Complete Picture
The past week has been CRAZILY crazy.. It started with a good time of FUEL lesson on SALTING- the bridge illustration- "People need the Lord" Then it went on to the website launch ( have to thank Fran and Melvin especially in updating the website). To me, the website is a huge success. I like it and many like it too. Then it went on to rehearsal on Tuesday, a new place to adapt to, the place still smells of the fresh wood. Was a long Tuesday night, we had a taste of the run through - the entry points and oh dear seems like there is not enough space for the dancers. Long night, but fulfilling. Wednesday passed. We have to settle more videos, blogs, door gifts, props... did I mention recordings too? Everything is setting in and forming a big picture. I never really saw it that way till now. We seems to be everywhere now, but on that day, we'll be one and I know God will be pleased to complete the picture. Yea, we are building the house. Thursday, yesterday. Woah, first full dress run through. We had a powerful time of prayer, its not about us, but you Lord. Desperation. We want to see the place filled. Yes, we prayed while the prayer chain was on. Oh, and I heard it went really well. Prayer. Prayer really works. Tech - checked. Worship - checkedCast- checkedDancers - checkedbackstage - checked For the first time, I had a glimpse of what is going to be like. Every scene, every video, every song- it brings 1 message - God's redeeming love. And I pray then that our friends would receive it. Another long night, its a good start but not the end yet. Its not Sunday yet. Today's Friday- I'm hungry but even more hungry for God to come. I'll be going for flyer saturation soon.... wonder how many out there will come to know God today. Expect. Yes, Gwen, expect! Last night of rehearsal. Checking in things again, and bringing everyone together. Am listening to Corrine May's long journey. How appropriate - the seemingly long journey in preparing this production is nothing compared to Jesus journey to the cross.....prayer chain... fuel... salting... people need the lord... website... trailer.. tag board.. rehearsal.. videos.... prayer.. fasting... props... decision cards... Complete the picture with your friends ya? Cos Jesus is already with us.
- Gwen
Before its too late
She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening in the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on the road, another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older, and she's three more steps behind
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
--Casting Crowns
Reading Sis Raine's post on the Adam blog just brought back a flood of memories.
I remember when I was in J1, I saw this senior of mine in the canteen. At the other end. He was a big jolly guy from my senior class. Probably a head taller than everyone else too. Had his signature grin for a face as usual (no I wasn't infatuated-.-), giving a friendly punch on the arm to just about every aquaintance who passed him by. One of those guys the whole world knew and loved. Knew about, anyway. I wondered to myself what a fulfilling life he must have, being able to relate to people so well. I did wonder, along with all that, if he had the One Person in his life who could make it all more than just fulfilling. Thought maybe I should invite him for service. My thought bubble promptly POOF-ed into nothingness when I heard him call my name, from THAT far away. So I went over. Forgot all about inviting him.
A day later, Big Guy was gone. The plastered grin, the ease of manner, the apparent joy - it was all gone. He jumped. And NOOOO it's not cos ACJC makes people feel like they need to jump. But, yeah he was gone, and I was too late. Big Guy is still missed much. And I can't help thinking that the Father misses him too.
Don't let the Big Guys in your life pass Him by.
- Choe
God has no Grandchildren
Hellos Ignytians! hahaha incase you think I changed your names... Ask those you attended life conference why it ain't Ignyters...Anyway, It's been too quiet here for the past week... so...I'm back to make some noise!!!See the title?God has no grandchildren!!!
Whao! You know what? That line just wacked me like a ton of bricks when I was doing my TAWG a few days back...Geee... God has no grandchildren....The line stood out. It made it's dent on my brain, but i didn't understand it in my heart... so like the bible tells us... I 'meditated on it day and night'. 24hrs!Then it dawned on me! It simply meant what it meant!God has no grandchildren! Only children!Sounds stupid right? but hey... it sure did shock me out of bed ok!See... I remember when I was in Sec 1, my mum told me:'Michelle, now that you're growing up, you need to start knowing God for yourself. Since you were born into the church, you have been riding on mummy and daddy's faith. Now you can't just believe in God because mummy and daddy does. Get to know him!' (...Boy that brings back memories...)Anyway, yup! Be the child of God!Allow Him to be your Father.That means:1) You have direct access to God. You don't have to wait for your parents or your leaders to pray for you. Go pray to God! He hears you all the time.2) You have his direct spiritual genes! Made in his image! Not to be diluted through 3rd generations. We should therefore act and carry ourselves the way Jesus would!3) "Spare the rod and spoil the child" - Well, we've all heard that before. But this is the point that jolted me out of bed. It's the stark difference between being a child and a grandchild. As a grandchild, your grandparents would gladly spoil you silly. (At least this happens MOST of the time). However, when you're the child, your parents won't just buy you all the presents in the world. They show their love through discipline too. Hence that meant, as a child of God, surely God will bless me, but that also means he will discipline me in order to make me the person He wants me to be. It's not easy to discipline a child. Being a second mummy to some of my little cousins, whenever I discipline them, it ain't easy. It makes me feel bad when they start crying, but I know I have to do it cause I want to see them mature. I'm sure it's the same for God and even worse! God loves you more that you love yourself. Surely he feels more pain when he disciplines you... but he still goes ahead because he LOVES you. You are his CHILD, not grandchild!
