The Salt Feast

You Are Loved

2011-08-27T04:51:00.000-07:00

You Are Loved

A counsellor was conducting a family therapy session with the parents of a teenager who had been caught using drugs. The parents excused their daughters' drug use, saying that it was no big deal and just a phase that most teenagers go through. After a while the counsellor told the parents to leave the room and, turning to the daughter, asked her what she had heard. She replied, "I heard that they don't love me."

The counsellor realised that the daughter was dabbling in drugs to get her parents' attention. If she had felt genuinely loved by them, she would have wanted to love them back by choosing not to disobey.

Like that daughter, I often disobey my heavenly Father. My sin distresses me, and I beg God to help me love Him more. While this isn't a bad thing to pray, Paul says that it's even more important that we understand how much God loves us. Only when we appreciate "how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is" will we be eager to love him back (Ephesians 3: 18).

Consider the many ways God continually loves you. He overcame incalculable odds just to bring you into existence, and ever since then He has sustained your life with food, family and friendship. He gave His life for you, dying on the cross so you might live with Him forever.

He didn't go to all this trouble to let you drift away, so He "disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child" (Hebrews 12:6). No child enjoys boundaries and discipline, but imagine how you'd feel if God didn't care. God loves you too much to shrug at your sin, so rejoice when you feel His firm hand of discipline. It means you are loved.

Plate (taken from this month's issue of ODJ)

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. -Deuteronomy 31:6

2011-04-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

(This message is taken from the website "Messages of Hope".)

Hello dear friend.

I remember once when my daughter was very young, and needed to go into hospital for a small operation. She was very afraid of being left alone, afraid that her parents would not be with her, and she asked her mother "Please, Mom, come in with me?" It broke our hearts to tell her that we could not go in with her, despite knowing that she would be well cared for by the medical staff. I remember well the tears in her eyes as she was wheeled away into the theatre, and I offered up a small prayer, asking God to calm her and look after her.

Of course, it all went well, but it occurred to me that we as adults are not much more than children before God at times, when we too fear being left alone with our troubles and concerns. So many times we are faced with difficulties that we feel incapable of handling, and we immediately look for a hand to hold, some comforting presence of another person who will go with us, re-assure us and help us through the ordeal.

Well, God's word promises that when we feel that fear, we only need to remember that He is the one who will be with us through it all, he is the one who will not leave us or forsake us. That is God's promise.

So if you are facing what seems to be an insurmountable challenge that is making you afraid, remember that you are still a child to God your father. Speak to him, say "Please, God, come in with me?"

And be assured, He will. Always.

I pray that God will give you peace today.

posted by Plate :)

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my saviour and my God. -Psalm 42:5

2011-04-28T04:50:00.000-07:00

Despair, discouragement, sadness and depression can affect us all, at any time, even the strongest of us. And it is such an affliction that when it strikes we feel totally unable to cope, we feel completely overcome. So what is to be done about it? The old adage "into every life a little rain must fall" holds little comfort, and it is all very well to say "Chin up! Things will be alright", when we are down and unable to stand. When we allow discouragement to enter our lives, very soon its bedfellow despair moves in, quickly followed by sadness and depression. So is it an ever-spiralling downward fall? No! What we need is the strength that comes from hope!

The psalm 42:5 above was written by the Sons of Korah, temple musicians and assistants, as ministry to those who were discouraged, and it shows that even in those times they realised that HOPE was the weapon to uplift.

With hope we can be strengthened and encouraged in our difficult times, with hope we can believe that all will once again be well. And it will, for when we place our faith and hope in God, He has promised to bear us up. As it reads in the passage from Lamentations; "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him".

So if you are troubled today, remember to place your hope and faith in God, who has promised to help you. Promised! And that is a promise that is never broken!

May God bless your life in more ways than you thought possible.

- Plate

2011-02-09T04:23:00.001-08:00

HEY SALTies :D

There's SALT on friday in the library from 2:45- 4:30. We're allowed to wear the SALT shirt (with pinafore :))!

seeya there :)

Movies and morals (or, another fail!entry)

2011-02-07T04:24:00.000-08:00

Movies and morals (or, another fail!entry)

So. On last last Saturday, there was this sort of emotional breakdown and just my luck, Happy Feet was on Channel 5. (I've never watched it before; that's how much of an introvert I am, heh.) So in a few minutes I was feeling perky again (not to mention a load of help from someone else).
At the end of the movie, my parents came home and my mum, with whom I had had quarrelled with before she'd gone out, asked me what I was watching. And then, I had this kind of epiphany.
'Kind of' being the key words. I just garbled this to my mum in a stroke of epiphany-ness.

(If you've watched Happy Feet before, you might get this. If you haven't then. Uhm. Go and read it up on Wikipedia or something ... I guess.)

Mumble can't sing. So what does he do? Instead of singing, he dances. What's that fuss?
Humans can't understand PenguinSpeak. However, Mumble's dancing - his actions and behaviour - catches their attention and this enables the penguins to reach out to the humans and have them stop overfishing and depleting the penguins' fish supply.

The moral of the movie : Actions speak louder than words.

"But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. ... but the one who lives it out - he will be blessed in what he does."
- James 1:22-25

Read and heed James' advice. Do not just listen to the Word and go 'uh-huh, yuh yuh' or spout stuff about God and be done with it. No. Live out God's Word. Demonstrate His love in your doings; show compassion and understanding and bring people to Him through your actions.

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have the works? Can this kind of faith save him? If a brother or a sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and eat well," but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself."
- James 2:14-17

As much as you say you're an angelic person with a kind heart, quarrelling with people, not helping others and being rude proves your point wrong. Listening to the Word and still partaking in sinful indulgences; saying one thing and doing another; believing in God and not being a good testimony only results in one thing : Redundancy.

Always bear in mind that your behaviour and actions are things people notice more about you.

On another note: If you have anything to say to anybody now - an apology, a thank-you-very-much, then say it - and don't forget to be it. Saying 'sorry' with airs and a hoity-toity attitude isn't going to help much. It takes a load of your chest and it's always better to say or do things when there is time to say or do it.

There. I do hope I managed to get the basic points across without too much wrinkling-nose-in-disgust-or-confusion. I do hope I get better at this sort of postings, too.

God loves you. Very very much.

-eatingpaper

2011-02-07T04:07:00.000-08:00

"2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

Growing in Faith
3 By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

10 So, dear brothers and sisters,[c] work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

- 2 Peter 1:2-11 NLT

Ever felt frustrated? Ever felt really tired of trying? Ever felt like living this life God has called you is such an uphill task, almost impossible? (I have! :P)

Everyday school life ~~can be~~ is really stressful.. Sometimes, it can be so hard to be loving, patient and well, Christlike. But the truth is (though it doesn't always feel so), God has given us everything we need to live a godly life!(2 Peter 1:3-4) 'For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.' 2 Cor 1:20 What does this mean? It means that His promises don't depend on our merit, on our mistakes, or our 'good works'. Christ has already paid the price for our sins, and made a way for us to go to the Father!

His promises enable us to live a godly life. (On the flip side, it also means that on our own, we are unable to live a godly life depending solely on our own effort.) Even it doesn't feel like it, its true, if you're a believer in Christ.

"3 By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires." 2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT

So the next time you feel tired, stressed or frustrated, (or even when everything is going good haha) talk to our heavenly Father about it and trust in Christ's work and all His promises :) and if you fail or fall, (cos it does happen), don't worry, just remember Christ's work on the cross and ask His forgiveness :) God gives grace :)

(Oh btw, one teacher suggested to us to listen to and keep and remember a particular promise of God every week. haha it helps :))

-bees

PS yeah, do point out any mistakes etc :)

"14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Heb 4:14-16 NLT

A Change - and horrible analogies.

2011-01-27T04:55:00.000-08:00

A Change - and horrible analogies.

"He told them this parable: "No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'" "
- Luke 5:35-39

I'm sure quite a few of you - if not all of you - know this string of verses. It's about Jesus bringing something new (Christianity) into Judaism. But here, I'll offer you a horrible analogy of these verses.

Take yourself as a wineskin. You are an old wineskin, and in this new year, you feel brittle and about to break from all the bottled-up new wine in you. You can't adapt to the new school year, , or perhaps something life-changing occurred over the holidays and you're all muddled-up and squeamish inside. All this is making you uncomfortable and you feel on the verge of breaking down; but the tear in you is always, always there.
You try to change - to patch up yourself with the new cloth, but it doesn't match you, and only serves to enlarge the tear.

Or perhaps you are a new wineskin, but the wine in you is old. You're shrinking and shrinking (as new cloths do) and yet the old wine in you is not used up. Full to bursting. You're not quite sure what to do with the old wine in you. Maybe there are still loose-ends from last year that you need to tie up. Maybe you're finding it hard to let go of certain things - friendships, relationships, an indulgence? Maybe you're stuck in a bog; or slipping down a landslide; or crossroads away from God, with no idea how to get to Him.

So, now, how? Me, I'm a sort of mix between an old wineskin and a new wineskin. And I find it difficult to gradually become a new wineskin with new wine, but I'm working on it, with God's help(: He makes everything a whole lot better. Especially when He's there for me to bring my prayers to.

Just trust in God and know that he put every single thing in your life for a special reason. He has plans to prosper you and not to harm you. He will never give you difficulties that you can't overcome. At times when you're at your lowest, it may feel that God's not listening to you, that he doesn't care, but get this :

No matter how you are, awkward or looked-down-upon, God always accepts you. No matter how you feel inside, torn up and breaking down, God is always here for you. No matter how hard it is to let go or open up, God is always holding onto you.
He loves you. Forever.

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Romans 8:38-39

Be persuaded, too. Know it, believe it, live it. (:

trying to be someone you're not is a waste of the amazing person you are.

(And don't forgot about tomorrow's SALT session!)

(And feel free to point out wrong interpretations, spelling and grammatical errors, etc.etc.)

-eatingpaper

2010-11-01T04:11:00.000-07:00

from http://ymiblogging.org/2010/10/water-to-my-soul/

Water to My Soul

By Chaz Oswald, 22, USA

The sun and humidity combined to push the heat index to a blistering 95°F
(35°C). Sweat evaporated from my skin like steam off a boiling pot of water.
I
was exceedingly thirsty by the time I completed my run.

It would be outright stupid to attempt to satisfy my thirst with saltine
crackers or soda. If anything, my thirst would only intensify and I would be
even more dehydrated. There is only one natural liquid that can satisfy my
intense craving for replenishment—water.

In the same sense, we humans have an intense desire to fill the void within
us. In seeking to fill the void, we often turn to earthly and perishable
objects
that temporarily gratify.

We vainly seek to fill our emptiness with items or relationships that
“[reach] only the superficial parts of our nature. They are soon spent, and
need
to be supplied anew as much as if we had never experienced them before,
while
the deeper wants of our being are not reached by them at all”
(Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary)

The abyss cannot be filled with a romance, a powerful position of authority,
or a well-paying job. What then can quench our thirst for something
more?

Jesus answers, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.
14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It
becomes
a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” (John
4:13-14).

Note that Jesus is not talking about H₂O. Jesus is referring to a
spiritual thirst quenching water. He is speaking of the Holy Spirit who
would be
given to everyone believing in Him (John 7:37-39).

One commentary puts it this way: “The indwelling of the Holy Ghost as the
Spirit of Christ is the secret to this life with all its enduring energies
and
satisfactions.”

Are you trying to fill the void in your heart with worldly solutions? Stop
chasing after the wind and experience true joy by drawing water from the
wells
of salvation (Isaiah
12:3).

from http://ymiblogging.org/2010/10/water-to-my-soul/

check out : http://ymiblogging.org
(:

Nothing is Impossible With God!

2010-10-19T04:38:00.000-07:00

Nothing is impossible with God! Nothing!

Luke 1:35-37

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

Have faith, God says, and with you and I NOTHING is impossible! Certainly, it takes great faith to believe that our greatest problems will be overcome, and our failing faith is why so many of us seem to forever be troubled. But bear in mind what trouble Mary had believing that she as a virgin would give birth to a son who would be God's son, the saviour that was promised! So what did she do?

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

Therefore I urge you today to be the Lord's servant, and have faith that with God your problems will be resolved.

(Please pass this message to anyone that may need it! Thank you! )

-Plate:D

Psalm 119:50

2010-10-19T04:11:00.000-07:00

- My comfort in my suffering is this:

Your promise preserves my life!

It is true that people suffer, that there are hardships in this world, and that sometimes we feel abandoned by God. Has He left us alone to face all of this? After all, He is the God of love and goodness, so where does all the hate, evil and suffering come from? From our own hearts, simply. If we were all able to be God-like, as Jesus was, if we weren't simply human, then we WOULD live in a utopia. We would be in heaven. Where God promises we someday will be. Know this - God does not create the hate, the hurt and the anger, we do. God does not promise that he will banish all hate, fear, hurt, suffering, anguish - all those things that plague our lives on earth. But God does promise that He will help us through it all, that He will forever be with us in our suffering, feeling the pain with us, guiding and supporting us and helping us up when we fall.

And so the writer of the psalm realises this. He knows that in his suffering there is hope, a promise of help, guidance, release, assistance, love. And it is that promise that comforts him, the same promise that can comfort you - God's promise, that He will never leave you, nor forsake you.

Take comfort and strength from the knowledge that God is watching over you now.

- Plate:)

SALT ANNOUNCEMENTS

2010-10-18T04:31:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone(:
Please note that there is SALT this Friday in the library at level 4.
And those who need to bring materials, please remember to bring them.
BYE :D

Announcement(s)

2010-09-26T05:15:00.000-07:00

Hello SALTies!
This is a reminder that there is no SALT this week.
The last SALT session will be the 22nd of Oct. ):
All the best with your studying and exams. (though don't over-stress yourselves)
Don't forget to do QT and always remember that God is always there for you when you need Him(:

Exams

2010-09-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

Hello there(:

Exams are around the corner! Well, we got some notes about studying from school and just wanted to share it, as well as what a friend shared.

TIPS and other useful things
- Pray before studying -- commit it to God, for His glory.
- rest well --> clear mind
- too much anxiety and unmanaged stress has the potential to affect us emotionally, physically and psychologically--> good management. This include what you eat, getting enough sleep, exercise and leisure (not too much though ;D)

- "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. " Phil 4:4-7

- remind yourself of what you hope to achieve

- use methods that help you remember (eg mapping, acronyms, analogies)

- if you're feeling anxious, talk to God, parents or someone you know. Talking to a friend just as nervous won't really help..

