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
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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