The End's not Near, It's Here.

Hi all, with the deepest regrets, I have to announce that as of yesterday, 19/9/08, Commonwealth Prayer Group had the last of its sessions for the year. I highly doubt that there will be any more of Prayer Group as of next year either since all of the members are graduating pupils. HOWEVER, I'd like to urge any Christian that is from the school to be bold if you feel a stir in your heart to succeed this prayer group. Trust me when I said that I was entirely clueless when I first set out to start this prayer group, but through God's Spirit who has inspired me so greatly in so many ways, I took that leap of faith, and so should you. (: If you are such a person and are interested to commit yourself to it, please do contact me, and I will offer any assistance or guidance to the best of my ability.

I know this update came pretty late and I've many people expecting more frequent posts on testimonies and such, but still, you have to understand that we have all been very busy in school, ministry, etc. So i apologise on the behalf of the prayer group for the intervals between each entry. There are so many wonderful testimonies out there that I've heard and I really would like to share it with all of you but time does not permit me to do so, unfortunately. But fret not, because I'm going to personally promise you that this blog will remain active and the testimonies that you all love will keeping flowing in. ( like a waterfall? sorry, random. )

I guess there are still some people who aren't clear on the purpose of this blog that we have here and 'the whole prayer group thing' in general. Just to prevent any further confusion I'm just going to repeat myself. Basically, this blog is an affirmation of our faith, and it's a tool to reach out to the many commonwealthians who have yet to know God. Our belief is that through this, many people will start to get curious and ask questions about God and stuff and lives will be changed as a result. This is NOT a place exclusively for christian viewership or a hang out for 'online fellowship' if there ever was such a thing. Thus, the use of jargon is not advised, because that will just lead to people feeling left out. I remember when I first became Christian, I was pretty confused at all the 'christian terms' that were thrown around. If we are going to welcome non-christians into our community with open arms, we must all be mindful to embrace them with vernacular that every one is able to relate to. That's it for housekeeping matters. (:

You might be thinking right now " Why does this guy wanna tell me about God soooooo.. badly?" Assuming that you've read my previous post on the testimony, I'd like to tell you this. I used to think that I could live my life relying entirely on my own abilities. Friends who know me can confirm that, I am not exactly a modest person, given any opportunity that I can show off, I would spare nothing to brag and boast. This arrogance has carried me through the most part of my life. When I began to discover God, I was greatly humbled. Knowing that much of my life isn't within my control, I learnt the value of humility, the value of having faith and trust in One who truly loves me and has my best interests at heart. I hope you don't feel like I'm trying to impose my beliefs on you, or influence you to be chrisitan in any way, because I really am not. While Jesus was on earth, He performed many amazing miracles, but the people who witnessed it first hand still doubted. How strange it would be then that I say that you read what i have to say from a computer screen and then taking my every word for it.

Much as I know that still, there will be skeptics and cynics out there who will think my motives aren't as I claim to be, but for those out there who can really feel my desperation, I pray that someday, somehow, you will come to know God, and thereafter, your life be radically altered such as never before. (:

