Church

We all need a group of friends who will help us grow spiritually. (:

*The bible knows nothing of solitary religion ~John Wesley

It's sooooo important to come together as a body of Christ... & it really is a tremendous privilledge to be able to do so.

We all need (haha, want!) friends who like us & accepts us for who we are. And one great place for that is through involvement in youth group in a great church! ^^

Though it's crucially important to mix with non-christians (keke, pre-christians!) as well, there are some things we can only get from meeting with other christians.

1. Mutual Encouragement. "You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together & encourage each other" Hebrews 10:25. ~Although we may think that our relationship with God is fine without church & that we do not need encouragement, shouldn't we be there to encourage others?


2. Accountability. "Fools think they are doing right, but the wise listen to advice" Proverbs 12:15. ~ sharing our lives with others is really enriching & help keep us away from sin.


3. The teaching/learning of God's word. read Acts 2:42 and Proverbs 27:12. both illustrates the importance of learning together.


4. Friendship. It is true that we are influenced by those we spend significant time with. If all your significant relationships are with people who don't support the lifestyle God wants for you, you are putting yourself at risk.

sometimes we take the friends we have for granted. only that.. when we realize, it may be too late. SO, appreciate the people around you! =b

It's awesome to have a community/group of friends to belong to. Get plugged into LifeXtreme! =D

Really. It's truly a blessing to have a place where you truly feel belong. Yet sometimes we do feel alone in a place full of ppl we know, even in church.

But yea, if you've ever asked God to send you a friend, Think bout it...

Why not, the next time u feel lonely, ask God to help you BE A FRIEND. (: You never know, you very well might be the answered prayer of someone asking God for a friend.... & you would have just gotten one yourself!

get involved in Youth!!! =b
i can promise you, u'd be blessed. ^^

& yea, always be reminded that Jesus will always be there for you no matter what. He'll be your advocate, your guide, your best friend.

It's just simply amazing being around people who have the same passion for God like you do!!

Have a very blessed sunday this week!! (: & the rest of the days ahead.....

God is watching.

Would you still do what you do if there was someone standing beside you?

Would you still say those things about someone if that someone was there?

Would you think those thoughts if people could read your thoughts?

=b

well, God's watching! He knows the every detail of your heart, your thoughts, your words, your actions.

And i believe, whatever you do, just think about it, GOD KNOWS and GOD IS THERE. He lives in U! (:

If you know what you do will hurt Him, don't do it!
Live your life as if it's being recorded. because it is! ... by God. =b

don't let life pass you by. Don't be overwhelm by your circumstances, rise above them!

Don't let your fear cause you to hide, let it be the reason that propels you to move forward! Because God has said in His word that His strength is perfected in weakness.

Let HIM be the reason why you do the things you do. ^^

God's love - receiving it. (:

Every one of us as a human being is known and loved by the Creator apart from every other human on earth. ~ James Dobson

Zacchaeus!
haha, remember singing this song in sunday school?
Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
Oh, a wee little man was he.
So he climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see..

The bible did not explain much about Zacchaeus' background, but we do know that he was a small man - not just height-wise. =b
Like the Grinch from Dr. Seuss, what was truly small was his heart.
A corrupt tax collecter, he stole from his own people on behalf of the Romans, and as a result, they despised him........ & he despised them.

But apparently, deep in his soul, Zacchaeus wanted something more - something bigger - in his life. He didn't want more money. He wanted to love & to be loved.
That all became possible when Jesus entered his life.

He opened his home to Jesus - and those he once despised. Unlike the rich young ruler who loved money more than people, Zacchaeus opened his pocketbook and paid back even more than he had stolen.

Most of all, he opened his heart to the life-changing power of God's love.

And like the Grinch, his heart grew three sizes in an instant! =b

The question is never whether God loves you. The real question is whether you will open your heart and receive that love. Your life, your soul, your heart will grow bigger than they could ever be without Him. (:

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Below's the handout from youth 2 weeks back. *click on image to view full size*
should check out the blog source.. it's pretty interesting. ^^





















Btw, Happie Valentines! =b

action DOES speak LOUDER than words. (:

Our church has had a tradition whereby our senior pastor will share with the church what he feels God is speaking to His people about what the year entails.

Just as 2007 was declared as a year of no limits, 2008 has been prophetically declared as the year of enLARGEment!

Yet, if we honestly search within outselves & ask, have we really experienced these things?
If the answer is 'no'... or you're not sure. Have you ever wonder why these declarations did not come to past in your life?

