SACUS

SACUS groups on Facebook

2013-06-13T08:43:00.001+08:00

Hello friends, these are the groups that we have on Facebook as of June 13, 2013.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/179969478703250/ (SACUS UiTM main group)
*last post May 9, 2013

http://www.facebook.com/groups/148857618470097/ (SACUS 2010/2011 alumni group)
*last post May 20, 2013

http://www.facebook.com/groups/482721231782247/ (ACAC Alamesra group)
*last post April 8, 2013

http://www.facebook.com/groups/146990198715341/ (Senior SACUS group UiTM)
*last post December 28, 2012

http://www.facebook.com/groups/sacus/ (SACUS Main group)
*last post May 21, 2013

Our prayer - His desire

2013-06-13T08:05:00.000+08:00

"The disciples were unacquainted with the Savior's unlimited resources and power [...] He explained that the secret of their success would be in asking for strength and grace in His name. He woud be present before the Father to make request for them. The prayer of the humble suppliant He presents as his own desire in that soul's behalf. Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven. It may not be fluently expressed; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers, and He will present it to the Father without one awkward, stammering word, beautiful and fragrant with the incense of His own perfection."
-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.667

Sejarah Penubuhan SACUS

2011-10-18T23:06:00.002+08:00

Idea untuk menubuhkan Persatuan Pelajar SDA IPT Sabah (PPSIPTS) telah tercetus semasa perkemahan Pathfinder yang diadakan di Dantai pada 27 November 1996. Bagimana idea itu boleh timbul?

Begini kisahnya, pada masa perkemahan itu, para kaunselor Pathfinder yang terpilih bagi membantu pengendalian perkemahan itu terdiri daripada penuntut-penuntut Institusi Pengajian TInggi dan Tingkatan 6 (Pra-U). Persahabatan di antara para pelajar IPTA/IPTS dan Pra-U ini mula berputik semasa sama-sama menjadi kaunselor di perkemahan ini. Oleh itu, bagi meneruskan bahang persahabatan ini, idea untuk menubuhkan PPSIPTS pun dikemukakan. Salah seorang yang terlibat dalam idea penubuhan PPSIPTS ialah Cikgu Daniel Bagah sendiri iaitu pengetua SASS pada ketika itu.

23-25 Mei 1997 merupakan tarikh keramat yang telah dipilih untuk merealisasikan impian penubuhan PPSIPTS ini. Wakil-wakil mahasiswa IPTA/IPTS, maktab-maktab perguruan, para pelajar pra-U dan para guru telah hadir untuk menjayakan hasrat penubuhan PPSIPTS ini. Pertemuan pertama yang bertemakan “Dare to be Different”, telah dianjurkan oleh para pelajar SDA IPT Sabah, dinaungi oleh Sabah SDA Mission (Jabatan Pendidikan) dengan Cikgu Daniel Bagah sebagai penasihat pertemuan yang pertama sementara En. Gerard B. Sepati menjadi penyelaras keseluruhan. Pertemuan bersejarah tersebut juga telah disaksikan oleh Dr. Edmund Siagian (Pengarah Pendidikan SDA Uni Asia Tenggara pada ketika itu) dan En. Nasco Gabu (Tim. Pengetua SASS Bahagian Pentadbiran ketika itu). Berikut merupakan objektif bagi pertemuan ini;

Memilih AJK PPSIPTS
Melancarkan persatuan
Melebarkan persahabatan antara anggota PPSIPTS kerana melalui persatuan seperti ini mereka dapat berkenalan dengan sahabat-sahabat seiman dari IPTA/IPTS yang lain.

Diringkaskan cerita, maka terbentukla Persatuan Pelajar SDA Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Sabah (PPSIPTS). Kemudian persatuan ini dikenali sebagai AMiCUS Sabah dan kini ia lebih dikenali sebagai Sabah Adventist Association of College and University Students (SACUS). Presiden yang pertama ialah Saudara Saumon Maliki, Saudara Sauflee Sinari merupakan Timbalan Presiden, manakala Saudari Scherrie Anne Siran adalah Setiausaha dan Saudara Anderson Bangkuai menjadi bendahari yang pertama.

