What Are You Saying?

From the message shared by Sis. Seaw Chin on 15th July 2012.

:Sometimes it just slips out and a millisecond later, you know you shouldn't have.
:Someone's face suddenly changes, and your friend becomes really quiet.. wait. It was just a joke!
:There's a big pause and your father replies, 'What.. did you just say?'

There are definitely times where -like the above, we think we make teeeny tinnny wrongs when we speak.. I mean,
What's the big deal anyway?

~  See that huge horse? And that girl, probably also a teen, that's riding it..

She's controlling where and how fast the horse goes, by pulling onto the bit in its mouth. (You can't see from here..unless you open the horse's mouth)

Just like that, our tongue has the Power to Control us as well.

A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! James 3:3-4

Why do we get into trouble so often? Why do I feel like no one wants to talk to me?

Sometimes, what we say is so so important. 

We must realize that we are able to make people angry, sad and happy just by the words we say.

We get punished, or rewarded also through what we say because..

Words aren't only just words, they breathe life. Just like how God just said to the dark world, "Let there be light!" and then light appeared. 

So if you keep saying "I'll lose, I'll lose, I'll lose.." You convince yourself that you'll lose! 

Instead of that, think positive! "I can do this! I will do my best." And you will indeed.

Let's try this!

#1 Take time to THINK before we speak!

T- is it True?

H- is saying this Helpful?

I- is it Inspiring?

N- is it something Necessary to say?

K- Is it Kind?

And speak positive, healthy words into your life! Even in bad times, and see where it leads you.

~ Remember that Chinese New Year, a relative said 'You're fatter now ah.' 

Or the teacher that called you names in front of the entire class..

Whatever mean words they said, it hurt us deep inside.

Have you ever wondered if you've done that to someone else?

Because words have the Power to Destroy.

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.
This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton* killer. James 3:5-8

*Wanton does not mean wantan mee. It is simiar to inconsiderate/ careless.
That is why when we see friends who get bullied by others who say mean things to them, we must make sure those words aren't hurting them on the inside. Words may not create wounds, like when we get hit by rocks or sticks.. So when someone hurts, we need to look hard and pay attention.

Our words, are displayed for all just like our statuses on facebook or tweets on twitter..
They show others what is in our heart. So if we have a dirty heart, our words will show it.
But if we want our tongues to be good, then inside, there must be goodness. For example, Jesus who comes in and gives us the conscience or the 'voice' to tell us what we should and shouldn't say.
"..For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." Matt 12:34
Is there something in your heart that isn't suppose to be there?
Let's try..
#2 Listening to what others say..Identify their hearts.
Does a person with a good heart gossip? 
Or is being honest to those who  need to hear the truth, good or bad?
And listen to the words you say..Do you have a heart full of God, or something else?


~  Good job!   All the best.    I was very inspired by what you said earlier.
These are some things we say, that have the Power to Bless others.
Just saying encouraging words to someone nervous before exams/a competition will increase their confidence and might just make them do better.
Speaking the right words to those sad/ experienced a death of a loved one can provide comfort and love at a time where they most need it.
Lets Try this!
#3 Saying something encouraging to bless someone tomorrow!
Words are like seeds, once we speak them it grows and produces fruits. So plant something that will bear sweet fruits!

Remember that words are not just words, they can build or destroy, hurt or heal, make peace or war.
Choose wisely!

Till we meet again..Be good, tongue!

Who Am I ?

There are many times in our life where we question, 

                      Why is life like this?

       What is wrong with me?

What is the meaning of life?      Why do I even care?

      What for?        Why do I  hurt so much?

Many times, because of how others treat/say/do/don't do and the situations that we are in.. we doubt ourselves and wonder, why am I in it anyway?

So maybe God won't tell you all the answers you need to know,

but there is one thing for certain. And that is, He knows.

Just as the writer of this passage says..

      Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; 
you formed me in my mother's womb.       
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!       
I worship in adoration—what a creation!    
You know me inside and out,       
you know every bone in my body;    
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,       
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.    
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;      
 all the stages of my life were spread out before you,   
 The days of my life all prepared       
before I'd even lived one day.
I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!  

                                                                    Psalm 139:13-16 The Message (MSG)


What we need to know is, we're different and the way we need to be - Because God made us unique. He made us in His image nonetheless. So don't ever doubt yourself! 

We are loved, even if no one (human) says so.
And we have every right to live the life God has given to us, because God has already made plans for us in it. So, the real question is..Why not?

Don't be a chicken eagle. 
Don't live a life that is less than what you are really meant for.
An eagle soars in the sky, but a chicken is only limited to the ground. God gives you the potential of an eagle, to do great things.. So why choose to be a chicken?

Be an Eagle. Let God lead you to greater heights!