Sisters and Brothers, turn Your cares into Prayers*

	Turn Your Cares Into Prayers
	Philippians 4:6 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
	My friend, God doesn't want you to be fearful, fretful or anxious. Instead, He wants you to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God". So when you have a care or worry, straightaway, turn that care or worry into prayer. That is supplication. And when you are troubled by a care or worry that you don't know how to pray for, pray in the Spirit or tongues. And in the midst of that prayer, thank God that He is already your healing, provision, prosperity, good success and victory. That, my friend, is thanksgiving. "Pastor Prince, if I am worried about something, how long should I pray?" Keep on praying. Pray in the Spirit until the worry lifts or dissipates, "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus". (Philippians 4:7) This was what one of our church members did when he found himself anxiously trying to access some important data in his USB flash drive. After a whole day at it with no results, he finally stopped himself from being anxious and instead, turned his worry into prayer, asking the Lord to settle it for him. As he prayed in tongues, he was also thankfully repeating in his heart that having the Holy Spirit — the Helper — with him was to his advantage. (John 16:7) Later that evening, using his wife's computer, he succeeded in accessing the data in his flash drive after a few attempts. He quickly backed up the data. It was only when subsequent attempts to use the flash drive on his wife's computer failed did it suddenly dawn on him that God had "resurrected" his flash drive that one time, just for him to recover his data! Beloved, I believe that we would all worry a lot less and enjoy our lives a lot more if only we realized this truth: Our Abba Father is so strong that there is nothing He cannot do, and He is so loving that there is nothing He will not do for us!
	© Copyright Joseph Prince, 2006. All rights reserved.
	All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version ®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2006–2008 New Creation Church Dear friends, I hope this sharing would enable you guys to see that worrying is not necessary, because we have Jesus Christ. He has come down to earth centuries ago, to take our place in the sufferings. He has paid the price FOR us so that we can live again, without sin and condemnation. He has taken away all fears, worries and sadness. So dont wake up every morning or when it is time to sleep and you lie on your bed, start worrying about what you need to finish tomorrow or what you have not done. Put your worries in prayers to Jesus. He will settle them. Our Lord is an Almighty God :) He is powerful. He is bigger than earth, he is bigger than all things. There is NOTHING in this world he cannot do. My friend, keep praying and hear his voice speak to you. Allow his words to manifest in your body ! Love in Christ, Sharon Leong :)

Thank You All! :D

First and foremost, I'd like to thank every one who has visited, commented, or shared this blog with friends, on behalf of the Prayer Group, I would like to tell you how deeply we appreciate your contributions and we hope that you will keep returning for more awesome testimonies to come. The response and support we've been getting so far has been immense, so keep it up! :D

Secondly, I would like to address people who are interested in knowing God or just have something that they need people to pray for. My church is organising a Miracles Rally this October on the 3rd which is a Friday, and the 5th, which is a Sunday. The timing is 8pm - 10pm and 11am - 1pm respectively. This event is open to anyone who might be going through a difficult crisis, or simply want to pray for a breakthrough in their exams or for anything at all. We welcome you with open arms. If you're interested to come or you need more details, you can email us at revolutionaries@breakthru.com or at my personal mail shawnphua_8@hotmail.com. I hope to hear from you soon, in the mean time, God bless. :)

Before I became a Christian, I was a free-thinker. I was sort of a happy-go-lucky person. I did not believe in anything and doubt the existence of God. Eversince I was converted to a Christian, I realise that I was wrong.GOD really EXISTS!
When we speak of God, we must do so with profound respect and reverence for we are speaking of the Great Creator of the Universe and all things. We are but feeble creatures made by Him. Our understanding is limited. We cannot know anything about GOD except the things He is pleases to Reveal to us. This is the first basic condition we must recognise if we want to know Him.
It is always a burning question to many people to know who God is. GOD is Spirit. We cannot see Him with our physical eyes. Nevertheless, there is enough evidence for us to know that God exists, which is through the Bible! God does not have to prove His existence. Yet there is no excuse for any man not to know that HE IS for HE has revealed HIMSELF.
It is my prayer that you will throughly understand and not to doubt the existance of God. In His service, Raphael. =)

Shawn Phua - Personal Testimony

Hi, my name is Shawn, I’m from Commonwealth Sec. Class 4/4, I’m the Prayer Group leader of the Commonwealth Prayer Group and the church I go to is called Center of New Life. I’d like to share with you how awesome God has been in my life and what led me to accepting Christ.

First of all, some background information. I used to go to my uncle’s church with my siblings when I was younger, aged around primary 2-4, but soon after I got bored and stopped going. I realize now that I wasn’t paying much interest to God then and just went to make friends.

