Monday, January 4, 2010
We've had a wonderful and fruitful year in 2009, and now, as that chapter comes to a close, I just like to ask you guys to take a moment, look back at the year 2009, and reflect. Take a look at the things you feel you've done well, and the things that you feel you could've done better, at the good and bad choices you think you made. Now center your focus on God. Can you see him working through your life, building you up, making you into a stronger person?
It has been a victorious year, one where I'm proud to say we've all grown and matured immensely in, that God has indeed been working through us, and I can really see him moving amongst us, in our cell.
I'd like to take this time to make a confession and be a witness unto the greatness of God, in an incident which I'm sure many of our cellgroup is now familiar with.
Before I start, I'd like to say that I'm a very proud person, and at times, I forget myself and rely on my strength instead of God's. And when I saw the cell improve there were times where I let my pride overtake me, and I kept thinking that it was because of me, not God, not Esther, not anyone else who was the reason behind such a change. I was like.... Joel come back from Melbourne only then the change starts. I kept on forgetting that I was a tool for God and it was because of him that I could even do anything. And one day, God woke me up with a slap to my face.
It's been my dearest wish for the cellgroup for a very long time to open up, to be so bonded to the point that you all would open up and share with one another, without feeling shameful of breaking down, or telling each other your deepest darkest secrets so that we can all support one another in faith, in prayer and in our journey with God. I remember one day, on the first practice for the Chalet praise and worship, I was walking to dinner with Lisa and Fiona, and i shared this dream with them. I still remember the responses.. Lisa was all for it, encouraging me, and saying that anything was possible with God. Fiona was not so positive about it, and said that we won't ever reach the stage were we would cry freely in our cell. And then things progressed and I kept getting more and more proud. Until a rift started to grow between Fiona and the cellgroup. Then, during periods I kept on thinking that it was my fault that things like that were happening. I kept examining myself, thinking what was wrong. But once again, it was because of pride, that I kept on blaming myself. To my delusioned self it was still all about me. My fault. Slowly, I realised that I was sinning, that my proud had made me place myself before God. I thought I was the one in control of everything. And then during the chalet, on the first day, when i saw the whole cell playing Captain's Ball with one another, just having so much fun, I knew it was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. But still, I didn't know the message that God was trying to tell me. You see, at that time neither me nor Esther were participating, and yet the cell group was still having so much fun, being so bonded and united. It really wasn't all about me at all. But it was a turning point nonetheless. I went to the back of the chalet and just prayed and humbled myself before God. It was a wonderful time spent alone with Him, but after that, slowly, I started to lose myself in pride again and fell back into sinning. Then, when I was overseas on that fateful day, the sharing happened. No Esther was there. No Joel was there. Only the cell members, and God. And Fiona shared until she cried. Only when I came back to Singapore, only then did I know about it.
And it really is a miracle. Why? Because 1stly, it was a huge breakthrough in our cell. Its something that has helped us bond and grow, something that we've managed to get through together. 2ndly, it has helped Fiona grow as a person, God is moulding her character according to his great plan, telling her not to be so cynical and trust in the Lord to deliver. And 3rdly and lastly, The cellgroup had such a breakthrough, with my dreams taking place at the time when I wasn't around. It was something I'd worked so hard for, and I did not see taking place. It really humbled me, showing me that God was in control. If he wanted it to happen, it would happen, whether he used me or not. It wasn't about me, it wasn't for the glory of the 20 year old human being Joel, but for God's glory. And I knew then, for the first time, how to finally give God all the glory, and place Him as number one in my life.
For me, it took a full 20 years to fully understand that I could trust him completely with any of my problems. I hope that it will take less for you guys. Remember that everything we do is for his Glory, and that without God, like what Pastor Pacer says, Church is just a welfare community center. We will have no core, and nothing to be proud about. We will be empty.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen.
As the year 2010 is ushered in, heres to wishing all of us a blessed new year! Keep growing and keeping the faith! I believe that this year God will deliver unto us even more breakthroughs and blessings.
For those who weren't around, just to update you guys, our cellgroup will now be moving on towards reaching out to help save the needy and the lost. =)Some of the things we'll be doing include divisional outreach missions to old folks homes, hospitals and orphanages. To better equipt ourselves for all these activities, we'll be making a few trips down as a cell for miracle service. It'll teach us things like how to pray for the sick, and expose us to God's miracles. During this year, we will also be focusing on starting to bond as a division. We can do this by first bonding with them, getting to know them and then just caring for them, praying for them, sending cards of encouragement, calling them up, and even asking them out for meals and just for fun! Remember that we are all part of the same church, the same community with Christ as the center of our lives.
Also, remember to always build your relationship with God. Don’t stagnate! I challenge you all to read two chapters everyday for quiet time, and have a memory verse every week. It’s come to my attention that some of you guys don’t really know what to read in the bible. Yeah, its a bigbigbig book. So if you don’t know what to read, pray and let God guide you. You can also look me up, and ask for advice on what to read, and I promise to try and help you find somewhere to start =).
