Slow Fade-Casting Crowns

Was watching this MV on youtube by Casting Crowns. This song title named " Slow Fade "... I love the last part when a little girl sang " O be care little eyes what you see ~ O be careful little eyes what you see ~For your father up above ~ Is watching down with love ~ O be careful little eyes what you see ~ ! Very nice song...another verse wrote this..."people never crumble in a day" ...which is quite true... :) Enjoy the MV.

Heres the lyrics :

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For your Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Authority

Just sharing something i read about authority..its supposed to be a pretty long article..but i guess i'll just paste in the jeist of it.. :)

Don't confuse your insights with moral imperatives. Even if you're sure you've been given a superior view of the world, that doesn't mean it's a moral imperative that everyone execute your plan. There's something more important than doing ministry the most relevant, cool and effective way. God is interested in seeing us learn to live and lead under the authority that He has placed over us. You have not sinned by doing ministry ineffectively. You have not sinned by simply taking the marching orders from somebody who's not as smart as you and doing things that aren't as effective as you would like to have done them.

There's a temptation to justify flat-out rebellion for the sake of the mission and the cause. God is using you not only to do your current ministry, but also to prepare you for whatever else He has for you. Even if you never see your ideas implemented, you've had a good day as a leader when you've done everything you can to challenge while staying under the authority that God has placed over you.

If you don't learn to lead under, you won't have as many opportunities to lead over. Your ability to lead others is directly related to your ability to follow others. Since God is the giver and the head of all authority, all people in an organization's chain of command—leaders and followers—must ultimately answer to God. So when you sign up to participate in authority, you automatically ascribe to the concept of following. As a result, your ability to lead will never far exceed your ability to follow.

One of my favorite stories in the life of Jesus is His encounter with a centurion whose servant was sick. The centurion didn't approach Jesus saying, "Jesus, clearly You're in charge, clearly You are in authority—therefore, would You come heal my servant who's sick?" Instead, he notices that Jesus is "a man under authority." And based on that observation, he considers Jesus qualified to invoke healing power on his sick servant. Every authority is under authority. As leaders, we must challenge the process, but we must also work with the authorities that God has placed over us. And we dare not upset His plan for us by rebelling against the ones God has placed over us—whether intentionally or unintentionally.

When you can't follow, then it's time to get off the team. The question young leaders ask me more than any other question is, "How do I know when it's time to go?" There's no simple answer to that question. But one of the catalysts for moving on is when staying in your current environment ceases to be a growing experience and starts to become a dying experience. When that time comes, it's time to go.

If you start to have those feelings, ask yourself if God might be prompting you to move on. There comes a time to get off the team. And if you aren't listening carefully, you could expose yourself and others to temptations you'd rather avoid. Don't give opportunity for frustration or anger to lead you. Allow God to lead you in His time to do whatever else He has for you.

Above All Else

dear all,
First week of fulltime work have been quite an extreme experience for me. Last week im getting off at around midnite, everyday* So, sometimes when the loads of work burned me out, it's easy to lose touch with the Lord. But when I listened to this song today, it gave me encouragement to go back in His presence, even in the midst of the hustle bustle of our activities. May it be Jesus that we exalt above all else, even in our workplace, in everything that we do :)
have a blessed day!

-git :)


Above All Else
by: Alison Yap+ City Harvest Church
http://www.imeem.com/people/vZL5KP/music/oRWzXbG9/alison-yap-chc-band-above-all-else/

(verse 1)
No eye has see
No ear has heard
Unfailing love
Far beyond words
(pre chorus)
The cross I see
Your blood redeems
My imperfection
Your hands divine
Come shape this heart of mine

(chorus)
Here I stand, thirsting for You
Here I am, surrender to You
Let my life be Your clay
Mould me in Your way
Here I stand, desperate for You
Here I am, a vessel for You
Let me life sing Your praise
Bring honour to Your name

(verse 2)
Beauty unfolds
Joy overflows
Your grace begins
This treasure within
(bridge)
Above all else
Above all else
We exalt You
We exalt (You)

Above all that you ask :)

ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK FOR OR THINK - Daily devotional by Reverend David Wilkerson

God always desires to pour out more of his glory on his people. He longs to do for us “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). This is why he wants a people who have a ravenous appetite for more of him. He wants to fill them with his awesome presence, beyond anything they’ve experienced in their lifetime.

