Thanksgiving

Last night was the Life Concert Thanksgiving night. I had a good time with those guys chatting, playing music. There were lots of laughter and warmth. It's so cool! How I wish all my Cells will have such a warmth within them and between other cells and most of all as a youth ministry.

I used to be very jealous when I hear how "successful" other churches' youth ministry or music ministry is thriving. But these days, I am rejoicing for their successes. Our ministries is unique and growing. It certainly improved a lot since we started, but there are definely room for improvements.

One aspect that we ought to improved on was something that CX shared about yesterday. She asked if we really want to do cell and if we are excited about it. She said that that R-age is so blessed with venues to have cell. Venues which the pastors pain-stakenly hunt so that we can have cell on Sundays. I'd like to add my personal voice to what she shared. It's my vision to see the cell meet up on a weekday despite their busy schedule in school. I hope that they will be so excited for cell that they'll do whatever they can to earn the trust of their parents to allow them to attend cell. By that I mean they had to be committed to their studies (their grades won't lie), be good children at home (evidence that the cell has been helpful in their growth). In order for them to be excited about cell, they must first be excited about Jesus. If Christ is not the reason why we're having cell, then we fail altogether. That is the primary reason. The secondary reasons are to provide spiritual input, fellowship, prayer and pastoral care among other things to each of our youths.

We really can't do anything more based on our limited resources, but we have such an assurance in Christ thru prayer. I shared with my CMs that "one praying man stands as a majority with God..." CX reiterate this point again in her closing. U know, we may have lots of plans but if we do not pray, it's an indication that we do not need God. How can we be ready for to do God's work if He doesn't strengthen us? Don't pass the buck. If u think that we let other people do the job, then there will never be anyone because everyone is passding the buck. John F. Kennedy said in his famous inaugural speech, "Do not ask what the country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country." In the same way, I implore u not to ask what God can do for you, but what you can do for God's kingdom.

The Lord is all powerful and surely can do all things without the help of anyman. But He wills that men be used to do his will so that He may be glorified through the lives of his servants. Therefore let us pray! Dun pray for the sake of praying. Pray passionately! The word "passion" comes from the latin word that means suffering. To pray passionately doesn't mean to pray with the same desire that we have when we lust things but to be willing to suffer or to agonise over it. That is prvailing prayer. Not that it will be answered, because all is in the sovereign will of God, but we prevail in prayer because God hears our prayer. God will answer our prayer not because we deserve it, but because He is gracious. Pray with passion. "In all thy getting, get unction!" wrote Leonard Ravenhill. He didn't define what "unction" is but he did say what it is not. [in my own words] It's not passionless, slip-slop, pray-for-the-sake-of-praying prayers.

Will we see success in our ministry? How do u measure success? I dunno but all I know is I need to pray and do my part in His kingdom.