https://www.facebook.com/events/280102145426150/
In 2012 I learned to…get the most possible out of an iPad instead of a laptop.
I grew most in… "rolling with it" and not sweating the small stuff.  And even some big stuff that went down this year. Actually, The only sweating I did this year was in my daily walks with Jack.
Another way I saw myself growing was... I've spent more time just sitting and hanging out with God, listening for what he may have to say, meditating on Scripture, and appreciating the good things he has made in this world, and leaving the angst over the messes of the world (and the church) in his hands.
One of my best adventures was…at the end of his 4 weeks of summer school in Mississippi, Cameron had his first solo flight to meet me in South Carolina and take a road trip to meet his cousins in the Blue Ridge Mountains. On his layover the flight was stuck at an airport waiting hours for a technical failure to be resolved.  He was without phone or food.  I ended up making friends and having a drink with what seemed like the cast of "Justified" who were also waiting on relatives who were on this flight. We all decided to drive to get them. So we made ourselves a hillbilly caravan and drove 2 hours, Greenville to Charlotte, to pick up our respective "kinfolk."
I saw/knew God was doing something when…Cameron got straight A's his first Quarter at CHA.  When we helped individuals in an organization emotionally and psychologically navigate their downsizing/layoffs.  Angel Corrigan  asked if I'd like to lead a Bible Study for AWA, and it morphed into something different and exciting.
A real gift from God was…  Daniel Ang's generosity in retrieving the contents of two crashed computers and getting me up and running on them again. Dave Zovak too.  So many opportunities to travel.  An incredible year like no other! Perth. Kauai. California. Atlanta. Mississippi. South Carolina. Greece. Hong Kong.  Vietnam.
Something I really enjoyed doing more of was…doodling. Drawing. Sketching and "prophetic art" (which to me is more like engaging in art as a joint effort with the Holy Spirit with the purpose of listening to him, and blessing others)
One of the happiest memories of 2012 I’d like to freeze in my mind…the boys gardening and washing the car together with a cousin of Cameron's from his birth family. Seeing their maturity. The opening night of a conference, warming up the crowd emceeing with Jim.
I was really brave when…I announced that I was going to have a 50th birthday concert and invite my friends to perform with me. When I pulled broken glass out of my right hand.
A Scripture passage that meant a lot to me was… Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things." It was part of our reading in the summer of reading Can You Hear Me? Tuning in to the God Who Speaks. Two months later, visiting a missionary friend in her remote home in a village in Vietnam, she had the verse on a banner on her wall.
The whole story of Nehemiah:  All those names of who did what to rebuild the wall and the temple... It means God values your role in serving him even when others around don't seem to value your loyal contribution.
Song of the year: How You Live (Turn up the Music), Point of Grace. Another divine introduction how I heard it for the first time on a prayer walk.
I’m still trying to learn what God wants to teach me through this hard experience… Why can't Yi Hui read yet?  What's happened to my memory? Losing the metadata (tags, dates, notes, slideshows etc) on my entire photo library.
The best word of advice or encouragement I can remember is…
"Let's figure out what needs to happen in order to have Kimberly soar in her 50's" - Margo Husthwaite in October.
One thing I’m looking forward to in 2013 is…Leading 2 teams who want to help me hold monthly "Spiritual Wellness" mini-retreats. One for women, and one for artists.
K!M: Work in Progress
BIBLICAL PURPOSE STATEMENT is: I live to shamelessly reflect the creativity of the Creator God and radiate his delight for his creatures (that's us!).
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, October 05, 2012
Women of Influence Prep - Retreat
      Come to me Kimberly
you who are weary and carry heavy burdens And I will give you rest
Take my yoke upon you
Let me teach you
Because I am humble and gentle And you will find rest for your soul For my yoke fits perfectly
And the burden I give you is light.
As I've set aside in the past couple of months, I've had some chunks of time to hear from God in silent retreats. Insights have been more like popcorn, or a tossed salad for me, and I'm still trying to make some cohesive sense of my times with God focused on this passage.
Main themes for to continue gardening. Do they resonate with you?
-- Exploring how to value and practice (obey the command for) Sabbath rest.
-- Peace and courage in the midst of real Spiritual Warfare.
-- Living sacrificially, yet maintaining a posture where the yoke in these sacrifices remains light / learning what boundaries are part of Jesus' yoke as we labour in the world.
-- Really knowing and trusting my rabbi and Saviour Jesus - and digging deeper into the Word of God and other sources about the life and culture of our Master. Learning from him his priorities and personal discipline. His dependence upon the Father.
The "popcorn" notes:
1. Last week a gal i've mentored gives me the book rest - living in sabbath
simplicity (keri wyatt kent). In it i read quoted from Velvet Elvis, one of my favourite books
of the decade (i loved this section so much 5 years ago that I RECORDED myself reading it to hear if from time to time shuffled on my ipod!):
Different rabbis had different sets of rules.... A rabbi's set of rules...was really the rabbi's interpretation of how to live the Torah, was called that rabbi's yoke. When you followed a certain rabbi, you were following because you believed that rabbi's set of interpretations were
the closest to what God intended through Scriptures. And when you followed that rabbi, you were taking up that rabbi's yoke.
ms kent offers in her book:
So Jesus offered this new yoke, which he claimed was easy.
But in a way, it seems harder. He often began with "you've heard it said" and cited the Old Testament law. Then he followed with "but I say to you." For example, he said, "you've heard
it said,... 'Don't murder.' but if you call someone a fool or hate them, you've killed them" (Matt 5:21-22) ...His teaching encouraged people to hold to a higher standard than mere legalism but also helped them to realize that keeping the law perfectly is an impossible proposition.
     