The problem is not the prophetic words given, because the men and women that spoke these words are credible and authentic, but a very crucial aspect of these prophecies is the work element involved.

You may think that it should be obvious to people that prophecies don’t fulfil themselves, and that they have a part to play in bringing these prophetic declarations to pass. You have to understand that for any prophecy of God to come to pass, you have to step out in faith; into the unknown and put corresponding works or actions in line with your prophecy before it can materialise.

Just receiving the prophecy and jumping up and down in church is not going to bring that word to pass. You have to step out, you have to take a chance like Abraham, who was given a promise that he will inherit a land that he did not even know where it was, talk less of how to get there, but he made a decision to leave the familiar and venture out into the unknown with nothing but the promise of God to hold on to. This is how prophecies become reality.

It is by action, by work and by us the recipient of the prophecy stepping out into the unknown. Sink or swim, rise or fall, you have to make up your mind to step out on what God has said come what may, knowing that it is better to die trying to obey God, than live in a state of stagnation and inactivity.

There is a saying that a coward dies a thousand deaths, but a champion dies only once. How true that is. God will never tell you everything about your destiny/calling, you will discover more and more as you journey on in the call.

It’s a walk of faith, I repeat, a walk of faith and not a standing still of faith, faith and action are two sides of the same coin. In the book of James, James challenges the religious to show their faith without their works but he will show you his faith by his works.

Friends, your mouth has spoken long enough, it’s time for your actions to speak. People are tired of hearing about your prophecy, or your great and lofty ideas, they want to see action.

You have been talking about the book you want to write for the last 100 years, it’s time you wrote and published the thing, you have been engaged to that woman for too long now, it’s time to marry her or cut her loose so that she can go and find someone who is ready for marriage. You have been talking about how you want to go back to school and get further qualifications, it’s time to do it, that business you have been rumbling about for the last 10 years, go and start it. No more talking, we're tired of your words, we need to see action, action and more action.

I know that for some of you, this word is a kick up the backside, but that is the only way progress comes. It comes by having people in your life to challenge you and provoke you to action. I for one am looking for people that can challenge me, challenge me to go beyond the goals that I have set for myself and reach for more. Not people telling me to slow down, take it easy, calm down slow down, I don’t want to slow down and I am not taking anything easy. I can slow down after I have died, but until then, I want to keep reaching for the high call, and want to utilise every drop of talent and grace that is in my being, and when I run out, then I will slow down.

2008 is the year of the doers and not just the talkers, it’s time to talk and do at the same time. A pastor once said that “the end time posture of every believer should be like that of Nehemiah and his men when they were re-building the wall, they built with one hand and held a weapon with the other hand”.

Another thing you must be aware of this year is that you must not become familiar with your mentors, your mentor is not your best friend, your best friend is comfortable with where you are but your mentor is only comfortable with your future. Your mentor’s job is to challenge you to go forth and achieve and fulfil your destiny. That is the role of a mentor, to challenge you to achieve your goals and fulfil your God-given destiny.

Warning; don’t get too familiar with your mentor, if you do, you won’t be able to receive from them and if you can’t receive from them, then you won’t progress. This is why we find people who’s mentors are millionaires and yet there as broke as can be. Why you may ask? For the reason that I stated earlier, they got familiar with their mentor and forgot that the main reason God will bring you into relationship with a great man, is because he wants you to be great.

God did not bring Elijah into the life of Elisha so that they could drink tea and watch movies together, you can watch movies and drink tea with your neighbour. God brought Elijah into Elisha`s life because Elijah had an anointing and a wisdom and experience that Elisha needed in order to be equipped for his call and destiny. So don’t get too familiar with your mentors, forgetting that they are generals in the kingdom of God, with equipping power to get you to your level of greatness.

A generation of doers and risk takers are the people who will fulfil the great commission and usher in the return of Jesus Christ.

.

Friends, it’s time for ACTION.

* * * * *

The above has been adapted (& edited) from Rev Joseph Njuguna's message to his church congregation whereby for them, 2008 is the year of action!
However, ultimately, as one body of Christ, this message relates very well to us.

More often than not, our words & ideas are not concreted.

Our potential, is untapped.

God has blessings stored up for us that He wants to give, lessons He wants us to learns, people He wants us to meet & touch, lives He wants us to change & transform, ....

areas in our life He is waiting to enLARGE. (:

But it's only if we take that step of faith out of our comfort zone, will we begin to see changes taking place. How then do we expect to see change if we ourselves refuse to change. After all, we are called to be agents of change.

