For the first time... ...
by Sabrina


First of all, we would like to thank Mabel for her time and help in teaching us how to make rings using crystal beads. Xie xie ni!!!


Yup, this is the first time most of us are making rings.
I really enjoyed Mabel's lesson,
coz' she's a really patient teacher!!


Though we couldn't finish making a complete ring,
but we had a frutiful time learning a new skill.
Just in case we become jobless in the future!
(Rite, Cindy Mag?)
Just kidding..

Caroling Practice!

Yesterday, after lunch, Jethro, Gim Seng, Peixuan, Huiwen, Zhong and me stayed back in church for the caroling rehearsal! Those of you who were supposed to be there but couldn't make it, its alright! We'll meet again to go through the songs and discuss our programme for the 16th of December.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the afternoon. I was quite reluctant at first to be doing this, and I didn't want to stay back (cos I wanted to go home to sleep and study), but as I sat there with the rest of them, and as we started singing, I started to feel more excited about it! I started to see it as more than getting a group of people together to sing. This was more than just singing Christmas carols and having something extra to add to my schedule and list of commitments. This was about outreach and bringing the meaning of Christmas to the people who needed to know God!

Many of us are involved in different things this December--Youth Camp, Christmas Dance, Aceh Trip, GB Camp, Christmas Party (24th Dec!)... it is so easy to get caught up in the doing , to grow tired, and to forget the reason why we're doing all this--for God and for the extension of His Kingdom! It is not a pressure, but a pleasure to serve the Lord. :)

looking for love . . .

Many people spend their lives, as the song goes, "Lookin' for love in all the wrong places." So, how do we find real, lasting love?

Love comes from God.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God (1 John 4:7a NIV).

Many people think that God is only interested in rules. But God is all about love. Jesus, God the Son, reminds us of the most important "rule":

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

"Okay," we say. "That sounds good." But we seem powerless to love like that.

Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also (1 John 4:20-21 NRSV).

The power to 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. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:7b-10).

Anything that we have done that is not loving separates us from a loving God. We don't have to murder or commit armed robbery to "sin." Sin is simply breaking God's commandment to fully love Him and others.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).

But His only Son, Jesus Christ, died and rose again to "atone" for our unloving behavior (1 John 2:1-2). Atone means to make "at-one." When we confess our lack of love (sin) and believe that Christ has died and risen for our sin, we are forgiven and are "at one" with God and His love (1 John 1:9).

God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God (1 John 4:15).

The power to love unselfishly comes from God.

Love from God is not earned--it is a free gift--but it is also learned.

No one has ever seen God; but if we love each other, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1 John 4:12).

We get to know God and His love better through reading his love letter (the Bible), talking to Him (prayer), and being with those who also love Him (the church). And the better we know God, the easier it is for us to obey his commandment to love Him and others.

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God has overcome the world [of hate] (1 John 5:3).

BETTER IS ONE DAY IN YOUR COURTS

Better is One day in your courts
Better is One day in your house
Better is One day in your courts
Thousands elsewhere

A few questions to ponder upon for you and for me,

Do we really mean it when we sing this chorus?
Do we really mean it when we mention that we would rather spend this One day in His courts than elsewhere?
Do our attitudes in church show this?
Where are our hearts? Are we fixated on Him?

Yup yup, just a few questions to really think about for you and me. =)

God Exists...

Just a light-hearted post today for you guys, got this in an email this morning from one of my tutorial mates and I was reminded on how we sometimes forget to 'look for' God or run to Him when challenges come our way.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

"I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond becausehe didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

"You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! " answered the barber. " What happens, is, people do not come to me. "

"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him.'

A Moment By Death

I woke up the other day only to see an unread SMS.
My friend's ex-gf, whom he recently broke up with,
is diagnosed with brain cancer.

She is about my age. Or 1 or 2 years younger.
It was surreal.
The immediate emotions that sunk in.

I've experienced this before.
It was a familiar setting not too long ago.
And for a while, I was overwhelmed with...grief for a familiar stranger.

I thought about how her family would respond to the news.
I thought about the things she saw as important before the arrival of the news.
I thought about the things she now sees as unimportant.
They are the same things.

