Lifegroup 15th August 2012

Faith Forensics 3: Sherie: Gods promises that he will do what he promises. But if he didnt we can only hope. And this is when it is hard. What do we do when God keeps Silent. There are times where God doesn't answer or intervene. What are we to do? Will we trust that he will bring us through in Grace and Mercy? Give some examples Vicky: Beginning of this year was a very stress period. Asking God why he didn't help. Wondering what God was doing. Didn't have faith at that time because it was all so fast. Until when the LG started talking to me. Thankfully of the Christians around me. Through prayer, I found my faith. At that time if I continued that way and feel down, I might have walked away due to the stress. Through that I found that God will be with you in the lowest part of your life. Jona: I am wondering why I cant remember anytime when God say No. I realize because when God says NO, I just shut my self and walk away. I dont think about it. I think for me when God says No, I walk away but I dont pause to wonder why God says no. In a long run something happens do we take note what happened. Sherie: My mom loves to travel. But there was this one year she wanted to go Korea. She prayed and in her dream God said no to Korea. She was wondering why? Then the second time she asked the Pastor and he confirmed a No. But she didnt know why? I realise that God is testing her obedience. If we chose to obey God will bless her with other things. Gladys: I think for me. We are all humans. We often put ourselves in the center of the prayer. Can u imagine God always say yes, we will take God for granted. I realise that in the times he says No. I realise that it was the best time we will grow and put our trust Sherie: When God says no, its a reflection of our faith. Its a chance for God to showcase how good he is. That is what faith is. Paul was doing Gods work. He was preaching the gd word. Yet God allowed him to have this evil spirit. God said No. My grace is sufficient God wanted to humble paul and realise that God is all he need to depend on. Most of the time when we face suffering, what do we do? Do we recognise what God is doing and trust in his deliverance. One of the promises is There will be trouble. There are times he choose he will help and not help. Through this times of suffering we are moulded the most. At the end of the situation we find that our faith has grown. God knows this will help us God.

Lifegroup 15th August 2012

Amanda: Earlier this year I was trying to get the programme. God has been showing me verses and he has been around me. But yet I didnt get the programme. Now even in this phase of getting this job thing, God was really quiet. I realise that at the beginning that God was giving me that starter pack and now he is teaching me to lean very very closely to him and listen to him. When you want God to be your focus and he gives u the choice. He will supply your needs and trust that your safety net is there. YM: When the sermon was preached last year, In the past when my mom was sick, God didnt heal her and I was angry. I prayed through out and didnt give up. But the miracle didnt happen. I kept coming to church but my heart was far of. But I didnt want my heart to stray. God told me Now u dont understand but one day you will. God spoke to me that through the verse My grace is sufficient....... I realise then that God gave me the grace then to push me through and my only regret is that I don;t learn it earlier. Sherie: Right now, sometimes when we pray we expect God to answer. But we never come to some point of acceptance. Or see that somethings happen for a reason. But during this time, we should humble ourselves and understand that God can bring us through. But this is also not the reason to not have the spirit of excellence. Of course we should excel in what you do and believe God will bring you through. And through this we remember that if its according to his will it will happen. Good example is how he is our father and we his children, what happens to us now is done because he wants to teach us and discipline us. Make us who we are today. Every single time we face anything, whatever he have for us, there will be a purpose. Gladys in now PAULA AHBOO! Because she is the Paul in our lifegroup. Jona: In some version we call it a handicap. I think its to teach us humbleness. God tells us not to be idle. When Im idle I feel like Im in control. Sometimes, handicap is a gift because it pushes us closer to God. Through this when we face things we have problems. This is where God became greatest and let him lead us through. Sherie: What kind of God do we want. Do we want a Genie? Most of the time we forget that we seem to want to be God and we want to control things. We are not asking but demanding from God. These are times we need to see that it is his will and this is what we want. Jona: When Pastor talked about the Genie I remember how a Genie is that we are Master YM: I remember how pastor was talking about this father. It reminded me about my mom. Thats why when I grow up, I want to be like my mother. During when my mom went around looking for answers. Only after awhile, she finally accepted. Her life was so different. She

Lifegroup 15th August 2012

shared to the people around us, people sent flowers to the family to show her joy that she shared around. When pastor shared, it reminded me of my mom. Even in the mid of everything, still be able to share. Gladys in a inspiration because despite all the things, gladys still do so much. Nothing is more difficult then what Gladys is going through. Gladys: I have come to a point that God love is unchanging. He is the same today and tomorrow. He will not love me less then before. he will not abandon me. My foundation is build on God and I need to trust him because it will happen at his own time. In my weaknesses, God will shine. The world is against you, and my parents do not understand. But now my parents gets a chance to see how tangible God is. His grace is always available. Even when I feel down, when I come to his throne I feel like crying and be humble towards God. He is the same. he doesnt change therefore my faith is based on him. Amanda: The time when I first came, YM sent me a verse: Isiah 40:31. When you reach the verse before that. The lady said, do you know why he use an eagle. he hardly misses his mark. He always goes up and glides down. Even when he misses, he fly back up and glides back down. He didnt flap the wings, and glides down. When we get a no, we panic but an eagles just glides. Testimony: Sherie: 1. Thank God for the chance to share with a old friend. she was the one who brought me to this church. She is now a cellgrpup leader. However her church is completely different. I got the chance to share with her the things we learn. Because the place she is at is very different and the people are not done in structure and because she was in YI, Pastor is a convicted man. She is placed there for a reason to impact the committee. I shared the sermon and it encourage her alot. Through this sharing I learnt how bless we are that I cannot take for granted where I am. In Singapore, very few churches are as passionate. I thank God.She was very inspired. 2. In School. now in 4th week. Alot of work and it is flooding me like crazy. But the difference, even with more work. There is this sense of motivation of not giving up and keep doing what Im suppose to do. During this feel days, I feel quite tired but I still have to prepare for so many things. But at the same time, when I feel this way I get this sense of energy. Its a change from last time. I thank God for the perseverance to move on and not stopping. YM: I was hoping to get in to a Bank internship. Reason being that it pays more. Results came out that I didnt get a place. I got a place of NCS an IT company. I was complaining why God place me there. I decided that God will us me. I found out that I had a friend in Gym

Lifegroup 15th August 2012

that also works there. In a way I see that God sends ppl to tell me more about the company. I am really praying that I will gain flavor. Amanda: A week ago, I was offered this job. I was suppose to accept this Job. However for some reason, My company opened this Job. I was very conflicted because there was this job that was open specially for me. But we shouldnt doubt God goodness. I just have to Go. My mentor mentioned that its only because I was comfortable with the people. I considered to reject both jobs and getting other opinions. God was good. I was in another church before, and I felt that there was a need to find a convicted leadership and the passion. That was the reason I came back. To Be Continued.