Christmas to X'mas~ Gifts to Earnings~

I was just at KL and was shoppin, shoppin' and shoppin' till I got kinda irritated shoppin cause I wanted to linger at the bookstore longer....But I know that if I did...I may end up buying the entire fantasy section....
So....we walked, and walked and walked and walked and soon we went back after spending half aday walking.............
I was toothpaste tired.......
and then wanted to just sit back and relax and clear it all off when I saw an advertisement....
saying,
"Hadiah XMas percuma" (or sth like that...I din quite bother cause I anti the X)
And then....I was set thinking...
Those words really impacted me as in...
How the human world and souls have evolved from Christmas a time of giving to Xmas, a time of earning~~~~
And the true meaning of giving where the ad was definitely abusing the entire idea of Jesus Christ as a gift to us....
A gift now is in the form of nothing more but mere money, cash, $$$.....
When every1 forgotten what the greatest gift was....Why Christmas came...And why it is known as a time for giving~
God gave Jesus, as a gift for all our sins.....
Now humans have taken away Christ and smartly making it dunno wat sort of celebration that is called Xmas....Dunno what they are celebrating in the end...
Toohpaste to humans! And toothpaste to us for not being able to share what Christmas is really about!!
I'm still in thought la..But..I dunno bout others, but to think of how far the celebration of hapiness and joy has gone this far and, as far as where I'm at, Xmas was normally seen...I know I never thought of it till' now...

JTJL

my spiritual life so far..

hey guys.its me again.
theres usually nothing worth listening about myself, so i'm gonna shift the limelight to...

God.

yes, Him. He who brought us together. is He not worthy of all praise? =)
so how was your spiritual life after camp?

mine was pretty awesome.God gave many opportunities for me to work in Him. but somehow these few days, it died down.is it just me or Him? going back to the facts we learned, it couldnt be nothing. so it must have been me, or God was telling me to take a break.

turns out, listening to the Spirit is harder than it seems.sometimes, your subconscious mind just doesnt want to listen to it.and your conscious mind could care less. i urge you guys to stay alert to God's voice, carefully listening to that small, still voice.

alternately, you could just do s&s again.=) or quiet time.i hope sapphire's keeping up.dont forget the efforts we (or rather, God) put together to make this family whole.

God works miracles all around us...ask the Spirit to reveal that to you, and strengthen your faith if you are wavering. and whenever you feel lonely or down, or just plain lost in some conspiracy, remember that God is there...always...calling out to you. even as i write this, i can hear Him calling me to do quiet time..@_@ (i woke up late)

courage is required for God's works, faith is required to be with Him, and trust is required to see Him. Love...is required for me and you. and God has given us all of these.how are we to use them? or are we going to just throw/leave them away?

God bless...but remember to not be reckless, *reminds about roshan and the bottle situation*

ahaha.i wont have the last word, so once again,

GOD BLESS YOU GUYS!

My Day

Hi this is Siew Ming here :) .
There's nothing much to do after camp other than slacking @ home.I actually got a list of stuff I planned to do but I'm just to lazy =D What I do everyday includes attacking the computer, watch tv and play my guitar. Bored eh?
And I got to study(no I'm not joking) during this holiday after I flung my results in my last term exam. Let me warn you guys out there who are not Form Four YET - get ready to face the worst situation in your entire schooling days. Among the breakthroughs I made this year include :
1) Failing exam for 3 terms continuously
2) Get 2 hours of sleep during very busy days
3) Get loaded with no ending projects and homework from teachers

So with these achievements of mine I better get ready before its too late. Of cause la, this problem may only be worst-case-scenario for people in Selangor, but that does not mean you guys from other state is off the hook *evil laugh*

Maybe I shouldn't be so evil on my first post.
I take that back.
I am Siew Ming the EVIL and I will always be EVIL.


Why am I getting so evil?
I really should end the post now.

Ciaos.

Anna's little thoughts..

Before camp, i was rather afraid. Having become a volunteer for the past 2 years at NSCFL, the memories i brought back were all of fatigue and silence. Fatigue in the sense that, at the end of camp, i was DEAD TIRED. Silence in that the groups i got were pretty silent. They were alright, but silent. Response was lacking (as is frequently the case). And to the one who facilitates the group, silence brings panic, 'cause then we don't know what else to do or talk about or how to induce a response. And that makes me feel small. Incapable. Or to put it rather crudely, retarded.

So, yes. I was afraid.

Afraid that a discouraging history might repeat, and a discouragement at that point of time might be brutal for me and my ever-fluctuating self-esteem. And so i prayed- that it'd not be out of my own strength, but His. That it'd just be my body, but His movements. That i'd just be the vessel, and He the user. Not I, but Him. In summary, I surrendered. No doubt, i was still afraid. But there was a peace that i could rest in after i said that prayer.

Camp arrived, or rather we arrived at camp. I wasn't the least bit prepared. I've never met a number of the officers until then, and yet i was already supposed to be working with them. Rather daunting, i thought. And then, the part i was most afraid of- meeting the group i was to lead.

First meeting (introductory):- not bad.. they're all friendly and responsive.
Second meeting (1st reflection):- that was fun! I think this would turn out well :)
Third meeting (1st QT):- that went pretty well.
Fourth meeting onwards:- they're such a wonderful bunch! I couldn't have asked for a better group! =D
Last meeting:- sigh.. i'm really gonna miss them.. they're definately the best bunch i've ever had, and probably will ever have.