If you have time, click the link below and read a little story about it. :)

http://blog.amirkhella.com/2009/11/04/the-eagle-who-lived-as-a-chicken/

See you tomorrow!

When everything seems like a blur.

“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” Philippians 3:20

Are we getting a little bit too busy, rushing about with life that we forget what we're actually doing here?
Cause we're not just like everybody else, we're Christ-followers;
Eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.


Even as we don't know exactly when, you can't deny that He is coming.


See you, soon. ;)

Back to Basics.

Hi all!
Lately messages in Youth service have been concentrating on the basic and ofcourse, very important fundamentals that create a happy, healthy and strong Christ-lover. So lets get the ball rolling with a word from Ps Gideon of TOP -also known as our very friendly, gelled and ready, superhero ;)

WORSHIP

Let's look at how everybody (even non-Christians) understand what 'worship' means..

According to dictionaries, it is a 'feeling or expression of reverence and adoration' for a god.

But according to the Bible, 

²¹ Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. ²³ But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. ²⁴ For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:21-24

~ Do you know how to worship God in spirit and in truth?

Everyday we make choices. Do I want to go to school/college/work today? Or should I skip?

                                           I don't like this teacher, should I listen to her anyway? 

Basically, everything we do. Words, Actions, Thoughts also. (God is very detailed ) If what we do is pleasing to God, we are worshiping him. It's the way we show we love him back.

Worship is also Scriptural. It is based on what the Bible says, because it says that He is the King of Kings.

Worship isn't about God as what you think He is. Whether you think God is this or that to you, Nope! He is God. The one and Only and He deserves all praise.

Remember that as you worship, God gives you what you need and not the other way around. 

Because God sees true worship, and it has to come from a sincere heart. And as you do that, God will reply that love with His own.

Worship is everything we do at all times, everything matters.

P.S. Almost all images of worship have people lifting their hands or voice or closing their eyes. Have you ever experienced doing that during service? If you don't believe, google 'worship' and view images. 

Why not try, and maybe experience something super amazing this Sunday?

Happy Holidays!!

Updates!

Hi guys,

Sadly this month we'll only be having one YA Teens! service,

but put away those papaya faces, cause we're making it extra special for you!

Cause its a Spectacles and Striped Shirt Party!

So this Sunday, make sure you come in something STRIPED and put on a pair of SPECTACLES!

You can choose not to wear the spectacles though, if they aren't yours... :)


Its also extra special because we're welcoming back Pastor Gideon who will be our guest speaker!



p.s: Even if you cant find the stripes or the specs, whats most important is that YOU come!!

See you ;)

Easter or Eggster or Resurrection Sunday?

  

Have your friends ever asked you why Easter is celebrated with colorful Eggs, Easter Bunny, Chocolates and Baby Chicks ?

Well, in case you didn't already know..
LET'S GET INTO THIS!

Easter is the day we use to symbolize Jesus coming back from the dead after 3 days.. because He died on the cross, on the day we celebrate as 'Good Friday'.

How and the exact date we celebrate it is actually different all over the world,but this is how we celebrate it here..

Jesus dies on the cross  -->   3 days  -->   Jesus is Alive!

Similarly,
Good Friday  --> two days passes ---> Easter Sunday

It has nothing to do with eggs, rabbits, chocolates or baby chicks because they didn't rise from the dead!
But they are however things used by people over time to remember this day or just for the fun of it.

Some say, Egg shells are painted to symbolize Jesus's empty tomb after he walked out of it,
The Easter Bunny, well, is just a character that's something like Santa Claus who gives gifts on this holiday.
Chocolates, sweets and such are just nice to eat! Nothing meaningful really..

There are lots of stories and history related to this festive time, but the main thing is we Christ-lovers celebrate it because Jesus sacrificed his life for us who didn't deserve his love, and now he's alive and we have a second chance.




Now, do you roughly get the idea?

Hope this helped :)



Everyday Jesus is Alive!

Its a happy day

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

Sharpen Your Life. Now!

Don't you just feel so tired sometimes?

Frustrated

Worn out

And just plain hopeless

 ¹⁰ Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom;  

           it helps you succeed. Ecclesiastes 10:10

Sometimes, in the course of going to school, rushing to tuition and all that other things that make us chase every minute and the very hours in a day..we lose our sharpness.

Why be sharp? What's so important?

A sharp life :)   - Meaningful activities

                        - Strong connections/bonds with friends

                        - Noticing God working in your life

A dull life :(   - Alot of activities or Always busy but with activities that leave u empty

                     - Many friends, but little connection with them or Little trust and partnership

                     - Frustration and sadness, little happiness and satisfaction.

That's why its so important for us to keep ourselves in check.


How do we do that?
       

- Quietness.

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: 
        “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. 
                        In quietness and confidence is your strength. Isaiah 30:15

- Sometimes we take our emotions, our stresses and worries to public places like twitter and facebook. While we try to relax by letting things out, we're not actually finding a solution. And by telling it to all the people out there, who might or might not know you that well, you take away the privilege of going to God first.

