong as you become totally dependent upon him, allowing his strength to work through you.

As you allow God to show his strength, you will find yourself doing things you never thought possible. God promises you can do all things through the Father as he gives you his strength (Phil. 4:13). You’ll take steps of faith you never thought possible, and you’ll love others in a way you never imagined as God supplies you with supernatural strength and energy.

God is strong and he wants you strong. He will change you in places where you cannot change yourself, and he will transform the broken places of your life in order to use them for his own glory.

God doesn’t ask you to take steps of faith alone; he is with you in every step, filling you with a grace-charged strength. God only asks you to take one step of faith at a time.

So what?
· Tell God you need his strength – and really mean it this time. Ha! When you try to love and serve others with just your own strength, you’ll inevitably fail. After all, there are a lot of frustrating, unlovable people out there. (Just ask some of my friends!) And that’s OK because God wants you to fail in your own strength so you’ll start to rely upon his strength.

· You can’t love God wholeheartedly – Jesus knows you won’t be able to love God with your whole heart until you become dependent upon his strength to do so. You simply can’t do it through your own energy or strength, but Jesus also knows you’ll come to realize this yourself the more you attempt to love God – and others – on your own. At that point, you’re faced with a very clear but difficult choice: Keep on keeping on in your own strength, wondering why this abundant life thing doesn’t work, or take the “Nestea plunge” into the deep end of dependence on God’s strength.

· One step of faith at a time – Relying on God’s strength doesn’t mean he will require you to take giant leaps of faith. He’s taking you on a lifelong journey, and my experience is that God only asks for one step at a time. The so-called “leaps of faith” you see some people take actually are the culmination of a lot of little steps of faith that you may not be aware of. The first step is to ask God to be your strength as you take your first steps of faith. Willingness to rely on him is a step of faith.

· Question for meditation: How dependent on God am I each day as I walk out my faith? Where am I moving independently of him?

I thought this is a very timely devotion for all of us as the 100k campaign is about a faith journey, depending on God's strength and His strength alone. May you grow in faith as a warrior of light!

Huili's proposal

Walking to the main area (sorry for the super blur picture)
The girls getting ready with the sparklers
The guys getting ready with the cards!

THE PROPOSAL
The super happy couple~
The couple with the super big balloon

The guys~
The cell girls + xide
All the girls

Dinner at FS and Seth's Place

We started off at 4.30 at Fs' house to begin the cooking! Fs wasn't really cooking but she was doing 'housework'. This is what it entails:

Folding plastic bags



5 mins later


And more:

FS said: "Make me look glam hor" (How glam can folding plastic bags be? So, did I succeed?)

After the tedious plastic bag folding, she got up to make us smoothies!

Here's what we had.


Coffee with Raspberry Ice-cream and Chocolate Bits... (Erm. haha. when we offered to Seth, he said, huh? later get stomachache)

So while FS was busy with the smoothie and plastic bag folding, here's what Elicia, Qing and I were up to!





Later on, the cook and photographer got tired, so no more photos. haha.

Global Day of Prayer, 27th May 7 pm at National Stadium

GDOP 2007

Pentecost Sunday. 27 May
7 pm. National Stadium

Hear this. A fitting word from Psalm 122 which Pastor Edmund Chan
of Covenant EFC brought at the Final GDOP Briefing on Saturday May 12:

The 12 tribes were distinct and different -
different tribal sizes
different tribal elders
different tribal leadership
different inheritances
different land allotments
different tribal identities
different tribal loyalties
yet they had ONE thing in common -
A common meeting place "where all the tribes go up"
to celebrate the enormous reality of the Living God in their midst
A God who tabernacled amongst them!

Picture this. There are over 500 congregations here in Singapore.
We all have our different histories, different styles, different sizes, different
church cultures, different languages, different socio-economic mix, different
structures, different philosophies of ministry, and so on. But once a year,
may we arise as ONE for the Global Day of Prayer, uniting with Christians
worldwide on Pentecost Sunday to exalt the Lord our God!

01. Let's gather at the National Stadium this May 27 to celebrate the presence of God in our midst!
02. Let the National Stadium resound with the praises and prayers of God's people in Singapore!
This Sunday and next will be the final two weekends to publicise and
mobilize for GDOP in our respective churches. Could you raise the trumpet
to summon your 'tribe'? Every church matters. Thanks.