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Yet, to obtain this abundant life, we must abound more and more in pleasing the Lord. Paul writes, “We…exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1). “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

The Greek word for abound means “to exceed, excel, super-abound—to have enough and to spare, over and above, excessive, exceeding abundantly above, beyond measure.” Paul is saying, “God’s glory in your life is going to exceed the little moments you’ve gotten up till now. But your prayers have to be more than just asking a blessing over your meals.”

“So walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6–7). Paul is instructing us, “To have this abundant life of God’s glory and presence, you must serve him above measure—with a love and commitment exceeding that of lazy, slumbering servants.”

“Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence” (Ephesians 1:8). God wants to mete out to you glory and revelation beyond any previous measure. “Having made known unto us the measure of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself (1:9). The Lord is saying, “I’m going to open to you a deeper understanding of my Word. I want to give you revelations of its mysteries.”

Surviving Dry Places - J.C Matthew

Surviving Dry Places

But He answered and said, "It is written, Man Shall not live

by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the

mouth of God ". Matthew 4:4

What does Deuteronomy 8:3 and Matthew 4:4 have in common

outside of them being almost identical in wording? Of course,

they are both found in the Bible. The answer is: They were

both spoken in a wilderness or a dry place. Moses and Jesus

both were concluding extended stays in a wilderness and came

to the same conclusion. Their conclusion was: "Man does not

live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of

the mouth of God."

You may have never spent any period of time in an actual

wilderness. However, at some point in your life you will

find yourselves in some very dry places. Your dry place might

be emotional, financial, physical, spiritual, relational or

some other form of deficiency or you have in your life. Each

person's wilderness is just as real as the other's. These dry

places and times in our lives are not designed to kill or stop

us, but to grow us in our relationship and understanding of God.

They are places of decision and learning where the flesh is

tried and our spiritual man (or woman) is matured

The wilderness is not always a bad place. The purpose for the

wilderness in our lives is three fold. These purposes are to:

(1) try us - physically, mentally and spiritually, (2) reveal

ourselves to ourselves, (3) bring us to a place of total

surrender to God. We must come to a place where we no longer

seek fulfillment, meaning and sufficiency in others or our own

efforts - but in God. Until we learn to trust God's Word in

every situation we cannot enjoy the promises He has spoken

over our lives.

I don't know what your particular wilderness is, but I can tell

you that the test and the lesson is the same. God does not

deny that you have needs. However, He does say that your primary

means of meeting these needs should be found within His Word.

If you are currently in a "dry place" in your life ask yourself,

"What is it that God is trying to teach me here?" "Have I been

depending on His Word or something or someone else?" The answer

to these questions may determine how long you'll be there. The

children of Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness before they

entered into their promise because they continually failed the

test. Jesus passed His test the first time and left His

wilderness experience in 40 days. The way to shorten your time

in these dry places of life is to learn the lessons taught

while there.

God's Opportunities - by Dr J.C Matthews

God's Opportunities

"Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign".2 Chronicles 16:7-9, 12-13 (NKJV)

Have you been robbing God of the opportunity to be glorified in your life? Much of the frustration we face in life is really our denying God the opportunity to demonstrate Himself able to handle the problems that are too great for us. When we place our confidence in men and turn to others for help, instead of God, we deny Him the opportunity to be glorified. Our problems are really open invitations for God's participation in our lives. Everyday, people suffer unnecessarily because they deny God the opportunity to get involved in their lives and thereby be glorified.

