Your Love is Deep!

Hey,

I like this song :D,

a little quiz for fun, can you guess the bible verses which this song (and our Ablaze 9 Sept theme, I guess) is based upon?

Your love is deep by Jami Smith

Your love is deep
Your love is high
Your love is long
Your love is wide

Deeper than my view of grace
Higher than this worldly place
Longer than this road I travel
Wider than the gap You filled

Who shall separate us
Who shall separate us from Your love
Nothing can separate us
Nothing can separate us from Your love

Love Song by Third Day - Check out the lyrics!

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done.
I've never climbed the highest mountain
But I walked the hill of calvary

Chorus: Just to be with you,
I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you, I'd give anything
I would give my life away.
I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
How may times has he broken that promise
It can never be done
I've never swam the deepest ocean
But I walked upon the raging sea

(Bridge) I know that you don't understand
the fullness of My love
How I died upon the cross for your sins
And I know that you don't realize
how much that I gave you
But I promise, I would do it all again.
Just to be with you, I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay
Just to be with you, I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away.

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Intercessory Messages 27 August 2006

Intercessory session yesterday was really uplifting. The team was greatly affirmed by these messages, which we received during our prayer time. Praise the Lord for assuring and comforting us!

The messages:

Come, Come, those who are thirsty and drink from me.

Come and give your heart to me, and I will set it on fire and I will make the fire spread, and it will be my work.

I love you, my children. Thank you for doing this for me.

I love you very much. I am delighted in you. Know that my joy and peace go with you.

The Lord has prepared a banquet for us. HE is inviting us to eat and drink.

Greatest Commandment of all: Love the Lord your God with all your mind, with all your heart, with all your strengths. Love your enemies as yourself.


About Prophecy

For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted (I Cor.14:31)

The beautiful Lord has never left His people without a means of knowing His present Will! If it were not enough that He has given to us His written Word, He has also graced us with His Spirit of Prophecy, whereby we can be comforted and encouraged in our faith in Him. In the New Covenant, the Father has made two primary methods available whereby we can hear from Him in the "here and now." The manifestations of prophecy and tongues with interpretation are given from the Holy Spirit and are shown through believers as He wills, with a definite purpose in mind. One does not have to be a prophet to be used by the Spirit of God to prophesy or to give a message in tongues and interpret. These are temporary manifestations shown through the believer as the Spirit wills (I Cor. 12:11), and you are encouraged to seek after them as scripture says (I Cor. 14:1-5).

Get your dose of FIRE at Ablaze!

CHECK THIS OUT! I didn't know this existed.. haha...

Why Praise and Worship?

Dearest all,

We are gonna have a Praise and Worship session during the Ablaze Rally. I remember one of my friend asked me, why did I go to a Praise and Worship session?

No short answer of course, different reasons for different people. But allow me to share my favourite verse about Praise and Worship :)

24 Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened.
Acts 16:24-26

This is praise and worship for me! It's the time when we pray and singing hymns to God. And when we do this, we draw people to God (all the prisoners were listening to Paul and Silas!), And...this is what I love most...then there will be an earthquake and the foundations of the prisons will be shaken, and all bonds will be set free!

But what are we set free from? What is our prison? our chains?

I guess that we are set free from our "self", our "ego". For most of us, our days are spent with the great "ME" as the centre of our life. But when we praise and worship, it is never about us, but it is about God. When we praise someone it is because of who He is. And yes, we Praise God, not because of who we are, but because of who He is. And we enter deeply into this intimacy in worship, when we meet Him face to face, when all words fade, and silence reign, and just like Elijah, we Meet God in the still small voice (1 Kgs 19:12). Just as we sing one of the mass song from the Breaking Bread ...

"I have come to you....in the silence..."

and from another song, Heart of Worship:

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come

Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart...

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

(from the heart of worship lyric)

Praise and Worship? Yes, because It's all about You, Jesus...

your brother in His love,
oka

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Faithful Love takes me Higher!

Oh gosh, this song just captures one part of the theme of the upcoming ABLAZE on God's Love being "Deeper Higher, and Longer.." It's by Darlene Zschech, from her album Kiss of Heaven.

Dreams from album Kiss of Heaven, Darlene Zschech
Hear it! (Right-click to download music file) and read the lyrics below..

