A special message to all the Ignyte GRADS, esp those I grew up and grew with :)
Hey ya'll! Just want to say I AM SOOOOoooooooo PROUD OF YOU!!! N of course all e leaders and pastors are just as proud of u all! Man, what an awesome joy it is to see all of u growing, loving n serving the Lord with all u've got, N i think all of us wanna encourage u to keep right on doing that. :) Well....yeah as u saw...i couldn't quite keep in e mixture of that joy/pride N yet a bit of heart-pain (cos u're leaving ignyte) during service today...*sniffles*... ;-)
As u move on to a new season in ur ministry n life, believe there's gonna be even greater breakthroughs in ur life, a deeper walk with God N He's gonna work in N thru u like never b4, even beyond ur dreams n imagination! Don't let ANYTHING EVER take away what God's started in u N e great destiny He has for u. Keep ur feet firmly planted n rooted in the ROCK -Jesus Christ - N keep following Him everyday. Also, spur EACH OTHER on in living for Jesus - there's so much power in that love, support, prayer n unity u have for each other. :)
Most important of all - if u forget everything else, just remember this: that God loves you so much, and He'll never stop loving you! (N of course, don't forget I luv u all too!! :P) Stay cool n IGNYTE-D (Woo! Go rock e other services@ Trinity 4 Jesus k!!) N always look to Him. Tk care n may His favour n blessings follow u wherever u are, whatever u do.
To my ex-cellmates (including all e very old ones n not-so-old ones, N i don't mean by age. haha. whoa, some of us have been in e same cell since sec2! :D) I never stop thanking God for each n every one of u...I'm gonna miss u all so much but I want u to know tt u've impacted many lives n I always feel tt e absolute greatest reward in being ur cellmate n leader is seeing my *bebes* like u loving n serving God with all ur heart n rising up to be even greater leaders than i've ever been. I may have said this like many many times but i'm gonna say it again..."Man, u dunno how proud I am to say that!!" U have left a legacy in e youth min as well as in my own life N U r all so precious to God n to me! ROCK ON n don't forget to invite me to ur durian parties in e future (tho i'm not much of a durian eater haha)!! Luv u loads *hugs* :)
Well I guess i could go on n on, but here's to our grads - WE LOVE YOU.
In His love n grace, Yvette :)
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give u a spirit of unity among yourselves as u follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth u may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 15:5-6 :)
Perhaps the thing that warms my heart the most would be to see the unadulterated contentment of a child...the joy brought about by the simplest of things - a 50 cents ice-cream cone - a reward for sitting still through a haircut.... It's been a tradition for me - started by my late mother - to keep me still under the hands of the Indian barber. The uncanny mix of smells - cheap ice-cream - plus the aroma of the cologne splashed over my neck and face.... it's strange... brings a certain sense of security and peace. Till today -I still find myself subconciously rewarding myself after a haircut... and scary thing is - I'm beginning to do it to my kids! Strange how 'legacies' can continue..
But perhaps now I don't look forward to the smells or the 'coolness' in the naked neck...but just simply to bask in the joy of a child that's just so sincere.
So pure.
- PDa
"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." - Luke 18:17
I thought I just want to say some thanks to some...
Thank Team Invent, you have made a TREMENDOUS difference in the service atmosphere with the letters, balloons and white dress code... you are more than just decorating (even though thats part of it) but encouraging to worship Him even more fervently! For those who came to serve and painted the letters... with the hot weather and air pollution from the construction site... Thank you all for your commitment to serve out of convenience! Thank you!
Thank you Worship Team! Its been a tedious journey jamming and planning... but I have seen your team work and more than just music, I saw all of you worshiping God on stage and supporting each other in love... God is pleased.
Thank you Passionate Honor RSVP committee. for all the planning, praying and heart put into this... God has honored your service as He came to touch lives. Be blessed as you have greatly blessed us! Thanks thanks thanks!
Thank you tech team- the RSVP words just looked GREAT on the walls... Thanks for serving guys! Keep it up, the spirit of excellence is worth recognition.
Thank you Audacious Fervor Team- We had a breakthrough time in prayer yea? you have been a blessing.. continue to be the prayer warrior that God has called you to be ya?
and to all whom I did not mentioned, THANK YOU for SERVING.. there's just too many to go around with.
