i received this in an email, thought i'd share it with all of you :)
This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa.
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).
We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.' While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, 'Amen'? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.
By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes.. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!' Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'.
isn't Jesus just wonderful? i really like the part where the little girl prayed, asking God to send a hot water bottle in the afternoon - because it'll be no good later. she really saw Him as a big God that can do big things. sometimes we all get scared that we're asking for "too much" - but maybe we should ask Jesus, do we honestly think we're being greedy or is it that we're "paiseh", or that we think we're "pushing it"? how do we measure His love? it really made me think, this testimony.
like Jesus said to the blind beggar in Luke 18, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He knows what we need, He know what we desire - but what would we ask of Him?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Re-live Arrow Student Camp
Hey Beloveds! The following post is just for fun :)
This is similar to the video that we were made to imitate... haha
Insane Japanese Aerobics - Zujkin Gals
This is similar to the video that we were made to imitate... haha
Insane Japanese Aerobics - Zujkin Gals
July Arrow Recap
Heyz Beloveds,
I think the past July Arrow Services were super good. Here's a recap:
5th July - What is True Love?
Qualities of True Love vs Attraction (or Infatuation). The points are meant to be seen in parallel comparison.
True Love is...
- Patient
- Kind
- Completes and celebrates
- Respectful
- Forgiving
- Lives by the truth of God's word
- Believes the best in truth and maturely accepts one's imperfections
- Constant and enduring
- Works through conflicts
- A decision as much as it is a feeling
Attraction is...
- An instant desire
- Given because of perceived value
- Jealous and competitive
- Demanding and rude
- Petty and keeps accounts of wrongdoings
- Lives solely by feelings
- Chooses to be blind and disregard the flaws that one sees in reality
- A rollercoaster of emotions
- Shuns conflicts and confrontations
- Nothing more than feelings
When God wants to bless us He sends a person. Just as He sent Jesus to bless us when God wants to bless us at the appointed time, He will send a person (in some cases persons). It is a blessing so it's not something that we can earn. Sometimes we might try to "earn" a person and the relationship because of its perceived value and even though we might succeed in getting that relationship we will be the one who has to maintain it. Personally I would rather God bless me at the right time and He will be the one to keep the relationship together because if it is from Him, He will definitely keep it intact.
As such, love is more than a feeling. It is a person. That person is Jesus. When we become so full of His love for us loving others will be from an overflow. I would rather draw love from God and let it overflow than give love out of myself, His supply is never-ending. Get this: If your future life-partner has God as the first priority, you are blessed! Some people actually see this as a negative thing because they want to be the first priority in the other person's life but that is trying to draw from a well that has limited supply. Draw from the bottomless well of God's love and both parties will be satisfied.
References:
I Corinthians 13:4-8
I John 4:8-10
Ephesians 3:19-21
Random notes:
God does not want us to react to every attraction.
In relationships, begin with the love of God as foundation.
Love never fails because love died on the cross. Jesus is love personified.
Emotions are real but it does not mean we should act upon them.
I think the past July Arrow Services were super good. Here's a recap:
5th July - What is True Love?
Qualities of True Love vs Attraction (or Infatuation). The points are meant to be seen in parallel comparison.
True Love is...
- Patient
- Kind
- Completes and celebrates
- Respectful
- Forgiving
- Lives by the truth of God's word
- Believes the best in truth and maturely accepts one's imperfections
- Constant and enduring
- Works through conflicts
- A decision as much as it is a feeling
Attraction is...
- An instant desire
- Given because of perceived value
- Jealous and competitive
- Demanding and rude
- Petty and keeps accounts of wrongdoings
- Lives solely by feelings
- Chooses to be blind and disregard the flaws that one sees in reality
- A rollercoaster of emotions
- Shuns conflicts and confrontations
- Nothing more than feelings
When God wants to bless us He sends a person. Just as He sent Jesus to bless us when God wants to bless us at the appointed time, He will send a person (in some cases persons). It is a blessing so it's not something that we can earn. Sometimes we might try to "earn" a person and the relationship because of its perceived value and even though we might succeed in getting that relationship we will be the one who has to maintain it. Personally I would rather God bless me at the right time and He will be the one to keep the relationship together because if it is from Him, He will definitely keep it intact.
