Jump Start The Year!!

‘Jump start the year’. This is the theme for this very first CA of 2008. This CA is the first CA which is fully conducted by the juniors. Meetings were carried out again and again in Ausmat café, some busy messaging and calling to arrange the transportations, doing research in Giant and Mydin for the refreshments… and keeping CA, all the Ministries, and everyone in the prayers. I am so touched to see the unity in serving Him. I believe He did listen to our prayers, although some problems occurred during the preparations but God is good all the time. He is always there guiding us, taking good care of us. It’s touched to see that everyone is not affected by incident happened, but continue to plan and practice, just to make sure everything will go smoothly.

I was really excited when Yen Mii told me the actual date for the first CA of the year. I have been looking forward for it since the last November, after the last CA in 2007. And finally, the day came. For the whole day, every time when I walked past someone in red shirt, I will start to think whether he or she is coming to the CA that night. Yes, as we were celebrating Chinese New Year, everyone were asked to be in their best red attire. Few days before the CA, many friends started to ask around, borrowing red clothes. I believe most of them purposely went to buy a red shirt, because I don’t see much people having the confidence to wear such a bright and sharp colour if there is no special occasion. Thank you very much for all of you to be in your red attires. I saw some of our super seniors and Ausmat seniors are not having any red colour on their bodies. It’s my fault for not uploading the flyers to the blog due to some technical problems. I’m sorry for that.

I’m in the first group of people to reach NLRC. As I mention just now, we were celebrating Chinese New Year, the sanctuary is decorated with red packets, 2 pineapples’ decorations and lots of bunny balloons. Many of us tried to blow the balloons, but surprisingly the balloons are so difficult to blow. And this was my first time failed to blow a balloon. The balloons are so stubborn, it does not expand at all, even though I bulged my mouth, and using all my energy just to blow it. All of us gave up after trying for several times. The only person who blew the balloons successfully is Jia Jeng. *claps* Why she looked so easy to blow the balloons? Maybe we just don’t have the talent in it. The bunny balloons are cute. Some of them have both big ears, some have both small ears and some with a big and a small ears. If you are in the CA that night, you will notice that we can find the bunnies everywhere… in front of the band, camouflage in the bunch of flowers in front of the stage, and hanging upside down on the side too.

Around 6.30pm, NLRC started to pack with people in red shirt. This reminded me of the flowers competing in splendor in the garden during summer. It is so spectacular. The meeting started quite late that night. A lot of new comers came that day. And this is a reunion for our Ausmat seniors and super seniors too. A big welcome to all of you. And we just want to apologise to those, especially the Cendana guys for keeping you for waiting so long for the transportations. And ya, thank you for all our drivers for lending us your time, energy, muscles and vehicles.

The meeting started with ice-breakers. Here it goes:

We are divided into seven groups and each group was given a red packet with an situation inside it. The situation inside were something we will do after we wake up early in the morning. So, every group had to use their creativity to act the situations given and let the other groups to guess what is written on the paper. The group that get the right answer will get 20 points. And the group which act and other groups get it correct, then they will get 10 points. I remember my group got something like ‘sniff yourself whether you are clean enough to go to school’. Nobody get the ‘sniff’ correct, even though my group members were sniffing hard. There were others like, making your bed, doing exercises, bathing… Group 5 was the winner that night. Congratulations!

After that, it was time for worship. The worship was led by Hui Theng from ADFP who was supported by a band made up of juniors. The worship songs comprised of ‘Worthy Is The Lamb’, ‘Heart of Worship’, ‘Mighty To Save’, ‘Open Up The Gates’, ‘I Simply Live for You’ and ‘Give Thanks’.

Worthy Is The Lamb

Thank you for the cross Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for your nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

Heart of Worship

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

pre-chorus:
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

chorus:
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the things I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

Mighty To Save

Everyone needs compassion
Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

Chorus:
Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

Verse 2:
So take as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Bridge:
Shine your light
And let the whole world see
We're singing
For the glory of the risen King, Jesus

Open Up The Gates
We come into this Holy place
To bring a sacrifice of praise
Bow down before You and seek Your face

We sing of the mighty things You've done
Cry out to You "Let Your will be done"
Tell all the world You're the Holy one

Hear the shouts of praise
As they're rising up to You
Come and fill this place
As we bring glory to Your name

Open up the gates and let the
King of glory in
Fill this house with praises as we
Lift our hands and worship You
Open up the doors and let Your
Glory fill the earth
King of Heaven we dance before Your throne

King of heaven come and
Take Your place
Dwell among us as we
Seek Your Face

I Simply Live For You

Say the word and I will sing for You

Over oceans deep, I will follow

If each star was a song

And every breath of wind, praise

It would still fail by far to say

All my heart contains

I simple live, I simply live for You

Chorus:

As the glory of Your presence

Now fills this place

In worship, we will meet You face to face

There is nothing in this world

To which You can be compared

Glory n glory, praise upon praise

You bind the broken hearted

And save all my tears

By Your word, You set the captives free

There is nothing in this world

That You cannot do

I simple live, I simple live for You

Give Thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks unto the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son (repeat)

And now let the weak say, ‘I am strong’

Let the poor say, ‘I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us’ (repeat)

Give thanks

Next, is the performance by Jim and Joash. The song entitled ‘Immanuel’ is written by our Jim koko. Thank you, Jim, for your farewell performance and thanks to Joash for playing the piano.

Then, it was Ps. David’s turn to share with us. He shared about starting right with God.

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

(Matthew 6:25-34)

I want to share something I read before in Our Journey about a dog chasing its tail. The author visited his friend and saw the dog going round and round chasing its tail. The next time he visited his friend, he was told that his dog finally got its tail and died. Selah. Just stop and think for a while, if the dog just stop chasing its tail, and see ahead, its tail will be following behind it, and it won’t died.

We are chasing the 4G in our life- the Glory, Gold, Girls or Guys and Good health. But if we set our focus correctly, putting God as the top priority in our life, goodness and mercy will follow us. We should seek for the giver, not the gift. We should seek for the healer, not be healed. As God had said, ‘Your concern is my concern.’ So, just submit everything, our desires, our worries, into His hand, and these things, the things we are chasing for our whole life, will be chasing after us.

After the sermon from Pastor David, we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jim and Adeline (correct me if I’m wrong). Happy Birthday to both of you and all the January babies. May God bless you all.

And of course, we have a great fellowship time in the fellowship hall at fifth floor. For the refreshments, we had sandwiches with eggs + mayonnaise + chilli sauce fillings and orange juices. And ya, don’t forget Leon and Brian’s cookies. Thanks to Leon and Brian! I started to get nervous already… why nowadays guys are better in baking and cooking than girls? If you noticed, most of the chefs and bakers are guys…

As usual, we will be ‘halau’ to go downstairs, saying goodbye to each others, farewell to our seniors and super seniors, squeezed into the vehicles and go back to our hostels. Although I’m tired but I’m always looking forward to the next CA. See you on 13February 2008!

In His service,

Betty