I thought about life.
And the hairline crack which I occupy in the timeline of the world.
I thought about the day I will die in.

It may be a distant future.

It may be a near one.

Oh, the things I worry.
I thought about the things I worry.
My foolish worries.
I thought about my sins, my pride and everything deep within.
My reckless living.

I thought about my days on earth.

I ought to number my days just like Moses did.

He wasn't radical, he was simply doing what's wise.
I'd better stop being foolish me.

Live a life reflective of your faith, Si'er...so reflective of your faith.
You haven't got time to waste.
I asked God to let me finish his work before He brings me home.

Before I walk through the door which thousands are walking through, everyday.

When Was The LAST time YOU struggled?

hmmm why did i ask this question?
i guess its becos i've personally learnt a very big lesson from God these past few weeks.

In all our lives,

most if not, all of us have been through serveral ups and downs.
i am no exception.
in my studies, my relationships with the ppl around me and also
in my walk with God.
and many times whenever i hit a big, huge rock in any situation,
i'll scream out for God and ask Him to deliver me.
i'll pray until something happens, i can FEEL God with me,
i can hear His voice and most importantly

my relationship with Him was real.
however, after an encounter with Him,

when things seem to go back to normalcy,
when my situation or problem has blown over,
i'll forget God.
i'll start depending on my own strengths in situations,
i'll not do my QT (purposely and knowingly)
and give all sorts of excuses

for not spending time with Him.
it can be my lack of sleep, my work, my frens,

my so called need to evangelise with my other friends,

my family, my tv, my computer games, my driving,

my ANYTHING basically.
anything and everything else would be slightly more impt than God.
then when something happens,
i'll start clinging on to God and i'll ask God why He didnt help me,
i'll cry like a baby and then blame EVERYONE else but myself.
then i'll sheepishly go back to God,

ask for His forgiveness and plead with Him to give me another chance...
my point is.

do i have to wait for another big stuggle in my life,

b4 my relationship with Him is ever constant and growing?

must someone die,

or must something REALLY bad happen b4 i go back to my Abba Father?
let's not forget Him, let's not find Him only in times of trouble,
let's love Him as He loved us,

faithful, constant and never ending.
let's not forget what He did for us,
let's be greatful, let us be... His everlasting children...

Lest I forget Gethsamany
Lets I forget Thine agony
Lest I forget Thy love for me
Lead me to calvary...

2nd Corinthians 4:13

"It is written: I believed; therefore I have spoken. With that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak."

I was reading the entire chapter "Treasures in Jars of Clay - 2nd Corinthians 4" yesterday. and this particular sentence stood out in front of me. Well... this is not the first time i have read this chapter, it's quite a popular chapter in the bible to read. =) Well... but when i reached this particular verse, and my eyes looked into the verse, i felt my heart open.

"I believed; therefore I have spoken" How many of us are like Paul to speak for what we believe? Or rather, how many of us DARE to speak for what we believe? Or maybe... when was the last time we evangelised to our friends?

These were the exact same questions that were running through my mind... and somehow, I felt that in a world like the current times we live in, the line drawn between what's right and what's wrong is blurred, the line drawn between black and white have merged to form gray. And if we do not choose to speak up for what we belive in, then who will? And if we do not bother to evangelise to our friends, then who will?

If we truly believe that what the Bible says is true about non believers burning in hell, in fire, then let's perhaps start to do something about it?

Where is your Heart Today?

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt 6:21 , Luke 12:24

On Saturday during cell, SIA did the study on Eternity. We talked about our eternity in Christ, about Heaven, eternal perspectives, and the things in this world that had eternal value.

Only 2 things will last: The Word of God and the souls of men. We can choose to channel our time and efforts in attaining material wealth, status and recognition in our lives here on earth, or we can choose, in the midst of carrying our daily activities and tasks, to invest in the things that would last beyond this lifetime on earth.

