The function was held in Bayshore condo. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with family and friends. Everybody enjoyed themselves and there was plenty nice food around.

 

Auntie Dorinna made some cupcakes for the function. “I tried new recipe,” she mentioned.

 

The family function was conducted in this Function Hall at Bayshore Condo.

   

A view around the Function Hall. “I don’t think I want to buy a condo,” I shared with Auntie Dorinna and Uncle Mike. “I don’t think I will ever use the facility.”

 

They really had a big relatives! I played with this little kid most of the time although it was my first time seeing her.

 

Nice food was around. By the way, I was there not to help clearing the food, ok?

  

Big relatives. That kind of reminding me of my own relatives, especially from my Mom’s side. Unfortunately, I seldom see them.

  

Taking photos of pretty girls is compulsory activity to do in any occasion.

Surprise! We celebrated Michelle-san’s and Ben-san’s birthday too!

You can view the photos and videos in the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=298680&id=720576756

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150094700566757

Thanks God for such a joyous event!

The praise and worship session last Saturday really impacted me. The words in the lyrics really meant something to me, really huge.

 

From the song Nothing is Impossible by Planetshaker:

“I am NOT gonna live by what I SEE. I am NOT gonna live by what I FEEL.”

 

From the song Forever Reign by Hillsong:

“You are here, you are here, in Your presence I am made WHOLE… I am running to You arms… Nothing compares to Your EMBRACE.”

 

From the song My God Reigns by Abundant Life Ministries:

“My GOD REIGNS, His love will never fail me… In every situation I know, my God is GREATER, my God is over all.”

 

From the song I Will Bless The Lord by True Worshippers:

“God of all the earth, GOD of all the earth, JESUS.”

 

Pastor Kong preached about Joshua as he was about to conquer Jericho. Joshua first met Commander of the army of the LORD (that is, Lord Jesus Himself) who taught him what to do. Using human’s method, Joshua could have besieged the city and let the inhabitants starve to death. Yet, Joshua chose to obey God’s method which seemed irrational. The Israelites army walked around the thick city wall for six days in silence. Jericho’s soldiers must have thought they were mad. However, the army kept believing God’s promise and plan. On the seventh day, the army walked around the city wall seven times and at the end they shouted. A miracle happened: thick wall tumbled down out of the blue.

 

Lesson learned: As I draw close to God in prayer, I surrender my battle to Him and it becomes His battle. As He tells me the battle plan, I obey Him no matter how irrational the plan looks. In the end, the victory is for God’s glory, not mine.

 

Turn to your neighbor and say: “Never miss any single service.”

It was my make up duty with Team A. So, instead of serving part time, I did full time duty.

 

Eat Live Pray campaign really brought in wonderful book titles. I really want to buy some of them as I do not like borrowing from people. However, due to budget constraint and my current book reading, I will not be able to buy them anytime soon.

But at least, I bought this CD as to support the sales. This CD is compilation of several songs in other Hillsong’s album.

New products of the week: daily devotional booklets.

 

Some fund raising for Janelle’s cancer treatment. Please do consider supporting her, ok? The notebook only costs 2 dollars whereas the Christmas cards 10 dollars per pack.

 

New improved display for Live and Pray campaign.

Praise really changed the layout of the right arena!!

The service was very good. During the praise and worship session, I used up almost one pack of tissues. Not because I was sneezing, but because… (you should know what happens to people who are in God’s presence). The sermon was fantastic too. It  was taken from Joshua conquering Jericho with God’s intervention. I will talk about it in the next post, ok?

After the duty time, we had our debriefing.

Stanley shared about the book Maximized Manhood by Pastor Edwin Louis Cole.

Jingyi shared about the book The 15 Revolution by Pastor Paul Scanlon.

 

Even a grasshopper reads the Bible. Shame on us, Christians, who are often lazy to read the Bible.

 

We had dinner at Bedok Interchange.

Question: can you guess which hand belongs to who?

Find the answer here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=7197436&id=720576756

 

Thank God for such a fun filled Saturday.

