Written by Country Director of Singapore Campus Crusade for Christ. Do reflect on it as Good Friday is coming.

"Don't look down on me just because I seem to be an insignificant nail. I traveled the world and I have seen much in life. The highlight of my life was the day I was taken by a Roman soldier along a dusty road that led to Calvary.

When he took me out of his bag, I saw three men waiting to be crucified. Serve them right, these criminals! But there was something different about the man in the middle. Those weeping women called Him "Messiah". A plaque on the cross read "King of the Jews". So this was no ordinary man. He seemed to be well loved and respected. I hate to see this man die. For once, I wish I wasn't a nail.

A soldier placed me at the wrist of the man in the middle and hammered me in. "Ouch, ouch!" my head hurts. How self-centered I was. The pain must have been excruciating for Him, but He was silent. As His head turned, I saw those eyes. They were not eyes of anger and hatred, but of love and compassion. I heard Him say, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

"There was something I didn't understand. What crime has He committed? "He claimed to be the Son of God," one woman told another. But...to be crucified for that? Later, I gathered it had to do with what man called "sin". This man had to bear the sins of the world. That sounded pretty heavy. Poor man.

It wasn't long before He breathed His last. Honestly, I was sad to see Him die. If He claimed to be God, and if it is true, surely He can save Himself? Why didn't He come down from the cross? My fellow nails and I secured Him to the cross. But it was love, love for the world that held Him there."

The story of a simple nail triggered much thought about all that Jesus had done. Who drove those nails? Was it the crowd-pleasing Pilate? The religious establishment of the day? Or the dutiful Roman soldiers?

The apostle Peter, in addressing the crowd at Pentecost, said, "...and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him' (Acts 2:22-24, NIV, italics mine).

It was our sins that drove those nails! And it was love, God's love for us that held His Son to the cross.

This Easter, as we ponder on the significance of our Savior's death and resurrection, may we love Him even more. Let us take this opportunity to bring someone into the loving embrace of His nail-scarred hands.

What do you Want the Lord to Do for you?

Lord, that I may receive my sight. (Luke 18:41 KJV)

What is the thing that not only disturbs you but makes you a disturbance? It is always some thing you cannot deal with yourself. "They rebuked him that he should hold his peace . . . but he cried so much the more." Persist in the disturbance until you get face to face with the Lord Himself; do not deify common sense. When Jesus asks us what we want Him to do for us in regard to the incredible thing with which we are faced, remember that He does not work in common-sense ways, but in supernatural ways.

Watch how we limit the Lord by remembering what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past: I always failed there, and I always shall; consequently we do not ask for what we want. "It is ridiculous to ask God to do this." If it is an impossibility, it is the thing we have to ask. If it is not an impossible thing, it is not a real disturbance. God will do the absolutely impossible.

This man received his sight. The most impossible thing to you is that you should be so identified with the Lord that there is nothing of the old life left. He will do it if you ask Him. But you have to come to the place where you believe Him to be Almighty. Faith is not in what Jesus says but in Himself; if we only look at what He says we shall never believe. When once we see Jesus, He does the impossible thing as naturally as breathing. Our agony comes through the wilful stupidity of our own heart. We won't believe, we won't cut the shore line, we prefer to worry on.

Many times, we dare not to ask God for the things that we are hoping to see. Maybe because we are afraid that He will not give it to us, maybe because we are afraid we'll be disappointed. But all these, are manifestations of our doubt.

Faith, is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.

Don't limit the power of God, but instead allow Him to show you the full measure of His power and might. And you will be amazed.

Our journey with God should be an amazing one, not one filled with fear of disappointment.

Even as you decided that you want to know God more on Saturday, even as you decided that you want to go all out to do His will, take this step of faith. And trust Him. He will reveal Himself to you, for that is His desire.

Enjoy your journey with Father God! =)

God Can Use You
By Greg Laurie

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. — 2 Chronicles 16:9

Think of all the ordinary people God has used to turn this world upside down.

Think of that shepherd boy David, who God raised up to be the greatest king in the history of Israel. God used that frightened man Gideon to lead a great army and he turned out to be a man of courage and valor.