Official Organizer: Evangelical Fellowship of Singapore
Official Website: http://www.prayforsingapore.org.sg
Phone: 6337-1977. Fax: 6-338-0983

Mother's Day

This is a year of victory for me as God has changed my perspective of what mother's day is all about. In fact, I've experienced a breakthrough after the ups and downs of yesteryears. This, I have to thank all of you.

(More details in my blog. Keep all of you in suspense.) Hehe...

But well, even if you don't read that, what I want to say is simply, "Thank You, my daughters, for I am called blessed because you are the blessings in my life."

(Btw, keep me in prayers. I'm having a throat infection. Had MC yesterday and today. I'm given antibiotics so that I can quickly recover in order that the foetus not be affected.)

Teaching on Jude, by Pastor Benny Ho

Hiya, who's interested? Me going for this. Let me know latest by this Sunday.

Ady

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Shalom..... Shalom.....

In the month of May, there will only be one teaching seminar,
instead of the usual two seminars. Ps Benny Ho will be teaching
on the Book of Jude - WALKING WITHOUT FALLING .

Below is a brief synopsis:

THE BOOK OF JUDE - "WALKING WITHOUT FALLING"Even though this is one of the shortest letters in the
New Testament, the Book of Jude contains a power-
packed message that challenges us to walk without
falling.

Although Jude was very eager to write on the subject
of salvation, he had to switch to the subject of standing
strong against all sorts of false teachings that were and
still is seeking to infiltrate the Church of Jesus Christ
today.The warnings in this ancient letter become increasingly
relevant as we move into the end-times when Satan
will throw everything he had against the Church.

But the good news that Jude leaves us with is that in the
end, God is able to keep us from falling and present us to
Himself as a perfected Bride without spot and wrinkle.Coverage includes:Uncovering the Darkness of:* Worldliness* Carnality* Lawlessness* Sensuality* Rebellion etc.Preserving the Faith through:* Praying in the Holy Spirit* Walking in God's Love* Depending on God's Mercy* Resting in God's Power* Claiming God's Promises and more...

Come and receive what the Word of God says.
****************************************************************

Date : 26 May (Saturday) 2007

Time : 9.30am to 12.45pm
(Registration starts at 9am)

Place: Church of Singapore, Marine Parade
145 Marine Parade Road S449274

Registration Fees: S$4/- per Participant
(Seminar Materials will be provided)

****************************************************************

WHERE TO PARK?
Parking will not be available within the church, please park your car at Parkway Parade Shopping Centre, multi-storey carpark beside Parkway Parade, or Katong Mall.


HOW TO GET THERE?

Please log on www.streetdirectory.com.sg (key in the church name or postal code, and the map will be shown)



HOW TO REGISTER?

Registration is required to facilitate preparation of seminar materials.

Please reply to this email douglim@singnet.com.sg stating your Name and Contact number. For Group registrations, please indicate the number of attendees in your email.

Upon confirmation of your Registrations, you will receive a Confirmation reply, the print-out of your Confirmation reply will be your entry ticket to the seminar and it must be shown at the registration counter to collect your Workbook.

Appreciate your kind attention and cooperation in this matter.


ADMITTANCE is STRICTLY BY REGISTRATION
ONLY

PLEASE feel free to forward this email and inform your friends of this seminar.

Thank you.

Have a blessed week ahead. SHALOM!

Douglas LimARROWS RESOURCES

Mobile: +65 97484595Mailing Address: Blk298 #06-463 Punggol Central Singapore 820298

When you come to my place....

Since Seth has been pampering me by doing all the housework, I want to do my part to bless him and I need all your help so that he can labour for this family with joy =)

So, here's you can help....

1. Wash your feet first thing after entering my humble flat
2. Use the coasters/placemats to place your food
3. Throw all rubbish once you are done with your dinner into the rubbish chute (which most of you have been doing already)
4. Clean the table after use

Actually, he has been very sweet to all of you too, clearing the rubbish and cleaning the table, and even vacuuming the floor after you have left. So, bless him the next time with food, drinks, affirmations and your service lor.