So remember!
Whats the tag line again???
GOD HAS NO GRANDCHILDREN!
AMEN??? AMENLove, Michelle
Carry Me.
The last Blog entry was submitted
just before the service. Didn't expect God to answer my prayer
this fast.
"So Carry Me,
I'm just a dead man
Lying on the carpet
Can't find a heartbeat
Make me breathe,
I want to be a new man
Tired of the old one
Out with the old plan"
- Jars of Clay, "Carry Me"
The Other Side
The Other Side.
That's where I want to go Lord.
- PDa.
Waves.
It's gonna be an exiciting week. TCA Symposium. Life Conference. Youth Tracks/Workshops. Revival Meetings. Carnival. Charity Walk.
Woooah.
And if there's
just one more thing to add... would be...you'll get to hear IGNYTE songs on Air. Yup -
FM 107. From Batam to JB. Serious.
So if you happen to be have your radio beside you at
7.40am or
10.30pm(repeat telecast) daily....
Here's the schedule:Monday:
- Great is the Lord - Michelle Lee
- In the Presence - Raine
Tuesday:
- Everlasting Love - Hannah
- Hallelujah (TCP ver) - Kev
Wednesday:
- So in Love - Jas Choe
- Hallenlujah (Band mix) - Kev
Thursday:
- Everlasting Love - Hannah
- Child of God - Trina
Friday:
- How much more - Yvette
- Come IGNYTE - Raine/Kev/TrinaWell - we don't know who exactly will be listening to the songs- but I believe they will be blessed by the
heart-felt worship of the writers.
Thank you for giving to the nations. More Waves to come? :-)
- PDa.
Serious.
It was
6.15am. The walk down to the beach was dark... from afar we saw the sky dawning...
By the time we reach the beach - it was just in time for sunrise... we worshipped...
"Who compares to you...you who bring the morning light...the hope of all the earth.....you are MAGNIFICENT......... as the morning wakes...we your children give you PRAISE!...you are MAGNIFICENT!"
Worshipping the MAGNIFICENT God against a MAGNIFICENT backdrop.
What followed was almost
TWO solid hours of TAWG. Yep - uninterrupted, pure, serious TAWG. I believe
lives were restored.
Visions imparted.
Dreams mended. Oooo.... Let's do this again some time shall we? :-)
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
- 1 Peter 2:9-PDa
Interested in learning more about photography?
More details will be emailed to you when you sign up :)
It's going to be a time of learning WHILE having fun!
So what are you waiting for?
See you there!
what are you looking at now?
Recently I've been feeling pretty stressed because exams are looming near and I've got so much to cover. Yes- even though it's the holidays, I have to study everyday (everyone go AWW...) because the school (deliberately) scheduled the exams right after the holidays. So to fight off the study fatigue, I decided to go jogging more often.
Then there was this particular evening.
As I hit the pavement with my brows furrowed and my earphones jammed into my ears blasting music, my mind was still worrying about my exams. And so I spent a physically satisfying 30min running around the park in that state of mind but it didn't quite help me relax mentally. Then, as the sun began to set, this song started to play:
When I see the beauty
Of the sunset’s glory
Amazing artistry
Across the evening sky
When I feel the mystery
Of a distant galaxy
It awes and humbles me
To be loved by a God so high
(What Can I Do by Paul Baloche)
And as the words prompted me to look up at the evening sky, it momentarily took my breath away. The backdrop of the large expanse of sky- blue with a tinge of orange, a beautiful gradient- was just awe-inspiring; spectacular; MAGNIFICENT! (I didn't take this photo but it is one of Bishan Park, if you can recognise the pointy-top HDB blocks.)