A simple Jewish girl named Esther saved her people from destruction because she stood up for what was right. God used Deborah to lead the armies of Israel into battle when everyone else was afraid.

God called two ordinary fishermen, Peter and John, to speak His Word with boldness.

You see, God can use ordinary people like you. As the Scripture says, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

God clearly looks for ordinary people to turn this world upside down. There exists a place and a calling for every one of us. We all have something to do for the Lord.

God can do a lot with a little. My life is evidence of that! God changed me, and He can change you. When you have been with Jesus, God can use you.

Copyright © 2009 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Something for all of you to read and reflect as part of your quiet time ....

You can find the article HERE.

FOR 50 YEARS, cartoonist Charles Schulz gave us pictures of ourselves wrapped in a smile. One of the last strips I clipped from our Sunday paper showed Snoopy the dog sitting on top of his doghouse with a typewriter, writing about his life. He titled his story . . .

The Dog Who Never Did Anything

Snoopy remembers it this way, “You stay home now,” they said, “and be a good dog.”

So he stayed home and was a good dog.

Then he decided to be even a better dog. So he barked at everyone who went by. And he even chased the neighbor’s cats.

“What’s happened to you?” they said. “You used to be such a good dog.”

So he stopped barking and chasing cats, and everyone said, “You’re a good dog.”

The moral, as Snoopy typed it, is “Don’t do anything and you’ll be a good dog.”

As I turned the smile around in my mind, I noticed a quirk of the English language. Snoopy and God have something in common. They are related not only by alphabet (dog and god), but by what “creatures in the middle” expect of them. The idea intrigued me enough to try another version.

The God Who Never Did Anything

“You give me what I want now,” they said, “and be a good God.”

So He gave them what they wanted and He was a good God.

Then He decided to be an even better God.

He started knocking over the furniture of other gods, and He used pain to help people in ways they could not understand.

“What’s happened to You?” they said.

“You used to be such a good God.”

So He stopped knocking over the furniture of other gods, and He stopped using pain in ways that were beyond people’s ability to understand.

And everyone said, “You’re a good God.”

The moral, as angels might see it, “Stop acting like God and people will think You’re good.”

The God We Want

Many of us imagine God as we want Him to be. To our wishes we add expectation. We expect Him to encourage us when we are afraid, to comfort us when we’re hurt, to forgive us when we fail, and to give us what we think we need when we think we need it.

Yet, along the way, we keep stumbling into the awareness that the King of Heaven is more apt to come to us in His own style, time, and mystery. He is seldom as we imagine Him to be. He is more like the God who reveals Himself in the pages of His own history.

There He comes to us in the unexpected surprises of joy, in the unwanted nights of our misery, and in the solitary sounds of our own loneliness. He comes to us in the unexpected joys of Adam, in the numbed grief of Eve, in the inconsolable tears of the childless Hannah, in the murderous anger of Moses, and in the madness of a powerful Nebuchadnezzar.

But me? Until He responds, I’d rather have it my way. In the moments of my dissatisfaction, I don’t want to have to wait for what I want. I want it now. Now. I’ll pray. I’ll pay. I’ll bargain. I’ll crawl on my knees. But I want God to prove that He is good—right now.

The God Who Has Been Good

Even in our “maturity” we can be like 2- and 3-year-olds pulling at the pant leg of heaven. Our Father isn’t surprised. He knows how to raise physical, emotional, and spiritual toddlers. He knows how to run with us in our youth, and how to walk with us at 74, 84, and 94.

And for those who go further, He is still there, hearing once again our whimpers in the night, and reaching down with the affection of an adoring mother who carefully lifts her children from their crib to herself.

No, He has not always been the kind of parent we wanted Him to be. Yes, He has been good on His terms rather than on ours. He has not answered our prayers in the way we asked. Seldom has He allowed anything to play out according to our own expectations or childish demands. Yet His determination to lead us in the paths of His own choosing is what has made Him so good.

