Work Stuff

Am so GLAD that the distribution of brochures for "Rediscovering Worship Seminar" is FINALLY finished. Thanks to EJ's help of driving me around town to the other churches, we completed it yesterday. Was so tired after that that I went to bed at 8pm! Haven't done that in a while. *grimace*
Today, I'll have to prepare for my worship tonight,  pray for the Worship Ministry and work out the flow for the worship this Sunday. So it looks like I better get started for all of that or else I'll not be able to finish it all.

Dear God,
Thank you for being with us yesterday as we went around distributing the flyers.  I pray that you will be with me even as I go around finishing the stuff that I have to do today

Worship Leading

Worship yesterday evening went well.  Ended up chosing a bunch of hymns and some old songs which I really like(Then again, all the songs I chose are the ones I really like)..
Worship leading at prayer meet is something that I've not done in a while and the only reason that I did it in the first place was  because no one else wanted to do it. But I really felt the Lord's guidance in this one. The songs just flowed through my head- seriously- if it was me, I would not have chosen so many hymns. One's usually the maximum for me.
I need to pray for the worship leaders. 
Ang - who's feeling slightly under the weather and who's leading worship this Sunday
Uncle Lawrence - who has so many responsibilities and struggling with them at times.
Peng Peng- Have been so blessed by Hillsong
Ting -Parents are here
Uncle Thomas - now assistant HF leader
 
Dear God,
There always seems to be so many things to pray for. Remember the hymn- what a friend we have in Jesus  and am reminded that we can take ALL things to you in prayer. Thank You for that. =)
Thanks too for leading me in the worship yesterday.

 

Breakfast with Adrian

Just had breakfast with Adrian. He gave this super cool idea of having breakfast once a week with the Worship Leaders. =)
Dunno how well it will sit with the rest of them. =P
We discussed about discipleship and worship over breakfast.
Now I have more work to do. =P
Oh well, looks like i'll have heaps to do today.

1. Prepare for worship leading at prayer meet tonight and at cross gen on Friday
2. Check the flow for Adrian's songs.

Dear God,
Thank You for Your faithfulness. Need you to lead me today as I prepare for worship for tonight and Friday.

Nothing

My mind seems to be rather blank today.  Feeling rather sleepy too.
So much to do and yet.. feeling sluggish. =(
WANT TO SLEEP some more!
*sigh*
Need to prepare for Friday's worship and possibly tomorrow night's. =P
I hope not...

Random stuff

Colour code
Black = Neutral
Purple = Great
Red = Bad
 

1. Have not been able to blog as often as I would like to.
2. Going out with Olivia this afternoon for tea
3. Watched an awesome play yesterday about trusting God by Colin Kirton and his team - the footstool players.
4. Helped out at an awesome choir event last Tuesday.
5. Have been busy with Cross Gen
6. Sad cos have been reading less and less books
7. Been watching more animes at EJ's
8. Had an email from Liz - she says that she'll be calling soon
9. Had an awesome time with my cousins(Sern Yi, Sherene, Melissa and EJ) last Thursday evening
10. Missed them heaps after that
11. Have not been able to play with the dogs as often as I would like to
12. Yen Ling's staying over tomorrow
13. Heaps of ppl coming in and out the house
14. Aunty Poo Choo came and visit- encouraged me to go over and visit her in the UK. Have not seen her in 5 years.
15. Was not happy with how things went for worship yesterday.. ARGGGHHH!!
16. But God's been moving in the worship on Sundays for the past three Sundays now as I've been praying - and I'm sure heaps of others have been too
17. NECF has started a fast and prayer for Malaysia for 40 days till Merdeka Day.
18. My godbrother- Sean's back from YWAM DTS. Missed him heaps as he's really encouraging to me in the Worship ministry. Need more of that now that I'm working in church
19. Felt a bit disorientated at work last week. Maybe due to heaps of work and my routine had to change. NEED my computer!!!
20. Prayed for Diane who's sick with some disease in her kidney. I pray that I was a blessing to her.
21. Worship leading for Cross Gen this friday
22. Breakfast with Adrian Ang this Wednesday morning (this will be  a good thing cos of the free breakfast.. heheheh)
23. Checked out my mum's library of books last night. COOL!! HEAPS of new stuff to read!! Now I just need more time- how about it God?? =)
24. Going out with Sue Lee next monday.
25. Uncle Lawrence is coming back soon from Australia!
26. Christmas planning isn't going so great - too many conflicts coming up
27. Continually praying for Cross Gen to change- that God's will be done.
28. Been praying a whole lot more. Probably twice the amount than I usually pray
29. Been able to talk to Jorja. Passed her some bible study material to her so that she can study it with her sister
30. Still need to buy my camera
31. It's almost a month now that I'm working in church- been a really great experience so far
32. Had time to spend with my cousin Sherene.
33. Cooked with my sister today. Always good to spend a little time with her.
34.  EJ needs to check his ears. He still having some ringing or buzz.. =(
35. ICE CREAM NITE FOR AV TEAM TOMORROW!!! Yummy!
36. Am growing through a growth stage in my spiritual life! Thanks God!!
37. Need to pray about finding a place to do some studies for worship
38. Praying for spiritual mentor for EJ and Rimash
39. Had a lovely necklace with a 'R' from Peng Peng (her souvenir from her trip to Aussie Land). Was really sweet of her.

