Emmanuel

Monday, January 29, 2007

The Lord Provides at Work

This is the season of recruiting students for Final Year Project at my school. Several students expressed interest in my project and I conducted interviews for all who responded. When I had selected a suitable team of students, i emailed and smsed them on Friday and asked for their commitment to confirm their place in the project. I waited over the weekend, and there was no response. On Monday (today), I reminded them again and there was no response. I moved on to offer the project to the next best team. They said they would give my project a miss. Suddenly, I was left with the Malay teams, whom I cannot choose as the project requires them to manufacture and promote non-halal ice cream, and a few teams of weaker students who had been rejected by other supervisors. I could not take a weaker group of students as the project is an industrial collaboration and we need committed students. I was desperate and began to pray desperately that God will provide a suitable team of students. At the same time, I scrolled through some new teams of students who just responded and asked my colleague for comments about some of the students. To cut the long story short, God actually provided a team of students who were relatively reliable and enthusiastic for the project. I want to thank Him for providing the students and delivering me when I called out to him.

Liesbet

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Emmanuel group pic

At Malan Rd

At Eric's place

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Mum in Church

This week marks a change in some spritual climate at home...well, at least with mum. She came to look for Rev Huang last week seeking his advice about a rebellious sister of mine. She has heard Dong Fang Billy's testimony in a recent rally & perhaps find that God may have some good solutions for her.

Rev Huang is a pastor indeed! I'm amazed how he could turn the whole sharing evangelistic yet not offensive. He led mum into a series of prayers in which one of them is the sinner's prayer. Mum said that prayer :) However, I was doubtful about her turning "Christian" as I have seen her saying that prayer before but nothing came out of it eventually.

Right after, the very next day, I went parents' home for dinner. My rebellious sister who has left home to stay out for 2 months actually came home!! Yah, out of the blue...I was thinking she's back for either (1) take her clothes (2) ask for $...which usually ends up with quarrels. None of these happened =) In fact we sat & had dinner, chatted & went shopping after that...harmoniously!!

After going home, God reminded me to sms mum to tell her that she's only prayed for a day but God heard her & replied by bringing sis back, without quarreling :) God is good...though mum was doubtful when she prayed, though I was doubtful when she prayed. God is faithful (",)

Mum came to church for Chinese Service on Sunday =) She does need lotsa discipleship to grow in knowledge of God & the Chinese Cong is NOT letting her off *hee hee* She expresses her willingness to keep coming for service & even to join a cell group *Hallelujah* May I request for prayer that she'll press on & grow & see God real in her life? Thank you & God bless u too ^.^*

By Leah Chua

Friday, January 19, 2007

I have learnt.. this week

Man Locked In His Grief

A close friend of A, known at the age of 20 plus. One that A can depend and trust. The only one that A can relate with. This friend passed away quietly when A is 26 years old. A has no idea that he is suffering from cancer. A did not know that a funeral was held for this good friend. No chance to say goodbye nor even see him at his wake. It was only a friendly phone call, half a year later, did A realise that his very good friend is gone. The heartache and loss, who can understand?

A did not search for the answer 'why he din tell me that he is suffering from cancer?' He left the wound unhealed. 17 years later, that is this week, this pain is discovered and healing may take place. He has locked his pain within himself for 17 years, don't know how to share with his spouse, don't know what to do. He drifted from the world, locked himself in a safe environment, where he need not connect with other people, where he need not face possible pain of loss.

Prolonged grief- It can actually be resolved if he has opened up earlier.

My Reflections

(1) Its typical of men to keep things to themselves, but they may die inside, with no one know what's happening. Men are unlike women in expressing what's within, it's not easy for them to manage.Perhaps they need some help.... can we know what tools/ help they need?
Pray for the men... esp those who are not in Christ, their abiliy to express is even lower. Maybe sitting at the coffee shop, drinking beer, watching TV, is a solution. To them is a solution, but the problem is still there.

For A, his wife, for 17 over years, do not know that he is having this pain. He don't express much about himself to his wife, causing much marital strains. Whether the marriage can survive, maybe this is the root. Whether he want to deal with it, its up to him. I will be praying for him, for God to do the miracle healing

Don't wait till the last minute
I have learnt that its not when grandma is hospitalised, then we go and visit her.What she needs is our constant companionship. But sad to say, I am always busy with my things, and there's always 1001 excuses not to visit this beloved grandma of mine. She stays in Pasir Ris, I work in Pasir Ris. At times, when I goes for Home Visits, I will by pass her place. Yet, there will always be reasons not to go up.

"Don't wait till the last minute, that you have all your regrets, Fay. Dun at that moment, say.. 'If only....' " a voice in my heart.

I have just received the phone call at 8 plus during cell group on Fri evening that grandma is hospitalised again. She was just discharged last week. *Sigh* Its not too good sign. Pls pray for God's will, peace and guidance through this whole process. She's about 86 years old. If its time to go, pray for peace and that she would not suffer in pain before going off.