you who are weary and carry heavy burdens And I will give you rest
Take my yoke upon you
Let me teach you
Because I am humble and gentle And you will find rest for your soul For my yoke fits perfectly
And the burden I give you is light.
As I've set aside in the past couple of months, I've had some chunks of time to hear from God in silent retreats. Insights have been more like popcorn, or a tossed salad for me, and I'm still trying to make some cohesive sense of my times with God focused on this passage.
Main themes for to continue gardening. Do they resonate with you?
-- Exploring how to value and practice (obey the command for) Sabbath rest.
-- Peace and courage in the midst of real Spiritual Warfare.
-- Living sacrificially, yet maintaining a posture where the yoke in these sacrifices remains light / learning what boundaries are part of Jesus' yoke as we labour in the world.
-- Really knowing and trusting my rabbi and Saviour Jesus - and digging deeper into the Word of God and other sources about the life and culture of our Master. Learning from him his priorities and personal discipline. His dependence upon the Father.
The "popcorn" notes:
1. Last week a gal i've mentored gives me the book rest - living in sabbath
simplicity (keri wyatt kent). In it i read quoted from Velvet Elvis, one of my favourite books
of the decade (i loved this section so much 5 years ago that I RECORDED myself reading it to hear if from time to time shuffled on my ipod!):
Different rabbis had different sets of rules.... A rabbi's set of rules...was really the rabbi's interpretation of how to live the Torah, was called that rabbi's yoke. When you followed a certain rabbi, you were following because you believed that rabbi's set of interpretations were
the closest to what God intended through Scriptures. And when you followed that rabbi, you were taking up that rabbi's yoke.
ms kent offers in her book:
So Jesus offered this new yoke, which he claimed was easy.
But in a way, it seems harder. He often began with "you've heard it said" and cited the Old Testament law. Then he followed with "but I say to you." For example, he said, "you've heard
it said,... 'Don't murder.' but if you call someone a fool or hate them, you've killed them" (Matt 5:21-22) ...His teaching encouraged people to hold to a higher standard than mere legalism but also helped them to realize that keeping the law perfectly is an impossible proposition.
      2. i remember dearly the first series for CRM's Women of Influence retreats and our year in
USA. It was a time when I began to hear clearly from God regularly. For years I'd been angsty and even angry over the problems and inefficacy of the church. Once in prayer Jesus told me quite clearly: "IT'S NOT YOUR PROBLEM. IT'S MY PROBLEM. IT'S TOO BIG FOR YOU, SO STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT." Another time of listening prayer with Verlie and Patty when the physical sensation of weight on my shoulders was lifted, but still lightly there, as the above passage came to my mind. I had been wearing a yoke that was not HIS, and weary from it. I released it that day.
3. There are my big burdens, out of my control (we've all got them) but I'm remarkably
at peace and trusting God with. My senior's college application process and what that means for his future...and even sooner, our unresolved plans for the summer months when he'll be needing to settle somewhere and start this new chapter. My 8th grader's continued poor academic performance and whether he'll be able to remain in his school by the end of this year. The neighbor's needs and how much do I give of myself to them. I have a waning passion for the focus I've had in ministry for my entire life. I don't know if it's a season or if God wants to redirect me. Whether it's dormancy or gestation is yet to be seen. I'm open, but long- range I'm feeling direction-less.
4. However, I find myself as I attempt to listen to God, distracted by small insignificant
things. I'm irritated by the people in our church plant who are setting up a library and coming up with "policy" for using the books. They must be church members. The books must be approved. Then there's the 8th grade Bible teacher or Senior Service trip leaders at the kids' school who seem to have a Pharisaical approach to teaching and leading. I feel they are planting seeds of bitterness in my boys.
5. There was one significant time I looked again at this Matt 11 passage. I was drawn to what
came before. Matt 11:25. Jesus praising God that he has hidden his teachings "from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children."
I've been spending large quantities of time with a little neglected neighbor girl who's as slow as anyone I've ever known. It's opening the neighborhood to the gospel. Strangers often stop me to talk about her. I've had wonderful opportunities to pray with people and talk about Jesus desire to be their master. There is a lot of spirit worship in my neighborhood and the forces of evil are palpable. I sense, that though this 11 year old girl has been diagnosed with low IQ for years, she is oppressed by unseen forces. last week she took refuge in my home after her father had been in a drunken and abusive rage.
I notice in my Bible that this Matt 11 passage is also repeated in Luke 10:21. I go there, but my eyes are drawn to verses 18-20. "I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."
Like the passage I'd written from a sermon last Sunday, I say with the prophet Ezra: "Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage." (Ezra 7:28)
In other words: "The Spirit of the Lord is with me Satan! I am not afraid...BRING IT ON! Let's have some real power encounters in 2011, I'm on the side of righteousness, I want to see
     