I realised that all the while for the past 30 minutes I was jogging with my eyes fixed on the ground, the
grey pavement in front of me. But my view
completely changed when I looked up at God's glory being displayed in the sky. And then I began to see that it was the same thing with my life: if I kept my eyes fixed on the challenges/obstacles in front of me, I wouldn't be able to see God in my circumstances because they would block my view of Him. It's like the analogy of holding a piece of paper really close to your face- it completely obscures your view of everything else. But when I lift my eyes up to Jesus, that's a perspective of
hope. My God is all-powerful, faithful and mighty;
He is
BIGGER than all my
problems.
As I began to understand this, my burden was lifted and I began to feel God's joy POUR into my heart in abundance. WOW, what a transformation!
So I lift my eyes to you Lord
In your strength will I break through Lord
Touch me now, let your love fall down on me
I know your love dispels all my fears
Indeed, there is no fear in God's perfect love and unfailing arms. The next time you feel overwhelmed, fix your eyes back on Jesus, and all that surrounds you- your fears, doubts and troubles- will become shadows, mere trifles, in the light of His awesome glory. (:
<3 + yours in Christ,
michellee
Prepare to Be Amazed!
Okie dokie, prepare to be amazed - I am about to share with u my fascinating discovery. Haha
Well here goes: I saw a real strange creature 2 days ago crawling around behind my bench at the elephant exhibit (yes, there ARE wild animals in Singapore - even WITHIN the zoo). It was like e most bewildering, bizarre animal i'd ever seen. I thot it must have been from another planet lah! Picture this: it looked like a cross between an earthworm, colourful snake (red, yellow n black stripes), and hammerhead shark (it had a flat hammerhead shark head!). yikes.
Haha so imagine my disbelief when I went home n searched my species book n also yahoo-ed it on the net and found that such creatures really exist here on Earth!!
U must really be curious as to what this creature looks like yarh...
I couldn't upload e pic from my phone but this is similar to what i saw, just not as colourful, enjoy...
Everybody say "WHOA..." What i saw was a terrestrial flatworm, a primitive animal that has no major organs (it breathes thru its skin and digests food externally), is a predator that preys on earthworms etc, is native to Southeast Asia (including S'pore!!), and that flat hammerhead - it's flat and fanned out cos it has MULTIPLE EYES on it. Whoa! talk about alien lifeform. (i hope it comes in peace, or maybe pieces! - it has the ability to split itself and grow 2 separate but COMPLETE worms. Whoa....)
Cool eh? U know when I saw that thing and read about it, I couldn't help but be totally blown away and amazed by our God's COOL creativity in His works! Guess that's why I love nature so much cos every new thing I see and learn about it, I see more n more of the greatness of God, the awesomeness of His glory. Yeah, n u know I believe tt if God has already done all this cool stuff, how much more could He have in store, especially for His people whom He loves so much! Yup so live everyday knowing so sure that our God is great, powerful and loving in all His ways. We have an awesome God Ignyte ministry!!
-Yvette :)
The Stairway to heaven
Hey all!
I heard from some people that for TWO weeks the announcements segment was rather.... QUIET.... hahaha now you know....(if you were guai guai at service)
Ah yes... lemme share with you about being overseas! I felt so close to God cause... it was like being over the mountains and the seas!!!!
hahaha.... ok sorry... too lame...
ANYWAY, I wanted to share with you about the impact that hit me while i was there...
On the 2nd day when i went out to meet people to share the gosple, something just struck me real hard.
I wasn't just going there to talk to people simply because i had to meet quota. But it was because i was meant to carry the heartbeat of God. and what was the heartbeat of God? It was to have people to live eternally with him.
When i took a step back to watch the people, I realised that each person whom I didn't speak to, they had the weight of facing eternal death on their hands.
So it was no longer about just planting a church...
No longer trying to grow in numbers...
Not even about trying to give myself an impactful testimony from the mission,
but simply to share the love of God to the people without hope.
I mean, the people I met were not hurting, they were not the ones who are poor and in need. They had friends, they had religion, and they were contented. hence the only thing I could share with them was the reality of heaven and hell.
Hence it was the reality of the ONE WAY we know that drove me on...
So this day i challenge you too!
Go forward and testify to your own friends!
It's not about just seeing ignyte grow, i mean i would love them to join our service, but even at the end of it they want to be discipled in another church, it's OK! Some sow, some reap.
Basically our ultimate goal should be just to extend the priviledge of heaven that we have, to the people around.
Heaven extends far too wide for just you and I to occupy the entire space.
Catch the urgency!
Bring in the harvest!
Love ya!
Michelle