As such, love is more than a feeling. It is a person. That person is Jesus. When we become so full of His love for us loving others will be from an overflow. I would rather draw love from God and let it overflow than give love out of myself, His supply is never-ending. Get this: If your future life-partner has God as the first priority, you are blessed! Some people actually see this as a negative thing because they want to be the first priority in the other person's life but that is trying to draw from a well that has limited supply. Draw from the bottomless well of God's love and both parties will be satisfied.
References:
I Corinthians 13:4-8
I John 4:8-10
Ephesians 3:19-21
Random notes:
God does not want us to react to every attraction.
In relationships, begin with the love of God as foundation.
Love never fails because love died on the cross. Jesus is love personified.
Emotions are real but it does not mean we should act upon them.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Hero
Hey MY DEAREST SOUTHIES! im just posting for fun :)
On sunday in suntec i was early and bored so i walked past this exhibition on Singapore's heroes. You guys heard abt it? or saw it? basically a little campaign by the heritage board to promote the history of singapore through singaporeans who accomplished something great or made a great impact. so there were names of yishun, or elizabeth choy, etc.. gold medal winners.
Then i saw this little board where people are encouraged to write who is their "HERO". and i was quite amused.
Cos there were a lot of 'right' answers. like.. 'my mother', and a lot of 'LKY'. and i also expected a lot of names that were shown at the exhibition.
BUT i saw lots of these too...
it is quite a happy thing to see. haha. i wonder if they are written by the children from rock kidz.. haha
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Keeping score
Thanks, Huiyi for uploading e pics. haha. all our activities. wahaha. ya, i also wan to say to all those going to uni soon. ya, dun worry bout it, instead be super excited bout it becoz Daddy God is going with u. ya, for me, i started my classes alr, n my greatest fear was i was going to be alone all e way, as in no friends coz its juz classes after classes, there's no interaction. ya, but recently, someone talked to me, so i got a friend. lol lol. okay, so i learnt actually i could juz go out there to make friends. lol. ya. not very funny but, at least i feel better. also, Daddy God was with me thru out also. hahaha. n for e rest who's in for exams, u will be in for an even better time. Expect God's glory n favour all over u. Yep, He will never never leave u, n ur always on his mind. =) likewise for everyone else. =)=) There's this article i wana share, though no link, but quite interesting. Also related to grace grace. wahah. enjoy!
No keeping Score
by Phyllis Kersten
Keeping score and getting even -- that’s what enemies do. Time after time the Tutsis and then the Hutus have waited their turn to get even with each other in Rwanda. In the last outbreak of violence, loyalty to tribe even outweighed allegiance to religious vows for some clergy.
Sacred sites in Jerusalem separate rather than unite. Each side believes it a sign of weakness to permit any violence to occur without a retaliatory response. So the body count increases, and the promise of peace is more of a mirage with each passing day.
In such a world as this, what do we make of "the ethics of the kingdom"? You know the words: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Forgive."
Maybe the first thing to say about these teachings is that they’re largely ignored. We catch glimpses, however, of how Jesus’ teachings could provide a new way for us to live together: in the U.S. Marshall Plan’s assistance to former enemies following World War II; in the recent work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa; in the World Bank’s partial forgiveness of the debts of poor nations at the urging of church coalitions.
The second thing to say about this section from Luke is that it is a dangerous text and has often been misused in the past, especially by the church. It became a word preached to slaves and others in abusive relationships in order to keep them in their place. Jesus did not intend his words to be applied against the oppressed. Instead, he tells the disciples:
"You know the system this world runs on? It is all based on keeping score. If anyone injures you, you retaliate and injure him.
"And what about the positive relationships in your lives? There, too, it’s all about keeping score. Someone gives you a gift, you give one in return. Someone invites you to his house for dinner, you reciprocate. But what credit is there in that for you?" Jesus asks.
Three times Jesus asks, "What credit is it to you if you love someone who loves you, if you do good to someone who does good to you, if you lend to someone who will later lend something to you?" The Greek word translated as "credit" is charis, which most often is translated as "grace." So we could paraphrase these verses to ask, "What grace is that of ours to love just those who love us, or do good to those who do good to us, or lend to those who can lend us something back in return?"
What Jesus calls on his disciples to do is "keep score no more." To trust the God who pulled a paradigm shift on the cross, settling a whole world’s "old scores" then and there, and then tearing up the ledger.