With Jesus...

2011-10-18T22:45:00.000+08:00

Without Jesus, life is scary.

Without Jesus, life is lonely.

Without Jesus, life is hopeless.

Without Jesus, life is meaningless.

With Jesus, LIFE IS COMPLETE! ♥

New ACAC Officer

2011-02-05T12:35:00.003+08:00

2nd row from left: Shera, Rickey, Fendy, Frankey, James, Aslesia, Daryl, Kelvin, Nirccy 1st row from left: Alfred, Emerhine, Fernandez, Dr Saiman (coordinator), Elnie, Noraini, Richard

Satu mesyuarat pemilihan para pegawai baru ACAC telah diadakan pada petang sabat 15 Januari 2011. Selain merangka organisasi baru ACAC, turut dibincangkan keperluan-keperluan bagi penambahbaikan gereja ini. Buat pegawai-pegawai ACAC yang baru, syabas dan tahniah di atas perlantikan anda. Tuhan memberkati anda dalam pelayanan di ACAC.

Happy 2011

2010-12-27T21:49:00.000+08:00

“Another fresh new year is here . . .

Another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt, and fear,

To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest . . .

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs!”

- William Arthur Ward quotes

Pantas sekali masa berlalu. Pejam celik mata sudah di penghujung 2010, dan sebentar saja lagi kita akan memasuki satu lagi tahun baru – 2011! Adakah kita sudah siap untuk melalui detik-detik 2011? Sudah tercapaikah apa yang kita rencanakan bagi tahun 2010? Apa pun yang berlaku, pastinya semua yang terjadi adalah menurut kehendakNya. Kita bersyukur untuk setiap yang baik berlaku pada kita dan belajar dari yang tidak baik untuk masa hadapan. Sepanjang tahun 2010 SACUS telah berhasil mengadakan beberapa aktiviti seperti yang dirancang dalam takwim, walaupun tidak kesemuanya namun suatu saat pasti akan berkesempatan melakukan aktiviti-aktiviti lain dengan keizinanNya..ya, Puji Syukur buat Tuhan! Apa yang penting, mesej yang kita dapat bagi setiap aktiviti. Moga semuanya akan mengubah hidup kita menjadi lebih baik, dan merapatkan pertalian kita dengan Yang Maha Kuasa. Mari kita imbas kembali apa yang telah berlaku untuk ingatan bersama =)

Mini CrossRoad

2010-10-24T16:20:00.000+08:00

Seperti dirancang dalam takwim SACUS, akhirnya Mini Crossroad ACAC telah berlangsung pada petang sabat 23 Oktober 2010. Special thanks for Aseana College (nice green selendang), KSKB (two guys), Masterskill (beautiful songs), polytechnic (awesome), IKM and UMS..(those did not mentioned,very sorry for the mistake). Also thanks for the sharing, believe that all sharings really open up our hearts and mind to be more close to Jesus..for more info/video/pics kindly visit Sacus group at Facebook and ACAC group..

Welcoming Junior Party

2010-08-13T15:26:00.007+08:00

Date: 8 August 2010
Venue: Tg Lipat

Terima kasih di atas penyertaan anda semua - UMS, UiTM, KSKB, MASTERSKILL, ASEANA COLLEGE, POLITEKNIK, UNITAR, INTI COLLEGE...also to Pastor Joshua...may God continually bless each one of us

1st cross training

2010-08-06T22:05:00.006+08:00

"Our heavenly father, thank you for being with us during the first cross training in Sabah. We had a great time, enjoy, and most important will be..our soul were lifted more to You..Thank you Lord. In Jesus name, amen.."

-venue: retreat center kundasang
-30 july - 1 Aug 2010
-members of KK SDA English Church, UMS, ASEANA COLLEGE, MASTERSKILL, KSKB, UNITAR, UITM
-motto: STAND AS ONE!!

can't wait for the second cross training! till we meet again =)

p/s: more pics at facebook

The Father and The Child

2010-07-02T21:34:00.002+08:00

The child spoke:

Father, I am overwhelmed by Your grace.

