peace . love . joy

(9) 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) For the sake of Christ, then, i am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when i am weak, then i am strong.

~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

i remembered this passage during my quality time with God today.

today's focus was on the needy, main passage was Proverbs 9:18. and the follow up question was "what am i doing to reach out to those in need?"

my answer :
materially in need - nothing.
spiritually in need - nothing. but the Spirit God sealed in me is doing something for me & them.

i am not perfect (horror of all horrors =o). so how can i help others spiritually? i myself am in need!

God spoke to me through 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. and it reminded me of a few friends i have. these verses (9-10) comforted me. it speaks of God being just who He is - God, and me being who i am - me. the God we serve is that powerful and that perfect.

if we were made perfect from the start, what role has God to play in our lives? what would we need God for? surely not to make us perfect, and surely not as our ticket to heaven.

God made us imperfect for a perfect relationship with Him.
He made us imperfect so that through us, His glory may shine forth from our faces, our words and our actions.
He made us imperfect so that we can appreciate what perfection - God - in all its marvelous splendour!

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall i fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall i be afraid?

~ Psalm 27:1

it brings about the question of whether or not we truly understand what it means to be a Christian, a lover, a follower, a disciple, a child of God.

yes, we will have anxieties. yes, we will have troubles. yes, we will suffer.
but God, our God, promises to listen, to answer, to uphold, to lift us up, to care for us.

in our weaknesses, God's power is made perfect.

we are also told to encourage others.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

~ Ephesians 5:19-20

(7) Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].

(8)Here is one alone--no one with him; he neither has child nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labor, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither does he ask, For whom do I labor and deprive myself of good? This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy business.

(9) Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor;

(10) For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

(11) Again, if two lie down together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?

(12) And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

we CAN encourage and help others spiritually, no matter how undeserving or how ill-equipped we think we are (such sentiments should only propel us to dive into pools of resources to better equip ourselves to serve the Perfect One).

in helping others, we should not neglect ourselves, but that's a post for another time - i've got to work now =]

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 23-24

~love~

2 Corinthians 5: 11-21

(11) Therefore, knowing the dear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (12) We are not commending outselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. (13) For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (14) For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (15) and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

(16) From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. (17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (18) All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (20) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (21) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

with mingwei's blessings, i shall now share his thoughts with you, sizzlers:

An embassy is headed by an ambassador, and is the diplomatic representation of one country in another country's land. Under international law, the embassy grounds are exempt from local law and are treated as territory of the embassy's home country. Embassies are used as places of refuge by refugees, and during an bilateral dispute, the ambassador can be summoned by the host to register the latter's displeasure.

A Christian is Christ's ambassador and representative of God's kingdom, located in but not of the world, and called to reconcile the lost to God's country (2 Cor 5:19-20). Since we have this calling, we are to treat our lives and bodies like property of God's country, living in a way that reflects that God's law and not the world's law operates in us. And the world vents its displeasure at how Christians behave, as its people sometimes realise something is wrong with themselves in comparison with Christians, and feel uncomfortable interacting with the latter.

Even though all Christians are entrusted with protecting spiritual refugees from the world, not all do their job well - some have one foot across the embassy gates into the world and don't want to give up entirely on both the world and God, some can't be bothered at all to operate God's law in their grounds, and some don't know what to do as new ambassadors. But for those who are appointed ambassadors of Christ and truly want to do Kingdom work will eventually find much blessing in following their call of duty, both in (meg: tangible and) intangible ways in this life and in all ways in the next.

F.I.S.H. sizzler-ettes
the F.I.S.H. sizzlerettes have attempted to have fellowship on thursday nights =]

so far so good (we're into our 2nd meeting this week)!