USA. It was a time when I began to hear clearly from God regularly. For years I'd been angsty and even angry over the problems and inefficacy of the church. Once in prayer Jesus told me quite clearly: "IT'S NOT YOUR PROBLEM. IT'S MY PROBLEM. IT'S TOO BIG FOR YOU, SO STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT." Another time of listening prayer with Verlie and Patty when the physical sensation of weight on my shoulders was lifted, but still lightly there, as the above passage came to my mind. I had been wearing a yoke that was not HIS, and weary from it. I released it that day.
3. There are my big burdens, out of my control (we've all got them) but I'm remarkably
at peace and trusting God with. My senior's college application process and what that means for his future...and even sooner, our unresolved plans for the summer months when he'll be needing to settle somewhere and start this new chapter. My 8th grader's continued poor academic performance and whether he'll be able to remain in his school by the end of this year. The neighbor's needs and how much do I give of myself to them. I have a waning passion for the focus I've had in ministry for my entire life. I don't know if it's a season or if God wants to redirect me. Whether it's dormancy or gestation is yet to be seen. I'm open, but long- range I'm feeling direction-less.
4. However, I find myself as I attempt to listen to God, distracted by small insignificant
things. I'm irritated by the people in our church plant who are setting up a library and coming up with "policy" for using the books. They must be church members. The books must be approved. Then there's the 8th grade Bible teacher or Senior Service trip leaders at the kids' school who seem to have a Pharisaical approach to teaching and leading. I feel they are planting seeds of bitterness in my boys.
5. There was one significant time I looked again at this Matt 11 passage. I was drawn to what
came before. Matt 11:25. Jesus praising God that he has hidden his teachings "from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children."
I've been spending large quantities of time with a little neglected neighbor girl who's as slow as anyone I've ever known. It's opening the neighborhood to the gospel. Strangers often stop me to talk about her. I've had wonderful opportunities to pray with people and talk about Jesus desire to be their master. There is a lot of spirit worship in my neighborhood and the forces of evil are palpable. I sense, that though this 11 year old girl has been diagnosed with low IQ for years, she is oppressed by unseen forces. last week she took refuge in my home after her father had been in a drunken and abusive rage.
I notice in my Bible that this Matt 11 passage is also repeated in Luke 10:21. I go there, but my eyes are drawn to verses 18-20. "I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."
Like the passage I'd written from a sermon last Sunday, I say with the prophet Ezra: "Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage." (Ezra 7:28)
In other words: "The Spirit of the Lord is with me Satan! I am not afraid...BRING IT ON! Let's have some real power encounters in 2011, I'm on the side of righteousness, I want to see
      the people in my world worshipping the one true God and knowing his deep unconditional love
for them!"
6. in Rest I've been reminded how sabbath rest relates to physical workouts - we must stretch ourselves and our limits, and then give some time for rest
before the next workout in order to grow strong. I've not kept a sabbath for most of my life, and have felt like the past year + has been a time to make up for lost time, and my sin of presuming that the world would stop spinning if I stopped working. So, many times i've just sat still and sought the presence of God. To merely be still. To unhurried spend time tuning my ears and heart to him.
7. I suppose there should be 7 to make it a perfect list, so I'll finish with the two words which stood out to me most about Jesus' yoke: Humble and Gentle. i want to be
the kind of leader who also offers a humble and gentleness as I bear the yoke with others in projects and ministry. or as I labour beside, under, or lead with my family and others. I have a lot to learn.
     