That is as it should be. May you always stand in awe of My grace. What has mean the most to you?

I think I see for the first time how truly helpless I am. It is the height of presumption to try to rely on myself, my strength, my performance, my flesh. Only in understanding how totally dependent I must be, do I experience Your presence and Your grace. The more I see my need for grace, the more grace I receive.

You have begun well, My child. How will you continue to grow in My grace?

As you instructed me in the beginning-by continuing to listen carefully to Your Word, drawing close to You in prayer, and walking daily in Your Holy Spirit.

Good. My body needs women who exemplify My grace. Remember that My grace is never-ending, and that I delight in lavishing it on My children who walk with Me.

I can think of no greater blessing, Father.

There is none-for I desire that you always know deep within your heart that I am the God of all grace.

A Bible Study On Becoming A Woman of Grace

Don't Judge

2010-07-02T16:05:00.000+08:00

Lesson - Read Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6: 37-42

Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured unto you. And why behold you the mote that is in your brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, Let me cast out the mote out of your eye; and lo, the beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother's eye.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that we shouldn't worry about what others do or don't do. Instead, we should make sure we are doing what is right. In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus shows that we often make a big deal about other peoples' faults. Meanwhile we often overlook our own faults. He says it's like trying to get a speck of dust out of our friend's eye, while we have a huge stick in our own eye. First we should take care of our own problems and faults, before we tell others how to fix theirs.

What kinds of things could he be talking about? We often can see faults in others and not see them in ourselves. It's easy to spot someone else when they are being selfish, proud, mean, unforgiving, or dishonest. It's harder to notice when we are acting that way.

James 1:22-25 But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholds himself, and goes away, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. But he that looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continues, being not a hearer that forgets but a doer that works, this man shall be blessed in his doing.

How are we supposed to judge our own behavior when we rationalize, or excuse, what we do? Paul says that we have a mirror we can look into - the Bible. We can compare how Jesus acted, or how the Bible says to act, to our own behavior. What would Jesus do in this situation? What would He have said? What does the Bible say about ... ? Remember, each of us has to answer to God - not each other.

Does not judging mean we can't tell others if they are sinning? No. Jesus frequently taught people right from wrong, based on God's Word. But we should worry most about ourselves and help others overcome sin in their lives, rather than seeking to find faults in others' lives.

-excerpt from http://www.ebibleteacher.com/children/lessons/judge.htm

A Seventh-day Adventist Philosophy of Music

2010-06-16T23:28:00.000+08:00

As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe and preach that Jesus is coming again soon. In our worldwide proclamation of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12 we call all peoples to accept the everlasting gospel, to worship God the Creator, and to prepare to meet our soon-returning Lord. We challenge all to choose the good and not the bad, to “say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”—Titus 2:12

The music that Christians enjoy should be regulated by the following principles:

1. All music the Christian listens to, performs or composes, whether sacred or secular, will glorify God: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”—1 Corinthians 10:31 This is the over-riding biblical principle. Anything that cannot meet this high standard will weaken our experience with the Lord.

2. All music the Christian listens to, performs or composes, whether sacred or secular, should be the noblest and the best: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is right, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”—Phil 4:8 As followers of Jesus Christ who hope and expect to join the heavenly choirs, we view life on this earth as a preparation for, and foretaste of, the life to come.

On these two foundations—glorifying God in all things and choosing the noblest and the best—depend the other principles listed below for the selection of music by Christians.

3. It is characterized by quality, balance, appropriateness, and authenticity. Music fosters our spiritual, psychological, and social sensitivity, and our intellectual growth.

4. It appeals to both the intellect and the emotions and impacts the body in a positive way. It is wholistic.

5. Music reveals creativity in that it draws from quality melodies. If harmonized,[5] it uses harmonies in an interesting and artistic way, and employs rhythm that complements them.

6. Vocal music employs lyrics that positively stimulate intellectual abilities as well as our emotions and our will power. Good lyrics are creative, rich in content, and of good composition. They focus on the positive and reflect moral values; they educate and uplift; and they correspond with sound biblical theology.

