Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Prayer...
Hi CCF'ers =)
Two of my friends need prayer for healing,
One, who is going through a lot of academic pressure and stress in adapting to a new environment, who is considering whether to downgrade from a PhD to MPhil degree and needs patience, persistence, rest and direction to really decide whats best....
the other, friend who I've talked about at CCF some time ago, who still needs more prayer. There is a lot of praise =) about healing and stability, as we all prayed some time ago, things are getting better.
On this special day, I would like to share a bit about what has been going through in my past week =) It was a tough week, a week of change and turbulence. A week of disagreements, failures and pain (at work, play and friends) and this song AND my CCF friends were truly encouraging to me.
In this midterm season, if you are reading this post, facing difficult times or if its anything else that makes you feel weary, do join in and pray for healing with me =)
I would also like to share an interesting (yet confusing) verse I came across, something that we tend to forget during all our troubles, in times when we struggle to draw conclusions, or attempt to make a hasty decision. In this tough week, I think this was something important that I could learn.... =)
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Blessings
:Din
Sunday, October 17, 2010
News from Marianne :)
Hey all,
About two weeks ago, I posted a prayer request from an ex-CCF member. She has replied and here's her e-mail to us :)
"Thank you for all your support. Hope all is well with you and everyone in the group. Wishing you all the best during mid-terms.
I've also got another prayer request - this time for my former roommate. Her name is Carolyn, and she is now studying her PhD at Yale (I know, wow!) and she is also going through mid-terms. I'd appreciate if you could keep her in your prayers.
Many thanks.
Cheers
Marianne"
Its great to hear from her and I hope that everyone can continue to keep her in your prayers :)
God bless...and all the very best to everyone for midterms!
In Him,
Su Yi
About two weeks ago, I posted a prayer request from an ex-CCF member. She has replied and here's her e-mail to us :)
"Thank you for all your support. Hope all is well with you and everyone in the group. Wishing you all the best during mid-terms.
I've also got another prayer request - this time for my former roommate. Her name is Carolyn, and she is now studying her PhD at Yale (I know, wow!) and she is also going through mid-terms. I'd appreciate if you could keep her in your prayers.
Many thanks.
Cheers
Marianne"
Its great to hear from her and I hope that everyone can continue to keep her in your prayers :)
God bless...and all the very best to everyone for midterms!
In Him,
Su Yi
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Job
Remember last week's discussion 'Why does God sometimes put us through hardship?' 'Does God ever punish us for our wrongdoings?'
After I went back home I started to read chapters on Jobs again. I want to share few verses that struck me:
Job 2: 10
He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. '
Job 5:17
Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
I am once again speechless at the greatness of Job's faithfulness. Yes, we do at times complain. Complain because it's so painful, so seemingly unfair, so difficult..it's beyond our comprehension and most of all why me? If God does not answer you, it's probably because you are asking the wrong question. The right question should be: how can I serve God through the difficulties? What purpose does God have for me? How can I glorify Him?
Remain faithful & love God. That's what we are created for.
Love love love,
Jasmine
After I went back home I started to read chapters on Jobs again. I want to share few verses that struck me:
Job 2: 10
He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. '
Job 5:17
Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
I am once again speechless at the greatness of Job's faithfulness. Yes, we do at times complain. Complain because it's so painful, so seemingly unfair, so difficult..it's beyond our comprehension and most of all why me? If God does not answer you, it's probably because you are asking the wrong question. The right question should be: how can I serve God through the difficulties? What purpose does God have for me? How can I glorify Him?
Remain faithful & love God. That's what we are created for.
Love love love,
Jasmine
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Heart of Worship
I was recently asked by a friend why I don't put titles or songwriter's names on my powerpoints when I am leading worship. It may seem like a minor thing, but for me, at least, it is something very telling about worship. My two (and really, only objections) to putting titles and authors on my powerpoints are 1. distraction from worship, 2. makes it lyrics, and not a song.
