Thanksgiving for a year of Celebration ahead!!!

Started the year off with a watch night service at the good old familiar Touch Community Theatre... It's been weeks since out church has moved to Expo... going back there for a watch night service with the good family of both Pastor William and Pastor Debra's Network a.k.a. William's & Debra's Next Generation... about 500 of us gathered at this small little auditorium... small because it sits 1000 people max... compared to the Max Pavillion's 7000, it is indeed small... but truth is that... in this small auditorium, many have given their lives to the Lord... the Lord has used this place to prepare us for the Max Pavillion...

Back to the topic of watch night... Well... Haven't been this crazy for a long time... I mean yeah I have been dancing for the Lord at every service... However, it has been a long time that I have danced till my heart almost stopped beating for that second, till I have stitches on both sides of my body and on top of that, while wearing a LONG skirt that impedes movement almost... It was crazy... Dancing as if there is no tomorrow for the Lord... This is afterall what the Lord has called us to do... We are created to worship Him... and so there I was dancing my heart out for the Lord... and I must say, I love dancing for the Lord... I can lose my voice, but as long as I can move, I will dance for the Lord... I was brought forth into this world to dance for the Lord...

Today, instead of our usual Youth service at 1330hrs, we had our New Years' Bash at 1800hrs... It was one crazy party for the Lord... there we were... probably 6000 people in all... we were all dancing, singing and screaming out praises for the Lord... it was indeed a service the Lord is proud of... it is afterall His commandment that we praise Him... Psalm 149:1 "Praise the Lord!" Be it through our voices... through other audible means... or through visible means like lifting our hands, kneeling down, falling prostrated... and of course dancing... we are called to worship the Lord... and we are to worship Him, His ways... and one thing for sure... tonight, the Lord was delighted with our celebration service... because He takes delight when we celebrate Him... when we come wanting to praise the Lord, our God...

looking back over the whole of last year... i do indeed have many things to give thanks to the Lord for...

1. all the financial situations He has seen me through... the Lord has blessed me with the scholarships I needed to make sure I have enough to pay for my school fees... with jobs to see that I am able to pay the remaining sums...

2. my mum's salvation... though I do wish she would choose to walk with Him... she said the sinner's prayer... but the fear of my dad has prevented her from drawing close to God... I can only pray that she would understand that the Lord rejoiced with the angels the day she invited Him into her life... and that she would understand why she needs to walk with Him and not forget what He has done for her...

3. for healing... my youngest brother's miraculous healing in june... doctors thought he had stomach cancer... but after intercession and crying out to the Lord on his behalf... the Lord made his ailment simply a case of spilt stomach and healing him in 24hrs... requiring no operation... the Lord has been rather gracious to him... and I pray that one day, he will hear His voice and turn back to Him... for mel's miraculous speed of recovery after her operation in mid december... doctors said 6 weeks, but He healed her in 2 weeks... though swelling has yet to fully go, she is looking better and more beautiful each day...

4. my spiritual family... spiritual mummy melissa who has been so patient and firm with me... spiritual sisters who have been my confidants, especially von, des, val, yt and gwen... and also the very people who have moulded me and help me grow... spiritual daughters, loi, jenn, seokie, and peiyi, who at times could drive me to my wits' ends but are also the very sweet girls that they can be... new spiritual daughters of mine this year, eunice, rebecca and wenting... their potential is immense... and I believe they will move the nations...

5. friends who have seen me through good and bad... the La Kopi folks (mel, val, dexter, dan, and those of the la kopi gang) and folks of the older FAW, (dale... gabe...) these are the very people whom I hang out late into the nights with for whatever reasons that sometimes i wonder too... people who don't mind gaining a few more kilos due to the late night suppers... friends who allowed me to drive their cars, not worrying that this newbie would crash their vehicles...

6. got my personal iBook G4 in august... and my driver's licence on Oct 24...

7. FAW's revival... (what have i gotten myself into again)

8. we moved to Expo...

9. I turned 21!!!

10. most importantly, being pruned by God... it wasn't a year without ups and downs... no one ever said the Christian walk with God would be easy... so thank God for the trials and life's lessons... thank God that though we often sow in tears, we can reap with joy... thank God for Him seeing me through these times of pruning...

there are so much more to give thanks for... but words cannot express my thanks enough...