7. Musical and lyrical elements should work together harmoniously to influence thinking and behavior in harmony with biblical values.

8. It maintains a judicious balance of spiritual, intellectual, and emotional elements.

9. We should recognize and acknowledge the contribution of different cultures in worshiping God. Musical forms and instruments vary greatly in the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist family, and music drawn from one culture may sound strange to someone from a different culture.

Seventh-day Adventist music-making means to choose the best and above all to draw close to our Creator and Lord and glorify Him. Let us rise to the challenge of a viable alternative musical vision and, as part of our wholistic and prophetic message, make a unique Adventist musical contribution as a witness to the world regarding a people awaiting Christ’s soon coming.

Source: www.adventist.org/beliefs/guidelines/music_guidelines.html

Bye-Bye Senior (4th April)..God bless you

2010-05-01T23:54:00.023+08:00

Pada awalnya kami bercadang untuk mengadakan aktiviti ini di Tg Lipat, tetapi cuaca hujan tidak mengizinkan kami untuk mengadakan Bye Bye Senior di tempat terbuka. Oleh itu kami terpaksa berpindah ke gereja ACAC. Kami bersyukur kerana Tuhan memberi kami inisiatif lain untuk mengadakan aktiviti ini. Disebabkan ruangan yang terhad maka aktiviti juga adalah terhad. Tapi itu tidak menjadi alasan untuk aktiviti ini tidak dapat dijayakan. Malah, farewell party ini tetap berlangsung dengan lancar sekali!. For seniors, we would like to wish " All the best in everything and may God always be with you..Take care^^"

"Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again"

Yellow Roses

2010-04-26T20:01:00.000+08:00

Two boys and a girl about ten years old, ragged, but with clean hands and faces, stepped into

a florist’s shop one bright, sunny afternoon. From their deportment one would have judged that

their errand was one of importance, for there was a serious look on their faces. The boys had

removed their hats, and one of them, acting as spokesman, approaching a salesman, said,

“We’re the committee,and we’d like some nice yellow flowers.”

The florist sized up his customers and offered them some inexpensive blossoms.

“I think we’d like something better than that.”

“Must they be yellow?” the salesman inquired.

“Yes, sir,” the little fellow replied. “You see, mister, Mickey would like’m better

if they were yellow, because Mickey had a yellow sweater.”

When asked if the flowers were for a funeral, the spokesman of the committee nodded

and made an attempt to speak. Tears had already appeared in the little girl’s eyes and were

running down her cheeks. “She’s his sister,” the boy said. “Mickey was a good kid.

A truck—just yesterday—we was playing a game in the street. We say it happen, but there was

nothing we could do.” His eyes were moist by this time, and his voice atremble.

Then the other boy took up the thread of the story, “Us kids took up a collection, we got eighteen cents.

Would-would roses cost an awful lot, mister? Nice yellow roses?”

The big hearted florist sensed the situation. “I have some nice yellow roses here,” he said, “that I’m selling for eighteen cents a dozen,” and showed them to the committee.

“Those will be great,” said one of the boys.

“Yes, Mickey would love those,” the other added.

“All right,” said the florist, “I will make up a nice spray, and put some ferns in it

and a pretty ribbon around it. Where shall I send it for you?”

The spray was quickly arranged, the eighteen cents paid, and the happy

though sorrowing youngsters hurried off to give the yellow roses to Mickey.

The sad part of this story is that poor Mickey didn’t know of their love and affection.

He didn’t see the tear-reddened eyes, hear the choking words, or enjoy

the beautiful yellow roses. He went through life without the flowers.

Nothing is too good for our loved ones after they are gone. Kind words are freely given, their good deeds told again and again, their virtues repeated over and over.

And many of these dear ones, who had not one bouquet during life,

are showered with the best the florists produce after it has slipped from them.

It is a beautiful custom to buy flowers when a loved one is called in death,

but why wait until the funeral to give flowers? Why not resolve to pass out

a few bouquets to our dear ones, our friends, while they can enjoy them?

