lifesong
Everyone needs compassion
Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations
Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
Shine your light in
Let the whole world see
We're singing, for the glory
Of the risen King
Jesus, Shine your light in
Let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory
Of the risen king
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
-2:33 pm
Just came home from the hair salon. I got my hair cut. (Duh!) But I feel so shorn and shaven! Besides giving me a fringe, the hairdresser also cut my hair shorter than I wanted it but oh well, I guess it could have turned out a lot worse.
I'm flying off to Hong Kong on Friday and there are so many things I need to settle before I leave e.g. my photo albums (mum's been chasing me to finish the pictorial chronicle of my life until the present), doing a major spring cleaning of my room and throwing out all the junk etc. AND I haven't started packing for the trip yet. Once I get back, it'll be the IGNYTE pre-launch service, watchnight service and then BAM! school will be starting in no time.
Fact of life: Time does fly when you're having fun.
I'm really excited about finally going to HK to visit my Aunt Irene and Uncle Raymond but at the same time, it's such a bummer to miss Christmas in Singapore with family and friends. I've never been overseas during Christmas and this time, we'll be away from the 23rd to 28th, and Christmas is right smack in the middle!
To me, Christmas is a season of not only remembering our Saviour's birth but also a holiday for spending quality time with family and friends. Never mind about the presents; Christmas without my loved ones wouldn't be the same. Technically speaking, I'll have my immediate family to celebrate Christmas with in HK but I'll really miss everyone else, like Uncle David and Aunt Judith, Rachel and gang, my dear friends from church like Hannah and Brandon... I'll miss going for the morning Christmas service in church on the 25th, singing Christmas carols, waking up on Christmas morning with the excitement and anticipation of opening up the presents, and the list goes on. Nothing beats the feeling of waking up at home on a Christmas morning. The mood is just so different, so magical, so wonderfully festive.
To look on the bright side, HK will be exciting and the cold weather they're experiencing now will definitely add to the Christmas feel. I can't wait to try out the theme parks! My bro and I would challenge each other to take rides until one of us feels dizzy or becomes nauseous and gives up. I know it sounds crazy but we have a lot of fun that way.
I'm looking forward to the shopping too! I haven't been able to find gifts special enough for my friends in Singapore so I'll be finishing up my Christmas shopping over there. Hey guys, I'll really sorry that your Christmas present will be late because I don't want to just buy anything off the shelves here in Singapore. I promise it be something better than if I got them in here. Especially to Nah, I'm so so sorry, but I really want to get something special for a friend as special as you. (: Love ya loads and HAPPY HAPPY SWEET 16!!!
I still haven't managed to convince my mum to let me buy an acoustic guitar with the money I got from some award her office gave. My fingers are just itching to strum some metal strings! Sigh. Oh well, I'll get my acoustic, someday...
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Monday, December 19, 2005
-4:01 pm
I got tagged! And now I'm IT. Haha I guess you can't really avoid this for long so here goes...
Rules of the game:
1) Post 5 weird/random stuff about yourself.
2) At the end, list the names of 5 people whom you want next to do this, and leave a comment "YOU ARE TAGGED!" in their blog and tell them to read your blog for rules.
- I like to eat Macs french fries with this special DIY sauce- garlic chilli sauce with mayo. And this sauce must be mixed in the perfect ratio: 3 packets of chilli sauce to 2 packets of mayo.
- I am the ultimate Sabo Queen. I can think of really really good forfeits/dares that will make you wish you'd never played whatever game we were playing before you had to do the forfeit, like Truth of Dare or gel during cell. Just ask any of my cellmates and they'll testify to this.
- I used to read the dictionary just for fun when I was in primary school. But now I don't have that luxury of time anymore.
- I believe that olive oil is really good for the hair so I use it every day. People have been using it as a natural hair product for the longest time. I don't use a lot lah, just a little tiny bit enough to get rid of some of the frizz. But still, it's not 100% effective.
- I enjoy fasting.
The lucky Chosen Ones who will be doing this next...
- Brandon
- Dinesh
- Rachel
- Ben
- Jordan
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Thursday, December 15, 2005
-1:52 pm
Time to get out of my blogging slump!
I know this post is really terribly overdue but I haven't had time to sit down and properly blog about youth camp since I came back. Spent the first few days after camp sleeping off the fatigue, but spiritually, I was (and still am) so INFUSED with His fire! So much has happened and words cannot even begin to describe the power of God and the awesome encounters. They're still fresh in my memory but I really don't know where and how to start. Anyways, I know I won't ever do the camp (and God) justice by my recount of it so I shall just briefly describe my experience and testimonies, for the sake of the archives.
Firstly, I want to thank God for putting me in charge of such a great group- NOBLE! Knowing that I'm not one of those seasoned leaders or SPs, although I was AGL for last year's camp, I was initially pretty scared by such a huge responsibility. As a leader, I have an impact on my group members' camp experience (a point further emphasized during the leaders' pre-camp briefing). It's like a make or break thing. AND, this time, I won't have Josh, or anyone above me in leadership to lean on. So naturally, I was quite freaked out. Although my experience last year with Josh was awesome, but my stint as leader for the Ignyte conference this year wasn't as good (to the point that I don't even want to remember it). I was praying hard that my camp group wouldn't be like the Ignyte one- quiet, introverted, unresponsive and unenthusiastic (except maybe for Brenda Er :)).