King Asa made a similar mistake when he placed his confidence in man, instead of God. God gave King Asa not only victory, but also unusual peace, despite the fact he was surrounded by hostile nations. The Bible records because King Asa became sick he and once again placed his confidence and his life in the hands of men instead of calling upon God for his healing. As a result, he not only lost God's blessing over his life, but his life itself.

How often, do we decide to turn from God, who has already proven Himself faithful, able and willing to see us through our struggles? It was God who has kept us from being totally destroyed by our enemies - seen and unseen. He has hid us and not allowed our adversaries to know when we are weak, nor has he exposed our hidden faults.

What is it in your life that God is waiting for you to turn over to Him and give Him the opportunity to show Himself strong? Your impossibilities are really God's opportunities. When you deprive Him the opportunity to demonstrate His sovereignty you also deprive Him of glory that is due Him. When you need help, don't look around - but look up! David, facing a seemingly impossible situation, asked himself a question and came to the right conclusion. David said, "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth" (Psalms 121:1-2, NASB). Remember, the impossibility you are facing might actually be an opportunity for God to show Himself strong!

Music we listen to..

OK...its sharing time again ! haha...just sharing with you all what i've read on other ppl's blog..
think about the pointers he stated...worth pondering...erm..at least to me?? :D

I started out by saying God gave us music as a gift to direct our attention to him. In the Bible, music is connected with worship, weddings, funerals, work, play, and war. The basic elements of rhythm, melody, and harmony aren’t inherently evil or sinful. Non-Christians can write beautiful songs that are good for us. Christians can write terrible songs that are bad for us.

So how can something so good become something bad? Two reasons. First, there’s a sinful world outside us. Music, like any gift, can be abused, misused, and used wrongly. Those who make music - artists, record companies, marketers - aren’t primarily interested in caring for our souls or helping us avoid worldliness. They want us to buy their music.

Second, there are sinful desires inside us. Just as people can write music to communicate sin, we can listen to music to feed sin. And music amplifies the deceptive voices of the world. Listening to music is never neutral, because our sinful hearts are involved (James 1:14-15).

Listening to music without discernment and godly intent reveals a heart willing to flirt with the world. We get into trouble when we don’t THINK about the music we listen to.
I ended by offering six handles to help us think more concretely and biblically about the music we listen to.

1. Submission (Prov. 19:20)If you’re living at home, that means submission to your parents. If you’re an adult, that means submission to those who are spiritually mature and know you best. Listening to music is not a right. It’s a privilege to be earned.

2. Content (Phil. 4:8)If we listen regularly to ungodly lyrics, it’s only a matter of time until we become dull to sin or drawn by sin. Some Christians say they don’t know what songs are saying. If we don’t listen to what’s being said, why don’t we find out? Christians, more than anyone, should know what the songs we listen to are saying (James 3:8-10).

3. Associations (Prov. 22:3)Because music can’t be held, touched, or seen, it always associates itself with the things that surround it: friends, concerts, clubs, radio stations, videos, websites, other artists. A “neutral” song can lead us to a variety of temptations.

4. Time (Prov. 13:20)The more time you spend listening to music, the more it becomes a friend that will affect you. Is your music a wise friend or a fool?

5. Fruit (Prov. 14:14)We should be aware of the kinds of emotions the music we listen to produces in us. How does it affect our relationships with others? What effect does it have on our attitudes, perspectives, and appearance? Is there any desire to deceive others about the music we listen to?

6. Conversion (2 Cor. 13:5)An ongoing struggle with music and its effects could reveal that an individual has never been regenerated. Only a true worshiper of Jesus can appreciate music the way God intended it to be appreciated – not as an idol, but as a gift.

