A Testimony for Gav & Jane

Hi all,

Let me write a little testimony for Gav & Jane in tribute to their wonderful marriage yesterday!

(official pictures with Jeanette!)


I've known Gavin since around I guess, 1999 when we went for YISS together. We were in the same group then! He had an ah-beng-ish hairstyle and looked quite fierce in his green school tee then and I was quite frightened of him before talking to him. But it turns out he had an amazing capacity to make people laugh and that's how I knew him then at first -- A person who makes other people laugh. :)

Later we joined ministry YAM in 2001 and throughout the years, I just recall one thing that Gavin once said, that "Ministry is for Life". To make that statement, "Ministry is for Life" is an amazing thing. It shows that even if he might not be in YAM, he may still be serving God, somewhere, some place and doing some other thing for GOD!

As for Jane, what more can I say? She is an inspiration for all of us, to be courageous to love someone, to be simple and cheerful and to simply Love God with all our hearts, our minds, our souls and our bodies. It is only apt that Jane and Gav walk together in the rest of their life, within the calling of "Ministry" that God has brought them into thus far.

How can one focus on the eternal so much? That is what also impressed me about their wedding. Centrered around God and prayer, they really make a firm stand of their faith, within the world we live in that is so ready to forget about God. But Gavin and Jane reminds me that GOD is the reason to live and be in "Ministry" for.

It's only when we have a GOD-Perspective like them, that we see life differently. We will then be able to sustain through ups and downs of life especially while serving God, because Ministry is for Life.

Colossians 3:1-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

So thanks to Gav & Jane for being an example for us, to love and serve God and each other as brothers & sisters in Christ. ;)

God Bless,
Cheers!
Sam

Congrats Gav & Jane!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV).

Congrats to Gav & Jane on your big Day! Your wedding was truly a joy!

God Is Not About YOUR Success

Thought this was meaningful yet again!

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God Is Not About YOUR Success
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
11-02-2009

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (John 12:24-26).

God is all about your death so that HIS success can be realized through you! This is why the Church is having such little impact - there are too many believers who have not yet died to their old nature so that Christ can live fully through them. When believers come to the end of themselves they will lose their lives to Him and live through the power of the Holy Spirit and begin to see the reality of a living gospel that impacts lives, workplaces, cities and nations.

"Much of modern Christian enterprise is 'Ishmael.' Born not of God, but of an inordinate desire to do God's will in our own way - the one thing our Lord never did," said Oswald Chambers. The psalmist describes what it means to live in our own strength:

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves" (Ps 127:1-2).

How does one die so that Christ can be our all and all? It usually takes a crisis of significant proportions for most people to relinquish the control of their lives. It means we come to the end of ourselves and our striving to control the events in our lives and we finally come to the place where we can say, "Lord, I surrender. Please take full control of my life."

Have you come to this place with God in your life? Let go and let God make you a success His way.

Serving Youths in the CCR (by Christof Hemberger)

Hi all, Just to share this. We got to know this guy briefly, in Kkottongnae. There was a joke, coz of his name was misspelt - as Christ of Hemberger -- so we called him Christ OF Hemberger.. hahaha!



Article taken from the quarterly ICCRS newsletter (International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services. http://iccrs.org/nl2009-4abtgoil/NL09-4_E.pdf


Serving Youths in the CCR
by Christof Hemberger

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement of the Holy Spirit that appeals to all generations. All over the world, the young and the old have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in a very personal way. Many of the men and women who lead the CCR today got a personal relationship with the Lord in their young years.

Young people have always been on God's mind and heart—he desires to reach their hearts and lives. God desires to be close to the young generation. This is not because God loves the young more than the older generation—no way! I guess it is due to the fact that the young ones are in a time of the journey of their life where essential decisions are to be made and major questions arise. The roots for their whole life ahead are laid.

It does not matter in which culture, nation or background someone grew up—one thing matters to all young people. Who am I? Why am I as I am? Where will I go? These questions—spoken or unspoken, consciously known or unconsciously lived—guide us through our whole adolescence. Young people are searching the means of their lives, they are curious what life will bring at all, and they are open to anyone who gives answers to them.

