When tiger eyes begin making you blush
CG yesterday.
I missed worship to finish Alvin's scrapbook, but Brandon was accompanying me in his room and we heard singing and the guitar and we were wondering if they were doing praise and worship and we opened the door to check and yes, they were, they were singing Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, and so on. Brandon got called down by Bryan but I still ninja-ed upstairs to finish the scrapbook.
When I got down they'd already split into three different groups to share so I joined Alvin's, and they were talking about serving in church and what it means to us. He gave us quite a bit of time to think and I kept thinking through; everyone says that they're serving God and they're serving God but what really happens when you serve God? I realised that serving actually means being an impact to people through God - extending His grace to them, and to me that was really what serving means. And after some of us shared (that serving was returning to God and letting Him return it double portioned back to you and so on) he asked us to be a blessing to any one person in the group.
So Brandon gave me a hug. Or I gave him a hug. I'm not sure which, but that was really what I needed, and while that was going on he told me that no matter what I was worried about Jesus still loves me, and that He'll always be there for me no matter what and I realised that was exactly what the song they were singing for praise and worship was and yeah it just hit me and hahaha ya I cried cos of what I've been thinking and pissed off about and also in the knowledge that I had such an amazing, amazing friend.
Then I went to wash my face I cupped my hands to collect water, and I realised that I was letting the water overflow, and I was reminded of what Grace shared - that you serve from an overflow from your heart. And I don't know why, but I closed my fists, letting the water run over them, and I realised that in the midst of this week, where I've been tired and inward-looking and just not opening myself up, I was letting all of God's goodness flow around me instead of into me, and damn, what a waste.
I went out feeling not Too much better, but better enough that I was able to smile and mean it. And Alvin was saying that the main point of today's CG was to redefine serving and what it means for us, and his definition of serving was to be a blessing to others - because ultimately, it is really all about the people; Jesus died for the people, and He came as a Servant King. And he told us that you don't need a position to serve God; as long as you're a blessing to someone, letting Jesus shine through you to anyone, you are serving Him - and I felt so refreshed by that perspective because what he said was really something that I needed to hear especially yesterday. Oh and I also felt really smart when he said it was about the people cos I was thinking of that beforehand HAHA damn I'm a genius.
Okay maybe not, but anyway.
Farewell for Alvin after that; got out the pretty tumbler and scrapbook (WE DIDN'T TAKE PICTURES OF THEM OMG) and fishcakes HAHAHA I love the fishcakes. Thanks to Sherry for that awesome idea. Then we took out the real cake and Joan's Belgian Chocolate ice cream and started singing happy birthday and happy Belgium to you (y) Joash comes up with the most epic ideas. Stood around and talked with Alvin Bryan Brandon, Brandon prayed this really amazing prayer for Alvin :) Then Joan came to give this page from Solid Rock with a big picture of Pastor Prince, and epic quote of the day:
'Oh, is this a mirror?'
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NEVER FORGIVING HIM FOR THAT. And before that when he was sharing during his (five-minute overtime) speech he was like 'I used to think people would only see me with my good looks and not take me seriously' HAHAHAHA. Damn yesterday was super funny, I miss it already haha.
Took lots of CG photos, one of which is:
Love them so much :)
Yea okay anyway then we set for home and we shook hands (refer to below post) and went on home. Alvin gave his guitar to Joey and damn, I saw a photo of it - what a pretty guitar. It's reddish and has this gorgeous gradient and shine and I kinda wish it could've been mine because it would really, really be an honour - but well. I have my own, let someone else have it.
This verse popped into my head on the train to Dhoby:
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4: 6-7
I was actually quite drained thinking about something on the way back and this verse really brought me out of it; I was suddenly enveloped by a supernatural, unexplainable peace when I kept remembering that verse through the night.
Then my dad fetched me home from Dhoby. Thank God that he was willing and able (oh look, Econs) to.
And that was the end of an emotionally tiring but at the same time uplifting day.
Sidenote, school-related thing: Highlights OGL! :) I actually pretty much screwed up my interview I think, so this is really all by the grace of God. Praise the Lord :)
Queenie: 'You should just go ahead and hug him anyway. Because I'm quite sure most people would actually want to do it but they don't, so you might as well start so that other people can do it as well.'
