Cell Tomorrow! (24/4/2009)

Hello~

This week's cell will be at Victoria's place k! It's the one opposite Domino's Pizza if you forgot where is it already....

So far...

Pre-cell Entertainment (a.k.a games) - Ivan

Praise and Worship - Wilson

WORD - TBA

Refreshment Manager - Sarah-Ann

Still don't know who's doing word yet, should be Peter but I'll confirm again with him.

Oh ya our dear Victoria decided to get baptized soon! And I think the Baptism date falls on 3rd May, which means we have to alter our plans to go Rottness Island. Will discuss more in cell la.

(Btw I'm going to AQWA this sunday morning 10am-2pm with felicia them all. If you interested wanna join then tell me la =p.)

See you in Cell tomorrow!

~Wilson~

Walking wisely

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."
Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)

Do you have an important decision to make today? Rehoboam's story in I Kings 12:1-19has a lesson for each of us in the midst of making hard choices. Rehoboam had a dilemma. He had an important decision to make, and he didn't know what to do.

Following Solomon's death, the people of Israel gathered to make Rehoboam king. About that time, Jeroboam (I know these names are doozies, but hang in there!) came to speak to Rehoboam on behalf of the people. He said, "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." The people were worn out. Solomon had been a great king, but he had worked the people into exhaustion with all of his building projects. They were pleading for rest during Rehoboam's reign in exchange for their undying loyalty, but Rehoboam wasn't sure of the kingly response. He asked for three days to come to a decision. Great idea, right? He started well with a request for time to seek counsel.

The first group that he asked for advice was a group of elders who had served under his father. These were men of experience both from years lived and from the places where they had served. They advised Rehoboam to answer the people affirmatively. The elders encouraged him that the people would follow him faithfully if only Rehoboam would humble himself to be a servant leader.

Rehoboam didn't like their answer, so he sought out a different group to ask. This time he decided to ask "the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him." Are warning bells going off for you, too? Not only were these men young and inexperienced, they also were on Rehoboam's payroll and stood to lose or gain by their answer. Here was their advice: "Tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions'" (I Kings 12:10b-11 NIV). Rehoboam foolishly listened to his friends.

If we want to make wise decisions, we need to seek wise counsel. Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel." (NAS) How can we make sure that we pick the right people to seek advice from?

Choose a godly person. Proverbs 2:6 tells us, "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (NIV). When I choose to seek advice from someone who knows scripture and seeks God in personal quiet time, I can be assured their advice is based on a foundation of truth.

Choose a person with experience. It's always been helpful to me to learn from other women who have walked before me. I've sought out other teachers, wives, and mothers who are purposeful about building godly relationships and behaving righteously to give me counsel as I live life. It's the principal of the older believers teaching the younger believers that's found in Titus 2.

Choose someone who will tell the truth in love. Ecclesiastes 7:5 explains, "It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools" (NIV). So many around me would rather "sing me a song" than tell me what I need to hear. I have several friends that I trust to tell me the unvarnished truth when I ask for advice. They love me, but they fear God!

My thought:
Rehoboam's decision changed history. He reaped a rebellion that ripped the country in two. He lost his following, his potential for enormous power, and the favor of God. We don't have to make those mistakes. We can head the warning taught from Rehoboam's story and follow God by seeking wise counsel from now on. :D

Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do I usually seek counsel when I am making a decision?
2. Has there been a time when I've reaped the consequences of following unwise counsel?

steph

What's your plan?

1 Chronicles 28 2-4

King David was old now. He summoned all his officials of Israel at Jerusalem. He spoke:

"I had it in my heart..."

The large crowd listens carefully, as they know this may be their King's last words.

"I had it in my heart to build..."

Oddly enough David did not talk about what he had done during his life, but instead he talks about what he has not yet done.

"I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God..."  (1 Chronicles 28 :2)"

David wanted to build a temple. David wanted to dedicate his final years to the Lord building His temple.

"I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it"  (1 Chronicles 28 :2)

David intended to build a temple, and he made plans to build it. Architects chosen, blueprints drawn, thousands talents of Gold and Silver prepared.

Intentions. Preparations. But no temple. Why? David had all it takes to build the Temple. As a man after God's own heart. As a King over Israel. As the one who defeated the giant. David seems to be the right one to build God's temple.

But someone stopped David.

"But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood." (1 Chronicles 28:3)

All of a sudden, God came in with a different plan from what David had.

All David could say was        

I had intended...

I had made preparations....

But God....

Many of us have uttered similar words. God has different plans from what we had in mind. Very often in life we by good intentions made plans to do great things in our lives.

We wanted to serve people, we made preparations, but...

We wanted to lead people, we made preparations, but...

__intended to___, you ____, but ____

Fill in the blanks yourself.