There's probably heaps more. But that's it for now. *Phew*.

Dear God,

Thank you for all the great stuff that's been happening- after all, there are heaps of purple stuff. And a few red ones. Please see me through this week as you have been the past week. Great is thy faithfulness!

Your Child,

Ruth

Love

Was at NECF prayer meeting last night and it was pretty awesome. Was challenged again to set aside time to fast and pray for this country. The 40 day prayer and fast will be starting on 22nd July.

1 Corinthians 13 was somehow imprinted in my mind. I believe that God has something to say to me- to love more. As the speaker said last night - what is ministry without love. Am now listening to the second part of Uncle George's message - what surprised me most was that he used the exact same passage. Uncle George said that when he was on board the ship, he used to love ppl in ministry the whole day. But at the end of the day, he would get irritated with his wife when he got home. Sort of know how that feels because it happens to me.

1 Corinthians 13
Love
1If I speak in the tongues[1] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[2] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Events
Work have been running more smoothly. Though yesterday was almost covered by an avalanche of work. Our church will be organising a Worship Seminar with Peter Rowan and Dr Daniel Chua from the UK. The event will be next month 14th, 20th and 21st August. This will be the first event that I'll be organising so I'm pretty nervous. Thank God for mum and ppl at the office who have been contributing ideas on what and how I should go about doing it. Looks like I'll be pretty busy (and draggind EJ with me =) ) in the next week in publicising the event to other churches.
*Sigh* looks like I'll have to postpone a couple of stuff-reorganising the worship structure, completing the songbook and compiling my worship library until the event is over.


Dear God,
Am glad that you've placed me in full time. Please give me the wisdom and the perseverence to complete the tasks that you have for me. Please give me a bigger heart to love others and my family.
Your Child - Ruth

Prayer and Work

Just came back from prayer meeting. It was really excellent. Everyone was really involved in prayer - it was slightly louder that usual - which I figure was a good thing.
Uncle John and Aunty Siew Wah shared about their struggles of moving to Australia. Aunty Jenny shared about the quarrel between her mum and her maid. She was really funny when she shared - I'll definitely remember her sharing for a long time.
We also prayed for the team that will be going for Kunming for two weeks. I MUST remember to pray for them.
Have been having a strong burden to pray for the Worship Team every week. Must set aside half an hour every Friday to pray for them.

Working in Church
Working in church have been rather unsettling at times. Find it difficult whenever I have to move from desk to desk. Probably because I'm quite a disorganised person and it helps me to have a permanent desk rather than moving around (and all my stuff moves with me. =P )
Been adding chords to lyrics and have been finding it difficult and rather tedious. EJ had this great idea before I left the office this evening to help with the lyrics and chords. Hope it works out. Will have to try it out tomorrow. If I go on the way I've been going, I'll go crazy really soon.
I must say that working in church has been really good so far. It's officially a week now - I enjoy it so much that I don't realise the time flying. Before I know it, it's usually 5.30 in the evening and I feel like staying on to get more stuff accomplished. The only thing that stops me is transport (Aunty Chan Boey really likes to go at 5.30 sharp) and my family(need to go home and chip in).
Other than not having a permanent desk, I find it a bit unsettling not to have set things to do. Find it weird that I have to set my own timetable everyday and to make a 'to do' list and ensure that I get through all the stuff on the list. But I guess that it's good for me - have to learn to be more organised and to manage my time more efficiently. =P
In spite of all that, I'm glad that I'm working at church. Am reminded from time to time that He is leading me and guiding me each day as I work there. It's just this great sense of being on the path that He's chosen for me.
The office environment is great. The 'three wise men' (Uncle Ean Chiew, Uncle Kah Kee and Uncle Chee Seng) are really funny and the rest of the staff have been rather supportive.
Everyday Aunty Chan Boey picks me up to church and sends me back. Her driving has been rather interesting and it's rather amusing being in her car. She makes all these funny comments about the drivers on the road. She also asks me questions in the car - how I feel about Cross Gen, What are my hobbies, tithing issues and non-existent boyfriends. =P Must say that the car rides are never EVER boring. heheh..
Okies.. That's it for now. Have been having rather late nights helping aunty Jessica with her art and craft stuff for the Kunming mission trip. We've done creating figurines out dough, baking them and painting them; making masks; making puppets and all the usual art and craft stuff. Brings back all the great memories where my mum used to do all that with us as kids. Mum's been having a great time too. =)