Christ's Ambassadors
anyways, i've been wanting to write a post on what MingWei shared abt what it means for us to be Christ's ambassadors.

so..look out for that post comin' your way, baby (by that i mean evryone, not jus my babies)!!

presents!
i'm kinda proud of the present i made for puiki, but i wouldnt have thought of doing that if it werent for God and Him granting me inspiration!

front

back

inside

here's puiki's present that i made (p\s: i didnt make the doll, u can get that at Ikea for $18). it's the armour of God. we're memorising it.

this is rebecca's gift to me from her trip to Japan! Japan, okay! so sweet =D *thanks*


some other stuff i got recently: ipod frm my dad who got it frm a lucky draw, remote controlled chopper frm my aunt *it really flies!!* (she knew i've always wanted a remote controlled something to control), rebecca's pen frm Japan & color pencils!!

thanks to YongZhi, i've got Barry Manilow singing "who needs to dream?" =]
i cld spend the entire of this post singing Barry's praises, BUT, this post is not intended for that.
HAHA.

the title being the dead give-away, i shall "speak" abt the TTB leaders' retreat\camp.

before the camp was officially switched 'on', puiki said she felt that there might be a "spiritual battle" between God and the evil one..and she fell sick and had to go home for the second night..i'm not sure if that "qualifies" as a battle, but i cannot judge that because i'm like a super super super green horn when it comes to spiritual battles and attacks. it may have been one. it may not. but i sure thank God puiki was there on sunday morning for GoFish =D

puiki has a headache now. so please pray for her!

she and i are gonna memorise Ephesians 6:10-20 by this Sunday! for those of you who dont know what that passage contains, it's The Armour of God.

anyways, that was puiki's "premonition" (is that the word??). i had a word from God. He said that He was going to use me and puiki..and He did~! we had bible study in preparation for GoFish lesson on sunday with Yap. me & Yap were supposed to lead BS, but i wanted Yap to take the driver's seat. i'd be the back-seat driver. i'm not sure if we pushed Yap the right way (something tells me we pushed a little too hard), but i pray that whatever the outcome, God use it for His Glory. our God is so brilliant in that He can use "hopeless" and seemingly bad situations and turn them into good. praise the Lord, all ye creation~!

the games were quite interesting in that they all enforce biblical truths. but (and here's megan the critic speaking), i think a stronger follow-up after the games would be more beneficial in that the passages and truths would be enforced instead of just seemingly going thru the motions of follow-ups flippantly without understanding =]

once, i cried cos the pple at my table were talking abt what rachel deems "spiritual attacks". now, you and i know that i cant take those ghosts and spirits stuff. i cant listen. sometimes, i cant even look at the movie posters! i switched tables, but then JD started asking questions, and KarYan was looking at me..and i cldnt take it anymore. so i cried =(

after that bout, felt a lil better, but then, i had doubts. i dont know why, but i started thinking "if i'm a spiritual leader and teacher, and i teach truths about God, yet i'm so fearful about spiritual attacks, does it say anything about my faith? am i truly understanding what i believe in?". and that got me even more fearful (and heralded another bout of crying) - because the one thing that is so precious to me, my faith, is at stake.

i spoke to YongZhi abt it. haha, yes, YongZhi. and i felt a little better. speaking to Angeline and puiki afterwards helped too.

i claim comfort in the bible verse:
For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.
~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMP)

today's passage is Ephesians 6:1-20. and the question is about whether or not we are reflecting light to the world of darkness that those who are living in the dark will come to the light and know Jesus Christ.

but what i took from it..i took comfort..and found a challenge..in knowing the armour of God once more..knowing it will protect me from all the flaming arrows of the evil one. and i'm committing to memorise it yet again. and do what it says.

(10) In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
(11) Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
(12) For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
(13) Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

(14) Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
(15) And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

(16) Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
(17) And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
(18) Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

(19) And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),
(20) For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.
~ Ephesians 6:10-20 (AMP)

from IBS, i learnt that having a big picture (general overview) of the passage is, AND, noticing little differences in the choice of words and puncutations used in the different versions of the Bible may be important in interpreting meanings. i urge you to look at other versions, including the much used NIV. for they use words like "in addition to" at v16 which carry a little more meaning.

Be joyful always; pray contunally; giving thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 23-24

You were in my dreams
Always in my dreams
That was long before
I ever saw you standing there

When I felt afraid
Of the choice I made
I would close my eyes
And hope my dreams would comfort me
But now I'm free

Who needs to dream when there is you?
Who needs a heaven to look forward to?
For my whole life through
Who needs to dream?
You're my dream come true

In my fantasy
You believed in me
And as long as you were there
Then I believed in me
Now suddenly

Who needs to dream when there is you?
Who needs a heaven to look forward to?
For my whole life through
Who needs to dream?
You're my dream come true

Now you are my dream
You are my only dream
I'll hold you in my heart forever
Who needs to dream?
Who needs to dream?
When I see you there
Then I see my every dream come true

Who needs to dream when there is you?
Who needs a heaven?
For my whole life through
Who needs to dream?
You're my dream come true
Every dream
All come true
My dream come true!