We ended with a short time of personal reflection on the verse mentioned above. Though it is such a short verse (good for scripture memory), it is such a precious verse to reflect and meditate upon. For me, I realised that my heart was partly set on my eternal treasure, but yet also partly set on my own personal achievements and accomplishments here on earth (it isn't wrong to want to succeed i guess, but it becomes wrong when it consumes us and takes us away from focussing on Jesus and living for Him). My personal action points are to constantly remind myself of this verse, and to check my motives for wanting to excel and succeed in what I set out to do. :)

Take some time today to ask yourself, 'where is my heart today?'

God heard me, and answered me!!!!
By Cindy Leticia


Let me tell you why..


On a certain day last week, I realized that my left eye had 2 white spots when I looked into the mirror. I had no idea what it was thus I got really worried as my vision was slightly blurred. I confided in a close friend, and she told me she was very sure that it was cornea infection as she met with the same situation a few months back. I think it was my fault too since I have not changed my monthly disposable contact lens for around 2-3 months. She urged me to go and see a doctor as it could lead to blindness if untreated.


I went to check my left eye again after a few hours, to see if the white spots had disappeared. To my dismay, another white spot appeared around the rim of my pupil. I remembered my friend telling me that these white spots grow at an alarming speed, but I did not expect it to be sooo fast! I could not really describe what I was feeling, but I was really fearful of what will happen.


I prayed immediately and asked Him to heal me, for I cannot be the next one to fall sick as my family cannot handle all these. They are already burdened with a lot of things, and cannot afford to handle anymore if I fall sick too. They will not be able to handle the financial costs that this illness was going to bring.


The next morning when I woke up, I immediately ran and checked my eye in front of the mirror. The next thing I knew, I was jumping for joy as all the white spots around the rim of the pupil had disappeared!!!!! God heard my prayers, and have answered me!! What more can I ask for? He has blessed me already!! He has done all these miracles in my life which had made me so amazed by all that He had done!


So friends, I just want to encourage all of you.. Tell God whatever problems you have.. He listens and He knows.. God wants to help you and be there for you, but only if you tell Him.. Do not assume that He will not be there to hear you, do not assume that He is not there just because you have not experienced any of his miracles yet.. He is there with you, and will be always with you..

Feel Discouraged When Sharing With Your Friends?

These were His instructions to the twelve disciples...

"Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.

Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."

Mark 6:8-11

Don't Know What to Say to Them?
1) Jesus asked His disciples to rely totally and completely on His providence when we go forth to do His work. He will supply all our needs, supernaturally (manna from the sky) or through other people. He will give us the very words to say to our friends.

Disappointed at Their Responses?
2) Our responsibility to reach out to a certain someone is AFTER we've shared and if they do not welcome us or listen to us, then we can 'shake the dust off your feet' - i.e. we have done our part. Thus, we must SHARE the gospel then we are released from our responsibility.

Let's do our part, SHARE and watch God work out the rest.

STOLEN WALLET!!!

Someone took my wallet yesterday when I was out shopping at Bugis Junction Seiyu! To be honest, I was extremely irritated and angry at the guy who took it. But honestly, it was my fault too simply because I put my wallet in a bag which had a hole and the person could easily take it.

Basically I lost all my atm cards (groans which means I have to go apply again), my IC, my driving license, my NUS cards, my EZ link cards (which i just topped up) and quite a fair bit of tuition money.

But during my moment of poverty and strandedness in Bugis, God sent me Becca who called me instantly and told me she was at City Hall. I begged her to come over to Bugis to give me some cash to go home and she came immediately to pass me some spare cash.

Besides that, when i went home still upset and still angry, Marie called me and told me "God made things happen for a reason, maybe the guy really needed the money." and after that, she told me a WHOLE lot of jokes which made me feel better.

When i think about it now.. I realise that i could have lost a lot more because

1. I went to bank in a bulk of my tuition money which was about 600 dollars the day before i lost my wallet, which i dont usually do because i would usually do it after 5 or so days. Just in case, i need the cash to do something.

2. The night before, I was just telling myself i needed a NEW wallet. hehe

3. After I passed my driving test, I went to take MANY MANY passport photos and my mum thought i was crazy. Now i know why... because I need these MANY MANY passport photos so that i can replace ALLL my documents.

