ITS CHRISTMAS!!! + YA Camp Post 201

hey guys, had a great day today although was quite stressful. haha the singspiration and basically the whole party went on relatively smoothly today. had a wonderful time remembering of God's love for us and isnt tt basically wad Christmas is abt? well for everyone here...MERRY CHRISTMAS. its the greatest time of the yr and its the day tt really brings joy to me. its not the presents (although they are greatly appreciated) but its the knowledge tt someone is thinking of u when they prepare a present. i always feel a warmth when i receive a present not because i get something new (which i probably have no use for) but its knowing tt someone cares. it could be something cheap like chocs or stationaries but i love it all the same.
Chocs - $2.00, DVDs - $30, knowing tt someone cares - priceless:)

anyways we alr have the best gift of all on Christmas, something tt was given to us over 2000 yrs ago and something tt we have only accepted recently (compared to 2000 yrs, any number of yrs ago tt we became a Christian is recent) it is the birth of Jesus Christ tt is this great gift and really, tts the only gift i need on Christmas. but thx to all of u tt have given me a gift and noe tt they are all treasured. well its time for YA Camp post 201:)

YA Camp Post 201:

hey guys, second day of YA Camp!! first passage tt was focused on today is John 15:1-17. its abt the vine and the branches.

the passage impacted me quite a bit cos as most of u noe, at times when i get into work, i sometimes forget to leave it to God. and verse 5b states "apart from me, you can do nothing." this really reminded me of all the times i forget to go to Him and how stressed out i become. but verse 7 really encourages me as it states "if you remain in me and my wods remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you." i mean isnt tt like the best incentive tt you can get from being with the Lord?

verse 2 also impacted me as the retreat friend shared. verse 2b states "while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." he said during his prayer tt although pruning can be painful, God noes to make the best cuts. (for those tt dont noe wad pruning is, check wiki. im looking at u jan:) isnt tt totally true how God makes us more fruitful at times? when we face trials, we complain. but as we look back on the trials tt we face, we realise tt we grew from the experience. i thank God tt i have learnt from my trials tt He has put before me. so the part abt pruning really had an impact on me cos it reminded me tt although making us more fruitful can be a painful process, God will always make the best cuts.

oh i just realised this really amazing thing. just before the session when we focused on tt passage, i was reading the book of Job. in it Job nv cursed God for the plight tt he was in. although he was discouraged, as humans will be. but like i said above, pruning us painful and when Job was tested, he nv cursed God. this is wad we shld do and i find it quite amazing tt God gave me this passage just before the session.

i believe tt Job came out of this with a greater fervor for God and im sure we will come out from the pruning more fruitful than before. k tts it from me from the first passage of today. cyas:)

End of Post

well tts it from me today too. haha quite late alr and still got a combined service with BCC (ian and weiying's church) so cannot be too tired tmr morn. haha want to see ian playing drums during the service tmr. k then good nitezz. cyas:)