For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith –
and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God
Ephesians 2:8
The Bamboo seed.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 7:20 PM
Don't give up. One day I decided to quit. quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me. "Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said.
"The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"
?
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. Never, Never, Never Give up.
For the Christian, prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!
Hope this story tells you something. Love, Ann. (:
FYP
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 6:07 PM
hey people, i am currently think of ideas for my poly education, year 3 final year project(FYP). topic on comsumer electronics. in short, i need to INVENT something. really need ideas!!! If you have any let me know k :) thanks
Shun bin
Shun bin
Indescribable.
Monday, April 27, 2009 4:31 PM
hey GO(L)Ds, i completely fell in love with this song after last week's service, what great meaning this song contains. (: He is indeed an AMAZING God! Love, Ann.
Jia you for exam
Sunday, April 26, 2009 2:46 PM
all the best for you exam.. actually no easy way. study study & trust Him!!! all the best!!
home blessing grouping
1:16 PM
BLK 853
Amanda & Grace
02-128
03-130
Christine & Deborah
03-132
03-134
03-136
Ann, Joy, Shirley & new girl
02-118
02-120
02-122
Vera, Clairah, Kimberlyn & camilia
02-124
02-126
12-118
Bernard & Aaron
12-120
12-122
12-124
Joash, Issac & Shun Bin
12-126
12-128
12-130
Benedick, Atticus & Darren
12-132
12-134
12-136
From this week home blessing(09 Labour Day) onwards, we will stick to this groups and these units. You are RESPONSIABLE for the units you are post to. Together with your partner(s) you all must make sure all the units get wat they should get even if it means going back some other day.
You all are older youth already (SEC 3!!!) and i believe it's time for you all to take some responsibilty in church. These units are (entrusted) to you by GOD Himself, be faithful with the little and more will be given to you :)
Amanda & Grace
02-128
03-130
Christine & Deborah
03-132
03-134
03-136
Ann, Joy, Shirley & new girl
02-118
02-120
02-122
Vera, Clairah, Kimberlyn & camilia
02-124
02-126
12-118
Bernard & Aaron
12-120
12-122
12-124
Joash, Issac & Shun Bin
12-126
12-128
12-130
Benedick, Atticus & Darren
12-132
12-134
12-136
From this week home blessing(09 Labour Day) onwards, we will stick to this groups and these units. You are RESPONSIABLE for the units you are post to. Together with your partner(s) you all must make sure all the units get wat they should get even if it means going back some other day.
You all are older youth already (SEC 3!!!) and i believe it's time for you all to take some responsibilty in church. These units are (entrusted) to you by GOD Himself, be faithful with the little and more will be given to you :)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 8:35 PM
Some Prayer request :
Ben:He Fractured his leg while playing soccer as he cant go to school for 1 week right now,pray that he would recover soon and he will have an appointment on 27 of April for his fracture leg at Tan Tock Seng hospital.
Shirley:Will be having an Chinese oral test tml and an Chapter 2 math test(Map scale and propotion) on thursday...
Have a blessed week ahead
Ben:He Fractured his leg while playing soccer as he cant go to school for 1 week right now,pray that he would recover soon and he will have an appointment on 27 of April for his fracture leg at Tan Tock Seng hospital.
Shirley:Will be having an Chinese oral test tml and an Chapter 2 math test(Map scale and propotion) on thursday...
Have a blessed week ahead
DENGUE!!!!
Monday, April 20, 2009 4:27 PM
lets keep Deborah's mum. having dengue, low blood count. (",)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISAAC KWAN (",)
Saturday, April 18, 2009 1:25 PM
happy birthday to you x2
happy birthday to Isaac.......
happy birthday to uuuuuuu
CG 4 next 2 weeks
1:19 PM
date : 19 Apr
time : 11am - 1pm
location : Church(Shiloh 2)tentative
Vera will be sharing with us the Word. lest come expecting something from the Holy Spirit
date : 26 apr
time : 11am - 1pm
location : TBC
I will be sharing with us the Word. lest come expecting something from the Holy Spirit
(",)
time : 11am - 1pm
location : Church(Shiloh 2)tentative
Vera will be sharing with us the Word. lest come expecting something from the Holy Spirit
date : 26 apr
time : 11am - 1pm
location : TBC
I will be sharing with us the Word. lest come expecting something from the Holy Spirit
(",)
JOKES
1:14 PM
Pray request
1:03 PM
Christine : test & project dateline coming week.
