Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Take a break??
Is there really sucha thing as taking a break from the cellgroup, from God? I realise that it is a mentality that many of us have. Many a times whenever we are facing problems, setbacks, stress, exams, we feel that it is only "right" that we "take a break", take a step back and let the others take over. Its okay to feel sad, emotional, but yet it is when we become overtly self-absorbed in our own problems that it becomes unhealthy. And I feel that this is one area of my life that God has been speaking to me about. What does it mean to have inner strength??Is it just being able to stand up again after you fall?? What would take a great measure of inner strength to do? Well for me, I guess one of the things would be to lead praise even when you dun feel like it. To bring yourself to smile and laugh when you are actually crying on the inside. And thats one thing I greatly admire our cgls for. I mean, i'm sure many of our leaders have their own problems too, but yet week after week they come before us as an ever strong pillar and continues to lead us and listen to our problems.
I thank God for this cellgroup, because when I was facing the most lowest point in my life, you people were there to encourage, to sa-yang me. And thats what a cellgroup is about. And truth be told, it is a great feeling to be loved and to know that so many people still care about you. But yet at the same time, I kind of took a step back and fell into the " okay.. i'm having problems.. so u guys shud understand" kind of mode. I kind of left my leadership role in the cg in a way during that period which now looking back, i feel that its sth I could very much have improved on.
Because a person of inner strength is not someone who runs away when problems arise. A person of inner strength will not think of givin up but continues to run the race together with the cellgroup. To continue being the pillar of strength for someone else. And thats why I pray that all of us will be people of inner strength... so that e348 will be a cellgroup i know we can all count on to run the race together, knowing that none of us will give up halfway.
And I guess this is something I have been quite burdened about. Initially, we started out with so much fire and passion to improve on the relationships within the cellgroup, to grow the cellgroup. We try our best to spend time fellowshiping more and go all out to make new friends feel welcomed. The prayer list circulated thru emails and we were given constant updates about each other's life. Then we started this blog, and at first we all took the effort to encourage one another, bless one another by sharing our revelations and all. But yet, can we continue to count on each other for the last half of the year? Or are we all going to be so self absorbed in our own lifes, our own problems?
Well, lets all contd. to stay in prayer because it is the secret to our strength. Amen?!
Cheers,
jamie
i posted this at 2:11 AM
and i have received 2 comments.
Thanks for this entry and for sharing your life. Thanks for being transparent.
I know that leaders are such pillars of strength no matter the valleys of the shadow of death that they go through because they have the joy of the Lord in them. And JOY = Jesus, Others, Yourself. Let God and others increase in our lives and let ourselves decrease.
E348, I'm here to stay, to stick around and to be a blessing to every single one of you no matter what happens. You can count on me. Pls press into my life just like I've been trying to press into yours. Our relationship with one another needs to get stronger. Only then can our CG grow healthily. Let's lay aside all our differences and our insecurities and truly run this race together. It's not about "I" anymore. A place of agreement is a place of power. Without unity in the CG, we won't be able to win the battle against the devil. Especially in the battle for the souls of mankind.
Here's a secular song that I really like and the chorus is most apt to express how I feel about being your friend, especially when you need me the most:
When the sun shines
We’ll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath
I'mma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
- Umbrella, Rihanna
What about you?? Comments pls. :)
By 
, at
July 25, 2007 at 11:11 AM
I feel that staying strong for the sake of others can be achieved through your love for them.
Faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love. If we have the love for our brothers and sisters just like Jesus has for us, we will stay strong for each other and smile always knowing that it brings about happiness to others.
I have been impacted by a senior in CF who is very much almost near to Christ in the way she displays her love for others. She is always encouraging people around her. From the time i knew her, i've never seen her saying spiteful words to anyone. Even when she rebukes others, she does it in a very tactful way which i feel spurs you on to change your flaws! I do hope that we can continue to encourage each other as a cellgroup!
Lastly, do read 1Peter3:8-22 and 1Peter4 if you have the time! Its really encouraging as it talks about suffering and why it's something we shouldn't be too concerned for!
Regards
Yq
By , at
July 26, 2007 at 3:30 PM