WOW! Carolling at Orchard on Christmas eve was a really fantabulously exciting experience. Haha. I have never ever had such a Christmas eve before. Actually, my main objective for this event was really to get to know my friends better and have fun as we carolled together... Then the week before, I was asked to become a small small group leader. At first I thought that it will be quite manageable… after all, it’s just 5 people in my group. Haha... but I was so wrong. Orchard Road was so super duper crowded that keeping 5 people together is actually quite challenging. I felt like some mother hen trying to make sure that all the chicks are together, and that no eagle comes swooping down to snatch them away. I did a head count like every 5 seconds man. Haha. But I was blessed even as I chose to lead the group… indeed it is a privilege to serve. I learnt how to take care of my group: break them into pairs to buddy each other, ensure that they are taken care of by asking them to drink water, ensuring that they have the lyrics for the carols, making them comfortable and keeping their energy levels up etc… all in all, learning to love them.
Indeed as Ps Khong preached, love focuses on caring, in which we meet the needs of the people with all we are. Yesterday was a little experience of how I actually did that. An instance was when we used bags and paper to shield each other from the nasty smelly foam that people kept trying to spray on others. Another was when we made sure that we walked in a choo choo train so that no-one will be lost. haha. There were many many other instances where we did little acts of kindness for each other that amounts to theh love for one another.
Love fosters confidence as well. Something that I have always been struggling with is to use a firm voice when leading a small group. Perhaps it is because of my fear of rejection because of childhood experiences. Throughout the year, in many instances where I led a small group, I hardly discipline them at all and treat them merely as friends. But yesterday, I felt the freedom to do so. There was an atmosphere of love for me to freely switch from serious mode to fun mode and back to serious mode again.
Before the event, as I prayed for it, God promised that His presence will be there with us in Orchard Road. And indeed He is a faithful God! There was such an atmosphere of joy and love as we sang Christmas Carols and worshipped the Lord. =) I thank God that the crowd caught that joy from us as well though our carolling was so messy… haha… Despite all the technical glitches, the crowd didn’t seem to care… cos the atmosphere of joy and love was already there. =)
Indeed, all in all it was a fruitful event and I thank God for it! And here's wishing all of you out there MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! =)
Monday, December 25, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Intercession is Exciting!
I realise that I havn't been blogging for long... so must quickly update.
Haha… it has been a really really long weekend… but I enjoyed it loads and loads. =) I went to expo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday… and it’s not as if I stay very near expo either… so it was quite tiring… but each time as I went and served The Lord, He always refreshed my spirit so that I go home with joy. This is the first part of my reflections cos the weekend has been really long and I havn't finished my reflections yet! =X hehs.
On Friday, I was on intercession duty for the Magic of Love… I remember going there with a heavy heart cos I had so many things that I was thinking and struggling about… But I knew that I had to clear my mind of my personal agenda and start to fix my mind on Jesus… or else my prayers won’t be effective.
[James 5:16] “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
I reached the intercession room 40 minutes early. I was like the first person who came man… So I started to prepare my heart, worshipping The Lord as the worship leader practised for worship… and as I did that, I surrendered all my concerns to God and confessed any sins that were within me… It was really an exciting time of praying… I have never prayed for 2 hours (excluding worship) before!!! =))) haha… and the amazing thing is that I didn’t even feel weary or tired but I just felt like I could keep praying and praying. Haha… Thank God for that! I was also very excited to be able to support Ps Khong by interceding for His show.
After the whole intercession session, I had a debrief with Sharon. I thank God that she chose to go with me because she wanted to help me further develop my gift of intercession. She helped me to see that the devil has been putting me through many trials and testings because he didn’t want me to pray… because he is afraid that when I pray, his plans will be thwarted. Haha. So I must stand stong in The Lord… so that I can be that righteous man whose prayer is powerful and effective.
