God of all comfort

Angela, my German ex-housemate emailed me and I thought I like to share her heart-warming little testimony here.

Angela is currently going through a rough patch in life: she has to look for a new place to live because our old apartment is going to be renovated soon; it is problematic in her job with her boss, on top of that she has problem getting along with a rude colleague; her insomnia is not getting any better. But at this low point in life, amongst all her problems and frustrations, God did something for her.

(Translated from German):
"... Yesterday at noon, my colleague insulted me so much so that I said, I will not hear such things anymore and walked off. Sinking in misery, I stood by the edge of the forest when a lady with two horses came by. I looked longingly after her as she passed by. On her way back, I was still sitting there - and she spoke to me, asking if she could do anything for me. I told her briefly about my situation and she asked me, if I could ride. I was so happy and replied, yes! And we rode off (I was lost in reverie). After a while, I found out that she is a believer too. Isn't God wonderful? He knows how badly I felt and sent me this Christian lady (Anke) plus two hours of horse ride (there's a saying:"The greatest happiness on earth lies on the back of horses")! This incident really comforted me in my situation. I wish you such godsend moments from God and strength for the days."

This is just a simple testimony but it really touched my heart when I read it - how God arranged this special moment and ride (a Christian lady with 2 horses passing by, where got such coincidence!? More like divine arrangement!) for Angela at a time when she was feeling very down. Indeed, I am reminded of how caring our heavenly Father is towards us, showering us richly with His comfort when we are down.

2 Cor 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort. 4. who comforts us in all our tribulation. That we may be able to comfort those in any sort of tribulation through the comfort with which we ourselves are being comforted by God.

Divine Encounter

Yesterday, Terence's dad's car broke down and we ended up rushing to Expo for prayer meeting in a cab :( But have you gone through days when something "bad" happens but as the train of events follows, you begin to realise that you are actually set up for something divine? Well, yesterday was one of these days for me...

We boarded a cab at Yishun and the cab driver was quite chirpy and chatty but I didn't feel like talking, just wanted to quietly enjoy my ride to Expo for the prayer meeting (wah, so holy ah!). Then the cab driver uncle asked if there's any event going on in expo, and Terence said we are going there for a prayer meeting. The smart driver quickly guessed that we are from City Harvest Church (pretty good impact we made among cab drivers ya?) He then went on to ask that we are 10,000 over strong right? We answered we are now 23,000 strong and he had an astonished look on his face! And he asked how many people are going for the prayer meeting and we told him a good few thousand of us will be there, and this time his jaw dropped..

Later we realised that this uncle is from a Chinese Methodist Church in Yishun. Their church has a vision of reaching the entire Yishun with the love of Christ and have began their work as early as the 90's. In 1994, they set up a day care centre for children providing free tuition for non-Christians in the neighbourhood, and out of this move, almost all the children in the centre received salvation with no objection from their unbelieving parents! The hearts of the parents were so open that the church members could visit the homes of the children freely and offer them prayers over their needs! But after a short 2 years, the church closed down the day care centre. Today, the children have grown up and some of them have just graduated from university. Some kept in contact with the church, some stayed but most didn't attend church anymore.

As I heard this, I am ever more stirred in my heart concerning all the community work that City Harvest is engaging overseas and locally. The work that we are doing cannot cease and should never be taken for granted because they are channels for us to be a blessing to our society, and it is the only way we can begin to reach out to more unbelievers with the love of God by meeting their needs.

Imagine the impact that this Chinese Methodist Church made when they engaged and served the community many years ago, and out of it, they experienced revival and growth not just in terms of bringing more people to God, but their own members were also filled with such passion for lost as they reached out! However, the moment they stopped being an asset to the society, the moment they stopped meeting needs, their church stopped growing and the members lost their passion. Today, hardly a few members or even leaders turned up for their church prayer meetings, that's why uncle was so amazed when he heard that thousands of us would flock to our chuch wide prayer meetings. This uncle is already in his 50's, and yet he was so hungry and kept on asking what is our key to having so many people loving to pray. At the end, he was so enthusiastic that he relunctantly let us alight and we exchanged numbers to meet again because he wanted his son to meet us concerning his ministry with the youths.