6. in Rest I've been reminded how sabbath rest relates to physical workouts - we must stretch ourselves and our limits, and then give some time for rest
before the next workout in order to grow strong. I've not kept a sabbath for most of my life, and have felt like the past year + has been a time to make up for lost time, and my sin of presuming that the world would stop spinning if I stopped working. So, many times i've just sat still and sought the presence of God. To merely be still. To unhurried spend time tuning my ears and heart to him.
7. I suppose there should be 7 to make it a perfect list, so I'll finish with the two words which stood out to me most about Jesus' yoke: Humble and Gentle. i want to be
the kind of leader who also offers a humble and gentleness as I bear the yoke with others in projects and ministry. or as I labour beside, under, or lead with my family and others. I have a lot to learn.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Intro @ RHCC
Mission Field Location:  The island city in Southeast Asia which is also a country: Singapore. 
Mission Agency: Church Resource Ministries
Singapore is the base from which they build and encourage spiritual leaders. When they left Southern California 14 years ago, Jim had been the Global and local outreach pastor at Rolling hills Covenant Church. Now the movement in Singapore has begun mentoring leaders of churches and mission agencies around SE Asia. They see their part in God's Kindgom as influencing spiritual leaders that they will finish a career of ministry strong and passionate and fruitful for the Lord.
Join us in praying that their long term investment there will leave a legacy for the following generation; that Chrisitians in South East Asia (including China) will be equipped and mature to carry on the task of preaching the gospel and making disciples in all nations!
Kimberly is here without her husband Jim this summer in order to bring their son Cameron, a rising 10th grader, to a Christian Military Boarding School in Mississippi (Chamberlain-Hunt Academy). When she returns to Singapore August 15, they start a new chapter of service without children at home. They are grateful for the many years RHCC has been their home church, and the love and support from this congregation that has followed them and supported them these many years.
Mission Agency: Church Resource Ministries
Singapore is the base from which they build and encourage spiritual leaders. When they left Southern California 14 years ago, Jim had been the Global and local outreach pastor at Rolling hills Covenant Church. Now the movement in Singapore has begun mentoring leaders of churches and mission agencies around SE Asia. They see their part in God's Kindgom as influencing spiritual leaders that they will finish a career of ministry strong and passionate and fruitful for the Lord.
Join us in praying that their long term investment there will leave a legacy for the following generation; that Chrisitians in South East Asia (including China) will be equipped and mature to carry on the task of preaching the gospel and making disciples in all nations!
Kimberly is here without her husband Jim this summer in order to bring their son Cameron, a rising 10th grader, to a Christian Military Boarding School in Mississippi (Chamberlain-Hunt Academy). When she returns to Singapore August 15, they start a new chapter of service without children at home. They are grateful for the many years RHCC has been their home church, and the love and support from this congregation that has followed them and supported them these many years.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Mother's Day Sharing
| 
TIME | 
Title | 
Vocals/ 
Emcee | 
Keyboard | 
Guitar | 
Bass | 
Drums | 
Length | 
NOTES | |
|  | 
Welcome/Worship
  CCChurch |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
|  | 
3 Worship songs | 
Bee Luen |  |  |  |  | 
15 | 
CCChurch team, songs chosen by women of the
  church | |
|  | 
Announcements | 
Pastor Amos |  |  |  |  | 
5 |  | |
|  | 
100 Years Into | 
K! |  |  |  |  | 
3
  [6] | 
Intro
   | |
| 
Introduction 
When Pas Amos called to ask me to share with you a special message for
  Mother’s Day, I was so honored and excited. I’ve enjoyed teaching creative
  arts to some from this congregation, but haven’t had much opportunity to
  collaborate with them in doing something creative! Thank you Pastor Amos for inviting an artist to share your pulpit.
  Thank you to all of those in this church who have pitched in and added some
  element to what’s going to take place in the next 75 minutes! 
As I've been
  praying about Mother's Day with you and your church, I am convinced that this
  should be a morning to worship and thank
  God for what he has created in
  making women. All women.  
I have very
  strong convictions about this
  because for my first 8 years of marriage, I was childless, and a Pastor's
  Wife.  
Mother's
  Day was a very difficult day to attend church, and people said the most
  unintentionally hurtful things. In fact, the last 2 years before my
  biological son Tyler came, I didn't go to church on Mother’s Day! He’s 19
  now, and off to University in USA, and today my awesome 15 year old Cameron is here to support me, but I still
  feel a pang of sadness on Mother’s
  Day for women who have not had the honor of bearing and raising a child.  
I believe
  that the church can have a day where we
  recognize mothers without making the women who are not mothers feel awful
  about themselves.  
So, church, help me make this a morning where we take a look at
  what God made when he created women.  
Did you ever stop to think that the Woman was his “finale of creation?” Hey, hey! Can I
  hear an AMEN? 
Have you
  read the creation accounts in Genesis recently? 
Genesis ch 1 & ch 2 go about telling the story
  in a little different way, but
  here’s how I pieced it together. Will you stand with me as I read God’s Word? 
Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals
  and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would
  name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its
  name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and
  all the wild animals. 
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will
  make a helper suitable for him.” 
   
[So, maybe we women were his Encore? He finished creation, said
  it was good, but…not quite good enough…]  
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while
  he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs
  and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a
  woman from the rib he had taken out of the man,
  and he brought her to the man. 
The man said, “Whoa! Man!’ This
  is now bone of my bones
 and flesh of my flesh; 
she
  shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. ” 
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was
  evening, and there was morning —the sixth day. By the seventh day God had finished
  the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his
  work.  Then
  God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from
  all the work of creating that he had done. 
Don’t sit down
  yet! Men, boys,
  I want you to leave church today immensely thankful to God for what he has
  created when he created the girls, and more dedicated to being intentional
  about making sure you let these women, and the other women in your life know
  what a gift they are! Okay, you boys can sit. 
Women, look at me. The world is a richer place
  because of what God made when he made you females.
  All of you women have been given
  special gifting that is part of God’s nature. And it is unique to women: You
  have amazing power in your Nurturing, and in your ability to be quiet
  influencers.  
Women, and girls, at the end of this hour, I want you to leave
  with new resolve to explore and live out this nurturing, influencing aspect
  of your nature. Nurturing and influence is something in your DNA which is a
  unique exhibit of part of God’s attributes.  
Now, all of you
  women
  are part of God’s plan to nurture and influence the next generation for
  truth, righteousness and God’s Kingdom and his values.  
And for this moment this
  morning, I single out those of you who have raised children in your home.
   
