joel's updates and prayer requests for june/july06

Hi everyone,this is my first time posting something on this blog so i guess it is time to provide some updates on my life.Havent been doing well both spiritually and mentally for the past few weeks,somehow i guess im getting burnt out due to ns-related issues and to a certain extent,ym-related stuff.I don think i can or should share much details but im trusting the Lord to guide me through this tough patch.I will be taking a short break/retreat from ns and ym sometime during july/august to help me recharge and seek the Lord in prayer.
Prayer requests
1.Thank God for the comfort and the assurance that God has provided so far.
2.Pray that God will give me the strength to persevere on as i seek Him in prayer
3.Pray that my upcoming retreat will be a meaningful one.
Agape,
joel

Hei...Brother...

1. "Brother," in Hebrew, can mean both brother and sister.
Any masculine word in Hebrew includes both male and female
unless context says otherwise.

2. Brothers and sisters are God's gift for times of trouble.
...and the brother is born for adversity (Prov 17:17)

3. There are friends that become like brothers and sisters.
...there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Prov 18:24)

4. God hates those that weaken or destroy the relationship
of brothers and sisters.
...the Lord hates... he that soweth discord among brethren (Prov 6:16,19)

Winnie JOY wanna say a BIG thanks :p

Yeah, as I turned a Quarter Century old... "as old as Jean" hehe... I've begin to realize n identify more things that I value in life and also experienced the love of many around me. I am so touched when people bothered to remember my birthday... usually, my birthday goes by quietly... but these 2 years... I am touched to have Akuou SG to celebrate with me. Though not with the full-strength of our whole SG, but I've received your well-wishes. Thanks dear Kexin too for thoughtfully buying the "Safe in a Crazy World" CD by Corrinne May for me... it's really an amazing CD with songs that inspire me to draw nearer to the Lord and depend on Him. Thanks for being a blessing :) I desire to a JOY and Blessing unto all of you too...

Love,
Winnie JOY :p

Intro to Akuou

Hmm.. think our sg needs a little introduction…

Here it goes! (courtesy of Kelly and me..)

avkou,w when used of in discipleship is to listen to, pay attention to and obey. This word when practiced includes inner comprehension where the disciple understands his master’s teachings and practices it actively.

At least 2 people have asked me what the Akuouian lifestyle is.

The Akuouian conscientiously upholds the Word of God as the source of key guiding principles by which he lives his life by. The Akuouian lifestyle involves living life in active submission and obedience to God’s Word. God’s love for us compels the Akuouian to know God more and more (John17:3) and to make Him known in his community.

Glad

photo!

hello!

hmm, seems like our small grp's average age is decreasing steadily.. the "younger ones" were at ps macs studying (?) and we took a photo b4 we left.. yepp! here goes! =)

hopefully we'll be able to bring much joy and laughter to the group! =)

love, denise

El Shaddai - God Almighty

Jason chose a very nice worship song for worship. It is entitled El Shaddai. El Shaddai means God Almighty. It is not a commonly used name for God, and this question was asked during worship. What is the meaning of El Shaddai? I know it is a name for God but didnt know the excat meaning, until Denise had kindly explained to all of us. *Thanks Denise!!*

Had made some search online & found the meanings for some of the names of Jesus here.
El Shaddai - God Almighty
El-Elyon - The Most High God
Adonia - My Lord
Elohim - Almighty God
Sar Shalom - Prince of Peace *my personal favourite =)*
Potentate - Great authority, mighty

Of course there are much more commonly used, like Christ, Messiah, Jehovah, Lamb of God, Saviour, which are really too many for me to list all here.

As I read the articles *tons of them, only managed to complete a few*, it dawned on me that there is really alot of names for God. The places where they are mentioned & their meanings.
I also came across articles on saying which is the true & original name for Jesus. Seems to be a big topic. Maybe we can explore this after we finish our bible study on Colossians. A back to foundation to our Lord maybe? =)

El Shaddai - by: Michael Card and John Thompson

Chorus:
El Shaddai, El Shaddai
El-Elyon Adonia
Age to age You're still the same
By the power of the name
El Shaddai, El Shaddai
Erkamka Adonai
We will praise and lift You high
El Shaddai

Through your love and through the ram
You saved the son of Abraham
Through the power of your hand
Turned the sea into dry land
To the outcast on her knees
You were the God who really sees
And by Your might
You set Your children free

Chorus

Through the years
You've made it clear
That the time of Christ was near
Though the people couldn't see
What Messiah ought to be
Though Your Word contained the plan
They just could not understand
Your most awesome work was done
Through the frailty of Your Son

Chorus

Age to age You're still the same
By the power of the name
El Shaddai, El Shaddai
Erkamka Adonai
I will praise and lift You high
El Shaddai

Prayer Meeting....

