So this Friday at CCF, we had a Sharing Night where anyone could just come up and share about how God is working in their lives.  As always it was an encouraging night.  I’ve always liked it when we’ve had sharing nights at CCF.  Being able to hear about the faithfulness and awesomeness of God in other people’s lives really does help in my own walk.  For me especially, spiritually lately, I haven’t been the greatest, and my walk hasn’t been exactly eventful either.  I had been slipping little by little throughout most of the term.  This week hasn’t been too bad, but I have lots of expectations for myself and I know I have lots to fix and lots to do to reach the full potential that God has for me.  I was thinking of sharing and felt like I should, but there wasn’t much time, and I still have to see what God has in store for me…we will see.. =D

Anyways I took some notes for the night and here they are.  I’ve also recorded the audio for everyone that shared, so if you want to hear them or you missed the night, just send me an email at jamvng@gmail.com and if I get permission from the “sharer” I can send it to you. =)  Also, for those that shared, if there are any discrepancies between my notes and what you meant, PLEASE tell me.  o and excuse the really rough notes..might have bad grammar and stuff at times hehe….

Caleb Yeung
- hard to forgive myself
- other times proud of who I am
- don't compare with others, no need to
- other's "rubric" is different than God's "rubric" for us
- we are all unique
- learn from others (different than measuring ourselves to others)
- "iron sharpening iron", purpose of tonight, to build each other up
- when God is faithful to one of us, we should share our joy with others
- Jeremiah 29:11
- never take our eyes off of Jesus
- not just us trying our best to focus on Him, but to get to the point where we can't help ourselves to

Stephanie Hadi
- God made us and loves us the way we are
- we are God's children
- read God’s letter of love for us (ask for the audio recording if you want to hear it =D)

Li Chen
- thankful for CCf even though is only frosh
- convicted to go into mathematical physics in high school to explore more of His creation
- didn't think he would get into university because of low english marks, but God gave 76% when the cutoff was 75%
- Proverbs 3:5
- trust in the Lord with everything he has
- got the 80% he needed in Euclid to get into advanced courses (got exactly 80%)
- God arranged good roommates (thankful)
- proud of marks, thought he would do well, but it wasn't that easy...almost failed first midterm in advanced CS course when he thought he could handle it
- God used school to humble him, remembered Proverbs 3:5, give school up to His hands
- 2nd midterm, God gave me JUST enough to pass course
- need to trust in God and He will lead you

Diana Trieu
- God can use you in ways you can't imagine
- last weekend, studied with friends downtown
- went for dinner, stopped at Popeyes, but restaurant was closing, so they went to Pizza Nova
- man walked in with really baggy clothes
- asked them for change, looked really intimidating
- ended up having enough money for pizza
- looked really sad, asked for ambulance
- store owner didn't want him in the store
- he suddenly said he wanted to commit suicide
- froze, friends were rushed to leave, but couldn't leave/move
- felt conviction from Spirit to move and speak to him
- went up to him and asked if he wanted a drink, gave me change and got him a drink
- he said Thank you and God Bless
- asked if he was ok
- talked about how everything wasn't going right
- he was a believer and told how God has saved his life many many times (4 near death experiences)
- felt his brokenness and hurt
- he couldn't hold on anymore
- told him to take more time with God (gave him Bible) and to really think about how much God loves him
- felt his pain and started crying
- reminded him of God's love for him and His faithfulness, need to seek Him, know that God is with you
- man said he would have faith because I told him to
- all felt like it was completely planned by God
- it was the Spirit that gave me the boldness to act on what God told me to go
- our God is powerful and do so many things in our lives, and work through us powerfully

see her blog post for more detail =D CLICK here

Michael Wong
- feels like his life is a rat race
- life is boring, asked God for excitement
- God gave him excitement, almost got in trouble with UW police, but God saves
- God will answer your prayers even if it is in an unexpected way

Elizabeth Kao
- this term is her billowing seas
- past term (winter) everything was well, got into optom, good boyfriend, growing in relationship with God
- thought this term would be the same
- had expectations, but God shattered expectations
- no one to depend on
- beginning of term, faith was tested
- asked myself if my faith was even genuine
- keep on striving to the point of agonizing for your faith
- because if you don't fight for it, how can you say you're a Christian
- your perseverance in this race is a testament to God's faithfulness
- learnt what it means to trust in God
- faithfulness of God is so true, you see it throughout the Bible
- Jude 24

Allan
- "When you don't believe in yourself, God will"
- why I am not more thankful?
- have been trying to find a job before graduating
- it used to be that when you're an engineer you could find a job right after, but last year only 25% could
- asked himself why is he not getting a job
- God has blessed me by coming to Waterloo
- didn't know anyone, went to Clubs Day, looking for Christian fellowship
- someone told him that engineers are "builders of men" (sorta like when Jesus said that we are fishers of men)

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I want to point out also that Brian Lee also shared a song and passage after hearing Diana’s sharing.  Isaiah 61 (go read it) and “From Ashes to Beauty” by The Vine Band.

The spirit of the sovereign Lord
Is on me now
To love, to speak, to heal, to preach
The spirit of the sovereign Lord
Is on me now
Giving Life

You turn ashes to beauty
Mourning to dancing
Anguish to songs of praise

Pour your spirit over me
Let your love rain down 
Would you take these hands of mine
And use me
Pour your spirit over me
Let your love rain down
Would you take these feet of mine
And lead me

The spirit of the sovereign Lord
Is on me
To go, to free, to give, to feed
The spirit of the sovereign Lord 
Is on me now
Spreading love

I really like this song after listening to it again and checking the lyrics.  It resonates with me and my passions.  Admittedly, this term I haven’t been doing super well spiritually and I haven’t done much to fulfill Isaiah 61.  But I pray that by God’s grace, that I can find the joy in Him again and revive my passion for the lost.

 My flesh and my heart may fail,
       but God is the strength of my heart
       and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:26