Last week’s Wednesday, my CG had breakfast together at McDonald King Albert Park

  

We played UNO Spin too.

 

As such there was no message last week’s Wednesday.

You can view the full photos here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=298175&id=720576756

 

Last night my CGL preached about goodness. Again, there was an assignment: I need to do one good thing to someone whom I may not really like and I have to report to him by tonight.

Well, I am not sure if I can do it in the next few hours. Hopefully I can.

Pastor Phil shared a wonderful message about hospitality on Tuesday.

In short, I have to be hospitable towards strangers, newcomers who come to church for the first time. This message is truly suitable for the coming Christmas season where thousands of people will come and visit churches and hear Christmas message.

“The key to win people to Christ is by winning them first to yourself and to church, then you win them to Christ.”

“15 minutes after the church service determines the church growth.”

Somehow, I have not been pretty hospitable to people recently. Maybe I have been too busy that I did not enough time to chat with them. When I talked to them, somehow I felt awkward. Or, maybe I have been too tired.

I guess the latter is more likely. Before I become hospitable to others, I need to be first hospitable toward myself.

Well, I shall keep reaching out by practicing hospitality then. Many people still “need” the LORD.

In the previous post, I mentioned about the importance of praise to gain a victory in the midst of difficulties.

Recently, one song of praise has been ringing at the back of my mind.

I was first introduced to this song when I was still a kid.

I have given the English translation as this song is in Indonesian language. (http://www.kidung.com/bersama_yesus.htm)

 

BERSAMA YESUS LAKUKAN PERKARA BESAR                          Together (with) Jesus (we) do mighty things

BERSAMA YESUS TIDAK ADA YANG SUKAR                              Together (with) Jesus (there’s) nothing difficult

BERSAMA YESUS ADA JALAN KELUAR                                         Together (with) Jesus there is a way out

UNTUK MASALAHKU, UNTUK MASALAHMU                            For my problem, for your problem

UNTUK MASALAH KITA SEMUA                                                     For all of our problem

YESUS ANAK DOMBA ALLAH                                                           Jesus, Lamb of God

JURUSELAMAT UMAT MANUSIA                                                   Jesus, Savior of mankind

YESUS TABIB YANG AJAIB                                                                Jesus, miraculous/wonderful Healer 

DIA MENYEMBUHKAN                                                                      He heals

DIA MENGUDUSKAN DIA MEMBENARKAN                              He sanctifies, He justifies

DIA RAJA S’GALA RAJA                                                                     He is the King of kings

 

How can praise bring victory in the midst of difficulties? Because praise and worship “invites” God, the Source of Victory, to come.

A quote from Pastor Phil from his book Moving in the Spirit (page 25):

“We can create atmospheres charged with God’s power through the use of spiritual tools that are at our disposal. One of the most valuable tools we have is praise. The power of praise cannot be underestimated. We rout Satan and purge spiritual atmospheres with worship. Praise makes way for God’s presence.”

Yes, I shall keep praising the LORD until the breakthrough comes.

(Get your copy of Moving in the Spirit in Attributes today, ok? )

Last weekend I attended Sunday service at Expo.

Pastor Phil preached a great message. There are four weapons we can use to gain a victory in difficult situation:

a.) The name of Jesus.

b.) The blood of Jesus.

c.) The Word of God.

d.) Praise.

The Word of God and praise… Things have not been going well indeed. Nevertheless, Pastor Derek had given us a passage from Psalm 91 before preaching session. Somehow, verse 14-16 (NKJV) have become my rhema.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
         I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
         I will be with him in trouble;
         I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
         And show him My salvation.”

Pastor Phil shared with us from his personal experience how the Word of God is so effective in binding the devil.

I shall have faith in God’s Word then.

I helped out in the closing of bookstore for a while.

 

Susanna asked us to improve the design of the shelves of gifts’ products.

 

Unfortunately, I had to leave earlier as I was about to attend a meeting at 3 pm at City Hall.

Well, it’s time to apply God’s Word then.