Most of our worship services include public confession and forgiveness. Yet in our individual lives, in our families and in our congregations, there are often unresolved rifts of long duration. Siblings who haven’t spoken to one another for years and who, like Joseph, don’t even know if a family member is still alive. Parishioners and pastors who hold on to their grievances and can’t seem to get beyond them.
Reconciliation is always tough to come by, but especially difficult when someone has taken away something that can never be given back. The life of a young person with a promising future snuffed out by a drunk driver or a random act of violence. Children whose innocence is forever taken away by rape, torture or abuse. A congregation in Colorado seemingly unable to minister both to the victims of the Columbine High School massacre and to the parents of one of the attackers.
How does reconciliation or forgiveness happen? It is not something that well-meaning bystanders can legislate. To be forgiven and to forgive are always gifts of grace that come from some place beyond ourselves.
What Joseph does is simple: he "keeps score no more. As Walter Brueggemann puts it in his Genesis commentary, Joseph breaks from the past and "invites his brothers to put that pitiful past behind them" as well.
"Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because of how you treated me," Joseph says to his brothers. "For God sent me here before you to preserve life." Somehow Joseph could see God at work not only in the good things that happened in his life, but also in the evil done to him by others. Joseph’s decision to keep score no more creates the possibility of a new future for himself and his family Otherwise they would all still be controlled by and captive to the past.
It is important to remember, however, that no one else could say to Joseph, "God has brought you here." Until Joseph discovered that for himself he was unable to see good coming out of evil. Nor can we tell someone who has suffered a great evil at the hands of others that God is bringing good out of the tragedy. If it is going to happen at all, the victims must discover for themselves that God has somehow created something new out of their suffering, that out of their survival God’s grace can even provide food to save someone else from famine.
In Joseph we see a foreshadowing of Jesus our brother, who says, "Come closer to me. You needn’t be paralyzed by your fear or tortured by your guilt any longer. For I was sent by God to give you life, and to be the bread of life for you. To lend you all the grace I have, that you might be a sign in the world of my new measure for giving and living, ‘pressed down, shaken together, running over.’ And so that you can enter a new future, where once and for all, keeping score is no more."
Phyllis Kersten is associate pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Illinois. This article appeared in The Christian Century, January 31, 2001, p. 11. Copyright by The Christian Century Foundation; used by permission. Current articles and subscription information can be found at www.christiancentury.org. . This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2154
(Gen. 45:3-11,15; Ps. 37:1-12, 41-42; I Cor. 15:35-38,42-50; Lk. 6:27-38)
~awesome......
No keeping Score
by Phyllis Kersten
Keeping score and getting even -- that’s what enemies do. Time after time the Tutsis and then the Hutus have waited their turn to get even with each other in Rwanda. In the last outbreak of violence, loyalty to tribe even outweighed allegiance to religious vows for some clergy.
Sacred sites in Jerusalem separate rather than unite. Each side believes it a sign of weakness to permit any violence to occur without a retaliatory response. So the body count increases, and the promise of peace is more of a mirage with each passing day.
In such a world as this, what do we make of "the ethics of the kingdom"? You know the words: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Forgive."
Maybe the first thing to say about these teachings is that they’re largely ignored. We catch glimpses, however, of how Jesus’ teachings could provide a new way for us to live together: in the U.S. Marshall Plan’s assistance to former enemies following World War II; in the recent work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa; in the World Bank’s partial forgiveness of the debts of poor nations at the urging of church coalitions.
The second thing to say about this section from Luke is that it is a dangerous text and has often been misused in the past, especially by the church. It became a word preached to slaves and others in abusive relationships in order to keep them in their place. Jesus did not intend his words to be applied against the oppressed. Instead, he tells the disciples:
"You know the system this world runs on? It is all based on keeping score. If anyone injures you, you retaliate and injure him.
"And what about the positive relationships in your lives? There, too, it’s all about keeping score. Someone gives you a gift, you give one in return. Someone invites you to his house for dinner, you reciprocate. But what credit is there in that for you?" Jesus asks.
Three times Jesus asks, "What credit is it to you if you love someone who loves you, if you do good to someone who does good to you, if you lend to someone who will later lend something to you?" The Greek word translated as "credit" is charis, which most often is translated as "grace." So we could paraphrase these verses to ask, "What grace is that of ours to love just those who love us, or do good to those who do good to us, or lend to those who can lend us something back in return?"