I'm sure he won't mind. In fact, tell you a lil secret: He sees all of your as his spiritual daughters and he told me he wants to do his part to help all of you grow in this journey too. =)

And one more thing, from the moment we are blessed by God with our lil home, we see and desire that our home is a blessing to others. And anytime you want to drop by for a chat, for a drink, for a game (but bring your board games), to watch a VCD, feel free to come. You don't have to wait till Thursdays. But, but, but, must inform early or call beforehand hor.... I can't "jump" too much with your surprises cos there's a child in me (pun intended)... =P

Living in Victory with Spirit-filled prayers

Here are the prayer requests we shared during post-service processing. Let's not give up praying for the things that have been set on our heart. And let's continue to encourage and remind one another of the importance of prayer. (:

Grace: Fruitfulness in the ministry
Adeline: Healing from sinus
Yating: Baptism (favour and support of her mother)
Huili: Family Salvation
Sharon: Father's Salvation
Eunice: Gifts of the Spirit - Prophecy
Qing: Family Salvation and Ministry Direction
Elicia: Grandfather's Salvation and NUS Admissions
Tracey: Family Salvation
Choi: Family Salvation
Fang Siang: Growing foetus, healthy baby, who will grow into a child who loves and serves God whole-heartedly

(p.s those of you who weren't around, can you pls just add on to the post?)

Tracey's Rochers

hallo. Tracey shared with me over msn about how she was introduced to Christ in p3. Not your run-of-the-mill testimony. But I thought it was hilarious anyhow. [ oh..and in Heaven, we get endless supplies of GODiva chocs...haha ]

i accepted Christ in my life in p3

then i also dont know what i was doing

they kinda bribed me with ferrero rocher

and they ask me..

do u want to go heaven or go hell

and they have this john 3:16 picture thingy..

and i was smart enough to say heaven

Can I be perfect?

Do you cry, "Can I be perfect?" Have faith in God and say in His name, "If perfect holiness is possible, I will have it. If it can be reached on earth, I will reach it." All that the Spirit of God can make out of such a poor sinner as I am it is my desire that He should make. I gladly submit myself and all that I have to His gracious operation. I would like to hear you say, "I must rise to a higher condition. I must be more Christlike. I must have less and less of self." May we be burning with an insatiable desire to be holy, and may we say with the inspired penman, "I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments."

A Passion For Holiness, Charles Spurgeon

Anna's Homecoming

Lanying's Birthday!

Ministry With The Poor

Veteran missionary Jackie Pullinger - marvelled by believers worldwide for her remarkable work amongst the poor, the drug addicts and the ex- convicts in Hong Kong - is coming to FCBC to share her burning passion and valuable insight in reaching out to such needy members of society. Tap into her wealth of real-world experiences at this conference and be powerfully enriched to ministrer to those in need of God.

Date: 12 May (Saturday)
Time: 2pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Max Pavillion
Price: $7 for working adults
$5 for students

Tickets are available on first-come-first serve basis at Info & Service Counter

I'm interested to go.. Will most likely be getting the tix this Sun.. anyone else wants to join me? Let me know by start of service.

Worship is...

Even as some of you, prepare your hearts to serve in the tribal choir..
Juz wanna bless you with some quotes.. so that we can focus on what worship is..

"Worship is giving to God the glory, praise, honor and thanks due to him, both for who he is and for what he has done" ~ Leslie B. Flynn

"Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient mystery, that majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call our Father which art in heaven." ~ A.W Tozer

"Worship is giving honor and respect to God." ~ John MacArthur

"Worship is the process in which we make God first in our lives" ~ Bruce Leafblad

"Worship is knowing and giving what God desires - our obedience." ~ S.Y. Irwin

"Worship involves awareness of God, awe in His presence, adoration of Him because of His excellencies and acts, and affirmation in praise of all He is and does."
~ Dr Vernon Grounds

"Worship is the total response in which spiritual, emotional and physical factors tune together to draw attention to the heavenly Father." ~ Kenneth Gangel

Indeed, may we discover what it means to worship in SPIRIT and in TRUTH!