The God Who Will Be Good

The promise of tomorrow comes with the wrinkled snapshots of yesterday. Even though our memories are not as sharp as we’d like them to be, and even though the happy times are mixed with regret, our albums contain memories of a God who keeps reminding us that He is better than our expectations. He is better than our demands. He is better than anything this life has to offer.

If He allowed a relationship to be lost, He stayed with us to remind us that we weren’t made for one another as much as we were made for Him. As our bodies give way to time, they become painful reminders that we were not made for these bodies. We were made for the One who said from the top of a thundering, burning mountain—to a people huddled in the middle of a life-threatening wilderness—“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”

This is the God who, because He is good, refuses to “stay home and do nothing.”

Father, thank You for a man named Charles Schulz who brought us elements of truth amid our smiles. Thank You for being God on Your terms rather than ours. May Your name be hallowed as we wait on You. May Your kingdom be reflected in our patience. May Your will be done in our disappointments. Please, give us this day our daily bread.

No long words. No long sentences. Just a simply prayer.

Father, bring us all nearer to You. Open up our blind eyes and unblock our deaf ears, that we may know You for who You really are. I'm crying out, have Your way with Your cell, Lord.

More than a month has passed since the last time I blogged here. It has been a busy month, filled with school, people and events. Things come and go like the wave of the sea, with each one going, another one comes. And yet, at the end of it all, I ask myself, "Where have I placed God in all these?".

Perhaps, it's time we each ask ourselves this question. Life is busy, and it always will be. But no matter what, it's never enough reason to forget about God. Just think about it, He's thinking about you every single second, every single moment, and in every single thing you're doing, He's still watching over you and thinking of you. Will you ever be able to find anyone who loves you more than that? Absolutely not.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will go strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

No matter what circumstances you've been going through - conflicts at home, stress from the upcoming exams, loneliness, hurt from people you love - keep fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. And remember, faith is not just a matter of believing, it is a matter of doing. Faith without actions, is dead.

Even as you fix your eyes on Him, even as you constantly remind yourself to look and focus on Him, you'll come to see that everything else will become so small, compared to His greatness.

Is He your all in all?
Do you believe that He's a great and mighty God?
Has all that He has done proven enough for you to know that He's your all-knowing Saviour?

Take time, to realize, how great He is.

But yet, even in His greatness, He never overlooks us - small precious children of His, Kings and Priests of the Lord Most High.

The Lord is great, and worthy to be praised. Always.

Thank You, Lord. =)

Walking with Jesus

By Greg Laurie

After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. —Mark 16:12

I think it's interesting to note those to whom Jesus chose to appear after His resurrection. We don't read about Him appearing to Caiaphas or Caesar.

Now if it had been me, the first person I would have appeared to would have been Pilate: "Yo, Pilate! Remember me? Can't keep a good man down, can you?" Or I would have appeared to Caiaphas, the high priest who, for the most part, orchestrated the crucifixion.

But it is interesting how Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and joined them on their journey. We don't know who they were, and they are not mentioned again in the Bible.

The Bible tells us that Jesus appeared in another form to them as they went into the country. In other words, He was going incognito. They didn't know that it was Jesus.

The last sight they had of the Lord was His beaten and bloodied body. Surely they wanted to get that image out of their minds.

There they were, walking along, and Jesus was walking with them. It's a reminder to us that at all times, even when we don't realize it, Jesus is walking with us.

Isaiah 43:2 promises, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you."

Maybe when you are in church, you feel close to God. But wherever you go, you can know that Jesus is with you there too. When you are going through hard times, even when you cannot feel Him, Jesus is there.

Used with Permission

This is one of the devotions I read today. And it just made me remember to hold onto the Truth, that He is always here, even when I can't feel Him. Have you been feeling like He's seemingly far away? I urge you, to hold onto the Truth, to hold fast to His promises, that He is always there, no matter what the circumstance.

Monday was Day of Prayer. I'm looking forward to hearing stories of how God has moved in your schools as the weeks pass. Even if things don't seem to be changing now, God is moving. Every prayer you utter, no matter how small, it will still have great impact in the spiritual realms and on the people around you. So keep pressing on, keep praying for your schools, even when there is seemingly no result.