While the rest of the band comes up to join me, will you remain
  standing?  
Those of you who have raised children in your home. Those of
  you who have born or adopted children. [let others sit]  
You have sacrificed much of on behalf of the Someone or
  Someones who call you “Mum.” On your good days, and even on your bad days,
  you show us what God is like in his forgiveness, unrelenting care,
  faithfulness and nurturing heart. The way you care for your family and have
  dreams for your kids’ future success, it models what God is like as he
  patiently helps us grow to maturity in Christ and becoming all we are
  destined to be.  
Ladies who are
  mums and caregivers,
  there’s a whole lot you do to take care of your families that goes unrecognized
  by anyone but God. Thank you for your sacrifice of love. Can we all give
  these gals who are standing some applause? Let’s take a moment to recognize
  them and thank them. 
[lead in applause, they are seated, slide change]  
Here’s a little slideshow for you, from your families. | |||||||||
|  | 
100
  Years  | 
K! | 
Kara
  Lu | 
Daniel
  Ang |  | 
Jeffery | 
4:07 | 
(Slide
  show of photos from families in the church) | |
|  | 
I Enjoy Being a Girl Intro |  |  |  |  |  | 
3 |  | |
| 
Blank
  theme slide 
My
  friends Daniel Ang on guitar and his wife Annabelle Ang-Bok singing with me
  have been among my artistic friends since they were dating, and I’m so
  thankful they agreed to join me today to worship God, and bless you by being
  part of this band today. They’ve known Jeffrey back there on the drums for a
  long time, and 12 year old Kara Lu came along willingly to play 100 Years,
  and to inspire all of you piano students to keep practicing! 
You’ve
  only got 100 years to live. Did you catch those lyrics? Five for Fighting may
  have put this message to a modern melody but an ancient version of it is in Psalm
  90. It was prayer of Moses,  
This morning, I want to have it be a prayer of Kimberly, for us.  
Lord, you have been our
  dwelling place 
throughout all generations. 
Before the mountains were
  born 
or you brought forth the whole world,
 from
  everlasting to everlasting you are God. 
You turn people back to
  dust,
 saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”  
 [Read with me] 
Our days may come to seventy
  years, 
or eighty, if our strength endures;
 yet the best of them are but
  trouble and sorrow, 
     
for they quickly pass, and we
  fly away.  
Teach us to number our days,
  
that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 
Satisfy us in the morning
  with your unfailing love, 
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
   
