Some Good Questions Before Y2006!

Our Help and Our Hope
by John Fischer

O God our help in ages past—Our hope for years to come…

This is the time of year when we focus on God and thank Him for getting us through another year. Remember Y2K? We were wondering if we’d survive the turnover to a new century. Hard to believe that was six years ago.

As the hymn writer has reminded us, God is both our help and our hope—two four-letter words that pretty much sum up what we need to move into 2006. First, we look back on how He has helped us in the past.

The greatest thing about this is you can go back as far as you want into the ages past and still find God there, thinking about you. "Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes" (Ephesians 1:4). (By the way, we are so thankful it says without fault "in His eyes," because we have plenty of faults in other people’s eyes, including our own.) The point being, you can never go too far back to not have anyone to worship. ("In the beginning, God…")

But right now, it would be good to focus on just this last year and think about how God has specifically helped us.

• What do you have now that you didn’t have a year ago? Think in terms of personal growth, experiences, and people God has blessed you with.
• How do you know God better than you did at this time a year ago?
• What more do you know about Him?
• What more do you know about yourself that He has revealed to you?
• What struggle has He helped you overcome?
• Is there anyone in your life who wasn’t there a year ago that you can honestly thank God for? What has He helped you to accomplish? How has He been faithful to you even when you have been faithless?

Now think about this next year and how God is our only true hope. Think of specifically where you need to apply some of that hope.

• What are you afraid of?
• Where are you feeling inadequate?
• What do you want to change, and how can God help you?
• How about your plans?
• How big do you want to make them?
• How far are you willing to stretch?

For all of this, He is our hope. And for all that we will face this next year that we don’t know anything about right now, He is our hope. He will be enough.

"Our fears for today, our worries for tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away" (Romans 8:38).

John Fischer is the Senior Writer for Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Marti and son, Chandler. They also have two adult children, Christopher and Anne. John is a published author and popular speaker.

New Year Service 2006

Graduation Day

My daughter ended up being a December college graduate. Graduating from the University of Colorado on one of the coldest, snowiest Decembers on record will make this memory stand out even more than it would have on a sunny spring day. It was held literally in the press area of Buffalo Stadium with snow covering the end zones. Someone had already celebrated by carving their initials in the snow under the goal posts.

Graduations are proud times for parents, but the older our kids get, the less we feel we had anything to do with this.

When our kids are just children, it’s easy to think they are little extensions of ourselves. We are led to believe, by their size, that we are in more control of their lives than we really are. As they grow older, the truth of the matter becomes more obvious: they belong to themselves and their choices. They belong to us in name and tradition, (and we hope in lots of personal visits), but they are also striking out on their own course. We hope and pray they will ultimately belong to God, but that is out of our hands as well. At some point, we give up trying to control them and just sit back and take it in. That’s what I did at this service. Pride wasn’t even appropriate. I was proud for her, but not proud for me because I had so little to do with this. So I relegated myself to being the photographer snapping memories for us all.

At least that’s what this graduation experience was to me -- a chance to stand back and wonder “Who is this person?” and thrill in the knowledge that the world is waiting to discover the answer to that.

Don’t you know that God gets a similar joy out of us? Of course He’s in control, but in some strange way known only to Him, He is not, because there is plenty of biblical evidence of His surprising give-and-take with His own creation. Soon, God will be like a proud Dad presiding over the graduation of His children into eternity, and somehow He will share with us the credit for what He has done. It’s the way He has chosen to allow us to partake in His work and His kingdom. He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

That’s a moment worth our attention now as we seek to follow His will day by day and on into the New Year.

John Fischer is the Senior Writer for Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Marti and son, Chandler. They also have two adult children, Christopher and Anne. John is a published author and popular speaker.

Sunday Re-cap (24th Dec 2005)

The Birthday
Ps Sam Hari

Birthdays are celebrated based on the achievement that one has in life.
Today we celebrate Jesus' birthday because of what He achieved.
What was His greatest achievement? There were many and The Cross is one of the them.
Scripture. Jn 3.16, Rom 5:6-8

What does the cross signify? One vertical bar and one horizontal bar which speaks of the following 3 points.