What Jesus calls on his disciples to do is "keep score no more." To trust the God who pulled a paradigm shift on the cross, settling a whole world’s "old scores" then and there, and then tearing up the ledger.
Most of our worship services include public confession and forgiveness. Yet in our individual lives, in our families and in our congregations, there are often unresolved rifts of long duration. Siblings who haven’t spoken to one another for years and who, like Joseph, don’t even know if a family member is still alive. Parishioners and pastors who hold on to their grievances and can’t seem to get beyond them.
Reconciliation is always tough to come by, but especially difficult when someone has taken away something that can never be given back. The life of a young person with a promising future snuffed out by a drunk driver or a random act of violence. Children whose innocence is forever taken away by rape, torture or abuse. A congregation in Colorado seemingly unable to minister both to the victims of the Columbine High School massacre and to the parents of one of the attackers.
How does reconciliation or forgiveness happen? It is not something that well-meaning bystanders can legislate. To be forgiven and to forgive are always gifts of grace that come from some place beyond ourselves.
What Joseph does is simple: he "keeps score no more. As Walter Brueggemann puts it in his Genesis commentary, Joseph breaks from the past and "invites his brothers to put that pitiful past behind them" as well.
"Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because of how you treated me," Joseph says to his brothers. "For God sent me here before you to preserve life." Somehow Joseph could see God at work not only in the good things that happened in his life, but also in the evil done to him by others. Joseph’s decision to keep score no more creates the possibility of a new future for himself and his family Otherwise they would all still be controlled by and captive to the past.
It is important to remember, however, that no one else could say to Joseph, "God has brought you here." Until Joseph discovered that for himself he was unable to see good coming out of evil. Nor can we tell someone who has suffered a great evil at the hands of others that God is bringing good out of the tragedy. If it is going to happen at all, the victims must discover for themselves that God has somehow created something new out of their suffering, that out of their survival God’s grace can even provide food to save someone else from famine.
In Joseph we see a foreshadowing of Jesus our brother, who says, "Come closer to me. You needn’t be paralyzed by your fear or tortured by your guilt any longer. For I was sent by God to give you life, and to be the bread of life for you. To lend you all the grace I have, that you might be a sign in the world of my new measure for giving and living, ‘pressed down, shaken together, running over.’ And so that you can enter a new future, where once and for all, keeping score is no more."
Phyllis Kersten is associate pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Illinois. This article appeared in The Christian Century, January 31, 2001, p. 11. Copyright by The Christian Century Foundation; used by permission. Current articles and subscription information can be found at www.christiancentury.org. . This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2154
(Gen. 45:3-11,15; Ps. 37:1-12, 41-42; I Cor. 15:35-38,42-50; Lk. 6:27-38)
~awesome......
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Moving On.
For those who are moving up from the JC Cluster to the varies varsity clusters I want to encourage you all to really trust Daddy for the favour to surround you as you enter into unknown territory.
I've been gone through a lot of changes even in my short 21 years of existence and I can tell you that God's favour has always put me in the right place at the right time.
I've transferred to many different elementary schools (equivalent of primary school) due to some reason or another, I went through some years of homeschooling and then to high school (equivalent of secondary school) and probably the biggest change for me was leaving all that was familiar to me and moving here to Singapore.
Looking back I can really say that His favour was upon guiding me to where I am now and I know that He will do the same for you.
I would also encourage you all to keep this link with JC South alive. "Once a Southy, always a Southy." When you start experiencing university life do share with your juniors here what's it like. We're all still under the same family, ministry, church. I'd still want to hear from you all.
Titles and positions may change but relationships do not. As you have been a blessing to JC South I believe that you will be a blessing to your varsities (and I believe they will be a blessing to you as well).
See you around!
I've been gone through a lot of changes even in my short 21 years of existence and I can tell you that God's favour has always put me in the right place at the right time.
I've transferred to many different elementary schools (equivalent of primary school) due to some reason or another, I went through some years of homeschooling and then to high school (equivalent of secondary school) and probably the biggest change for me was leaving all that was familiar to me and moving here to Singapore.
Looking back I can really say that His favour was upon guiding me to where I am now and I know that He will do the same for you.
I would also encourage you all to keep this link with JC South alive. "Once a Southy, always a Southy." When you start experiencing university life do share with your juniors here what's it like. We're all still under the same family, ministry, church. I'd still want to hear from you all.
