I'm supposed to sleep early today and wake up early for a time of personal retreat at west coast in the morning. But somehow I was led to do something into the wee hours of the morning... and in the midst of it, I knew it's quite impossible for me to do the retreat. Still, I know that time is crucial... and I desperately need it... and so I'll push away friday morning's timeslot to make way for the retreat then. I know it sounds contradictory... but yes.

The collage above... they were actually made individually as bookmarks for the four of them. Frankly... my heart broke when I first saw of those photos. Yes, these were the photos I was thanking Onionman about... somehow, he managed to capture all four of them in their postures of worship within the same youth service.

There are many things that cannot be explained... how the core team came about... this is one thing that I'll only fully understand when His sovereign plan's fully met out. I didn't choose all of them according to criterias... some may put forth that the heart by itself isn't enough... but to me that's where everything else springs forth. I wouldn't liken choosing them as taking a gamble for God... because I know for sure that it's not a gamble. Funny thing was, two of them weren't even in the picture when the initial core group was being thought of.

Two of them I have followed through for about one year plus... there's a certainty of their heart and willingness to serve and to know God. The other two... knew of their backgrounds and all... but something within ascertained the decision after the first official group session this year. I was very cautious with one of them as he suddenly just popped back into the group after half a year of absence... but things really got set in place when we met up as a core group over our first dinner meeting. Another person was supposed to attend as part of the core but could not make it... there and then, TMSC was "officially" born.

February's coming to an end... and frankly, it has been a rather bittersweet experience. There were many times of fun... loads of fun, stayovers... and also loads of disappointments. But they've thought me something very important... how I needed to get down to prayer and intercession... to know that man's words can only go thus far... that His words are everlasting... that His touch could change a person's life for good.

Something that I've put across time and again over the past month... is the issue of being salt and light everywhere we are. We are God's ambassadors... our bodies His Holy Temple. There is simply no use if we behave one way in church and another in school... simply because Christianity is not about the church... it is about that personal relationship one has with God... and that one is accountable to Him first and foremost. Any sin that's been committed... minor or major, grieves Him. If man feels that disappointment at a certain level... then His... will be a zillion times more. And one can only understand this... if he or she is on an active pursuit of His Face.

Whatever that happened over the past few days since sunday after sharing through the Holy Spirit Booklet material... I can sense some finding the faith more real than before. And it'll be my constant prayer... that they will establish this deep satisfying relationship with the One who created them... that they will one day rely on His love and grace totally and see fellowship simply as an avenue for them to serve and encourage one another in this walk... that all that is passed to them will be transferable to others.

God is good... He yearns for His flock to be back to His embrace. And I'm thankful... thankful. :)