Monday, November 17, 2008

This is our GOD



Hey girls!

Here's a short message right before i go to take a short nap & after that get ready to fly off to bangkok. I really had such a wonderful day, and you girls were SO awesome, you know those that there there. You all looked SO AMAZING, Ha ha and everyone was so lovely and warm towards us.

I remember there was a really sweet moment when i met jamie (cos I had a committee meeting earlier) and we met this uncle in hall 9, this really sweet and lovely old uncle who'd ALWAYS greet us so friendly and warm, and he wanted some money to eat. It felt so great at that moment, because it was like when he asked me and Jamie, i felt like the person asking wasn't Him, but it was like Jesus Christ. And i remember in the Bible, it said once "Whenever you give, Give in the name of Christ" it was so great, and i really felt the presence of God the WHOLE WHOLE day.

Anyway, long story short. I was really exhausted and i could not WAIT to get home and sleep during chingay rehearsal, and i was looking on youtube for "This is Our God" by Hillsong, because we sang it today in service :0) and I found this video.

The lead singer was sharing what happened right before she sang this song, and how she had just a week ago before she had to do the album, she gave birth to a baby but it was only 23+ weeks old (so it was premature and really young) and how, she and her husband spent the day praying and accompanying the child, in the end, the child didn't last & it went back to Christ.

What really pulled me in was the motivation, the STRENGTH, the COURAGE, and the Faith that She had to trust in God so mightily and readily, with such insane excellence. She mentioned in the video that it didn't change anything, God was still the most awesome God, He was still the glorified One, and that she'd still always serve Him and love Him just the same.

It encouraged me, i know today Pastor Khong was preaching about having the spirit of excellence and after service, how all of us had shared how much we wanted to change, and really have that spirit of excellence in us. And yet, i wanna tell ya that, after today when you go back to the weekdays, to the workplace, or to any area where God wants you to serve

When you face a obstacle, and you feel discouraged and feel declined to give your best and your most excellent, God is still gonna be there, He's still gonna be the SAME, and that no matter what, He's never gonna change.

If today, we feel inclined by this sermon to do our best, our most excellent just cos the Pastor said so, just cos a cell leader said so, than change that thought. Because no matter WHAT you go through, all the problems, all the worries, and all the changes, Nothing has ever changed.

Dont be discouraged just by one small little thing,
But be encouraged by EVERY LITTLE ACTION.

It doesn't change anything in your life when something goes wrong,
But it changes EVERYTHING in you :0)

Ha ha hope it's not toooo long winded, have a wonderful week!

XOXO
Nicolette

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Why is it so hard for me to get to sleep?
I'm practically turning in at 4am (earliest) everyday.
Damnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
I better take care of myself.
Can't afford to miss dance practice anymore.
Burnnnnnnn fatsssssssssss.
Bye.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Sher Minh's 16th Birthday



Happy 16th Birthday!

Yeah, in the month of November we're in the full-fledge mode of Celebrating Birthdays! And this time, it's Sher Minh's SWEET Sixteen Birthday :D Dear girl, your finally out of 15, reaching 17 soon but now your super sweet candy lovin' 16.

All the uploaded photos for Minh's Birthday can be found here, they're just nice to save' or to print out in 4R photos, if you need bigger piccys, you know who to contact.


(Click the picture above to get to the pictures)

XOXO
Nic.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Jamie, Nicolette & Dina at July's Encounter Camp



With Qingxiu and Joey from Lindee's cell

Friday, November 7, 2008

Nicolette's Reflections

Hi guys, here's some reflections i had this week, wanted to share with you guys in more detail and what God has shown me through this week, i hope that He worked in areas of your life this week & that His blessing and providence will always be upon you & your family :0)
God Bless
Nicolette

I had a very blessed and "emotional" encounter this week as I was heading to cell. My friday was really peaceful and blessed indeed as God had shown me alot of areas which I had been neglecting and taking for granted, I repented and I felt that "warm" sense of His presence that hugged me so greatly - Indeed, He IS:

Holy and Faithful
Saviour, and Friend
All I ever need

You are every question answered
You are every reason why
You are moving, you are still.
You Are.
(Part of the song "You Are" by Mike Roach)

Along the way to cell, I met a old lady in about her late 70's perhaps, She had went to collect cardboard boxes and all those miscellaneous items like most people I'd see in my area doing, but for some reason I felt a jerk as I stopped to look at her.

God popped a question in my head "How would Jesus react if He saw this old lady? Would He say "Oh no, I can't help her now. I have Cell" or "She'll be fine, God is with her"? Would He even take a step to PAUSE and think of what to do? Indeed no, He would just walk over to her and offer to help her, because He is Jesus, the Jesus we know." I knew I would be slightly late if I did walk over to help her, but it isn't about time, what you have to do, or what was important i realized. When someone was in need, a person in your life stepped in and helped you, He even died for you. That person was Jesus.

As i helped her carry the bags, train of thoughts started running in my head. She was limping, and couldn't walk very well, in slow and steady steps, she used a old shaky umbrella as her "walker" to keep her steady, each and every step she took sent a sharp pain in my heart. I felt like crying right there and than, it was aching pain in my heart, I couldn't bear to see her walk those steps.