Now go forth and multiply, my pretties,..... go forth and multiply.. muahahahahaha
Hope you guys had a great first day in school!
By His grace,
Joel.
It has been a victorious year, one where I'm proud to say we've all grown and matured immensely in, that God has indeed been working through us, and I can really see him moving amongst us, in our cell.
I'd like to take this time to make a confession and be a witness unto the greatness of God, in an incident which I'm sure many of our cellgroup is now familiar with.
Before I start, I'd like to say that I'm a very proud person, and at times, I forget myself and rely on my strength instead of God's. And when I saw the cell improve there were times where I let my pride overtake me, and I kept thinking that it was because of me, not God, not Esther, not anyone else who was the reason behind such a change. I was like.... Joel come back from Melbourne only then the change starts. I kept on forgetting that I was a tool for God and it was because of him that I could even do anything. And one day, God woke me up with a slap to my face.
It's been my dearest wish for the cellgroup for a very long time to open up, to be so bonded to the point that you all would open up and share with one another, without feeling shameful of breaking down, or telling each other your deepest darkest secrets so that we can all support one another in faith, in prayer and in our journey with God. I remember one day, on the first practice for the Chalet praise and worship, I was walking to dinner with Lisa and Fiona, and i shared this dream with them. I still remember the responses.. Lisa was all for it, encouraging me, and saying that anything was possible with God. Fiona was not so positive about it, and said that we won't ever reach the stage were we would cry freely in our cell. And then things progressed and I kept getting more and more proud. Until a rift started to grow between Fiona and the cellgroup. Then, during periods I kept on thinking that it was my fault that things like that were happening. I kept examining myself, thinking what was wrong. But once again, it was because of pride, that I kept on blaming myself. To my delusioned self it was still all about me. My fault. Slowly, I realised that I was sinning, that my proud had made me place myself before God. I thought I was the one in control of everything. And then during the chalet, on the first day, when i saw the whole cell playing Captain's Ball with one another, just having so much fun, I knew it was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. But still, I didn't know the message that God was trying to tell me. You see, at that time neither me nor Esther were participating, and yet the cell group was still having so much fun, being so bonded and united. It really wasn't all about me at all. But it was a turning point nonetheless. I went to the back of the chalet and just prayed and humbled myself before God. It was a wonderful time spent alone with Him, but after that, slowly, I started to lose myself in pride again and fell back into sinning. Then, when I was overseas on that fateful day, the sharing happened. No Esther was there. No Joel was there. Only the cell members, and God. And Fiona shared until she cried. Only when I came back to Singapore, only then did I know about it.
And it really is a miracle. Why? Because 1stly, it was a huge breakthrough in our cell. Its something that has helped us bond and grow, something that we've managed to get through together. 2ndly, it has helped Fiona grow as a person, God is moulding her character according to his great plan, telling her not to be so cynical and trust in the Lord to deliver. And 3rdly and lastly, The cellgroup had such a breakthrough, with my dreams taking place at the time when I wasn't around. It was something I'd worked so hard for, and I did not see taking place. It really humbled me, showing me that God was in control. If he wanted it to happen, it would happen, whether he used me or not. It wasn't about me, it wasn't for the glory of the 20 year old human being Joel, but for God's glory. And I knew then, for the first time, how to finally give God all the glory, and place Him as number one in my life.
For me, it took a full 20 years to fully understand that I could trust him completely with any of my problems. I hope that it will take less for you guys. Remember that everything we do is for his Glory, and that without God, like what Pastor Pacer says, Church is just a welfare community center. We will have no core, and nothing to be proud about. We will be empty.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen.
As the year 2010 is ushered in, heres to wishing all of us a blessed new year! Keep growing and keeping the faith! I believe that this year God will deliver unto us even more breakthroughs and blessings.
For those who weren't around, just to update you guys, our cellgroup will now be moving on towards reaching out to help save the needy and the lost. =)Some of the things we'll be doing include divisional outreach missions to old folks homes, hospitals and orphanages. To better equipt ourselves for all these activities, we'll be making a few trips down as a cell for miracle service. It'll teach us things like how to pray for the sick, and expose us to God's miracles. During this year, we will also be focusing on starting to bond as a division. We can do this by first bonding with them, getting to know them and then just caring for them, praying for them, sending cards of encouragement, calling them up, and even asking them out for meals and just for fun! Remember that we are all part of the same church, the same community with Christ as the center of our lives.
Also, remember to always build your relationship with God. Don’t stagnate! I challenge you all to read two chapters everyday for quiet time, and have a memory verse every week. It’s come to my attention that some of you guys don’t really know what to read in the bible. Yeah, its a bigbigbig book. So if you don’t know what to read, pray and let God guide you. You can also look me up, and ask for advice on what to read, and I promise to try and help you find somewhere to start =).
Now go forth and multiply, my pretties,..... go forth and multiply.. muahahahahaha
Hope you guys had a great first day in school!
By His grace,
Joel.
what we could have been, 6:44 AM.
