2011 Mar 24 - Proverbs 11 - Brenda

Proverb 11:25 
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

箴言  11:25 好施捨的、必得豐裕．滋潤人的、必得滋潤。

The scripture is so true as when we love others unconditionally we,in return, will be loved and refreshed.

Just share about Aunty Yvonne who suffered from stage 4 cancer,having chemotherapy today,however her joyful heart and grateful heart really inspire me a lot. She served us and taught us how to make dumpings and Chinese pancakes despite that she's so tired,she still wanted to serve us.

Next Tuesday will be her birthday and I will prepare a card on Sunday and will pass around 
Hope you guys can write somethings to encourage her, and tell her to keep it up and she's not alone ,you can even write some scriptures, she's good in both Chinese and English.

Pls continue to pray for her and her coming bible studies with Elizabeth.

Love
Brenda

2011 Mar 24 - Psalm 18 - Shelley

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

Dear BT,

Very inspired by all of you and your joyful and giving hearts to serve in our BT just like Brenda shared last night. The two sisters Sophia and Ching from Island Central were really encouraged, they could not stop telling me on Sunday what a great time they had at the dinner in Ma Wan. Thanks to Yvonne who gave all of her heart and physical strengh to help us know how to make the dumplings and the Chinese pizza. What an inspiration she is. I would like to try and find some time to see her on Sunday God willing.

The above scripture for me this week has really stood out in a big way. God is always God and He will never change. He will always be our refuge no matter what situation we find ourselves in. Let us be encouraged today to cast all our cares to Him and to delight in His presence. God is our no.1 and will satisfy us always. "As deer pants for water and only you can satisfy. " This is the God we serve. So lets take comfort in that today.

On another note Daniel and I are so encouraged to those who supported our engagement gathering on Saturday. It was a huge surprise to me :-) I am happy to be in this BT and my prayer is that God will show me how I can encourage you all. I am thinking of writing some specific prayer requests from you. Will ask you guys in person.

Have an awesome day.

Love Shelley

2011 Mar 15 - Act 16 - Andy

出生入死

Dear all,

A cloudy day ha!

The Japanese nuclear crisis is being worse, please pray hard for them.

Try to bring an umbrella, although I do not think it can save you from radioactivity/ radiation.

Today join ministry QT @8:00 am , A core, come late as long time no travel at this time, quite underestimate the busy traffic.

Read the QT material today, which is Acts 16.

It make me curious that why Luke and Timothy was not jailed.

And another question in my heart is that why Paul ask the ghost to come out because he "become so troubled", I recall when I first read this when I was young, I think he do so because he cannot control his temper.

However, these two questions can be discussed side-way.

Anyway, because of these, God has done another miracles to save the jailer's family. And I am inspired by Silas has been hit together and did not blame Paul for the incidents.

This is what the relationship talk about in today's QT material.

Bear the persecusion together.

I think most likely Timonthy and Luke was trying to save them from outside.

(Maybe because they are not Jews, so that the accuse does not refer to them)

When thinking of the second questions, I think of many bros and sisters (esp. Campus) who face different similar situation with me and continue to be faithful to God.

There are so many Pauls in my life, he teach me God's word and working them out so that I can learn and follow.

Kenneth is always my examples of going out by love and faith.

Tom is always the one with well planning.

AI has a very proactive heart to go and serve........ 

And for the mission part, Steve has asked us to think of 3 things to Pray for the ShineR project

This is actually the mission we are doing to share God with the people involved. :] 

Hope we are have the unified heart to run for God (行完我的路程) ACTS 20:24 

Hope you can also find your Silas, Paul and Timonthy in your life, too. 

Do something great with your bros/sisters. Share your convictions, your life, your weakness and the most important, your dreams.

I remember a quote:

" By showing your strength, you get honors and respect;

But by showing your weaknesses, you get love and acceptance,

this is what every human longing for"

Silas is a fd who can bear and accept Paul's mistakes (whether it is a mistakes or actually God's plan are unknown), hope you get someone in your life, and of course thx God for teaching us grace.

Cheers,

Andy

2011 Mar 15 - 2 Corinthians 1 - Shelley

What is our response to hardships?‏

2 Corinthians 1 : 9-10: 'Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. verse 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.'

