1 Cor 15:58

Verse to uplift myself and for YA committee!!

58Therefore, my dear brothers (sisters), stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

prayer over internet!

btwn minrui, jinci and i

Heavenly Father Lord I give thanks for the outcome of this meeting.. that Lord I know you have guided our decisions and our paths and You have brought people up who love You to serve You Lord. I pray Lord for you to guide our meetings, our paths, our year ahead as the three of us lead YA together Lord, with Your guidance and Your direction alone. Father I pray You grant us the strength and the wisdom to do our planning, to love the people we are serving, and to be able to balance this on top of whatever we have Lord. I pray Father you let us never forget who we serve and why we serve, never to rely on our own abilities and strength but to rely on what You have given to us and what You have provided to us. Father I just commit this time ahead into Your hands, commit this entire year into Your mighty hands and and Lord I just pray You watch over us, and let the YA just grow from strength to strength. Father I give thanks for all this and I pray this in Jesus’ most precious name,

amen.

hebrews 2

was reading hebrews 2 today..and was particularly struck by verse 10.

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

i think it’s beautiful how the contrast is that Jesus has to be put through suffering and in this He is made perfect. God is not only a great author of salvation, but a great author of the Word.

giving thanks

I give thanks because i’ve wonderful church mentors. I give thanks because i’ve a wonderful god who has been answering prayers for me to have strength this week to handle it all because i’m gaining strength from the encouragement of these church mentors I have. I’m really glad that they’re so supportive especially during this period of time.and I give thanks because He always speaks to me in ways i can never expect and ways I can never imagine.

From Weiwen laoshi (in 2 separate mails)

Hi Amelia,

thanks for organising and really really appreciate your willingness to just serve and rise up to the situation to lead whenever called upon.
Just to encourage you. It’s never easy to be a leader, but you have our support.
press on.okay?

God Bless,
Whee Boon

From mel laoshi (in 2 separate mails)

hi, u ok? still able to sustain? will cont to pray for u. remember when we are down n out of strength, look up His is always there n His resource is abundant. call me if u need to “de-stressed”.
take each matter one at a time. stay focus when u are doing each matter. will pray for u. must take care.

His love n mine
mel lao shi

From God

Hebrews 11:8-16 (New International Version)

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he^[a]considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

feel like God’s really speaking to me and encouraging me in His own special and unique way. That even though I may not know why all this is happening to me right now.. why this sem is so different from any other sem, why so much has happened..I just feel that despite all this, I’m growing. and as laoshi said last sunday..sometimes it may take us 10 yrs or even more than that to realize what God’s doing to our lives at this point in time. Yes I may not understand what’s going on.. why so much is happening. but God tells me to live by faith. to press on to carry on with the knowledge that one day.. some day.. I will understand His will for me in my life.. and why all this had to happen this way. By faith.

Family prayer items

For Amanda

1. to be motivated and have good time management to study

2. to stay close to God and have a good balance between reading His word, doing His work, and own work

For Amelia

1. to be motivated and have good time management to study for mid terms and do all my lab reports (i have 4 reports to do, all from about 5 to more than 10 pages long.. the current one i’m doing is already 14 pages long)
2. to stay close to God and have a good balance between reading His word, doing His work, and own work
3. for course plans. (vet sci? nutrition? medicine?)
4. for friends many of whom are not feeling emotionally strong and happy.

For mom:

§ For her trip, pray for the preparation work and meetings to be smooth.

§ Pray for all the companies she is working to increase sales.

§ If God is willing, at His time, find her another suitable job.

§ Pray for a house to be prepared for us, need to shift out by end Aug 2009

For mama:

§ Thank God for her medical review on her head injury to be fine

§ Pray that her schedule for a separate visit to TTSH on physio will be done soon (what a lousy hospital, poor arrangement)

§ Pray that she will be watched over and taken care of by God in all her movements

___________________________________________________

For Qimin:

end of sem exams

health

QT

_________________________________________

to myself

do QT! read hebrews chapt 1.

Phrase

Read this in Joshua Harris’ book quoting an author, Jerry Bridges, and found the phrase very meaningful.

‘Every day of our Christian experience should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.’

He’s There All the Time!!

Part of Isaiah 45:24:

‘In the LORD alone
are righteousness and strength.’

God is such a faithful God that i can’t help marvel everytime I feel His realness and His presence. Was just feeling rather stressed and I actually blogged on another blog..when i need someone.. i actually feel so alone. and then I opened ODB today.. and there God was.. telling me that He’s There All the Time! what a beautiful reassurance that we will always have our God there for us no matter how lonely we may feel.. and how stressed or helpless or upset.

It’s that way with God. He’s there, patiently waiting for us. He assures us, “I did not say . . . , ‘Seek Me in vain’” (Isa. 45:19) You’ll find Him right where He is supposed to be—in His Word, in prayer, and in the voice of the Holy Spirit who lives within you. The God who says “seek, and you will find” (Matt. 7:7) also promises that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). So, you can rejoice that God is right where He is supposed to be, and He’s waiting for you right now.