Take this heart of mine
You've captured me
I'm so in love with You
My destiny defined is spending
Every moment just to know You
I need to know You more

You're my world,
You're my heart desire
Faithful love takes me higher
I found more than I ever dared imagine
Love has found a way
Love has found a way

I've opened my heart to You
You've taken what was broken
Made me new and all that I need
To find are ways to let You know
How much I love You
I want to love You more

Angels are gathering to bow and sing
An anthem to Your name
Lifted on heaven's wings
This song in my heart needs to say
Oh how I love You Lord

Testimony from Ria

Yesterday the Ablaze commitee was given a chance to present Ablaze at the SACCRE core leader meeting. Since we were announcing a youth event to a majority adult member audience, I wasn't expecting much... I was just hoping that they would help us with the publicity and intercession.

But to my suprise, I got more help than just publicity and prayer, I felt a great support from all the core leaders present there.

As I was announcing I can see that all the adults were sincerely enthusiastic about the ABLAZE. Even though the event is not designed for them, they were just so eager to spread the fire of God to more youths.

Seeing the passion and joy that they had at their age convinced me that the renewal FIRE is never meant to diminish. Rather, the FIRE is meant to grow bigger so that it can break, melt and mould every heart that is hardened by the world.

So, Kudos for the adult prayer groups ^^

Let's set more fire on earth and let God's light shine throughout the world -- through our lives!

You are light for the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people's sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Deo gratias,

ria

Is the Fire diminishing? What about the fire in you?

Yesterday (19 Aug) some of us were at the SACCRE Core Team leaders meeting. We were posed the question "Is the 'fire' diminishing?"

It got all of the groups thinking. The youths had 2 groups, whilst the adult leaders split into North, East, West Serangoon and City districts. We were called to share whether the 'fire' was diminishing or not?

As we shared, most said that the fire was there, but there are various obstacles each group faces. As we shared, we learnt about the things we could do to keep the fire 'burning'. But it was a humbling experience cos you hear all the great and many things we need to do, and just wonder how we're ever going to achieve them all. Yet I realise too that all we need to do is implement one change at a time, I believe that everyone can work towards improvement, and growth. It really needs leaders to be focused and steady, realistic and with a great presence of mind to really discern and plan a ministry's growth and direction.

And so I encourage everyone to continue to work hard in your own groups and if you don't have one.. find one to call your own. With somewhere to serve, you'll grow and really see God's hand working in others and -- yourself!

Here's a summary of the points I took home:

- 'Fire' .. There's many definitions. Fr. William Goh defined it as being deeply Passionate. Leaders must be convicted about what they believe in and do.
- Attitude. Even when times are poor, we need to have the positive attitude to carry on.
- Vision & Planning is essential to growth - Vision for a harvest and work towards it.
- Have a spiritual buddy. Leaders need spiritual accountability and support too.
- Affirm and encourage everyone, from leaders to normal members..
- Do evaluations and debrief meetings - write down the points to look back later
- Attend other group's prayer meetings to help give them feedback and also gain some for your own group
- People who serve: You need to be open to receiving evaluation and want to improve
- Strong intercessory helps keep the passion burning
- Take prophecy time seriously. Discern on it. God may be leading the group in a certain direction if you jot them down and reflect over it.
- Create a safe have for people to introduce other people to the group
- Love - we want people so say of us: "See how they love one another"
- Worship Team: must be prepared spiritually before any session to lead others to deeper worship
- Get participation from MIA Members (invite them back)
- Get everyone's commitment (priest, parish, etc) - this gives you support and will also help the fire to burn brighter

And Finally... the ONE MAJOR POINT that every group mentioned was simply that we all need a PERSONAL PRAYER LIFE. Fr. William Goh even went so far as to stress that we should do 1hr of prayer every day! 1hr! Must be really tough for some of us!

So with all these insights, bros and sisters, let's work hard to make our prayer meetings a place which is vibrant, empowering, full of God's presence (and overflowing), creative, and to have Real Love.

So if we ask whether the fire is diminishing, the best question to ask is - DO 'I' Have the Fire in me?

Let God touch you today with the Fire of his Holy Spirit!

God Bless!

Intercessory - Join us this 20th

This Sunday, the ABLAZE Team will gather to pray again for our 2nd intercessory session. We hope to see everyone who's signed up for our sub-comms there.

And in fact, we just hope everyone would simply join us even though you did not sign up previously - to pray - for the harvest!

We want to see God move. And at this prayer session, let us pray for the much needed strength to do our work well, and to continue to have a clear vision. If you've been praying for this event, do join us this Sun so we can meet you!

