Friday, April 24, 2009,11:45 PM
Sacred Pathways
yo peeps. Just wanna share my top 3 pathways.
1st Contemplative
2nd Enthusiast
3rd Care-Giver
Post yours soon!
Edmund
4 Comments:
Mine:
1. Activist
2. Enthusiast
3. Ascetic / Caregiver
Feel that God has changed me over the past year, because the comtemplative score seems to have diminished quite abit, and its no longer dominant. Hmmm.
SL
1)contemplative
2)enthusiast
3)Ascetics
mine...
1. Contemplatists
2. Caregivers
3. Enthusiasts
Michelle
Mine is:
Intellectual
Comtemplatist
Ascetic
Means I meditate on the logical aspect of God for long periods of time.
Ian
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>>and i live just for you my lord.
Monday, April 20, 2009,1:36 AM
A short testimony
Hey:)
Kinda late, but i would just like to share this short testimony on how I found my notes! LOL.
But before that, as we're approaching the examination period, let's keep one another in prayer. So if we do have any prayer points, blog about it, use our prayer wall (even though sometimes i think it eats up prayer points-- is this true? it ate up mine once.) as well as our tag board. Let's support each other through this period:) Jia you everyone!
My testimony:
My HR project group mate and i were discussing on past year paper and a friend did an elaborated essay outline and we all went to photocopy. So as i was tidying up my notes just now, i remember seeing it and placed it on my table.
Then i went on to pack my table- to replace my desktop keyboard to where it should be (since my lap top keyboard is faulty) and then took another reading of mine out of my room to staple. When I returned to my room, and I filed my reading, then as I was flipping my file, I realised that the essay outlines were missing!!
I searched my table. Searched the whole file. On my bed. Below the table. Nothing. And I was, how could my paper just dissappear? God?! What's this? God, I pray that i can find the essay outline! I continued to search for a while and then concluded that the paper really mysteriously disappeared which was impossible to me. I was, God, if you really want to make something dissappear you can la, but why? And i also knew that I was making a big deal out of it since I could always ask any of my group mates to scan it for me. But I was just trying to imagine the embarrassment that I need to tell them, eh it mysteriously dissappeared..
It was on my mind to post a blog entry for us to post our prayer requests and I was, good, the first thing you guys can pray for me is for me to find my essay outlines! And as I was opening a new internet explorer window, I realised I needed my desktop keyboard and I went out of my room to get it and as I was approaching my desktop, I saw some paper on the chair. In my mind it went, could it be? It must be la. The essay outlines must have been caught under the keyboard when i was returning it to its original position. And it was:) So I want to thank god for helping me find my essay outline. And the spirit of being whiny and complaining- god, where is my paper. How come it mysteriously dissappeared changed to one that is of joy and happiness of finding something that you wanted badly. And I wanted to share it with you guys!
And this situation reminded me of the parable of the Lost sheep, Lost Coin and the Lost Son.
In Luke 15..
5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'
9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'
so in crystal's version it would be "rejoice with me; I have found my essay outlines:)" I think this verse/parable no longer remains as head knowledge, but has changed to heart knowledge as well.
But I do want to experience these verses to greater extent as written in
V10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Just last week, during easter we've experienced this joy. And I hope and pray that we can get to experience and taste more of this rejoicing in our midst!
Yep:) So let's post our prayer requests for exam/non-exam matters!
Crystal
2 Comments:
Prayer Request!
For God to heal me of whatever pain or sickness that's affecting me. =)
me too!
for God to heal my sore throat.
it has become a cough already =(
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>>and i live just for you my lord.
Saturday, April 18, 2009,1:05 AM
Footprints
Thank you Michelle for playing the guitar.
Thank you Xinyi and Crystal for leading us in a ministering session of PWing to God. Good job Xinyi for your first time leading :)
Thank you MC and Ian for buying dinner together for the rest of us.
Thank you SL for facilitating the entire session of recalling and remembering our testimonies with God.
Edmund
2 Comments:
wow!
wish i could come.
but had tuition ah, was supposed to have 2 tuition but in the end only had 1, because of lots of twists and turns!
1. my bike broke down!! Going to my 1st student's place at paya lebar was ok, but then when i wanted to leave, the bike couldn't start! omg -.-" so i had to postpone my 2nd tuition to next week, and that student stay super far ah, at pasir ris. travel time there is at least half an hour... so i usually put her together with my other student also staying in the east.. but i guess i'll just have to make the trip down specially for her next week.