Well, here's another song for you to remind you of His presence in your life, no matter how things are, no matter what you've done, no matter what the circumstance.



On The Side Of Me - Corinne May

I'm not the easiest person to love
I'm often the one who lets things go unresolved

Yet you choose to be
on the side of me
on the side of me
Yet you choose to be
on the side of me
on the side of me

I'm not too proud of some things
I've done in my life
The skeletons in my closet
Are too big for me to hide

Yet you choose to be
on the side of me
on the side of me
Blessed Charity
You're on the side of me
on the side of me

'Cause everyone needs a friend to hold
when it's cold outside
and there's no place to go
Everyone needs a friend to hold
all alone I cried
there was no place to go
I remember when nobody cared
but you

I'm not the easiest person to love
But you, you've opened your heart to show me what I'm worth

'Cause you choose to be
on the side of me
on the side of me
What a mystery
You're on the side of me
on the side of me

'Cause everyone needs a friend to hold
when it's cold outside
and there's no place to go
Everyone needs a friend to hold
all alone I cried
there was no place to go

I remember when nobody cared
I remember when nobody cared
Nobody cared
But you

Yeah you choose to be
on the side of me
on the side of me

It's true, isn't it? Mmm. Why not take some time to thank Him for His love and grace in your life this day?

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths. Ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." - Jeremiah 6:16

He is the way, the truth and the life.

The Desert Song
Hillsongs United

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

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

And 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 (play intro)

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

All of my life, In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow


A song to share.

Will you still praise Him through the tough times? Through the periods where He seems far away from you, will you still lift your voice and hands to worship Him? Will you give Him your heart and say "Father, take control."

It is a tough decision. But when you've made the decision, He will help you to carry it out.

He knows. He knows the pains we have, the temptations we face, the struggles we fight. And He is fighting each battle with us.

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:17-18.

His perfect love casts out all fear.

Okay. It's 3.03am now. Mmm. I really wonder why sometimes I sleep so late.

Well, how has the week been? Spotted a few of you at Day of His Power just now. And somehow, it's been a rather encouraging week. Not anything significant that happened or some mega or major revelation about things. It's more of a... day-to-day relationship with God that keeps me going. And of course, I do hope and pray that we will all have this day-to-day relationship with Him. Well, at least I know He desires it. Do you desire it as much?

Mmm. I sort of got weary during the week. A little lost. A little disoriented. A little discouraged. And a little disappointed. All these "a littles", I guess at the end of it if you keep focusing on it, it becomes quite a lot actually? That's the way humans are most of the time. So if you find yourself like that, don't worry, you're just human. But of course, don't stop at that. Know that God created us for so much more. So expect! Expect more of His power in your life! Expect more of the Holy Spirit's movement in your life! Expect more love, more power, more of Jesus in your life! And even as you expect, it will come to pass.

God will meet you, wherever you are this day. You're never too far from His grasp and grace. =)

So... here's something I read from Our Daily Bread yesterday and I found it really encouraging, and true of course. It made a lot of sense. I guess... many things we know, but at times, we just need a little reminder? So here's one for all of you!

"Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." - Romans 8:12-17


Lew Wallace’s book Ben-Hur tells the story of a Jewish aristocrat betrayed by his best friend and condemned to serve as a galley slave in the Roman navy. On a forced march to the ship, Judah Ben-Hur meets Jesus of Nazareth, whose compassion fills him with hope. Eventually, Ben-Hur saves the Roman commander during battle. In gratitude, the commander adopts Ben-Hur as his son, instantly elevating him from slave to heir.

That’s what happens to us when God adopts us into His family. But great privilege brings great responsibility. Paul said that we become “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him” (Rom. 8:17). The gospel does not say, “Come to Jesus and live happily ever after.” God’s syllabus for His children’s education includes training through hardships.

Ben-Hur’s years of enduring hardship as a Roman slave strengthened him and increased his endurance. He eventually defeated his “friend-turned-enemy” in a chariot race.