------- 
I
  don’t know about you gals, but when I was growing up, I thought being a girl
  was kind of a curse. I was raised by a family of athletes. My mom was a PE
  teacher.  
For
  the next song, Sheryl Ting will
  play the keyboard, and I’ve even got a surprise
  part for all of you. But I’m
  getting ahead of myself. 
Looking
  around this room, I’m wondering which of you women are the really girly
  girls. The ones who’ve embraced this and enjoy being a girl? It’s okay, you
  can call them out. Who loves make-up or shopping or dancing or manicures or
  making arrangements with flowers? Yes, I know you do. And God created you
  that way, and said, “IT IS GOOD.” 
Somewhere
  in my little girl years, I stopped being a girly girl. I used to make fun of
  girly girls.  
I
  was just jealous of the boys who were stronger, and seemed more important and
  valuable. Femininity seemed weak. 
I’ve
  learned to embrace being feminine over the years. I’m still learning to
  embrace it. Because, let’s face it, it’s FUN! When I was in my 20’s I learned
  this song for an event at my home church. It made me gag. It’s old fashioned.
  It’s from an old Musical called Flower Drum Song, written by these guys
  Rogers & Hammerstein. The ones who gave us South Pacific and Oklahoma!  | |||||||||
|  | 
I
  Enjoy Being a Girl  | 
K!
  & Annabelle | 
Sheryl
  Ting | 
Daniel |  | 
Jeff | 
4 | 
(sing
  along)  
words on screen | |
| 
I Enjoy Being A
  Girl  
I’m a girl, and by me
  that’s only great 
I am proud that my
  silhouette is curvy 
That I walk with a sweet
  and girlish gait 
With my hips kind of
  swivelly and swervy 
I adore being dressed in
  something frilly 
When my date comes to get
  me at my place 
Out I go with my Joe or
  John or Billy 
Like a filly who is ready
  for the race! 
When I have a brand new
  hairdo 
With my eyelashes all in
  curl 
I float as the clouds on
  air do,          I enjoy
  being a girl! 
When men say I’m cute and
  funny 
And my teeth aren’t
  teeth, but pearl, 
I just lap it up like
  honey,           I
  enjoy being a girl! 
I flip when the fellas
  send me flowers 
I drool over dresses made
  of lace 
I talk on the telephone
  for hours 
With a pound and a half
  of cream upon my face! 
I’m strictly a female
  female 
And my future I hope will
  be 
In the home of a brave
  and free male 
Who'll enjoy being a guy
  having a girl... like... me. 
Sing a second time
  through with everyone. | |||||||||
| 
21+  1.5 
You may think it’s strange to sing a song
  from a Rogers & Hammerstein musical in church on a Sunday morning, but
  I’ve got an activity planned next that also doesn’t usually take place in a
  worship service. If you grew up in church, however, you probably did this
  somewhere along the line in CHILDREN’s church.  
Helpers, if you would get ready to pass out
  the goodies we’ll need after this interview? You see, I’ve brought with me
  some coloured pencils and some art paper and envelopes and we’re going to
  give you the chance to make a homemade card. 
As we’ve been talking and singing so far this
  morning, it’s my guess that God has
  brought a special woman to your mind who either is your mother, or has
  been like a mother to you. If
  you’ve not thought of someone yet,  
Lord,
  I pray that you will bring to mind for every person in this room the name of a woman you want to encourage through them. I
  pray you will give them inspiration, images or words to use when we use these
  papers and pencils to make greeting cards. Amen. 
Now
  these things are getting passed out right now, but don’t start yet! We have
  an interview.  
There
  are many women in this room this morning, but before we began planning for
  this day, I only knew one mom in this church. And she’s an amazing woman. I
  admire her positivity, her great attitude, her spirit that says, CAN! Even
  when it’s something she’s never tried. Khimmy Lim was a student of mine in
  creative arts, and has been a great encouragement to me over the years, even
  though we don’t see one another very often. She has chosen one particular
  mother from church to have an interview with. Khimmy will you come and
  introduce the special mum you wanted to feature this morning? 
For now, I’m going to turn it over to Sister
  Khimmy. | |||||||||
|  | 
Interview/Testimony | 
Khimmy |  |  |  |  | 
10 |  | |
| 
Sister Karen (Last name) 
I’ve asked you if you’d be willing to be
  interviewed this morning for Mother’s Day. Thank you for saying yes! 
Though all of us in church know you, we have
  some guests with us today, who don’t know you. You are a mother, and we know
  your girls, Bee who led worship earlier and…. 
1. When you were young, what were your dreams
  about what it would be like to become a mother? Was there something about
  your mom or anther woman in your life that inspired you? Can you give us an
  example of a memory about that? 
2. Tell us something that has been rewarding
  about being a mom, can you think of something that happened along the journey
  of raising your two girls when you thought, “this is a little like heaven on
  earth” A happy moment you’ll never forget. Do you have another memory you
  want to share? 
3. What surprises came along with the job
  when you became a mother?... Can you think of any examples when you thought
  the job was too hard for you and you couldn’t do it? Where did you struggle?
  How did you find a way through or out of it? Can you give us any specific
  ways you found strength, guidance or inspiration from God as you raised your
  children. 
If time permits: 4. You chose to be a
  fulltime mom, but now your children are grown. How has God opened doors for
  you to be like a mom to others outside your family? 
If time permits: Many women here today admire
  you because they know your girls and think you did an amazing job.  Thank you for being willing to be
  interviewed. Would you mind saying a prayer for the women in the room and
  their families? | |||||||||
|  | 
Making Greeting Cards | 
Kimberly |  |  |  |  | 
10+32.5 | 
Kimberly Explains 
Play: Try a Little Tenderness, Chris Brown 6:08 | |
|  | 
Come
  to Me Intro/sharing | 
K! |  |  |  |  | 
1:15 | 
43:45 | |
| 
As you finish up those cards, we have another song we
  want to give you. When my son Tyler went off to University this past year,
  listening to this song was the only thing that made me cry. I’m not going to
  cry this morning, even if I am singing it for my son Cameron who is leaving
  June 1st to start school in USA and make James and I empty nesters
  come August. 
I want to tell you that this song reflects a
  mother’s heart more than any I’ve ever heard. And as you listen, with
  whatever feelings you have about your own mother, I want you to think about
  this truth from scripture 
Isaiah
  49:15
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child
  she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! 
God is also singing
  these words over you.  Many of
  you probably know Zephaniah 3:17, but I’ll repeat it if you don’t:  
The Lord your God is
  with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will
  quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.  
Here’s Come to Me,
  originally recorded by Celine Dion. | |||||||||
|  | 
Come To Me  |  | 
Sheryl
  Ting | 
Daniel
  Ang |  | 
Jeff | 
4:40 | 
48:30 | |
| 
Come To Me  
I will always love you no
  matter what 
No matter where you go or
  what you do 
And knowing you, you’re
  gonna have to do things your own way, and that’s okay 
So be free, spread your
  wings, and promise me just one thing... 
If you ever need a place
  to cry 
Baby, come to me, come to
  me 
I’ve always known that
  you were born to fly 
But you can come to me 
If the world breaks your
  heart 
No matter where on earth
  you are 
You can come to me 
Don’t walk around with
  the world on your shoulders 
And your highest hopes
  laying on the ground 
I know you think you’ve
  gotta try to be my hero, but don’t you know 
The stars you wish upon,
  they fall, it’s true, but I still believe in you 
If you ever need a place
  to cry 
Baby, come to me, come to
  me 
I’ve always known that
  you were born to fly 
But you can come to me 
If the world breaks your
  heart 
No matter where on earth
  you are 
You can come to me | |||||||||
|  | 
You are My Stronghold Intro/Sharing |  |  |  |  |  | 
4 | 
52:30 | |
| 
Those of you in
  the room today who have had the privilege of bearing and raising children, we honor you today. Yours is not an
  easy job. It’s partly hard because our mother Eve used her ability to
  influence and after eating from the tree, woo’d Adam into disobeying God, and
  we got the Curse: which, if you remember included not only work making us
  sweat and exhausted, but included a special “pain in childbirth.” Thanks a
  lot Eve.  
But
  we also live in increasingly difficult times to protect our children and to raise
  children to honor God. From nearly every direction, our society, even here in safe Singapore,
  bombards their senses and threatens their innocence & purity. We cannot get away from the
  dangerous messages and images that our Enemy the devil wants to use to entice
  us away from our Creator and the intimacy, nurture and joy and creativity he
  offers – and is the only real thing that can satisfy us.  
For
  those of you mothers who’ve had or have a child who has not embraced their
  Father God’s love and values, we recognize the heartache you have over this
  disappointment.  
All
  women may be nurturers, and have a role in shaping the next generation of
  Godly leaders, but only a mother can experience the anguish that comes from a
  prodigal son or daughter. There are plenty of joys that come from bearing or
  adopting children, but it takes a lot of courage to be a mom when these
  little buggers can hurt you. When a child you’ve bonded to rejects you and
  rebels, it hurts like nothing else can hurt.   
As
  far as I know, my two boys so far have only wandered to the edges of God’s
  path for them, and if they strayed to far, I’ve still been able to see them
  and call them back. Knowing how these seasons have hurt me, I can’t imagine
  what it takes to bear up under more outright rebellion and disobedience. 
This
  next song, taken from Psalm 27 is
  dedicated to you. I’ve invited some friends to dance for you moms today.
  Four members of the Islandgals Worship
  Hula Company have come to help me lead you in worship through this Psalm.
  As they come up, can I ask you to read this Psalm? 
MEN: The Lord is my light and
  my salvation whom shall I fear?
 
