CHRISTMAS COCOA

I heard this on Proverbs 31 Radio a year ago.  I thought I would share the word 'COCOA' with you so that you can remember the aspects of Christmas:


C is for CHRIST.  He's the reason for Christmas!
O is for ORNAMENTS.  As we decorate our tree, let's remember to decorate our hearts and homes with God's love.
C reminds us to CELEBRATE.  It's easy to get focused on giving, but let's not forget to celebrate all that God has given us!
O is for OVERJOYED!  Instead of getting overwhelmed with our schedules, let's get overjoyed by remembering why Jesus was born.
A is for ABUNDANCE!  In the abundance of presents and people, let's remember that what we really need is the abundant life Jesus promised through a relationship with Him.


Merry Christmas, Brothers and Sisters!!


May this be a blessing!

SG ACTIVITY: JACKET ON, JACKET OFF

Here goes another Small Group activity we did last night.  We let the husbands have some fun with this.

Procedure

Have the participants take off and put on the jackets. Make a note of which hand goes in first.

Then, have them take off the jackets again.  Next, ask them to put on the jackets with the other hand goes in first.

Chances are they will feel "awkward" to put on the jackets differently.

Take Away

Growing up, we must have developed habits: good or bad; from observing or learning, etc.


Now, think about two individuals joint in a marriage.  From two different families joint in one.  As a result, one may often hear, "But, I've always done it that way."


That's right.  It's easy to develop and continue using unconscious habits.  However, there are often equally effective alternative ways to accomplish an objective.  For example in this activity, the end result is that they still end up with the jackets on.  Right?


Sometimes, it will require for us to "unlearn first" to avoid the old ways in interfering with our acquisition of the new behaviors .. the behaviors that can foster a better relationship with your spouse.


Remember, no one is wrong.  Just different.


May this be a blessing!


  

THE HEART SEES WHAT THE EYES CANNOT

"The heart sees what the eyes cannot."

I want to dedicate the quote above and this post for my sister in Christ CSK.  She's a woman after God's own heart.  Her relationship with the Father is so intimate.  Her heart sees what God sees.  Her heart sees what human eyes can't see.  Her heart breaks for whatever breaks God's.


This past weekend, I had the opportunity to testify her gift (of seeing through heart).  It's actually not the first time I testified it.  Two years ago when I struggled during my ministry in English Service and decided to quit it, her heart ached and a picture of me flashed through her mind.  The next day, she reached out to me, "Yan, are you OK?  I thought of you last night and my heart ached."  At the time, I had not shared with anyone of my struggle.  I was shocked of her asking me that.  All of the sudden, I was crying heavily and asking her to pray for me and my ministry.  I know she never stopped praying for me.  Here I am now ... two years later, blessed and empowered by the power of prayer to serve till my last month in English Service.  It's been a good 2-year journey.


And this past weekend, the Holy Spirit led her to pray for a broken soul in the congregation.  It was a beautiful encounter.  I used to be on the other end where the Holy Spirit found me and delivered her.  This time, I was so blessed to testify every second of when the Holy Spirit started working in her and delivering her to the broken soul.  I believe that her prayer will not go in vain.  And the broken soul will be made whole (again).


What a gift to have!!!  I praise the Lord for blessing the gift to someone wise and obedient of God like her.  God bless you, Sister!!!


May this be a blessing!  

SICKNESS ... BE GONE

Greetings, All.  Hope everyone had a wonderful time of thanking and giving.


I want to share with you how God had proven His power over sickness and grace over my family for the many many times.


Nov-23: Through Mammography and ultrasound, the doctor found "something" he's concerned of in my sister's breasts.


Nov-24: Praise the LORD, the "thing" is not tumor.  However, it's not benign either.  Is it cancer then?


Nov-25: Second opinion told my sister to still do biopsy asap because the "thing" was not there 2 years prior.


Nov-29: MRI's done on my sister.


Nov-30: The MRI result found 7 bumps in her breasts, 2 in her ovary, and 2 on her liver.  Praise the Lord, only one of them that the doctor thought to be cancerous.  The one in her breast.


Dec-1: Biopsy's performed on that one bump.


Dec-2: Praise the LORD that the removed bump is NOT cancerous.  The doctor, however, indicated that my sister is still at a high risk of getting cancer and will need to be under close and regular cancer monitoring going forward.


My family in Indonesia had a way to handling the situation.  Not the kind of way that my sister would appreciate.  So my sister resorted to a different way of finding her strength and confidence.  A way that she's never asked for before.  That is through the prayer support.  For I believe in the power of prayer, joined by a dozen ladies in California, we prayed together at the same time for my sister as she's going through the different procedures in Asia.


And this is a message my sister posted on her social networking profile this morning:

I say, it deserves an AMEN.  Don't you think so?  The power of prayer is so mighty and powerful.  My God is bigger than our sickness and difficulties.  My God - not other worldly power - holds each of our destiny.  Where did we find our confidence?  In God's grace and power!

2 Corinthians 12: 9 - 10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Believe in the power of prayer.  Believe that God hears your prayer.  Have prayer requests?  Email them my way.  :-)


May this be a blessing!