As endurance and training were key to Ben-Hur’s victory, so are they vital to victory in the Christian’s war with sin and evil. The hard times we endure are God’s way to prepare us for greater service for His glory. — C. P. Hia

So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they will not see,
To spend though it be blood—to spend and spare not—
So send I you to taste of Calvary. —Clarkson

We conquer by continuing.

- Adapted from Our Daily Bread: 7 August 2008; God's Training School.


Mmm. If you couldnt get yourself to read through the whole thing, at least read the last three paragraphs. I hope it inspires you to persevere on this race marked out for us.

And remember... you're never alone. Because we're all here for each other. We're a team. So don't give up! And keep each other in prayer. Because prayer changes things. And even as we pray, we find ourselves becoming more and more like Jesus.

Continue on, sons and daughters of the Lord Most High!

It's been yet another week. But has it been JUST another week, or has it been ANOTHER week with God? Think about it.

All of us go through a period of struggling at one point or another. But that doesn't mean we're never going to get through it. The Bible says that we're victorious, so how do we become victorious? Or are we already victorious because Christ died for us? Mmm. Have you been living your life as a victor, or one who is defeated?

Life is hard. And that's why it's only with Christ that we can get through it. What about your friends? Do they know Christ? Do they have Christ to walk each step of life with them? You know how tough life is, what more without Christ. So think about what you can do for your friends who haven't known Christ yet.

And I really couldn't help but thank God when Daryl came for cell outing/outreach that day. So little planning, or not planning at all, but yet still one person came to know more about God. Our friends may not accept Him right away, but at least take joy in knowing that they've heard about Him, and God is in control. So give it to Him, your troubles, your struggles and your problems.

And of course, remember... Spiritual maturity is not something that is gained overnight. Growing deeper in our walk with Christ is a process, it takes time. So don't be too hard on yourself, or think that God's going to abandon you. Because He won't. And I'm so sure of it. He'll NEVER leave you nor forsake you. Don't just remember it, but believe it.

Here's a verse for you...

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." - Psalm 27:14

God has been moving in our lives. And I know it. He's moulding each and everyone of us, renewing our minds according to His will. Moulding may be painful at times, but if you think about it, it's worth it at the end. So don't give up.

Simply because YOU ARE LOVED.

Father, I thank You for each and everyone of us - Caleb Soh, Caleb Teo, Nicholas, Jemina, Sarah, Jian Quan, Arie and Lynette. Lord, thank You for working in our lives, for allowing us to know You, the One true and living God. Father, it gets tiring at times, it gets painful at times, but Lord, we know that You are moulding us, into a jewel for You - precious and valuable. Father, i pray that You will constantly remind us of our worth in You, that no matter what the world says, we will cling fast to Your promises and Your Truth. Father, help us to bear Your words of life in our hearts and minds, that we will not be shaken. Lord, grant us a deeper desire to know You, to love You. We thank You for Your faithfulness, Lord. And we praise You, because all Your works are good. In Jesus' name... Amen.

Hey.

It's 2.23am right now. What am I doing blogging here? Haha. Well, I just felt like doing so.

Somehow, I left cell today feeling very happy. Not just happy, but I felt as though we've come a step further - sharing. Although it might seem a little... comical and not very serious, but still, I was just really encouraged.

Opening up takes a really long time, especially with people you don't find yourself that familiar with, even if you see them once a week. But still, I believe that if we work towards it, we will reach it.

God will be our helper, in all circumstances. And that, I can testify to.

Press on, children of God!

Hey (LOVELY) people!

You know, it's been quite awhile since the last time I blogged here. And not forgetting, I wonder who still visits. But that's not the point. The point is... I'll still keep writing. And I guess, we'll add everyone in. So everyone can write. Is this a good idea? Hmm.

Well, how has the week been? And hopefully Arie's leg has recovered. (It has recovered!) Just that he's still quite lame, like always. Mmm. We haven't had cell meetings on Saturday by ourselves for quite awhile. And most probably, this Saturday we will have it! Mmm.