The first point, is relatively simple, it is that when I make powerpoints for worship, as a worship leader, my primary concern is to lead people into worship of God, into a place where people can experience God through music, through the songs in their hearts. As a worship leader, all I am doing is directing communal worship to God through a gift that God has given me. Psalm 100:4 says "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name." As a lead worshiper, all I do is to start singing songs of praise, so that we can enter His presence with communal worship. As such, I am always trying to remove things that are distracting to people, distracting from the presence of God. I don't want to do anything to detract from people's intimate time with God. Its a holy, sacred time, and I dont see how titles or authors can help that. In fact, it can detract from it, if people get too hung up on the author or the title, it can actually act as a hindrance to entering into worship. For example, if I lead one of the songs that I've written, it might distract people to see "XXXXXXX by Trevor Siu". That's the last thing I want, because then I am taking away glory from the One who deserves all glory, honour and praise. If a song was written by myself, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, or anyone else on this earth, what does it matter? It shouldn't be at all about the author, I submit, instead, that all the focus should be on the words we are singing to the Most High King. Those are words that are from the heart, who it was penned by in inconsequential. All the glory to Him! If you really want to know about a song, to buy it, or just curious, I ask that you wait until after we are done with our "service". That way there is no competition about who is getting glory, but solely Him.
The second point that I have with authors and titles, is that it reminds us that it is a song. Yes there is music, and a quaint melody, but it really should be YOUR song. Not written by someone, or called something. Instead, the words you are singing should come from your heart. Even if you've never heard a song before, sing it with all your heart, because worship is your (my) gift back to God for all He's done for you (and me..). I don't want to create an atmosphere where we merely sing songs... songs are useless. They have no meaning, they are just that, concrete, immobile pieces of music. God doesn't care about music, He doesn't care about how good the guitar sounds, or how nice the melody is. He doesn't even care about what the words are. Samuel 16:7 says that man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart. God doesn't care how loud we're singing, He just wants our hearts. This is where the song "Heart of Worship" came from, was this season. The story behind it is pretty powerful : http://www.crosswalk.com/1253122/ . I don't care if you like me leading my song because it has nice lyrics, or good chords or whatever. I want you to make it your own, to help express your heart to the Lord, through music. That's a central point to worship, is getting beyond who wrote what, and its called what, its that this is the cry of MY heart, this is the cry of where I am right now. I'll close with my favorite line in "From the Inside Out",
"And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise From the inside out, my soul cries out".
That is true worship that God honors, and adores. That is, a heart giving back to Him through anyway possible, music, dance, drama, speaking, whatever your gift may be. It can be your worship to God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Thats worship.
Kia Kaha!
Trev
The first point, is relatively simple, it is that when I make powerpoints for worship, as a worship leader, my primary concern is to lead people into worship of God, into a place where people can experience God through music, through the songs in their hearts. As a worship leader, all I am doing is directing communal worship to God through a gift that God has given me. Psalm 100:4 says "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name." As a lead worshiper, all I do is to start singing songs of praise, so that we can enter His presence with communal worship. As such, I am always trying to remove things that are distracting to people, distracting from the presence of God. I don't want to do anything to detract from people's intimate time with God. Its a holy, sacred time, and I dont see how titles or authors can help that. In fact, it can detract from it, if people get too hung up on the author or the title, it can actually act as a hindrance to entering into worship. For example, if I lead one of the songs that I've written, it might distract people to see "XXXXXXX by Trevor Siu". That's the last thing I want, because then I am taking away glory from the One who deserves all glory, honour and praise. If a song was written by myself, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, or anyone else on this earth, what does it matter? It shouldn't be at all about the author, I submit, instead, that all the focus should be on the words we are singing to the Most High King. Those are words that are from the heart, who it was penned by in inconsequential. All the glory to Him! If you really want to know about a song, to buy it, or just curious, I ask that you wait until after we are done with our "service". That way there is no competition about who is getting glory, but solely Him.
