4 Things That You Cannot Recover

The stone after the throw
The word after it's said
The occasion after the loss
The time after it's gone

Water Baptism - April 27,2008

April 27,2008 marks a special day to our Vantage@Belcher's homegroup. We thank God for some of our brothers and sisters who took the bold step of faith to join the recent water baptism.

This is what the participant share during the water baptism :

1) Jerald Lim Xuan Zheng (Agnes Ho's son)
Although I have accepted Christ at a young age, I only grew closer to God recently. Whenever I call upon Him, He answers me. I have decided to follow Him for the rest of my life.

2) Joey Lim Qian Ru (Agnes Ho's daughter)
I am glad that I have Jesus in my life. he is the source of my strength. I will follow Him for the rest of my life.

3) Annie Ho Poh Kooi (Agnes Ho's mom)
I have accepted Jesus as my Savior. He has cleansed me of all my sins. I love Him with all my heart. Thank you, Jesus.

4) Gina Catabay (Agnes Ho's helper)
My faith was like a roller coaster. Sometimes it was up, sometimes it was down. It was until I receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior that I felt totally free from my previous religion. Praise God ! I am so happy that I have decided to obey his command to be baptized.

5) Kit Chan
I used to rationalise a lot about what had happened in my life and relied on my own understanding but often found that my answers were incomplete. Thanks to the Lord for sending Jesus to redeem my sins, I have found a new definition in life. Instead of struggling on my own, God has called for a child-like faith and obedience in Him. The Word of God is my assurance, comfort and hope and my guide always.

6) Joan Xu Jiong
Before knowing God, I was a wilful child and full of anxiety. God allowed me to be peaceful and faithful in the face of circumstances and has planted in me a seed of humility. It is beautiful to know God. I choose Jesus as my personal savior.

God's Truths

God's Truth - verses that you can called when minister to people or yourself in difficult situations

When in sorrow ---- John 14
When men fail you ---- Psalm 27
When you worry ---- Matthew 6:25 - 34
When God seems far away --- Psalm 139
When in danger ---- Psalm 91
When your faith needs stirring ---- Hebrews 11
When you are lonely and fearful ---- Psalm 23
When you grow bitter and critical ---- 1 Corinthians 13
When you are anxious ---- Philippians 4: 6-7
When you need patience for God's direction - Psalm37
When you need forgiveness of sins ---- Romans 4:7-8, I John 1:9, Colossians 2:14
When you are treated unfairly ---- 1 Peter 2:18
When you need the Lord as your refuge ---- Psalms 91 : 1-11
When you are in difficult situation ---- Psalms 124 : 5-8
When you are weak ---- 2 Corinthians 12
When you are suffering ---- 1 Peter 2 : 28
When you need to renew your strength ---- Isaiah 40:31
When you need God's armor ---- Ephesians 6: 10-18
When you need Lord as your rock of salvation ---- Psalms 6: 1-2


If you have more verses to share, please add to the list. God' words are the most powerful words.

Food for thought : Are you coffee ?

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and
how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was
going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting
and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water
and placed each on a high fire soon the pots came to boil. In the
first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the
last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without
saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the
carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and
placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her
daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and
coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She
did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the
daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she
observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter
smiled as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, 'What
does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same
adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in
strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the
boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile.
Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after
sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The
ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the
boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on
your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee
bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with
pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the
heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a
financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and
stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and
tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water,
the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it
releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when
things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation
around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you
elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are
you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to
make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope
to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The
brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't
go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was
smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling
and everyone around you is crying.

You might want to send this message to those people who mean
something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life
in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really
need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when
you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to
those who are so meaningful in your life.

It's easier to build a child than repair an adult. This is so true.

May we all be COFFEE?

ICA Family Retreat at Gold Coast

Last Apr.3-5, 2008, about 400+ brothers and sisters attended the ICA family retreat at Gold Coast.

Few Vantage@Belcher's members joined this event including Eng Hwee, Kit Chan, Ivy Boey, Manny Urquico, Agnes Fung and the whole family of Agnes Ho. It's encouraging to see Peck Yoke and Eugene come to join us from Macau.

This 3 days 2 nights gathering at Gold Coast is filled not only in spiritual food but also in physical food as well. A lot of sisters benefit from the teaching of Pastor Lee Chew about the role of a woman. See some of the powerpoint slides below or you may want to buy a CD in ICA church to know more about the role of a woman that God wants us to play in life.