Go First to God
“This is my commitment to my people: removal of their sins.”
Romans 11:27 MSG
God does more than forgive our mistakes; he removes them! We simply have to take them to him.
He not only wants the mistakes we’ve made. He wants the ones we are making! Are you making some? Are you drinking too much? Are you cheating at work or cheating at marriage? Are you mismanaging money? Are you mismanaging your life?
If so, don’t pretend nothing is wrong.
Don’t pretend you don’t fall.
Don’t try to get back in the game.
Go first to God.
The first step after a stumble must be in the direction of the cross.
from 'He Chose the Nails'
a Max Lucado devotional,
29th June
It's only been 4 days since I last blogged....felt like a pretty long while to me though. Really thank God for the camp. From the things I blogged about previously....it definitely gave me the chance and time to be away, to take a break from things.
The really marvelous thing is that despite the many various things to settle and look into for this camp with limited help, questions and issues and all at hand...there wasn't actually much pressure to get things done. I really found it to be a time of unwinding, and it really was a rewarding time of being with the youths.
The only nagging feel I had was the physical and mental weariness within me even before the camp. Thinking through the various aspects for the camp, and making trips to get stuff for the special art/craft session. I mourned the loss of tampines Spotlight's closure as I realised I had to go all the way to PS's Spotlight branch for my stuff.
But it was kinda cool lah...browsing through all that craft and design stuff...except for the fact that the shop was mainly populated by female craft enthusiasts shopping for their stuff, with the occasional suffering-in-silence male/boy friend tagging along behind in agony. I decided it wasn't too good an idea to be "shopping" alone there for too long. FEELS WEIRD.
So through the night till the next day of the camp start itself, kinda rushed the preparations and all for the camp. Due to the previous blog entry incident I had...was kinda affected. Just want to say a word of thanks to the person I had a chat with the night before the camp. When the person expressed that excitement for the camp...it...encouraged me, reminding me of the reason for it all again, that because of the people there, it's worth looking forward to it.
That there's the other side of day to remember of....a purpose to it all.
=)
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Brother's Keeper (23 - 24 June)
Mmm...the number of youths coming for it wasn't really much. But as it shows...the number is secondary.
Appreciated the games carried out by the youths...must say, most of them really incorporated the teamwork aspect. Cool.....even for the funny crunchy bananas we ate...err...let's just say that the experience is like the army...it's memorable, but you wouldn't want to go through it again. =D
Outdoor bbq in the middle of a camp? Cool....first for me in a camp. Turned out pretty well. Have some snapshots of it. =)
The 'Spicy Rojaks' !
Coolludes (cool dudes)
"But I dun wanna goooooooo..."
It's time for...
...spastic faces!!!
Coolludes in black
Men in the mirror
My culinary skills at work
The peeps played...
..and ate their hearts out...
...while chef Chan sweats his heart out =(
A blessing...
..from my keepren.
Really appreciated the workshop by pastor steven. Hard and straight questions put right before us, to really consider and reflect. Now, it's up to our move of not committing the mistake of just glossing over it, but to see how each and everyone of us will choose to individually respond.
Will we walk together for the road ahead of us?
My 2 favourite moments of the camp?
Both were on the night of the camp. With everyone upstairs resting at lightsoff, I went downstairs and took a seat at the sofa with a can of lemontea. The view outside the counselling centre's gate was nice. A peaceful quiet night with illuminated lights and streetlamps. I believe I've done this for almost every camp at church. In fact, I look forward to it. Every camp is like a retreat. To have that time of quietness and being away from your usual environment, where you're not bound by the rush of time.
And that night...I spoke to Him. It seems like such a long time since I've been able to find that moment of refuge and stillness before Him. Especially with the series of events leading up to the camp...it was akin to finding a sheltered cave in the midst of a thunderstorm.
After that moment of peace and final preparations for the 2nd day, I went up to get ready for sleep. Then came my 2nd MOMENT of the camp.
