Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Yeah! I finally made it to Teens Time! Had a great time there, especially playing captain's ball. Thought that I should share this with all of you out there. So, here it is, an excerpt form my journal, dated 10 dec 2005:
I used to think that I'm like some hopeless nut with ball games. Soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, captain's ball, just name it. I've always felt that it wasn't that I lacked sportsmanshipbut it was just that I couldn't play. I preferrred to push the blame onto that reason. And, it didn't really bother me that I couldn't play. I wasn't very much of a sports person afterall. I'd rather take the backseat and be a spectator but today's captain ball game sort of changed my perspective. a whole way around.
I was really a little apprehensive at first when I knew that we were going to play captain's ball. But, i decuded to just try to play along in the end. Am I glad I played! It turned out to be so fun that I actually lost track of time and got home late...;) It wasn't as if i mysteriously got some 'sports power' or whatever you call it but rather it was the power of encouragement through my teammates. It was probably God behind it. Ya, I'm sure!
One of them told me to call for the ball but I was kinda 'shy' and didn't know all of their names and didn't dare to just shout out like that. But I guess the rest of the team soon took notice of me and kept trying to pass the ball to me. And, whether I did catch the ball or scored the goal or not, I never failed to received a "nice shot!","good catch!" or "nice try!"," it's okay" and the list goes on.These powerful words of encouragement It didn't only happen to me, I saw that it was the same with the two other newcomers like me. They made it a point to include us and not let us feel left out at all. it was really amazing to see amidst this somewhat competitive game, people were still encouraging one another.
And oh, they were honest too.It's like when someone mistakens another person for his ot her teammate and passes the ball, the person actually owns up, "Hey, I'm not from your team!' and returns the ball. Upholding integrity!Right on man!
And I also noticed that some of them actually made a point to pass the ball to the other teammates. I mean, I've to admit that if it were me I would have just "claimed all the glory" and scored the goal myself but they didn't.
I was really just a simple friendly game of captain's ball that I bet they play every Saturday but I've learnt sooo much form it! I think It's really God working in them, in all of us, in me! And I trust in Him to continue to help me grow spiritually in His way and run this Race He's marked out for me with much determination, for Him!
changeme.
7:00 AM
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
RUN.RESIST.RESTORE.REJOICE
That's the theme of this year's camp. As we embark on this race for God we'll surely meet with lots of challenges and temptations so we gotta trust in God to help us resist them. it's only then do we get restored by Him and be able to rejoice!
Just back from camp yesterday. i really wanna thank God for bringing me to this camp. Through this camp, I've really learnt a lot. How God never gives up on us, how He never lets me go, how he will always pick me up when I fall. it has allowed me to really experienced God's wonderful love once again and also to really worship Him with all my heart. it's true that sometimes when we sing the worship songs, we kinda get caught up with the music and fail to really sing His praises form our hearts. It's really important to me that I'm not just giving lip service but really meaning what I'm singing to God.
I can't say how much I've enjoyed the camp. i feel that it has really, really brought me closer to God. Now I know that I'm safe in His arms, ready assured in His Great and Mighty love. Through the worship sessions, I've also come to see how powerful it was to pray for one another, to keep supporting each other.
I want to thank God for Rachael. I was actually very excited about the camp but on the way to SAV on the bus, i couldn't help but feeling a little nervous and apprehensive. it's like cos I don't go for teens time so I don't know a lot of the youths from our church, except elizabeth. But thank God for Rachael. when i went down to register I found out the she was the only COA girl in my group, Noubl (Nobil). At the point of time, I was still a little afraid cos i had no idea who it was. Then, she happened to be there and i brought her up to put her bags. She seemed really nice and my nerves were kinda calmed down already. throughout the camp she really took care of me. We supported and encouraged each other too. During a few of the worship sessions, there were times when the both of us just didn't have the courage to go forward to receive prayers. but we encouraged each other to just go out and let the pastors pray for us, to take this step of faith. rachael had to go for a family photo shot on one of the days, it didn't really go well and when she shared with me what happened, I was really glad that I could be her listening ear. We got to know each other more through this camp. I've also gotten to know Brian (with an i), Vincent and Jovin from our church too.
I don't go for teens time cos i have piano lessons and kidsread on saturdays. You can say it's just excuses. I don't know. lynette has been inviting me but I kept turning her down and felt really bad about it. But thank God she never gave up. it was because of rachael's and her encouragement that I finally decided that I should set aside time God, going for teens time. ya, doing CIP was a service too but I wasn't really enjoying it. I was doing it cos kinda wanted to show others, not because I wanted to do it. So i decided that I should go for teens time instead cos I believed that it'll help me in my walk with Christ, in my spiritual growth. I've just been confirmed a few sundays ago. it wasn't just a ritual or ceremony. it was rather something that made me want to really od something for God. I started to do Quiet Time. It was something that I've never done before though you could say I'm a christian all my life. But it wasn't until much later, when i joined the senior sunday school, that I was really serious with God. I wanted to make my life count for God. Doing quiet time everyday meant that it required lots of commitment from me, being faithful in doing it and not giving excuses. I wanna thank God for helping me. I've been using this survival kit thing for teens as my quiet time material. it was a confirmation gift form the church.
I pray that even the camp has ended already, the race God has marked out for me has just started and I'm determined to keep on running it. And, I'm not going to give up cos God never will too.
changeme.
3:24 PM