I don't really know why I decided to post. Hmm. Lots of things have been happening lately. And I know that in each and every one of our lives, we're all being tested and tried time and again. But I'm glad that all of us are overcoming and growing step by step in the Lord. The road will never be easy, but at least we know that we're not walking this road alone. There's Jesus with us. And each other too. =)

Though we might not be the perfect cell right now, but it doesn't matter. Let's just continue to share life with one another.

I know many of you struggle. But if you really think about it, we don't struggle with our problems. But actually, our only struggle is that with God. Because we want to be in control, because we think we can handle things. And it is struggling to surrender that is our greatest struggle. Of course, surrendering is not an easy task, it's an ongoing process. That's why the Bible says we are living sacrifices. And sacrifices which are living will always try to get off the altar. So... we have to surrender time and time again. Giving up our control over things. It is not something we do because we've given up, but rather, it's something we do out of our love for God. Worship is a lifestyle of obedience. And a heart of worship is surrender.

Think about it alright? What areas are there in your life that you can't surrender? Or you've been struggling to surrender? Take time k? Remember the 5Ds - Dedication, Direction, Discipline, Determination and Desire.

He never asks for too much. All He asks for is your heart. Just you. The way you are.

Love you guys.

And thank you for praying for my university admission. I really really thank God for you all.

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." - Isaiah 46:4

Hi people,

Here's a devotion extracted from Our Daily Bread (14 May 2008). Please take time to read and reflect.

May you be encouraged and continue to put your trust in God, no matter what circumstances you may go through in your life.

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

True Trust
READ: John 9:1-11
Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. -John 9:3

If you didn't know him, you might think Nick Vujicic has everything going for him. Nick has never had a sore arm. He's never had knee problems. He's never smashed his finger in a door, stubbed his toe, or banged his shin against a table leg.

But that's because Nick doesn't have a shin. Or a toe. Or a finger. Or a knee. Or an arm. Nick was born with no arms and no legs. Before you begin to feel sorry for Nick, read his words. "God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all. I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of 15 after reading John 9. Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was 'so that the works of God may be revealed through him.' . . . I now see that glory revealed as He is using me just the way I am and in ways others can’t be used." Nick travels the world to spread the gospel and love of Jesus.

Nick says, "If I can trust in God with my circumstances, then you can trust in God with your circumstances. . . . The greatest joy of all is having Jesus Christ in my life and living the godly purpose He has for me."

Can we say that? Can we look beyond our limitations and have the same trust in God that transformed a man with no arms or legs into a missionary for Jesus?

— Dave Branon

Lord, shape my life as only You can,
Guiding each day by Your loving plan;
Take what You need and give what You will;
My life is Yours to use and to fill. —Branon


Trusting God turns problems into opportunities.

Fields Of Strength
by Marie Paradise

Whenever my journey gets hard to bear
To fields I go to meet You there.

The Holy psalms I shall recount
My horse of courage I shall mount.

My journey through this land gets longer
My hunger for Your home gets stronger.

When hills to climb get only steeper
My love for You gets only deeper.

I shall not stray nor lose my course
With rein in hand, I'll guide my horse
To fields of good and plenty be
These fields, the ones You promised me
Are void of enemies and grief.
These fields supply me with relief.

I mount my horse, I'm on my way
And in Your fields, My Lord, I'll stay.

Hey.

I guess it's been a tough week for all of you, with exams and common tests in the days ahead and in the days before. But perhaps, some of you don't feel that exams are that big a challenge to face. Mmm. But whatever it is, in all things, remember that God is in control. Even if we don't do well, even if we do below our expectations, God still loves us the same. Cause nothing we do can ever make Him love us more, and nothing we do can ever make Him love us less. That is His character. Hmm.

And after all, we have been called to our schools for a higher calling, not just to get good grades. If all we're doing is getting good grades, is that it? He has told us to make disciples of all nations. Some of you may think "I can't even cope with school work, how do I go and make disciples of all nations?". I would say, this then is where you decide, whether you're going to trust Him with your heart and with your actions, believing that He will make all things work for the good of all those who love Him, who have been called, according to His purpose, or whether you're going to just focus on the things which will fade away.