Everyone will have their own moments similar to David's. Most often we felt disappointed or even depressed when our plans don't work the way we wanted. But at times like this, just trust that God's plan for you in your life will always be greater and bigger than your own plans. God sees much further than we do.

What are our plans when we place them in front of God's mighty plans?

~Wilson~

As usual..

Hi everyone.. how's life without ur cell intern n cell leader?? so sad rite?? aaawww.... its ok... we coming back soon! ( which is a sad thing for us, steph.)

I'm really enjoying myself TOO much here in penang. so again i remind u, DO NOT MENTION ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES THE FOLLOWING WORDS : fat, put on , heavy , round, meaty, flabby, chubby , eat too much, etc.........

Anyways, i miss u guys.. n camp looked so fun!!!

Thank you , steph for sharing with us. Rmbr, everyone, be humble.. and be teachable.. there is always a lesson learn from everywhere, everyone.

and most importantly.. continue to know God, love God..


Ange

Hi guys and gals, how have you guys been? First of all, really sorry for the LATEEEEEE update of this blog! HA. I shall not give any reasons as they are simply my excuses! HAHA. Anyways, im well in Hong Kong but i do miss perth alot especially when I see you guys having SOOOOOOOOO MUCH fun in cell, service and outings. Anyways, i was just reading this and it caught me.

Just desparate enough

She came up behind him and touched his cloak and immediately the bleeding stopped." Luke 8:44 (NIV)

Having three little boys in five years just about did me in. There was no such thing as a routine, as much as I tried to implement one. Just when I thought I had one behavior issue figured out, another one popped up. Parenting books were somewhat helpful, but they didn't address how to manage three kids, with three unique personalities, at once. What worked for one didn't work for another. I was drowning and desperate.

My husband and I signed up for a parenting class at church, and received a glimpse of hope. We wanted more than one class, but there was no one to head up a parenting ministry. Our pastoral team was overwhelmed with existing responsibilities. Even though their hearts wanted to offer more, their time was limited. So when one of the pastors asked us to help out with the parenting ministry, we were desperate enough to say "yes."

As we stepped into a leadership role, we discovered most people declined to help, saying they didn't feel qualified. "Neither do we," we replied. But we were ready to try anything to get support, even revealing to everyone that we weren't perfect parents. For the few years we led the parenting ministry we had to step far out of our comfort zone and risk much in order to get help. But it worked. As we shared our problems with other parents, we received wise counsel and practical suggestions that made a big difference.

Thousands of years ago there was another woman who was just desperate enough to get help. She had been bleeding for 12 years and no one could help her. But when Jesus came to her neighborhood, she was ready to try anything. I imagine she was embarr assed, and weakened because of her bleeding. She must have gathered every ounce of energy and courage to get to Jesus.

The Bible tells us there were crowds following Jesus that day. Yet somehow, this determined woman navigated her way through the rush of humanity to touch the cloak of Jesus, and the Bible tells us she was healed immediately. In spite of the people pressing around Jesus, He knew someone had touched Him. As He stopped, the people stumbled into each other, turning their heads to determine what happened. In a gentle voice, Jesus asked, "Who touched me?"

After everyone denied they had touched Jesus, the woman came trembling before Him. She told Jesus and the assembled crowd why she had touched Jesus and how He had healed her. Jesus then said to the women, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

Desperation causes people to do different things. Some people make wrong choices, believing their backs are against a wall. Some people go into hi ding, hoping a problem will go away. Yet others are desperate enough to do something risky and full of humility to get help. Sometimes God uses other people to help us, and sometime He is the only One who has the answers.

In the difficult times we face, many of us have problems that push us to the point of desperation. It is my prayer that instead of desperation defeating you, it motivates you to seek help. Whether God Himself provides your deliverance, or He uses someone else, trust He already has a plan to help.

My thought
many times in our lives, we think we can handle it just with God. Most of the times we fail. why? well, we're not made to be alone! remember that you have the blessing to be in a group of brother & sisters here, a group of fellow believers in church and a cell group of peers. be desperate enough to seek help, not allowing desperation to defeat u. i'm always here for you and i know u are for me. :)

Cell 5-4-09

Hey guys! sorry for the INACTIVITY in blog.

i have been SOOoo overwhelmed by SO many things that has been happening.

i have been trying to finish up the 3 assignments i due these 2 weeks, and also 2 more before i leave.

BIG SIGH. too much work.

how's everyone doin? Eventho i don't have time to catch up with u guys,

don't forget, continue to know God, Love GOd.

This week's cell...

Venue : Ansley's UBER clean abode

Time : 7:30pm

Games : Chong Weiz

Worship : Anzley.

Word : Angez

Food : EVERYONE!!!! woohooo!!! 

c u guys soooooon!!!!