Enjoy this little narration.. may we pay attention to the ppl around us..
and choose to make a difference!

http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/

Lalalalala Lalalala Lalalalalalala

Now I manning our drop-in centre and have time to do rubbish. I managed to post yet another blog...these are my colleagues. I thank God for my workplace and the flexibility/freedom at work. God has indeed been with me. He sees me thru the seasons. We get to do devotion at work everyday. We get to talk about God everyday. I'm thinking of doing DTS (Discipleship Training School) one day - or is it almost like what we do in FCBC? God be with you always...

Mom's new blog

Dear all,

Check out our mom's new blog. I've edited the link :) Just click on it!

Jesus loves the little children

Hi all,

Just thought I would like to share about the past weekend:

YSP (youth study programme) fell in btwn Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Thus, the volunteers at YSP decided to come up with something to share the meaning of Good Friday to the kids.
we managed to come up with something:

A series of scenes that journeyed through the crucification and resurrection and we got the children to role play the different characters that came up for eg: the soldiers, the robbers that were crucified with Jesus, Mary Magdalene).
This was to be followed by an altar call for the children to receive Christ (actually we were not sure if this were materialise or how to do it. We were just going to play by ear and see how the children would response.)


At YSP, we were so excited about the whole thing, we decided to just have the sharing and role playing first before tuition time. After the role play, the children started to ask many questions such as:
How did Jesus die?
Why did he have to hang on the cross?
If Jesus is alive now, where is He?
If Jesus died a painful death on the cross, why is it that christians like to wear the cross as necklace?

As the Holy spirit led, altar call was given to children who want to receive God's love into their lives. And Praise God, 7 out of 9 children accept God's love into their lives. out of the 7, 2 are already attending FCBC, 1 is a christian who is not attending any. 4 are from non-christian background.

And so........ the volunteers have decided to split up the kids so that we can each concentrate on 1 or 2 to share more about this wonderful God to them. Praise God!

Deuteronomy 11:18-20

18Therefore you shall lay up these My words in your [minds and] hearts and in your [entire] being, and bind them for a sign upon your hands and as forehead bands between your eyes.
19And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you rise up.
20And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates

Deuteronomy 11:18-20 (Amplified Bible)

Wesley's notes:

Lay up - Let us all observe these three rules,

Let our hearts be filled with the word of God. Lay up these words in your hearts, as in a store - house, to be used upon all occasions.

Let our eyes be fixed upon the word of God: Bind them for a sign upon your hand, which is always in view, and as frontlets between your eyes, which you cannot avoid the sight of.

Let our tongues be employed about the word of God, especially with our children, who must be taught this, as far more needful than the rules of decency, or the calling they are to live by.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lately, I've been reading Brother Yun's autobiography about how he was persecuted for God's work and how he worked through his struggles. I was impressed by how he really hid God's word in his heart such that each time when he was in trouble, he could quote scripture as his weapon. Through his story, God has been encouraging me to also hide His word in my heart and to commit His word to memory.

The above verse in Deuteronomy 11 is actually first mentioned in 6:6-9 of the same book. I was struck by the details God gives of the different ways we are to lay up His words. Not just in our heart and in our soul, but also in visible ways, as a sign upon our hand and on our forehead and to be hung on our lips, to pronounce and pass on.

All of these should work together, which means it isn't enough to just have His word in our heart and soul but we also must proclaim and pass it on. Also, His working in our life has to be visible, to be seen on "the doorposts of our house and of our gates".

We must allow God's word to permeate our lives, to be visible and real in every way! When we do that, He will cause His blessings to fall in great abundance! :)

For when you are bored...

Morocco - Land of Hamsup men

Morocco

London - Where I want to stay!

London

Kusu Island - Nature reef walk turned 'Fright Fest'

Kusu - Never underestimate your power to be grossed out!

Love...

After last night's meeting, I was looking through some of the old photos from church, over the past 3 years..

And I looked at the most recent photo that we took at fs wedding.. and i juz thought that despite our inadequacies, our differences... we all came together and rallied behind our leader, that's love.. isn't it?

Dear fs, we LURVE EEEEEWWWWWW!!!!!

Isn't God tired of giving us second chances?

As I read Numbers 20:14 - 22:1, I couldn't help but ask why God could be so patient and loving to the Israelites.

The Israelites are really people who hurt God again and again...