2. called the towing lorry to tow my bike, the lorry driver say can arrive at 8+ to 9pm, and it was only 7pm+ then, so i decided to take a bus to toa payoh for dinner.
but as i was on the bus, the lorry driver call me, and say he at kaki bukit and on his way down to paya lebar! win already loh.. by that time i was quite near toa payoh already, but haven't reach interchange yet, so i got off the bus and took a cab down. The distance was actually pretty short, but because of jams etc, it took about 10+ mins, and the cab fare cost almost $10!!! -.-"
3. actually, my bike breaking down was kinda good, because i felt a little sick already after my first tuition, so was thinking just nice can go home to rest my throat.
but then when the lorry driver come ah, he was smoking! then i ask him tompang me and my bike to the bike shop, because the bike shop is pretty near my place, so was planning to take a bus home once i reach the bike shop. then on the way there, he was smoking his cig happily while chit chatting with me. luckily he din smoke for the whole journey, only the early part.
but my throat super sensitive ah, and the damage from breathing in that second-hand smoke was done liao. so this morning i woke up with a throat infection! *sobz* -.-
but despite all this, i rememembered 1 Thessalonians 5:28,
"give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
and despite what has happened, i realised that i still have a lot to give thanks for!
1. luckily the bike broke down now ah! if it broke down next week, before my HR exam, or before my other exams, that wouldn't be very nice. and also it broke down at a pretty good place, inside the condo carpark! not very pleasant if it broke down in the middle of the expressway, then i'll be stranded there dunno what to do haha.
2. think the lorry driver kinda liked me, he was really chatty with me, talking about all sorts of stuff. And after sending my bike to the shop, he even offered to give me a lift home, which i gladly accepted =) and he din smoke any more.
3. the bike shop repaired my bike really quickly! we sent the bike to the bike shop at ard 8pm, by that time it was closed le. then the shop worked on it this morning. i just went to pick it up, it cost me $140 though.. =( they said the battery spoil liao, so i told them change good good battery, and it cost $70. but it's ok! better pay the money for a healthy bike =)
and nobody was smoking when i went there. surprising eh, all the mechanics are chain smokers one lei. thank God! =)
4. I originally had tuition this morning, but my student cancelled it because she had dance practice, for a performance in 2 weeks time! Praise God hahaha. Just nice give me the free time to repair my bike =)
Wah bro u had an adventure too!
Haven had a chance to speak to you today during svc. I've got my own fair share of adventure this week. Monday can we meet in school first before going to bot gardens?
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>>and i live just for you my lord.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009,12:11 AM
Thanksgiving
"I will boast in the Lord my God, I will boast in the One who's worthy"
I think it has been a busy few weeks for most of us as the semester comes to a close. For me, it was a long, hectic few weeks which started from the planning for networking session.
Taking up the responsibility of hosting was a big thing for me. As I've said before, and I say again, I'm not the kind who is naturally outgoing. Hosting requires me to come out from my comfort zone, and the additional stress of being the freshmen's first point of contact affected me. The whole week was summed up by nightly discussions with crystal over the script, whether it be face-to-face or over the phone. Rehearsal went rather badly, adding to the stress level, but when it finally occurred to me that what I was focusing on was completely wrong, things changed. I'm not charismatic, not engaging, not loud, not eloquent, not dynamic, and it was never about me being all these things.
2 Cor 12:9-10 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I learnt a little more about what a life that is submitted to Him is about.. its in the "small-ness", weakness and brokenness of me that His "big-ness" really comes out. To Him be the glory.
One challenge over, the major one came along.. which is my design 2 project. Well, I had the idea that the whole of last week I'll be "hibernating" in either E5 or E2 com labs to do the project, of which the report was due yesterday (Monday). To me a week was the realistic time that I need to finish it on time. It turned out that this "realistic time" was challenged.. by guitaring for service last Sat, my 1-week-overdue-polymer-presentation, planning for cg meet, induction dinner with youth transfer group.. the song Friends in high places really summarised my week, with the lyrics "I was going down, but Someone rescued me" and "now in faith I believe, I've got everything I need" particularly meaningful. It all added up when I touched on the topic of living out our faith in CG.. seeing that God is leading in all situations, choosing to keep close to Him, consecrating ourselves and obeying what He wants us to do. My project deadline, together with all the things I had to do, were not totally, fully dependent on me. Yes I gotta put in my part, at the same time I recognised that my competence comes from God (2 Cor 3:4-5), and He is with me.
