A Prayer Request

This entry should have been written long ago, but it's still not too late. :) Do you remember Suyen? She is now in Monterey, California, together with her husband who is there to study. And recently, she has given birth to her second child, a lovely baby girl by the name of Chelsea. And she has allowed me to re-post what she wrote in her blog:

I had PUPP during the last month of my pregnancy. It is a skin rash aptly named Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy. It really is a plague, and the dermatologist told me that it would go away after I give birth. The papules did go away, but urticaria (hives) appeared after Chelsea was born. Want to know how my arms and legs look like now? Ta Da.....now I really am confined during confinement.

Hives are really itchy esp at night. Some nights, before I had taken medication (that finally works) and a shot to ease the itch, I felt like scraping my skin off with a paring knife. Last 2 weeks have really been trying. I was worn out from all the night feeds and I couldn't rest well because of the itch. I was literally going nuts.

Thankfully, Zyrtec worked and now the hives are drying up. According to the dermatologist, the marks will disappear completely and will not leave any kind of scars (the only part of the diagnosis that I was glad about). He attributed my bout of hives to hormonal imbalance. When will the hormones balance out? Hurry, hurry, cos I can't wait to go out.

I think she is recovering, but please keep her in your prayers, as prayer is NEVER wasted. And a note to all sisters who are working, studying, or just living away from Singapore (we actually do have quite a few), you are loved and blessed! And physical distance is never too far to keep God and our fellowship with you away.

First TWOS Fellowship Update

Thank God for the 13 sisters (3 from Youth/English service) who came for our 1st TWOS fellowship on 11 Aug 07 (Sat).

The order of event:

Del (Chairperson) - Introduction and welcome
Tresa (Worship Leader) & Deborah (Musician) - Worship with 2 songs
Ps Mark (Speaker) - Message on the importance of sisters' role in the "hurting" ministry
Irene (Programme Coordinator) - Ice breaking game on "fire, tree, wind" and also "paper that represents my feeling now"
Irene (Programme Coordinator) - facilitated discussion on "Myself, Programme, What we can Teach, and What ladies need"
Del (Refreshment Chief) - encouraged sisters to have fellowship and refreshment


Gist of Ps Mark's Message:
TWOS is a ministry to hurting women. Some examples of hurting women are:

• women who can't conceive
• widowed women
• single ladies
• single mothers
• women who had abortion
• women with unfaithful husbands
• women going through menopause

Wives of husbands in ministries need help, for what affects the wives affects the husbands and their ministries.

Sisters in TWOS need to learn how to identify "hurting" women. They need to:

• Train their spiritual eyes - to detect women with depression, have been spouse abused, with troubled marriage, experiencing menopause mood swing, etc.
• Educate themselves - by reading more on hurting women issues
• Organize support group - for each unique women's problems
• Organize Workshop - by special speakers
• Counsel Women - some e.g.
  - Titus 2, Women2women
  - Shepherd Women, befriend a hurting women, walk through life with her
  - Wounded Healer, helping another woman in crisis after we have personally recovered from a similar crisis
  - Practical Helpers, e.g. hospital visits, demonstrate how to care for new born, etc
  

Discussion on what sisters want out of TWOS:

For Myself - what each sister wants for themselves

• learn how to help other sisters
• to train my spiritual eyes to identify troubled women
• to grow in godly wisdom
• mutual encouragement
• counselling skills
• learn to sing, keep fit, how to find right mate (for the singles), how to keep marriages
• learn skills in cooking, handicraft, paperwork, home & interior decoration, props making

The Programme - the activities each sister like to participate

• Workshop by good speakers
• 1 to one discipleship/bible study
• evangelism
• mission trip
• community works
• visitation
• lessons on cooking, grooming
• outdoor together, e.g. movies, walks, spa, Hi-tea
  

What I can teach - some of the things sisters can teach each other at TWOS

• Mrs Alan - baking/cooking
• Sharon - languages
• Betty - blogging
• Betsy - magic show
• Maryaan - keep fit
• Janet - singing, stewardship of money
• Tresa - personal grooming
  

People in need of help - list people we know who needs help


My Reflection:

I felt very encouraged, especially by the young sisters and also a few sisters who came, though I thought they would not have come. Some sisters who were supposed to come didn't show up though... I guess they may have some last minute commitments. I hope they can make it for our 2nd TWOS Fellowship on 1 Sep 07.

Personally, I feel that our 1st TWO Fellowship is a success, even though the number who came wasn't a big crowd. It was a time for me to get to know some sisters a little bit more on their gifts, strengths and struggles as we worship the Lord and play together. Yes, we literally played together and it reminded me of my younger days. :D Some sisters were very transparent in sharing their feelings and struggles. That helps me to know what to pray for them.

I look forward to a even more fruitful time for our 2nd TWOS Fellowship. I hope more sisters will come together to make TWOS their 'hiding place' from all their cares of life. TWOS Fellowship exists because of YOU, ladies! :)

5 Good Ways to Tell If Your Walk with God is Shallow

1. If you follow the Lord for only what He can do for you, your walk with Him is shallow. If you love Him enough to ask Him what you can do for Him, then your relationship is growing deep.

2. If you only pray to God when things are tough or you need something, then Your walk with Him is shallow. If you find yourself praying to Him many times a day just because you love to be in His presence, then your relationship is growing deep.

3. If you get mad at God or disappointed in Him when He doesn't do what you want, then your walk with Him is shallow. If you can praise God no matter what is going on in your life, then your relationship with Him is growing deep.

4. If you love God only because of what He does, then your walk with Him is shallow. If you love and reverence him for who He is, then your relationship with Him is growing deep.

5. If you think you have to beg God or twist His arm to get Him to answer your prayers, then your walk with Him is shallow. If you believe that God wants to answer yhe prayers you pray in line with His will, then your relationship with Him is growing deep.

-excerpts from "The Power of a Praying Woman" by Stormie Omartian

Disclaimer:
The above are thoughts of the author and may not represent the views of the group

Feeling Too Small?

"If you think you're too small to make a difference,
try going to bed with a mosquito in the room."
-- Unknown




Hahaha.... this statement makes me laugh, but it's so true. :)

So ladies, you can make a world of difference to the people around you. Your presence counts in this coming TWOS Fellowship, which is this Sat, at 3.30 p.m. If you can, please come earlier at 3 p.m. for a time of prayer.

See you!