- pray before the exam!

from the sparked movement blog:
A Student Prayer
Lord, grant me a quiet heart,
Before the examinations start.
Lead me to use my leisure hours,
To reinvigorate my powers.

My mind from daydreams liberate,
Give me the will to concentrate.
From all distractions set me free,
That in my studies I may be
A student with a sole intent,
To make my work a sacrament.
From my faint heart in love expel,
All failure, fears that there in dwell.

And from my pillow drive away,
All dark forebodings of the day.
Help me in faith to rest so deep,
That I may have untroubled sleep.

While notes and subjects I prepare,
May I not lose my zest for prayer.
And may I not forget to look,
For daily guidance in Thy Book.

In quietness, confidence and peace,
May I have quick and sure release.
From needless fears and apprehension,
From outward strain and tension.

So may examinations find,
Each one alert in heart and mind.
Thus inward joy and peace possessing,
May examinations prove a blessing.

JIAYOU GUYS! (:
study hard and don't forget QT ;D

- B

Is there anything too hard for Me?

2010-09-13T00:21:00.001-07:00

Do you believe in miracles? Things that happen but seem to be too impossible? Well, isn't that what miracles are all about? Aren't they SUPPOSED to be impossible things that are really happening? Of course, it sometimes seems that we are battling along from day to day, just wishing that a miracle would really happen to us, that our problems would disappear!

Well, did you know that the power of miracles resides in all of us? Yes, it's true! With God at our side we can achieve ANYTHING! Isn't that just the most amazing message? WE CAN DO IT! All we need to have is faith in God, and faith in ourselves. When you are facing something that seems truly impossible for you to resolve, take your problem to God and have faith! Have faith that God can do-and He does do- miracles!

Jesus himself also said this:

"Have faith in God. For, assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain 'be removed and be cast into the sea', and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he has said will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you. Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them".

Jesus understood God's promise. God's promise that with Him, ALL things are possible with faith and belief. Jesus understood that God had not only empowered him to perform wonderful things, but all of us. Each one, with God, is capable of anything!

Be blessed today, take your problems to God in prayer, and have faith that with Him at your side you can perform miracles.

- Plate:D
(pls be sure to pass this message on to whomever you think it will benefit!:) )

Announcements For Salties

2010-09-13T00:21:00.000-07:00

Hey!! There is no salt this week the last salt club meeting will be on 22 Oct 2010 for this year.

2010-09-12T02:50:00.000-07:00

Check it out: www.ymiblogging.org
and
http://ymiblogging.org/2010/08/comic-life-marathon/

:D b

What God says ...

2010-09-05T05:12:00.000-07:00

You say : “It’s impossible.”

God says : All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say : “I’m too tired.”

God says : I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say : “Nobody really loves me.”

God says : I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say : “I can’t go on.”

God says : My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9 & Pslam 91:15)

You say : “I can’t figure things out.”

God says : I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say : “I can’t do it.”

God says : You can do all things (Phillipians 4:13)

You say : “I am not able.”

God says : I am able (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You say : “It’s not worth it.”

God says : It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You say : “I can’t forgive myself.”

God says : I forgive you (1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say : “I can’t manage.”

p> God says : I will supply all your needs (Phillipians 4:19)

You say : ‘I am afraid.”

God says : I have not given you a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7)

You say : “I am always worried or frustrated.”

God says : Cast all your cares on me (1 Peter 5:7)

You say : “I don’t have enough faith.”

God says : I’ve given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say : “I’m not smart enough.”

God says : I give you wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30)

You say : “I feel all alone.”

God says : I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

You will be forgiven. You need only ask.

2010-09-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

You will be forgiven. You need only ask.

I'm sure that everyone has sinned before, and many of us are probably even now, worrying about that sin and brooding over it, allowing it to rule and control your lives. Let it go! Do not become a slave to it! Ask God for forgiveness, for as truly as you have sinned, God will forgive. There is nothing - no sin, no good deed - NOTHING that God doesn't know about you. You will not surprise God by confessing what you have done and asking for forgiveness. And you will be released from it! :D

I don't know what's in your past. I don't know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing up in your face. But whatever it is, I want you to know something. Because He loves you, He will forgive you if you will but ask. Perhaps He's wondering how long you will let the enemy make a slave out of you.

Remember this verse:

1 John 1:9

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

The great thing about Jesus is that He not only forgives, but He forgets. :)

Have you ever felt frightened of something?

2010-08-31T20:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt frightened of something?

Maybe you're at home alone, and all of a sudden, you feel scared. You just watched a horror movie, and now your mind's starting to imagine things. You wonder if there's another person in the house besides you, suspecting that perhaps there's something, or someone hiding in the closet... waiting to come out...

...And you wish that there was something that could make you feel at ease.

I don't know if you've ever felt like that before, but if you did, I have something I'd like to tell you. You shouldn't worry too much, and don't be frightened, because you have Jesus to protect you. Tell yourself, "Jesus is my Saviour, and His blood prevails against all evil."
Know that you are never alone, and even if you feel frightened, trust in the Lord, and you will know that no evil can touch you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in the Lord.
:)

2010-08-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

There's SALT this Friday 3rd Sep 2010!!!

YAY!!! :)

What if God sent you a letter?

2010-08-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

Imagine, just for a moment, if God wrote you a letter. What would it say? What would God want to tell you? Do you think that God would want to ask you why you have done things that have disappointed Him? Do you think that He may want to scold you, or chastise you, or warn you that you are failing Him and yourself?

No! God would want to let you know that He loves you, everything about you, that he cares about you and what happens to you. He would want to tell you that you are His precious child, that he is not disappointed in you, and that whatever you have done and whatever you may do in the future, He loves you!

Do you feel at a loss right now? Do you feel that God is not talking to you and that you really need His care and attention right now? Many of us do, and so let us believe for a minute that this is our letter from God:

Dear Child

I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are because there is a father of lies who will try to deceive you.

He will try to tell you that you are not good enough, not attractive enough, not thin enough, not strong enough, not smart enough, not righteous enough, and that you are simply unimportant to me.

He will try to tell you that you have broken one too many promises, that you have fallen one too many times, that you have lived one too many lies, and that you've been going in the wrong direction so long that it is pointless to turn back now.

But guess what?

YOU DO NOT BELONG TO HIM. HE IS NOT YOUR FATHER. I AM.

You see, you are my creation. My workmanship. You have been born of my thought, every part of you placed together by my hands. You have my thumbprint upon you. You are precious, did you know that? You are my child, the child of THE King!

I look at you and see a precious, priceless pearl. There is no ocean I would not swim, no mountain I would not climb, no price I would not pay to have you and to be with you and call you my own.

I already have.

I have done all that I could, given all that there is. I desire to be with you every moment of every day. How I long for you to talk to me every day. My love for you never grows cold. My promises are never broken (contrary to what he might lead you to believe). My character never changes. And you, my child, have been made in my image.

I love you dearly, unconditionally and completely. I understand every emotion that you have. I've been there. I count every tear that you cry. I know every hair on your head. And do you know what?

I even know your weaknesses and your failures and your fears. I know those hidden parts of you that you wish would go away. Those dark corners of your world that you stuff deep down, praying that no one will ever see. I have already seen them and they will not change my love for you.

Nothing will. I love your heart and I desire all of it.

I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are and how precious you are to Me.

With love, God

Message of Hope:)

2010-08-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

You know, every one of us faces times of discouragement, fear, and trouble. And whenever we do, we begin to feel that God just doesn't seem to be there, and forget the things God has done for us. But we have to remember that God is always there for us, and that even if there are times when we forget about Him, He never forgets us.

So I want everybody to remember this.
Whatever is happening in your life, with God, even a mere spider's web can become a brick wall of protection. Believe He is with you always, and you will see His great power and love for you.

2010-08-06T03:52:00.000-07:00

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." Ps 73:26 (NLT)

LoveMG. Message was from Luke 15, about the story of the prodigal son.

Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.Some early manuscripts son. Make me like one of your hired men.

">a’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

The love of the Father is of the same magnitude, whether you've run away/rebelled (prodigal son), or whether you're at close, serving the Father (older brother). He loves them both, so so much!
Remember guys, His love is yours (: He'll always be there, just turn back.

this is the song the speaker shared:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK80ZIHmW30&feature=related

and also, it totally relates to yesterday's bible study! remember His promise of His love and forgiveness (:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

“[To the Church in Laodicea] "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”- Revelation 3:14,20

2010-07-13T04:18:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!!

hope lovemg was impactful! He loves you!

also, please bring an extra (school based) shirt this friday okay? (:

<3

2010-06-29T06:03:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!! (:

hope your June holidays were restful ! (:

Love MG's coming up this friday!
so don't forget to come at 4:30pm, submit the consent forms ASAP, bring $15 for the shirt and pray! dinner will be provided (:

see ya there!

His Love is mine. His love is yours! (:

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
Ps 73:26

2010-06-01T03:50:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

Just a reminder, there's CIP camp on thursday and friday!
so rmb to come to sch and commit it to God in prayer (:

see ya there!

2010-05-19T03:06:00.001-07:00

There's SALT this friday whoohoo! :D
Don't forget to come ;D

2010-04-24T04:07:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!!

Yes, its that time of the term again... Mugging time! For most of us, the exams are coming soon. (which explains why there's NO SALT next week! ): ): ): ) Just thought of sharing something from the sparked movement blog:

A Student Prayer

Lord, grant me a quiet heart,
Before the examinations start.
Lead me to use my leisure hours,
To reinvigorate my powers.

My mind from daydreams liberate,
Give me the will to concentrate.
From all distractions set me free,
That in my studies I may be.

A student with a sole intent,
To make my work a sacrament.
From my faint heart in love expel,
All failure, fears that there in dwell.

And from my pillow drive away,
All dark forebodings of the day.
Help me in faith to rest so deep,
That I may have untroubled sleep.

While notes and subjects I prepare,
May I not lose my zest for prayer.
And may I not forget to look,
For daily guidance in Thy Book.

In quietness, confidence and peace,
May I have quick and sure release.
From needless fears and apprehension,
From outward strain and tension.

So may examinations find,
Each one alert in heart and mind.
Thus inward joy and peace possessing,
May examinations prove a blessing.

Even as this time of last-minute chionging and mugging and anxiety comes, remember to keep trusting God. Do your best and let God do the rest! Don't worry too much and just surrender this set of exams to God, that this whole process will glorify Him! (:

I remember once, just before an exam, i was feeling really super anxious and nervous. Then like in the corner of our classroom, i saw my classmate praying. It was such a boom! moment, and her actions reminded me to rely on God, pray and not worry too much. Even our actions during this period can draw others closer to God!

So, continue to put your trust in Him, living out everyday for Him, for His glory and remember to study hard and take time to do QT! (: He promised that He will provide enough, for our needs, and our concept is sometimes different from His (was just reminded of that). But our Father will provide enough. He's right there beside you (:

<3,
becky

PS do read http://sparked-movement.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html
its very encouraging (:

2010-04-22T05:27:00.000-07:00

Hello SALTies!
Its the SALT Day retreat tomorrow! A time of FUN, FRIENDS, FELLOWSHIP, AND GOD!
So don't forget to bring a PE/house shirt! (try not to bring white ;D) and we'll be ending at 8!

Excited to see ya'll tmr! (:

2010-04-04T02:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voawjjqg8zw&feature=related

Nothing's greater than this

2010-03-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

I got a video from eve. It really made me see the full picture of God's LOVE and SACRIFICE. He has done so so so much, more than we can imagine and yet there are people oblivious to it. it just doesn't do any justice to God's sacrifice at all ):

2010-03-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message)
12-14So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

(:

Announcements! :D

2010-01-16T03:51:00.000-08:00

Announcements and reminders
- This week during salt, we will be having CIP preparation. We'll be making decorative chinese new year things to decorate the old folks' home! So please bring scissors, glue and other art and craft stuffs. Also, if you have any creative ideas on how to make chinese new year decorations (eg how to make a lantern), please do share next friday! :D

- We SALTies are playing for worship for one of the chapels, so if you are interested in joining the band (which is really really cool BD) please approach Louiza. (:

On a side note, its a new year of SALT and aren't you excited! :D :D :D :D and thanks for always posting, senior salties! and like them, if you have any testimonies you'd like to share, please feel free to share them, or if you don't have the user and pswd to this blog, email them to thesaltfeast@gmail.com and we'll help you post it! :D

2010-01-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2010-01-10T05:44:00.000-08:00

Isn’t God supposed to be good? Isn’t He supposed to love us? Does God want us to suffer? What if the answer to that question is yes? See, I’m not sure that God particularly wants us to be happy.
I think He wants us to be able to love and be loved. He wants us to grow up.

I suggest to you that it is because God loves us that He makes us the gift of suffering. To put it another way, pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

You see, we are like blocks of stone out of which the sculptor carves the forms of men. The blows of His chisel, which hurt us so much are what make us perfect.

C.S. Lewis

we are as dumb as rocks

2010-01-04T02:56:00.000-08:00

wow

2010-01-02T06:19:00.001-08:00

www.fishforpeople.net

2010-01-01T07:39:00.000-08:00

kimmie showed me this video, according to sister they showed it during wow church camp this year. cooooooooooool. i love it so much. especially the part about using God's name in vain. no more oh my gosh(d)s!

WATCH THIS PLEASE. it's long but it's funny and...i dont know but i can really relate to it.

2010-01-01T01:25:00.000-08:00

i'm really expecting God this year. like alot, more than I can imagine, more than i know.

i'm very thought saturated now, so bear with me :) i've been spending my last days of 2009, having heart-to-heart talks. For 3 days in a row i've been staying up till the wee hours to talk, to share and to heal. with different people, people who will i know will walk me through the darkest hours. it's as we talk about God in our lives that we see the goodness of God in our lives, His hand in the plan. It's speaking truth and love into each other's lives, building up and edifying. It's always drawing back to the Infinite, His heart through it all. It's verbalising your faith. And God is teaching me slowly to love people the right way and i see so much in them and feel so much of God's love for them. and admist all i realise 2 things that will forever only matter to me, God and people.