Date: Sunday 20th Aug 2006
Time: 11 am to 12:30 pm
Venue: Marianna's (from Livingstones) house, at 4G, Jalan Novena Barat, Novena Courts.

Directions: Walk beyond Novena church till you reach a street to your right, which is Jalan Novena Barat and then find 4G.

Intercessory at Novena

We had Intercessory just yesterday at Novena. The renovations at the back of Novena is done and the new rooms are so beautiful!

Intercessory was good. We prayed the rosary (i've not touched the rosary in a long time!) and intermixed it with songs like "More Love More Power", "Give Thanks". It was an interesting way to conduct intercessory.


The prayer warriors:


Join us at the next Intercessory this Sunday 20th, 11am - 1230pm. This Sunday's session will be held at Novena area (we may be holding it at Mariana's house - far left in the picture above) so pls inform us if you're coming.

Drop a mail to Seema seemathomas@catholic.org if you can join us! In fact, we're also looking for intercessors at the event itself so let us know too if you're available.

The New Springtime, How about Singapore?

Dearest all,

I just attended this Indonesian Rally last night and it was Great. We call it Rally for Catholic Revival. It was held at CJC and those who attendes were about 200 or 300, maybe. But what I want to share with you all is what the worship leader that night share with us of what is happening in Jakarta.

It's the Jakarta Renovation 2006: The New Springtime.

It started with the prophetic words of our late Pope John Paul II, “A new missionary age will arise, a new springtime for the Church”. The BPK (a kinda SACCRE Youth in Jakarta) prayed and discerned, and they came out with this 9 months Novena.

There are praise and worship sessions, talks, and 3 hail Mary novena, in each Novena and now they are entering the 6th Month. So EVERY Month, they are having this RALLY for young people. And guess how many people attended? It was about one thousand to three thousands YOUNG people!!! Praise the LORD!

I was just so excited when I heard this last night. And what excited me more is that they are closing the last Novena on the month of November, and they are expecting about 6000 to about 7000 YOUNG people to enter the Stadium in Jakarta!! The Youths will praise and worship God and celebrated the feast of "Christ the King" in the biggest Stadium in Jakarta. This is not a dream, this is a reality that is happening!

I remember what the worship leader then told us: the fire is not meant only for Jakarta. It is meant for all us, even we who are here in Singapore. Let us set the fire burning, Let us love the LORD more than anything else, let us put all our best effort for Him, let us be his hands and feets to bring the fire here in Singapore.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam

----

More on the New Springtime in Jakarta (if you can afford to read in Bahasa :p)
http://newspringtime.kepemudaan.com

1. 25 Maret 2006 – Young people and Me: Welcome to my world.
2. 22 April 2006 – Young people and Vocation: Destination Jesus.
3. 27 Mei 2006 – Young people and Sex: Celebrate Love and Life.
4. 24 Juni 2006 – Young people and community: Home (never) Alone.
5. 22 Juli 2006 – Young people dan Entertainment: All you can eat?
6. 26 Agustus 2006 – Young people and the business world: The Covenant Blessing
7. 23 September 2006 – Young people and ministry: Set my heart on Fire.
8. 28 Oktober 2006 – Young people and the Mother: Mary, Star of Evangelization.
9. 25 November 2006 – Young people and Jakarta: The New Springtime!
10. 26 November 2006 – Eucharistic Celebration on the feast of Christ the King

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ABLAZE Blog!

Hey all! The ABLAZE Blog is officially done up. Post and check in regularly! Any one who wants to be contributors, please contact us or contact me directly (samantha)! Here's to happy blogging!

God Bless!

At the Festival of Praise 2006

I went for Festival of Praise 2006 at the Indoor Stadium over 4 - 6 August 2006! It was a joyous occasion, to see so many people worshipping God. Don Moen, the worship leader, was especially engaging, even playing the violin midway while leading the whole stadium into worship. It was a great occasion and I long to see Catholics worship God like this one day!

The beginning and ending of the whole event was filled with praise songs led by the Christian City Church band (below).


The Speaker was Ed Silvoso. His message:

"God is saying lend me your hands, lend me your feet, I want to perform miracles all over Singapore!"

"There is a revival here that will never happen in the church place.... In Argentina there is revival happening 24 hrs a day... I challenge you to believe this is coming to Singapore!"

Talking about 'the marketplace' have you visited the New 'Marketplace' at the Raffles City basement? What a vibrant place! Bring your friends to sit there and share a cup of coffee - and share your testimonies about God! Now that's really going to the Marketplace! haha!