Thanks Queenie, I will.
I missed worship to finish Alvin's scrapbook, but Brandon was accompanying me in his room and we heard singing and the guitar and we were wondering if they were doing praise and worship and we opened the door to check and yes, they were, they were singing Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, and so on. Brandon got called down by Bryan but I still ninja-ed upstairs to finish the scrapbook.
When I got down they'd already split into three different groups to share so I joined Alvin's, and they were talking about serving in church and what it means to us. He gave us quite a bit of time to think and I kept thinking through; everyone says that they're serving God and they're serving God but what really happens when you serve God? I realised that serving actually means being an impact to people through God - extending His grace to them, and to me that was really what serving means. And after some of us shared (that serving was returning to God and letting Him return it double portioned back to you and so on) he asked us to be a blessing to any one person in the group.
So Brandon gave me a hug. Or I gave him a hug. I'm not sure which, but that was really what I needed, and while that was going on he told me that no matter what I was worried about Jesus still loves me, and that He'll always be there for me no matter what and I realised that was exactly what the song they were singing for praise and worship was and yeah it just hit me and hahaha ya I cried cos of what I've been thinking and pissed off about and also in the knowledge that I had such an amazing, amazing friend.
Then I went to wash my face I cupped my hands to collect water, and I realised that I was letting the water overflow, and I was reminded of what Grace shared - that you serve from an overflow from your heart. And I don't know why, but I closed my fists, letting the water run over them, and I realised that in the midst of this week, where I've been tired and inward-looking and just not opening myself up, I was letting all of God's goodness flow around me instead of into me, and damn, what a waste.
I went out feeling not Too much better, but better enough that I was able to smile and mean it. And Alvin was saying that the main point of today's CG was to redefine serving and what it means for us, and his definition of serving was to be a blessing to others - because ultimately, it is really all about the people; Jesus died for the people, and He came as a Servant King. And he told us that you don't need a position to serve God; as long as you're a blessing to someone, letting Jesus shine through you to anyone, you are serving Him - and I felt so refreshed by that perspective because what he said was really something that I needed to hear especially yesterday. Oh and I also felt really smart when he said it was about the people cos I was thinking of that beforehand HAHA damn I'm a genius.
Okay maybe not, but anyway.
Farewell for Alvin after that; got out the pretty tumbler and scrapbook (WE DIDN'T TAKE PICTURES OF THEM OMG) and fishcakes HAHAHA I love the fishcakes. Thanks to Sherry for that awesome idea. Then we took out the real cake and Joan's Belgian Chocolate ice cream and started singing happy birthday and happy Belgium to you (y) Joash comes up with the most epic ideas. Stood around and talked with Alvin Bryan Brandon, Brandon prayed this really amazing prayer for Alvin :) Then Joan came to give this page from Solid Rock with a big picture of Pastor Prince, and epic quote of the day:
'Oh, is this a mirror?'
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NEVER FORGIVING HIM FOR THAT. And before that when he was sharing during his (five-minute overtime) speech he was like 'I used to think people would only see me with my good looks and not take me seriously' HAHAHAHA. Damn yesterday was super funny, I miss it already haha.
Took lots of CG photos, one of which is:
Love them so much :)
Yea okay anyway then we set for home and we shook hands (refer to below post) and went on home. Alvin gave his guitar to Joey and damn, I saw a photo of it - what a pretty guitar. It's reddish and has this gorgeous gradient and shine and I kinda wish it could've been mine because it would really, really be an honour - but well. I have my own, let someone else have it.
This verse popped into my head on the train to Dhoby:
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4: 6-7
I was actually quite drained thinking about something on the way back and this verse really brought me out of it; I was suddenly enveloped by a supernatural, unexplainable peace when I kept remembering that verse through the night.
Then my dad fetched me home from Dhoby. Thank God that he was willing and able (oh look, Econs) to.
And that was the end of an emotionally tiring but at the same time uplifting day.
Sidenote, school-related thing: Highlights OGL! :) I actually pretty much screwed up my interview I think, so this is really all by the grace of God. Praise the Lord :)
Queenie: 'You should just go ahead and hug him anyway. Because I'm quite sure most people would actually want to do it but they don't, so you might as well start so that other people can do it as well.'
Thanks Queenie, I will.