4. I am not too upset because God is teaching me how not to be careless.

One thing for sure, I know that God has a plan. I have lost my lap top before and He delivered it back to me. I am sure if it's His plan to deliver my wallet back to me.. it would be done! hehe

Alright... so if u have NO idea what to buy me for my birthday which is DRAWING near... hehe a wallet would be nice. =p

Road Markers

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinds and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

When I read this verse during my QT on Sunday night, it spoke to me in a fresh way. This is a rather familiar verse to me, especially the first half, and this time while reading through it, surprisingly it was the last line of the verse (marked in bold) that stood out to me.

What came to mind was my memory of running in the cross country during my junior college days. Along the forest trial in MacRitchie Reservoir, there would always be road marshalls at certain points to show us which turn to take, in case we miss the turning to run up the slope which would bring us out of the forest and onto the concrete path by the main road which led to the finish line.

Each of us has a race to run and to complete to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 3:14). We have a goal to look towards, and we're definitely not running an aimless race, though sometimes it might seem so. And in addition, how encouraging and assuring it is to know, that the race has been 'marked out' for us--that we will be guided to head in the right way, as long as we pay attention to the guidance that is given to us daily.

Be attentive in your walk with God today! Look towards Him for guidance and for strength, and listen out for His leading each day. Let's run this race and finish it well!

2 Advantages Of Being Under Cover

Ever find it real difficult to agree with your spiritual leader?

Ever feel it is beyond you to submit to spiritual authority above you?

Check out these two benefits!

1. Acknowledging God's Sovereignty Over Me
By coming under the leadership God has assigned for me, I recognise that God knows better than me. Sometimes, I think I know better, but that is a path too familiar with fools. God never promised me with leaders who will meet up to MY expectations, and I have to be careful to not think that MY expectations are the best for me. And when I acknowledge God's sovereignty over me, I find myself just needing to give the best in what I'm called to do for God; my Provider has others in His Mind to think about things He has not called me to be concern about.


2. Pride-grinding At Its Finest

"Consider others better than yourself" - When I feel superior to my contemporary, pride is fostered within my soul. When I feel superior to my leader, I find myself in a similar mindset which Lucifer once possessed. Obedience is precisely so called, because, to do something which I would do in the absence of an order, do not require obedience. I crush that looming hint of self-centredness within me when I obey God's authourity over me. Like Theologian Stephen Tong would say, "reasonable training teaches a man, unreasonable training moulds a man." And I find myself learning how to grind my pride and ego - the very things which can pave the path for me to hell.

Maker of The World

A gentle whisper in the sun

Lord, I hear You call my name

A loving echo in Your Word

Wakes my soul to draw near now

A deeper understanding of my Maker's love
I ask of You

You long to be so intimate
With this creation formed by You

You are the Maker of the world
I lift my heart to You

Lord, I turn towards Your love
Bring me to hear Your voice


Oh, sovereign King of kings

Reveal Your heart to me


My Father full of grace
I'll live each day for You


As You pour your grace on me

On eagles' wings, Lord, I will fly

How can I be unaware

Of this favour in Your eyes

Young Working Youth -
Mad Mad Food Festival!!
(Pot blessing @ CheeHoong & Huiling's place)

Hi all! This is just a brief update on the recent Mad Mad Food Festival which we had for our cell! This is a very significant meeting as this is the first time almost EVERYONE from our cell came and we had a great time Makaning (the highlight) (xD), playing dumb games (=p), watching soccer (@.@) and most importantly getting to know each other and bonding together in love and.. FOOD! Below are some photos to show u guys the enjoyable time which we had!

First... the FOOD

Next the Makan...

Then the girls/ladies/women had a good time of fun n games!

While the boys.. chillled out infront of the...

GOOGLE BOX.... watching Soccer!!! (wats new.. =p)

The rest of the photos speak for themselves! =)

Special Thanks to: Cindy, Reginald, Ivy, Mabel & Jack, Gim Seng, Jonathan & Huiwen, Angel & Erin, Denny, Candice and Kiyomi for bringing food the lovely food! (sorry if i left anyone out!) Chee Hoong and Huiling for lending us their home and everyone else who attended and supported our meeting! Last but not least, to God in Heaven who made all this possible! Hallelujah!