The Lord is the stronghold of
  my life of whom shall I be afraid? 
When the wicked advance
  against me
 to devour me, 
it is my enemies and my
  foes
 who will stumble and fall.   
Though an army besiege me,
 my
  heart will not fear;  
though war break out against
  me,
 even then I will be confident. 
WOMEN: One thing I ask from
  the Lord,
 this only do I seek:
 
that I may dwell in the house
  of the Lord
 all the days of my life,  
to gaze on the beauty of the
  Lord
 and to seek him in his temple. 
For in the day of trouble 
he
  will keep me safe in his dwelling;
 
he will hide me in the
  shelter of his sacred tent
 and set me high upon a rock. 
Then my head will be exalted
  
above the enemies who surround me; 
 
at his sacred tent I will
  sacrifice with shouts of joy; 
  
I will sing and make music to
  the Lord. 
LEADER: Hear my voice when I
  call, Lord;
 be merciful to me and answer me.  
My heart says of you, “Seek
  his face! ”
 Your face, Lord, I will seek. 
Do not hide your face from
  me,
 do not turn your servant away in anger; 
    
you have been my helper. 
Do
  not reject me or forsake me,
     
God my Savior.  
Though my father and mother
  forsake me,
 the Lord will receive me. 
MEN: Teach me your way,
  Lord;
 lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.  
Do not turn me over to the
  desire of my foes,
     
for false witnesses rise up
  against me,
 spouting malicious accusations. 
I remain confident of this:
 I
  will see the goodness of the Lord 
in the land of the living.  
ALL:
  Wait for the Lord;
     