Have a great week ahead. And keep holding on to Him, for He is Your rock and Your salvation.

Father, we thank You for Your faithfulness in each and everyone of our lives. Lord, we acknowledge that You are the God who is in control, who knows our every coming in and our every going out. You are the One who knows when we sleep and when we rise. Lord, I ask that You would meet each and every one of us wherever we are this day, even if we've gone very far from You, Lord, we know it's never too far for You. Father, allow us to encounter You and draw nearer and deeper into Your grace. Father, we praise You in all circumstances, for You are worthy. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." - John 17:3

Week of December 7, 2007



The Journey

by Max Lucado



I drove the family to Grandma's last night for Thanksgiving. Three hours into the six-hour trip, I realized that I was in a theology lab.



A day with a car full of kids will teach you a lot about God. Transporting a family from one city to another is closely akin to God transporting us from our home to his.



A journey is a journey, whether the destination be the Thanksgiving table or the heavenly one. Both demand patience, a good sense of direction, and a driver who knows that the feast at the end of the trip is worth the hassles in the midst of the trip.



For me, six hours on the road is a small price to pay for my mom's strawberry cake. I don't mind the drive because I know the reward. I have three decades of Thanksgivings under my belt, literally. As I drive, I can taste the turkey. Hear the dinner-table laughter. Smell the smoke from the fireplace.



I can endure the journey because I know the destiny.



For some of you, the journey has been long. Very long and stormy. In no way do I wish to minimize the difficulties that you have had to face along the way. Some of you have shouldered burdens that few of us could ever carry. You have bid farewell to life-long partners. You have been robbed of life-long dreams. You have been given bodies that can't sustain your spirit. You have spouses who can't tolerate your faith. You have bills that outnumber the paychecks and challenges that outweigh the strength.



And you are tired.



Let me encourage you with a parallel between your life's journey and the one our family took last night.



It's worth it.



As I write, the Thanksgiving meal is over. My legs are propped up on the hearth. My tablet is on my lap.



I have every intention of dozing off as soon as I finish this chapter.



The turkey has been attacked. The giblet gravy has been gobbled. The table is clear. The kids are napping. And the family is content.



As we sat around the table today, no one spoke of the long trip to get here. No one mentioned the requests I didn't honor. No one grumbled about my foot being on the accelerator when their hearts were focused on the banana splits. No one complained about the late hour of arrival.



Yesterday's challenges were lost in today's joy.



God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.



Remember this: God may not do what you want, but he will do what is right ... and best. He's the Father of forward motion. Trust him. He will get you home. And the trials of the trip will be lost in the joys of the feast.



Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll close my eyes. I'm a bit tired from the journey, and it feels good to rest.



The Great House of GodFrom In the Eye of the Storm

Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1999) Max Lucado

Remember, God doesn't see you for who you are, He sees you for who you can be. And mistakes are a part of growing up. Mistakes allow us to get better and better, as long as we learn from it.

P.S. Jian Quan, you do love making funny noises during cell isn't it? Haha.

The Oyster Man
Taken from The Daily Bread - 10 Apr 2008. May you be encouraged to do what you can where you are with what you have, for the Lord's glory. No offering from you is too small for Him to use.

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

In the days of John Wesley, lay preachers with limited education would sometimes conduct the church services. One man used Luke 19:21 as his text: "Lord, I feared Thee, because Thou art an austere man" (KJV). Not knowing the word austere, he thought the text spoke of "an oyster man."

He explained how a diver must grope in dark, freezing water to retrieve oysters. In his attempt, he cuts his hands on the sharp edges of the shells. After he obtains an oyster, he rises to the surface, clutching it "in his torn and bleeding hands." The preacher added, "Christ descended from the glory of heaven into . . . sinful human society, in order to retrieve humans and bring them back up with Him to the glory of heaven. His torn and bleeding hands are a sign of the value He has placed on the object of His quest."