Read on a web-Words of Wisdom :)

Someone shared this with me on my twitter.. :) So share with u ALL.... :)

"Islands and Mountaintops"

When people feel like they are all alone, they often say that they feel as if they are on an island. The truth maybe that you have simply come to a place in your walk that your companions are unable to ascend to. The reality is that you are not on an island at all, but standing on top of a mountain surrounded by water.

Let me explain. Life is lived on levels. Everyone will not be able to obtain certain levels in life because they lack the ability to handle what awaits them at the next level, or they may simply refuse to make the necessary changes to go to the next level.

For those that God has called to do a special work in life, isolation and loneliness are inevitable. You must realize that you cannot take everyone with you. They cannot handle the altitude that you are being called to. You will begin to notice, as you continue to ascend in the will of God, that the number of people who have the ability to share your perspective of life are few and far between.

Therefore, your feeling of separation and isolation are not indications that something is wrong. It simply means that you have risen above the sea of mediocrity and ascended to a place that few others are able to witness.Your perspective is everything. Change your perspective of your situation and don't allow the enemy to cause you to despise what God is doing in your life. You are not stranded on an island, but standing on the top of a mountain!

Pastor J.C. Matthews

Peace - A Weapon to use

Juz sharing... =)

Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me." - Psalm 23:4a KJV

In the battles of the workplace, your peace is actually a weapon. The workplace creates many opportunities to rob us of our peace. Cash flow concerns, deadlines, relationships - all create stress on us. Your confidence in the God of peace declares that you are not falling for the lies of the devil. You see the first step toward having spiritual authority over the adversary is having peace in spite of our circumstances. When Jesus confronted the devil, he did not confront satan with His emotions or in fear. Knowing that the devil was a liar, He simply refused to be influenced by any voice other than God's. His peace overwhelmed satan; His authority then shattered the lie, which sent demons fleeing.

There is a place of walking with God where you simply fear no evil. David faced a lion, a bear, and a giant. In this Psalm he stood in the "shadow of death" itself, yet he "feared no evil." David's trust was in the Lord. He said, "...for Thou art with me." Because God is with you, every adversity you face will unfold in victory as you maintain your faith in God! David continued, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Psalm 23:5a). The battle you are in will soon become a meal for you, an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually. Only God's peace will quell your fleshly reactions in battle. The source of God's peace is God Himself. If fear has been knocking at your door, begin to face that fear with God's peace. It is God's secret weapon to destroy fear.

Before The Throne of God above

Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is "Love,"
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb,
My perfect, spotless Righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Saviour and my God
With Christ, my Saviour and my God

Sharing a post by Reverend David Wilkerson

Monday, May 4, 2009

WE EXALT THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!
Somebody reading this needs a touch from Jesus. When the Lord ministered here on earth, he went about healing and restoring the afflicted by simply touching them. When Jesus touched Peter’s mother, “the fever left her.” He touched the box casket of a dead child, and the boy came to life. He touched the eyes of blind people, and they could see. He touched the ear of a deaf man, who could suddenly hear. Parents brought their children to Jesus “that he should touch them.” His gentle touch changed everything. Multitudes brought their sick and infirm, and Jesus took the time to reach out and touch them all, healing them.

If you truly know the Lord intimately, you have known and felt the touch of the hand of Jesus. In times of loneliness, times of discouragement, times of confusion, times so painful and uncertain, you cried out from the depth of your soul: “Lord Jesus, I need your touch. I need to feel your presence. Come, Jesus, and touch my thirsting soul.”

Some need a touch of Jesus upon their mind. Satan has come with his wicked principalities to harass and overburden the mind with thoughts that are hellish – unbelieving thoughts, unChristlike thoughts, fearful thoughts, thoughts of unworthiness, thoughts of God’s displeasure. Honest believers will tell you they have experienced these attacks on their mind. Satan is determined to destroy our faith and dependence on the Lord.