Throughout the worship during prayer meeting, my cup was just overflowing. Time and time again, the Holy Spirit reminded me that Jesus said in the word that "My House shall be called a House of Prayer". Revival begins with prayer, substained through prayer, and revival eventually grows to manifest itself in territorial influence. That's indeed how Korea grew to have 40% population who are Christians and having 8 out of 10 largest churches in that one nation! And not forgetting the social impact that Yoido Full Gospel Church had made through their hospice and medical centre etc.

I guess this is how the end-time revival would look like : Spirit-filled social entreuprenurs engaging the marketplace. We will be like the 4-faced creature bearing the face of an OX - able to abase and serve everywhere we are planted ; the face of a LION - able to abound and dare to rise up as a giant in our industries ; the face of an EAGLE - spiritual, led by the spirit, always hearing and obeying the word ; and finally the face of a MAN - totally relevant, contemporary and identified with the world.

Let us all rise up to the call of prayer and social engagement!

Trio of celebrations

This is how it looked like during our fellowship: can you see the hungry looks on June and Alana's faces?

Janice and Ophelia caught in a candit shot.

Ready, one more time, pose!

Patient looking Sebas and bored looking Chingling waiting for their food to arrive.

Eunice and Fann looking happi!

June taking photo of her sumptious Katsu Don before tucking in.

Alana: still hungry. Gimme one of this, this, this and that.

After all the good food, we were led to a surprisingly, romantic setting for birthday celebrations!

And here are the 3 主角of the nite, yeah!

Birthday gals posing happily in front of their cake.

Dear God, please grant me all my birthday wishes!

So, you want to know our birthday wishes?

I wish for this... and that... Celine and Alana sharing their birthday wishes.

What's up with the grapes? Some kind of after-dinner desserts for the birthday gals?

Eat the grapes, but no hands, please...

Celine, the champion grape eater of the night showing off her grape eating skill.

Next up, Alana and Eunice had a go at the grapes...

Yeah, they've got it!!

Finished! Tasked accomplished. What a fruitful time, indeed.

Looking forward to the presents...

Finally, Celine got her present...

and Eunice too, such a BIG one, somemore.

Rebec presenting the gift to Alana PR style.

Can you see the joy radiating off our faces?!! The joy of receiving!

Alana with her vitality toothbrush for a brighter and more dazzling smile.

Eunice showing off her beautiful Elle gym bag proudly.

... and acting cute with active sportwear...

Eunice all ready to hit the gym!

Celine with all her pressies...

... showing off her lovely precious moment towel...

... and obviously very pleased with it.

And of course, the cake must be cut, so that everyone can finally have a bite after all the fun and excitment.

This Message has Changed My Life

Hello bro and sis,

Read this passage carefully from top to bottom, it will blessed you. Cheers :)

Life is full of twist and no one tells you life is ever easy. Examples below show how great people with strong mind becomesomeone through time, with many setbacks of course.

In 1962, four nervous young musicians played their first record audition for the executives of the Decca recording Company. The executives were not impressed. While turning down this group of musicians, one executive said,"We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out."The group was called The BEATLES.

In 1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modelling Agency,told modelling hopeful Norma Jean Baker, "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married." She went on and became MARILYN MONROE.

In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired a singer after one performance. He told him, "You ain't goin' nowhere....son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck." He went on to become the most popular singer in America named ELVIS PRESLEY.

When ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL invented the telephone in 1876, it did not ring off the hook with calls from potential backers. After making a demonstration call, President Rutherford Hayes said, "That's an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?"

When THOMAS EDISON invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times. He said, "I never failed once. I invented the lightbulb. It just happened to be a 2000-step process."