God is calling me to live this new decade with a new perspective of hope. it just keeps hitting me from books, cards and even the bible. not hope but Hope. and not hope? but Hope! not an ordinary hope, but a Living Hope! ponder for a few moments and the whole idea of hope will appear rather fluffy to you. but it's my prayer that this certain Hope we believe in will become so real and true in your life, whoever you are. we live a different way because we have this confidence. and there cant be much hope if there isnt much faith.

a close to the end of 2009, brings me to reflect on everything 2009 has brought me through. people say that the older you are, the faster the year seems to go by. :p dang, so true. and during watchnight, i was just like everyone else refecting on the year, hoping to live through 2010 with a new perspective. and it just hit me how messed up we humans are, how screwed up and how we're like to be honest just full of crap. like seriously. sometimes i think peter very poor thing. very singlish but listen, he's actually such a relatable character. i mean, what makes you so sure you wouldnt deny God if you were scared out of our pants, unsure, doubtful and just human. yet (hee i love this word, very hopeful) through it all i just see the beauty of God through human broken-ness. Like isn't salvation's plan simply beautiful? it's through trailing and trying that we see how beautiful God is, His heart for us and His love. it's everytime we fail and try again that God loves us the most. and that's beauty to me. i've gotta live through 2010 gazing upon the beauty of the Lord.

i feel i have more to say and this isnt enough.... be back

love, kimmie

SELF-RESPECT

2009-12-31T10:02:00.000-08:00

I have my first new-year resolution!
To respect my identity as a child and ambassador of God.

H2H talk with Jo today made me realise how horribly i've been treating myself and i really dont have the authority to do that because i belong to God. because i am God's precious child.

and so, i want to give myself the life every child of God deserves to live.

- A life that is not wasted but a life that has meaning in every second spent. As a child of God, i deserve a life that's worth so much more than this.
aka less fbking, simsing, neopetsing (dont laugh) and more studying/serving/worshipping

- I'm not going to allow anything to make me hate/feel lousy about myself because i am God's wonderful and special creation. and no one should ever despise God's creation because they are all wonderfully and specially made and loved by Him.

I think we all need to respect ourselves for who we are - a child of God.

So it is important that we sleep well, eat well, rest well and LIVE well because it's like taking care of something that is precious to God.

so if you always sleep late (hi5)/ starve yourself to become skinnier/ overeat because you love to eat (hi5)/ eat super unhealthy food/ slack (hi5)/ stress. it's time to get things right and find a healthy balanced diet and life (: we deserve to eat healthily, sleep healthily and work healthily.

CANT WAIT FOR 2010. <3
-------------

oh by the way, i was clearing out my room and i found a mixtape someone gave me for christmas last year which i never got around to playing it until now (im sorry!) but I LOVE IT SO MUCH. so mystery person please let me know who you are if you think this is you. there are no song titles/artistes ): thanks much. =D

2009-12-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

Verse 1:
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

Pre-Chorus:
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Chorus 1:
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Verse 2:
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

Chorus 2:
He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Verse 3:
Well, I thought about You the day Steven died,
And You met me between my breaking.
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony.
...They want to tell me You're cruel,
But if Steven could sing, he'd say it's not true, cause...
You're good

Chorus 3:
Cause He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
----------------------------------------------
Dear God,
help me to be able to tell people how much YOU love us. Lord you love us so much, why is it that we find it so hard
to even just step up for You. Dear God, i pray that we'll learn to be unashamed. I pray that you will teach us,
so that we'll learn to overcome our inequities and put aside out self-consciousness and let others experience this love
that is just so amazing and so inexpressible and awesome, that no one will ever be the same when they've come to know you.
God, it's so hard when we fall and feel like giving up. But God i know you won't ever give us something more than we can bear.
You promise to lift us out of the mire, out of the mud and steady us as we walk. God i pray that we'll learn to pull through our struggles for your sake because You love us, and have called us.

Be. Love. To serve.

2009-12-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

This post's gonna be about the many things that i took away from church camp, the theme was be, love, to serve. It's long, but please read!! ((: & sorry if my thoughts're all over the place =/

Be- being God's children, what our identity as God's child is.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. -1 Peter 2:9-10
So basically, we are God's chosen people, we are His children, we were bought with a price. and we should not be 'vampire christians', meaning we only want Jesus' blood, we only want the benefits, and are only interested in the saving grace of Christ, but we dont want to follow in His footsteps, we dont want the hard part of being a christian, we're unwilling to Deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Jesus (Matt 16:24).
But as children of God, Christ should be our model, there should be an ongoing conversion of our heart and mind, and it is only obedience to God that would bring about this transformation. And you know it's hard, but we're not alone! We've got our fellow brotheres & sisters in Christ to run this race together and God has given us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. If we really want this, God will enable us to do it. What really stood out to me in this message was that i should be assured and secured in knowing my identity in God. Meaning i should stop going back to my empty wells (seeking the approval of people), but be satisfied in who i am to God. His love for me is more than enough, and it's the only thing that would ever fill and satisfy me, and the only thing that i need. And His love lasts forever.
God created me, so i'm His masterpiece, and He does not make junk. When people look at me, i dont want them to see me, but see God in me, cause that's what He made me to be, so i want God to chisel away everything that is the me of this world (laziness, self-consciousness...), so i can be who He really made me to be. It's not going to be easy, but it needs to be done.

Love
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. -1 John 4:7-9
Love is not just a feeling, but willing (quote kimmie) It means that even though you may not feel like you love the person, you're still willing to do things because you love. Dont let love stop at the emotional level! Love is practical & selfless. & because God is love, love comes from God so when we feel like we're unable to love, we should go back to our source.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. -1 John 4:13-16
We have the capacity to love cause we're enabled to do so by His spirit, cause God has given us the Holy Spirit, and one of the fruits of the spirit is LOVE. So our ability to love is a manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit ((:
We encounter God's love in our daily walk with Him so we'll be encountering love everyday! So we'll be so filled with love it's overflowing, so spread/share it! =D

Service- Love in action. Service is no about what we do, but about who we are, and what God does in & through us.
Three things about service:
1. LISTEN:
A person who serves is a listener, cause you need to listen for cleansing, nourishment and direction. Cleansing- clear the junk from our lives, like the distractions in our lives. Nourishment- we need to constantly be fed by God so we can give ((: Direction- How can we be serving God if we dont know the direction He wants us to go in?
So, we gotta listen, & listen hard. Again, it's hard, BUT God will give us the discipline to if we're willing. "He who has ears, let him hear."- Matt13:9 & of course, after listening, we gotta OBEY
2. LIGHT
In giving light, we're to change the environment around us, to have a positive influence on those around us.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. -1 John 1:5-7
3. LIFE
Life produces life in the Holy Spirit so persevere even if it seems like what you're doing isnt working cause you never know when/how it works in the person's heart. We just gotta do our part, & pray. & dont ever judge & think that a person's impossible to save. you're not God. & dont look down on the little things you do! You never know when the littlest things you do is used in God's kingdom.

So yes, basically, this is it! Just wanna share this last thing that really spoke to me on the prayer journey. We went to a cemetry, and there are verses on the plaques right. One of them really stood out to me & it was "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7 When i die, i want to be able to say this.

Overall in this camp, i felt that God was just telling me one thing: Focus on ME, not people.

what is LOVE.

2009-12-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

WX: oh my i'm like, posting, after the longest time.

anyway, something i found on a friend's blog, which spoke to me:

It was before I paused to consider the nature of love. Love is invisible, yet so tangible. It has the same characteristics as God. Love cannot be seen, nor felt, nor heard. Our five senses fail to observe it. It can neither be fully measured, nor completely put into words. While many of us may doubt the existence of God, none of us can deny the existence of love. When Paul declared that God is love, he used the perfect description.

It saddens me the way people try to prove God through cold hard, archaeological evidences and try to test God through the things in life by saying if God is real, ah hah ____ wouldn’t happen, etc… because God is the most intangible thing in our lives because He is invisible but this love He so freely offers, is the truest and most real love one can ever experience. but when you reject God based on the need to hear and see, you close the door to healing and to His love as well.

sharing = caring

2009-12-02T02:47:00.000-08:00

"I think for us growing up we never saw anything that was outside of God's vision. The idea that if he created this skin that I'm in, if He's created this moment for us to share right here, if He's created music and all these things, then suddenly every conversation becomes sacred instead of secular. Every time you go into the grocery store, every times you hop in your car...you're not turning off and on your Christianity. You're bringing the very temple of God with you. So suddenly playing shows down the street at the church becomes a sacred thing, just as much as playing down at the bar when weï¿½d get kicked out because none of us were 21."
"I'm just more and more coming to the conclusion that we serve an incredibly large God who wants to do incredible things through this generation. I feel like there is a spirit that I get from many kids...it's the attitude that it's not impossible, things can happen...whether you are talking about Africa or even your own backyard. Wanting to actually interface with the world and not run away from it. That's really exciting for me. I'm sick and tired of Christians that are just simply waiting for the rapture. I feel like we've been given an incredible job opportunity, we've been given the Holy Spirit; we've been given the spirit of the living God inside of us to change the world. That's our calling. It's not to sit around and wait. So when I see kids and the passion in their eyes to go out and actually interface with the world around them that inspires me."

channel change... live love :)

"There's a certain amount of humility that is attached to wonder, and a certain amount of pride attached to knowledge and I think the moment you say 'we know beyond a shadow of a doubt this exists', you can't have faith that it exists. Faith is no longer possible. So faith is only possible when doubt is possible. Faith is only possible when humility and wonder is possible. .."

maybe worship is when God communicates His presence and awe to us, thats why our heart believes in worship but our head doesnt. our heads, ego and image cant comprehend a being greater than ourselves.

love,
kim

don't lose your flavour

2009-11-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

hey salties (:

i'd REALLY love to go for salt camp but i'll be in batam so i'll be missing the whole thing D:

Anyways, i know that you all esp the comm are SLOGGING right now for the camp. I remember working really hard for the camp 3/4 years ago (cant remember heh. too old) getting the planning and logistics ready and all. In the end however, very much of the camp turned out to be impromptu. Why? because what the campers NEED may not be what we've planned for. In retrospect, i think Jeann realised then that she's not just carrying out a plan during the camp. She really served the people attending the camp and their needs took first priority (:

So the point is, the plan is just a guideline but be flexible and sensitive to their needs as well (:

Your work for the Lord is not in vain darlings! The hard work put into the previous camps have brought you to SALT, helped you grow a lot a lot a lot a lot a lot x infinity spiritually and brought out the servant in you (:

I'm excited for this. Even if things doesn't seem very exciting during the camp, trust that God is going to make it exciting (: cause He has an awesome plan.

1Corinthians 15:58

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."

ADD OIL, ADD LOVE, ADD PASSION, ADD JOY. <33333

praying for you, fishie

-----

edit/

I've been learning a lot from QT. Dancia encouraged eve and I to do QT without materials like ODJ and all. So now, i try to read the chosen scripture in the ODJ first absorb whatever i learn from it then read the devotional last.

and wow, QT is really different. I was always so reliant on learning what other people has learnt from that passage, getting what they've learnt from it. It's not wrong but it's soooo much better when I meditate upon the passage myself and see what God is trying to teach me through it. There's a whole new level of engagement rather than just... reading. You know? okay, i dont even know if i make sense.

I remember telling Dancia i have a problem of not remembering the lessons i learn during QT but now i realise i can remember it better. I think it's because i spend more time thinking about it rather than just reading through. (: YAY!

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Jeann once told amy, kim and i after we watched grudge that we shouldnt watch horror movies. I never understood why until i really really pondered over this verse. It was stuck in my head and wax's for a period of time <3

2Timothy 1:7

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline."

Horror movies make me reaalllyyy scared, and even after the movie, i'll be scared of going to the toilet in case the ghost pops out behind me or something. That is soooo NOT fun. In fact, it's really gross cause i wont bathe the whole night and i'll look like i poured oil on my head. okay, too much info. hahahah anyways, i dont know how i thought about this, i just did.

There are 2 kinds of spirits, the good ones and the bad ones. the good ones are from God (aka the spirit of power, love and self-discipline) and the bad ones must be from satan (aka spirit of fear and timidity). When we watch horror movies, we instill the spirit of fear in us, the BAAAAD spirit.

Satan aims to lead us away from God. and that is scary. even the word scary is an understatement. it's a disaster, catastrophe. Just think about what kind of life you'll be living without God. What then would be your purpose here on earth? What then are you living for if you're just going to lose everything in the end??

We NEED God. Satan leads us away from God, so have nothing to do with him plskthx.

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Another thought on that verse:

Sometimes we dont realise that we actually already have what we always pray for.

Remember, the spirit of power, love and self-discipline is already in us (:

I like to bathe

2009-10-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

TT (:

I was having my midnight shower when the song Anyone Else but You by Mouldy Peaches came on (yes, i listen to music when i bathe sometimes. don't judge) and i started thinking about the movie. How the girl (i'm going to call her A because i forgot her name) decided to keep the baby and be a surrogate mother instead of aborting the child.

I was like wow. What a brilliant idea. Maybe if i want a child in the future i'll choose to adopt from a teen mum/ pregnant teen...you know what i mean. then HAHA my thoughts wandered even further to whether or not i'll ever tell my child he/she's adopted, how will i tell. (OKAY this is so embarrassing but i bet you'll think of stupid things too when you have nothing else to think about so don't laugh) and suddenly, this phrase came to me:

you just HAVE to thank God for planning all this.

and POOF. It hit me. Out goes Juno, in comes my results. =/(if you want to know, i didnt do fantastically well.) okay results were just the first issue that came into my mind but it applies to everything else too. like eeevveeerrryyyythhhiiinggggg.

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I"m becoming a little more aware of what's happening around me lately, where some people stand spiritually and all. and in my room, i dont know why, but there's a bible flipped open to 1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4

Instructions to Timothy

¹The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ²Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. ³They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

⁶If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ⁷Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. ⁸For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

⁹This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance ¹⁰(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

¹¹Command and teach these things. ¹²Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

¹⁵Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

I get this little feeling that everything is falling in and linking to evangelism. I dont really know what i can do. somehow miss MG where i have people i can relate to spiritually almost everywhere. I guess i have dear sophia <3

Ultimately, i guess i have to remember that :

1. I cannot to take God's work into my own hands because only He has the power to save. I'm only the one to delivers the message.

2. the power of prayer/ depend on God

3. Greater things have yet to come (:

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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New Living Translation)

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

2009-10-24T02:28:00.000-07:00

"Jesus can we talk tonight? Like when we first met?"

kimmie thinks Jesus is awesome and she should stop writing in 3rd person.. so here goes:

its saturday as i'm writing this, and i've gotta leave the house in about 30 mins. I was lying on my parents' bed about to take a short nap, when i suddenly felt like posting here. So here I am.

haha Hiiii, I've been thinking alot lately and God has been speaking to me alot lately. Sometimes, you realise you just need to slow down and listen, even admist school and pw and/or chinese, i close my eyes and i feel very close to God, thinking about how the most wonderful thing on earth has already happened to me, that God has chosen me and I have chosen Him. I feel very contented and other or many things just seem so small. power of proper perspective, according to my friend Mr. Oswald Chambers.

