ANNOUNCEMENTS - 16 SEP TO 22 SEP 2007

Hi people

1. Cell session on 22 Sep is ON. Please be present.

2. HEALING SERVICE ON 29 SEP 07 - Please invite your friends who needs healing and be touched by God because of their illness or hurts. Take note that there will be cell session that day too.

3. CLARIFICATION ON 15 SEP'S SHARING -

I would like to clarify two points:

a. I mentioned that if you do not hear God's voice, it means you are going to have trouble in your Christian experience. I felt the need to rephrase this - if one do not build a intimate relationship with God, which part of the process also involves learning to hear His voice, eventually, he or she may not know how to hear Him and it can lead one to have a troubled Christian experience. Those who are committed to have a relationship with God, God will help them to hear His voice which may be different from each other.

b. Sometimes, God chooses not to speak ... as in He is keeping silence. I believe that when He is not speaking, He may also be telling you to be still before Him, to wait upon Him and His timing. God may use silence to speak to your heart.

4. THE FERN AND THE BAMBOO

Some of you are going through struggles in life to establish your identity in this world, to find your place in His purpose .... and I empathize with you that it's not easy for you to go through this phase of your journey while being afraid of other people despising you, afraid to tell others your weaknesses and confusion. Please forgive me if I have not been spending time over these years with everyone of you at a personal level, to reach out to you, to understand and hear you out, to be there for you or support you as a cell leader. If I am given the last words, I would like to say that - You are God's beloved ones and I still believe in you, no matter what you are going through now. I hope this article about a person's encounter with God during trail time, will give you inspiration to press on ... to focus on His unending love for you :

One day I decided to quit.... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality..... I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me..."Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied."When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo". He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit."He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest beautiful.""Your time will come, "God said to me. " You will rise high!" "How high should I rise?" I asked. "How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return."As high as it can?" I questioned."Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you........

Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you Happiness.
Bad days give you Experiences.
Both are essential to life.Keep going...

Happiness keeps you Sweet,
Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrows keep you Human,
Failures keep you Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!


signing off
alex