Some highlights in this process last week:
- A God-enabled presentation in the LT for my polymer module on Wed.. experienced the empowerment and confidence that comes when we set ourselves to honor Him in what we do.
- Productive stayover in E5 com lab on Sat late night. It started with 7 people, and gradually trickled down to just myself in the room at around 3am. Tiredness set in, but after a short prayer I got more and more awake.. wide awake and refreshed at around 5am, took bus home at 6am to sleep and recharge.
- Slept at 3am every night for the whole week.. physically, it took its toll on me, red eyes and all.
One thing I really feel and want to say after the past week is that, even though it was punishing, God was carrying me through. Reminded of the "Footprints" story.. its easy to complain about what I went through, say why this so tough, why that so siong.. but for this past week, God really carried me through. I'm amazed by how I din fall sick from all the lack of sleep and sometimes even food.. amazed at how certain things in other people's life moved even when I'm too weak to do much.. amazed by how I haven gone mad or mel after all the mental strain. It is Him, Him who carried me through. =)
Thank God that even when we struggle, we struggle with all His energy, which works powerfully in us. Col 1:29. Jiayou with all that we are going to do for the weeks ahead!
Carry Me
Hillsong
You lead me in to Your courts
Surround me with Your love
I walk with You
I do not fear
In this place
Dreams are made
In this place
Where You are
Carry me here
In Your arms of love
Draw me close to You
I want to be where You are
You carry me, You are my strength
I've learnt to trust in You
And once again
I'm reaching out
SL
1 Comments:
Hey bro, thanks for sharing this amazing testimony of God's work in your life!
Really encouraged to see His strength and grace carrying you through this hectic period, and also encouraged to see you acting in obedience as well =)
For me, I've been questioning what God is doing in my life, especially about the state of my health. Since my new year resolution this year is to get my health in order, but more than 3 months has passed with little progress. And the more taiji I do, the more health problems God brings to my attention, for me to handle.
But God spoke to me through the same verse 2 Cor 12:9-10, and through this period, I sense myself relying more and more on God's strength. And like Paul, I'm very glad to be weak, for when I am weak, then I am strong. And I also sense God telling me in my heart, through that verse, not to use poor health as an excuse not to carry out what He wants me to do.
That rebuke is really true, since to a certain extent I've been hiding from certain work that God has called me to do because of my poor health, thinking that I'm not capable of doing them, but rather preferring to focus my attention on my health.
Then God said to me not to overly focus my attention there, and trust Him to work in that area, for His Grace is sufficient for me. And I said yes I will obey, and God was fast to test. Out of the blue came 2 more new tuition students, and I accepted both of them. So now I have 7 students! Really need to rely on God's strength to carry me through the year! =)
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>>and i live just for you my lord.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009,10:17 AM
The Roman Road
Very long no update le ar.... Anyway, i got something interesting to share.
The cross of righteousness, yup the title of sermon last week brings us back to the basics of our belief. I felt it was a good message not because it was pretty 'chop chop curry pok' but most importantly, it brings the focus to God as the giver of righteousness.
It may seem pretty unfair, when a good man who is not a Christ follower,who does lots of good deeds and a Christ follower who does not do as much both die, the good man does not enter paradise but the Christ follower does. But who are we to say that its unfair to the God of all the Heavens and the Earth, who is the ultimate judge?
God is very clear when it comes to our salvation as written in Acts 4:12 "12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
So now to the interesting stuff. Its called the Roman Road! Its good to share with our friends who have yet to accept Jesus as their lord. You gotta follow the sequence ok! Here goes:
1.Romans 3:10 - 12
10As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
11there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
12All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one."
2.Romans 3:23
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
3.Romans 5:12
12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned
4.Romans 6:23
23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5.Romans 5:8
8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
6.Romans 10:9-10
9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
7.Romans 10:13
13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Edmund
1 Comments:
Thanks bro for the post.. reminded me of a few simple truths.
1. Good works does not lead to salvation.. in a way it makes sense because we're all sinful compared to God himself who is holy, and there's no way any one of us can do enough good works to justify salvation. So instead of focusing on ourselves, the focus is on Jesus, who is without sin and died for us so that now, we're considered righteous before God, on the basis of faith in Him alone.
2. If salvation works on the basis of works, we'll have trouble keeping track of whether we're above or below the "benchmark".. what if we miss? It's too big a thing to be uncertain about, right?
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>>and i live just for you my lord.
SL, at
April 25, 2009 at 12:31 AM
, at
April 29, 2009 at 9:18 AM