In the 1940s, another young inventor named CHESTER CARLSON took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in the country. They all turned him down. In 1947 - after seven long years of rejections! He finally got a tiny company in Rochester, New York, the Haloid company, to purchase the rights to his invention an electrostatic paper-copying process. Haloid became Xerox Corporation we know today.

WILMA RUDOLPH was the 20th of 22 children. She was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years old, she contacted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralysed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it. By 13 she had developed rythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl, who was told she would never walk again, went on to win three Olympic gold medal.

The Moral of the above Stories: Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.You gain strength, experience and confidence by every experience whereyou really stop to look fear in the face....You must do the thing you cannot do. And remember, the finest steel gets sent through the hottest furnace. A winner is not one who never fails,but one who NEVER QUITS!

In LIFE, remember that you pass this way only once! Let's live life to the fullest and give it our extreme best.

A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law...

ATTITUDE is in e MIND's PaiNtBrUsh, it can cOlOur ANY SituatioN. A FRIEND never DeMaNds tat you DO NOT Change, but ReMeMberS e way U Are!

The Star Thrower

Once upon a time, there was a wise man, much like Eiseley himself, who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had the habit of walking along the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore; as he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day, so he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead, he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing Starfish into the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked; why are you throwing Starfish into the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and Starfish all along it, you can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely, then bent down, picked up another Starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves. "It made a difference for that one."

(Taken and adapted from starthrower.com. Click link for complete version.)

Have we made a difference? Will we make a difference? To that one person out there. To that one life out there. Today's message really stirred up our hearts greatly. Once again, we are being reminded of how it was meant to be. In a world with widening income gap and wealth disparity, we do not want widening spirit gap and love disparity. We are to bring God's presence into the streets. We "put skin" on God, as Pastor Tan so aptly put it. When people look at us and our lives, what do they see? Do they see God in us?

Let us each find our starfish to throw. Let us once again, have a passion of compassion for a world without vision.

The cowboy and the bear

A cowboy from Colorado skipped church one Sunday to go bear hunting in the mountains. As he turned the corner along the path, he and a bear collided. The cowboy stumbled backwards, slipped off the trail and began tumbling down the mountain with the bear in hot pursuit. Finally the cowboy crashed into a boulder, sending his rifle in one direction and breaking both legs. As the bear closed in, the cowboy cried out in desperation, "Lord, I'm sorry for what I have done. Please forgive me and save me! Lord, please make that bear a Christian."

Suddenly, the clouds parted and a beam of light shone down on the bear. The bear skidded to a halt at the cowboy's feet, fell to its knees, clasped its paws together and said, "God, bless this food which I am about to receive."

A little Birthday Celebration for Eric

We had a belated birthday celebration for Eric after CG yesterday.

Eric being asked to make a speech.

Opening up the mystery present which was...

... Eu Yan Sang Ginseng Tea! Though the birthday boy looked a bit unenthusiastic. Maybe he needs a boost of ginseng tea.

Another present! Eric looking decidedly happier now.

It's a T-shirt which was probably more well-received by the birthday boy.

Here's Eric with his unique pie cake.

TGIF

When I first heard of the term TGIF, I thought it one cool term. Thank God it's Friday! Thank you God, indeed. That the long week is ending and weekend is just round the corner. Another alternative for the acronym is Terribly Gleeful it's Friday. Maybe it's for people who doesn't want to acknowledge there's God or thank Him for Friday although they are terribly happy about it being Friday anyway. Whatever.

Recently, I heard of another meaning for this well known acronym: Today God is First. Well, indeed. Does it sound as cool? Probably not. But it has definitely more signifance. Thank God it's Friday is only applicable once every week. And though it does boost your happiness level (I hope it does?!) by a bit, it doesn't really do much for you. Except probably makes you dread Monday more. Whereas TGIF in Today God is First is an everyday reminder of where my priorities should be. Now, whenever I heard or read the term TGIF, I am reminded once and again - Today God is First. In decision making, in my choice of actions, in my list of priorities. And thank God it's Friday, too! :)

Sneak Peek...