1. God came down to save all mankind. From what? Destruction, sickness & disease, separation from God & one another, etc.
2. God loved us, so love one another. Jn 15:12-14,
   LOVE HAS A BIG HEART. (Covers a multitude of sins).
   THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE.
3. God is coming again, for all mankind. (Are we ready to receive Him? Have we reconciled ourselves to Him & to one another?)
   
   

Let this Christmas be meaningful to us & let's put a smile on His face today.
Christmas will be meaningless if all we did was sing carols, shopped, ate did dramas & not understood, received & spread his love.
God is Love. Can we understand this? Christmas is God reaching out to all of us in friendship. It is a day signaling reconciliation. Can we respond?

Special Meeting with Ps. Kuldip Bal Singh

Pastor Kul's full name is Kuldip Bal Singh.
He is the pastor for HIM Centre, Australia (Heidelberg International Ministry Centre). Originated from Ipoh.

Have been residing in Scotland for more than 22 years.

He is married to Elaine and has 2 daughters.

He has a vision to bring salvation, healing & deliverance to the nations…

Having a burning passion for the young and old generation of this world; to see them saved & living for CHRIST!

He is also affiliated with Planetshakers, Australia…and works closely with them.

A real prophet of God, yet humorous, who is able to blast the lives of teens & adults as he moves prophetically and also in areas of praise & worship while ministering the Word of God !!!

Sunday Re-cap (18th Dec 2005)

Five Signs of Crises
by Ps. David Lai

2 Cor 3:17 -where the spirit of God is there is liberty. liberty in us is that He can transform our lives & bring us from glory to glory, so that He can change us to be more and more like Christ. In order for God to change us, He allows problems and crises.God wants to work in us first so that we can be greater impact & influence.

1. Depression
1 Sam 30 - Don't blame others when everything goes wrong. vs.6. David found strength in the Lord.
Heb 11:11- By faith Sarah received strength because she judged God faithful in what He had promised.
Rom 4:20-21 - Abraham was strenthened in faith believing that God is able to perform what He had promised.
Joshua 1:9 - Joshua faced a leadership crises and God promised to be with Him.
David began to rise up in strength & began to recover spiritually. He recovered all that he Amalekites had taken.
For the people of God, its not crises to crises,but from Glory to Glory in Christ.

2. Hopelessness
Hopelessness will kill; but God is the God of restoration. 1 Sam 30:6
Inpiration preaching does not change our lives but revalation does. 1 Kings 17:8 The hopeless widow served Elijah. Elijah imparted hope into her life.

3. Inferiority
1 sam 21:10 -David felf inferior
Paul knew that in order to overcome inferiority is to be grounded in the love of God.
'Who shall sperate us from the love of God?' We have been made more than conquerors, not based on our performance but in who we are.

4. Failure
God never plans failure for us.
Jer. 29:11 God's strenght towards us is of peace and not of evil; and of a future and hope.
Man was not cursed, only the ground and the devil, but man can fall subject to the curse and the curse of the law.

5. Give-up ( Get bitter and die on the inside).
Elijah wanted to give up when Jezebel wanted to kill him. He complained to he Lord, but the Lord ministered to him and restored him.

Father of the prodigal son did not give up on him.

So trust in God, for He will not give up on us. For God is the same yesterday, today & forever. And He desires to see us move from glory to glory and be more like His son Jesus Christ.

CHRISTMAS INVITATION

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY

GUEST OF HONOR : HIS MAJESTY , JESUS CHRIST

DATE: Every day. Traditionally, December 25, but He's always around, sothe date is flexible.

TIME: Whenever you're ready. Please don't be too late though, or you'llmiss out on all the fun.

PLACE: In your heart. He'll meet you there--you'll hear Him knock.

ATTIRE: Come as you are. Grubbies are okay as He'll be washing ourclothes anyway. He said something about new white robes and crowns foreveryone who stays till the last.

TICKETS: Admission is free. He's already paid for everyone. He says youwouldn't have been able to afford it-it's cost Him everything He had!

REFRESHMENTS: New wine, bread and a far-out drink He calls "livingwater." This will be followed by a supper, that promises to be out of this world!!

GIFT SUGGESTIONS: Your heart. He's one of those people who already haseverything else. (He's very generous in return though-just wait until yousee what He has for you ! )

ENTERTAINMENT: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, RealHappiness, Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing,Power, Eternity in Paradise...and much more!(All 'G' rated so bring your family and friends)

RSVP: Very Important! He must know ahead, so He can reserve a spot foryou at the table. Also, he's keeping a list of His friends for futurereference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life.

