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.

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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!!!

Five Loaves and Two Fishes

I just came back from Corrinne May's concert and would like to share something that I have gained a new perspective from one of the songs she sang today.

Entitled "Five loaves and two fishes", the song told of the "Jesus feeds the 5000" story through the eyes of the boy (who gave his food to Jesus's disciples). You know, we usually use this story to illustrate that Jesus is God and this was one of those many many miracles that Jesus had done during His lifetime on earth. Of course, it was an amazing story to begin with; my primary school teachers always use this story as example to tell of Jesus's power.

The 'new angle' that I realised we could view from was from the boy who gave up his loaves and fishes for Jesus to feed the crowd. He knew not what difference his small amount of food could make for a starving crowd. But he gave it up believing that Jesus could make a difference out of it. So these loaves and fishes are really like our talents. We do not know what we can do to change lives and things around but what we can do is to trust God when we surrender what we have to Him. He can help us make the difference.

The boy could have kept what he had and eat his fill. Offering his food may mean that he can't get to eat his own food. But he chose to trust Jesus for a miracle.

Are you willing to trade what you own for a greater portion of blessing that will satisfy your hunger indefinitely?

Dec activity..

Approaching 2007...

Hmmm.. as we all reflect upon 2006, i believe many are also planning for 2007...

For me, well, indicated to my boss that i'm interested in taking up a diploma course in counseling practise.. that would take up about a year..
But dunno whether it'll be approved or not cos of some changes in HR policy..

Keyboard class is also coming to an end.. today, we each presented a song.. and the coach feedback was that we can all move on to the next level.. but i was wondering to myself if i would be able to commit cos i need to practise.. and on top of that if i do the diploma course, i doubt i'd have the time.. but yet, i wanna learn more, going there weekly for classes is like therapy for me.. and i enjoy the classes run by the coach..

Next year.. so near yet so far... maybe Jesus will be back by then? hehe..