What A Wonderful Morning!!!

Hello Readers (particularly cellies)!

I'm actually starting this day off badly. I woke up really late (8am class but waking up at 8.15am), somehow ignoring my alarm for a whole hour until my phone decided to give up on me! But I shall find something useful to start my day off! Encouraging you guys!

It's a really busy period now, right? Mid semesters just round the corner, SFAS practices taking up some of our time as well and I'm sure a few of us have assignment after assignment due. Most of the time you would feeling like this guy here,

I came across this verse:

“Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk” (Psalm 25:4 LB).

We tend to lose our focus and path while doing so many thing. I must admit, even myself, countless times. This shall be a gentle reminder for you and me that we must spend time in prayer and word (quiet time) to redirect ourselves, freshen our spirits. Then, the willingness, excellence, joy, privilege, work of serving in whichever area of our lives would come naturally.

If you haven't spent some time, don't worry about it, His grace is more than enough for us, Amen? Sit back where ever you are now, close your eyes, take a deep breathe and say a little prayer. It works wonders ^_^

~YH~

What I learned from MIS 2009

Erwin is correct; every one of us is a leader. However, we still need to respect and look up to Yan Hua, though... cos she is our cell leader, and it's always better to submit to our leader (something that I didn't do and regret in the end)

I learned a lot, but I want to share about John C. Maxwell's conversation with Al Weiss, who used to be the President of Walt Disney (or was is CEO?)

He said, learning about leadership is not equal to living leadership. To be a servant leader is to let the others know that you care about them, you learn about them and you grow them to their fullest extent in their career/things that they do. That's the kind of leader I want to be.

The funny thing is, last night when I was leisurely reading this book that my friend lent me; the word 'servant-leader' existed again, almost 3 times in the 2 pages that I read. So, yeah, it seemed that I need to practice this servant-leader attitude. Maybe we all do.

Remembering in mind, that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve; and every believer has to follow the example Christ has given us.

Happy Sunday, Yan Hua-ians (don't worry, we're thinking of a better name to call ourselves)


- JC T
Dum vivimus servimus.. (cetera desunt)
*for now

Yellow!!

Yellow, People!!! (FYI, that's how I usually say hello ^_^)

Today we had a whole day of being impacted a.k.a. Maximum Impact Simulcast!!! Those who went, I'm sure you would agree that it was worth every single penny/cent, right??

Well, this would be the second time I'm attending this event and again, I took back home many teachings. I learnt this time round to reflect on what we've learnt which I didn't do the last time - a mistake =/ So, what did you take home from MIS?

For me, the most valueble lesson I learnt and it keeps ringing in my mind during every single speaker's talk was the fact that we have to be personal. Communication is key to a successful relationship and to keep a relationship going, we need to KNOW a person. Not merely keeping a business relationship or a relationship with a colleague at work at a superficial level which is typically practices by many, even myself at one stage of my life, but to truly understand what the other person is going through. THEN, can we be the inspirational leader that we inspire to be. THEN, can we be the influencial leader that we inspire to be. THEN, can we LEAD!

I heard somewhere, "A leader is a leader not because of the qualities the person possesses, but because of his followers". Profound eh? lol! Back to serious talk...we can all be leaders, yes, you and me. Mere ordinary people.
How? By impacting peoples' lives!
How? By getting personal.
How? By knowing details of their lives! (but please don't go to the extend of forcing your way through getting the secrets of the person, if the person doesn't want to share. I think the outcome would be the opposite of something good)

Oh oh!! Another incredible point, shared by Liz Murray (she's just an AMAZING speaker!):

EMPOWERMENT

Just a bit of background about Liz Murray...She's from the Bronks (slums of New York - I think) and grew up pretty much homeless and thinking that surviving day to day is her purpose in life. That was all she knew how to do. Now, she is on scholarship, studying in Harvard. From a drop-out, nobody, "useless" person to a very very very successful motivational speaker and person in life! The key to her success, her inner being/conscience/ spirit empowering her to achieve something unimaginable. Not only can you empower yourself but also the people around you! But, you must first make that decision to change yourself. Doesn't matter if you haven't achieved anything in life - there's always a start to something. And the thought of "I don't have the talents" is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE! You just haven't found that talent. Liz Murray didn't know that she's so smart and had the talent to speak until she made that life-changing experience. Would you want to empower yourself?

So, yeah. That's it from me ^_^

Think about it. Reflect on it.

What is YOUR take home message?

God bless,

Yan Hua

Just Because

MEANS YOU BETTER LISTEN. 

put up simply because I noticed this pic and it said "Bobby" 

Don't Read This if You are UGLY.

-MAXIMUM IMPACT IS TOMORROW. BE IMPACTED . Or be a loser. Which would happen if you don't go. Which is sucky. Don't be a loser. 

-2-40 days of lOVE. 12 and 13th september. SIGN up NOW and get a handbook, all for just $15! A steal. Do it and be awesome possum!

-Water Baptism is just around the corner. Keep a look out! Be spotted and you might stand a chance to be dunked! 

That concludes it all. You handsome or gorgeous person. 