P\S: i cldnt find the original version online (ie. with Barry Manilow singing it to Annette O'Toole in the movie\musical "Copacabana"), this is the closest and best quality i cld find.

it's a really lovely song, and if you can, go watch the movie (it's available at the Esplanade Library).

Barry's vocals really suit the song. sung straight frm the heart. i almost cried =,(

Create your own Friend Test here

5 Subjects for sem 2 year 1.
5 B+s for sem 2 year 1.

this is worse than semester 1, but as some of you, sizzlers, out there would recall we agreed that this sem's subjects are wayy tougher and denser than last and that we were aiming for straight Bs *nudge*

hallelujah!

it did pull my GPA down, but at least i'm still in the 2nd upper honors range =]
and though i didnt see myself thru the revision plans, God saw me thru the exams. a miracle for the undeserving.
what more could i possibly ask for?

i want to tell you sizzlers smthg:

whatever you pray for will be answered. sometimes with a resounding "yes" frm God. sometimes with a "hold yer horses, sweetie, the sky aint comin' down jus yet". sometimes with a firm "no."

i've been praying a lot lately, and i'm proud to say that my relationship with God is goin' goooood =D

but there are a few thgs that have been mainstays in my prayers.

one. i pray that God will teach me to pray like Jesus
two. i pray that God will mould me and make me into a woman after His own heart. kinda like David, but minus the adultery bit.
three. i pray that i will learn to be encouraging to others. building and speaking to them in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
four. i pray that God will use me and speak through me to others such that when they see me, they arent seeing me; they're seeing God. when they hear me, they arent hearing me; they're hearing God. (this might come across wrongly; that i'm claiming to be God, which is SO not what i mean)

and guess what?

one. i am learning each day to pray like the Master to the Master
two. God is pointing out \ exposing my not-so good points or 我有欠缺或不够完善的方面 for me to learn and change. trust me, i dont like what i'm learning or seeing abt myself. i almost lost it and got all bitter the first time he started showing me! but, thank God, He spoke to me and told me what He was doing. and i understand and am doing my part - learn and change, for the better, of course. God's better.
three. people notice. and i notice too. because some things that come out of my mouth, and fingers (think email and msn) cannot have come from me. and i thank God for the honor and priviledge *bows*
four. input -> output. dont believe it? try it. anyone can be so nice as to get me the book "A Young Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George? i've finished one round with her "A Young Woman's Call to Prayer". i'm reading more and more of the Bible. or rather re-re-re-reading parts of it. and i'm commiting them to memory =]

you know what?

God is happy.

and when God is happy, God's people rejoice and par-tay like there's no tomorrow =D

wee~*!

Hannah's Prayer

(1) Then Hannah prayed and said:

"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

(2) "There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

(3) "Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.

(4) "The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

(5) Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry hunger no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.

(6) "The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.

(7) The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
(8) He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.

"For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's;
upon them he has set the world.
(9) He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.

"It is not by strength that one prevails;
(10) those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.
He will thunder against them from heaven;
the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

"He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed."

yesterday was wonderful..to a certain extent..and i want to share it with all of you =]

i was leading lesson for the sec 3s entitled "Live in love, Live in light", a continuation in Ephesians 5:1-20 of what tobias called "morals".

backgrnd:

few sundays back, when a bunch of us went to aldersgate for a children's church workshop thg (few entries back), Andy 哥哥 shared with us a cool website to get ideas for lessons from and submit our own ideas too so others can use them.

i went to check it out and chanced upon an activity called "balloon confessions". i was preparing my lesson (wayy in advance like i like to) and i thought it'd be a splendid idea to use. it required helium balloons. so since i'm supposed to lead with claire, i thought when the time was nearer, i'd run that idea by her and if she agrees, i'll place the order for the balloons since i've no helium gas, like durh!