Vera : exam 25, 27, 29 and one more.
bernard : bend performance @ CWP(19 apr, jia you k!!! we will support you) & X-ray result out next week
Shun Bin : scl starts this monday.(year 3) serious i quite worry. cos of ill disciplane, never go scl. so ya..
I donno how many of you will pray, cos seriously speeking if i were you and i saw something like this on the blog i won't care. still lets learn together. pray & see HIM work!!
VISION
Friday, April 17, 2009 6:38 PM
do keep me, tabby & vera in prayer :) as we pray and seek God for a direction and vision. as i said before, this CG belong to all and when you sence God saying something to you about the CG let us know k!!!
T.E.A.M = Together(as a CG) Everyone Achieves More
i thank God that untill now all look good :)
Shun Bin
ANSWER!!!!!!!!!!!
6:22 PM
wan to intro all of you this webside!!! i added a link @ this blog "connection" christian answer.. if you have(or not) any Q about the christian, even difficult Q
Will all mankind eventually be saved?
Where did Cain get his wife?
Why do innocents suffer?
Am I good enough to go to Heaven?
Does archaeology verify the Bible?
How do dinosaurs fit with the Bible?
Biblically, how can stars be millions of light-years away?
How can I deal with sexual addictions?
How can I experience forgiveness?
Can I lose my salvation?
just go this this web.. there is also a link @ the web for teens, sex & relationship. also for you who need SCIENCE "edvident" there is also. this web have also been a blessing to me since my younger days(even though i am young now) hope it will bless you..
ps. our FAITH in GOD is not blind faith, it is base on the bible and facts(if God created science, how can science contradict HIM!!!) of cos also, there is something science cannot answer, somethings that is not for us to know, that takes FAITH!!!
The fine line between here and there
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 12:36 AM
The complexities of christianity are often taken for granted. To most people, it is taken to be having faith and doing God's will in love. The main focus of this would most probably be on faith and doing God's will. A lot of times, we forget the "in love" bit.
We go about trying to be nice to people, not cheating off other people's tests, doing homework, staying out of relationships and generally being "good people" because we know it's the right thing to do. But how many times do we do it because we have the heart to? There is a fine line between wanting to do something because we know it's right and we want to do the right thing and doing it simply because we love.
Pastor Edmund Chan of Covenant Evangelical once said that "God is not afraid of empty pews, only empty men". Essentially, this means that God doesn't want us to just do the right thing because it's right, He wants us to do it because we love and we mean it from the bottom of our hearts. Often, we have to put on false pretenses when we are faced with people we don't exactly like to come across in life. We try to be nice to them because we know that we have to be good examples and show people that christians are good people. But while that is true, we need to ponder of the all important question:
Just how much do we try because we love them?
Being human beings, love is sometimes a difficult emotion. The world is not made up of people who are like jigsaw puzzles and would fit perfectly into one another. No, it is made up of disputes, disagreements and a vast diversity of people who sometimes just can't stand each other. Along with love, there is hate. And it is difficult to try to love everyone when we can despise some of them.
To have motivation to try to love everyone in the first place, we need to grasp the reason behind doing everything in love. You see, when you do something when your heart is not in it, you are lying. To the people you do something to, to God and ultimately, yourself. You are forcing yourself to do something you do not want to do. When you strip away the supposed good intentions and cheerful smiles, you end up with an empty, resounding nothing. You can be the best samaritan in the world and still be that empty, resounding nothing.