Last of all, THANK YOU JESUS! I love you Lord, and let me and your people never stop worshiping you.. even when the music stops...
There's been many songs that have the word "hosanna" in it.... from days of old and not-your-era, up till today.. SO MANY.
and i've been wondering what hosanna actually translates to. what does it really mean? i've asked friends after worship services, after hearing songs with "hosanna" in them, but still couldn't come to a definitive meaning of the word.
well, THANK GOD for internet - i searched it online. here's what i found.
hosanna - An acclamation of praise and adoration to God. It comes from the Greek word hosanna, which serves as a translation for the Hebrew phrase meaining "save now, we pray." Its usage in the church is as an expression of enthusiastic praise, especially on Palm Sunday, as in Mark 11:9, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
i believe R.S.V.P. will be about us responding in this same way like the believers did on Palm Sunday. As we remember all the things (big and small) the Lord has done for us and ALL the mighty things He is going to do in the coming days... till the day we reach heaven and walk into eternity... i believe our hearts cannot help but cry out to Him and worship Him and praise Him with all that we have. and indeed, like "Uncle" Andre, I believe it'll be a time of renewal.
I see the King of Glory coming on the clouds with fire The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes I see His love and mercy washing over all our sins The people sing, the people sing:
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest
I see a generation rising up to take their place With selfless faith, with selfless faith I see a new revival stirring as we pray and seek We're on our knees, we're on our knees
Bridge: Heal my heart and make it clean Open up my eyes to the things unseen Show me how to love like You had loved me Break my heart for what breaks Yours Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause As I walk from earth into eternity
After reading the sharing from Jean and Sok Boon, are you inspired to be Ignyte prayer warrior?
What is a prayer warrior to me? PRAYER is one of the most powerful weapon that God has given to us against our enemies. A PRAYER WARRIOR is a person who is trained, skilled and effective in using that weapon. Someone that is willing to commit his/her time to pray when called on to do so. It is to stand in the gap on behalf in our ministry, school, camp and the lives of our loved one.
Anyone can be a prayer warrior. That means YOU CAN BE ONE TOO! All it takes is simply a desire to grow in the area of prayer. I believed God will cause you to pray with greater passion and power, as you continue to allow God to teach you.
Prayer has helped me to deepen my relationship with God as well as strengthen my faith. It brings me joy whenever I hear of praise reports of how God has moved in the service and in the lives of different people. It confirmed again that God is a prayer-answering God.
I am inspired by the stories of great prayer warriors, who would spend more than 8 hours a day to pray and to read of how God has brought revival, healing, restoration and tear down stronghold when we choose to devote in prayer.
We believe that you can make an impact through your partnership in prayer and God is going to use you to make a difference in Ignyte ministry and your generation. Audacious Fervor Team is inviting you to be part of us. To train and to release you as a PRAYER WARRIOR.
®oßin on behalf on AudaciousFervorTeam
Ezekiel 22:30"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none."
Existing members and for those who are interested to know more… Audacious FervorOpen Invitation Join us on 22nd of April, Sunday, LT 1 at 130pm
As the invitation goes out to all of us, i am reminded once again of Worship Experience.
In the past i see worship as just that: a slow song. haha, how silly right.
but now, worship to me is a life of obedience, it's about going up there to put the most treasured possession in my life to death. To give it all to God, though it may not be easy all the time.
I guess sometimes it's so natural for us to worship or respond to God to get something we need, to ask for something rather than responding to Him for who He is. Perhaps that's why we come back feeling the same every week, just that with different problems. :)
Well, I figured that once God is encountered, as Moses experienced, the promises all fall into perspective. He is so much more wonderful than anything-even his blessings. And I pray with all my heart that this Sunday will be a time of breakthrough, a time of restoration and victory for us as children of God.
Should you yourself have fallen and gotten hurt by somebody, emotionally, physically. Praise God, cos you are normal. Haha.
But God is just reminding you that this world cannot possibly by itself satisfy your hunger and thirsts. It is through God, and God himself can we find peace, joy, love, mercy, grace, and so many beautiful things we ought to share with those who have hurt us. It's so easy and natural to want to hurt back those who have hurt us. but what's the point? For me, i've given my share of love. I ought to step back now, so that you + you + you + you can step up. Go for it!