be strong
  and take heart
    
and
  wait for the Lord. | |||||||||
|  | 
You
  are My Stronghold  | 
K | 
Sheryl
  Ting | 
Daniel |  | 
Jeff | 
3:40 | 
56:00 | |
| 
New order | 
Video Greetings/Tributes | 
Bee
  Luen |  |  |  |  | 
10 | 
66:00 | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
|  | 
Finale: How You Live Intro | 
K! |  |  |  |  | 
2:00
  + moving | 
70 | |
| 
On behalf of the mom’s who just were greeted
  in those videos, I’ll thank you now and they’ll thank you later.  Thanks for the energy and creativity
  you put to making these greetings!  
Those of you youths who didn’t get around to
  making a video, well, let me just say, I hope you have something planned to
  make it up to mom today since you weren’t up there! 
Ha ha! 
Let’s play some of that music on the CD.  
We’ve almost come to the end of our morning together. We’ve spent this past
  hour thinking about what is wonderful in God’s creation of women and what makes for a good mum. Together
  we women are encouraged and inspired to be more courageous and nurturing. I
  am confident that God has been
  speaking to you today. He’s been reminding you of something about
  himself, or he’s been asking you to step it up in some area where you’ve been
  slack. 
Around the room are posters with issues women
  face. There will be one last song we’ll sing, a challenge, a benediction
  through a song we want to give you before we have a chance to pray for you
  about these issues.  
But before that, I need you to listen
  carefully to these instructions, because this is a little clunky in this
  room. Men, guys, children, girls. We need you to make a big circle around
  this room. You are going to encircle the women of this church as a
  demonstration of your love and support for them.  
On your way to making a circle, I want you to
  pass your card to the woman you made if for, if she is here. Got it? Ok. 
Those of you who are women who are finished
  with your schooling, are say, 20 years or older come down here to the center.
  And while you do, take a look at these posters and be deciding which one you
  would most like to be prayed for in just a few minutes. 
[wait for everyone to settle] 
in
  Ephesians 2:10 it says: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ
  Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 
This last song from Point of Grace is my last
  challenge for you today. You ready for one last song? Gals, this is for you: | |||||||||
|  | 
How
  You Live  | 
K!
  Annab | 
Sheryl
  Ting | 
Daniel
  Ang |  | 
Jeff | 
4:30 | 
74:30 | |
| 
Wake up to the sunlight 
With your windows open 
Don't hold in your anger or leave things
  unspoken 
Wear your red dress 
Use your good dishes 
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes 
Have what you want 
But want what you have 
And don't spend your life lookin' back 
Turn up the music 
Turn it up loud 
Take a few chances 
Let it all out 
You won't regret it 
Lookin' back from where you have been 
Cuz it's not who you knew 
And it's not what you did 
It's how you live 
So go to the ballgames 
And go to the ballet 
And go see your folks more than just on the
  holidays 
Kiss all your children 
Dance with your wife 
Tell your husband you love him every night 
Don't run from the truth 
'Cause you can't get away 
Just face it and you'll be okay 
Turn up the music 
Turn it up loud 
Take a few chances 
Let it all out 
You won't regret it 
Lookin' back from where you have been 
'Cause it's not who you knew 
And it's not what you did 
It's how you live 
Oh wherever you are and wherever you've been 
Now is the time to begin 
So give to the needy 
And pray for the grieving 
E'en when you don't think that you can 
'Cause all that you do is bound to come back
  to you 
So think of your fellow man 
Make peace with God and make peace with
  yourself 
'Cause in the end there's nobody else 
Turn up the music 
Turn it up loud 
Take a few chances 
Let it all out 
'Cause you won't regret it 
Lookin' back from where you have been 
'Cause it's not who you knew 
And it's not what you did 
It's how you live 
'Cause it's not who you knew 
And it's not what you did 
It's how you live  | |||||||||
|  | 
Close Service with Prayer  
Post
  Worship playlist: 
Women
  can find a place in the room to pray for different issues. |  |  |  |  |  | 
14 | 
PLAY recordings of: | |
| 
Psalm
  139 
For
  the director of music. Of David. A psalm 
You have searched me, Lord,
    and
  you know me. 
You know when I sit and when
  I rise; 
you perceive my thoughts from afar. 
You discern my going out and
  my lying down;
 you are familiar with all my ways.  
Before a word is on my
  tongue
 you, Lord, know it completely.  
You hem me in behind and
  before,
    and you lay your hand upon
  me. 
Such knowledge is too
  wonderful for me, 
 too lofty for me to attain. 
Where can I go from your
  Spirit?
     
Where can I flee from your
  presence? 
If I go up to the heavens,
  you are there;
    if I make my bed in the
  depths, you are there. 
If I rise on the wings of the
  dawn,
    if I settle on the far side
  of the sea, 
even there your hand will
  guide me, 
    your right hand will hold me
  fast. 
If I say, “Surely the
  darkness will hide me
    and
  the light become night around me,” 
even the darkness will not be
  dark to you;
    the night will shine like the
  day,
    for darkness is as light to
  you. 
For you created my inmost
  being; 
    you knit me together in my
  mother’s womb.  
I praise you because I am
  fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your
  works are wonderful, 
    I
  know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from
  you
    when I was made in the secret
  place,
    when I was woven together in
  the depths of the earth.  
Your eyes saw my unformed
  body;
    all the days ordained for me
  were written in your book
    before
  one of them came to be. 
How precious to me are your
  thoughts, God! 
    How vast is the sum of them! 
Were I to count them, 
    they
  would outnumber the grains of sand —
    when
  I awake, I am still with you. | |||||||||
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
95 | 
Est total time 1 hr, 35 min  | |
Categories for Prayer (posters around the room
of the things women are concerned about)
Life balance: Work, Relationships, Serving
Caring for family
Health & Beauty
Confidence & Joy vs Worries  Fear
Self Care: Taking care of yourself!
Deuteronomy
5:16
“Honor your
father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that
you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your
God is giving you.
Matthew 15:1 Then some Pharisees and
teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do
your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands
before they eat!”3 Jesus replied, “And why do you
break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God
said, ‘Honor your father and mother’[a] and
‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[b] 5 But you
say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father
or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their
father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of
your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was
right when he prophesied about you:8 “‘These people honor me with
their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
9 
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