Dear Lord, I know what to do. Pls give me the strength, love and determination to do so. Provide me the support that I need to fulfill this role. You know that I am closest to her than anyone else...Lord, have mercy. In Jesus's name, I pray. Amen.

Emmanuel, I am thankful for this blog. I have always wanted to start a Blog to pen down some significant thoughts. This is just about 20 % of it. I promised to keep it short and to the point. But for an introvert like me, there's always so much to express in writing...

By the way, I have renewed my PDL and will be on the road. After a long break for the 1st practical. I have found a new motivation for driving- To bring my that grandma to church, or something in that line. Guess only God can make that change in me. Pray for me- patience and can pass this time.

Fay Lim

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Good News! :)

Heya, remember I shared during thanksgiving that in the month of December I had several chances to evangelise? In one incident, I got to share Christ with a student via msn and she told me that she will start attending her friend's church.

A week ago, she msned me and told me that she accepted Christ!! Hallelujah! Currently she is reading proverbs (cos it is her fav book) and she is going to join her friend's cell group. Really happy for her. Thank God!

fRancis

Monday, January 15, 2007

Guessing Game


Guess the tiny fingers- Sharon? Leah? Jonah? Matthew? Peiling?



Guess who bought their new watch- Peiling? Leah? Jonah? or Fay?

Hee, Just for fun, joy & laughter....

By Fay


Friday, January 05, 2007

My Personal Calendar



Heya just to share with you a calendar that I made to thank God for the gifts that He has given me. Here's January :P

Man and Woman

5 Jan 2007

Scripture:"This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." -- Gen 2 v23

Today is the first cell group of the year. One sister shared that she needed to get married and the reason for this newfound motivation. As I send another sister back home, we had a discussion about how she was struggling with the future thoughts about having children.

Somehow, these two issues dealt with man and woman.I just thought that God wanted me to write about the topic of man and woman in this blog for today. As I read my bible study book last night, I found some meaningful sentences for reflection. However, I thought I wouldn't want to put it up in the blog in case I was mistaken to be desperately looking for a partner. But given the course of what happened today, I was led to share these meaningful sentences.

The background of the scripture verse was about the creation of Eve from Adam.

Quote:
The man is honored by the acknowledgement that the woman was created for him. The woman is honoured by the acknowledgement that man is incomplete without her. In humility, the woman acknowledges that she was made for man. In humility, the man acknowledges that he is incomplete without the woman.They were not created to be in competition with one another. Eve came into being by the power of God, from man, for whom she is called to be a helpmate in a complementary relationship with him.

May these words bring forth some relevation to you if you are caught in the midst of BGR issues.

--by JL

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Significance

3 Jan 2007 Posted by Jonah

Thought for the day:
Where do you draw your significance from?

This is an interesting question to think about. Is it a question about identity or ability? If you have to decide between "Who am I?" and "What am I good at?" Which would you choose?

I will choose to focus on identity.

My identity in Christ will not change because God thoughts and feelings for me never change. He is a Faithful God and He loves me as his child. I am His because He purchased me at a costly price. He sent His Son to die on the cross for my sins, redeeming me from the bondages of sin. I am thankful for that.

My abilities will change. The knowledge I have can increase over time or be forgotten if I don't use it often. My ability to walk , run, jump etc will change, subject to my age and the state of my physical fitness. My ability in work is also subjected to the constraints of the work environment and the people I work with. Since nothing is constant in these aspects, the best choice is to find my significance by answering the question "Who am I?"

Thank you Lord for giving me an identity in Christ. I pray for those who have not discovered the beauty of knowing you to start asking themselves this question, "Who am I?" O Lord, let your Holy Spirit call out to them. Let them hear you calling their name. Let them know that you are inviting them to enter into a living relationship with Jesus.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3v16

Monday, January 01, 2007

Spiritual Training

1 Jan 2007 By Jonah

Scripture verse:"Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." (1 Timothy 4 v 7-8)

I want to start the year 2007 right and I pray really hard that I can live up to the abovementioned verse. Since this year, the church is getting all of us to go deep into the word and I really need to go back to the first love, I shall be obedient to take the first step to regularly do my bible reading and reflection. Matthew, I hope you are reading this. Let's use Blog to mutually share our reflections and also tie in with Francis' efforts to use Blog to link up Emmanuel.

Looking at that verse, I shall just focus on 2 aspects of my life in this blog.
1) Spiritual Training
2) Physical Training

O Lord, hear my list of petitions.
1) Give me alotalotalot of self-discipline to do these 2 things: spiritual and physical training.
2) Grant me your favour as well as favour from men so that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, wisdom, joy, peace and hope.
3) Empower me to tithe time to spend personal reflection times in reading the bible and prayer.
4) Lord, you know my thoughts and my desires (and I commit all of them to you...do what is necessary)

Hmm. Think I better stop here before the list goes on. Wish me luck in achieving these little faith targets this year.

Blessed New Year, Emmanuel!