R.S.V.P with your life!
Man, life's sure not easy aye. It isn't meant to be.
But things are much simpler when we CHOOSE to trust God's plans and rest in His embrace. See you Sunday 22Apr07, 11.30am.
Really excited about RSVP this Sunday. I believe that this Worship Experience will be momentous one for many (like which one isn't? hurhuh..). Anyway, just like what Yvette has shared, I am really looking forward to the deeper level of worship which every WE brings. It just reminds me of the song by Mercy Me, "I Can Only Imagine".
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine
Wish I could upload an excerpt of this song, but that would be piracy no? (arrhh.. matey!)
This song just so aptly describes that great elation and reverent awe (2 different and yet somehow, so 'right' emotions at that instance..) that you feel in the presence of God, you won't really know what to do until you are there, that moment, that instance, where you can feel the very tangible presence of God on you.
~~~
Anyway, I digress.. Yet there is something else I feel during this WE.. There is this excitement in my spirit, as I sense that God will begin to do a great work in each of our lives as well as the lives of our friends. One word that has been impressed upon me is the word 'renewal'.
Just like in the publicity video clip where the little girl in Narnia goes from the room with the wardrobe into the new exciting world of Narnia, God is bringing us to a new exciting place in our walk with Him!
This word is especially for those who are standing at that very edge of His presence. You know, those that feel that you are not really close to God at this moment of your life (come on, its alright, hands up.. I sometimes feel this way to ya know..)
It is at the moment where you acceptthat invitation to God's presence (no matter where your spiritual life is at..) and every declaration of His Word (through the songs) which will cut through our very flesh, bone and marrow to turn our hearts back to Him; is where we will find our renewal and refreshingin our world-weary spirit.
Isiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners..
Yes, God's very presence will do all these during the event! However, let's not keep this to ourselves ya? I highly encourage you guys to invite all your friends to receive God's invitation as well. God wants to touch you as well as your friends!
Won't you RSVP to Jesus?
For me, I'm gonna invite this intern doing her poly FYP in my company. (She calls me 'uncle' too! Haha..)
For those of you who've ever wondered why people write RSVP at the end of an invitation, or what "RSVP" really stands for: It is French for "please reply!" :)
AND of course, RSVP is the theme/event name for.......*drumroll*......
WORSHIP EXPERIENCE!!!!*SCREEEAM!!*
Yayy...I'm sure looking forward to it! :) SO...what's so exciting about worship experience anyway?? The totally awesome music? The cool psychedelic lights? The decor that Team Invent (*applause*) puts up in the service hall? The beautiful people on stage! (God made everyone beautiful mah...) The jumping, dancing and shouting? The great emotional high?
Hmm... something's missing huh? Well let me just say one thing here: If we had all the above, but God's presence and glory didn't come......we'd just be enjoying a rock concert.
Worship experience is about experiencing GOD, the ONE we worship. It's about INVITING the presence of God, and it's about RESPONDING/REPLYING to HIS invitation to experience Him and know Him in a personal and powerful way. That's RSVP.
It's like a cry from our heart to His saying, "Please reply! Come fill this place! Come meet with us! Please don't pass us by!" Are you hungry n desperate to have Him reply??
And at the same time it's an invitation from His heart to ours saying, "Please reply! Do you want Me? Do you want to draw nearer to Me and know Me more? I love you, will you also love Me and love my people/your generation?" Will you accept His invitation N say YES! Lord, our hearts respond to You and we desire to capture Your heart.
Well, most importantly we gotta remember that worship is ALL FOR JESUS. (Rememeber how we sing "It's all about YOU"?) Yes, worshipping God makes us feels great - becos it's wad God made us to do, and God's joy, peace n love also fill us up when He comes near to us in our times of worship - but worship is really about ADORING GOD. It's OUR response to HIM, His greatness and His love for us.
So Ignyte! Prepare ur hearts to ADORE and MEET WITH the King of kings. He invites YOU to an awesome party like no other, this sunday, 11.30am at LT1, Trinity @ PL. -RSVP-
chrYesterday, we shared Transforming Power of Prayer in Jean's life. Today AudaciousFervorTeam would like to share with you about Persevering in Prayer. We have invited Sok Boon to share her experience :
Some people just don't get off your prayer list; my brother was one of those. He was the only pre-believer in my family and my parents and I were praying for his salvation for the longest time.
