Missions

A lot has been pondering my mind lately...As some of you know, I brought some friends awhile back to Markham, where Oli and the rest of his team shared about their missions trip to Nicaurauga(Spelling). I was really touched by the presentation that I had a lot of questions to ask. I am strongly considering going on next year's mission trip. It's all I can think about...I don't think there will ever be a perfect time to start going on missions.

I've been praying a lot about it, for the Lord to give me a sign over the last few years...I don't know how much more I need...the word "missions" is coming up everywhere. In the conversation on the way home from ice skating, friends going on missions... and that leap of faith I have to take. I think this is the biggest step I'll be taking. Over the next little while, I'll be meeting up to go over the details...I am excited yet at the same time a bit scared.

Does anyone want to come on this missions trip too next March?

I'll try to keep you all posted on this:)

Praise and Prayer

This week God has really blessed me with so much abudance...it started off as a rough week but He(God) just reminds me of how much love and joy there is in life. Lately, I have been worried about my marks in my Advanced Stats course, it is a prerequisite for CGA and I got my marks back. Praise God! I was honestly expecting to only get a 70% at least aiming for it but ended up getting in the 80's. I praise God also for providing me with wonderful friends that have been there for me these last few weeks when I have been feeling really down. Lord, you know what i need before I ask and You continue to provide....and I thank you. I may have many "friends" but those that you hold dear/cherish are those that are there for you no matter what, even if it's words of encouragement, are listening to me "babble", venting as I call it. You (my friends) will never know how much I'm so glad you're in my life.

Not only school that has made me anxious the last few weeks and worried but also things happening at work. I pray for better communication, patience with my coworkers...sometimes it's been rough...all I can do is pray. Our Fellowship as well is going through some changes, please pray for our group, and Marc as well(acting Chair) while Cliff is away. Pray for our Bible study leaders this week and Open Doors tomorrow. I am excited/nervous about playing/leading worship tomorrow as it's kinda hard to play piano and sing at the same time...but God provides.

The Epistle of James

Three Kinds of Faith:

I. Dead faith: Substitutes words for deeds...
a. You know the correct vocabulary for prayer and sound doctrine.
You can quote the right verses from the Bible
b. But their "walk" does not measure up to their "talk"

II. Demonic faith: Perhaps to shock any complacent raders, James reminds us that...
a. Even "demons" have a kind of faith!
1. They believe in God (no athesists or agnostics here!)
2. They even believe in the diety of Christ (Mr 3:11-12)
3. They also believe in the existence of a place of condemnation (Lk 8:31)
4. They believe Jesus will be the Judge! (Matt 8:28-29)

b. What kind of faith do "demons" have?
1. We saw that the man with "dead faith" was "touched only in his intellect"
2. The demons are "touched also in their emotions" (note that they "believe and tremble")
3. This is one step above a "dead faith"- it involves both INTELLECT and EMOTIONS

III. Dynamic faith: faith that is based upon the Word of God (Ro 10:17)
This faith involves the WHOLE MAN...whereas:
- Dead faith as mentioned earlier touches only the intellect
- Demonic faith involves both mind and emotions
- Dynamic faith involves intellect, the emotoins AND the WILL!

1. The MIND understands the truth.
2. The HEART acts upon the truth.
3. The WILL acts upon the truth.

True saving faith, then LEADS TO ACTION
a. It is not intellectual contemplatoin
b. It is not emotionalism
c. It is that which leads to obedience in doing good works.

In Summary: It is important that each professing Christian examine his/her own heart and life and make sure that they possess true saving faith, which is a dynamic faith.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

try me and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting."

~Psalms 139:23-24~

Source: Pastor Nelson's Sunday School notes...also the NIV Bible.

Prayer Request

Tonight, there has been so much going through my mind...

My mom has been feeling very ill and it shows. Please pray for a smooth recovery. I'll be bringing her to our medical clinic near my house to see the doctors.

Please pray for my exam next week, I have to focus and study. It's hard to study when I'm distracted w/ my health, work which I can't seem to detach myself after work. I still think about work right now when I shouldn't be.

Please pray for my Church's ministries and the EMC and their events for this year.

Please pray for our Committee, its leadership, our members, our Spiritual growth and accountability to bring/lift each other up.

Prayer being Answered...

Praise God!!

Just moments ago, I received an email about a prayer request from my friend...I've been praying for EL since we first met, and the Lord has answered our prayers. Congratulations on your new Job!

Thanks Jeff for suggesting that I write down prayer requests, and give praises when it's been answered. I forget when it's been answered to just give praise and to let others know that God has answered a prayer.

This is my Prayer...