This is how our cell group card look like..


(click to enlarge for clearer view)

hope you guys will like it :D

Surrender to the Lord - for woman

(Extracted from http://ati.iblp.org/ati/family/articles/family/wivesresponse/part5/)

Esther was surrendered to God’s will and purposes, and she knew that she might have to give up her life to see them fulfilled. She was willing to give her all to obey the Lord and to walk in His ways. I believe this was the most important step Esther took. She said and meant, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

We as women have to come to this point of surrender. We have to be willing to “die” and give up our lives to the Lord, as Esther was willing to die for her family. Every woman’s point of “death” will be different.

For me death came in the area of sexual intimacy. Pornography affected my husband in a different way than it may have affected yours. Paul’s sin made him apathetic and unresponsive. He was constantly dealing with the guilt from his secret sin, and masturbation had made it hard for him to be able to please me in intimacy. For him it was easier to just not go there.
I became very bitter over the years, because I was the one who had to initiate any time we were together physically. Many occasions I experienced the stinging pain of rejection when Paul avoided my advances. This was the most painful part of our marriage. I talk to women every day who are experiencing the same thing. Because of pornography and lust, their husbands have shut down and are no longer sexually active within their marriage. I understand this pain of rejection and how deeply it can hurt.

This was my place of death. I had to come to the place where I said to the Lord and to Paul that if we were never intimate again, I would still continue to love and serve him. My choice to die in that area has brought about the greatest blessings in my life. God called me to die so that in His time He could bring resurrection power to that which was dead. God has restored that part of our marriage, and now we act like honeymooners all the time! It is wonderful!

Ask God, and He will show you where you need to die. Your area of surrender may be different from mine. One woman felt that she was to keep her mouth shut—that was her death. Another was to be sexually intimate with her husband when she hated it, another felt she was to stop interfering with her husband’s discipline of their children, and some women have to die by learning how to confront their husbands about their sin.

I spoke with a woman today who for 23 years has sat back and been quiet and never spoken up to her husband. This woman doesn’t like confrontation and will run from it and avoided it at all costs. As I talked to her, I explained that death for her is probably going to be facing her husband and confronting him over his sin.

As brothers and sisters in Christ we are called to reprove, rebuke, and expose sin in each other’s lives. (See II Timothy 4:2 and Hebrews 3:13.) Holding each other accountable is to be done without hypocrisy and in a spirit of genuine love, and this must come after prayer, fasting, and crying out to the Lord. It must come out of a spirit of love and concern for your family and not out of bitterness for how you have been mistreated.

Don’t say, “Well I can’t do it until I get my attitude right, so I guess I may never do it.” My dear friend, this doesn’t need to take days! Repent of your bitterness, ask God for grace to carry out the plan He is giving you, and move on. Don’t let the enemy of procrastination keep you from doing what you need to do. This really isn’t about you; it’s about your children. Keep reminding yourself of that.

Revelations inspire

What an interesting revelation from Eunice!

Revelations like this which comes as a rhema, just for you only. How true, the daily things in life, God can speak to us in His voice, give us revelation and wisdom in handling our lives. This shared revelation surely would keep my frustrations to a minimal when it comes to a sardined environment next time. How creative is our God!

Eunice, this is what it meant by walking with Jesus bah. In the little things in life, Jesus speaks to us, and what light it brings to that moment of frustration and pain!

Keep it coming guys, your revelations, it surely inspires me! Our God is a living God!

Eric are you back???

Hey Eric,

Happy BIRTHDAY!!! I msged you birthday greeting lei, you never reply, are you still overseas in Vietnam or u bizzie replying wishes till hand aching liao?