They rebelled against God, they lacked faith to believe that God was the One who
delivered them out of slavery and would bring them into the Promised Land, their
faith was dependant upon circumstances, not anchored on God alone, they grumbled
against God's appointed leaders (showing that they did not trust God's choice).

But, God has never given up loving them.

He provided a way out for them each time they cried out to Him (Num 21:2-3,
Num 21:7-8, Num 21:34), despite them only turning to Him when they were
desperate, despite them treating Him as a vending machine.

Humanly speaking, this is tiring if we are in the shoes of God, isn't it? Imagine your sister-in-Christ (or for this matter, anyone you want to love) hurting you again and again, only realised her mistake each time she needs your help, only nice to you when she feels like it. What would you do?

God spoke to me. He said to me, "Fang Siang, I am concerned about each one of you. My heart is never to allow anyone to perish. I grieve when you walk away from Me, but I do not give up loving you. I will put circumstances along your path to provide you with the chance to return home. I welcome anyone back each time he/she returns home."

Our heavenly Father - a loving God of second chances!

Thank you, Father for not failing to love me. Your wondrous love, Your unconditional love, I give thanks!!

The rhema word for me: So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpeants from us." (Num 21:7)

This is the day to turn back, to repent. Let us receive His love for us, and repent of our selfishness, pride and rebellion.

God wants to forgive us. Do you want His forgiveness?
He loves you. Do you receive His love?

We Sing Our Songs

We Sing Our Songs [ 24th Mar, 2007, 7pm. Cost: $17]

2007 is the year we say goodbye to the 30 year-old National Stadium! The Theatre Practice and TCR Music Station bid a fond farewell to that wellspring of laughter, song and memories with We Sing Our Songs - a mega sing-along of 5,000 voices that will rock the stadium with our favourite Singapore songs such as xinyao, television favourites, national day songs and many more! Belt your hearts out with us at this farewell party! DURATION: 3 hrs

Think I made a mistake about the dates. If you're interested, can let me know by Friday?

Holiness and Love

The Christian really has a double task. He has to practice both God's holiness and God's love. The Christian is to exhibit that God exists as the infinite-personal God; and then he is to exhibit simultaneously God's character of holiness and love.

Not his holiness without his love: that is only harshness. Not his love without his holiness: that is only compromise.

- Mark of a Christian, by Francis A. Schaeffer

Dear family, :)

When I read this, I froze for a bit and then started thinking of all the times I've skipped from one extreme to another.

There are times when I've gotten angry for a person's behavior when I feel it doesn't please the Lord and I've lashed out without love.

There are times when though I'm clear that a person is doing something that is offensive to the Lord, but out of fear of confrontation and afraid of upsetting the relationship, I've refrained from saying anything. Or even when I do, I dare not really make my point, but hide it behind softer words.

And of course there are times when my behavior exhibits neither holiness nor love, driven only by my own wounded pride or flawed expectations.

I think I'm going to have a mental checklist for myself to evaluate conflicts/unhappiness that arise, to make sure that for each situation, I will respond both in holiness and in love, so that I can be an honest reflection of my Lord.

Please keep me accountable and let me know when you feel that I haven't responded in a Godly way to things/situations. Thanks, dearies!

it's yat's bday!!!

Happy bday dear!!

Anna's coming back!!!

from 29th Mar to 13th Apr. Was thinking we could all meet her for dinner on a Sunday after church :) Which leaves us with 1st/8th April.

Plans are quite tentative as yet. But do leave those two slots free! It'll be great to fellowship before she jets back to Munich again.

Ady

randomness...

lydia says:
ok... i'm gg off... to run errands and facial... then coming back for soccer...
lydia says:
chat with u again if u are still ard
lydia says:
hey... but you wont be "a round", you are "a girl"...

I posted my first blog!

Thanks Shar!!!

who says bad humour can't kill?

Ady: haha. no lah. but i really really really like him and he works under tommy koh and tommy koh is my idol too!!!! (but no crush on tommy koh of course)
Lydia:what if u crushed yourself to pieces? painful leh
Ady:.................................................