Remember my pretties.... put links everywhere! Splatter the net with links! God bless y'all! 

Be A Servant, Not A Martyr!

Hey guys,

While I was browsing for a devotion by Joyce Meyer last night, I accidently found this article - I started to believe that there's no accident in God, everything is according to His purpose.

I know the article is a bit long, but it's worth to read and it's relevant to what we have been talking in cell. I've tried to summarize it, but every word seems to be in its place and I don't want to change the message. Joyce Meyer is a very blessed, God-inspired woman. I hope you are blessed as I have had been.

-------

We all know what a martyr is. We’ve all heard heartrending stories of heroic men and women who, down through the ages, have paid the ultimate price and been killed for what they believe. But there's another kind of martyr without courage and nobility. I’m sure we all know one—a great and constant sufferer who’s always willing to share their pain with anyone who will listen. This martyr wants everyone around to know the sacrifices they’re making in their life.

I once knew a woman like this. She felt like a slave to her family, and she definitely had the attitude of a martyr. I got so tired of hearing her continually talk about how much she did for everyone and how little anyone appreciated her. I could tell she kept a running account of the work she was doing versus the reward she was receiving for it. Eventually, she ruined her marriage and most of her relationships with her children. What a tragedy!

The "martyr trap" is such an easy one to fall into. We start out serving our families and friends and loving it. But after a while, our hearts begin to change and we begin to expect something in return. After all, we're working so hard and sacrificing so much. Eventually, we no longer have the heart of a servant. We become discouraged because our expectations aren't being met. Our attitude sours, and we soon find out we've become mired in self-pity. We’ve become a martyr.

One morning as I got up and went downstairs to make coffee, the Lord encouraged me to make a fruit salad for my husband. Dave loves fruit salad in the morning, and I knew it would be a nice gesture for me to do this for him. He wasn't up yet, so I had time to prepare it and then surprise him with it when he came downstairs.

The problem was I didn't want to make him a fruit salad. I would’ve taken him a banana or an apple, but I didn't want to take the time to cut up all the fruit, put it in a bowl, and then serve it to him. I wanted to go pray and read my Bible instead! I thought, Why do I always have to do this stuff for him? Why doesn't he do things for me? After all, I have to study the Bible and pray. It's my ministry!

It's funny how we sometimes make the mistake of thinking that spiritual activity somehow takes the place of obedience and makes us more holy—because it doesn’t. The Lord patiently reminded me that serving my husband in this way was actually serving Him. So I obediently made the fruit salad and surprised Dave with it when he came downstairs.

I wonder how many marriages could have been saved from divorce if husbands and wives had been willing to show love by serving one another. It seems that everyone today wants to be “free,” and Jesus has indeed set us free. But He never intended for us to use that freedom selfishly. He wants us to serve others.

I definitely love my husband, and sometimes that love is best expressed through service. Words are wonderful, but when you walk in love, your commitment must contain much more than just words. How can I truly love my husband if I never want to do anything for him?

I don't recall getting any particular reward that morning for making Dave's fruit salad. He did thank me, but nothing spectacular happened. However, I'm sure there were rewards of peace and joy in my life that I didn't even realize—benefits of obedience that I didn't even see.

I'm sure we lose a lot of blessings we never even know about simply because we fail to do for others what we would like to have done for us. We always want to be blessed in return by the people we bless, but it doesn't always work that way.

If your marriage or family isn't what you would like it to be, you could literally turn it around by adopting this one principle right now. You may have been waiting for your spouse to do something for you. Maybe you have even been stubbornly refusing to be the first to make a move. Swallow your pride and save your marriage. Stop talking about all the sacrifices you make and start serving your spouse. Make them the focus, not you…and be a servant, not a martyr!

- By Joyce Meyer

PS: I know all of us are not married yet, but I believe we'll be in that stage one day; and instead of spouse, think of your family, your housemates, your friends :D

- JC T
Dum vivimus servimus.. (cetera desunt)
*for now

Cell group this Friday 28/8/2009 !

Hey ! How's your week been ? For Curtin-ers, Im sure its awesome since we have a tuition free week, but for C.I.C. and Canning College students, it must have been pretty taxing with assignements and tests uh ? But its all right, no matter how tired and stressed we are, we always have our lord father with us yeah ? Hallelujah !

Oh well, Friday night cell group is coming again ! Excited ?! We'll be having an awesome night this Friday. Programme as follows.

Game Master: Wilson Sim
Worship: Geraldine (Leader), Erwin (Keys and backup singing), Yan Hua(Guitar)
Word: Yan Hua. Its gonna be on Servanthood 3 (unless there's changes)
Food: Bobby is leading. He'll contact anyone in cell to bring food I suppose. Just be on standby mode.
Sharing/Fellowship: ALL OF US ! Of course...lol !

Thats all for this Friday ! Lets make this an awesome Friday and I pray for all of us to have a great week ahead too !

Amen !

Love lots,
Er Win Lee
School of Pharmacy
Curtin University of Technology

Test Test....

Test...Testing ! =D

-erwin lee-
23/8/2009