I've started incorporating worship into my own quiet time, i lock the door, sit on the floor with my laptop and sing-along to youtube video/itunes and just close my eyes. Just God and me. Its incredible. I've only actually done it twice so far, its amazing because I can be so real before Him and He knows everything, so i just let it all out before Him. haha i cry and if you know me, i never cry..... okay i do but not at stupid things like korean dramas(ahem seeyue and amy). I mean I cant even begin to tell you how awesome qt can be, if only we allow God to quiet His love over us, give our utmost for Him. Sometimes, i think the day has to start with qt it's like having breakfast before starting your day, or gearing up before you go to war. Because i have no idea how to love others and live love,without knowing that I am loved first.

I've also came to understand the fact that every of us is a worshipper at heart, and worship is the time when I feel closest to God because we're all made to worship. But God is so much more that during that time of our worship, we feel close because we are communing with God and we're made to commune with God. Worship, like Jesus on a donkey is just the carrier of someone far greater.

Learning to have my heart so fixed and focused on Jesus, I've come to realise that is sometimes the only thing we have to do when we're serving. It's only when we have hearts so God-focused, are we able to carry out His will no matter what we maybe facing. Doesnt the fact that doing God's work, mean we're supposed to be so focused and dependent on Him such that we always completely belong to the Victor, and that it's always His Victory, since if you read to the end of the book you'll understand that He has already won. And that's the power of the proper perspective, no other power will be able to waver your faith and trust.

I've been thinking alot about next year as well, with alot to do. And to be honest, I'm not scared. It's no longer as daunting as when i first came to understand my responsibilites. Maybe because i know that I dont need anything but Him. Or that fact that I'm not living up to any expectations but only living His will. Perhaps it is actually trust that God has so graciously exchanged for my fears and insecurities. But I really think it's hope. Hope in God, which comes from above, blocks out every fear and is always there. God says hope never fails and it's true.

He takes my hand, and my heart and my world. So this is how trust actually feels like. And I know that in this season of my life, God wants me single and serving. And I'm learning to believe that there's really a time for everything. Now's the time to refrain and in God's perfect timing, God will build and it will grow it into something beautiful. So friends and friends of friends, spend your youth and singleness thirsting and hungering for God, who is so real only if you allow Him to speak into your life. Delight in Him, and He will exchange the emo-ness we so often and commonly feel in the mundaneness of our everyday life with the joy that He has promised. That comes from above, that satisfies, and that is what counts fifty years from now.

"Take me, have your way, though I dont feel You, i will believe"

2009-10-20T03:50:00.000-07:00

I have so many thoughts running through my head. okay basically 2 issues.

1. prayer

2. nature

1. Recently, many things have been reminding me about prayer. started off with this amazing qt that struck me and then there was wax, planning retreat and kimmie. (: i shall share my QT

Acts 12:1-11

Peter's Miraculous Escape From Prison

¹It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ²He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. ³When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. ⁴After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

⁵So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

⁶The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.⁷Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

⁸Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. ⁹Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."

King Herod was persecuting and harassing Christians to boost his popularity. He arrested James and Peter. James was mercilessly executed, and believers could see that they couldn't simply expect God's protection for the apostles and themselves. It was an anxious and uncertain time for the church. You can imagine the believers' thoughts, Where is God in all of this? When will He intervene? (I think we can all identify with thoughts like these)

So they responded by praying(v5). Their current plight didnt diminish God or the fact that He was in control.

They trusted him.

Prayer is the most natural and normal response for a heart that is dependent on God. If you are truly counting on Him to do something, you will pray about it. If you are not counting on God, you will not call out to Him.

Oswald chambers said,"We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties."

Part of my QT devo. If you're using ODJ it's May 14th's (: go have a read.

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Thanks wax and kimmie for pointing me prayer for my issues and planning retreat really gave me an opportunity to submit. <3

Just a random thought. you know sometimes we want to run away from work and responsibility because we want more time to do things we like, we don't want to be stressed out. we just want to keep as much time as we can to ourselves to have fun. But by doing that, we're depriving ourselves of sooo much. being stressed, having lots of work gives us opportunities for us to put into practice what we've learnt. about trusting, dependency, purpose...i dont know. sooo maannyy thingsss. If we dont practice what we learn, we'll just end up having a brainful (i made up a new word(: ) of head knowlege. Head knowledge is nothing if it's not translated to the heart and the hands.

head. heart. hands

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2. I was walking home today and i saw people walking their dogs, logs from trees that were being chopped down and i just thought. Aren't dogs supposed to be free in the wild? Aren't trees supposed to be part of vast, beautiful, lush forests? What has it become??? You almost never see wild dogs anymore. They're all pets in chains and leashes ( sorry maomao.)!

I imagined how things were in the beginning and...it's beautiful, stunning, imperfectly perfect. Yes i know we need to cut down trees for housing, for education, a livelihood but i think we're taking it too far that we neglect what God has entrusted us with. We forgot to take care of the plants and animals God has granted us. but then again, many people can't be bothered with God so...i'm feeling kind helpless towards this. So much so much sooo much suffering, corruption and evil everywhere and i cant do anything. i guess we can only hope for a better place when Christ comes again. This world is way too corrupted.

Free will

2009-10-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

hello darlings, i think many people question why God gives us freewill even knowing that we might make the wrong choices. asked my dad today & here're some answers he gave me which i hope would answer some of your questions too! ((:

Defining Free Will

There are several points on which there is confusion about what is meant by free will. Some have said that it refers to the ability to desire. But a better definition is that it is the ability to decide between alternatives. Desire is a passion, an emotion; but will is a choice between two or more desires. Also, some think that to be free means that there can be no limitation of alternatives—one must be able to do whatever he wants. But the opposite of freedom is not fewer alternatives, it is being forced to choose one thing and not another. Freedom is not in unlimited options, but in unfettered choice between whatever options there are. As long as the choosing comes from the individual rather than an outside force, the decision is made freely. Free will means the ability to make an unforced decision between two or more alternatives.

Geisler, Norman L. ; Brooks, Ronald M.: When Skeptics Ask. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1990, S. 63

IF GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING,
AND HIS KNOWLEDGE CAN’T CHANGE,
THEN EVERYTHING IS PREDETERMINED AND
THERE IS NO FREE WILL

Knowing what men will do with their freedom is not the same as ordaining what they must do against their free choice. God’s knowledge is not necessarily incompatible with free will. There is no problem in saying that God created men with free will so that they could return His love, even though He knows that some will not make that decision. God is responsible for the fact of freedom, but men are responsible for the acts of freedom. In His knowledge, God might even persuade men to make certain decisions, but there is no reason to suppose that He coerces any decision so as to destroy freedom. He works persuasively, but not coercively.

Geisler, Norman L. ; Brooks, Ronald M.: When Skeptics Ask. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1990, S. 32

LOVE AND FREE WILL

It is true that God desires all men to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), but that means that they have to choose to love Him and believe in Him. Now, God can’t force anyone to love Him. Forced love is a contradiction in terms. Love must be free: it is a free choice. So in spite of God’s desire, some men do not choose to love Him (Matt. 23:37). All who go to hell do so because of their free choice. They may not want to go to hell (who would?), but they do will it. They make the decision to reject God, even though they don’t desire punishment. People don’t go to hell because God sends them; they choose it and God respects their freedom. “There are two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in hell, chose it.”³

³——, The Great Divorce (New York: Macmillan, 1946), p. 69.

Geisler, Norman L. ; Brooks, Ronald M.: When Skeptics Ask. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1990, S. 67

One more.

Objection Four—Based on the Notion That Omnibenevolence Leads to Universalism

If God loves all people and desires all of them to be saved, then why are not all people saved? He is omnipotent, and an all powerful Being can do whatever He wants to do, can’t He? Further, God is sovereign and in control of all things (see chapter 23): His will cannot be thwarted, and He also accomplishes whatever He sets out to do (Isa. 55:11). But if He can accomplish whatever He desires, and if He desires to save all, then doesn’t it follow that all will be saved (universalism) ?

Response to Objection Four

God’s ultimate will is always accomplished, but His immediate mil is not. God wills some things conditionally and some unconditionally. Salvation is one of those things that is willed on the condition of our free will (John 1:12; Matt. 23:37). God does not desire that anyone perish, but that all should repent (2 Peter 3:9). But not all will repent; hence, not all will be saved. Jesus lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing’ (Matt. 23:37, emphasis added).

God is all-powerful, but He cannot do anything: He cannot do what is contradictory, and He cannot go against His own nature. For example, “It is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18), and “He cannot disown Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13). Once again, God cannot force someone to freely love Him. So while God is all-powerful, He must exercise His power in accordance with His love, and His love cannot force someone to love Him.

Geisler, Norman L.: Systematic Theology, Volume Two: God, Creation. Minneapolis, MN : Bethany House Publishers, 2003, S. 380

God loves us THIS MUCH =D

Greater things

2009-10-08T02:25:00.000-07:00

LISTEN TO THIS SONG NOW.
thanks to wax, i've fallen so deeply in love with Chris Tomlin's Hello Love album. so gonna buy it plzzzz.

God of This City - Chris Tomlin

[Verse 1]
You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are

[Verse 2]
You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

[Chorus]
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

[Chorus]
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

This song totally...captivated me. SO MUCH HOPE. and you know even though there's so much going on right now like people turning away from God, denying God, injustice being done, innocent people suffering, starving children, violence, hatred, even despite all the rough times we are going through

GREATER THINGS HAVE YET TO COME
GREATER THINGS ARE STILL TO BE DONE IN THIS CITY

and that means so much more. my problems seem so small right now when you know that God can do things sooo much greater than this and HE WILL. i have this urge to cry yet i dont know what im crying for. must have TT later to think through that.

enough slacking! MATH. oh btw, i had a bio paper today. i left 20 marks worth of questions blank. Given the state that i was in last night (thanks jx, amanda, jo and fungi for bearing with me), i should be cutting my wrists right about now or have hung myself or something. aahahah kidding. but i should be in a really depressed state. Hence anticipating this, i had some midnight TT and got some stuff sorted out.

you know sometimes we work hard because we really want to get good results and it's like you're working and working but you never seem to be there. And i thought, hey that's right. good results. this is something I WANT. and halfway bathing (hee. too much info?), i just said a prayer to God that i'll surrender all my wants and desires for His will to be done because i think ultimately it is and will turn out to be waayyyy better than my own desires (greater things!! whoaaa see the link???) . God knows me better than i know myself and maybe if my results turn out good i'll start to get complacent? i dont know.

but He knows me, so i trust Him.

2009-10-03T22:24:00.000-07:00

Today at church, uncle charlie shared this with us to reflect Psalm 19:1-2.

Psalm 19:1-2

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

LAKE TEKAPO NEW ZEALAND

AHHHHH DONT YOU JUST WANT TO DIE THERE NOWWWWW??!!!! SO PRETTY GRLKENGIORENREIORGM. ahahah kidding dont die.

According to uncle charlie, the people there are not allowed to switch on their lights at night. i mean like they can but must like...cover. as in draw curtains etc. It's hard to imagine how cars drive about... but yeah. but no wonder its soooo pretty there. Those AWESOME sceneries there can only be seen on a clear dark night. You definitely cannot see those in Singapore because it's so bright and cloudy here that you can hardly see any stars.

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edit/

OH. i went to look up. let me just add some quotes here. and... just take it as reliable (:

"Half the people of the world at present do not see the stars because of night light pollution."

"All Tekapo streets lights are Sodium and shielded from above to reduce the glow and all household lights must face down --- not up. " (no wonderrrrrrr)

"The reserve would give recognition and protection for the region’s dark unpolluted skies, unlike big cities which are lit up like beacons."

okay fine only 3 quotes and all from the same site.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0901/S00191.htm

I HEART NEW ZEALAND <3!

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That is why sometimes when we read verses like this, we dont... really understand it. we probably only get like 5% of it. i mean God's creation is SOOO BEAUUUUTTIIFULLLLL but why is it so hard for us to understand and fully experience the meaning of this verse? It's because of the work of man. Like we chop down the trees. reclaim land, pollute the air and waters with our waste. The things we do destroy or mask God's amazing creations. He designed those sceneries so that we may enjoy them but because of our wants and own desires we deprive ourselves of them and limit ourselves in being able to experience the FULL BEAUTY of God's creation.

A random thought i had in church today which was quite saddening. promos start tmr! it's gp on monday and i havent started revising. definitely not my best ):

TT

2009-09-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

hi guys, i have more toilet thoughts to share. (:

I kinda got told off by my mum a while ago because i forgot to feed maomao (my darling puppy doggie). and i was (surprisingly) really affected by it. so i went to my toilet hideout. and just...ask God why im being like that. like... so annoyingly sensitive. and my thoughts just started to wander.

1. Studies

You know how sometimes we really study so hard and do the best we can but our results still turn out so disappointing? I gained a new perspective on this today. We all know what God requires of us -- OUR best. I think this is something you've heard millions and millions of times. Do your best and God will do the rest. Im not saying it's wrong, it makes millions of sense but sometimes we think 'if i do my best, God will give me good results', and you expect that of God (I think you probably know what im getting at already.) but in the toilet today, this phrase just...came into my head "Do your best, and God will reward you accordingly". KEYWORD: ACCORDINGLY. Don't limit God in the ways he can reward you, and dont expect God's reward to be something YOU want.

1 Corinthians 6:17 "¹⁷ But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him."

When we are ONE SPIRIT with God, what He wants for us is what we want for ourselves. What God wants for you may not be good results. That's what you want for yourself. God's giving us a choice. Are our lives about God or ourselves? What is REALLY considered a reward to you?

Okay, my point here is, God can reward us in so many aspects and all He's asking for is us to give our best in all we do. So dont get upset if you dont get the grades you wanted.

Studying may get tiring and burdensome and we totally lose the motivation. But for me, i try to remember how the God was committed to His work when he made the earth. You dont see God taking breaks in between to slack or facebook or anything in the 6 days He created the earth. It's tiring but the joy of the Lord is our strength guys! JOY JOY JOY.

Nehemiah 8:10 "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Colossians 3:23 (New International Version)

²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

LETS DO IT GUYS.

2. Criticisms

My mum said that i was irresponsible today, or at least implied. and i got really upset for a while and my thoughts became more and more focused on my flaws. You know sometimes when we get criticised by classmates, teachers etc. our self-esteem gets really low and we start feeling so sucky about ourselves. STOP STOP STOP. God loves us and He reprimands in LOVE. Criticisms are not meant to bring you down. Sometimes God put people around us to teach us, to build us up, like our parents. They teach us. Don't take something God has intended for good and make into an opportunity for Satan to attack us and pull us away from experiencing God's love.