Haha… it has been a really really long weekend… but I enjoyed it loads and loads. =) I went to expo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday… and it’s not as if I stay very near expo either… so it was quite tiring… but each time as I went and served The Lord, He always refreshed my spirit so that I go home with joy. This is the first part of my reflections cos the weekend has been really long and I havn't finished my reflections yet! =X hehs.
On Friday, I was on intercession duty for the Magic of Love… I remember going there with a heavy heart cos I had so many things that I was thinking and struggling about… But I knew that I had to clear my mind of my personal agenda and start to fix my mind on Jesus… or else my prayers won’t be effective.
[James 5:16] “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
I reached the intercession room 40 minutes early. I was like the first person who came man… So I started to prepare my heart, worshipping The Lord as the worship leader practised for worship… and as I did that, I surrendered all my concerns to God and confessed any sins that were within me… It was really an exciting time of praying… I have never prayed for 2 hours (excluding worship) before!!! =))) haha… and the amazing thing is that I didn’t even feel weary or tired but I just felt like I could keep praying and praying. Haha… Thank God for that! I was also very excited to be able to support Ps Khong by interceding for His show.
After the whole intercession session, I had a debrief with Sharon. I thank God that she chose to go with me because she wanted to help me further develop my gift of intercession. She helped me to see that the devil has been putting me through many trials and testings because he didn’t want me to pray… because he is afraid that when I pray, his plans will be thwarted. Haha. So I must stand stong in The Lord… so that I can be that righteous man whose prayer is powerful and effective.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Exam Time! Hurray!
haha... that sounds so totally funny to rejoice because it's exam time right? =PpP But the truth is, it is indeed a time to rejoice! The word of God says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4
It is truly during this period of time that I can see God's hand moving more clearly. I can see Him blessing me in all my papers. It is especially during times such as these that I am more sensitive to The Holy Spirit. You know, on Monday as I was studying with a friend, The Holy Spirit prompted me to pray for her. At first, I struggled... cos it's feels so weird to ask her whether i can pray for her cos she's a non-Christian. But anyway, i decided to take the step of faith to ask and I thank the Holy Spirit for giving me the words to say. =) hehs. At that moment, i trust that God has planted a seed of faith in her heart. And you know what? today as both of us rushed to go for our papers together, she said, "aey, we havn't prayed yet." wow! really thank God for His big open door. haha. so i prayed for both of us on the bus toward the exam hall. =) indeed God is a good God!
Also, i was really really dizzy before I went for my exam paper today. And i was praying like mad for God's strength... cos this is the paper that I studied the HARDEST for... and I cannot do badly for it cos all my efforts would have gone down the drain. But i thank God. Indeed like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10... God's grace is sufficient for us... and His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Therefore, I choose to delight in my weaknesses! =) Although the paper was really hard and took up all of my brain juices, and made me momentarily demoralised; but i still want to thank God... cos He allowed me to do my best for it. =) After the paper, as i talked to others about it, i realised that maybe i didn't do that badly after all... cos I filled in many more blanks than others. haha. Don't get me wrong, i don't say this to show that i am smart or anything... I say this because I know that it is God's divine intervention in the midst of my exams. Indeed, He gave me the wisdom to study stuff that came out in the exam paper! haha. yay. so fun. =) Our God is a God of more than enough.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
It is truly during this period of time that I can see God's hand moving more clearly. I can see Him blessing me in all my papers. It is especially during times such as these that I am more sensitive to The Holy Spirit. You know, on Monday as I was studying with a friend, The Holy Spirit prompted me to pray for her. At first, I struggled... cos it's feels so weird to ask her whether i can pray for her cos she's a non-Christian. But anyway, i decided to take the step of faith to ask and I thank the Holy Spirit for giving me the words to say. =) hehs. At that moment, i trust that God has planted a seed of faith in her heart. And you know what? today as both of us rushed to go for our papers together, she said, "aey, we havn't prayed yet." wow! really thank God for His big open door. haha. so i prayed for both of us on the bus toward the exam hall. =) indeed God is a good God!