Had our usual prayer meeting with not so usual attendance. Why did I say so? Because I think this is one prayer meeting that has the largest attendees *at least when compared to all the other prayer meetings that I had attended before. =p* We had Viona *thanks for organising & coordinating!!*, Winnie, Denise, Wanling, Lionel, Jason, Haoguang & me, so that is 8 of us!! Haoguang was leading the worship, together with Jason as the guitarist this week. Lively duo. =)

Okie, below are all the prayer requests from all, not in order of any merit but just the order that is on my list. =p *WARNING: Looooooooooong list!!* Here goes!!

Jason
- To be focus on both studies & God
- To be able to have better time management
- Discernment & wisdom in all things
- To have the opportunity to reach out to fellow school mates

Haoguang
- To be focus on studies
- To be able to study effectively
- Pray to have the wisdom to discern & avoid unnecessary conflicts among his friends

Lionel
- Thanksgiving for : the 1 week break given
: the transfer to Changi East tower
- To be able to bless with the ability to adapt to the new environment in short timee
- To have the opportunity to reach out to the people in the new workplace

Wanling
- To have better health as has been falling sick
- To focus on studies

Dennis
- To have better health
- To focus on studies & God
- Pray for holiness & able to seek after God so that she can answer to God's call to be a prayer warrior, which she had been trying to avoid / shrug it off

Winnie
- Thanksgiving for : God bringing her through the hectic week
: clearing up all the bad things in her life which allows her to start off again clean
- Pray for courage when she plucks her wisdom tooth in July

Viona
- Thanksgiving for : for the wakeup call to the every single thing in her life.
: for the relationship between Edwin & her because she had learnt alot from it
- Pray for patience & courage that she can tell the security guard who smokes in the corridor to smoke elsewhere
- Pray for the new collegue who is a chain-smoker to stop smoking / cut down on smoking
- Pray for discernment with regards to if Edwin is THE ONE that God intended for her
- Pray for Edwin that his broken family will be heal and that he will seek God even more than ever

Chris
- Thanksgiving for : the project that was pushed back for the past 2.5 yrs to be on scheduled
: the upcoming new role & responsibilities in the project

Soon Ann
- Pray for safety as he, together with 6 other collegues are setting off for Hungary for business trip

Yvonne
- Thanksgiving for : the ability to finish her papers
- Focus on the paper next week

Jean
- Pray for more faith
- Pray that she will not be penalise for the essay that was submitted 1 day late

Shuying
- Pray for recovery as she had sprained her leg

Sarah
- Pray to be able to find pernament lodging
- To be able to find company & make new friends

Abby
- Currently in Paris, enjoying herself
- Pray for safety as she is travelling alone
- Pray for the ability to listen to God

Lane & Elaine
- To have a closer walk with God

Kelly
- To be focus on God
- Pray for her uncle's salvation
- For the ability to finish her work

Gladwin
- Pray for patience, wisdom & character developement
- To have wisdom in scheduling his hectic work schedule

Shaocai & Yesmin
- Wedding preparations

Shashi
- Wedding preparations
- Youths in YM

Kexin
- To have motivation at work
- To seek God more

Apart from praying for the share group members, we also did not forget about our country, church & neighbouring countries who are in tumoil. *Thanks Kel for the gentle reminder!!* Prayer requests are as follows. =)

Singapore
- Wisdom & ability to discern what is the best for Singapore to be bestow onto the leaders
- Wisdom & ability to discern what is the best for church to be bestow onto the leaders
- For the broken families in Singapore to be heal
- To the lower end families that do exists in Singapore that will be seek out & aids to be given to them

Neighbouring countries
- East Timor : for political stability
- Yojakarta : for earthquake victims
- Indonesia : for volcanic victims
- Thailand : for flood victims

Phew!! Finally finished the long list of prayer requests. If I missed out any or anyone have new prayer requests, pls feel free to blog here or let me know. I will put it up for you. =)

abby from paris

hey everyone!!!! i read the blog!!! everybody's doing well i believe!!!

i miss all of u so much! it has been such a wonderful experience here man...taking things real slow and enjoying myself in sightseeing and all...thanks so much keeping me in your prayers. i'll remember you in my prayers too...so fast i have ended my trip in london...it has really been an eye opener, my friend even brought me to the clubbing scene. i'll share more when i'm back in town.

i'll be loading some pictures for you all to see. there wouldn't be much of me becoz i travelled most of my time by myself. hee........enjoy yah!!!

i'll see you all very soon k!!! love everyone of you!!! keep the updates coming in k and thanks so much chris for upkeeping the blog!! you have done a wonderful and superb job!! i believe all of us would agree with me. i was very amazed when i visited the blog...it looked cool!!