Genesis1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

You know im really glad i have maomao, although he got me into quite a bit of trouble today but with my maomao i find it so much easier to relate to God. For instance, today while i was napping, I let my dog roam around the house (he usually stays in the kitchen when no one's there to keep an eye on him cause he pees). And then my mum came home which woke me up AND she spotted a puddle of pee near the door while i was in dreamland=/ DIE. so I got told off for not putting maomao back in the kitchen. Okay, yesyes i was kinda irresponsible, but that's not the point. the point is, i was really disappointed in/ felt angry at maomao. I gave him the freedom to go wherever he wants but he just had to pee on furniture and not in his toilet. and i could relate to how God felt when He gave us the freedom to do whatever we want but we choose to disobey Him. and and how adam and eve ate from the forbidden tree? yeah. it really sucks. maomao did it to me....a few times and i did it to God 3850978080328420918 times. so it's must have sucked for God 56850978043838052 times more than it sucked for me.

that was just a random thought. but yeah (:

i need to pee. bye guyssssss

<3fishie

*i HAD to make "DON'T LIMIT GOD" so huge because it's really something we can apply to every aspect of our lives. Remember those three words.

2009-09-13T00:14:00.000-07:00

I just had another toilet thought. was deciding whether to send it as an email or blog it cause i know not many people will read this as i would want to.

but anyways, i realised that the number of people coming to church has been dwindling. not just the usual church gang but in general and honestly, it's quite sad. whether it's because they're losing faith or because they simply think church is unnecessary. and all ive been doing is just to make selfish prayers for them, for them to experience God and for God to be their guide. and sometimes, be obliged to pray that God will open up opportunities for me to reach out to these people and give me the MUCH NEEEDED courage. but deep inside my heart... i dont really wanna do it. Yet, I dont want my brothers and sisters in Christ fall away and just stand around watching, expecting God to do all the work and go pick them up again when God and i are supposed to be partners working together for His kingdom, yet i dont know what to do. i think i really have to be sincere about it and pray for God guidance not just for them but for myself to and be sensitive to His voice.

When You call I won't refuse

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Andrea (Chan) said something duing NG that really left an impact on me. she said "They (her best friend and her family) THINK they're christian but they're not!" Although in Romans1:16 it says "because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes", just because you believe God is real and exists doesnt make you Christian. It's what you do with that belief. It's when you believe and accept Him as YOUR God and YOUR own PERSONAL saviour. dont just stop there. think deeper! So what if He is your God now? so what if He's your own personal saviour now? You submit and commit your life to Him, everything. To respond to His love, because that's what He wants us to do first and foremost.

Matthew 22:37-28 "Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment."

Being Christian is more than just a religious label. When you say 'I'm Christian', people judge Christianity and the Christian body based on your words and action. When we are Christians we are ambassadors of Christ. It may seem burdensome to be a Christian, but when you truly love God, being the best you can for Him, living the life He wants you to live, being set apart for Him becomes your desire and not a burden.

Andrea took eight years to get her best friend and her family to truly become Christians. I would have given up long ago if i were her but she persevered and they truly have a relationship with God now (: Im not gonna give up.

I hope.

To sum it all up, being Christian means having a relationship with God anything less than that is almost meaningless. I must admit i've neglected my relationship with God many times but His arms are always open (: <3

His love so deep, and His mercy so great.

whatcha waiting for! (okay, i cant pull this off =/ )

celebrate life

2009-08-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

IT'S MY BIRTHDAYYY

my real birthday celebration hasnt even started and i already feel so loved and appreciated by my friends

-aug+sept celebration by the class

-brown bag pack

-grey jacket

-bottles+sweets

-pouch

-more sweets

im loving it already. But at the back of my head something that Dancia said keeps repeating itself.

celebrate life.

she said that during one of the mentoring sessions nearing her birthday. she said that just a week or two before her birthday she knew someone who died young ( i cant rmb how old) and this gave her a new perspective towards birthdays.

Birthday is not a day where a bunch of people get together and shower you with lots of love. It's celebrating that i made it through another year and still have another to come. Life is so precious, you have this amount of time given to you here on earth and honestly, you really dont know when your time will be up. and for every year i have, i am grateful because it gives me another year for me to really do something for my God.

I forget this sometimes because sometimes i find myself indulging in things that doesnt even count for anything in life but temporal satisfaction. i wanna cut down on that. no matter how people around me may feel because it's my God who matters more. This. is my birthday resolution (:

2009-08-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

Yours Alone

Verse:

If I say I’ll live for You
For the glory of my King
If I say I’ll count the cost
And offer You my everything
If I pray with all my heart
My way to be Your way
 And I just want to live
The very words I say
 My God I Pray

Chorus:
 Not my will but Yours alone
let my life be not my own
Till everything I am is just for You

Bridge:

So far beyond the songs I sing
I’m gonna honor You as King
 If You live in me I can live for You

Love this song (((:

FISH

2009-08-28T21:27:00.000-07:00

I was watching finding nemo and something just struck me.

nemo and dory got eaten by a whale on accident (they happened to be amongst some shrimps. HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. okay not funny) and they got stuck in its mouth. Suddenly, the water in its mouth started to drain down his throat and his tongue flipped backwards so they were like AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH and clung onto its tongue. then the whale made some funny noise and dory was like "okay!" and let go. Nemo grabbed dory's fin immediately and their conversation went like this:

nemo: NOOOOOOOOOOOO, DORY DONT!
dory: He said it's time to let go! Everything's gonna be alright!
nemo: How do you know! How do you know something bad's not gonna happen!
dory: (pause) I dont!
nemo: (pause) *closes eyes tightly and let go.*

i really really from the rock bottom of my heart admire dory. How she could just TRUST. like that. no further questions asked and just let go. To nemo, he was afraid that the whale told them to let go because it wanted to eat them but to dory, she just trusted the whale(i really think she can speak whale). And this led me to think. If God was like the whale here, wish i would be able to let go like dory did. i realise that i often take things into my own hands and worry that i wont be able to do it-- things like tests/exams/serving/making time for God or even trying to resolve conflicts. Even though God promised that i'll be safe in Jer 39:18,

Jeremiah 39:18 (New International Version)
18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the LORD.' " sometimes i choose not to count on it in case i get disappointed or i just simply lack the faith that God will deliver me. But think:

Trust.

that's all God requires of us. why is it so hard? Why do we not believe that He can deliver us and bring us through anything when He has proven himself and time and time and time and time and time AND TIMEEEE again in the bible. Our God is bigger and has control than anything and everything. so we can totally trust Him with everything. (:

it's all about YOU

2009-08-25T04:55:00.000-07:00

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus I
'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus

This song really reminded me of what it means when we say 'worship is a lifestyle'.

It means our whole life, everything we do, is about Jesus. loveeeee!

2009-08-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

What we call "being in love" is a glorious state, and, in several ways, good for us. It helps to make us generous and courageous, it opens our eyes not only to the beauty of the beloved but to all beauty, and it subordinates (especially at first) our merely animal sexuality; in that sense, love is the great conqueror of lust. No one in his senses would deny that being in love is far better than either common sensuality or cold self-centredness.

But, as I said before, "the most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of our own nature and set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs." Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. There are many things below it, but there are also things above it. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a noble feeling, but it is still a feeling. Now no feeling can be relied on to last in its full intensity, or even to last at all. Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last; but feelings come and go. And in fact, whatever people say, the state called "being in love" usually does not last. If the old fairytale ending "They lived happily ever after" is taken to mean "They felt for the next fifty years exactly as they felt the day before they were married," then it says what probably never was nor ever could be true, and would be highly undesirable if it were. Who could bear to live in that excitement for even five years? What would become of your work, your appetite, your sleep, your friendships?

But, of course, ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense - love as distinct from "being in love" is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriages) the grace which both parents ask, and receive, from God. They can have this love for each other even at those moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even when you do not like yourself. They can retain this love even when each would easily, if they allowed themselves, be "in love" with someone else. "Being in love" first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.

- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Doesnt this dude just make so much sense???? sense. ***

Kimmm found out she's suffering from chronic unbelief. pray with me? :) i know you will. ***

*** am i being ego or do i just like to answer my own questions (i.e. zi wen zi da)

2009-08-14T21:53:00.000-07:00

just for seeyue cuz seeyue's awesome and cool for always sharing cool stuff with everyone

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

"Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment.

"Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella Is God good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student : "From...God..."

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues: "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student: "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

"Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believ e in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice is confident: "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing.. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him"

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet.. The student begins to explain.

"You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light,

flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. " So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do"

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God.. It is just

like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.

God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

2009-08-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

dear my fav 2,

today i had a bad bad bad day:( i got scolded x3.
first, during history lecture mr ngeoi scolded everyone for not putting in effort for terms. not doing enough. i actually did put in effort for terms, but not my 100% so i deserved that scolding. he made alot of sense. what have i been doing??? i do my tutorials, read my notes, study for all my tests but his lecture just made me feel like i havent done enough. i was quite freaked out cuz he was so fierce, he exploded:( so i was quite shaken alr
second, mr kor saw lynn scolded me cuz he said i was being rude to him when i acidentally snatched my mc from him. i got such a shock i started crying in front of him and he exploded too.. i must have embarrased him because evee and jomama were there too. he kept asking me "why were you so rude! why are you crying! why! why! why! i dont understand why! WHYYY!" and i just cried even more like it just came out, i couldnt control it:( plus he's so fierce. like i cant say "cuz im scared of you:(". so he was really upset with me and i just couldnt stop crying i didnt know what to do:( i feel like crying even noww
third, history tutorial with mr tay & i didnt bring my essay:( i really did it i spent a long time my day just couldnt get any worser. he didnt scold me but my class really dissapointed him so he scolded everyone
i feel so emo nemo. i was so upset i think theres something really wrong with me even tho i think i didnt do anything wrong intially im not so sure now

But you know what....?
1 impt lesson i have always rmbed was that when i feel emo, dont fight emotions with emotions. fight emotions with the truth. because truth>emotions.
emotions sometime make you feel like you dont love God and that you just want to wallow in your emoness or like listen to a sad song but i happened to read ecclesiastes

ecc 7:14 "when times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as th other"

that is the truth. and altho i may feel like circumstances make me feel like i dont love God, i do.

i started crying to God, like telling him how hard it was for me. and i really believe like how it says when you dont know how to pray, the spirit intercedes for you. and i told God how i really loved him, admist all. i really do.

ecc 3:14 " I know that everything God does will endure forever' nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it"

i went for prayer meeting in that unstable state of mind. and i was really upset because i havent been right with God whole week. I thank God for sining(classmate), i texted her and she said God doesnt shortchange His people, and that i'll always have access to His wisdom. And you know i really thank God for sining, cuz she's someone i can share my faith so comfortably with. We think quite alike and i know that God really placed me and her in my life because we have gone through so many of the same experiences/ struggles in faith and she actually understands. God has such an awesome plan, i'm really very excited for the next year and the many many years to come where we can grow together. i really really love her. so i believe God really provides:)

Sorry if i was ranting

2009-08-05T05:53:00.001-07:00

I love watching videos on youtube. Some just brings to me the reality of life and how people NEED God. it makes me want to shout out to people in trying situations "God's hand is right there! take it!"

This week has been pretty weird for me. Having confusions and decisions to make. i hope i can meet up with my 2 darlings this week.

This week, i was reminded of something i have long forgotten. That God should always be my FIRST LOVE.

FIRST LOVE...
means that no one matters more to me than Him.
means that i need nothing else but Him
means that i can rest confortably in Him.
means that i desire and willingly serve Him.
means that i trust Him.

080809 edit/

first love also means that i sacrifice for Him. because you know you TRULY DEFINITELY SURELY CONFIRM+GUARANTEE love a person when you sacrifice for Him.

my 2 darlings. i think i have an answer.

2009-08-05T05:31:00.000-07:00

I Am Your Child

The living, the living- they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness.
-Isaiah 38:19

Lord, I live today as Your child. I plan to focus on this identity. Undoubtly I will be asking for guidance, messing things up, getting Your plans dirty, and constantly asking, "Why? Why?" But You are used to the floundering of Your children. You are a patient parent. The lessons You have taught me in Your Word and through Your active love are helping me grow. I can see the person you want me to become.

Like a child, I will run in a lot of different directions before asking the way. And by then, I will probably need to be carried. It is very exhausting being a child. But now, as You lift me up and comfort me with your promises of love and grace, I settle down. To be wrapped in Your faithfulness is all I needed..... I just did'nt know how to get there. When I am done resting, will You tell me a story? I love the one about the day I became your child.

kimmie posting x1

2009-08-02T03:39:00.000-07:00

kimmie posting here.

Psm 145:13 "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made"

I spent time praying for comm while waiting to fall asleep last night. It was very heavy upon my heart to pray for protection for each of them. Their names went through my mind and I started interceding for them. Recently I have been feeling that there is alot of spiritual warfare going on(as much as I hate to admit it). Its very unsettling. And I tend to commit the sin of worrying:( So many many many things have made me realise the reality of the battle that isnt against flesh. If you ask me personally, i'll tell you what are the things. And so i got up to find out more about spiritual attacks and spiritual warfare. Its hard to be strong and courageous when your fear is clobbering your faith. Seeyue asked me fear of what. Fear of the unknown. Its not that i dont believe God can handle all these things, its just that I lose focus. But God never fails to reassure me. I studied Isaiah 5:1-7 yesterday and I felt like I'm just the keeper of God's vineyard. Isaiah 5:4(Jesus speaking) 'What more could have been done for my vineyard than i have done for it?'. God reminded me that sets everything for good but if we/i am not spirit-led or have that sensitivity to His voice admist everything that drowns it out, we produce bad fruit.

I delight in God because He gives me 2 verses my heart really needed..

Isaiah 54:17 " No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the herritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from me," says the Lord

2 Chro 16:9 " 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"

Admist all these, I have never felt I loved God more. I have never desired to bless His heart as much as I do now. I have never enjoyed His sweet presence as I have during this period..