the kids were to have one helium balloon each. and after writing a sin on one side of the balloon and a prayer to God on the other, they were to release the balloons into the sky as a visual representative of their prayers rising to God like sweet incense.

last week, we had sharing. and few things the kids said made us leaders worry. serious problems like stealing and depression surfaced. not forgetting the not-so-distant past, i realised the balloon activity was really appropriate.

leading lesson was a little troubling for me. because i thought it was conducted and participated by quite superficially. but i know i've no control over that. it can be as fun as possible and as serious as possible. but only God can open and touch their hearts. i have no control and power in that. so it's the peace and serenity to realise and understand that God is in control over things i have no control over.

anyway, led them downstairs for the balloon activity. still a little apprehensive that this wont be taken seriously.

i gave each of them kids and the leaders a helium-filled balloon and a permanent marker.

instead of just a sin, i told them to write something(s) that they do in their lives that they know in their hearts are wrong. this is different than just knowing in their minds because knowing in their minds just meant "oh, ~ said it's wrong. so it's wrong". knowing in their hearts means knowing they are wrong and sincerely want to change because they dont want to be that way any longer. if they were not ready nor willing to change, they were not to write it down on the balloon.

on the other side, they wrote a prayer to God. about wanting to change, giving it all to Him and thanking Him for anything they wanted to thank Him for.

as they sat, pens noisily squeaking against the latex balloons, faces bearing thoughtful expressions, each concentrating on their own words to God, my eyes teared a little because i knew then that God WAS in control of this lesson. indeed He was. it was Him that touches hearts. Him that talks through us. Him that changes us. and i was so glad to know i was in the palm of His will.

i'm so happy i knew i carried out my purpose for that one sunday.

and i know God is pleased with me. what more could i ask, seek or hope for?

then, when all the squeaking stopped, i led them out onto the track and led them in a verbal prayer to God.

11 ballons (poor joshua's burst before he could release it, but he didnt want another one), each a different colour, rose into the sky.

all of us watched them as they rose higher and higher. think we were all captivated by the sight. there's something about watching balloons rise into the sky. there's also something about watching balloons, with our written prayers, rise into the sky.

after that, a few of the kids and hitomi told me they somehow felt better.

i'm glad.

as they watched the balloons rise, i walked alone into the shade (cos i thought the heat made joshua's burst and since i was holding onto 4 more extra balloons, i thought i'd better not risk any chances). and as i walked, God let me see His work. it was like Him saying "see! behold, little girl! my plan for this lesson is fulfilled! see how I did it! I am glad you followed through, well done, I am pleased."

(forgive me, emay)
i thank God for

- the way He works.

- His marvelous timing to take me to the children's church workshop, and make me pay attention to remember the website address.

- His terrific planning to make me write my name beside the "Live in love, Live in light" chapter when we were allocating who's to lead which lesson. and to make me see the "balloon confessions" idea on the rather disorganised website.

- His perfectly-timed intervention to help me see the link between the activity and the lesson. and to talk to puiki to affirm that it's a good idea to use for the lesson and in view of the kids' previous confession of not-so-good deeds. the weather was so brilliantly sunny -- perfect for the activity.

- Him being who He simply is -- a forgiving, loving, faithful and gracious God. my prayer life is more vibrant than it ever was and i've two known people to thank for that, and possibly even more that i dont know of, those who've kept me in prayer.

- good relationships with some of the students. so far so good. and even great with some! i thank God for joanna. she came to lesson on sunday after a really long hiatus. she told me the reason why she came, and i was really flattered and nervous after hearing that.

i pray for

- everyone in F.I.S.H. you are all in my prayers, believe me. i'm not close to most of you, but i know you throught your prayer requests. and i want to tell you that i'm giving thanks and praying for each and everyone of you.

- the kids in GoFish. that they will grow up to be strong and ready warriors for God. that God will touch each one of them each week and bring us all closer together under His wing.

- the leaders of GoFish. that the Spirit of our Holy God will be in us, upon us and around us. we will speak to each other and to our kids in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and words of encouragement. that His Glory will shine forth from our faces, and that we bring Him more and more glory with each step we take in everything we do.

Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge, Him and He will make your paths straight.
~Proverbs 3:5,6