ACTION is not a one day thing. We are faced with countless decisions each day, & thus, it is so important to be strong in our personal & Godly principals. Let our actions portray our faith in Christ & our love for all He has done for us.

It is definitely easier said than done. (haha, especially in my case. =p but definitely learning & wanna give my best, cos God deserves it!! ^^)

But yea, we have friends around that we can be accountable to, that are able to motivate us & encourage us. And most importantly, we have Jesus. (: We have a personal saviour who will walk together with us in this journey of faith. and no matter how hard life is, He understands.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympatize with our weaknesses,

but we have one who has been tempted in every way,

just as we are - yet was without sin.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,

so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
NIV Hebrews 4:14-16

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So let's go all out this year!!! ^^

Oh yeah, btw, Happy Chinese New Year to ya all!!! (:

Prayer

The effective, fervent prayer of a rightious man avails much. James 5:16

There is nothing that prayer cannot touch and change. Every time we pray, if we do so correctly, God's mighty power is released and made available to bring victory and breakthrough into even seemingly impossible situations. (:

so what is prayer?
In it's simplest definition, prayer is fellowship with God.

Prayer is not just a Bible subject that we study: Prayer is a lifestyle.
I heard someone once say that prayer is to your spiritual life what breathing is to your natural life.
If your stop breathing in the natural - of course we know what's going to happen - you're going to die.
Prayer is the breath of God in your life that keeps your fellowship and walk with Him fresh and alive.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith, it is impossible to please Him."
Our prayers are mighty & strong because of our faith in God - not just our faith in our own programs.
It's knowing who God is, and what He said He will do. Prayer that comes out of a heart of faith is the kind of prayer that changed things.

Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask, & it will be given to you; Seek, & your shall find; Knock, & it will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives , & he who seeks finds, & to him who knocks it will be opened.

Thus, we see that an important aspect of believing prayer is found in the word "ask".

"Well," you say, "why do I have to ask? If He's my Father, doesn't He know what I need?"
Yes, He knows, but when you ask, it shows that you're interested in Him and what He wants to do. It is also a way to exercise our faith.

John 14:13-14

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father will be glorified in the Son.

If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

John 15:7

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

* * * * *

The topic of prayer is really really wide. & it's really interesting too!! ^^

Just as we learned & shared during youth last sunday about the different kinds of prayers. (:

Sometimes, we may find it difficult to pray as it takes a lot of effort & commitment...

"Through all life's joys & sorrows, I've learned to put my weight on Jesus, & to discover that He's the kind of friend who is always there, no matter how i feel.

I must admit that sometimes Jesus doesn't feel close to me. But my relationship with him doesn't rely on feelings, it rests on facts.
It's not feelings that drive me to seek his presence .... it's my commitment to him.
Because of this commitment, even when I don't feel like praying, I force myself to meet Him, & struggle to make space to share my life with Him.

Feelings come and go, & I don't measure my relationship with Jesus by them. I rest on facts. The fact that He has died for me, & the fact that I have received him into my life as Lord & saviour.

If I'm honest, I think my friendsip with Jesus has grown most in the difficult times. My greatest glimpses of His love have come when I've been really down and haven't known where to turn, except to Him." ~ Rob Frost, national evangelist.

From what I see, the bottom line is not about how we pray, but about how we keep up the struggle, how we press on with the journey and how we keep trying at prayer.
For in the end, prayer is a relationship, & like all relationships it has to be worked at, day in & day out. (:

Today, remember that Jesus is with you. His presence does not rest on how you feel... it rest on His promises. (the bible is full of them!!! ^^)
Pause & remember His presence with you, and then, in silence, put your weight on him, & him alone, for He is your safety harness when the strong storms blow.

Just rest-assure in His love... knowing that He'll always be there to listen. He hears your every cry, every thought, every spoken or unspoken word, even before it is conceive by you.

We're privilledge to be able to pray & commune with our Lord! (: haha, ain't we?
Even as we strive to walk with God in prayer each day, let's take time and pauses to hear from Him as well. Let us allow Him to speak to our soul even through His word, the bible or even through silent communion with Him in our quiet time.

(: Yea! haha, so let's continue to pray for LifeXtreme. for the youth centre which is currently under construction. pray for a year of enlargement in every area of our life - spritually! & whatever God places in your heart to pray for.... your individual, family and friends' needs.

& as we unite in prayer, & believe in faith according to God's will. Let's expect God to move mightly! ^^