Anyway, guys, it was Eric's BIG DAY on Monday, 8th October. What's his wish for the year, what's his sentiments towards his life, what do we have for him, we will look out for it when he is back!

Eric, quickly come back..... we are waiting for you.

One more step

Since starting my new job in town, I've been taking the train to work everyday. And it's been getting on my nerve. The mad rush every morning to secure a spot in the already fully-packed train, elbowing and squeezing my way in with thousand other passengers. Inconsiderate people who stands in the middle and not moves in, people who carries big, bulky bags shoving them in your back, up your face, and other body parts, people who uses a baby pram, carried a luggage, brings along a screaming child, people who stands at the door blocking the way, etc. They irrate the h*ll out of me. Tempers were highly strung and patience stretched to the utmost. Honestly, I am at my meanest and most unloving during the train ride every morning.

One day, while feeling very hostile and out of patience towards my neighbours in the MRT, the Holy Spirit asked me, "What do you think Jesus would do in this situation?" That started me thinking. I imagined Jesus in his robe (sorry, no way I can imagine my Lord in shirt and tie), squeezing alongside with us in the train. What would He do? I imagined him being squeezed and not retaliating. Maybe he would give up his seat. But that was the best my imagination can do. I mean, I WAS already being squeezed. And sometimes I would give up my seat too. What else could Jesus do that is extraordinary? So I told God, no idea. I dunno what Jesus would do. You tell me.

Suddenly, the story of how Jesus got into a boat to preach came to mind. And God asked, why do you think Jesus got into a boat in the first place? [gulp] I never saw it this light before. Jesus gave up his place. He went all the way out to give up his place. When there's no more space on land, he got into a boat.

Matt 13:2 - A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. (NLT)

Maybe in a train, I can't do that - get into a boat or climb up the pole(!). But at least I can move one more step in, ungrudging, without complaining, with love for my neighbours. Because God has already showed me His best example.

The Environment I Accept Determines The Person I Become. (By Pastor Robb Thomson)

“But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about His law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.” Psalm 1:2-3 (NLT)

By embracing this principle, we understand the importance of maintaining God’s presence. I personally consider the morning hour as the gauge for the rest of my day. I always begin my day by pursuing God’s presence. I then carefully maintain His presence throughout the day. The progress and success of my day is methodically linked to the time I spend with God in the morning. A bowl of salt water sits upon every Passover table. What does it represent? The salty water represents the tears that were shed by those who made the trek to the Promised Land, the environment that would determine that the Jews were truly the people of God. We must surround ourselves with God’s presence, either by listening to the Word of God or playing worship music. Our environment determines our progress, just as getting to the Promised Land determined the progress of the Jews. As Christians, our desire should be to intimately know God, and to possess the character of Christ. To do so, we need to create the proper environment. While a farmer must cultivate the soil before planting seed, we must create an atmosphere in which our life can be shaped into the likeness of our Lord. We must make a commitment to create the environment that assures us of future progress.

Daily Confession
Father, I thank You that I do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or join in with scoffers. My delight and desire is in Your Word, and I habitually meditate and orally recite Your Word day and night.

Blessing from Fann

This beautiful notebook is a gift from Fann. This is already the 2nd notebook I've received from Fann. Thank yooouuuuuu! Really appreciate it.

Miscelleneous photos

Sebas and Kasey doing a "drink 100-plus" advert pose here.

Dazzling smiles from Ophelia and June.

Kasey with Ophelia and Rebecca. This is the 2nd photo of Kaseys posing with Rebec and Ophelia. Do I see a pattern here?

James Bond poses??!

Hehe, I found these miscellaneous photos in June's camera and thought they should be shared. Somemore, it's not often we see our bro Kasey so smartly dressed. ;)

Great People in N394

hello my dear bro and sis,

i agree what June said, from the bottom of my heart, I love the CG and you. i would say that the time being with you every week, praising worshipping God togehter, fellowship, is one of my favorite time, just love to be with your.