In Scripture, the touch of Jesus came in answer to a cry. There is no evidence he ever ignored or rejected such a cry. And he will not turn away from your cry, but will mercifully respond to your need. In Matthew 8 we read of a leper coming to him, saying, “Lord, if thou will, thou canst make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Find a place alone with Jesus today, and say to him what the leper said: “Lord, you are able. Make me clean.” Then expect that he who is no respecter of persons will touch and heal you, in mind, body, soul and spirit. The arm of the Lord is outstretched to you, but he waits for that cry of need, the cry for help that is also a cry of expectancy.

“And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage; and when we cried unto the Lord God of our father, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: and the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: and he that brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey” (Deuteronomy 26:6-9).

Posted by David Wilkerson ( On his blog)

Cute Christians Cartoons

Just some christian cartoons...pretty cute..
I have just read frm an article..about faith...smetimes..

when we have doubts in God...it might also mean our faith ARE growing..

therefore..the devil are trying his best to steal,kill and destroy us by instill doubts

in our mind...Be encouraged..and dun give up or thinking you are weak...when we are

weak..our God is Strong ! Keeping on growing in our Faith....Our God has already won the victory !! :D

Passion For God

I Copied this article from Life without Limbs website..juz to share.. :) Its abit lengthy..but i thot worth reading.. :p