 

Morning all,

 

It was so inspiring to see all of our brothers and sisters that attended the 4.2 km run last Sunday. We all ran the race with perseverance. Well done. Cat Meow especially inspired by your heart to try your best even though it was hard. God honoured you for that Cat. Keep going. I see so much change in you lately. You are learning slowly to have more courage in your heart, awesome.

 

Today's scripture really convicted my heart that God desires us so much to learn from our hardships and challenges. As Paul reminds us that we learn to rely on God and not on ourselves. We get to a turning point in our lives where we realise that we can't do anything in our power to change a situation and that only God can work. So surrender and trust is the most important. We also learn to have true hope in our hearts when we can rely on God during the hard times.

 

Lets us all imitate this heart that Paul calls us to. God is the only way to help us come out of our hardships still strong and secure in heart. Amen.

 

Have a blessed day.

 

Love in Christ,

 

Shelley

-- 

2011 Mar 13 - Philippians 3:13-14 - Eric

Convictions on Sunday Morning Run 

Philippians 3:13-14

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

13  弟兄們、我不是以為自己已經得著了．我只有一件事、就是忘記背後努力面前的、 14  向著標竿直跑、要得　神在基督耶穌裡從上面召我來得的獎賞。

Let's enjoy our fun together whoever comes tomorrow, 

and see if we could stay focus to finish this exercise.

A little practice of "straining toward what is ahead" by "forgetting what is behind" I'd say, 

and led me to think, 

Paul asked people not to dwell in past experience of faults or sadness, 

but to adjust their minds toward God's direction.

No matter what problems you've faced or are facing, 

you may one day know that the issue is just an instant of your life, which probably isn't that big deal. 

The soreness in our feet that accumulates progressively from the kowloon park starting point, 

hardly anything I'd tell myself.

See you there 7:30am drowsily, 

Eric

2011 Mar 11 - Psalm 146 - Andy

Dear all,

Hi! O I remember this Psalm, the "large" and "great" that we need to thx God.

"Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save." Psalms 146:3

Sense of Security

Sharing brings security, and security brings us more willing to share, it is a circulation.

Continue with the thinking on BT yesterday, what to share?

I agree that it means that to share our whole life

Share what you had gone through, growth

Share your talents, share your efforts, share your time, strength 

with also needs and weaknesses.

What makes us feel secure would be 

1. the sense that you belong to the group

2. the sense that you are safe

Sharing of course would increase the first, but the second is more important that we think we are saved.

Surely God provides that part.

It still be a lesson to learn to try let go my "捉緊" to my ability, or even my emotions, sickness and to give the control to God.

How? Planning a little treat God's special tomorrow

Trying to get a more clear sight about my "天命", (of course not writing :P)

PS: looked at the Nork's Ark stamp yesterday night, I think God want to say something to me.

Cheers,

Andy

2011 Mar 11 - Psalm 145 - Shelley

Psalm 145:5

 
'On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works I will meditate.'

 

Morning all,

 

What an awesome bible talk last night. It is so great to be in God's family of believers and feel that our lives are so rich and full of love as we all have things in common and share our possessions and don't become like the rich man who held back and found it hard to give up his wealth because he was scared of letting go and trusting in God for his life.

 

Today's scripture is encouraging to me as I am reminded no matter how we feel about our future whether it is uncertainty or insecurity that in God we are certain that He is perfect and has a great plan for our lives. Lets decide to put our trust in God and rejoice in His splendor and majesty today. Amen.

 

Love in Christ,

 

Shelley

2011 Mar 10 - John 15 - AI

Dear my pair-up~~

 

真係超級無敵勁勁勁勁感激你地既豬古力..............

真係好好食...........

能夠有一班充滿愛心既pair-up..........真係感到十萬分幸福................

 

你 們 要 彼 此 相 愛 、 像 我 愛 你 們 一 樣 、 這 就 是 我 的 命 令 。 (約15:12)

 

耶穌叫我地要彼此相愛..........今日呢個係耶穌比我地既命令.............