Found some of the guys huddled around on the mattress, talking. They invited me into the fellowship of the circle as I approached. My initial response within was..."but i wanna sleeeeeppp =(". But somehow, something nudged me that this was an opportunity that's not gonna come ever so often. I jumped at it. It was a time of real relating and connection. You could sense the desire to go beyond surface talk...and to relate...honestly. It was like a moment of breakthrough...finally!? A simple time...but one that I've been picturing in my journey with the youths.
Reminds me of the reminder before the camp...to focus on the purpose and big picture of things with Him, despite the surroundings.
Ended the saturday with worship prac after the camp ended. Man...my mind was all in a blank as I was playing the songs, just going through the motions. The drum tom-toms looked good to put my head on to rest!!
Haven't managed to get a fully good rest till now...but, it was worth it.
Thank you all for the efforts in planning and executing the games, it all added up to the camp's purpose. Very nice!
Thank you for opening your house for our bbq, and making the choice to lead the session of asking those hard questions despite your tiredness.
Thank you for the card made and given, it is very nice. Effort and intention greatly treasured and appreciated.
Thank you for making the choice to come in the end, it made the difference.
Thank You for the time of relating, swimming, stillness and other moments that You knew would bring delight to my heart. It was refreshing to my soul.
Satisfied by Him,
thankful for the providences He brings along.
“He leads me in the paths of righteousness.”
It was, at once, history’s most beautiful and most horrible moment. Jesus stood in the tribunal of heaven. Sweeping a hand over all creation, he pleaded, “Punish me for their mistakes. See the murderer? Give me his penalty. The adulteress? I’ll take her shame. The bigot, the liar, the thief? Do to me what you would do to them. Treat me as you would a sinner.”
And God did. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (I Pet. 3:18 NIV)…
The path of righteousness is a narrow, winding trail up a steep hill. At the top of the hill is a cross.
At the base of the cross are bags. Countless bags full of innumerable sins. Calvary is the compost pile for guilt.
Would you like to leave yours there as well?
from 'Traveling Light' by Max Lucado
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[Where Joy And Sorrow Meet] - Avalon
There’s a place of quiet stillness
‘tween the light and shadows reach
Where the hurting and the hopeless
seek everlasting peace
Words of men and songs of angels
whisper comfort bittersweet
Mending grief and life eternal
where joy and sorrow meet
There is a place where hope remains
In crowns of thorns and crimson stains
And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet
Where joy and sorrow meet
There’s a place the lost surrender
and the weary will retreat
Full of grace and mercy tender
in times of unbelief
For wounded there is healing,
strength is given to the weak
Broken hearts find love redeeming
where joy and sorrow meet
There’s a place of thirst and hunger
where the roots of faith grow deep
And there is rain and rolling thunder
when the road is rough and steep
There is hope in desperation
there is victory in defeat
At the cross of restoration
where joy and sorrow meet
Back from some overnight movie marathon over at yanquan's house. Cool....can't remember when was the last time I had it. Just chilling out with food, comfy room and the movies. Hmm...would have been better if I had rested more before it.
But it really feels nice in a way. Especially with my mind being covered with so many things...felt so suffocated, it seems like a short rest and release physically from all of it, just to be there and enjoy the presence of a few people. A form of escaping? It might be.
But I really needed a short break from things, the clouded and surrounded burdening feel. But I'm nothing...what can I do?
Guess it's still best to surrender to Him, to remind myself that I'm not really anything much at all in the midst of it all.
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Touches of Tenderness
by Max Lucado
My child’s feelings are hurt. I tell her she’s special. My child is injured. I do whatever it takes to make her feel better. My child is afraid. I won’t go to sleep until she is secure.
I’m not a hero. I’m not a superstar. I’m not unusual. I’m a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.
Moments of comfort from a parent. As a father, I can tell you they are the sweetest moments in my day. They come naturally. They come willingly. They come joyfully.
If all of that is true, if I know that one of the privileges of fatherhood is to comfort a child, then why am I so reluctant to let my heavenly Father comfort me?
Why do I think he wouldn’t want to hear about my problems? (“They are puny compared to people starving in India.”)
Why do I think he is too busy for me? (“He’s got a whole universe to worry about.”)
Why do I think he’s tired of hearing the same old stuff?
Why do I think he groans when he sees me coming?