Passion for God Passion for God by Charles F. Stanley The Passion of His Heart is Loving and Caring For You For All Eternity It was the day of the Passover feast and all of Jerusalem was preparing for the celebration. In the evening would be served the Passover meal, which symbolized God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. That morning Judas, who was in charge of the finances, left Bethany to purchase the lamb that would be sacrificed and cooked for the Passover meal. First, however, he made an unexpected stop at the place of the high priest. And it was there in Caiaphas's presence that Judas agreed to betray Jesus. Did Judas know what he was doing? No one knows. John the apostle was direct in his observation: "Satan . . . entered into him," (John 13:27) and led him to betray the Lord. From the beginning, the passion of Judas's heart was set on his desires and political interests. After Judas returned with the lamb, Jesus took Peter and John aside and instructed them as to where and how to prepare the Passover meal. The two immediately left Jerusalem without telling the others of their destination. The stage was now set for the greatest drama of all time, yet no one knew of its coming. A few hours later, up a flight of simple steps that led to a place we now know as the "upper room," Peter and John waited nervously for Jesus and the disciples' arrival. Gratefully, tensions eased the moment the Savior passed through the door of the upper room. Then under the flickering glow of the room's oil lamps, Jesus explained what must take place in the coming hours. But even here in this intimate atmosphere, the disciples did not understand Christ's words. Peter tried to reason with Jesus, exclaiming that he would die if necessary to protect the One he loved. Yet Jesus knew that though the disciples' passions were sincere, they also were skewed by human hopes and desires. They continued to look to God for the establishment of a tangible kingdom on earth. Jesus was their one hope that this would take place. The passion of Christ's heart was focused on the will of the Father. He loved each person that was with Him, but a greater love consumed His heart, and that was a love that drew Him to obey His heavenly Father. A PASSION LOST, A PASSION REGAINED The shock of Jesus' crucifixion left the disciples feeling helpless and alone. No one could have imagined such an event taking place. Yet it happened. The memory of these final moments spent with the Lord must have seemed bittersweet as the disciples thought back to the love and sacrifice Jesus had displayed. The Jews were sure that Jesus' death would put an end to His teaching. Surely, no one would continue to follow a dead man. But they were wrong. Jesus rose again. And with His resurrection came an eternal hope that no man could quench. Before Christ's death, the passion of the disciples was centred in human emotion. It rose and fell like the wind out on the Sea of Galilee. But after Jesus' death, a strong determination to abandon everything for the love of God began to grow within their hearts. They no longer clung to thought of who and what they were before they met Christ. Political passions and personal goals apart from the will of God were put aside and replaced with an insatiable desire to know God and to do His will. What stirs the passion of your heart? Does knowing God touch your soul so deeply that you find yourself longing to know Him more each day? Or are you torn between satisfying the desire of your flesh and loving God? Many are. The disciples had to come to a point where nothing mattered but the love they had for Jesus. A PASSION REMAINS True passion for God requires an investment in things of eternal value. It also requires a true conviction and desire to know and experience God's love above and beyond all this world has to offer. The apostle Paul wrote: "Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view if the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7-8). Oswald Chambers says of Paul, "He was recklessly abandoned, separated by God for one purpose - to proclaim the Gospel of God." The evidence of a growing passion for God includes: an increasing desire to know the Lord on an intimate basis. a desire to obey God that supersedes the need to fulfill personal desires. repentance the moment we become aware of sin. When we have a passion for God, acts of disobedience will hurt our hearts because we know they hurt the heart of God. a growing passion to live for Christ. It is this passion that motivates us to love and worship Him. a loving acceptance for God's desired plan for our lives. Acceptance in this area may include a season of waiting for God to reveal His will to us. After Jesus' death and resurrection, the disciples had to wait in Jerusalem for God's Spirit to come to them. This was a time of intense testing for them. Jesus had commanded them to wait, and many times we will have to do the same thing. One thing to keep in mind: waiting always prepares us for great blessings. In times of waiting, our true passion for God is revealed. Either we remain close to Him in our spirits or we rush to fulfill our own desires. The disciples remained in the upper room, and Jesus came to them. Often we think of a godly passion as being something we learn or achieve through some method of study. But there is no one formula to gaining a passion for God. This is because it is something that God cultivates within us. He places a desire to know Him within the hearts of all men and women. But we must respond to this desire. Therefore, how do you cultivate a passion for God in your life? The first step is prayer. A humble heart devoted to God in prayer is the beginning of true devotion. God found David to be a man after His own heart. (Acts 13:22) For David, prayer and worship combined to become the catalyst for his passionate relationship with the Lord. Only in prayer and worship do we experience true communion with the Savior. It is through prayer that we open our hearts to God. And it is in prayer that we find Him waiting to satisfy our every need. The psalmist writes, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God" (Psalm 42:1). Never be afraid to go to God in prayer. No matter what you have done, God hears your prayers. He loves you with the same love He has for His Son. His love is set on you. And He is committed to taking the broken parts of your life and making them whole. Spiritual growth begins in His presence. If your schedule is tight, ask Him to help you find a time and place when you can be alone with Him. You may have only a few moments, but God will take advantage of this time and teach you great and mighty principles from His Word. A growing passion for God leads to an unwavering faith. Even in times of darkness, God is strengthening and refining our passion. Disappointment and failure are tools in His mighty hand. He uses these to shape our lives so that we become the blessings of God. After the crucifixion, the disciples did not know where to go or what to do. All they had were the words that Jesus had spoken to them, and what, for the moment, appeared to be broken dreams. But the resurrection was only two days away and then eternal glory would wash over the face of this earth! The passion our hearts yearn to enjoy is wrapped up in Jesus Christ. All that we long to know about love is found in the Savior's embrace. What you will find when you seek Him is this: the passion of His heart is wrapped up in loving and caring for you for all eternity. REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING A PASSION TO SERVE GOD A desire to serve Him according to His will and not your own. A willingness to serve Him with the spiritual gifts He has given you and not just your talents. An example, of this is the apostle Paul who never claimed to be a great speaker. Yet God empowered him to become the greatest preacher, other than Jesus Christ, of all time. A willingness to serve the Lord in His power and not your own strength. Many times you may refuse to do certain things that God is urging you to do because you don't "feel" adequate. These are the very times God wants us to follow through because it is His adequacy through us that achieves the God-given goal. A desire to keep the focus of your life set on Jesus Christ and not on the world around you. The spirit of the world will draw you aside and separate you from the things of God. The Lord's way will often take you along path- ways you would not normally choose for yourself. This is why it is extremely important to ask Him to make you sensitive to the leading of His Spirit. Scriptures for further study on how to develop a passion for God include: 2 Corinthians 11:22-28; Philippians 3:3-12; Colossians 1:28-29; and Psalm 84. Have you made the wonderful discovery of a Spirit-filled life? Click here Taken from the April In Touch magazine, 1999 In Touch Ministries, Atlanta, GA.