She lived at the 7th story, she had to climb up a short flight of stairs, before steadily getting into the lift to get to the 5th floor, after than she still had to walk a route preceding to another staircase and walk up two flights of stairs, as I followed her, I felt intense pain and worry for her "Why was she staying so far up? with such inconvenience! What kind of horrible building is this?! It's so inconvenient for old people!" "Where was her family, her sons, her daughters, didn't they care about this lady here?" So much unjustified thoughts infiltrated my head.

When we finally reached her house, she thanked me, and she slowly stepped into her house. At that moment, I really wanted to forget everything i had, every appointment, every worry, i felt at that moment, the most important person i wanted to spend time with.

When I was walking to stairs, I was fighting back the tears that was held in my eyes. There was so many things that I had taken for granted, i had a house that was easily reached, i had hands and legs to guide me, i could change my clothes or throw away anything that was "old" or "broken". I was richly fortunate. I can't explain exactly how I feel inside, but i feel as if i don't deserve all of this. God showed me, and He said that He came down not for the fortunate or the wealthy, or people who were already well. He came for the sick, for the needy, for the poor, for the misfortunate.

For every person at the mrt, in the street, in orchard road, for every old man and woman, and begging child and needy person you saw overseas, Jesus came down for those people.

Sometimes, I felt "weird" whenever I was more compassionate than nessecary, or more giving in the way i do things. I wouldn't mind giving someone $10 to a random stranger who asked me for it, even if that meant i didn't have anything to eat. God showed me, that if it was Jesus, He might have even invited this complete stranger into His home to eat, to fellowship, and to start a friendship with the stranger. What more if it's just a small token of whatever I could afford? God works in amazing ways and today He worked and untied more knots in my heart than I could have ever undone myself.

:0)

Also! This verse spoked out greatly to me while I was doing my QT.

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control" Proverbs 25:28.

Many times i'm not able to have such strong self control of my feelings, but what God spoke to me (or made me realise, and open my eyes) was that He was my wall, Jesus Christ, God, Him, He was my wall. My pillar of support, that LEANING grace that I could hold on to through all things.

Through all wars, difficulties, problems, and fears, His wall will stand firm and protect me. He is like the wall that surrounds me, protecting me from all evil, knowing that He is there, I have nothing or no one to fear of, and that wall cannot be broken, it cannot be shattered, or pulled down. No matter what happens, He always live in me for "Christ Jesus has crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" (Galations 5:22-24, part of it).

I have been written clean! :0) And so have you.

Yup, thats my reflections. Ha ha sry it's a bit long!

XOXO
Nicolette

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Fruit of the Spirit: Patience

Patience

  • Jesus' Patience - Isaiah 53:27 'He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open his mouth'

    - An attitude of forbearance under provocation, entertaining no thoughts of actions when wrongfully treated

    - An attitude of courageous endurance under difficult circumstances, without murmuring, complaining, or quitting BUT waiting in hope


  • History of the word
    Greek word for patience is macrothumia - macro: long, thumos: temper
    - idea of anger taking very long to build before it is expressed
    - if and when expressed, it is under control.


  • Divine order: Love, joy, peace, patience... Has first 3, we will have patience.
    (Mirabel emphasised the importance of knowing the Fruit of the Spirit in the order Paul wrote in the Bible cos' it implies a divine order)


  • God is patient with us.
    Read Nehemiah 9:6-9, 11-13, 15-17, 19, 21, 25, 28, 30-31.

    v.30-31 For many years You were patient with them. By Your Spirit You admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighbouring peoples. But in Your great mercy You did not put an end to them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and merciful God.

  • Do you have God's kind of patience? Rate 1-5.

  • What block patience? (2 main things)

    i. Impatience often comes because of faulty or inappropriate goals
    > perfectionist?

    ii. Holding on to rights
    - Do you dare to leave things totally in God's hands?
    - Do you dare to be out-of-control, and to admit you are?

  • Lack of patience WILL cause us to disobey God.
    - Read Numbers 20:10-12 - Moses was angry with the Israelites for their disobedience and was unwilling to surrender his anger to God even while carrying out God's work.
  • -Result: Moses could not enter the promised land.

  • How is patience developed?***

    i. See (others) through Jesus' eyes

    In the scenarios below, Jesus' thoughts are marked in italic:

    We may wonder:
    Why are they acting the way they are? It could be because of tremendous pain or loss in their lives.
    Why do they seem so arrogant, distant or unwilling to develop a friendship? It could be that they are protecting themselves from rejection.
    Why does their heart seem so hard towards the things of God? It could be that they have had an incredible loss and they are blaming God. (very easy for anyone to do so)

    Our patience and understanding can be used by the Holy Spirit to help others.

    ii. Imitate Christ who is our example;
    stay close in your relationship with God and His character

    - 1 Peter 2:20b-23
    But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.
    "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth."

    When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted himself to Him (God) who judges justly.


    - Remember the character of our patient God in Nehemiah 9:30-31.
  •