Teaches us that we should never rely or be overly-dependent on anything.. but always fall back on GOD.:)

Prayer and more prayer

Prayer requests from people

1) Lionel

-> cold/flu

-> seek god’s will in planning for SEP

-> ref prev entry

2) Amanda

-> stop procrastinating

3) zhenchang

-> more efficient mugging

-> better time management

4) for sy

5) myself. for joy to emanate through and be visible, for QT today.

6) Joel

-> for God to be more real to him

->to balance his time well

-> to be a good CGL

7) Lester

-> to be more patient and trust more in god

-> that he can find more close friends and feel loved

-> that he can get comfort

Haggai 1:2-7 (New International Version)

2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built.’ “

3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.

If God didn’t care, He wouldn’t ask us to consider the time and effort we are spending on diminishing returns. If He didn’t love us, He couldn’t remind us of all that He has given us. God sees what has happened to us and knows how much we need to focus on Him today.

When Christ is the center of your interests, life will be in focus.

2 sept, John 13:3-16

in today’s QT, this particular line struck me.

The more we serve Christ, the less we will serve self.

I find that somehow i am less concerned about results and working hard as before, though a leopard cannot change its spots (that quickly), and i know i still am worried about not doing well and screwing up and not studying enough (which i know i’ve not)

constantly must remind myself.. that what should be most important? after all, this is just a degree, a paper chase. Spiritual things are eternal!! and people’s lives matter more than grades on a paper. amelia! set ur priorities right!!

maybe this sem is a lesson for me to learn to put aside my pride, put aside my desires and wants to do well.. and accept whatever God has in store for me.

Matthew 6:19-21

Treasures in Heaven

19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

meditation

hmm.. just did my QT for the day..for ODB which told me that if we open our hearts to the saviour, He will open our minds to the word. Then I did one from acts web..the second part of trust which tells us to “acknowledge and own your fears. Trust God and accept responsibility and seek the help you need to overcome them.”

And then i thought I’d meditate on the 3 verses which are used so commonly in spreading the gospel and which was mentioned in the facilitator’s training today.

Romans 3:23

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Hebrews 9:27

27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Romans 6:23

23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

they all sound bleak but are so true and so in need for non-christians to know of the drastic consequences. It’s so easy to paint a nice, happy, warm comforting picture of christianity but this is the serious and grim side to it.

-minrui was saying that after her 3 months in US, i was the only one with so much change in my life. I myself wonder why there has been so much change. But somehow i suddenly feel this burden placed within me for this gospel rally and what a strategic position the Lord has placed me in to do this work for Him. I just hope that I won’t burn out and die with so many commitments on top of a heavy semester.. but then again I have a great God! somehow..i’m not really worrying all that much. I better start worrying more and stressing myself out more otherwise i won’t study lols.

to pray for:

the sensitivity in spreading such messages to non-christians.

overcoming of fears against conversing in chinese and taking the proactive step out to talk to others

the right things to say on thurs

the people who will be coming for the Q n A.. that their hearts and minds be open.

hah! i shall use A.C.T.S to pray today.

Father in heaven Lord..it’s just so amazing and beautiful the small little things You do in our lives..placing us in such strategic places in all parts of the world to fulfil ur commission and expand Your ministry Lord. Father I see the love you have for all in the world.. that You want us to go forth and spread the word to all who have yet to know and hear of Your mighty love..and Lord I just give thanks that You have made all things fit together so nicely the way the pieces of a jigsaw do. Lord I come before you today to ask for Your forgiveness in all that I’ve done.. the thoughts I’ve had and the things I’ve sinned upon.. I pray lord that with Jesus’ blood You cleanse me on all idolatry in my heart..be it academics..or serving You with the concerns of what people think or say in mind.. Take these away from me and Lord help me to focus on nothing but You in my heart lord..on consecrating myself and putting aside myself to be holy like You. I just give thanks Lord that I am able to come to You.. unworthy and defiled by sin.. to ask for Your forgiveness and that I know and I am assured that Lord, You have died for me with Your holy blood and cleansed every sin, be it big or small.. such that no sin is too great to be unforgivable.. Lord I’m sorry for a narrow and unmagnimous heart..help me to love and to give in the way You did to man on earth Lord Jesus..Father I come before You once again Lord to commit and uplift to You the gospel service on thursday. Lord I pray for all the non-christians who have been touched and nudged by the spirit to come to give You a chance lord.. I pray that they come with open hearts and that they come to realize how undeniable this faith is and how true it is Lord.. that they come to accept You as a personal saviour too and to enjoy the wonders of Your love and providence on us Lord. I pray too for all the facilitators and christians workers who will be there Lord.. I pray that Lord you place in us the sensitivity toward these seekers..that we will know the right things to say to them and bring them before You oh lord. Help us to overcome our fears.. and not to focus on our own inadequacies but to bring them before You in Your wisdom, Your power and Your strength, to rely on what You can do in us and through us as Your vessels Lord. I pray too for Dr Stephen Tong that You anoint him and speak through him to the congregation Lord..that You bless him with the wisdom to touch the hearts of these non-christians.

Father Lord.. I know that You are in control and that You will be there with us through the whole session Lord. I pray for Your continual grace to be upon each and every one of us who will be there on that day.

In Jesus’ most precious name

amen.