As promised, the next installment! :) (If people are reading this. Haha.)
Serving One Another. God has all given each and every one of us talents that we need to use them to the fullest potential for His glory, to serve God in every way possible, by our words, by our deeds, by our thoughts. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10
Contentment in Christ. Truly, “… what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36 We do not need anything fancy, we do not need anything grand, all we need is just wholehearted submission and love for God. Christ has taught us “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:25, 33 Quieting a Noisy Soul remember? My soul can rest because I know God is more than enough. God has never failed you once, will He do so now? Trust Him, trust His promises.
YAFers, especially during this tough time of assignments and exams for the students, let us not forget what we have learnt in Quieting a Noisy Soul during the year - true rest, peace, contentment, comfort and strength comes from above. Let us not rely on our own wisdom and strength, which can achieve nothing, but put our trust wholly in Him. Verse for the week: "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." Psalm 145:18
Firstly, thank you all for your hardwork in cooking lunch last week and giving the aunties a break from cooking. :)
Now for the upcoming events.......
2nd Oct : QNS 9[ Group on duty: HULK]
9th Oct : Joshua 10 (chap 18-21) [Group on duty: PETROS]
16th Oct : Share and Prayer [Group on duty: ELBIB]
23rd Oct : QNS 10 [Group on duty: BOX]
30th Oct : Joshua 11 (chap 23-24) [Group on duty: HULK]
September 30in30!
How did that go for you? Please share your experiences!!! We want to know! send them to Clara and will put it up here for others to be encouraged!
Memory verse for the week: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5
Updates on YAF challenge
BOX: 22 points
ELBIB: 184 points
HULK: 236 points
PETROS: 538 points
come on guys!!! 3 more months left...
True Vine will be out soon so look out for it next week......
(BASICs, you ask, what does that mean? Well, it is the acronym for “Brothers And Sisters In Christ”, which is a fitting name for us Christians, which I might elaborate on further down or in a later post. But I digress. On to article proper…)
Greetings in the name of our Precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! I hope this “letter” finds you all well and close to the Lord. When I was first thought about writing this inaugural post, I felt a great deal of privilege and honour to be able to address my YAFers (and any visitors) in this manner, yet along with that came uncertainty, trepidation and fear, would I be able to write something that was encouraging and edifying for the YAFers, and bring glory to the Lord? I settled down in prayer.
Well, YAFers, as you all are hopefully well aware, the theme for the year is “DISCIPLE”, with the theme verse, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
The YAF Committee decided on this as we believed and hoped that in 2008, foundations in Christianity had already been built, and this year, we wanted to be both a noun, but also a (transitive) verb, that is, wanting not just to be a disciple, but to disciple. :)
So what are some things that are important to being a disciple? Nothing fancy, they are very “basic”. :)
Dying to Self.We cannot do anything if this first step is not taken, we need to realise our own pride and sinfulness, give up our “old man” and submit to Him. “… for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5b John the Baptist aptly said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 This, my dear BASICs, is the most fundamental foundational truth of our Christian growth, without this there is no true repentance, no true renewal, no true regeneration.
Instil, Inspire, Increase. “Instilling the knowledge.” “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. “ 2 Timothy 2:15 A disciple is first and foremost a pupil, a student of the Living Word which is the “Inspiration of God”. RPG right? Read, pray, and grow! We need to start by praying faithfully and fervently to God for guidance through His Word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16b “Increasing our Faith” Being a disciple is not an easy road to follow, we need to count the cost of discipleship, we will face many trials and tribulations but “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7
Serving One Another.
Contentment in Christ.
Incline Your Heart.
Preaching the Gospel.
Love YOUR Lord.
Equipping the Saints.
YAFers, again, I must reiterate, these are just some very rudimentary truths taught to us since we were young, for those of us who attended Sunday School. However, although my writing is far from perfect and the words neither eloquent, interesting, deep nor meaningful, these are lessons we learn all throughout life and never stop on this journey of sanctification. Each week I will put up two of the letters that form the word “DISCIPLE”, so I am sure you are all eagerly anticipating the next instalment! :) Haha. I joke, I joke. Anyway, additionally, I will give you another verse that you can meditate on for the week. Praying and hoping that the verse will speak to you in a very special way. :) Thanks and have a very blessed week ahead!
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