"PARTY GIVEN BY: His Kids. That's us! Hope To See You There! Let usrejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb hascome, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear(linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!

Revelation 19:7-9 ALL OF YOU WHO WILL BE THERE-PLEASE SHARE THIS INVITATION WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
(Author Unknown)

Special Presentation!!!

Birthday Celebration

Dear loved ones
As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated.
During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

Remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face ... and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" .. as if the party were in his honor!

At 12 Midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and ... do you know ... no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me.

What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party.
I'm still making the final arrangements.

Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside.

Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.
See you soon.
I Love you!
Jesus

Combined Churches Christmas Celebration 2005

Sunday Re-cap (11th Dec 2005)

Hearing the Audible Voice of God
by Michael Lee

• Jn 2:5: Whatever Jesus says, do it!.
• 2 keys to bring the goodness of God to the world. Obedience & Hearing God.
• We must learn to hear His Voice.
• Jn 15:14-15; 2 Cor 3:5-6; Matt 4:4
• Lots of needs in the world. Searching for answers.
• In Revelation, we are reminded that ‘He who has an ear let him hear.’
• God speaks to everyone. To hear God speak, we must have a relationship with God.
• 2 Cor. 1:20: For all the promises of God in Him are Yes in Him.
• It’s very important to hear and identify as God speaks and enjoy Him. Only then we can serve enjoying God. 2 Kgs 5
  
• v3: Naaman’s slave girl had good relationship with God and heard from God.
• v7: The King of Israel had no faith in God. “Am I God”? Because the king wasn't hearing God. Not walking close with God.
• v8: Elisha grabs the opportunity as he heard God & walked with God. We miss God because we don't hear from God.
• v11-12: Naaman went away in rage. We want God to speak to us our way! Not His way. Rage clouds our hearing.
• v13: Servants of Naaman. Encouraging one another to do the will of God.
• v14: Had to strip himself to be healed. Sometimes we need to be stripped (our reputation, titles) to hear God.
• 1 Sam 3 – The boy Samuel ministered the Lord before Eli and heard from God.
• 2 Chronicles 7:14-“seek my face” .
• Heb.13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Jesus is the same today, only we need to build a strong relationship with him and allow the Holy Spirit to speak and guide us to do the Will of God.

Sunday Re-cap (4th Dec 2005)

God has a plan for your LIFE!
by Rev. Anthony Perkins









Six Ways to Miss God’s Plan for Your Life:

Text: Gen 16:1-5
Learning from the example of Abraham and Sarah.

• When we underestimate God’s ability to do the supernatural in our lives.


• When we try to build our house (Sarah) on someone else’s’ land (Hagar).


• When we don’t believe that God is a God of the supernatural.


• When we run ahead of God.


• When we can’t wait for God’s timing.


• It’s alright to listen to our wife but not when it’s wrong counsel.


• We need to be careful of getting into ungodly situations.


• God will sometimes allow us to wait because:


• He is preparing us for what lies ahead.


• He wants us to overcome our weaknesses.


• Our faith needs to be strengthened.


• Our lives will benefit those who are watching us.


• He desires to give us the BEST and not the WORST.

• When we go ahead with our actions without any thoughts of the consequences and those around us.


• When we blame someone else for our failures.

Ps 27:14: As we wait upon the LORD, we will have the blessings that He intends for us.

Children's Christmas Party

Date: Sat, 17th December 2005
Time: 5.00-7.00pm
Venue: GROW BM

We are inviting contributors for the following items:

• Food
• Party Packs
• Prizes
• Volunteers (Cleanup Crew and Helpers).

1. Any contribution in Cash or Kind is most welcome.
2. Please keep this event in prayer.
3. We are preparing the event for 150 kids.
   

Details are found in the church bulettin.
For further info, pls call Sis Agnes Thompson or Sis Mei Ling (number obtainable from Church Office).

Painting Project 2005

Hello Folks!
Tis' that time of year again to clean and spruce up DAD's House. Please do make your good-selves available to paint and clean the church on:

Thursday, 8th December 2005 at 9.30am SHARP!

God bless.