Why do I think he consults his list when I ask for forgiveness and asks, “Don’t you think you’re going to the well a few too many times on this one?”
Why do I think I have to speak a holy language around him that I don’t speak with anyone else?
Why don’t I let my Father do for me what I am more than willing to do for my own children?
I’m learning, though. Being a parent is better than a course on theology. Being a father is teaching me that when I am criticized, injured, or afraid, there is a Father who is ready to comfort me. There is a Father who will hold me until I’m better, help me until I can live with the hurt, and who won’t go to sleep when I’m afraid of waking up and seeing the dark.
Ever.
And that’s enough.
from 'The Applause Of Heaven'
Copyright 1990, Max Lucado
NEW YORK - Students are using a new ring tone to receive messages in class — and many teachers can't even hear the ring.
Some students are downloading a ring tone off the Internet that is too high-pitched to be heard by most adults.
With it, high schoolers can receive text message alerts on their cell phones without the teacher knowing.
As people age, many develop what's known as aging ear — a loss of the ability to hear higher-frequency sounds.
The ring tone is a spin-off of technology that was originally meant to repel teenagers — not help them. A Welsh security company developed the tone to help shopkeepers disperse young people loitering in front of their stores while leaving adults unaffected. The company called their product the "Mosquito."
Donna Lewis, a teacher in Manhattan, says her colleague played the ring for a classroom of first-graders — and all of them could hear it, while the adults couldn't hear anything.
Click to listen to the sound of the high frequency sound.
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Heh....I can hear the sound!! Sounds like some high pitched frequency alarm buzzing in your head. Kinda hurts my ears though...but it's cool leh, feels like what superman hears with his superhearing. =D
But the main thing is.....I'm not that old after all!!
=D
Was it His timing?
I dunno. Had kept this devotional with me for some time now, wanting to post it, but it just doesn't come to pass, until today. I guess I needed that nudging from Him, a reminder.
And I can only say I'm humbled and grateful that He chose to do it through some kind souls, who chose to take the trouble to show care and concern. It means alot, and I really appreciate it. Really. Thank you.
Perhaps....
....it isn't that quiet afterall...
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Never Alone
“I will . . .not forsake My people.”
The Lord is with us. And, since the Lord is near, everything is different. Everything!
You may be facing death, but you aren’t facing death alone; the Lord is with you. You may be facing unemployment, but you aren’t facing unemployment alone; the Lord is with you. You may be facing marital struggles, but you aren’t facing them alone; the Lord is with you. You may be facing debt, but you aren’t facing debt alone; the Lord is with you.
Underline these words: You are not alone.
Your family may turn against you, but God won’t. Your friends may betray you, but God won’t. You may feel alone in the wilderness, but you are not. He is with you.
from 'Traveling Light'
by Max Lucado
A Max Lucado devotional,
28th April
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[Other Side Of The Day] - Bebo Norman
Was it You who spoke the earth to me
And wrapped it all in mystery for the taking
For the taking?
Is it You who turned away me soul
From evidence so beautiful that you gave me
That you gave me?
When I'm falling in the shadows of the Son
Only You remain, the hope of what's to come.
'Cause on a night like tonight
You bring me to life
And remind me there's another side of day.
Where I will see all that You are
More than a sky full of stars
And the worries of this world will fall away
On the other side of day.
Is it time that gets the best of us,
Reminding all the rest of us that it's fading
That it's fading?
Oh, but you still hold the hands of time
And pave the way to Paradise.
Can you take me, can you take me?
'Cause the world is just a shadow of the Son
Only You remain, the hope of what's to come.
We're all in love alone
Finally make it home
To a world of wonder
And love is not a lie
And all you seek you'll find
Your search is finally over.
'Cause on a night like tonight
You bring me to life
And remind me there's another side of day.
Where I will see all that You are
More than a sky full of stars
And the worries of this world will fall away
On the other side of day.
Remind me...that there's still an other side of day, in You
Me hard at work....as usual =D
A pretty good chicken rice meal recommended
As always, a good cafe mocha to chat with
A pretty good chicken rice meal recommended
As always, a good cafe mocha to chat with
