Friday, September 25, 2009

My little brother has Down's syndrome and the only way to encourage him to get up and ready to go to school in the morning is by playing Hillsong United worship music. It is also a good way to start our day-singing praises to God. -Heidi

Thursday, September 24, 2009

last week, my old college roomate accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. It's bewildering and encouraging to already see him plant and water Jesus seeds amongst his family and relatives. I thank and praise the Lord for revealing Himself to Andrew and for answering my prayers. For those of you that have close family and friends that have not accepted Christ, I encourage you to continue praying for them. -Joshua

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

I was planning to go on a study trip with a few classmates to Japan for some weeks now. I was really looking forward to it as I don't get to travel much. But this morning I received an email that the trip was going to be postponed - or worse, canceled - due to H1N1 levels there not going down. I wasn't angry though, just a little disappointed but I let it go. And God gave me a very pleasant surprise. During the period which I am supposed to be in Japan, one of my favorite drummers - Dennis Chambers - would be coming to Singapore. I just found out about it and I'm very happy now. PTL - Jet.

P.S. pray that I'll be able to get tickets for the concert. :D.

Monday, September 21, 2009

So this week has just got me so exhausted by just the mere thought of it and I've been struggling to find some alone time with God just to quiet my anxious thoughts. With school and work and everything else I haven't had much of a chance to just rest in the Lord, but He convicted me today as I was walking past my brothers room and he was singing this:

"Consume my thoughts
As I rest in You
I’m now in love
With a Saviour
Bearing the marks of His love

So it’s with everything I am
I reach out for Your hand
The hope for change
The second chance I’ve gained

On You I throw my life
Casting all my fears aside
How could greater love than this
Ever possibly exist"

PTL. -Aarika
I am psyched about school starting this week! Although it's going to be a rough quarter, God has prepared me to work hard by His grace and for His glory. PTL. -Jacquie

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Today, nothing crazy happened to me. PTL. - Julian
This weekend, my 80+ first-year residents moved into my hall. So far, so good. PTL for this great new ministry and many opportunities to reveal the Truth to fresh minds. PTL. -Melody
I was frustrated today but came to this blog and i saw somethings people are going through, I am really blessed to have everything I have. PTL. -Andrew ho
Yesterday afternoon I got chills, a terrible headache, and a high fever out of nowhere, and ever since I've been bed-ridden and sleeping. Temperature has been fluctuating from 99.8 - 102.7, and I still have a fever this morning. I start school tomorrow, and though not in the form I imagined, God answered my prayers for rest. PTL. -Shaina
I pray that God would help me to remember last week for the rest of my life.

It started out with the water heater going on the fritz. With no money left in the emergency fund, we were reduced to taking cold showers. It's amazing how much we depend on simple luxeries like hot water. I'm sure in certain parts of the world this is not a commodity that is enjoyed at all. Within a few days God gave me a solution, and even a loaner truck to courtesy of my father-in-law to bring the new water heater home.

After the water heater ordeal, a little bigger problem - the septic tank stopped pumping. After doing all that I knew how to do, I realized that the pump may need to be replaced. The quote? Over $1,000. It may as well have been a million dollars.

We are in the process of getting our house ready to sell, and this was a setback we just couldn't afford. The thoughts raced through my mind - take out another loan and stretch an already stretched budget? Move into the moter home that has no heat, and if so, where to dump the holding tank? By mid-week my brother in law came down & fixed the wiring for me, and we discovered the pump was still working. The problem was in the wiring which had become corroded at the connetions. A workable fix, albeit a little uncomfortable as we were working in the rain & dark, but friends like Jack are what makes life bearable sometimes.

Then at work there were layoff notices going out as one of our major programs were shutting down. Another huge stress. Worry worry worry. How would I pay the mortgage? How would we afford health care for my wife who has been in chronic pain with her hip & backBy the grace of God I didn't get one. All of these problems seemed insurmountable at first, until the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that God has seen me through all sorts of troubles & problems in life, and restored me.

Since I dedicated my life to Him, neither my family nor I have been in want for anything we really needed, like food, clothing, or shelter. I've always had a way to make it to work as my car, although 11 years old & with high mileage, runs very well & has been extremely dependable over the years. So in the future when I face trials that seem insurmountable, I can look back on this week & remember how God brought me through it. I won't need to worry about anything if I can just keep that perspective. PTL!