But i was reminded once again how real this battle was once again, with shalyn jiap eve all not being able to go for cf installaton. It just came, so unexpected. It was climaxing this morning. My heart really couldnt take it. Plus I havent been feeling very well this weekend. On the way to fmc, my dad even lost his temper on the road and i just couldnt take it anymore.. I wanted to cry. I know i'm not strong at all:'( so i messaged my fav 2. But they dont really know what im going through because i havent got time to tell them. I hope you both see this:(
But guess what God still revealed to me 1 more thing during cf installation today. And that He is good. He is good. He is good. He is good. He is good. He is wonderfully good. wtv shit this world brings, He is just good. I tell you. He is so good. I just felt that so immensely today during worship. And I just praised Him in this trial and storm whatever you call it. I cant attempt to tell you how it feels like when God meets you during worship and you as much as life doesnt allow you to believe that God is in control, as the words of God and the promises of his word come forth, you cant help but believe and come in line with His eternal perspective. i <3 God.
and so kimmie's all time favourite
psm 37:4 "delight yourself in the Lord and He will grant you the desire of your heart"

I live by this psalm, because i dont know any other way to live in this world.

P.S. this will only be here for a limited time, because i dont like my thoughts not hidden away. its like part of me is ripped out and placed here for everyone and anyone.

2009-07-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

no regrets going for cf today. during worship, i had time to pray to God and i prayed abt commiting my future to Him and prayed that He could reveal his calling to me soon so i'd know which direction im heading for and stuff.

background info: ive actually wanted to be a vet since abt 2 years back? or was it one and a half. but yeah around there. just that i wasnt sure if that's what God wanted for me. cause it's like my own passion. So ive been praying that God will reveal to me what His calling is for me soon cause like uni's coming up and all.

so back to the story. and after that was sermon and Mr Wee (i dunno how old he is but he looks quite old. HAHA. no offense) was sharing abt how he working in nokia for TWELVE years and one day on an airplane travelling for work purposes, he felt God impress upon his heart "my son, my son, you're always going around travelling. Where do i come into the picture?" (smth along those lines) and then he knew that God wanted him to serve God full-time and so he did. He quit his ever-so-steady job and went to study at Trinity Theological College and is in his final year. how cool is he plzzzz.

but what's cooler is what i got from it. Some people wait till their old, or rather middle-age, when their job's so steady to find out what God's calling is for them. and i realised that all along ive been trying to fit God's plan into my own schedule and forgot all about HIS TIMING.

so this has taught me to be patient abt finding out what my calling is. i believe God will reveal it to me in HIS time even if it means 30 years later. (:

It's also so amazing how God answers prayer just like that sometimes. when you hear God, and when you know that this is what God is telling you, it's just....satisfying. i dont know how to explain it but i <3 being in touch with God and i dont want to (and hope i wont) trade it for anything(:

pride

2009-07-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

One impt lesson i've learnt today -- sometimes we may not realise it but our pride is really getting in the way of MANY things. just take some time to think about it. If you really humble yourself and put your pride away, how different would things be? How differently would you handle things?

I know it would make a lot of things better and clearer for me. Lets try and remember this through the week.

James 4:10 (New International Version)
10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

i quote this monday again: "I'm just gonna hope for a better week and my commitment will at least last through the week." It's thursday and it's been a happy week. give thanksss.

2009-07-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

THIS CLIP IS MADE OF LOVE X (INFINITY)^INFINITY.
POWERFUL SONG, IMPACTFUL VIDEO
** please prepare a box of tissue before watching the video

How can i stand here with You and not be moved by You?

As you watch this video,
notice how God is in the gentle whisper calling out, crying for us when we do things to hurt ourselves and break His heart.

How satan manipulate us by tempting us with worldly pleasures and in the end we're the ones holding a gun to our own heads, killing ourselves with sin. That's what satan does,

but when we finally realise that God's always been there calling you back to Him with open arms, and we try to run back to Him.

It's DEFINITELY not an easy journey but God is always helping us as long as we keep seeking Him, He has overcome the world.

When we go to Him and repent, God cleanses us of our sins, making us right with Him again(the girl's dressed in black and 'God' places his white coat over her. SO COOL RIGHT? right.)

and we're back in God's loving embrace. Bliss. i love this video ttm! It really summarizes what God's love is all about.

Everything - Lifehouse

Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel You
I need to hear You

You are the light
That's leading me
To The Place
Where I find peace again

You are the strength
That keeps me walking
You are the hope
That keeps me trusting

You are the life
To my soul
You are my purpose
You are everything

And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this

You calm the storms
You give me rest
You hold me in Your hands
You won't let me fall

You still my heart
And You take my breath away
Would You take me in
Would You take me deeper now

And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this
And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this

'cause You're all I want
You are all I need
You are Everything
Everything
You are all I want
You are all I need
You are Everything
Everything

And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this

Would You tell me how could it be any better than this

FPF

2009-07-28T05:40:00.000-07:00

today's qt was completely refreshing (: it's kinda long but read it! all of it!

Colossians 1:1-14 (New Living Translation)

Greetings from Paul
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
2 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.
May God our Father give you grace and peace.

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. 8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

This passage really really really encouraged me to keep going further and deeper in my faith. The verses in bold really left an impression on me today. knowing that God's word changes lives, changes the world v6(it's soooo p-o-w-e-r-f-u-l), knowing that God rescued me, the most undeserving one,from the pits of darkness to the heavens v13(<3 love at its best!), really draws me to Him. and v11 really encourages me to seek God as i draw strength from Him and trust Him when i always give thanks to Him in all circumstances.

i wanna read it again tmr, maybe i'll gain some new insight from it. and it'll remind me of my focus every day and keep me in awe of God who impacts the world. FAVOURITE PASSAGE FOREVER (FPF)! LOVELOVELOVE

the whole chunk below is from http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2009-07-27 It addresses problems we find ourselves facing quite often. We may chuck it aside thinking that it's nothing that serious but anything that pulls you away from God IS SERIOUS. so read k? (can read the chunk below or open the link) and hopefully it'll convict you some way or another, IN GOD'S TIME (:

Does the fear of God or the fear of man rule your life?
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe (Proverbs 29:25).

A person who is ruled by the fear of man is one whose decisions are dictated by what other people think. Such a person is a people-pleaser. One ruled by the fear of man will repeatedly base decisions on questions like "How does this make me look?", "Do you think they'll like it?", or "What if they don't approve?". It is certainly not wrong to ask for input from other people (indeed, it's wise to seek feedback from others); however, it is wrong—not just wrong, but foolish—for your decisions to be guided more by feedback from others than by feedback from God.

To fear God means to take him at his word, knowing that he will follow through on all his promises. A person who fears the Lord is one whose decisions are guided by God.
There are more than a dozen verses in the Bible that make very clear the advantage of being one whose life is guided by the fear of the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord (Psalm 112:1). Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life (Proverbs 22:4). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life (Proverbs 14:26-27).

It's no wonder Proverbs 31:30 gives us this nugget of wisdom: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
If you want the fear of God to guide your life, then base your actions on questions like "What does God think about this?", "Would God approve of this?", or "Would I do this if Jesus were right here watching me?".

If you want your life to be blessed, let it be ruled by the fear of God.
If you're too busy to spend time with God, then you're simply too busy.
In the world we live in today, it is very easy to get so incredibly caught up in all of the demands that culture places on us that we don't have any time to spend with God.

However, the fact that so many things compete for every person's time isn't new to the world. Indeed, in Luke 10:38-42, we see the story of how two people responded to this same problem in two very different ways: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. ...

We see that after Jesus entered the home, He evidently started teaching, and Mary, Martha's sister, stopped what she was doing and listened to Jesus. It's important to realize that Mary didn't know Jesus was coming, and so it certainly wasn't her plan to stop what she was doing and sit at His feet, listening to Him. However, Mary considered hearing from God so important that she altered her schedule to spend time with God.

... But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Here, we see that Martha responded very differently than her sister: she became really busy and caught up in what she was doing -- probably preparing a meal, cleaning the house, or something similar.

When Martha complained to Jesus about how Mary was using her time, Jesus responded: "Martha, Martha, ... you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
One sister was willing to drop everything in order to hear from God; the other was too busy with everyday life in order to spend time with God. Jesus makes it clear that the way Mary chose to use her time was better.

In your life, you need to be willing to use your time like Mary did. Don't let little things steal your time away from what's really important in life. You must realize that there is no lasting value to the "urgent" things many people often allow to interfere with what's truly important. It would not have mattered if Martha hadn't cleaned the house that day.

You need to be willing to let your schedule be altered if knowing God better requires it. Don't be like Martha and get so caught up in life's distractions that you miss Jesus.

once again.

2009-07-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

i quote last monday "i hope this hunger for God wont just be a monday thing but an everyday thing. " didnt happen. died off on friday. i hate being dependent on people

I'm just gonna hope for a better week and my commitment will at least last through the week.
For various reasons, my weekend was horrible. had a couple of disappointments, confusion and fear. and although i knew that i should turn to God, i didnt. i had the mindset that God couldnt help me and even if i prayed about it, things would still be the same. i talked to Jo about it on sunday and she urged me to pray about it. i am thankful that she did. (:

i feel more at peace now and found my identity in Christ. it still feels quite head knowledge-y but i hope i'll really believe it with all my heart as i meditate more on it and spend more time with God.

Psalm 146:3-5 (New Living Translation)
3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. 4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. 5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Somehow, people will always fail you and not meet up to your expectations one way or another but God will never fail you. He never sleeps, He never slumbers.

This blog feels almost like my own.

2009-07-23T01:23:00.000-07:00

listening compre was horrible. i didnt expect to be so uncertain of my answers. i was really down at first but on my way home i remembered one of my QTs to always be joyful and give thanks no matter what. instead of being upset about how badly im gonna do, i took this opportunity to really put in trust in God. My God provides and loves me a lot a lot a lot a lot so He wouldnt bring harm upon me and right now, i really feel at peace and hopeful towards what God's gonna do in my life (:

God is good, all the time and
all the time, God is good. <3>The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

This verse really gave meaning and purpose in serving and was really useful in preparing myself for worship this sun.. It brought the focus back from how well im playing to simply the act of worshipping and submitting. Submitting my whole self to God that he may use me the way He wants to. To be brutally honest, every month when im up on that stage i'll always be thinking what others may think of me at the back of my mind and this pulls me away from worshipping Him. But the Lord looks at the heart and not how well i play. even if i played like every piece of crap in the world, God will still be pleased if i have truly worshipped Him and served Him with my humble heart.

This applies to everything else as well, if something you've intended to do for God's glory didnt go well, remember that the Lord doesnt care about how successful it was. All that matters to Him are your motives. (:

Aim this week: submit and worship

2009-07-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

2 Corinthians 12:10 (New Living Translation)
"That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. "
This verse makes sooo much sense.
When i first read it and reflected upon it, i was like afghebc -->abcdefg (ahaha! okay not funny) but it really felt like i learnt something new or just got reminded of something ive long forgotten.

It's really through our weakness, taking insults, going through hardships and persecutions, bascially HUMILITY, will we then seek God, turn to God, draw strength from Him and trust Him. and because we have God, we are strong! With God nothing is impossible and we can do all things in Christ who strenthens us (: are you overflowing with sense just as i am?

Humility. I hope this head knowledge goes to the heart and then to the hands.

2009-07-21T07:23:00.000-07:00

i <3 today's devo. really really addressed the innermost desires of my heart and (: i learnt something new

1 Kings 19:1-15 (New Living Translation)

Elijah Flees to Sinai

1 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai,[a] the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.
The Lord Speaks to Elijah But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.

(okay that seemed a bit hard to read but anywaysss) Many times, like Elijah, we feel so discouraged after we put in so much effort in serving God and everything just fails that we just wanna give up (v10,14) . Things weren't going his way and his pride caused him to think that he shouldnt have to endure this. But God took care of him (fed him v8, sheltered him v9,taught himv11-13) then sent him back to finish the work. God's gentle whisper shows that sometimes God works in amaazing ways and sometimes in quiet ways. It's like a relationship sometimes your friends can show how much they love in the most expressive way like buying you wanted all your life or something but other times they can show their love even in the little things they do. Lets say...buying you a meal, or offering their comfort when you're down.

I cant remember since when but i've been secretly waiting for God to come through to be in a really... big BOOM BOOM BANG way. okay poor expression but you get what i mean right? like...shout to me and really stir up my heart and my emotions (i know i dont make much sense but i hope you get it). but today's devo really made me understood what a real relationship with God is. Everyday cant be a BOOM BOOM BANG day, that would make it lose its impact but God's still working in us every day. lets acknowledge that.

If you're at home reading this now, he has kept you safe today and maybe H1N1 free. (: he provided you with food and water and a big comfy bed. your whole perspective changes when you acknowledge God's provision even in simple things like that right? it's like we didnt even do anything to get all these, worse still, we break God's heart and He keeps blessing us with these. you just HAVE to love God. He's so awesome

i want to be closer to You

2009-07-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

So much for posting every day. The hunger and passion died out within a few days. disappointing. but i feel refueled again today.

before qt today, i felt really inadequate. like God loved those who were spiritually stronger more than he loves me. that's really warped but i believed it. See things the devil does to lead us away from God? that's why it's sooooo impt to stay rooted in Him. He can just pull us away without us even noticing. it's scary. i cant imagine my life without God really. i'll just fall and crumble in my own problems and insecurities.

As i thought more about it (by writing as i usually do), there's nothing i can do or could have done to make God love me more or less. I'll always be His precious and it's my heart He's looking at. If i have a desire and hunger for Him, He's pleased. and this love that He has shown me just makes me wanna do more things to make Him happy(:

QT felt really dry at first so i thought i really need something to light the spark. so i took dancia's advice and read my past written prayers (journal) and i really did work. on 24/2/09 i wrote "...you suffered excruciating pain, hardships and emotional stress...and Lord im sorry for the way i show my gratitude. it's really disappointing"

it really made me reflect on how ive been showing my gratitude for Jesus's salvation. ive been procrastinating, doing whatver i liked and totally neglecting God and guess what Jesus died so that i can be reconciled with God! I can just hear Jesus's heart breaking into pieces already.

i hope this hunger for God wont just be a monday thing but an everyday thing.
I open my heart
I want to be closer
closer to You

money money money $$

2009-07-15T06:06:00.000-07:00

Today's devo was on how we shouldnt take credit for whatever we possess cause without God, we wouldnt even have it. Get what i mean? like if we earn some cash by working and stuff, we shouldnt forget that it was God who gave us the ability to earn it. He's the mastermind behind EVERYTHING.