From how I see it, his life was a downward spiral. It started as excessive computer playing but soon it progressed to hardcore computer addiction, accompanied by bouts of violence, the complete cessation of school going and depression. Sometimes things got so bad that he had to be warded into the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). Many times I asked God "Why not act NOW?” and when I see the cynicism in him. I thought that God did not have much material to work on.
Then suddenly, events began to unfold. My brother was warded into IMH yet again. I thought everything would end up how it did the other time (he was warded a total of 6 or 7 times). But I think God decided that it was time for Him to act NOW. He put this other Christian patient who was warded in IMH into my brother’s life. My brother (who used to only talk to his computer) talked to him about cheem stuff like the meaning of life that night. The next day, this patient’s friend visited him and she came back the very next day to give him a bible. This Bible was in the King James Version. So God was put this patient (my bro's age) in his ward that is versed in theology, to explain and help my brother sort out his thoughts. My brother was eventually saved in IMH. SAVED IN IMH. How cool is that.
I was oblivious to all these and when my parent told me about my bro's salvation after visiting him, my face was like that: o_O.stunned.
So yeah, God is moving all the time, even if we can't see it. I believe that God ignored my call for "NOW!!" because it wasn't the right time yet. So keep praying (I prayed for close to3 years), and expect what seems to be impossible. Keep the faith going cause its only God who can decide when is the "NOW!" time and when it happens, nothing can stop it.
P.S my bro is attending city harvest church regularly and is growing. I’m really proud of him.
Sok Boon
Wow.. Thank you for sharing how God has answered your prayer. Indeed God is a prayer answering God. God is not into MICROWAVING, but MARINATING.
Existing members and for those who are interested to know more… Audacious FervorOpen Invitation Join us on 22nd of April, Sunday, LT 1 at 130pm
Recently I had the chance to witness 4 gals bidding their goodbyes to their bunch of good girlfriends. Hugs and tears were a plenty and somehow it reminded me of me saying my goodbyes not too long ago. Goodbyes are most of the times not easy for me, especially when I just had a smashing good time spent with the person or group. I wish the fun will never end. Its something nothing can exchange it for- a well spent time with closed ones. But most of the times, goodbyes means a beginning too... a beginning to?
So they say..... the end of 2006 is where 2007 begins? the end of death is where life begins? the end of bar chor mee is where a cool cheng deng comes in? the end of my homework is where TV begins? tne end of my sorrows is where joy is?
Still goodbyes are not easy eh? but if there's one thing we know, is our Father in Heaven knows our thoughts and feelings. With no prejudice or judgment, He will come and pick us up and bring us to a beginning. If God is calling to say goodbye to certain things in your life, what mentality or attitude are you carrying in saying goodbye? =)
To those 4 gals, you are brave, not many can say goodbye so gracefully. I know you made the decision knowing that God is faithful. Press on friends, at the end of your goodbyes, there is the Hand of God welcoming you again. Continue to grow, continue to seek His Spirit, continue to arise and serve Him with all your heart......
As for me.... I think I'm learning to see the beauty in goodbyes.....
AudaciousFervorTeam would like to share with you how PRAYER has transformed Jean's spiritual walk with God:
When I was young, I used to think that since God our Father knew everything, we do not need to tell him anything. We just need to call upon Him when we need His help and say sorry for the wrong things we had done.
However, I was wronged. As I learned more about God, I realised that prayer isn't just asking God for help when we are in troubles. God created us for Communication. Yes, He knows our everything, but He loves to talk to us and hear our voices. Also, when we pray, we are telling Satan that we hold our trust in Jesus. The devil is not all knowing. Therefore we need to declare to him that we believe that Christ is in control of all things.
Talking to God is not just a one way communication. It's EXCITING because God replies. Every time when I see my prayers answered, my faith will grow stronger. Just like as you are familiar with your earthly parents, you will dare to ask them for things boldly. As I grew in my relationship with God, I also dare to ask Him more the greater things.
However, I do not just ask God for personal needs. I dared to ask Him to use me for His kingdom purposes and it is really great to see how God can use the little that I have for His purpose.