Fast forward a few years to 2006, when I was in sec 3. There I was, thinking I’ve had the whole game of life figured out, but little did I know what was in store for me was something that I’d have never anticipated. Back in those days, I used to lie a lot; because that to me was the only way I could change people’s impression about me. I lied to my parents, to my friends, and to myself even, so much so that I didn’t know who I really was. I was rebellious and constantly raised my voice at my parents over the slightest things, and I didn’t bother about my siblings, as long as they didn’t bother me. Home, to me, was simply a temporary shelter, to keep me till the next time I went out again. I also always felt a need to be the ‘coolest dude’, the ‘lady killer’, so I went around and tried out dating. I thought that the emotional void deep within me could be cured if I felt loved enough by the girl I was dating, but disappointingly I found out that I was left even emptier inside. For me, it was satisfying to know that my reputation as a Don Juan has spread throughout different classrooms. It grew from a hobby to a serious obsession, where I would date a few girls at once, and serial date, where I’d dump a girl after I got bored of her. All of which, did not make me feel the tiniest sense of remorse for my actions. This took place for about a year; thereafter it began to take its toll on me.

In the midst of having fun with friends, flirting with girls, skipping school, I’ve unconsciously been neglecting my studies, and because of that, I failed all my subjects except English and Chinese. This meant that I had to repeat sec 3 the next year, a consequence I wasn’t prepared for. It was a fact hard to swallow, because when a person thinks he is high and mighty, he tends to pretend nothing’s wrong when he stumbles. For me, it meant having to rethink the lifestyle I was going to lead, reflect upon how my ways have caused hurt to myself and the people around me, and how I can leave everything behind to start over.

The whole time I was in sec 3, when all my other friends were sec 4, I never stopped wondering about how all this could happen to me. I started asking myself some other serious questions. Questions like: What am I doing here on earth? Is there some reason, some purpose for me to be here? Or is life just meaningless, where everything happens by chance, and my only purpose is to watch tv, go to school, and when I die, my body decays and the worms eat it up?

I filled my head with such thoughts. I couldn’t find an answer, so I got frustrated with myself. I began to think about such things day and night; even my mother noticed that I’ve been in a depressing mood lately. Then I chanced upon the bible I had when I was young. I flipped it open and the first verse that caught my eye was Micah 6:8 “The Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

It took me quite a while to digest the entire meaning of all this, because what it said hit a nerve so great, I became numb for a while. It meant that all my questions and my desires and my needs will be met, if only I submitted to God. Since the times of Sunday school, I’ve been taught what God’s will in my life is; all I had to do was to make every effort to abide by it. I decided it was time to give God a second chance, so I declared in my mind: God if you really exist and you really want me back at church; I challenge you to give me a confirmation. So that I can know for that this is really what I need to do.

Surely enough, less than a week later, my cousins asked me over to church for an Easter day service. Since then, I’ve lived for God with all my heart, all my mind, and all my soul, and everything else took a turn for the better, including my grades in school. My faith in God has only become stronger with each passing day, and I have also dedicated my life to witnessing to others so that they may come to know this merciful God that has given me a second chance.

Making this public hasn’t been easy on me because of the many painful memories it has brought, even though I’ve come to terms with my past, I still feel uneasy revealing too much, but rest assured that no part of this has been exaggerated or fabricated. This is my heart felt story and I would most sincerely appreciate any comments or questions that you may have. God is not exclusive only to a group of people, so if you want to know more, or if you have any problems to share, don’t be afraid to email us, and we will try our best to help. (:

P.S I would like to dedicate this entry to Christabel. Sister, you don't have to go through your struggles alone, because God is with you every step of the way. Have faith that God has your best interest in mind, and you'll pull through. And of course, this is for You, Lord. Though words can't capture the beauty of the miracles you have placed in our lives, but what joy we find in the attempt. God, this is my prayer and will always be, that through the dark times You lead us into the light, that our paths be made right. Lord, I pray that more may come to know of Your great love, and that this blog entry may bless Your name. (: