peace . love . joy

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