1 Corinthians 13 is a nice little passage about love. We all agree it's a pleasant passage about the power of love and how love is all these great and wonderful things. But we need to pay attention to verses 1-3 in particular.
1 If I speak in tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love, I am only a resounding gong
or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom
all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I posess to the poor and surrender
my body to the flames, but have not love,
I gain nothing.
Often, we see this passage as telling us just how important love is. But for the actual emphasis, we really do not have to look that far. The ultimatum is this - without love, we are nothing, no matter what we do, give or have. Don't lie to yourselves, if you are incapable of doing something with love, then don't do it. In the end, they both equate to nothing, so you might as well save yourselves all that lying.
Lastly, I'm sorry if this post sounds like something you really don't want to hear. But I believe that every one of us is guilty of putting on this mask when there's really nothing behind it. I don't know about you, but not too long ago, I finally got so fed up with myself and all this lying that I thought I was going to implode. I'm tired of pretending. And I just really want a bigger heart now. I don't want to do anything "nice" and have the other party thinking that I'm such a kind person when I am nothing. I'll get what I deserve, just like all of you should. Bigger hearts take time to grow, give yourselves a little more of it, plus the patience to nurture, and we won't be empty men anymore.
Think about it.
Deborah
P/S I know you all probably want to strangle me after seeing how nice CSI's website it. To let you all know, I'm working on it, so please be patient with me. I'm designing the blogskin and looking endlessly in my photograph file. Technology kind of hates me so please do not expect Dylan-standard things. Thanks. Suggestions, please send me an email or message me on messenger at flowersforalice@gmail.com.
We go about trying to be nice to people, not cheating off other people's tests, doing homework, staying out of relationships and generally being "good people" because we know it's the right thing to do. But how many times do we do it because we have the heart to? There is a fine line between wanting to do something because we know it's right and we want to do the right thing and doing it simply because we love.
Pastor Edmund Chan of Covenant Evangelical once said that "God is not afraid of empty pews, only empty men". Essentially, this means that God doesn't want us to just do the right thing because it's right, He wants us to do it because we love and we mean it from the bottom of our hearts. Often, we have to put on false pretenses when we are faced with people we don't exactly like to come across in life. We try to be nice to them because we know that we have to be good examples and show people that christians are good people. But while that is true, we need to ponder of the all important question:
Just how much do we try because we love them?
Being human beings, love is sometimes a difficult emotion. The world is not made up of people who are like jigsaw puzzles and would fit perfectly into one another. No, it is made up of disputes, disagreements and a vast diversity of people who sometimes just can't stand each other. Along with love, there is hate. And it is difficult to try to love everyone when we can despise some of them.
To have motivation to try to love everyone in the first place, we need to grasp the reason behind doing everything in love. You see, when you do something when your heart is not in it, you are lying. To the people you do something to, to God and ultimately, yourself. You are forcing yourself to do something you do not want to do. When you strip away the supposed good intentions and cheerful smiles, you end up with an empty, resounding nothing. You can be the best samaritan in the world and still be that empty, resounding nothing.
1 Corinthians 13 is a nice little passage about love. We all agree it's a pleasant passage about the power of love and how love is all these great and wonderful things. But we need to pay attention to verses 1-3 in particular.
1 If I speak in tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love, I am only a resounding gong
or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom
all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I posess to the poor and surrender
my body to the flames, but have not love,
I gain nothing.
Often, we see this passage as telling us just how important love is. But for the actual emphasis, we really do not have to look that far. The ultimatum is this - without love, we are nothing, no matter what we do, give or have. Don't lie to yourselves, if you are incapable of doing something with love, then don't do it. In the end, they both equate to nothing, so you might as well save yourselves all that lying.