Titles and positions may change but relationships do not. As you have been a blessing to JC South I believe that you will be a blessing to your varsities (and I believe they will be a blessing to you as well).
See you around!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Desert Song - Hillsong
hi guys, i came across this song just today, when i went to watch the video on the jc cluster multiply site put up by edwin on the awesome sharing by one of hillsong's worship leaders - do check it out, what she said was so amazing really, i can''t describe it but really, in spite of what she was going through, Daddy God is such a big God.
Desert Song - Hillsong // This is Our God
VERSE 1
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
VERSE 2
This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame
CHORUS
I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
VERSE 3
This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand
BRIDGE
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
VERSE 4
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow.
Desert Song - Hillsong // This is Our God
VERSE 1
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
VERSE 2
This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame
CHORUS
I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
VERSE 3
This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand
BRIDGE
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
VERSE 4
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
heya everybody! i'd like to share these two videos with ya all. you know for me, everytime i hear a song, i want to know about the song. not only about the lyrics. BUT i want to know when was the song written, under what circumstances was it written etc..to me, knowing that is so important because it adds a whole new meaning to the song that i'm listening to. although i don't know how to play any musical instruments, music to me, is definitely a part of my life. =)
While watching these two videos, i was crying like crazy like a small girl. Especially the first video (I chanced upon it one night when I was feeling really down and I couldn't get to sleep)..I don't know how to express how I felt..But I would say that if there's any turning point in my life, this would definitely be part of it. You know the night where I came upon this video I felt like I have hit the rock bottom of my life and I don't see anymore hope and my future seems so unknown, and believing seems so hard and everything just goes down...But as I watch the video, I just kept crying and crying..Because I just thought to myself that despite the circumstances that other people are in, they never give up because they know their God. And in my heart, I was really really crying out for that. I told daddy I don't believe He's finished with this yet. He's not done with the good works in my life. And the first video really really touched my life. And when I listened to the second video, can I tell you I've never heard this song like I've heard before in ALL services.
Although I really can't see anything good out of this yet, I believe I will in the time to come and He will just show me. And I really really want to share it with ya my beloved cg..Hope it'll bless ya all! =)
While watching these two videos, i was crying like crazy like a small girl. Especially the first video (I chanced upon it one night when I was feeling really down and I couldn't get to sleep)..I don't know how to express how I felt..But I would say that if there's any turning point in my life, this would definitely be part of it. You know the night where I came upon this video I felt like I have hit the rock bottom of my life and I don't see anymore hope and my future seems so unknown, and believing seems so hard and everything just goes down...But as I watch the video, I just kept crying and crying..Because I just thought to myself that despite the circumstances that other people are in, they never give up because they know their God. And in my heart, I was really really crying out for that. I told daddy I don't believe He's finished with this yet. He's not done with the good works in my life. And the first video really really touched my life. And when I listened to the second video, can I tell you I've never heard this song like I've heard before in ALL services.
Although I really can't see anything good out of this yet, I believe I will in the time to come and He will just show me. And I really really want to share it with ya my beloved cg..Hope it'll bless ya all! =)
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
You are All I Need
Hey Beloveds.
I got some stuff that I wanna share from my heart.
Before I came to New Creation, I was never sure of my salvation. I really did not know if I would go to heaven or hell. You see, I thought that whenever I sin, I would be cut off from God's presence. It is only if I confess my sins and truly repent that I would be forgiven. But the thing is, after I confess my sins, I always commit those same sins again! I would feel condemned! Because I want to obey God, to keep His laws, but I was falling short. So I just try not to think about it... after all, I'm still young, I got a lot of years before I grow old. However, this made me fear death. (Like maybe while walking in the HDB estates I would get hit by killer litter... I don't like to walk under the windows, walk under the building, more safe) Sometimes, I would imagine what it is like to be dead, to not exist, to disappear and be in nothingness for eternity... And boy, It scared the hell out of me.
