Time to take a step back

All the big events in our zone are over, except for the young adult dance event that has been put on hold till further notice. So now, i have time to breathe again.

It's really such a relief that all of the big events are over, at least for the time being. Yesterday, especially after the youth evangelistic meeting is over, I can see that relief in all of the youth ldrs' face. Really a great relief. One thing I notice... The youth CGLs really took charge of the meeting. They ran the auditions, rehearsals, saturations and also the actual meeting all by themselves. They made their own decisions on songs, events, performances, etc. EVERYTHING. And then they realised that Pastor YK is not even going to be around to preach! HAHA. I think BK nearly fainted knowing that he gotta be the one preaching. In the end, we got Joseph instead. But still, I think BK should go for it the next time. Afterall, Pastor YK preached to 200 over pp when he was only 18? I will vote for BK to preach in the next evangelistic mtg!! HAHA.

For the youth CGs, I really think you guys are just so awesome to be able to run this entire event all by yourself. Just now in the service, I thought of all of you when Pastor Tan said, the members should really appreciate their CGLs. I thought to myself... My zone ldrs are reali great! I think you guys know that you are here bcos of souls and lives. Not abt special recognition. It's really such an encouragement to see you all lay down your lives for others. Thank you very much. It brought much delight.

Service was very good. We sang Amazing Grace in a slightly different tune. But the song is still as anointed. Tears flow down. I think the members were very touched as well. Anyhow, I just felt in my heart that it's time to take a step back. Breathe, pray and seek God. Pastor Tan's sermon reminded me of a post that I put up a few months ago about saying no to some good things. Reminded about "Do not strife with me." My heart was so stirred. What would that mean? It means nothing until a decision that propels me to a direction.

God is good.

Today's Service...

Today, Pst Tan preached a sermon that is a continuation of the previous week. It was really very good. Felt very ministered and encouraged.

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*Think with Excellence*

2 Pet 1:5-7

Right thinking will result in right methods and behaviours.

7 stages: Virtue, Knowledge, Self-control, Perseverance, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness, Love.

Virtue = Gk. Arete means excellence.

Foolishness and laziness are severely condemned in the bible.

"Excellence" = to exceed a given standard that is ordinary, average, terrible or unworthy.

Excellence is:

1. To be superior in quality.

- If anything is worth, it's worth doing it excellent.

- If you don't have time to be excellent, you won't have time to re-do it a second time.

- Promotion comes when you have excellence in your work and not because you are nice.

- Disorder invites more disorder.

Song 2:15

- Very often, it is the little details that spoil the "vine".

2. To obtain greater in quantity.

John 15:16 To achieve your dream, you must be willing to pay the price for success.

Ps 126:5-6 The degree we pay the price determines the degree we would achieve our dreams

a. Puts a demand on the heart

Pro 4:23

- High achievers have a great reservoir of emotions to keep themselves going.

Eg. The donkey that shakes off the dirt and step onto it eventually survives and achieves its purpose.

b. Puts a demand on your time

c. Puts a demand on your money

3. To transcend your job description.

-Matt 5:41 The first mile represent duty, the second represent love.

-love begins after the demands of duty have been met.

4. To outdo yourself each time.

-Eph 6:5-6

10 Contrasts

1. Law vs Liberty 

Gal 5:13 

- create in the pp the desire to do it and not bcos they have to do it.

2. System vs Service

Matt 20:25-28

- remember your purpose.

3. Self-centred vs Sprit-centred

Zech 4:6

-God is looking for willing heart and that we lean upon Him.

4. Legalism vs Love

-Pp stay bcos they can feel that this is a place where they are accepted and it's a family to them.

5. Fear vs Faith

6. Control vs Care/Concern

2 Tim 1:6-7

7. Duty vs Devotion

Ex 17:12

-Devotion takes us to another mile.

-Take ownership.

8. Getting vs Giving

2 Cor 9:6-7

-It's not able what we can gain out of the networking but what we can benefit others in it.

-Be a person that uses things to win pp and not one that uses pp to win things.

9. Explanation vs Example

John 13:13-14

-Jesus was first an example in serving before he taught the disciples to serve.

10. Bondage vs Breakthrough

Jesus takes the rejects of the world and turn it into excellence.

God uses the base things of the world to shame the wise.

I'm still not ready

Hmmm... Just a "hook" to make you read my blog entry. Ha! But then, not exactly irrelevant tho... I'm not ready as in... not ready to blog abt my year-end thanksgiving and new year resolutions.

Today, the cousins came over to play boggle. It was reali intense... Everytime, they do something, they are reali into it man...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I just realised today that the cousins are reading my blog!! They are probably reading this entry now. (Hi cousins!!) Hee.

Pst Tan preached a tremendous sermon.

One of the illustrations that reali GOT me:
A lecturer took out a huge jar in the class. And he put in rocks into the jar as much as he could and he asked the class, "is the jar full?" The class answered, "Yes." Then he took out a pack of small gravels and started pouring in as much as he could. And then asked the class, "Is the jar full?" Knowing that the lecturer has something up his sleeves, the class replied cautiously, "It's quite full, but there is still space." Pleased, the lecturer took out a pack of sand and started pouring again till the jar could not take in anymore sand. He asked the question again and the class replied in like-manner. Then he took out a jug of water and pour it into the jar till it's full. Then he asked the class, "What can you learn from this?" One of the students stood up and answered confidently, "No matter how packed your schedule is, there is always a way to squeeze in more things." The class broke out into laughters. And the lecturer replied, "No. This is to tell you that, in life if you don't put in the big rocks first, at the end of the day, you will never be able to put them in anymore."

In life, if you don't put in the big rocks FIRST, before everything else, you will never be able to put them in anymore at the end of the day. Sometimes, we neglect our loved ones so much because of work, our ambition, etc, that at the end we realised we will never have the chance again to "squeeze" our loved ones into our schedule anymore. Not just talking about our loved ones, but also about what is actually more important in life. Things such as our relationship with God, our values, our convictions & our character.

So much to say... I am so impacted by this illustration. I couldn't get it off my mind and heart. Throughout the entire svc, thoughts went through my mind. Maybe it's time for me to move on. I need a confirmation. Can't be rash again.