You know, no matter whether the person is more spiritual or least spiritual than me, believer or not, younger or older than me, whether is the person man or woman, so long that i can draw something good from him/her, i will learn from that peron (hee... guess who taught me this great thing? Put this into your memory and let it remind you again and again, you will be exalted - "humble will be exalted"). i can learn so much from your, can learn english la, how to be creative la, how to be "I" la, how to be "D" la, so much la... your are great la...... From now till the time comes we mulitply (dont know when, but it will happen, cos its the will of God - fruitful and mulitply), i will want to gather all the good good things so that can pass it on to the new CG.

To be frank, we have our talents but i am really amazed specially by your creativity. Many times, man... i really wonder how your got things done so wonderfully sometimes, its basically solid. Things like this blog, birthday cards, birthday program, present, etc.. wow... blow my mind lei....

i am thinking, if all of us put together all our talents indiviually, to do a project, man.. we will be the champion i think.

Hmmm..... ya hor. shall we do a project ar? hmmm...... ya ya...... good idea good idea... we discuss ok????

this is the first time that i blog, hope i have done well. ha... :p am i also creative???? first time blog also can blog quite well.... ok right??? :p

Mighty Soldier Of KOG

Keep this blog alive!

Dear n394-ers,

Many thanks to June who contributes a post. Hey guys, this is your blog, okay? It doesn't just belong to Emily and Eunice. If that's the case, we will rename the blog to "Emily & Eunice's blog" (and we will post our own faces on the header!). So, please don't rely on us to post and update the blog while you remain as passive readers.

Invitations have been sent out to all of you with emails addresses, so you have no excuses hor! Please go and check your mailboxes. Feel free to post and share any comments, thoughts, testimonies, photos, pictures, drawings, poems, recipes, self-made MTV video of yourself via youtube, etc... whatever you think is interesting for us, here.

Help us to keep this blog alive! Thank you.

---- End of message from the administrator ----

Photos memories

Great job Eunice and Emily, you guys did such a wonderful job to the blog site! I find it truly amazing and heartwarming to see these photos for the different occassions. Indeed such memories we shared shall follow us till we grow old, praise the Lord for www!

We are entering into the 4th month of N394. In these few months, the members have gotten to know one another to a greater level and the bonding and unity is hard to miss. I love this cellgroup, every member is unique. I had originally thought that this adult group would be not so rara, signs of aging, haa. Hee, guess I was wrong, the members proved to be even more rara than me. As for some of them, they can be so funny and interesting till i can't stop laughing.

Yes, let this CG be the lighthouse, a place where new believers can come to know Jesus, where backsliders can have their heart reflamed. I'm looking forward and am eager to find out what God has inplace for us as a CG. How would we be when it's Christmas? The indvidual lives, what kind of changes would God have made, what kind of breakthroughs and new opportunities would we have gone through ?

Especially this is the building fund season, where our faith is challenged, all to build God an excellent house, in the marketplace, for the marketplace, to penetrate the marketplace! My 4 yrs in City Harvest, every sacrificial giving brought me big blessings. It was in these 4 yrs, that my career got to the next level, promotion came into place, well paying job, favour at new job. I believe in miracles. Each time I gave and STRETCHED my faith, my faith in God to provide gets more assuring. To me, it's just impossible for God the father not to bless, and I understand with every blessing comes a sacrifice. And the blessings ALWAYS overtakes the sacrifice, if we dare to trust God. The spiritual law of sowing and giving never fades.

My spirit is excited. I have no idea what God is gonna do in my life for the next few months, yet I know that as I give unto His kingdom, He will bring me higher. As I exalt Him, He will exalt me. To each individual's faith, it shall be done. The period of giving is never easy going, His grace we depend on to be faithful till the end. And before we know it, our storehouse would be overflowing with blessings. Let heaven be open over N394, over City Harvest Church!