Luke 12:15 (New Living Translation)
15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (New Living Translation)
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

God doesnt want us to spend/keep all our wealth and possesions on/to ourselves, He wants us to use them to meet the needs of others. ALL FOR GOD'S KINGDOM (:

Matthew25:40 (New Living Translation)
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

love love love love loveee

2009-07-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

Today, a thought just hit me while i was in the toilet. I realised that i havent been the least bit obedient to God. I mean yes, i do have a desire to know him more and have a deeper relationship with Him but all that ive learnt during my daily devotions just slip out of my mind the next day, tucked away somewhere in my brain, or even disappear completely and in goes something new. it seems almost like im in a different world when i do my qt and when im doing my usual work and all. but NO, that's not supposed to be the case. I really hope i can do something abt it.

thinking more abt it, i think its really abt stepping out of my own comfort zone and a test of whether im willing to go an extra mile for God. It's hard. very. But how's your faith going to grow if it's not being tested. See how God works here? awesome isnt it. GOD SPEAKS.

1 John 3:18-24 (New Living Translation)

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

Belief and love flourish together, because when we believe in Jesus, we have the power and the motivation to love like He does. "One another" even includes those that are hard to love. God loves us even though we're not always easy to love, so we should love those who arent easy to love either. Lets love because we believe in Jesus(:

fishy

Heal the World

2009-07-13T04:13:00.000-07:00

Matthew 25:31-46 (New International Version)

The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

When we have an intimate relationship with God, selfless deeds will pour out from us to the needy and God will work through us as we actively seek what He wants us to do. Doing good deeds dont secure a relationship we have with God but it's a result of having a relationship with Him.

God has saved us, all of us. He lifted us up from the miry clay, from sinking sand and set our feet on solid ground. Our way of thanking Him is pour out His love to the broken people around us and just have compassion and love for His people.

fishy

Restored - i could sing praises to You all day long

2009-07-12T04:49:00.001-07:00

It has really been a while since ive posted and I admit my relationship with God during that period wasnt really at it's best.
very inconsistent QT and hardly even thinking abt God each day. and this really affected the way i handled things. everything became so... self-centred and self-motivated.

Whenever i saw people posting long paragraphs about God on their blogs and stuff i would judge them and feel very uncomfortable. i would think "why're they 'showing off' the strength of their faith?"
but was it really that? or was i just jealous of the relationship they have with God? Looking back, i think it was the latter.

People who read these posts, they started to have a renewed passion and hunger for God. I mean this is so so SO awesome beyond awesome and how God use them is just sooo beautiful. How could i even be jealous? Before i knew it, i caught the bug as well. i began to hunger to God, for the relationship we once had. When we were close, when i depended on Him and rested in His embrace.

Then it came to me that i shouldnt limit God's power and the way He works to only what ive witnessed and experienced. God can work in me and i can experience Him through sooo maaannyyy different ways. With this, i felt at peace. At peace that God will always be here for me no matter how far i drift away from Him.

GOD IS LOOVVEEE <3

So im gonna post daily, or at least try to what ive learnt from QT. never know when it may speak to someone.

Today's devo was on healing and restoration. sometimes we rather live in our hurt because we are used to it.
but God wants to restore us as it says in Psalm 147:3'He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds'
sometimes it requires us to give up something or step outside our comfort zone.

God has something better in store for us. are we ready?
---------------------
Rev Poh said something during sermon today that struck me.
He said "Doubts in God's faith cannot be solved my intellectual thinking but only by faith in God." and that "some questions cannot be answered here on earth"
If you know me, you might know that i always have a lot of random questions about God and the bible. like... "why do we fear God? what does that mean?" and "why do demons worship God?" and stuff. Sometimes these questions would really bother me and i'd really go around asking everybody but what about God? i did try asking Him through prayer and hm... i dont know. Sometimes my questions go unanswered, maybe i just have to wait or maybe this is something that He doesnt want me to know. God will always be a holy mystery. There's just noo wayyy be can know everything about Him. It'll be far too much for us to comprehend.
No matter what, im rest assured that God will reveal to me what He wants me to know at Him own perfect timing. (:
I also learnt during sermon to secure my identity in God. I have to always remember who i am in the eyes of the Lord and see myself the same way. I am His child, His partner and His precious lamb. (: This will soo get me through my emo times.

fishy

overcomers!

2009-04-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruTV6goauGQ

This is really encouraging.

"We will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Everyone overcome. "
-Overcome, desperation band

We can overcome because Jesus overcame. <3

-same person |:

2009-04-01T09:17:00.001-07:00

hi my saltie dearies. it's seeyue AGAIN. Apparently, you guys forgot all abt this lovely salt blog but i shall try to revive it anyways and hope SOME PPL continue updating it. *cough*new*cough*comm*cough*

Firstly, what happened to seeyue. After O's seeyue got a not so perfect score of 10 and couldnt get into ac (study harder than hard my friends. consistency is the key) hence i went cj.

I was crazy disappointed at first but as i spend more time here i realise that God might have a purpose for me here. There are PLENTY of unbelievers here in cj. Atheists too and i hope i'll be able to sow seeds of the gospel in some of them. I go for ACJC cf (JEANN YAY.) and during one of the sessions it hit me that evangelism is not abt getting unbelievers to accept Christ. That's up to God what God wants us to do is to tell others about Him. and i hope i can do that to as many people as i can and grab every opportunity that comes my way. God is good and His plans are perfect. so trust in Him ALWAYS my darlings.

On another note, it's Good Friday tomorrow and i hope you guys will really take some time to go to somewhere quiet (like the toilet or something) and meditate on what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Not just on the cross but the period leading up to the cross when Jesus suffered SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH. Those closest to Him betrayed and denied Him, everyone misunderstanding Him and blaming Him for things He had never done, getting insulted by everybody, getting whipped like CRRAAAAAAZZZY and have nails hammered into His hands and feet and having to support His whole weight on those nails (OUCHOUCHOUCH). He really dreaded it and prayed to ask God to "let this cup of suffering be taken away " away but yet He obeyed the Lord "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine".

God's sacrifice.

all for us.
all for love.

How can we get over this? After how much he has done and sacrificed for us. How can we just forget all about it and break His heart over and over again?

Love, Praise and Obey the Lord forever. This is Good Friday for you all. <3 <3 <3

seefish. (:

IT'S THE END OF O'S

2008-11-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

not related to whatever i'm gonna type BUT i'm happy. and i realy really thank God that i was able to pull through. the HISTORY PHYSICS BIO week was soooooooo terrible but God was faithful. (:

1John4:18-19
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.

God's first love - pure, unconditional and everlasting. Amazing and perfect
unlike the second love(from parents,teachers spouses and friends) that makes us feel doubtful, frustrated, angry and resentful. When we look for our worth and identity in human love, we'll disappointed even though it feels so great.
Our identity is in Christ.

In God's love, we are secure. We are free to love and serve others (:(:

this is a forwarded email i got from amy a while ago:

( A truly beautiful testimony of God's love for His children..... )
Subject: Isaiah 65:24 - 'Before they call, I will answer

'This story was written by a doctor who worked in SouthAfrica .
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the babyalive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).

We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed.. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be consideredno good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.' While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, 'Amen'? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home.

Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door..

By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes.. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.. Ruth was in the front row of the children. Sherushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!' Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five month s before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'.'

Our God's love is so amazing is it. Something we can never fathom. He is our provider, comforter, encourager, reassurer, our GOD. He knows our cares and worries beofre we even say it, He knows and understands when we sin and forgive us even though we stray away time and time again. His love is unlike any other.

so rest in His love and cast all of your cares on Him.

SEE YOU GUYS IN SALT CAMP!!!

SEEYUE

2008-07-18T18:28:00.001-07:00

seeyue's turn!
except that i dont have pictures are pretty coloured fonts.
so live with it (:

but before that

GO FOR COLLIDE!

www.wherewecollide.com

"M.A.D
Let’s go M.A.D!!!!
Make A Difference!!!
We believe that whenever united hearts loving God gather at one place, they bring the kingdom of God to that place. We want to be God’s tools to spread His love, mercy and grace to the communities around us through acts of justice.
Thus, Collide will be collaborating with The Salvation Army and Pertapis for social-justice purposes. We are calling out to this generation to be a part of this movement to impact our communities." From the website (:

singapore EXPO conference hall A-F.
26 July 5.30 pm

anyways, thank you guys so much for the amazing sec4 farewell.
really. it was amazing(: limited vocab. okays nvm!
but from the worship, to the games, to the company, to the LOVELIEST notebooks, to the awfully sweet handwritten messages.

incomparable.every single saltie made my ~~day~~whole 2008! (:

my favourite salties,
it really makes me glad to see you all so enthusiastic all the time for like every single thing. CIP, Lovemg, experiencing God, group discussions. wonderful people, wonderful spirit, wonderful attitude. i hope that next year when new salties come in, they'll be attracted to the salt spirit through which the Holy Spirit can work through them! woohooo! =D

and my dear new comm,
have i mentioned how proud i was to see you all rise up to your positions and always so "on" on everything you work on. You all did a FANTASTIC job on the planning of sec4 farewell. and i hope point of your life, being now in the comm, will be your spiritual marker. You guys will do things you have never done before, know more abt God which you've never known before, be convicted by the Holy Spirit like never before and experience Him like never before.Trust, hope and love the Lord always.That's my wish for you guys (:

and finally ariel the mermaid!
I have so much faith and in you but God has more. Always be prepared for Him to work nd speak through you. God has such great plans for you and the people around you. Thanks for being so encouraging. It's really motivating to see someone have such a passion for God(:(: i'm really going to miss miss miss MISS YOU. and hence, like wan xiang. i'll be forever sticking around. hahaha.
i cant wait to see what God is going to do through you. it'll be amazing-er than amazing.

THANKYOU SALTIES!!

2008-07-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

HEY SALTies! yes, so as the title says, this is a BIG THANKYOU (i'm sorry if i get abit longwinded & repetitive about my thanks cause that's kinda the only way i can express myself in what i wanna say to you wonderful people) to each & every single saltie who made farewell so SO memorable & :D:D:D:D:D yeah. you get my point. i really had so much fun & i'm sure this is the best farewell SALT ever had & will ever have. It was great. the games, the song, the gifts, the COMPANY, everything.

Special thanks to Ariel cause i bet you picked up our HINT last year about the gifts & suggested getting every SALTie to write us a note (((: & yes Nicole, i was laughing & crying while reading your note ((: Thanks to everyone for the notes, i was actualy laughing & crying while reading every note. they were all so sweet & heartfelt. & Sophia my dearest ham! Thanks for the pretty pretty notebook cover. it's SO ME. THANKS!
To the organising comm, thanks for the work you put in to make this day so memorable so that we could have so much FUN on our last official day in SALT. & to mydearest groupies [Soph(HAM), Abby, Charmaine, Amanda, Steph, Marcella], thanks for being my groupies for the past half a year, though we were rather small most of the times, but thanks for being responsive when i ask questions, sharing openly & just being my wonderful groupies ((: All i wanna say to each individual's in my note to you alr so yup, just wanna let you know that i'll be keeping you in my prayers & i believe that God is working in each & everyone of your lives so keep your focus & continue nurturing your walks with God. ((:

Looking back, it's really been great being in SALT, seeing so many changes in the 4 years of my time here, watching God work in SALT, & experiencing it change my life, helping me develop a real relationship with God. All in all, it's been an awesome 4 years (((:

Oh and to the wonderful SALTies who didnt write their names at the end of your note, please do come find me in 4I (3rd level) to sign off! i wanna know who you are!!

okay enough of my grannyness, NOW FOR PICTURES!!!

Left to right: Justina, Tham, Grace, Ka-onn

MY group ((((:

Left to right: Rebecca, SeeYue, Julianne, small Kim, Uyen, Nicole(extra) (:

Random pic, too many people to list (:

Sorry Gis, couldnt resist ((:

We dont have the spirit of sharing ((:

GOOOOD

FOOOOD

THANKS Ariel! enjoyed the times being in comm tog & EVERYTHING ((((: your presence was greatly missed. LOVE YOUU <333 href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PpiTRwusTss/SIIC0dVRezI/AAAAAAAAAEU/pdxbOuqCa7w/s1600-h/DSCN6940.JPG">

THANKYOUUU!!! ((((:
(sorry for the bad pic quality)

-amy.

2008-05-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

A gentle reminder that there's no SALT this week, 23rd May 08.
Salt resumes on the 27th June, Lovemg. All salties are going to help out as ushers.

27/6: LoveMG
4/7: Chapter 6
11/7: Chapter 7
18/7 : Sec 4 Farewell
1/08: Chapter 8
15/8: Chapter 9
22/8 & 29/8: MSSGT & Teacher's day

2.4km run & our run with God.

2008-04-17T03:39:00.000-07:00

Hey SALTies,

i had my 2.4km run today, and somehow, i just had lots of reflections about it. Yesterday i was really quite scared about today's run cause i've a really bad stamina & i NEVER ran the full 8 rounds before this cause of my operation so the thought of it was really freaky, AND my pe lesson's right before recess when the sun's high up in the sky, draining your energy. So yeah. i prayed for not sunny weather but i didnt dare to really have faith that God would grant me good weather, but as you all know, today's weather really couldn't be better. it was nice, cool and cloudy! God answered my prayer though i didnt have total faith in Him, and when i thought about it, i was just awed by God, that really, He's my awesome God who reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love. and that did alot in spurring me on while i was running.

At the beginning of the run, i told myself and God that i wanted this run to be a physical manifestation of my spiritual walk, that i dont wanna stop, and 'run with perseverance the race marked out for us (me).'- Hebrews 12:1 (was inspired by a friend. we all know her, but shant say who just in case. shall let you guys have fun guessing who (:) though i told God with the same shaky faith i had, but that pact with God was really something which pushed me to run the whole 8 rounds, without walking. Each time i wanted to just walk, i didn't cause i kept in mind that this was my physical manifestation of my walk with God! i'm not walking, i'm running. and so, i RAN. i thought of verses, songs & prayed. But i didnt do it alone. a friend was running with me, and cheering me on all the 8 rounds. She finished her 2.4 alr, but she ran today to accompany me.
And these really got me thinking. In our walk on earth with God, God would give us friends to push us and walk with us, we're not alone. and most of all, God'll never fail to be there anytime we need Him, even if our friends failed us. Also, if i could run the full 8 rounds and i wanted this to be a physical manifestation of my walk (run) with God, i'm not stopping in my walk (RUN) with God. i'm gonna 'hope in the Lord' so that I'll 'run and not grow weary.' -Isaiah 40:31
-amy (:

2008-04-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

Hey SALTies!

There won't be SALT meeting this Fri cause of the 5-item test going on.

Also, we would ike some feedback on the Bibles given out on Monday, here are some feedback questions we would like you to ask your classmates, and please try to reply us by Thursday night.

1) Why they want to have a copy of Bible (Is it to keep as momento because of school crest, or because they do not have one and would like to own one?)