Joy's Farewell Card to us ALL

Nice song i spotted..

Just to share the lyrics of this song " Gratitude"..
Lets always give thanks with gratitude to the Lord even when we prayed and asked Him for
something and it did not turn out the way we prayed for...cos maybe..HE will or has provided
each of us in other ways... :)

Send some rain, would You send some rain?'
Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need
So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace
But Jesus, would You please . . .

Share a story.. :)

The Old Man, the Shotgun and Three Bullets

There was once a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old shotgun and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out and kill something to eat (he had all he needed) for dinner. As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit and he shot at the rabbit and missed it. Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. As he went further, he saw a wild turkey in the tree and he had only one bullet, but a voice came to him and said "pray first, aim high and stay focused." However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattle snake between his legs about to bite him - so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattle snake. Still, the voice said again to him, "I said 'pray first, aim high and stay focused."' So, the man decided to follow the voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond of water. When he got up to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and turkey to eat. The snake (e.g. Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God: pray first, aim high and stay focused.

Bottom line:
Pray first before you do anything, aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God.
Faith is not the absence of doubt, but a step taken in spite of doubt.
A faith that hasn't been tested, can't be trusted.
Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.

Philippians 3:13-14

Prayer Request

Dear all... :)

Below are the prayer requests i compiled from everyone who came for cell just now.. :)
Do keep everyone in prayer.. :) For those who cun make it for cell today..you can still put any prayer request at the shoutout chat box on the left.. !

Siew San - To keep on walking strong with the Lord.

Fabian - Wants to pray for humility,tolerance and be submissive to his boss/superiors.

nielle - Keep Trusting e Lord for future directions and to grow in e Lord.

Corrine - Pray for more humility and to be submissive to her boss.

Yv - Trusting e Lord and pray that e Lord reveal His purpose and plan..Continue to walk in His will.

Fiona - Submissive to her boss. Pray with regards to evangelising..to be bold to share the word of God.

Kim Heng - Pray for wisdom to draw a line and not to blindly being submissive to superior which go against his principles..

Jingxi - To pray and learn to Love like how Jesus love us.. and seek wisdom and direction from e Lord.

Renee - To pray to want to move forward, rely on God more and to pray to reach out to people and friends (Non-Christians and even christian friends )

*Do let me know if i wrote wrongly or anything i need to correct.. :)

Life without limbs

My friend sent me this video...its so encouraging...i have tears rolling in my eyes aft watching.. *shy*...hahaha ! Just to share with u all.. :)

http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html

Lyrics for "God of My Forever"

Yesterday, Pst Yang played a CD frm City Harvest..sound super nice..i have loaded on the website. For benefit of all...below is the lyrics of the song ! :)

GOD OF MY YOUTH I REMEMBER
YOUR CALL ON MY LIFE TOOK ME OVER
YOUR LOVE HAS SEEN ME THROUGH ALL MY DAYS
I STAND HERE BY YOUR GRACE

ON THIS ALTAR I'VE WRITTEN MY LIFE
TELL OF THE STORY I HAVE WITH YOU
MY LORD I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW

GOD OF MY FOREVER AND FOREVER I'M WITH YOU
MY LIFE IS SAVED WITH A PRICE
YOUR SACRIFICE REDEEMED MY SOUL

GOD OF MY FOREVER AND FOREVER I WILL SING
MY GREATEST HONOR WILL ALWAYS BE
TO SERVE MY LORD AND KING

GOD OF MY LIFE I SURRENDER
MY HEART FINDS ITS REST IN YOUR WORD
PRAISES WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO SHOW
HOW MY LOVE FOR YOU HAS GROWN