We love you all!!! =) Sincerely, Vincent, Ivy & Tina

My contribution...






Alas, all taken before the seminar started... heh heh... after that forgot all about my mission to record the event with photos liao... it was a good workshop, speaker illustrated worship with scriptures from Genesis to Revelation! It was very informative... those interested may approach any of the following who attended ;p
Si-er, Jun Hoong, Shen Hao, Tina, Sabrina, Janelle, Althea, Joanie, Caroline, Gladys, Cindy Magdalene, Candice, Cindy Leticia, Pek Har, Rhys

Worship Seminar
Here's some long overdue pics from the worship seminar on 1 Oct, Children's Day!~

Managed to take a few snap shots only cos there ain't many opportunities to take.

Erm, as u can see, we were kinda bored.

The gals neatly aligned, all ready for the session.

Babes with new hairstyles.

Are You Afraid?

We all have fears.
Some of us are afraid of heights,
some afriad of cockroaches (I can hear Ivy screaming! =p)
Others are afraid of the dark, examination results, evil spirits (too much tv),
But I know that many people are afraid of one thing.
Loneliness.
(i am guilty of many of the above fearrrssss)

But my greatest fear,
Is to have my loved ones leave without knowing Jesus.
Is to depart and to not share the love of Christ with those whom I care about.

What is YOUR greatest fear?

Have you been leaving out your time for prayer? Did you just read the bible everyday and that’s it?

Why do you not have a strong appetite for prayer?
- is it because there are things going on in your life that you are afraid God might ask you to give up if you get too close to Him?
- Or you do not know what to say to him when you come to Him in prayer?

When 2 people who are in love are never at a loss to know what to say to each other…
How much do you love the Lord? If it’s a little maybe we can reflect on what Christ has done for us by giving His life for us on the cross…

Let’s all commit ourselves to daily prayer and make it the top priority of our day!

(Colossians 4:1 – 6) Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Peace in a Chaotic World

I've been meaning to share this verse for a long time, but somehow, I never got down to it because I had some difficulty in putting my thoughts into words for this verse.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." John 14:27

The recent Bali bomb blasts, the explosions in the London subway and the natural calamaties that have devastated parts or regions in America and some South East Asian countries are proof that we live in a chaotic and extremely volatile world. But in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, is it possible for us to have peace in our hearts?

I believe that it is possible, because the Lord has given us His peace. And indeed, as in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, He does not give to us as the world gives.

The world gives us peace when we look around and we find that there are no wars; we feel secure and safe when there is an absence of conflict. Many times we find security and peace in the things we own; whenwe perceive ourselves as having what we need to satisfy the basic physical needs, our hearts are at rest. We feel secure and at ease when we look at our string of achievements and think to ourselves that the bright future ahead of us is guaranteed.

But yet, this peace that the world gives is but a transient one. Conflicts are bound to arise, our possessions can be lost or taken away from us, and our qualifications might one day not be worth as much as we thought them to be. Do we then go into a panic when all these things happen?

Surely not! For the Lord has given us His peace to rule in our hearts. In Him, there is comfort, security and peace, because the Lord is always here to take care of us. Circumstances in the world might change, but the God in whom we trust is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. We need to find our peace in the One who will not change, rather than in the fleeting treasures of this world.

Peace is not when we are totally unaware of the going ons around us and therefore have nothing to fear or worry for. Rather, peace is when our hearts are fully rested in the knowledge and assurance of God's sovereign care and protection even when the floodwaters around us rise, when the fire rages on, or when earthly foundations crumble.

Let us find our peace in God today and not look for the temporary assurance that the world gives. Let us find our peace in the God who will be our refuge and strong tower in the day of trouble and testing.

Tertiary Cell BBQ at Si'er place on 1st October!!!

GOOD FOOD, GREAT TIME. AT TERTIARY CELL.

(yeah, sounds like a restaurant slogan...i know...hehe!)