And God answered my prayer! He also assured me that I wouldn't be leading with my own strength, but with the annointing and wisdom He will give me. NOBLE turned out to be such a joy to lead. I thank God for putting each and every single one of them in this group, including Sister Michelle. Hey my dear Noble clan, love you guys LOADS! I really want to thank God for Zechariah too; he was really such a lifesaver. He has the amazing ability to break any ice, no matter how quiet everyone may be. He's a natural comedian and a hilarious radio DJ. Those in Bus 1 would unanimously agree with me, I'm sure. Haha...
I had lots and lots and lots of fun with the games and activities, but above all, I ENCOUNTERED GOD!!! The experiences during the services and various times were WOW!!! Like I'd said, words can't fully describe how wonderful it feels to be in the awesome presence of my King, to feel His loving touch and His peace which transcends all understanding, to feel Him bring down internal walls at the sound of His voice. He is just SO AMAZING. I went to camp with my expectations and I think He met all of them. There's just so so much I want to thank Him for and nothing I can ever do can ever come close to fully repaying Him; except that all I have is this life and I will live it for Him alone.
Out of the many amazing things He has done throughout the camp, He has shown me the path I will walk, and the destiny He has for me. When God showed me the vision, it was the biggest, most life-changing experience in my entire life. I guess you can call it my burning bush encounter. Though the journey ahead may be daunting, as at the thought of my inadequacies, I honestly feel afraid and unsure of myself, I know God will walk with me. The One who calls me is faithful and He will do it. [1 Thess. 5:24] Not by my own strength nor might will I fulfill my destiny but by His grace, power, spirit and annointing. He does not call the qualified but qualifies the called. I am just an empty vessel, fully surrendered for His purpose.
Lord, thank You. Yes, I will go wherever You want me to go, and do whatever you want me to do. Here I am, send me!On the last day's morning service (was it morning or afternoon? I forget *sheepish smile*), I remember that I was just crying out for God to fill me with His compassion for the lost, a burden for the many souls who are hurt and in pain because they don't know the freedom of His love. God filled my mind with images of teenagers cutting themselves, tears streaming down their faces, of young people looking so desolate, crying out in pain inside and no one sees it.
At that point it was as if God placed in my the same love Jesus had for people and I just broke down in tears so badly. I've never felt such a heavy burden to reach out to people before and I'm sure, God has given me a heart for His people, that I will feel the heartbeat of the Father, a Shepherd looking for His lost sheep.
I know that there are so many young people out there my age, suffering in silence, looking for love in all the wrong places and not finding it. They so desperately need someone to tell them about the love of God and I want to be that someone. I wanted so much to hug them and tell them that there is a Heavenly Father who loves them, who cares for them, who has written their names on the palm of His hand, who has a plan for them, to give them hope and a future. I wanted to tell them that Jesus died for them on the cross for them so that they don't have to carry that guilt and shame anymore. It doesn't matter what they have done because there is no sin too great for God to forgive.
Our generation needs us. IGNYTE youths, are we ready to arise to war for and redeem the souls from the clutches of the enemy? The harvest is ready but are we? If we're not, we might just lose the whole crop. This is too big a battle to fight alone so as a ministry, we must be united in one spirit, vision and purpose. There's no more time to waste because Satan sure ain't wasting time in retaliating. It's too much of a coincidence that so many of us (especially the leaders) were sick during and after camp. More things will come but I know that nothing will stop this mighty army from storming the rusty gates of hell.
The war is on.
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Monday, December 05, 2005
-6:23 pm
Wow the whole of last week was awesome!
As you can see, I have been really busy so I haven't blogged in quite a while. Went to church every single day for the whole of last week, for most days, from 8am to 7pm, except for Sunday when we went to Ash's house for cell sports day. I've done so many things, learnt so much, had so much fun, made fabulous new friends and strengthened existing friendships. There's really a lot of stuff I want to blog about, but right now, time only permits me to just type out something so that my blog won't seem dead.
Highlights of last week:
1. Jamming! with the wonderful worship min. people and my dearest friends. ;) I learnt a lot from everyone, especially Jas and Mad. Thanks, you two, for temporarily taking trainer-less little me under your wings. (:
2. Josh came back from Melb!!! I didn't realise how badly I missed him until he walked into the chapel with Pastor D. in the middle of friday's jam session. I was playing second keys and almost screamed out loud. I did kind of scream in surprise and joy but I think the music from the auxs was quite loud so no one heard me. I really love him sooo sooo much, as a big bro of course. (: He's really like the older brother I never had, and we can talk about a lot of stuff. I thank God for you, Josh.
3. Spending time with my awesome awesome friends like Nah and Brandon. (: I love you guys!
4. Finding out that I'm leading a camp group with Zech (J2, pro drummer, the guy who blew balloons with his nose on Passion! Believe it or not). He's really wacky and weird (in a good way) and I think we'll definitely have a blast during camp.
The past week, and even today, has been full of ups and downs, euphoria, disappointment, adrenalin rushes, and discouragement. In such a short time, a lot has definitely happened. Of course, camp's the biggest (and only) thing on my mind right now and I want to go with the excitement, anticipation and expectation of God doing a great work in all of us. I want to remain positive, after all the challenges I've met with preparing stuff for camp and having overcomed them with the power of prayer and God's faithfulness.
There's so much more I want to say, but I have to go pack for camp now, or else I'll sleep late again and probably board the wrong bus tomorrow in a state of semi-consciousness without even realising it . And that's reeeeeeaaally bad for a leader. Haha, I know if I do that, Bro. Vic. would really hamtam me.
It'll be an early night for me today, after so so long.
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