Service, Lessons, Celgrp, Randoms

Im gonna start by screaming 2 things:

HILLSONG UNITED "I 'HEART' REVOLUTION " IS OUT!! THE BEST HILLSONG UNITED ALBUM EVER! FEATURING ALL THE BEST OWNAGE, BAM BAM SOLID TRACKS ALL IN TWO CDS! A MUST GET!!!

and...

OVERNIGHT PRAYER MEETING IS BACK!!! WOOHOO!!!

I just got an sms from Su Wee. BUT!!! I dont know if its SOT OPM or church OPM :S

Service was great. I really took down TONS of notes haha. Anyone wants it, let me know :) I dont mind typing it here =D

Oh yea..a few entries earlier, I was sharing about how the degree of our surrender will determine the measure that God can use us.. And yesterday during cg, they shared the same message! I was sooo blessed and so amazed. Huiru talked about the sacrifice of praise. People who stay are people who are willing to sacrifice, willing to commit, take up the cross and walk the narrow way.

And she started talking about me as guitarist..I was so paiseh..lol. But I knew God wanted to bring a message to the people. "Look at andrew, he play guitar only can perspire, its because he's given everything he's got! I mean, look at the people on stage, they perspire alot, because they really put in all the energy into praising and worshipping God."

I was so shy, I sat there I dared not look at the members cus I knew everyone was looking at me lol. I know its hard to imagine. But its just who I am. And Im happy to God for making me that way. =)

Indeed, to be at where I am today, wasnt easy. It cost me alot. Almost every week, I would have one day where I would cry in my own room. I would meet people who are 'different', I would have friends to encourage, even though Im discouraged myself, waking up at 5am to serve at expo on sunday (last time), and so many sacrifices Ive made.

Going for celgrp, prayer meeting, 2 ministries (cg guitarist is a ministry to me), (thank God ive completed my bible study, after like 1-2 years), queueing, double/triple services, overnight PMs, school, IHP, family, etc.

Its not easy..I can say it for as long as I live..lol..its really not easy. But like what Ps said today:

Its love that makes you go the extra mile.

Duty is just doing the bare minimum, but dedication is rising up to the occasion and taking initiative and responsibility over your own spiritual life.

Every great tree, starts with a seed.
Every child has to learn to walk before he can learn to run, or dance.

There are no shortcuts to promotion, breakthrough or revival. Once again I was reminded of the simple things..quiet time, celgrp, service, ministry, fellowship and really communion with God everyday.

I always set aside time to have a conversation with God. Thats what keeps me going, even though my finger hurts lol, Im still guitaring, being there, doing the things I do even though its uncomfortable.

Love has to cost, else it is lost.

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

Ive given so much, sometimes I feel so discouraged, but liks ps said today, Im able to draw from my huge emotional well, to pick myself up everytime and move on, picking others up along the way. I really thank God not only for spiritual stamina, but emotional capacity.

Religion is you doing what you should.
Relationship is you doing what you want.

Today's sermon really spoke alot to me. But..Im surprised, Im unusually tired today. Maybe because I reached home late the night before..but Im still blessed, I still caught the rhema.

Its all about a spirit of excellence.

Haha I really like Ps Tan's analogy, you can be the nicest person, the most good looking person, someone with a godly and spiritual character, BUT...without a spirit of excellence, you arent going anywhere.

Got once Wayne discipled me. He said this, "Anointing is no excuse for excellence!"

Everything you do, do it well, the first time round! Dont lose momentum, dont compromise, dont procrastinate, dont be ambivalent. Either ure hot or cold.

If He is not your Lord of ALL, He is not your Lord at all.

I think finances play an important role too..Im really close to God personally in my own private life is because of one particular Arise n Build. I gave a 4-figure amt which made me cry almost every night for a week.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.

It didnt say, "Where your heart is, there your treasure will be". NO! Sometimes we get the idea that, 'Oh, I love God, so Ill try my best to give him my best', but no..'You give your best FIRST, then you come and say that you love God'!

Its just like the husband and wife analogy Ps made, "You fulfill your role as a husband FIRST, then you come tell me you love me."

Man..that blew me away hahaha. Dont just tell God you love Him, SHOW IT! Dont just talk the talk, walk the walk. I gave my BFund FIRST, then I can talk about how close I am with God in my finances.

You fulfill your "Basic requirement" as a member of the church FIRST, THEN you come and tell me you're a member of chc. Same for ministry or even at work. But of course you dont just stop there, you cant be drinking milk and wearing diapers all your life right? LOL!

Especially in a huge church like ours, many things are happening and changes occur very fast. We just gotta learn to keep up with it. Build spiritual stamina. Dont use a twig to fight the devil. It just doesnt work. Even David was smart enough to use a stone instead of a twig. LOL.

Well, maybe if he had enough faith, a twig could slay goliath? It could..but like Ps said, dont be an extremist. lol. Theres a difference between faith and plain stupidity! lol.

But seriously, all of us, including myself, need to do a reality check as often as we can. Make sure we are in the right flow, etc, etc.

But really, the sermon on excellence blew my mind away. In fact Ps Tan's msges ALWAYS blow my mind away haha. It really brings conviction on the inside.

Well cg later @ Thad's. I really need strength. A LOT of strength. Ive been tired since thursday, chionging all the way. Yet not my will, but Yours be done. :)

I can thank God for so many things..

But one thing Ill always remember what Ps Robb Thompson said,

Good doesnt influence evil.
Evil is an influence, but good is a choice.

You became who you associate yourself with.

All of us know, well, at least my cg knows about a 'good friend' of mine. Recently re-establishing contact with me. I love him, but I keep my distance.

Anyone who reminds me of God, turns me on.
Anyone who reminds me of the devil, turns me off.
Period.

Im strict and very cautious, when it comes to exposing myself to different people, or when choosing friends. You can curse and swear at me all you want, but if you come in between me and God, kthxbye, ure gone.

Some people have their down times, I have no problem. But please..dont be ADDICTED to 'emoism'. You want people to care for you? Learn to care for yourself first!

Dont worry, nothing happened recently, Im just keeping my distance. I just refuse to talk to him whenever I can. I dont wanna associate myself with him. You just have to accept the fact that you become who you associate with..period!

Im not talking abt him now..Im saying in general. Haha. We're cool at the moment. Seriously, I cant be bothered with people who cant be bothered about themselves.

Yea, yea, there will be a small handful who will come to me, NOT KNOWING ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT THE SITUATION and say, "But you have to lurrrrrve your enemies".

There's a difference between love, and naivety. God says, 'give me your heart' so keep your brain! Dont be a simpleton! Dont be an idiot! Some people just gotta wake up their idea.

I dont think God said to Satan, "Oh I love you with an everlasting lurrrrveee...please come home to Daddy? Pwetty pleeease? With a cherry on top? I died for you you know? You know? You know?"

COME ON! GOT A BRAIN? USE IT! He just threw him into the pit of hell! God didnt even say goodbye!!!

I really thank God for great leaders and motivators in my life. When I first started out, I used to be very dependent on them, as in, I always needed to be spot-checked. Whether is it study hours, attendance or bible study, etc.

But eventually, everyone has to rise up one day. Ps Phil once said, No Cross, No Crown.

I think its a pretty good quote haha..I couldve never thought of it lols.