Magnify the virtues in them now, tell of their good qualities, say the kind words, yes, even buy flowers.

SACUS PICS AT SDA LIMPUTONG CHURCH

2010-03-27T20:54:00.007+08:00

SACUS CHOIR

GOOD TEAMWORK~

WITH PAPAR CHURCH MEMBERS

SPECIAL SONGS FROM SACUS

AY ACTIVITY

MIDYA, LAURENCIA, KAREN (BIRO PERHUBUNGAN AWAM)

GEREJA SDA LIMPUTONG PAPAR

ALFRED (TIMBALAN PRESIDEN SACUS) MENYAMPAIKAN CENDERAHATI KEPADA PIHAK GEREJA LIMPUTONG

ACARA POTLUCK

PERSEMBAHAN DARI MASTERSKILLS

ELBENJOE FROM UMS

MASTERSKILLS - IT IS WELL

CHAMBERS (UMS)

KETUA BELIA PAPAR

HERE WE ARE!

KENDERAAN YANG BERJASA..=)

A VISIT TO LIMPUTONG CHURCH (PAPAR)

2010-03-27T19:12:00.003+08:00

Pertama sekali, syukur setinggi-tingginya kpd Tuhan, atas berkatnya lawatan SACUS ke Gereja Limputong Papar telah berjalan dengan lancar dan jayanya. Sepakat mengenakan pakaian hitam-putih, kami bertolak dengan 2 buah bas (juga warna putih) dan kenderaan2 milik pelajar. Kira2 jam 10 pagi kami tiba di gereja Limputong..kalau x silap blum abis lg sekolah sabat time tu...kami disambut dengan penuh mesra oleh anggota-anggota gereja di sana...SACUS mempersembahkan dua buah lagu; Because He Lives dan Lift Up Your Heart..diikuti dengan persembahan dari pelajar masterskills, iaitu lagu yang bertajuk; Dia mengerti, Sentuh Hatiku dan It is Well (Duet)..seterusnya persembahan instrument (violin with guitar) dari para pelajar pengajian seni UMS...Tidak lupa juga persembahan solo dari Saudara Elbenjoe. SACUS telah mengambil alih bagi kebaktian kedua, di mana saudari Marilyn Gakim @ Oyo, pelajar dari UMS telah memberikan khotbah yang bertajuk Berkat-berkat Penderitaan...Terima kasih yang tidak terhingga buat semua anggota gereja Limputong yang telah menyediakan potluck pada sabat itu...orang bilang " mimang sadap2 la makanan tu hari"..then in the afternoon, kami mengadakan acara AY bersama2 para belia Papar..terima kasih juga atas penglibatan mereka yang sangat aktif dan sporting.....aktiviti AY pada petang itu dikendalikan oleh Biro Sosial SACUS, saudari Midya Simon dan Laurencia Debbie Benard, iaitu game berupa treasure hunt...dan seterusnya disusuli dengan aktiviti bergambar...dijangkakan pada jam 4 petang kami bertolak pulang dari gereja Limputong...Thank you Lord for blessing us...semoga SACUS dapat datang lagi dan memberitakan pekabaran Tuhan melalui mesej dalam lagu..Amen

Lawatan SACUS

2010-03-14T12:35:00.002+08:00

Sacus akan mengadakan lawatan ke Gereja Limputong Papar pada 20 Mac ini. Lawatan ini merupakan aktiviti pertama SACUS pada tahun ini di bawah pimpinan presiden baru SACUS, saudara Samson yang menggantikan tempat presiden terdahulu, saudara Boben. Dijangkakan bilangan ahli SACUS yang akan mengikuti lawatan ini adalah sekitar 50 orang, terdiri daripada para pelajar dari pusat2 pengajian tinggi seperti UMS, UiTM, Masterskill, Politeknik...semoga lawatan ini berjalan dengan lancarnya, doakan aktiviti ini. Tuhan memberkati.