I used to be afraid to pray for others because I knew little or nothing of their needs. However, when I learnt to step out and pray for others, I am amazed at how God uses me to minister to His people. I do not know anything, but He knows everything. I realised that I wasn't nothing in His sight. I may be small to the world, but God can use me to do great things in His kingdom. Praying to God really builds my faith and I will continue to talk to Him and hear from Him because it's really awesome to hear from the KING of KINGS.
Jean
So, be a part of the AUDACIOUS FERVOR TEAM and you will surely be amazed at how God can use you for His kingdom purposes. It's really EXCITING to hear from God!
Existing members and for those who are interested to know more… Audacious Fervor Open Invitation Join us on 22nd of April, Sunday, LT 1 at 130pm
I'm so(x10) happy to be back home! Miss you all very(x100) MUCH!
Well - I don't have much time so will keep this BLOG short (gotta go Malaysia tmr for Pastors' Summit and I haven't unpacked yet - and yes, to pack later...)
Thanks for your prayers - the weather was extreme (HOT and COLD) - but God kept me - didn't fall sick etc... usually I'll get a sore throat by 3rd day in dry climate... and it was REALLY dry.... but God kept my voice to be a voice for Him! Yeah... the Palm Sunday service went well - after I spoke through the live transimission - I went to the bunk - gathered all the Christians- and had a service there - with many other non-christians around! Thanks for your prayers!! But it was gruelling when the exercise started... but am really glad I met new friends, encouraged some Christians, and SALTed to some pre-believers - God was really helping me impact MY GENERATION!
Hope to catch up with ALL of you soon... TAG and tell me how it has been for you the pass 3 weeks! :-)
Most people say that prayer is like talking to God. For new Christians, that’s what I’ll say to give them an idea of what prayer is about. On a personal level, prayer is like talking to God. But it’s so much more than that. Prayer is all about faith, about knowing who God is and who we are in Him, that we can ask boldly for His power to work in our lives because we are His children. When I pray, I know that my Heavenly Father hears me and He will answer my prayer, if it’s in accordance to His will.
Yet, as I grew in my faith, I learnt that prayer goes beyond praying for our own needs. We as children of God are also called to a priestly role: to stand in the gap between God and man and intercede, such as praying for our friends to know Christ. This verse tells us why exactly we need to wage war in the spirit- that is through prayer:
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Once during the IGNYTE youth conference evangelistic concert, my then-cellmate Hannah brought her brother. I remember during the part where the altar call for salvation was given, I was prompted by the Spirit to pray for her brother. They weren’t sitting with me but I knew that somehow there was a struggle going on and I prayed real hard. Even as people started going to the front, I still didn’t know if he went up but I kept on praying. It was only after the event that Hannah told me her brother has received Christ. Wow! I was really amazed by the power of prayer because her brother was one tough nut to crack. But indeed, prayer can move God to turn hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. We can't, but God can.
This is why I’m proud to be a part of the AUDACIOUS FERVOURteam. It’s more than just a prayer task force- we WARfor the ministry, for our generation. It’s also about bringing our ministry into alignment with God’s will as we hear from Him.
Existing members and for those who are interested to know more… Join us at Audacious Fervor Open Invitation on 22nd April, Sunday, LT 1 at 1.30pm
Answer the call. Be a history maker today. See you there!
Michellee, on behalf of the Audacious Fervour Team
You loved me the day You formed me, saw all that I could be. Made me fearfully and wonderfully, caused my eyes to see. Forever I could sing, of what You've done for me. Knowing that among all life's maybes, You're the constant, and the infinity.
If a had a vase of roses, You'd be the most beautiful one. If all those roses were gone, You'd be the sunflower (just cos i love them) in their place.
If I could be perfect, I'd be just that, for You. If I did become perfect, it'd be all because of You.
Time passes by, and empty words fade. But Yours are still "I love you, my child, I always will."
Pictures worth a thousand words, yet no great collection is suffice to praise You.
You are the hand that raised me up The feet that walked life's journey for me. You're the air that I breathe. Everything to me
You gave me a rainbow after each storm. Each hue reminder of where my help comes from. Take my rainbow, Lord - all that I am From the depths of my grateful heart.
un will never end. Its something nothing can exchange it for- a well spent time with closed ones. But most of the times, goodbyes means a beginning too... a beginning to?