oh and happy birthday winnie!!! early for now....but it looks like you were very surprised during sg celeb and very happy too!! may God really bless you with wonderful gifts and blessing thru out the rest of this year!! hugs

till the next time everyone!!!

xoxoxoxo abby

Prayer Requests

As I am typing this, Kelly is away in Hong Kong. She is there to visit an uncle of hers who is in the last stage of cancer. Pls pray for her that:
- she will be able to communicate well in chinese
- able to turn conversations around to be Christ-centered
- gain support from the christian believers
- pray for the family to be strong in the times of trials

Also, we have other share group members still / will be going away.
We have Abby still in Europe visiting her friends. Pls pray for her that she:
- will be safe throughout the remaining of her trip
- will have enough rest & ability to enjoy God & His creation
- will be alert in the Spirit too if God takes this time to speak to her

Sarah heading to North Cascades National Park over the weekend & to Boston in a few days time. Pls pray for her that she:
- will have a safe journey back & fro from both locations
- will be able to have all the help she needs when she flies to Boston on her own

Jean & Shashi will be heading for Thailand on Monday. Pls pray for them that they:
- will have a safe journey
- will have the long awaited rest
- will be able to enjoy God's creation

Pls also pray for the rest of the share group memebers that they will continue to seek the Lord in all ways & always.

Winnie's Birthday & BS

This week's scheduled to be bible study, Colossians Lesson 8. Instead of doing Col. 3:1-7, we did the whole chapter summary. Below is a short summary of what we had done. *Hope that I had got all the things correctly. Glad, please correct me if I am wrong, thanks!*

Col v1-4 Seeks things above
Col v5-11 Putting aside your old self
Col v12-17 Living out in church
Col 18 -21 Living out in family
Col 22-25 Living out in workplace

Our past demeanour (Col 3:5):
Immorality
Impurity
Passion
Evil
Desires
Greed
Idolatry

Our Past Disposition (Col 3:8):
Anger
Wrath
Malice
Slander
Abusive speech

Our New Self (Col 3:12-16):
Compassion
Kindness
Humility
Gentleness
Patience
Bearing with one another
Forgiving each other
Put on love
Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you

When will Christ be revealed?
- Restrainer removed (2 Thess 2:7)
- Appostasy arrives (2 Thess 2:3)
- Man of lawlessness revealed (2 Thess 2:3)
- Takes his seat in the temple of God (2 Thess 2:4)
- Displays himself as God (2 Thess 2:4)
- Sun will be darken (Mat 24:29)
- Moon will not give its light (Mat 24:29)
- Sarts will fall from the sky (Mat 24:29)
- Power of heavens will be shaken (Mat 24:29)
- Tribes of the earth will mourn (Mat 24:30)
- Son of Man coming on clouds of the sky with power & great glory (Mat 24:30)
- Sent forth His angels with great trumpet (Mat 29:31)
- Gather together His elect from the four winds (Mat 29:31)
- The Lord will slay the lawlessness with the breath of His mouth ad bring to an end by the appearance of His coming (2 Thess 2:8)

Actually, before bible study started, we had a mini surprise for Winnie. It will be Winnie's birthday on 15 June. Kexin had bought a nutella favoured cake from Polar and it was very nice! Check out the pictures below! There were more than the 5 of us, but somehow, the photos was very blurred, so, guys, sorry you are not featured. =p



We had this song as one of the worship songs today & thought that it would be nice to share with the rest who were not here.

I'd Rather Have Jesus
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather have Jesus than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Chorus
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
I'd rather be true to His holy name

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb
He's all that my hungering spirit needs
I'd rather have Jeusus and let Him lead

Global Day of Prayer....

This week saw almost no activities for Akuouians with Gladwin & Abby out of town, while fellowship was held on Sunday - at the Global Day of Prayer, or GDOP for short.

Let's see who attended GDOP: Shashi, Jean, her best friend *don't know how to spell her name, so, she will remain known as Jean's best friend =p*, Winnie, Kelly, Viona, Kexin *thanks for organising this!!*, Joel & me!!

It was definitely an eye opener, the stadium filled with christians, from different churches across the island, who came to pray together. *There are photos to proof - see below* Those who were seated earlier, worshiped along with the musicians, who, btw, played wonderfully.

The event started with confession & repentance, then consecration & reconciliation and finally, commission & dedicating Singapore's youths for God's mission. Overall, I supposed it was a good effort to bring christians together. Praise the Lord!!

For those who might be interested to read up more about the event, you can go to this website: http://www.prayforsingapore.sg/. =)

Oh yah, before I forget again, Sarah sends her greetings & says that she misses all at Akuou. =)



"...If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14