SACUS AGM

2010-02-12T16:02:00.006+08:00

Praise God....Pemilihan Exco Tertinggi dan Biro-biro SACUS Sesi 2010 telah selesai dijalankan pada 30 januari 2010 (sabat-5) di Alamesra Care Adventist Centre (ACAC)..program ini dijalankan sejurus selesainya potluck, iaitu sekitar jam 2 petang....dan hasilnya, terbentuklah jawatankuasa yang baru..tahniah untuk semua..dan semoga kita dapat mengaktifkan lagi SACUS dalam usaha mempergiatkan pekerjaan Tuhan, especially di institusi-institusi pengajian dan di mana saja kita berada..God bless us all^^

Presiden: SAMSON BD MOKUNTIL (UMS)

Timbalan Presiden: ALFRED DAULIN (UMS)

Setiausaha: SHERYWINA STEPHEN (UMS)

Timbalan setiausaha: ANNE AZEONNA ASBIN (UMS)

Bendahari: HELJONY (UiTM)

Timbalan Bendahari: JERRY SALAPAN (UMS)

Biro Muzik: ASLESIA JAMIL (UMS), ESTHER GERTRUDE JUSTIN (UMS)

Biro Perhubungan Awam dan Publisiti: KAREN KALIUN (UMS), ANNY VIANREEN (UiTM)

Biro Kerohanian: FERNANDEZ AK RENGAN@GESA (UMS), NIRRCY SALIMIN (UMS)

Biro Pengangkutan: JAMES MATTHEW (UMS), HELDON (UMS)

Biro Sosial: MIDYA SIMON (UMS), LAURENCIA DEBBIE BENARD (UMS)

Biro ICT: EDNA MAGDALENA JOHN (UiTM), CHARLICIA JESMIN (UMS)

6th Youth Bible Camp 2010

2010-02-05T00:48:00.000+08:00

Date: 14 February 2010 - 16 February 2010 (Sunday-Tuesday)

Time: 2.30pm(14 Feb) - 2.30pm(16 Feb)

Venue: Dantai Adventist Camping Ground

Registration Fee: RM28.00 (Camping), RM40.00 (Dorm)

Deadline: 10 February 2010 (Wednesday)

Organizer: Pr. Heary A. Sairin

Event URL: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=263865714112&index=1

*Malam 14 Feb ada program khas hari Valentine. Bagus kamu ikut. Syok tau.

Ni saya dapat maklumat dari Pr. Heary. So, kalau kamu mau ikut ini program jangan lupa hubung pihak Sabah Mission - 088-782346.

Announcement

2010-02-04T22:27:00.000+08:00

A meeting will be held to discuss about the SACUS activities throughout 2010/11 session. All the SACUS biro are invited to attend the meeting.

Date : 6 February 2010

Time : After choir practice

Venue : SDA Church Alamesra

Thank you for your attention. May God bless us.

HAPPINESS 'ON HOLD'

2010-02-04T07:51:00.000+08:00

We convince ourselves that life will be better after
we get married, have a baby, then another.
Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough
...and we'll be more content when they are.

After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with.
We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our
spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car,
are able to go on a nice vacation, or when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now.
If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.
It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have
and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special,
special enough to spend your time with...
and remember that time
waits for no one.

So, stop waiting

--until your car or home is paid off
--until you get a new car or home
--until your kids leave the house
--until you go back to school
--until you lose ten pounds
--until you gain ten pounds
--until you finish school
--until you get a divorce
--until you get married
--until you have kids
--until you retire
--until summer
--until spring
--until winter
--until fall
--until ??

There is no better time than right now to be happy.Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So ... work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching!

~ Author Unknown ~
Have a wonderul day! God bless you!

Thought of the Day: Friends and Time

2010-02-02T16:29:00.000+08:00

To win friends instantly, admire everything and everybody, and express it freely.

You'll make more friends in ten minutes by taking an interest in others than in a month trying to get others interested in you.

It is wrong to waste our time,

wrong to waste our thoughts.

We lose every moment that we devote to self-seeking.

If every moment were valued and rightly employed,

we should have time for everything that we need to do for ourselves or for the world.

In the expenditure of money, in the use of time, strength, opportunities,

let every Christian look to God for guidance. EGW

Prayer Never Out Of Place

2010-01-31T09:19:00.002+08:00

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Col. 4:2.

