Post Agape's Leaders' Retreat 2012

It's been a week since leaders' retreat and this has been on my mind for the past week but there was just no time to journal it down...

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 

- 1 Cor 1:13 (NIV)

Ultimately it all boils down to

LOVE

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." 

- 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

I was reminded of one of my previous cell leader who shared with me how his favourite passage is 1 Cor 13, as the entire passage speaks of love, what love is about, the attributes of love, the awesomeness of love. Then, I just nodded my head, not fully understanding the capacity of it.
That's easily more than 5 years back, but suddenly it all clicked.

Truly indeed, if we love one another, we will keep no records of wrong, we will forgive & forget, we will not be self-seeking, thus we will be humble and place other pple's interest above our own.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

- John 13:34-35

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.

- Mark 12:30-31

There's no condition to the love God commands us to give to one another. He didn't say because so and so is very lovely, kind-hearted, you gotta love him/her.
He wants us to extend the very same unconditional love we receive from him to the rest around us, whether they are lovable or not, whether we think they deserve it or not, because "love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." - 1 Cor 13:4

Only then, can we distinct Christians from the rest of the world!

It is only in LOVE that we can embrace the differences from our generation to our father's generation and the generation to come. And with LOVE comes the humble heart and teachable spirit to recognize the strengths, capabilities, experiences and many other gems in the people around us, from various generations, be it older or younger, whom we can learn so much more from... :)


Once again, I really want to thank the pastoral team at Agape for their generosity by allowing me to be a part of this great family while I'm based in Singapore, investing in my life by extending an invitation for me to join the cell leaders interns training and be part of the cell core team. It is indeed a great privilege and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to grow and share my journey with so many wonderful people whom He loves dearly.

Stamina

Credits: Mark Loy

On Saturday, I was driving along Mandai Road and saw a cyclist riding up the sloping road. He seems to be struggling a little, and it got me thinking... Cycling and running requires much stamina!

"It's not about how well you begin the race but how well you finish that matters!"
(In order to finish well, the process is important as well... like the training and endurance you have to go through to get you to finish the race well)

Very much like our Christian race, our walk with God!

It's important to end well and our journey with God matters A Lot!

In order to train ourselves up spiritually, we'd need to have a good diet of our daily bread - the Word of God, feeding on it and digesting it, letting our body absorb the nutrients.

We also need to exercise and work out on our muscles - praying in the Spirit, exercising our gift of tongues to build up our spirit man.

These will in turn build us up emotionally and spiritually to endure the trials, difficulties, struggles that we may face in our journey, our race.

Similar to cyclists & runners, it's important to have companions, mates alongside you to inspire you, cheer you on, keep you in check and spur you to greater heights! - Therefore it's important to plant ourselves in a local church, in a cell group with fellow Christian friends in our journey with Christ!

Blessed is the one

    who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

    or sit in the company of mockers,

² 

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and who meditates on his law day and night.

³ 

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

    which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

    whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

I'm thankful and glad that God, my Heavenly Father, my all in all, has surround me with all you brothers and sisters in Christ! And the friends and family He has blessed me with that has been a great part of my life and made me who I am today. It's my commitment to God to keep praying for those who do not yet know Christ as their own Lord and personal Saviour, and also those who have slipped away from Him over the years, may the imperishable seed that has/had been planted in them continue to germinate/re-germinate and lead them back into His Loving Arms one fine day in His timing.

last words from me before I turn 28...

I enjoy looking at my blog...
even though I haven't been blogging much of late...
I simply enjoy reading through my past entries...
and seeing the journey, the growth, remembering God's goodness...
It's similar to flipping through my journal...

I simply heart the month of Aug and my birthday.
It's great isn't it? to really like the date specially chosen by God for me to arrive in this world
& allowing me to be water baptised on the exact same day 2 yrs ago!

And I've actually started this blog a good 8 yrs ago
after my 20th birthday celebrations...

Many things have changed in life.
So much has happened...
so many different transitions

But I know for certain one thing has changed for the better.
My Love for God and the people around me, my family & friends.
I'm still a WIP, so pls bear with me...
(especially my dearest Marky who has to put up with all my nonsense constantly)

For almost a week or so I actually had doubts that my gfs would rmbr my birthday and organise a meetup...
I don't know what got into me.. probably they had been so busy with their lives and I'm usually the one organising the meetups. :P But anyhow, yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised and comforted when aql msged and asked whether I'd be free on Tuesday or Wednesday night. Yes I am! So we'll be heading to Valentinos tomorrow night. :)

Yes I know I'm sounding real silly...

Anyways, signing off here for now...

Looking forward to another great year ahead basking in God's love and being His hands and feet!