It is God himself who is the perfect answer on these kinds of questions: “I am the one who created you, who knows you from the inside out. I am the one who has plans of life for you, plans of hope and plans of joy!” The whole Bible is telling us: God loves each and every one of us in a very special and personal way. He is longing to reveal his love to us! Indeed the Bible is a letter of Love to mankind!

Who am I? God tells us: “You are my beloved son/ daughter!” Why am I as I am? God confirms us, “because I created you as you are!” Where will I go? God assures us, “wherever you will go—I will be with you. I will guide and protect you while you are searching for the way. I will lead you, just go close with me!”

Through all the years the CCR has existed, it has worked on helping the young (and old) to better know God in this special way—as a personal and living God, as the one who loves each and every one as we are, as the one who guides us throughout our whole lives—and of course as the one who has sent us the Holy Spirit to empower us and to equip us with his charisms.

In this way the CCR’s message and effort has been a great help to many young men and women in the entire world! While searching for the means and purpose of our lives we have been told about the one who truly is the meaning and purpose of our life—God, the loving father, together with Jesus Christ our redeemer and the Holy Spirit.

Though methods of communication have changed during the last centuries, this message never will change, “I am the way and the truth and the life!” In proclaiming him as the way, the truth and the life of everyone, we will be a great help, especially to young people! It is our dream that all over the world people would be reached by this message: God loves us—and He sends his Holy Spirit to empower us and to be with us in our daily lives! In order to see this fulfilled, we need people of God everywhere to pray for them to be open to experience God in this personal and loving way in their lives! We need leaders and staff (especially those who are young) to reach out to these young men and women who need to hear about God and experience Him in their lives!

I am very grateful about ICCRS and the CCR doing so much and working so hard in reaching out to the youth! All over the world we can see men and women of God working in the mission–fields amongst young people. I was very glad with the many young people attending the last International ICCRS Conference in Kkottongnae in South Korea! We definitely will work on further possibilities for young people to meet and network amongst each other in the CCR all over the world! And we also will work on empowering young men and women to become well equipped and trained leaders in the CCR worldwide! ICCRS is doing a wonderful job in supporting leaders, especially the young, to be enabled for their ministry amongst the young generations. Just now there has been again an “Institute of Formation” that was held in Rome—several others already have been held throughout the world during the last few years.

God loves all generations—and everyone is important to him! But it is very important to pray for and invest in the young generation! They are in deep need to hear answers on their questions. They need discipleship, mentoring and formation. And, they will be our future!


Article printed in - http://iccrs.org/nl2009-4abtgoil/NL09-4_E.pdf

Walking through the Valleys

I quote an excerpt from Os Hillman's daily devotionals (TGIF - Today God is First)

"When the Lord takes us through deep valleys, there will be fruit from the deep valley that we cannot see. You must press into Him with all you have during this time.

God uses the deep valley to frame our lives to create a change in our nature, not just a change in habits. The depth and width of our valley is often an indicator of the level of calling and influence we will have on others in the future. Our adversity is not just for us, but others who will be in our future path of influence. This is not very comforting when you are in the middle of the valley, but know this is a truth in the Kingdom.

It is often years later when we discover the wisdom of God and why He intentionally led us through the dark valley. Life is often lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back at through valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual deposits He has made in our life while we were there. "He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light" (Job 12:22).

When you begin to realize this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time, but He was."


Amazing isn't it? Our adversities are not only for ourselves, but for others who will be in our future path of influence.

Cheers,
Sam

Cool Photography!

Thought of a tagline for this photo that I came across, by chema madoz. His works are creative and cool, using B/W imagery. Really astounding.



my tagline: "Life is a gift, don't let it melt away... "

hmm..... so it means we have got to taste it... the coolness of LIFE. hahaha!

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Let's try another one:



my tagline:
"Sometimes we need a little flame to break through our wooden minds.."

Ok this is not so sharp. Bit long... bleah.

Anyway.... tagline writing is fun. Do you have any?

A prayer of warfare!

Dear Lord, Your Word tells us "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). I pray right now, in the name of Jesus, that you would rebuke every evil thought, tear down every stronghold in my life, and help me Lord, to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Help me to overcome and to rise above all that pulls me down. Help me to soar with the Eagles and restore fellowship with You. May my life be a living testimony to You, Oh God. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.