2) Why they do not want to have a copy of Bible (Is it because they are not Christians or they already have Bibles?)

3) Will they use the NIV Bible when they go to Church or attend Chapel service?

Okay, that's all for now, seeya! (:
-amy.

2008-03-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

" Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

2 Cor 4:16-17

Kimmie

eggs

2008-03-21T19:34:00.000-07:00

Hey SALTIES!
Hope you guys had an awesome Good Friday! Ok, some updates:

1. We want to welcome Rachel and Stephanie into the SALT family :) They're both sec1s and are friends of Sarah(Quek) and Sarah (cae) respectively. So say hi to them and share some salt love.
2. LoveMG is on the 27th June. Salties will be helping out as ushers and prayer warriors. More about that soon.
3. CIP is going to be held on the 3rd week of the June Holidays. I know some of you will be away and stuff so i'll set it on the 11th-12th June (wed-thurs) first. As soon as i confirm the dates with the home we'll start planning, so check with your parents if you'll be away and i'll bring this up again on Friday!

That's all for now. SALT resumes on Friday, 28th March. Dont forget to DO and BRING your book. It's chapter 4 already- Love and God's invitation.

I had a wonderful holy week this week. I made it a point not to rush through this week like the rest and I experienced God in a whole new refreshing way. Some times many of us take Jesus' death for granted and this week it hit me so hard that I'm the one that caused Jesus to die on the cross and go through what he suffered. But what was so... comforting/exciting/good-to-know is that given a second chance, Jesus will go choose what He went through on the cross willingly and freely for the world. Even you are the only one in the world He will do the same. Take comfort in that dear salties.

Here's an egg for all you wonderful people. Easter egg for all salties. God loves you! God Bless, Kimmie

2008-03-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

HELLO to you my dearest fine & fellow SALTie! (:

F.Y.I., there'll be NO SALT this Fri cause it's GOOD FRIDAY! so yeah. there'll be no sch anw. so enjoy the one-day holiday & take the time to think of all the suffering Jesus went through on the cross for us and celebrate His resurection on Sunday! (EASTER!)

Seeya on the 28th & dont forget to finish chpt 4 of Experiencing God! (:
-amy.

2008-03-02T05:08:00.000-08:00

hey guys!

no SALT this week, 7 march, cause of cross country):

salt will resume on 28march. =D

SEE YOU GUYS THEN! (:

seeyue.

Misc.

2008-02-24T07:37:00.000-08:00

hey salties,

okay, what i type might be kinda disorganised and take many times of readings to understand, but i felt that i really wanna share this with you guys. It's basically a mix between what i learnt from Fusion'08 & a chat which i had with my pastor.

Today, i was having a chat with my pastor & i was telling him that during QT i find it really hard to quieten myself down to listen, to meditate & to wait on Him when this is actually the crux of having an INTIMATE relationship with God and it's this intimate relationship with God that defines us as Christians and nothing else. Which basically means, Christianity's all about this inimate relationship with God which many people tend to miss out. Without this intimate relationship, we may seem perfect, flawless, God-fearing & everything when inside we're crumbling 'cause this is all only on the outside, like the pharisees. And this quietening down takes alot of focus and spiritual discipline to LISTEN. Denying ourselves and focusing on God, which in other words means, being God-centered. To be still and know that He is God. To open our lives to Him to let Him intervene, to hear what He has to say to us regarding the different aspects of our lives, to submit, surrender ourselves to His will, to be used by Him. To be recharged in that intimate relationship we have with Him, Him being our source of strength.

And another thing is something which i really hope would help you who are reading this be assured in God's love. Matthew 3:17 says And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." and likewise, this very statement is said to ALL of us. We are people who yearn to be loved and accepted, and because of this, we tend to do things to gain others' approval/acceptance, but once we know that we are loved and approved by God, we would want to continue to live our lives to please Him, gain His approval because He loves us. And when we do so, we would start to realise changes in our lives. So i'd like to challange you to remind yourself of this verse and really think about it each morning or whenever & wherever and be assured in His love, knowing that this is all we ever need to sustain us through trials, and our lives on earth.

Lastly, i'd just like to repeat what the speaker on monday's chapel said about us as the paper cup. If we were flawless (holeless), God's light (the tealight) wouldn't be able to shine through, and would be snuffed out; but if we have many weaknesses, flaws, (hole-y) THEN God's light (the tealight) would be able to be seen through the holes, and oxygen would enter through the holes to feed the light. God's glory would shine through our weaknesses.

Hope this would encourage us to pursue an intimate relationship with God, because with that, everything would fall into place, and that we would be assured in His love for us, and however weak, flawed and unworthy we may feel to be used by God, we're actually His BEST tools(super hole-y!), if we just let Him use us. ((:

-amy

We are The Lord's Army

2008-02-24T06:29:00.000-08:00

i happened to be watching discovery channel and it was so sad. seriously my heart broke.

It's about this little penguin that just hatched, i think, struggling to stand up straight on its 2 feet. then this (!@#$@#)67^#$^%$&*%^*%#$ bird (that's not vulgar. i just cant find a more intense word apart from big bad bird) was like preying on that baby penguin! maybe cause the (&**#$@ (big bad bird) knew it wasnt going to make it so it started nipping it's head. the baby's head! It was struggling to defend itself trying to run away, escape, but it cant even stand! so it can only open it's mouth helplessly trying to threaten that bird who's SOOO SOOO SOOO not going to be scared of a little penguin chick. what's worse was that there were so many other penguins around; big buff ones who can scare the big bad bird away. and the camera man! leaving the helpless cute little weakling to fight this losing battle itself. They're so heartless!

and suddenly I felt so fortunate. Many times we too are weak and attacked by big bad birds. nipping at our heads. but we're never fighting alone. When we ask God to fight with us He is there. John 15:5 I'm the vine and you're the branches. abide in me and I in you, apart from Me you can do nothing. When God is fighting with us, we have nothing to fear. We'll win the fight (: and the other christians like us, we salties, warriors of God. We all fight together. We are the Lord's army. isnt there a song something like that? "we are the Lord's armyy...." i only remember that line. okay nevermind. i love penguins(:

anyways, i didnt finish watching that penguin show. it was too sad. but i think it died ): but we wont let each other die right?! RIGHT! (:

LOVE, seeyue

pictures!

2008-02-19T04:58:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are the long overdued pictures..

hello friends

the old granny looks bored.

marcella!

Aww. so sweet right?

okay. i'll post more next time.

God bless,

Big kimmie

2008-01-31T04:27:00.000-08:00

Hello salties. just a reminder, we're going to SCHA tomorrow (1st Feb, Friday). Meet at the concourse at 2.20pm, don't be late. We'll be back in school by 5pm. Dont forget to bring your consent forms if you haven't passed it to Amy.

Seeya' tomorrow.

with love, big kimmie

P/S. Check again soon for pictures.

2008-01-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

Hey SALTIES!! Hope you ALL had a great time on Friday, i definitely did! Anyway, here's a reminder of what i said on Friday:

CIP preparation
Date: 29th Jan o8, Tuesday
Time: 230pm-400pm
Venue: CCMC conference room
Bring:
1) Consent forms- Y/N on top left hand corner if you're permanent

2) Your CNY cards x2

3) Your 10bucks for the book

See'ya all there!!

God bless,
big kimmie

SALT meeting

2008-01-24T00:53:00.000-08:00

HEY SALTIES!

I'm not sure how many of you actually come check out this place, it seems really dead. Oh well, this is regarding this week's meeting:

DATE: 25 Jan, Friday
TIME: 3.00pm- 5.00pm
VENUE: CCMC conference room (4th level, near ART room)
Agenda: Post-orientation, CIP briefing

ALL ARE WELCOMED FOR THIS TIME OF FELLOWSHIP.
many things to be confirmed and discussed this week, so we'll see you ALL there.

God bless,
kimmie

i miss you

2008-01-12T05:03:00.000-08:00

this is like really out of point and out of nowhere. but.............

SEC4 SALTIES OF 07'!
I MISS YOU LOAAAAADDDDSSS.
COME BACK SOON!
LIKE REALLY REALLY SOON!
OKAY?
OKAY!
SET!

MUCH LOVE AND FART,
SEEYUE(:

Our first meeting.

2008-01-04T04:13:00.000-08:00

Hey salties!

Welcome back to school. I hope all is well.
As you all would know, CCA resumes next week. And yes, SALT starts next week too. Here are some details of our first meeting:

Date: 11th Jan, Friday
Time: 3-5pm
Venue: CCMC room (level 4)- Next to art room
Agenda: Sharing 2007 and expecting 2008

As a new year unfolds, let us share our roller-coaster ride of 2007. And as we start afresh, tell your fellow salties what are your expectations for 2008/new year resolutions with regards to your spiritual walk. I posted this really early, so you guys have some time to think about what to share or maybe just pray about what you want to share with us. We'll be expecting you! Till then.

God Bless,
Kimmie

2007-12-30T19:16:00.000-08:00

Yep! this is the last day of the year 2007~

i think we need one last post of the year:D

Order is need for the proper functioning of life. Indeed order is necessary for us to enjoy life.

I know, the world is not exactly in much of an order now, but God is.

He's the god of Order:)

In Genesis 1:2, the earth was formless and empty - the word "formless" means chaos, confusion and desolation.

God, the God of Order turned chaos into order for us. In Genesis 1:2-19, we see God creating light, sky, water, land, sun, moon and stars - Then God said, "Let there be light"....
The whole universe was wonderfully ordered so that life on earth could begin. Order leads to Life that is abundant, productive and good.

To have the abundant Life that Jesus promised, allow God to order your priorities. Rearrange your priorities so that God is first in everything that you do. As God started with Light in His order of creation, begin each new day with Jesus who is the Light of the World (John 9:5).

To live the productive Life that Jesus promised, let God order your relationships. Refocus your relationships so that Jesus will always be the centre. Jesus promised that you would be more productive when you remain in Him and He in you (John 15:5).

To enjoy a good life, listen to God's orders as promised in Proverbs 4:10, "My child, listen to me and do as I say and you'll have a long, good life."

In the coming 2008, allow God to bring order into your life, family, work so that you can enjoy an abundant, productive and good life:)

~wx

Crime involvement.

2007-12-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

WANTED

for possession of Mrs Tee's jelly mould

Somebody.

Last seen: June 2007

If you've by any chance seen/known this person who currently has the jelly moulds that belongs to Mrs Tee, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Read: Mrs Tee has kindly loaned this criminal 2 jelly moulds.

A REWARD OF $100.00* will be paid for the capture of this SALTIE and the jelly moulds.

* In monopoly money :) Please contact Kim to return the jelly moulds if you really do have it!

From me to you.

2007-12-17T05:54:00.000-08:00

Hey guys. I suscribe to maxlucado.com and they bombard me with weekly emails. I really look forward to opening up a new email from Uncle Max every time I check my mail. I don’t know him personally but if you don’t know him yet, he’s a really famous Christian book author, and he has written many best-sellers. But I’ve been reading quite a bit of what Uncle Max has written and I feel as though I almost know him, okay maybe not that well.

Uncle Max

Recently Uncle Max sent me this:

Suppose you could give a gift to Christ, what would it be? How could you possibly select a gift for the One who not only has everything, but who made everything? The Wise Men did. They can be an example to us. In addition to the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they gave the Savior some gifts we can give him today: their hope, their time, and their worship.

The wandering wise men gave Jesus their hope. When everyone else saw a night sky, this small band of men saw the light. The sight of the star sparked a desire in their hearts that send them packing. They went, seeking Jesus. When night comes to your world, what do you see? The darkness or the stars? Hopelessness or hopefulness? Sometimes, just as he did so long ago, God uses the darkness to reveal his stars—“The light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5). Give God your hope for Christmas.

While you’re giving, give God your time. The wise men did. Before they gave God their presents, they gave their presence. It’s likely that these men traveled as long as two years before locating the prince of heaven. Before that one incredible moment when they knelt before Jesus, the wise men spent many moments, months, perhaps years searching, in anticipation of that meeting. Just as the wise men devoted themselves to seeking the Savior, so can you: “You will seek him and find him when you seek him with all your heart” (Duet. 4:29).

And when they did find him, the wise men gave Jesus another gift: their worship. Men of wealth, influence, and intellect: what did they do when they saw Jesus? “…they fell down and worshiped him” (Matt. 2:11)Worship. It’s a gift that extends to the giver as well. Through worship, we come to see God more clearly. God invites us, through worship, to see his face so he can change ours. In worship, we simply stand before God with a prepared and willing heart and let God do his work. And he does. He wipes away the tears. He mops away the perspiration. He softens our furrowed brows. He touches our cheeks. He changes our faces as we worship. The wise men sought thechild of God, just as God seeks his children. “The Father is actively seeking such people to worship him” (John 4:23).

The gifts of hope, time, and worship. Three gifts the wise still give.

There. There. Something to think about: what would you give Christ? You may think He already has everything, what’s there to give. Let me tell you what I’m giving Christ. I’m definitely giving Him what the wise men gave Him. Hope, time and worship. But in addition to that I’m giving Him 2 more things on my list: My commitment and a letter from me.

I’m giving God my commitment because I’m going to get baptized this Christmas. And the day I told God that I’m going to get baptized, I told him: this is what I’m going to live for, this is what I’m going to stand for, this is going to be what drives me. And I believe that this is the best present that I can give to God this year, at least. You know there’s so many things for me to be thankful for this year. Too many. When I think about it, I feel it’s just so amazing to have God be so real in my life.

And the letter that I’m going to write to God will be a list of 100 things I’m thankful for that He has done this year. And guess what, God has most probably already known what I was going to give. In fact, He has already seen it. But it’s okay. I know God feels that the anticipation of getting the present is even better than the present itself.

P.S. Tell me what YOU got for God this Christmas. Write it on the tag board. I’m sure we all want to know. Its okay because God won’t see it, He’ll keep His eyes closed, I promise. And we’ll keep the secret for you. Shhh.

Love, Kim(mie)

2007-12-11T03:34:00.001-08:00

hey guys, this was from an email, you might have read it before, but i really liked it alot, it was really touching:)

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy ? Is he going to be all right ?When can I see him ?'

The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer ? Doesn't God care any more ? Where were you, God, when my son needed you ?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son ? One ofthe nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through hi s thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair ?' the nurse asked.

Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first,but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on,'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.'

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.
The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house.She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had alwayskept them. She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said :

'Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'.

I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place.

Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And,you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD ! And guess what, Mom ?

I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom ?

God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him ?'

God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children. Oh, by the way,Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper.

Isn't that cool ? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you.I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me.The Angel said I was a Special Delivery ! How about that ?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.