Last night I attended prayer study at MCAC and I am encouraged by a brother in Christ about keeping a prayer journal/blog, thanks JC. Emphasis of prayer has hit me a lot lately whether I'm at MCAC, OHC....I have the passion to just pray all the time, anytime or anywhere, whether it be over msn, on the phone at 1 or 2am in the morning, through email, lately, the Lord has pressed the importance of prayer in my life. The time is NOW...in such a time like this. This is how we should pray:

"Our Father, in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdome come, your will be done

on earth as it is done in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one."

Matthew 6:9:13

Lord, often times I seem to always prayer for wants/desires for myself or for others but I tend to forget at times when you have answered the prayers, to say "Thank you" or remember. Taking the time to count my blessings, is what I have been doing lately. Lord, this new year, you have placed an enormous emphasis on prayer...everything begins with prayer. For me, prayer was always at certain times through the day or spontaneous if by myself, a quick prayer...but I realized that I now will pray for or with a friend anytime, whether its over a cup of tea at 2am or in the car, mall, dinner, anywhere.

Answered prayers:
1. Thank you Jesus, for helping my friend BT finding a job...a lot of us have been praying for months, and I praise you for this.
2. Thank you Jesus, for bringing me and my mom closer together, for a long time I have grown apart but thank you for bringing us back together.
3. Thank you, for hitting me w/ a 2X4 on the emphasis of prayer, for giving me the gift of counsellin, encouraging others, just being there for them and praying for them.

Prayer requests:
1. I pray for Pastor Nelson and Jeff who are going to KW, to the U of Waterloo to talk to a Christian Fellowship and teaching them. I pray that you keep them both safe and speak to the students through your servant to help them get to know you better.
2. I pray for the EMC, as we look into ministering to the homeless in TO.
3. I pray for those who are sick, whether it be physical or emotional pain..Lord, have mercy on them and heal them.
4. I pray for the Xara kids, that they all have the passion to get to know you Lord, it is hard after all, being a teenager. Bless the Counsellors, oh Lord, and give them patience and wisdom.
5. I pray for the continual healing of our group...I pray that the friendships that have drifted apart will come together. As this takes time, healing is a slow process...I just pray that you give us all humble hearts and love each other as you have taught us to.
6. I pray that You teach me oh Lord, balancing school, career, Fellowship, Church and friends...I've only started but I still do not know how to balance all these activities. I knew I had to make sacrifices, but is it too much?
7. I pray for EC, it has been awhile since I have heard and I pray that you take care of your child, who continues to learn about You. I pray that you continue to shine your light upon him, surround him with the positive influences he need to grow in you Lord. For knowlege is not enough, you need to believe...with your heart...have a little faith, that's all you need...faith like a child.
8. I pray that my relationship with You, oh Lord, will continue to blossom and grow. At the same time, I pray that our council will also grow to know each other better, depend on each other and continue to work together.

All this I pray in Jesus name, AMEN.

Spirit Led~Are we ready to take a stand? The time is now...Taking a stand in an unpopular time,

That is the theme for OHC (Oakville Harvest Chapel). Yesterday I went to my friend's Church here in Oakville and I was very moved by Pastor Robbie's sermon. "The Time is Now...to Pray!" Taking a stand in an unpopular time...This is the Church's theme for the next nine weeks. The passage was taken from Nehemiah 1:1-11. Key points:

1. Serious Prayer NECESSITATES a heart that CARES (v.1-4)
Ask yourself this? Do you secretly rejoice in people's bad times? If you're answer is yes, we must pray and ask that God cleanse and change our heart. Teaching us to care for everyone.

2. Serious Prayer BEGINS with ADORATION (v.5-6a)
How should one pray? "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name..."How amazing He is.

3. Serious Prayer demonstrates a FOUNDATION of CONFESSION (v.6b-7)
No Christian will see progress w/ their relationship w/ God until the he/she has a deeper showdown w/ sin. Sin will alsways spread, the fact that sin will not impact or affect anyone else is zero. True humility is to look at your own plank.

4. Serious Prayer RECALLS the FAITHFULNESS of God (v.8-10)
5. Serious Prayer understands the PLACE for SUPPLICATION (v.11)

Response:
Serious Prayer requires PERSEVERENCE (2:1)
Application: Pray for a broken heart 1. understand the need is now to pray...2. Be committed to perservence.

When you pray...take a deep breath, and thank you(Jesus) for the cross, salvation, and count all the blessings He has showered upon you.

The power of prayer...Thank you for the opportunity to pray. It's amazing how you can focus on nothing but prayer even in a coffee shop. When you are in prayer, nothing around you matters, you hear no distractions, just the words of a heartfelt prayer. AMEN.