You know, I had a bad habit that stuck with me for really really REALLY long time. Haha. habit sounds like such a nice word... It was an addiction. I hated myself for always committing this same sin. I would try to control my desires... even though I know I would be sinning, I couldn't control myself. The desire to sin is very strong. So I would go into sin, knowing that it is wrong. And after that I would feel extremely condemned. Next step is to confess sins lah... THEN also dunno whether God will forgive anot. Why? Because its the SAME sin I ask for forgiveness for the thousandth time. Which means that I did not truly repent for my sins for all the previous attempts of confession. Which I can conclude that God did not forgive me for all the sins I committed last time! (Ok, just to be sure, I was not a catholic, in case you are wondering. But I was very sin conscious from all the teaching in my previous church). I would imagine the day when i would be freed from my addiction and think that i is almost impossible for that day to come. I never had the guts to tell anyone of what i was doing either so that they can pray for me or whatever.
Praise God! Hallelujah! Glory to my heavenly Abba. Jesus died on the cross for my sins, once and for all! I have ETERNAL salvation. Jesus conquered death, so that I will not die! The most important thing in life, salvation from death, and i have it! It's like the ultimate reward. To live forever, and see Daddy God, the God that created me, the universe. This totally removes the fear of death! And praise God, not only this, as if its not good enough! He even cause us to reign in life, He wants us to be healthy, prosperous and enjoy life! Hallelujah! You know, when i have my worries, sometimes I just look at the clouds in the sky, at the setting sun and at the trees in the distance, how God's creation is so glorious, that He is my God and He takes care of me... the worries just fade away. Cos He is all I need. Good exam results to get into good uni to get good honors to get good job to get high pay to buy nice things don't seem so important anymore. It just put things in perspective.
The addiction that I told u about? Haha. When the evil desire disappeared sometime ago, it is like, ok, cool, God's Grace works. It is so sutle that I can just overlook it. But now that I actually think back and write about it, I realise that, wow, it is really a miracle, and I'm so grateful to knowing the truth of Jesus, that it has set me free. It is not about self, but everything is about You, Lord. Even while i was in the act of committing the disgusting sin, I confessed that I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH CHRIST. I tell you, we are blessed to know the abundance of God's grace, Amen? It just set me free, to know that whatever I do, how bad, God is FOREVER with me, pleased with me. Does that cause me to want to go out and sin more? Haha... (Rhetorical question)
One last thing. Yeah, I have doubts. Sometimes, it just creeps into me that maybe the bible is not real? All my beliefs are hinged on this, that the bible is accurate. Ok, its a little embarrassing, but i have doubts when i hear people say things like "I don't believe Jesus was nailed to the cross on His hands and feet, cause it is proven scientifically that the bones there can't support the weight, more likely he was nailed to the wrists"... which implies that the Bible is not accurate, it is flawed. Or, the devil just play mind games with me "You sure there is a God? God said that He will bless you, but your non-christian friend gets better marks than you?"
Whenever I have doubts, feeding on the Word, listening to Pastor Prince preaching on Sunday, getting the revelation knowledge causes the doubts to just disappear. I can't really explain, its just like that. The fact that all the Bible prophesies are fullfilled and that it is so consistent throughout Old and New, escapes me sometimes... haha. How foolish I am. Its like, oh it must be proven by science then I believe. That the Romans had been crucifying criminals the same way for so long escapes me, that it doesn't say that the criminals could have been pierced in the hands with ropes tied to the wrists... Daddy God, give me more faith. I would equate success with exam results... haha... People can be so rich on the outside but empty on the inside. Daddy God, You are my success.
Writing all these down blessed me... I hope it blessed u too. I recently went out with my JC classmates... It just feels so different when I am with u guys, my caregroup, and when I go out with other friends. I think Its because we all have one thing in common, Daddy God. I really can't explain this.... I feel at ease and peaceful in the company of u all, even though i may have worries at that time or am preoccupied with self... When we come together and share about not only Jesus but our what we did during the week, when we are real to each other, feels like we are family. Thank God for JC South, everyone in it. The first caregroup that I feel at home with.
Yup. This is from my heart.
I got some stuff that I wanna share from my heart.
Before I came to New Creation, I was never sure of my salvation. I really did not know if I would go to heaven or hell. You see, I thought that whenever I sin, I would be cut off from God's presence. It is only if I confess my sins and truly repent that I would be forgiven. But the thing is, after I confess my sins, I always commit those same sins again! I would feel condemned! Because I want to obey God, to keep His laws, but I was falling short. So I just try not to think about it... after all, I'm still young, I got a lot of years before I grow old. However, this made me fear death. (Like maybe while walking in the HDB estates I would get hit by killer litter... I don't like to walk under the windows, walk under the building, more safe) Sometimes, I would imagine what it is like to be dead, to not exist, to disappear and be in nothingness for eternity... And boy, It scared the hell out of me.