超感動...............大家都係活緊一個似耶穌既x'ian life...........會活出耶穌既教導............. ^_^

 

除左欣賞你地之外................

 

真係好想講..........好愛大家呢...........  ^o^

 

做野先............今晚見..............

 

Love

 

A.I

2011 Mar 09 - Ecclesiates 7 - Shelley

Morning all,

 

Ecclesiates 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.

 

This scripture serves as a great reminder to me today to be content in all circumstances. To except that as Xian I will face good and bad times. I still need to fix my eyes on Jesus Hebrews 12: 2 no matter what happens. At this time my family is facing a tough time and I am drawn more to pray for them and rely on God. It also helps me to grow in my faith and dig deeper into God's word.

 

I wish that all of us can rely more on God. When the tough times comes we can face it all with God's mighty strength.

 

Have a blessed day.

 

 

-- 

Shelley Read

2010 Mar 04 - John 15 - Shelley

oodmorning everyone,

 

John 15:19  - Amplified version

If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.

 

I hope we all have a good day of fasting today. We are all God's holy priesthood and are of the light. The world will hate us for doing good deeds but I believe we are all foreigners to this world even though we live in this world. Last night I was in Central with some of the other NET teachers and I am reminded what this world really is. People only focus on money and fame and their statuses.

 

Personally I want to fast for having a heart that always keep my passion and fire for God. Sometimes being an old disciple it's easy to lose track of my focus and feel dry inside my heart. I feel we have to pray for constant renewal and close connection to God. When we feel closely connected to God and other Xian's then it's easy to be fruitful and win others to God. Nothing is impossible for Him to accomplish in our lives.

 

Have a good day today :-)

 

Love in Christ.

 

 

-- 

Shelley Read

2011 Mar 03 - Romans 9 - Cat

"這是甚麼緣故呢．是因為他們不憑著信心求、只憑著行為求．他們正跌在那絆腳石上．
就如經上所記、『我在錫安放一塊絆腳的石頭、跌人的磐石．信靠他的人必不至於羞愧。』"

(羅9:32-33) 當琴晚睇個套"催淚片"…其實有好多淚係心裹流緊T^T 佢好令我再feel多左愛係咩野…咩野係因為愛神而將佢放係第一位.. 一個人面對人生前路個陣點樣去完完全全依靠神.. 有時都幾怕睇呢d野..因為老實講..越睇個陣越見到自己ge不足~ 自己ge軟弱..並且又係一個好大好難ge挑戰=[ 好多時我都會pray，求神唔好比我面對困境… 但當我係困境中個陣..原來我唔係第一時間去pray,, 而係任由自己情緒氾濫…之後先再pray.. 當我今日睇到羅馬書第9章32-33卯個陣,,我真係不停咁諗~ 不諗問自己今日我相信神係會聽禱告ge信心去左邊? 究竟我ge信係100%? 80%? 定50%? 琴晚Eric ge生命好提醒我信靠ge功課，而今日QT神又再次 提醒我禱告ge信心…仲好記得Alex上次講道話: pray ge信心 = 神蹟，咁我今日又有幾信神蹟會係我生命發生呢? 原來當有事情發生我係會先靠自己解決先…攪唔掂先去pray交比神~ 面對日後我個基督徒生命，我係米都要繼續咁呢? 呢期我大部份唔開心都係黎自我工作，好唔明白點解人係咁可怕.. 曾經好多好多次，我好想辭職唔做… 今早我又要面對呢d唔開心事情，當殺那好想走， 但卻好奇怪咁諗返起Eric ge生平…想返起佢日日對住一d仇敵… 佢冇選擇逃避，相反Eric冇去憎佢地仲要為佢地pray,,, 真係諗反起聖經話:要愛你ge仇敵" 呢一句話~ 而今日我面對呢班唔可愛ge人我又會點做呢? 其實今日有好多野衝激住我生命，當我生命被挑戰時.. 好想依靠神更多，好想自己個信心更堅固.. 所以大家幫我pray下啦=]話晒我而家都仲係BB仔=v=" 得2個幾月大ga咋..都幾需要大家鼓勵同walk with成長ga^^ 好啦，今日係得咁多先~~遲d見… With Love, Cat Meow