Lastly, I'm sorry if this post sounds like something you really don't want to hear. But I believe that every one of us is guilty of putting on this mask when there's really nothing behind it. I don't know about you, but not too long ago, I finally got so fed up with myself and all this lying that I thought I was going to implode. I'm tired of pretending. And I just really want a bigger heart now. I don't want to do anything "nice" and have the other party thinking that I'm such a kind person when I am nothing. I'll get what I deserve, just like all of you should. Bigger hearts take time to grow, give yourselves a little more of it, plus the patience to nurture, and we won't be empty men anymore.
Think about it.
Deborah
P/S I know you all probably want to strangle me after seeing how nice CSI's website it. To let you all know, I'm working on it, so please be patient with me. I'm designing the blogskin and looking endlessly in my photograph file. Technology kind of hates me so please do not expect Dylan-standard things. Thanks. Suggestions, please send me an email or message me on messenger at flowersforalice@gmail.com.
Monday, April 13, 2009 8:16 PM
Have a blessed week ahead ,
start your heart afresh!
Shunbin :)
Sunday Outing.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 7:26 PM
Hey GOLDs! Here are the details for the events that are coming up.
Firstly, the Sunday Outing:
Venue: Sembawang Park.
Time: Go for 9am service, leaving church at 11am. We will end before 4pm.
Activities: Come and you shall find out! ;D But Joel and Dylan will be doing the worship and we'll have a fun time of games, which includes a mystery game. (:
Food: Please contribute if you can, nonetheless, there will be pizzas and suchsuch. Sounds yummy? :D
TO THE GIRLS,
About the outing to Tabby's house this week,
we'll meet at 12pm, reach there at about 1pm for lunch.
Start baking till about 5pm before we set off to Covenant EFC
for the ALIVE outreach. (:
Oh yes, some of you hasn't replied me to whether you are going.
Please do so fast, as i need to tell Tabby who is going
and she need go and get the ingredients.
Love, Ann
What kind of a christian are you?
10:54 AM
-food for thought-
4 Types of Christians
TGIF Today God Is First
Volume 2, by Os Hillman04-05-2009
"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18).
In his book Anointed for Business, Ed Silvoso provides a thoughtful look at the four types of Christians in the workplace. The following four categories provide an excellent tool for self-assessment:
1. The Christian who is simply trying to survive.
2. The Christian who is living by Christian principles.
3. The Christian who is living by the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Christian who is transforming his or her workplaces for Christ.*
Category #1: Christians who are simply trying to survive have no purpose or zeal for integrating their faith at work. They have not seen the power or presence of God in their work lives. Such Christians segment their faith life from their work life. They lack purpose and meaning and they have little direction.
Category #2: The second type of Christian in the workplace includes those who are living by Christian principles. We participate in 12-step programs and read books with guaranteed formulas to help us lose weight or improve our marriages. This programmed teaching can be beneficial to change negative patterns in our lives. However, it is important to recognize that the root of this type of teaching comes largely from a Greek-based system for attaining knowledge, as compared to the early church Hebraic model of experiential learning.
Category #3: Christians who are living by the power of the Holy Spirit understand the importance of developing a heart toward God through prayer, study of the Word of God and obedience. They realize that these are the three core ingredients to experiencing the power of God in their lives.
Category #4: A wonderful byproduct of living by the power of the Holy Spirit is that you can transform your workplace for God. Christians who passionately seek the manifestation of God's kingdom here on earth will be able to realize this transformation in their workplaces. When the kingdom of God is demonstrated on Earth, it can transform the workplace and society.
Start asking God to help you see how to transform your workplace today.
* Ed Silvoso, Anointed for Business (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2002), p.123.
4 Types of Christians
TGIF Today God Is First
Volume 2, by Os Hillman04-05-2009
"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18).
In his book Anointed for Business, Ed Silvoso provides a thoughtful look at the four types of Christians in the workplace. The following four categories provide an excellent tool for self-assessment:
1. The Christian who is simply trying to survive.
2. The Christian who is living by Christian principles.
3. The Christian who is living by the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Christian who is transforming his or her workplaces for Christ.*
Category #1: Christians who are simply trying to survive have no purpose or zeal for integrating their faith at work. They have not seen the power or presence of God in their work lives. Such Christians segment their faith life from their work life. They lack purpose and meaning and they have little direction.
