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StretchedOnGrace
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Name: Chris
Country: Singapore
Interests: Singing, Pilates, Sleeping, Jogging (believe?), Eating, Enjoying music, Movies, Mentoring
Expertise: Talk
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Other
Message: message me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
8/11/2005
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| Unlike the previous 2 church camps, this camp has been a wonderful experience personally for me. I truly found peace amidst the huge crowd and was thoroughly enjoying God's presence in every minute and every activity spent. Though its a working trip for me this round, I found tremendous joy, encouragement and team-spirit working with the younger ones in creating a platform for church to come together to worship our AWESOME FATHER! I saw their dedication, their passion and their willingness to step up as and when they are needed and these truly brought a smile to my face. I thoroughly enjoyed the teaching sessions by Rev Abel Thomas, simple and yet cutting deep into your soul. I realised Holiness is not an option but the beauty of it is it is not done alone, God is with us. I also enjoyed watching kids having fun playing and swimming and their laughter is enough to remind me that we should sometimes learn to be more child-like in our attitudes towards things/issues.
God answers prayers. Many of my prayers prayed during church camp were answered. Pastor Kenny concluded the church camp with the story of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary (in Luke 1) and this has been the message I have been meditating on or rather that Jesus has brought to my attention time and time again in recent weeks. Lesson to bring home is to stay on course whatever He has called me to do and it will come to pass. Though I am still treading on water, I know my beloved Father willl accomplish what He has called me to do, in His time, not mine. My job is to BELIEVE, just like Mary answered to Gabriel: 'I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said'. I want to be that Mary Lord.
The other cutting lesson to bring home is to pursue God's concerns especially in the area of showing love and catering to the needs of the people who need love and are hurting out there at our inconvenience. I prayed for God to equip me with the patience needed and to teach me how to deal with these people who will unexpectantly appear in our lives.
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most High will overshadow you. For nothing is impossible with God" - Luke 1: 35, 37 | | |
| Hi people, I'm back! Though can't sing, can't shout & can't talk (from my hubby) for 6 months, I'm sure glad that I can write.. Many many thanks to so many of you out there who are praying for me (my vocal box) & who are so concerned. Am very touched by all of your kind gestures. I was certainly perturbed for a little while when the news came but as I sat and be still before God, I found that God is bringing me into another new dimension in my life. I know something good is in store & so I'm not in a hurry to get back into worship leading & singing. Worship has taken a new dimension in my life as I learn to worship God without my voice..
Was very very encouraged by the good turn-out at our very 1st worshipper's meeting. Thanks pastor for your nice advertisement on the location of our meeting, beautiful sea breeze and fantastic view from the chalet & all... Was also very heartened to see so many young people with so much passion burning for our Lord. Exciting things await us & I certainly look forward to a great year ahead!
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| This is the saddest day for me.
I cannot sing.... not allowed to......for at least 6 months. Doctor's orders...else cancer and need surgery. Boo hoo hoo.
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| It's amazing how time just whizzed us by and now we are coming to a closure for year 2005! It's time to taper off activities and refocus our minds on our loving Creator. I'm actually looking forward eagerly to December where I will reduce my teaching significantly.. and spend my time profusely with the Lord in the upcoming 5-day silent retreat and our worship retreat, all happening 1 week after one another.
Looking back, I really thank God for His favor over me and my family, giving me an opportunity to pick up a new skill and imparting this new skill to others for the betterment of their lives. I feel very comforted when students come up to me telling me that their pain went away just after a few sessions of pilates. Projects just kept coming since July and before I knew it, I was teaching well over 15 hrs a week. Without realsing, my busy schedule has compromised my time with family, with my girl and my personal walk with the Lord. For one, I thank God for recovering my investment costs in training & equipments so quickly. On the other hand, He had also made me realised the need to re-prioritise and re-arrange my schedule so that time with family and time for ministry will not be affected but in balance..
I must say 2005 is indeed a year filled with excitment and challenges.. my new business venture and my goal of running half marathon this Dec 4. Never knew I could achieve all these way back. But by the grace & power of God, all things are made possible.. I look forward to year 2006 where our involvment with the worship ministry will rise up to the next level. Need to pray for lots and lots of God's wisdom and guidance as we venture out into this field where our roles call for more than just worship leading & managing production.. We need to step out of the boat and walk on water and feel the trembling but we believe God will be there for us, be there with us and be there in us... Thank you Jesus for giving me a challenging yet fullfilled life!