All that blogging probably made up for my lack of blogging lately.

Dear God,
Thank you for the lessons that you've been teaching me in the past week. Thank you too for the great times that I've been having. I praise you for all that you are. Teach me to worship you and to give you my best in all that I do. You know that I want to do heaps for You. Please make up for my lack - my messiness and my bad time management. Guard my heart and mind from evil. Teach me to live the way you want me to and to learn well the lessons you teach with a heart that you can mold to your will.

Good Story

Was really impressed with this story that Uncle John sent.

GROWING GOOD CORN

James Bender, in his book How to Talk Well (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1994) relates the story of a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it.

The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours. "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.

"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn."

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbour's corn also improves.

So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must help their neighbours to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbours grow good corn.

Time

Wow! Time really flies by really quickly. Before I know it, it's been a while since I've updated my blog.
I've started work at church on 1st July and it's been crazy the last few days as I've been rushing around trying to get things sorted out and settled down and meet deadlines at the same time. =P
But I must say that it's just great and different working at church. Really enjoy what I'm doing and it just feels funny doing stuff that I've been doing intermittently since form 3 FULL TIME.
Working at church has been really good and interesting. The uncles and aunties at church are hilariously funny and very supportive. EJ's been a great help at times too. Though he tends to kacau ppl at STRESSFUL times- but it does make work more interesting. =)
The next few weeks will be really 'full on' as well. There's the NECF prayer event at our church next Wednesday(14/7). Sean's coming back on 22/7. There will be a two events at church on 18th and 20th July. And there's a leader's retreat on 16/7/04-18/7/04.

Went to watch "Around the World in 80 days" yesterday and really enjoyed the movie. Enjoyed my day yesterday. It was a really good day.

Heaps to do today. As usual, mum's driving me crazy by giving me heaps of stuff to do. ARGH! Gonna have to cook again in the afternoon for everyone due to SOMEONE'S miscalculations on the portion of food.
Am now looking forward to going back to work again tomorrow after all the craziness in my house (PLEASE GOD MAKE TIME GO FASTER!). =P

Pray for countries

Was just listening to a tape by Uncle George.
Am once again challenged to pray for the following nations. It's an excerpt from my notes that I made.

Top 10 most impossible God Shaking nations.
1. North Korea - very few churches and believers. Very fanatic.
2. Saudi Arabia - has almost no church. You can be imprisoned just to show a Jesus film. A national church does not exist.
3. Libya - about 10 believers from majority. Very few minority ppl.
4. Iraq - George have been praying for Iraq since he was 20 (now 45 years of praying). Iraqis are coming to Jesus because of the war. But they need more prayer and intercession
5. Iran - Young Christians are persecuted. The Iranians in other nations/around the globe are coming to know Jesus. God seems to be opening doors. Persecution is not extreme.
6. Chechnya - almost no Christian workers or missionaries.
7. Turkmenistan - The exception openess to gospel in central asia is Turkmenistan. Fanatics and great persercution
8. Tibet - No church in Tibet. You go there teaching English. You may go as a tourist or tentmaking.
9. Socotra - fanatic. Totally unevengalised.
10. Afghanistan - Now is the hour for Afghanistan.

Jesus told us to be concerned for all the countries.(the ends of the earth part in Acts 1:8). Pray that the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers.


Am reminded to read and pray with my Operation World.

Dear God,
Please send more workers to the above countries so that more may come to know you. Keep safe those who are doing your work there too.