Monday, June 30, 2008

BEST

Is God’s Work more important than having more people come join us? If not, why do we show that way? Why are we more obsessed with getting the things done than saving more people? Isn’t saving more souls the ultimate result of doing God’s Work?

0104, I’m sorry for always seeming so busy. I’m sorry for not being able to stop and discuss about how to make our study programme better for our kids. I’m sorry for not being able to let u catch me so that you can finally talk to me. I’m sorry for not being able play ‘big fish, small fish’ with you (actually, I’m not really sure how to play la... -..-). I’m sorry for not being able to answer ALL your questions (err.. some questions are best left for God to answer la..).

BUT!

Let our times in Church be as fulfilling as possible ok?? I totally agree with CL when she said that during weekends, she can’t wait to evolve into multiple ‘her’, so that she can do many, many things.

So youths, please don’t say that there is nothing for you to do in Charis. CHARIS LOVES A WILLING HEART; AND SO DOES GOD! As long as you are willing, you will never be short of things to do!

Clearing up the mess (doesn’t matter who made it), touching people’s lives and making that special difference, making sure that the elderly are seated at the most comfortable place (instead of our own butts already being there), getting people to pray with us for our new friends and upcoming activities, thinking through every single corner of our new Church building to see what we can do to make it even better… AND LOADS MORE!!!!



“For those who are willing to make an effort, great miracles and wonderful treasures are in store.” ~ Issac Bashevis Singer
Remember how we can 积宝在天? Here’s one way.


“There are many of us who are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.” ~ Dwight L. Moody
Are we willing to be the few who are willing to do little things for God?


“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci
Having a willing heart is good; having actual help is better.

Youths! Be the best that we can ok?!!

Let your life bloom to its fullest for God.


Disclaimer: I still gotta do what I’ve gotta do la… so some games are best left for other times and some questions are best left for other times of the DAY. >.<

Sunday, June 22, 2008

some thoughts amidst my busy everyday life..


hello proud members of 0104! it's been some time since i last posted something.. and this blog is becoming stagnant when everyone's been caught up in their everyday lives.. (let's see how long this post takes to be noticed)..

anws, im here to share some thoughts and afterthoughts! :D since June hols are ending.. ):

this whole June hol, i slept a lot, ate a lot, caught up with friends and studied a little.. but i was also able to finish a few books.. Eric & Leslie Ludy's "When God Writes Your Life Story" (courtesy of jj) and Max Lucado's "In the Eye of the Storm" (courtesy of lx).. and im currently reading "When God Writes Your Love Story", 2nd series of Eric n Leslie Ludy again.. it's really good!

yes yes.. also, for those of you who missed out on our TGY and our VALUABLE discussion with mu shi until 5am that morning.. i dontknow how to explain to you what you've missed!

to me, it wasnt a formal, big discussion, but it impacted me and strengthened my Faith, and i needed that, esp when im all living in a society that constantly tells me: "Wah Piang Eh! your religion abit lao pok sia! so many rules.. and so busy somemore!"

today in tq, when we sat together during cell group time.. we spent time talking about our 'rules' again.. how we should sit while listening, abt the importance of having pen and paper ready, abt BGR and the crazy things we get into when emotions get the better of us.. (you know, teenagers n their raging hormones. haha~) ww having to explain so much, it's really tough on her. thankyou, ww..

but i hope you caught the GIST of our discussion today.. no matter how many rules we set: abt giving 10% faithfully, abt BGR, not smsing n calling at night, not going out alone w e opp sex, even small things like how to give support when someone is talking, and to help with cleaning up..

i salute all of you for being willing to listen to e rules and ask questions.. shows that you're interested! wow.. and even better, obey the rules when other pple outside may say "HUH? cannot go out alone w the opp sex? r u living in year 2008 or not? this is singapore leh, not ancient chinaaaa.."

but people ah people!! im afraid that you guys will miss e point. (cause i missed it initially too! so here i write BIG BIG in red)
it all boils down to
pleasing God with our actions! meaning, that we can set a hundred 'rules', and you can obey them all but at the same time feel that you are being forced to comply. (c'mon la, admit it!)

then that will be different from wanting to please God, and thus, be really, sincerely, truthfully listening to what the leaders say.

imagine 2 scenarios:
1. your parents just held a big party.. and they forced you to clean up the kitchen after that. the whole place is a mess! and the whole time you complained, saying "you're treating me like cinderella!", but you clean up anyways.. cause you were aware of the consequences if you dont. but the whole time you were asking "can i stop now? am i done yet?".. until your parents finally let you off the hook and you FLEE to your room to start the maple story appointment with a friend online.

2. your parents are out for the day. you're alone at home and the kitchen's in a mess but no one asked you to clean up. suddenly, you had an idea.. you started cleaning up the kitchen, wiping ALL the counters, mopped the floor, and did a thorough job (now that's really going e 2nd mile).. just for the sake of surprising your parents.. when they returned, they were indeed surprised and exclaimed "who did this? it's wonderful!".. do you feel the joy?

there's a big difference between the 2.. same thing leh. if you oblige by 0104's rules, understand that you do so, to please God.. not to make sure ww wun get any chance to scold you hor!

Guys, let's build our lives in God, not build God in our lives.. okay?

when you love God, really love Him, you will be able to say w David e psalmist, "I desire to do ur will, O my God" (Psalm 40:8) it will flow from within, not from rules we set.. (not that they're a bad thing la.. but you get my point)

if God is going to write your life story, He's going to need your pen.

Jesus said, "Daily you must trust me, surrendering everything, including the blood in your veins, and the breath in your lungs for me to do as i see fit. if you want to join up w me, you must let me lead." (luke 9:23, paraphrase in "When God Writes Your Love Story")

maybe we'll hesitate to pass God our pen.. cause that will mean not being able to do things our way, in our time. but if we really realise that God is The One who understands us more than we understand ourselves, and really knows what He's doing.. we'll be more than willing to pass him our pen. we'll pass him the pencils, the crayons, the markers too! (im still learning also.. we learn tgt la?)

look, we've all been through the playing-around-the-rules-but-still-obeying-them. it's tiring.. right? let's just focus on pleasing God with our actions for now. im sure he'll show 0104 the way to grow strong, tight, and right!

jiayou (:
(eh, if you've got the stamina to read until here, wa seh, you are good. tag in the board so i know! lol.. gd luck when sch reopens dears!)

love, char..