Afterward, 12 men received Christ. Later that night someone came to Wesley to complain about unschooled preachers who were too ignorant even to know the meaning of the texts they were preaching on. The Oxford-educated Wesley simply said, "Never mind. The Lord got a dozen oysters tonight."

Our best may not always measure up to the standards of others. But God takes our inadequacies and humble efforts and uses them for His glory. — Cindy Hess Kasper

The Master can use what you have to offer,
Though you may consider it small;
His work here on earth is done through His children,
So give Him your best, give your all. —Hess


signing off
alex
10 apr 2008

Courtesy of Uncle Dick from COOS Missions Dept, here's a list of ways which you can reduce stress the Christian way. Start on the ones which you can do now and do it consistently, for example, point number 1 below.

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't overspend and go into debt.
13. Have backups; an extra petty cash in your wallet, or extra house key buried in your hidden compartment of your bag.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a CD or MP3 on how you can help improve your quality of life while in bus or train or your parent's car.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus.'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the boss of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

Try it out, ok?

signing off,
alex
8 apr 2008

Hey PEOPLE!
This blog will be alive again(x
hmm.. hope you all have a great week and may God continue to guide you all and
HELP YOU in time of needs.

continue seeking God and tell Him your needs. For he who ask, shall be given. and he who seek, will find.

a short post to send my regards to all of you(x

nicholas(x

Hello people!

It's my first time posting here. Wahaha. Anyways, the end of 2007 is here! It's the last day of the year! So I figured, I should at least post once this year. Haha. Well, the main purpose of this post is to say... I hope you have a blessed new year ahead.

Time may have seemed to past really quickly this year, and I guess many many things happened. Things which brought us much tears, things which made us feel alone, things which may have made us jump for joy, but I guess the most important thing in all these things is that we should learn how to praise God in all circumstances. Simply because this was what we were made for - to worship and honour Him, giving Him the greatest glory in our thoughts, actions and attitudes. Yups.

May we all grow together as a cell and family! (:

Anyways, there will be NO CELL SESSION on 5 January. PLEASE TAKE NOTE and pass the message around.

Have a blessed year ahead! God bless all of you, special people!

In His Love,
Grace Ong.

ANNOUNCEMENTS - 16 DEC 2007 TO 5 JAN 2008

Hello all,

The cell session on 15 Dec 2007 which is also our 24.365 prayer session, is officially our last session together. For everyone of you who has been with me over the past two years or three years for the older members, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to journey with you, to share with you on biblical stuff and on life issues which I hope you will continue to reflect, to learn and put into practice. Most of all, I thank you for your love and friendship.

I may not be exactly the dream leader you hope to have - someone who may be vibrant, jovial, versatile, rich in knowledge ... I may not have been able to spend quality time with each of you. And for all the things which I have failed to fulfilled as a cell leader, for all the grief and hurts I have caused, for all my shortcomings, I sincerely apologize and I humbly ask for your forgiveness.

What will happen next year since this is our last cell session? I'm pretty sure that Michelle, Grace and Gideon will take on the leadership role, but who will assume what responsibilities, the church will probably inform them pretty soon. And once that's announced, we will update you accordingly. Meanwhile, please keep a look out for further updates on this cell blog or through our emails.

As for me, I don't know where I'll be going ... cell sup? joining P6s? or the senior citizens singing group over at room 205/206? I am leaving it to God's hands to tell me where to head on next. But if given the choice, I would still like to serve you again in some other capacities ... unless you prefer someone else lar. :)

And please don't forget our cell chalet cum BBQ from 21 to 23 dec. Invite your friends along too and share with them on the love of Jesus when opportunity arises. Please let Nicholas know who are staying over the two nights, who are coming.

Once again, thank you for the time spent together and the memories.

.... And thank you for the birthday card and the rocher ... really grateful and thankful from the bottom of my heart :)

Onward, Christian Soldiers! Serve the Lord Your God with all your hearts, with all your soul, with all your strength, be like King David who yearned and pursued after God's own heart.

"May the roads rise to meet you. May the wind be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; The rain fall soft upon your fields And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand." - A Gaelic blessings to you


blessings and love,
alex