Also, i was really really dizzy before I went for my exam paper today. And i was praying like mad for God's strength... cos this is the paper that I studied the HARDEST for... and I cannot do badly for it cos all my efforts would have gone down the drain. But i thank God. Indeed like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10... God's grace is sufficient for us... and His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Therefore, I choose to delight in my weaknesses! =) Although the paper was really hard and took up all of my brain juices, and made me momentarily demoralised; but i still want to thank God... cos He allowed me to do my best for it. =) After the paper, as i talked to others about it, i realised that maybe i didn't do that badly after all... cos I filled in many more blanks than others. haha. Don't get me wrong, i don't say this to show that i am smart or anything... I say this because I know that it is God's divine intervention in the midst of my exams. Indeed, He gave me the wisdom to study stuff that came out in the exam paper! haha. yay. so fun. =) Our God is a God of more than enough.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
Monday, November 27, 2006
Welcome to my new bLog!
haha... actually, i don't like to write blogs. i've always resisted the idea of having one. It's so super duper sian to keep typing everything on a computer. haha. and i don't really like computers too. But i've come to a realisation that in this modern era, the youths of today are increasingly using the internet as a tool to communicate or perhaps as something to 'kill time'. Thus, i concluded that blogs are a good avenue to share our lives with others. and so, i decided to start one. haha.
Perhaps another reason why i wasn't into the idea of writing blogs is cos i don't want everyone to know everything about me. Even people whom i consider my closest closest friends don't know everything about me. That's because ever since primary school days, i've been choosing to hide my real self. I chose to do that because of somethings that happened and it made it hard for me to trust people. But these past 2 years, God has been revealing the past hurts in my life and has been healing me from them all. =) And that is why i now have the courage to share my life with others. I believe that as I share, the Holy Spirit will use me to encourage the people who read my blog too! haha.
Anyway, if u're wondering since when was my name 'isabelle', i shall share with u now. haha. When i was very young, in kindergarden times, my mom gave me the name 'isabelle'. She chose the name because of the character 'Belle' in beauty and the beast. I used to like reading books when i was young, just like her, so my mother decided to put part of her name in my Christian name. But i always felt weird to ask people to call me by my Christian name. haha. Only my piano teacher called me by that name man. haha. It was only when I was in JC1 when The Lord restored my relationship with my parents did i start to learn to embrace my Christian name. Also, i found out that the meaning of the name "Isabelle" is "consecrated unto God"! So cool rite. Consecration = obedience to God. wow. and i want to live that out. i want to be an obedient child of God who chooses to walk in His ways all the days of my life. *grinz*
"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching." [John 14:23-24]
Perhaps another reason why i wasn't into the idea of writing blogs is cos i don't want everyone to know everything about me. Even people whom i consider my closest closest friends don't know everything about me. That's because ever since primary school days, i've been choosing to hide my real self. I chose to do that because of somethings that happened and it made it hard for me to trust people. But these past 2 years, God has been revealing the past hurts in my life and has been healing me from them all. =) And that is why i now have the courage to share my life with others. I believe that as I share, the Holy Spirit will use me to encourage the people who read my blog too! haha.
Anyway, if u're wondering since when was my name 'isabelle', i shall share with u now. haha. When i was very young, in kindergarden times, my mom gave me the name 'isabelle'. She chose the name because of the character 'Belle' in beauty and the beast. I used to like reading books when i was young, just like her, so my mother decided to put part of her name in my Christian name. But i always felt weird to ask people to call me by my Christian name. haha. Only my piano teacher called me by that name man. haha. It was only when I was in JC1 when The Lord restored my relationship with my parents did i start to learn to embrace my Christian name. Also, i found out that the meaning of the name "Isabelle" is "consecrated unto God"! So cool rite. Consecration = obedience to God. wow. and i want to live that out. i want to be an obedient child of God who chooses to walk in His ways all the days of my life. *grinz*
"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching." [John 14:23-24]
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