You know, I had a bad habit that stuck with me for really really REALLY long time. Haha. habit sounds like such a nice word... It was an addiction. I hated myself for always committing this same sin. I would try to control my desires... even though I know I would be sinning, I couldn't control myself. The desire to sin is very strong. So I would go into sin, knowing that it is wrong. And after that I would feel extremely condemned. Next step is to confess sins lah... THEN also dunno whether God will forgive anot. Why? Because its the SAME sin I ask for forgiveness for the thousandth time. Which means that I did not truly repent for my sins for all the previous attempts of confession. Which I can conclude that God did not forgive me for all the sins I committed last time! (Ok, just to be sure, I was not a catholic, in case you are wondering. But I was very sin conscious from all the teaching in my previous church). I would imagine the day when i would be freed from my addiction and think that i is almost impossible for that day to come. I never had the guts to tell anyone of what i was doing either so that they can pray for me or whatever.
Praise God! Hallelujah! Glory to my heavenly Abba. Jesus died on the cross for my sins, once and for all! I have ETERNAL salvation. Jesus conquered death, so that I will not die! The most important thing in life, salvation from death, and i have it! It's like the ultimate reward. To live forever, and see Daddy God, the God that created me, the universe. This totally removes the fear of death! And praise God, not only this, as if its not good enough! He even cause us to reign in life, He wants us to be healthy, prosperous and enjoy life! Hallelujah! You know, when i have my worries, sometimes I just look at the clouds in the sky, at the setting sun and at the trees in the distance, how God's creation is so glorious, that He is my God and He takes care of me... the worries just fade away. Cos He is all I need. Good exam results to get into good uni to get good honors to get good job to get high pay to buy nice things don't seem so important anymore. It just put things in perspective.
The addiction that I told u about? Haha. When the evil desire disappeared sometime ago, it is like, ok, cool, God's Grace works. It is so sutle that I can just overlook it. But now that I actually think back and write about it, I realise that, wow, it is really a miracle, and I'm so grateful to knowing the truth of Jesus, that it has set me free. It is not about self, but everything is about You, Lord. Even while i was in the act of committing the disgusting sin, I confessed that I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH CHRIST. I tell you, we are blessed to know the abundance of God's grace, Amen? It just set me free, to know that whatever I do, how bad, God is FOREVER with me, pleased with me. Does that cause me to want to go out and sin more? Haha... (Rhetorical question)
One last thing. Yeah, I have doubts. Sometimes, it just creeps into me that maybe the bible is not real? All my beliefs are hinged on this, that the bible is accurate. Ok, its a little embarrassing, but i have doubts when i hear people say things like "I don't believe Jesus was nailed to the cross on His hands and feet, cause it is proven scientifically that the bones there can't support the weight, more likely he was nailed to the wrists"... which implies that the Bible is not accurate, it is flawed. Or, the devil just play mind games with me "You sure there is a God? God said that He will bless you, but your non-christian friend gets better marks than you?"
Whenever I have doubts, feeding on the Word, listening to Pastor Prince preaching on Sunday, getting the revelation knowledge causes the doubts to just disappear. I can't really explain, its just like that. The fact that all the Bible prophesies are fullfilled and that it is so consistent throughout Old and New, escapes me sometimes... haha. How foolish I am. Its like, oh it must be proven by science then I believe. That the Romans had been crucifying criminals the same way for so long escapes me, that it doesn't say that the criminals could have been pierced in the hands with ropes tied to the wrists... Daddy God, give me more faith. I would equate success with exam results... haha... People can be so rich on the outside but empty on the inside. Daddy God, You are my success.
Writing all these down blessed me... I hope it blessed u too. I recently went out with my JC classmates... It just feels so different when I am with u guys, my caregroup, and when I go out with other friends. I think Its because we all have one thing in common, Daddy God. I really can't explain this.... I feel at ease and peaceful in the company of u all, even though i may have worries at that time or am preoccupied with self... When we come together and share about not only Jesus but our what we did during the week, when we are real to each other, feels like we are family. Thank God for JC South, everyone in it. The first caregroup that I feel at home with.
Yup. This is from my heart.
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