With Scripture,        When I discovered your words, I devoured them. 

                                They are my joy and my heart’s delight, 

                                for I bear your name, 

                                O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies. Jeremiah 15:16
- Listen to what God is saying to you. He might be telling you not to do something, or to be careful or just comforting you..but you'll never know if you don't ask God to speak to you.

        Surrender,  

        and Silence.

- Just being with God in quietness and talking everything out with Him. Making God a part of our lives and surrendering to Him the things we can't handle on our own, cause there's just so many things that's out of our hands. This is where we get our sharpness back, and there is no substitute to it.


Let's have some time with God, today!
Do your devotion, and maybe try praying things out loud this time.


We gotta start somewhere, right?

Baby steps! :)

*A message shortened from Ps. Mike Constantine's "Sharpen Your Life" on the 4th of March 2012.

Last Sunday was amazing!

And if you didnt make it, check out our Facebook page to catch the snapshots :)

Project Love 2.2!

Till another adventure comes,

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!

Updates of February!

Hello!

How have you been?

During this month we'll only be meeting once, and its during Project Love 2.2!

Aha! 

Which means, for concurrent on the 19th ALL of us are heading out..OUT of the church and visiting the Old Folk's Home. This is part of a community service effort to show love to people not only our friends/family/relative/cat/dog/hamster, but those we don't even know..because Jesus' love was like that! 

Boundless! 

  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:9-11

So come!

We'll all do something wonderful for these folks' together.

Let's do this. And let's do this because God has loved us first.






See you then:)

CNY

Ba Kua.
There's only one occasion every year when we gnaw, tear and bite into this scrumptious treat.
Marinated sweet and salty, sticky and flame-licked to perfection.

But you leave just enough room.
Then wiggle out your fingers and grab something shining yellow and calling out to you..

And let it melt as you sip on that drink in your hands ..

Have a Happy Chinese New Year this 2012,
but remember haircuts before CNY! Or you'll even scare ghosts away.

And as you meet up with aunties and uncles, show love and kindness. They may point out things about your weight or height that u might like or dislike sometimes, but its only cause the last time they saw you was a year before! And even so, don't they always hand you that red packet in the end? :)




Take care and drink loads of water!

FOLLOW

Its the beginning of a whole new schooling year!
*Moans together.. AUGHHHH-AIYAHHHHH-AIYOOO-SSHHHBBHHHAHHHH-YENADEII!
But its time to be awake and focused because there's another 12 months lying ahead of us, yes..
So, have we set a goal for this year? Are we mentally ready for whats next?
Or are you just gonna go-with-the-flow and end up lost in the wave of all that's going on around you?

Well, don't be lost then!

BE LED. 
not lampu LED okay...

⁶ And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Colossians 2:6

Did you know that, We are called not only to believe, but to FOLLOW CHRIST.
Why? 
Simply because God's plan for your life is to follow Him.

No, we don't just cincai follow..We follow because He sees where we need to go and leads us there.
There's an amazing plan for your life, set and ready for you to accept it!

And also because..

1. Following is a Command.
We are called to follow, not inspired to follow. 
As Christ-lovers, we follow Him knowing the best is for us.


But we aren't forced, because..
2. Following is a Personal Choice.

¹⁸ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁹ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ²⁰ And they left their nets at once and followed him.  

 ²¹ A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. ²² They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. Matthew 4:18-22

James and John was there with their father, but they went when Jesus called (even leaving behind their father) because they knew it was a decision only they could make for themselves.

# How do you know when you are following Jesus?
When He turns around, you are right there.

²⁶ Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. John 12:26

Even Jesus Himself was a great follower.

¹⁹ So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. John 5:19

3. Following is about FOCUS.
Its by always asking,  Jesus what are you doing now? 
What are you doing in my life today?  Where are you? 
Remember to keep your eyes on Jesus.

#Very Important!  Before starting anything, Relationship/ Job/ School/ College
                                                 ASK JESUS..
                                                            Where are you leading me? 
                                                                                Is my focus on You?

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And  let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

 Ask yourself: Who is infront of me? What is my focus?
               What have I left behind? 



Don't be lost, Follow the best GPS ever. And you will reach your destination ;)

Have an amazing weekend, and an even better year compared to the last!





Message from one of the sessions during H.U.G.E. Camp,
A message by Ps. Jeremy Seaward.

2012!!!!!!!

Its 2012 already! And the world is not ending anytime soon!

You know why????? 



Mark 13:32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in 


heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.




So fret not! Because the end of the world is NOT PREDICTABLE!

Have a happy and worry-free New Year from YA! Teens :)












Anyone made 2012 Resolutions yet? Leave a comment! Tell us what 


it is!