And so, here we are. Group Sapphire of NSCFL '08. Who knew that 6 days (5 for me) would have gotten us this far. And how could i have ever known that God would answer my prayers in the form of such wonderful individuals brought together to form this unbelievable group that i am now ever so thankful for.

I know that this could not have been a coincidence.

The One who created the whole universe, by His own hand, individually chose us- Anna, Joanna, Melodie, Siew Ming, Seraphina, Dylan, Edwin, Joyce, Raymond, Justin and Reuben- to form group Sapphire.

All praise and glory to God!

Challenges in many ways, The biggest challenge of all my days!

Just any ordinary day
with any ordinary laptop
and an ordinary view
and yet, the hills caught me into noting a brighter day ahead...
the droplets of the past rain rest my heart in the love of security from cold
what have God intend of me today??
Shall I do something I have never done?
What adventures by will can I go through today?
I pray, and I pray, oh yes did I pray...
let it be health, let it be joy, let it be peace and happiness for my love of God unto the soil of which I stand
Presence I ask, presence unto us all...
there I saw a little white star ahead....and how my heart rejoiced upon the joy that filled my heart...

Lunch time and how I thanked Him for such wonderful dishes...
Herbal soup, chicken and mushrooms.....
My favourites....let all that has been to be left in the past
I have lived a new...let me see anew!
but what lies ahead only I'm waiting...
eagerness to know how majestic His ways can be into leading me within his arms...
"Joyce, you can eat all
I don't want to keep it for later."
A blessing!!! I don't have to fight with any of my brothers!!
A green light on what I love...
Food, food, food, Oh have you all be mine unto such glorious circumstances into filling me as a human I am.
"I'm done. weeeeeehehe."
"Good, cause now tonight I can cook corn soup with veggies!"

. . . . . .

WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! T-T
And there I cried for the day~~~~~~
Waaaaaaaaa.............
What sort of challenge!!!!!!!!! T-T
It's so unfair~~~~
Vege, vege, vege!!!!!!
A brighter day indeed~

P/S: Sapphirites, Anna's b'day...
What u all wanna do??? huhuhu

Wednesday for Edwin...

Life after camp sucks...haha..missing everyone...altho at first i jz thought it will not be fun...but at last i think i enjoyed the most..haha...Mm....today was kinda okay for me...Mm...haha..did lotz of house work today..due to the 2 weeks was not at home..haha...Finally ..i cleaned my room...haha...super duper dirty...haha....but i think it is worth it to clean...haha...I am talking rubbish here...haha....Yeah i finally got my new phone..haha..hmm..thank God nothing happen today...i hope i could let everything out of my mind...haha..the troubles and struggles i face...haha..FORGET IT..let it past...haha..oh ya..
****I am still using fwen's internet..haha...my home internet connection was down since the day i came back from camp...haiz....sianzz....cant on9 at home..hope i can on9 soon at home...haha...

Summarize ratings for today..
*****5 stars..haha..

~Note 01~

May my eyes be covered by shadows of darkness and guilt
But let not the loves of our heart fade for each of our souls
For if not to us can we share this
To no one else can we give it
Into glorifying our master
Let it start within us, till' the end of time

There by the hills I see blooming flowers of the day
And the death of beauty by night in darkness
enclosed was my heart with solemness and discouragement
for will never would I want to see a flower in my life to go through it
For all the beauty that I have known shall remain so
With the brightness of the Word

Clenching my fists upon me
I looked up as gazing into the empty skies of night
so dull and plain
there my heart thumped, achingly beating
into looking to no more sadness but glory
How much do I actually deserve this?
I have failed my Father
I have failed my Saviour
I have failed my Master
But so much have I not done only to see
Glorious wonders speculated in the means of my life
For not even was the world made too beautiful to resist
But I lived only by blessings
I have stars that shines every night
I have clouds that sheds me from the scorching sun
I have colours verifying day by day on the petals of my life
What more can I ask?
What more can I be sad of?
It's a new beginning
A beginning I'm willing to share
A beginning I'm willing to give
A beginning I want us all to know
May our lives be covered by darkness day after day
But let us remain by hearts into the realms of friendship and unto eternity

JTJL

Take My Son..

TAKE MY SON...

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified andgrieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art."

The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel.. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?" There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one." But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100? $200?" Another voice shouted angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!" But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son? " Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son."I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" announced the auctioneer."Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?" The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Goingonce, twice, Sold for $10.00.

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with thecollection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over." "What about the paintings?" "I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inheritthe entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!"God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer,message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the son?" Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

The First Group Photo Ever..

Remember when we took this photo?

Remember It's kinda a value?

Think what we had discuss...

Everything God did..He has a purpose..

A Purpose for us to fulfil....

(-(0o)-)

Sapphire Rock On!!

Hey Sapphire...
Let us continue to shine 4 Him whenever we can...
Let not us forget what we had learned in camp yeah..
Let not Satan come into our lives wey..
Continue to trust and obey Him...
For him who made us know and understand what we did..
So let us Serve Him until the day He comes...
K??Haha...
Blog whatever things or stuff that had happen to us
So that we may keep each other accountable of what we are doing...
Blog anything...Keep in Touch!!

God Bless,
Edwin Tay...=)