The second point that I have with authors and titles, is that it reminds us that it is a song. Yes there is music, and a quaint melody, but it really should be YOUR song. Not written by someone, or called something. Instead, the words you are singing should come from your heart. Even if you've never heard a song before, sing it with all your heart, because worship is your (my) gift back to God for all He's done for you (and me..). I don't want to create an atmosphere where we merely sing songs... songs are useless. They have no meaning, they are just that, concrete, immobile pieces of music. God doesn't care about music, He doesn't care about how good the guitar sounds, or how nice the melody is. He doesn't even care about what the words are. Samuel 16:7 says that man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart. God doesn't care how loud we're singing, He just wants our hearts. This is where the song "Heart of Worship" came from, was this season. The story behind it is pretty powerful : http://www.crosswalk.com/1253122/ . I don't care if you like me leading my song because it has nice lyrics, or good chords or whatever. I want you to make it your own, to help express your heart to the Lord, through music. That's a central point to worship, is getting beyond who wrote what, and its called what, its that this is the cry of MY heart, this is the cry of where I am right now. I'll close with my favorite line in "From the Inside Out",
"And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise From the inside out, my soul cries out".
That is true worship that God honors, and adores. That is, a heart giving back to Him through anyway possible, music, dance, drama, speaking, whatever your gift may be. It can be your worship to God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Thats worship.
Kia Kaha!
Trev
Monday, October 11, 2010
Gratias, Merci, 감사합니다, 谢谢。。。
Hello everyone!
Just wanted to say thank you for all those who's been helping out with CCF in regards to
1. my absent for Wednesdays' meeting
2. my sickness @ today's meeting.
I was really touched by everyone's kind heart & willingness to help me out today.
This is what CCF is made for. This is why we are here. :D
You guys made the highlight of my day. So...
I've noticed many others were pretty sick at today's meeting too. Please pray for Alex, Din and the rest of us facing midterm next week.
Happy midterms!
Love love love,
Jasmine
Just wanted to say thank you for all those who's been helping out with CCF in regards to
1. my absent for Wednesdays' meeting
2. my sickness @ today's meeting.
I was really touched by everyone's kind heart & willingness to help me out today.
This is what CCF is made for. This is why we are here. :D
You guys made the highlight of my day. So...
Happy midterms!
Love love love,
Jasmine
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Hosanna
Hi everyone!
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
I was really moved by these verses in the song 'Hosanna', wanted to share with u all =)
Blessings
:Din
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Prayer Request
Hey everyone!
I was so encouraged to get a reply from an ex-CCF member, Marianne. Reason why she's not attending anymore is that she has graduated (yay!!), moved off campus, and is looking (desperately!) for a job to pay her off-campus rent. Please pray for her to be able to find a job, and that God will sustain her even through this hard and trying time, for her to be able to trust the Lord and His timing :)
Have a happy rest-of-the-week! :D
In Him,
Su Yi
I was so encouraged to get a reply from an ex-CCF member, Marianne. Reason why she's not attending anymore is that she has graduated (yay!!), moved off campus, and is looking (desperately!) for a job to pay her off-campus rent. Please pray for her to be able to find a job, and that God will sustain her even through this hard and trying time, for her to be able to trust the Lord and His timing :)
Have a happy rest-of-the-week! :D
In Him,
Su Yi
Monday, October 4, 2010
Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Hi! After today's Bible Study I remembered this Psalm and I wanted to share it with everyone. I thank God for His Word and the comfort it brings to our hearts.
Love,
Deby
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Hi! After today's Bible Study I remembered this Psalm and I wanted to share it with everyone. I thank God for His Word and the comfort it brings to our hearts.
Love,
Deby
Friday, October 1, 2010
Happy Hols!
Hello CCFers!
How's everyone? Hope everyone is having a wonderful long holiday!
Isn't today's weather wonderful? I know it's such a clique conversation opener..but seriously! I felt all jumpy and tingly in heart when I first woke up this morning.
I personally had a REAL good time spending time with God, catching up with friends& family and learning how to cook!
As I was cooking today, this song randomly popped up in my mind.."Oh Happy Day' by Tim Hughes and I still cannot get it off my head! Remember how we talked about 'forgiveness' on Monday's bible study? For the first few days, I thought about..how awesome is God to forgive such a sinner like me & and my heart began to melt with thankfulness. Then on, I began to think about..how about those who we haven't forgiven yet? Do do you have someone you hold grudge against? What has he/she done to you? Have to tried talking to the person recently? No one is perfect. Even the person who loves you the most may hurt your feelings without realizing it.
So let's forgive ourselves, forgive others and pray for each other. The Lord has come to rescue us..OH HAPPY DAY! :D :D
Love love love,
Jasmine
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