There is no time or place in which it is inappropriate to offer up a petition to God.
There is nothing that can prevent us
from lifting up our hearts in the spirit of earnest prayer.
In the crowds of the street, in the midst of a business engagement,
we may send up a petition to God, and plead for divine guidance.

We may speak with Jesus as we walk by the way,
and He says, I am at thy right hand.
We may commune with God in our hearts;
we may walk in companionship with Christ.
When engaged in our daily labor,
we may breathe out our heart's desire,
inaudible to any human ear;
but that word cannnot die away into silence,
nor can it be lost. Nothing can drown the soul's desire.
It rises above the din of the street, above the noise of machinery.
It is God to whom we are speaking, and our prayer is heard.

Every earnest petition for grace and strength will be answered.
...Ask God to do for you those things that you cannot do for yourselves.
Tell Jesus everything. Lay open before Him the secrets of your heart;
for His eye searches the inmost recesses of the soul,
and He reads your thoughts as an open book.
When you have asked for the things that are necessary for your soul's good,
believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.
Accept His gifts with your whole heart; for Jesus has died
that you might have the precious things of heaven as your own,
and at last find a home with the heavenly angels in the kingdom of God.

***

If you will find voice and time to pray, God will find time and voice to answer.

Have a happy and meaningful life! (Possible in Jesus!)
God bless you!

Thought of the Day

2010-01-30T07:01:00.000+08:00

If you have attained the necessary maturity

to face life through proper self-analysis

you should be able to win friends.

Friends are always a great help in life.

Remember, the more you increase your capacity for liking others,

the happier you are.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence,”

is the counsel of the wise man;

“for out of it are the issues of life,”

as a man “thinketh in his heart so is he.”

The pleasure of doing good to others

imparts a glow to the feelings

which flashes through the nerves,

quickens the circulation of the blood,

and induces mental and physical health.

Have a happy life!

God bless you

Diving Deep: Five Ways to Go Deeper with God

2010-01-24T21:23:00.000+08:00

Charles Spurgeon, the nineteenth century British theologian, was wise beyond his twenty years when he challenged his congregation in going deeper with God: “Would you lose your sorrow? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead’s deepest sea; be lost in His immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated.”

Few of us would say we want a devotional life that we’d describe as “shallow.” Rather, we want a deep, abiding, intimate relationship with God. In pursuit of that kind of life, we believe that a passionate prayer and devotional life is important to a life of faith. But still, we often seem to be just treading water without going deeper.

Get Your Feet Wet

Many things can keep you from deepening your commitment to and intimacy with God. These things keep you in that “shallow” mode – maybe even to the point that you’ve become comfortable there. But just because you’ve grown accustomed to the shallow end doesn’t mean you can’t develop a closer, stronger relationship with God. Here are some things to keep in mind as you get started:

If you are to wade beyond the shallow end of the pool in your connection with God, you have to first honestly acknowledge where you are. Whether or not you’re ready for a deeper relationship with God, whether or not you have the time or the discipline or the accountability to re-energize your devotional life, God, in His grace, will meet you there at your humblest of beginnings. All you need is the desire.

One of the most common feelings you might experience as you’re taking stock of where you are devotionally is a hint of guilt that you’re “not where you should be,” that you should have done more or started earlier. Though guilt may be a great motivator – and God will take your fellowship even then – don’t let guilt build your devotional life out of a sense of duty. And don’t let it keep you from getting started in moving deeper. As John Piper said in his classic book Desiring God, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” So go to Him joyfully.

Take a Deep Breath

The most common reason most Christians give for staying in the shallow end of spirituality is a practical reality, but also an excuse. Simply put, all of us are overworked and overextended. We keep ourselves much too busy to go deeper into our relationship with God. Between work, church, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, it’s easy to develop a hole where quiet time used to be.

Granted, we’re all busy; but if you want to have a deeper relationship with God, you have to step back, take a deep breath, and build some devotional discipline to your life. Imposing structure into your life isn’t very appealing, and discipline is hard to come by. The solution is simple, but extremely difficult to practice: Downsize life and make room for God.