NOTHING MATTERS WHEN YOU’RE HERE WITH ME
IN THE END JUST TO HEAR YOU SAY “WELL DONE”
BOWING BEFORE YOUR THRONE

FOREVER AND EVER
JESUS YOU ALONE IN GLORY REIGN
FOREVER AND EVER WITH YOU I’LL WALK THIS NARROW WAY

Harvard Commencement Speech, Bill Gates, June 07

http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2007/06.14/99-gates.html

Worship as a lifestyle?

I was chatting with a close friend yesterday and we were talking about worship. I was just telling him that we were all made to worship Him, and that is one of the main reasons why we are standing (or sitting here, depending on whether you're seated now...hur hur)

I briefly mentioned that most of the time when we go through a testing situation that is hard to withstand or bear, we consider that as a trial but I believe to a certain extent that even if we as Christians carry on life without worshipping Him, isn't that considered a trial as well (because the reason for our existence is to worship Him). In addition it's like a test of our faith and how strongly feel for God?

Coincidentally, I read about praise and worship yesterday. And I guess that's why I want to share about it. Worship's not only just for the Leaders, nor the people playing the instruments, nor the people standing on stage. Worship is also not only about the congregation lifting hands, opening mouths and proclaiming Jesus is God. I feel worship encompasses more than all of the stated examples. Other than the many aspects of worship mentioned above, I believe it has also got to do with our everyday living. As one of the websites that I came across today, it puts across saying that it happens everyday and everywhere in the life of a believer and it's not limited to music and singing.

What came to mind when I was bathing last night, is that worship glorifies Him in thought, word and deed. That means that whatever we do, think and say should ideally be pleasing to Him. It may be hard, but I believe as we spend more time with Him and submit our reaction(s) first to Him, we would do, say, and think more out of His Love.

As what S2 said earlier, we want to be a group of people who love the Lord because He loved us first. We want to honour Him with our lives. We also want to love one another, because that is what the Lord commanded us to do. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." By honouring and pleasing Him through whatever we do, people will see the light and will be drawn to Love.

Father God
I pray for each and every one of us that whatever we do, say and even think would be centred around you. I pray that we would consider you before execution of any action and I pray that we would strive to walk closely with you so we would seek you and know that you are God in our lives (and that includes every aspect).
Amen!

The only hands God has today are our hands, and how true that is! Through us, He can reach out and touch the people who need to know that He cares.



Another one worth reading

Juz something i read...

Juz sharing something i read on....

" God is too wise to be mistaken,God is too good to be unkind. So when i don't understand,
when i don't see His plan,When i can't trace His hand, I'll trust His heart. " :)

This sentence can be searched on google and many people wrote it as their blog's heading.. :)
Its also the lyrics from the song "Trust in Him" .. :)

All things work for our good
Though sometimes we don't see how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just don't see Him
Remember you're never alone

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
Trust His heart

He sees the master plan
And He holds our future in His hand
So don't live as those who have no hope
All our hope is found in Him
We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and the last
And like a tapestry
He's weaving you and me
To someday be just like Him

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
Trust His heart

He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
Trust His heart


When you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
Trust His heart

" For i know the thoughts that i think toward you,says the Lord,thoughts of peace and not of evil,to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and i will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search Me with all your heart." ( Jeremiah 29:11-13)

About Us

The inspiration for our cell group name, Living Epistles, came from 2 Cor 3:3 - may God write his Word on our hearts, and may we be God's living and walking "letters"/ epistles to the world.

We want to be a group of people who love the Lord because He loved us first. We want to honour Him with our lives. We also want to love one another, because that is what the Lord commanded us to do.

Hoping that this blog would help us cheer each other on as we go on this journey of faith together!!

:-)
Siew San