Category #2: The second type of Christian in the workplace includes those who are living by Christian principles. We participate in 12-step programs and read books with guaranteed formulas to help us lose weight or improve our marriages. This programmed teaching can be beneficial to change negative patterns in our lives. However, it is important to recognize that the root of this type of teaching comes largely from a Greek-based system for attaining knowledge, as compared to the early church Hebraic model of experiential learning.
Category #3: Christians who are living by the power of the Holy Spirit understand the importance of developing a heart toward God through prayer, study of the Word of God and obedience. They realize that these are the three core ingredients to experiencing the power of God in their lives.
Category #4: A wonderful byproduct of living by the power of the Holy Spirit is that you can transform your workplace for God. Christians who passionately seek the manifestation of God's kingdom here on earth will be able to realize this transformation in their workplaces. When the kingdom of God is demonstrated on Earth, it can transform the workplace and society.
Start asking God to help you see how to transform your workplace today.
* Ed Silvoso, Anointed for Business (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2002), p.123.
home blessing
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 11:17 PM
hi all.. there's going to be home blessing soon.. 24th april-17th may.. we have to deliver this packs of 2.5kg rice to the houses.. so P. Edward suggests we bring trolleys for this home blessing. I'll leave vera and shun bin to decide on how when they will want you all to do home blessings and if u've to bring trolleys or luggage bags.. =)
press on dears!!
love,
tabby
press on dears!!
love,
tabby
CG Outing
Saturday, April 4, 2009 1:23 PM
date : 12 Apr 2009
things to bring : TBC
wat time end : TBC
more details will be given :)
OPEN SUNDAY!!! (",)
Thursday, April 2, 2009 8:50 PM
Hope to see you all.. btw do keep Shirley in prayer k :) see you.. any prayer request sms me!!
HAPPI APRIL'S FOOOOOOOOL!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 5:43 PM
HAPPI APRIL'SFOOOOOOL!
heylo GOLDs! :D
It's me, again. Had fun in school with pranks?
I did, almost. hahas.
there's this class which is Issac's class that came to my class during recess and told us a plan.
They contrive to give our teachers a April's Fool.
Here is how it goes,
Firstly, my class, 3e3, will go to their class, 3e5, and vice versa.
Sounds great, huh? :D
my friend concluded that what if our teachers planned the same thing.
I was like, you're right. :D
We'll end up with the same teacher, same classmates, different class.
So we were quite excited for recess to end.
AND, my teacher being such a spoilsport,
came right on the dot. Ugh.
lols, so the April's Fool prank is poofed. :(
but come to think about it, it was quite fun if
we actually had the chance to do it. :D
oh yes, today is Elle's birthday!
Comeon, let's sing her a birthday song.
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Fool's day to you,
Happy blessed day to Elle!~
Happy Birthday to you!
Woots! ;D
Alrights, have fun for the next two days in school,
Love, Ann. (;
In God's awesome ♥
GO(L)D 90 FMadj. God our "Lao Da" (awesome Dad in the sky)
1. WEFC
2. Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen year olds.
3. Fuel Miracles, Fishers of Men (Yes, that would be what the FM stands for, love)
4. There is no love but in God alone
GO(L)D 90FM
Headed by: Shunbin, VeraEx-headed by: Tabby, Joshua, Bethia, Angela
Aaron, Amanda, Ann, Aticus
Benedick, Bernard
Camilia, Christine, Clairah
Darren, Deborah
Grace,Issac Kuan, Joy
Jeremy, Kimberlyn
Kellie, Shirley
Set our sights in Him
Colossians 3:12-1712Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Speak of His love
All the children
EffervescencePhreeloaders
Ann
Christine
Clairah
Camilia
Tabby
Joel
Dylan
Elle
miscellanous
Your preference.
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