Don’t think you have to do it overnight. Deep relationships with God take a lifetime. Start small and begin where you can, as if you were beginning an exercise program for the first time: 5 minutes at first, build some stamina; 10 minutes next, form the habit; 30 minutes…and you can’t live without it. Try scheduling time with God into your Palm Pilot, just as you do the most important dates in your calendar. Incorporate time with God into your everyday life; take a quiet-time coffee break, turn off your radio during drive time. Give up that weekly sitcom spot (it’s not one of your favorites anyway) and spend time with God. Wherever you choose to carve out time for your relationship with God, do it consistently to the point that you think you can’t live without it – because you can’t.

Use the Buddy System

Many of us, even those of us who were raised in church, haven’t had a good example of someone who modeled a deep, abiding, and growing devotional life. And when we’re left to our own devices, we don’t know where to begin our quest to know God better. If your spiritual mentor immediately comes to mind as you read this, commit to spending more time with him or her. If you’re drawing a blank, make a concerted effort to find a mentor or a partner – a person of prayer and devotion you trust, a pastor, a friend. But find someone to study the Bible with and to be accountable to, someone to pray with and for.

However, don’t let your human relationships become a higher priority in life than your relationship with God. Our human relationships often take up so much of our time and energy that we substitute them for a growing relationship with God. Those relationships to which we devote time, energy and passion thrive and grow. That act of devotion is often returned – many times instantly. But in our relationship with God, in studying the Bible and in prayer, we often don’t get the instant gratification we’ve grown used to in our human relationships.

The problem with this is that human beings are fallible creatures. If we depend on our own abilities to make and keep relationships healthy, we’ve already lost. If we deepen our relationship with God, our human relationships will deepen as well.

In the end, the only relationship that’s eternal is the one we have with God, the author and sustainer of love. All human relationships hinge on spiritual growth, individually and together. Purpose to grow toward God, and your relationships will be stronger for it.

Dive In Head-First

Face it: Many of us suffer from a case of nominal Christianity, one that’s relatively hip and, simply put, a piece of cake. We don’t exhibit any desire to move beyond the surface. Religion, though sincere, can be a fairly clinical proposition – a box you check off on an application, only if you want to.

Nominal Christianity is otherwise known as apathy or indifference. But is nominal Christianity what you really want? No? Then dive into your Christian life headfirst with new vigor. Write down the reasons you feel apathetic or indifferent toward your Christian life – and toward God. Take the simple step of asking God to reveal Himself to you in a powerful new way. Pray that prayer often, and keep your eyes open.

While not quite the same thing as apathy, the insurance mentality is just a step up. This “I pay my premium every Sunday morning so I’ve got good coverage the rest of the week” philosophy, like it’s cousin apathy, is a symptom of a larger problem. Insurance is not enough to live: Success requires growth. Observe people whose spiritual lives you admire and ask them to tell you the secrets to their success.

Watch Out for the Sharks

When it all boils down, sometimes the primary reason we remain in the shallow end of Christianity is sin, itself. The lack of desire for personal accountability or spiritual growth might be because both are in opposition to our life choices. Bitterness, anger, hatred, sexual behavior, lies…all of these sins affect us in ways we may or may not be aware of. Regardless of the sin, any of them builds walls between us and God – walls that may seem permanent and unmoveable.

Your path to intimacy with God begins with a sincere act of confession. Be honest about who you are, about the state of your life, your weaknesses, your mistakes, your sins — what you want or need to change. Keeping them bottled up to yourself only compounds the grip that sin can have over you. Confess sin honestly to God and ask for His forgiveness. He gives it freely.

Part of the Christian life is committing a lifetime to developing a deep, intimate relationship with God. And at any given time, one or more of the above keeps us from moving deeper in our commitment and love for God. But just because we’ve grown accustomed to the shallow end doesn’t mean we can’t gather up our weaknesses, inflate a pair of water wings and begin – one step at a time – a new, stronger relationship with our God.

Original article: http://www.lifeway.com/article/?id=150133