Yesterday in church, I re-dedicated my commitment to the Lord in all aspects of my life (the burnt offering).. and I know He will bring greater blessings as I step out in obedience to His calling!
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| Please pardon me for such a long entry since it's been ages since I last update... Do read on though cos our God is indeed an amazing God!
A big relief that our church 33rd Anniversary celebration is over! Overall I think most members enjoyed themselves. I did albeit my tiredness (of which I will explain more below) and nervousness of having to stand in front of a strong 500-people congregation to lead worship & be MC at the same time..(thank you pastor for your compliment of confidence). All I can say is God is good & He is gracious. It was indeed an awesome sight that day and it only stirred up my heart even more for a new church building where we can get together more regularly to worship our Almighty and Magnificent God! (also to let me have a chance to improve my chinese la.. prayed a prayer in chinese during the worship and I think I did not do too badly as I could hear people saying AMEN!)
3 weeks prior to the church anniversary celebration, I broke out in skin allergies out of a sudden and had rashes all over my body (Cecelia saw me & was shocked) and was itching away. I was scatching frantically & was feeling very miserable. When Charissa saw me suffering, she was so sweet to soothe me with her gentle touch as she puts the pricky heat powder on me. (I was indeed touched by her sensitivity and her maturity to handle the awful sight of my swollen body). I had to go for a jab to bring down the itch and was on medication to reduce the rash & itch. Since then my rash broke out now & then and caused me insomnia for a good period of time. As a result I was tired most of the days and struggled even in my teaching. I was frustrated that I could not train for my half marathon as I was told to stay off running until the rashes subside. It has been a very very long time since I took medicine as I was really in pink of health for a long period of time. The medicine made my drowsy and lethargic and even sent me into my depressing moods.. All of a sudden I started feeling lousy about myself, nervous and jittery about the upcoming church anniversary as I have to stand in front of people drawing them to worship God. I asked God how am I going to lead people to worship when I find difficulty worshiping Him in my condition. Many a times I wanted to give up. I felt like I was running on empty tank. But you see, God is good, He knew how I felt. P Mary's message on 9 Oct '05 sent me into tears as I went forth to be prayed for to be filled up once again.. I was very comforted by sister Rinda's prayer for me as she seemed to know exactly what I was experiencing. She said "God knew".
It was still a struggle for me the weeks that followed trying to finalise the worship songs that we want to present. To make things worse I was also leading worship the next day, 23 Oct, after the celebration. My early intention was to repeat the songs we sing on 22 Oct but as I prayed and waited I felt that I should change the worship set & hence a need to practise. I thank God that we had a group of not only very talented but very committed team of musicians & singers who were so willing to give of their time to meet up for practise.. So they came on a Tuesday night. Thanks Cheryl, Nick, Zech, Marcus, Sharon & Agnes for your commitment. Nick had to rush down to church from his driving lesson and had to rush back to camp before midnight. So after the practise, both Agnes & myself, who were husbandless that night, decided to send Nick all the way to Changi camp. End up, the whole jing gang went to Changi village for supper (yummy nasi lemak) first & Nick was able to have his supper with us too. We enjoyed the fellowship very much...
I remembered reading an article that says when life has sapped me dry, I need to grab a couple of people to pray for me especially so when I am going to be on the platform leading people to connect with God.. Instantly Erica came to mind. She prayed with me & cried with me and throughout the week before the anniversary, she sent verses & words to encourage me. Amazingly I had quite a few brothers & sisters sending me sms telling me they will be praying for me.. Isn't God amazing? I don't have to tell the world my problems but He knew and He sent his angels time & time again to comfort me, to assure me, to strengthen me, to motivate me on...
Apart from Him, we can do nothing. God taught me faithfulness in my service with joy in the midst of my struggles. He taught me to be even more dependant on Him and redirect my focus to Him instead of whining in my pain & suffering.. He had also taught me a very valuable lesson regarding my girl of which I will share the story another day..
Thank you heavenly Father for all the things You've done for me.. All in all, it was indeed a great honor to be able to stand up there leading people in celebrations of Your Faithfulness to us all.
Well, life goes on, my allergies are still here to stay for a while but the itch is no longer there.. I only can thank God for each day that He has given to us to have that opportunity to do something magical for Him.
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