Ady:you shld have stayed for the sermon yesterday.pastor roland and your humour same level
Lydia:pastor level jokes ok
Ady:yeah. you are the pastor of lame jokes. sure win
Lydia:i pastor lives leh... dun pastor jokes.... otherwise..... that will make all of you lame jokes!!!!
Ady:HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!HEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLP!!!!
Lydia: i know first aid... i can help!!!!
Ady:i'm putting this on the blog
Lydia:i think we can change the blog name to purplesfully lame... haha
Ady:pls stop....
Lydia:but i'm bringing joy into ur live... adding colours
Ady:you mean black? or dark brown?

Ady: you're killing me
lydia:i cant n i wont cos no knife or even parang n some more i'll break God's commandment leh... i dun want to sin
Ady:sorry. this is adeline's colleague. she's fainted on the floor. bye and have a nice day.
lydia:hahaha... forgot that the conversation is not for the faint-hearted

sacrificing pain

What does it mean to die to oneself? To sacrifice dreams? What about sacrificing pain? The pain that tore you once apart, making you bad for anyone else, the pain that still echoes in the moments of silence, clinging to you with a frightful persistence, the pain that slips through the cracks of dawn, to leave you in the morning with a battered soul? What does it take to sacrifice the pain at the altar?

It alarms me that He calls for my pain, wanting it to be turned over to Him and it terrifies me that I hold on to it so with such ferocity even though everyday, I scream to be able to let go. Because the pain is killing me.

What does it mean to surrender my pain to You, Lord?

Thoughts about Job

As i was about to type my reflection, a fren told me something, related to my past.... and it kind of got me thinking..... and remembering....

Naked i came from my mother's womb, and naked i shall depart..... indeed, i brought nothing when i came to this world, nothing belonged to me, everything belonged to God. And God does take things away.... and sometimes, it hurts to lose something u held dear.... but as you choose to keep walking, and trusting, one day, u realise that God really loves u so much, that He takes away things u held precious becos He knows all that glitters is not gold; what seemed precious at that time, reveals it's worthlessness as the days pass..

The only way to truly live is to let God be at the helm of all things...He is the One n Only Captain.

Thoughts on Job...

I shall start the ball rolling, since i believe i chose to share on Job..

One thing that most certainly struck me after reading Job was how despite all the suffering and losses he went thru, he chose to still praise God and hold on to his faith..

Though the ppl close to him questioned his faith in God, he still chose to hold on to God..

Something else that struck me was that in chap 32 where Elihu, the younger man spoke.. how he was angry cos Job justified himself more than God.. how Job was concerned more about his own reputation of righteousness.

Sometimes I tend to look to me, I, and that's not the right attitude.. it's not what I have done.. but what is God doing thru me.

Whatever God has given, belongs to Him, not me.. I came to this world with nothing.. all that I have were given by Him.. even if he takes them back, it's kind of like the parable of the talents.. how God has given to us talents and we are to use them wisely.. we are but stewards of what He's given us.. we don't own them.

May all that I do honour Him.

Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away
May the name of the Lord be praised ~ Job 1:21

Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name when I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me
When the world's "all as it should be"
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

a strong and perfect plea

Hi all,

Was away for most of Dec but it's so good to be back. Though it's only the 3rd day of school, I am already feeling very tired and overwhelmed with all the things I have to plan for. I woke up at 4 this morning, unable to get back to sleep and began praying to God. But I really didn't know what to say and confessed to God my utter confusion.

But this morning, He spoke to me through the words of the song - Before the throne of God above, reminding me that because of Christ, I have a strong and perfect plea and that when I keep my eyes on Him, I won't fall.

Here are the lyrics to bless your day.

D                    G   D
Before the throne of God above,
D                          F#m
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
           G       D     A       Bm
A great High Priest whose name is "Love,"
       G    A       D
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
         G  D          A
My name is graven on His hands,
         G  D      A    Bm
My name is writen on His heart;
          G      A        Bm
I know that while in heav'n He stands
        G           Bm
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
            G      A     D
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.
to look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there! the risen Lamb,
my perfect, spotless Righteousness,
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Savior and my God
with Christ, my Savior and my God

Entering a year of Victory!!

Our cluster photo..


The YouthNet 144 procession.. spot Pastor Hee Guan?!


The BIG Silver Cross!


A prayer by YouthNet's spiritual mother..


Spiritual father and mother of YouthNet..


Our charge for 2007!


We will BreakOut!!!