WHAT GOD'S BEEN DOING IN MY Life?

God has been very faithful to me my whole life, even in the most difficult of times.  He has never left me nor forsaken me.  He has been with me even when I turned my back on Him; watching me.

It was God’s plan that I came to Singing Waters to be a Young Leader in Training.  After I graduated from high school last year I did not feel spiritually ready to go to university.  I decided to differ my acceptance to McMaster and take a year off to join a “Year of Training” program in the UK with Jubilee Church.  After going through all the procedures and paying the fees, I was unable to get a student visa in time for the September start.  Later on, some of the older girls at my church who attended the Isaiah 61 School told me about the YLIT program.  So as of Nov. 3/09, I am officially an YLIT at Singing Waters.

This was truly a blessing from God because my family could not afford the program in the UK.  It would have cost us 1 year of my university tuition.  Not only did God bless me financially, but I am also closer to home and my family.  Little did I know, God also had plans for my relationship with Him.  At Singing Waters, I learn how to balance work and fun with spending time with God.  Singing Waters is a safe environment for God to stretch you and mature you to grow and become a son or daughter of Christ.

Sharon Goh

CHANGE WITHIN CHANGE

Many people enjoy seasons of change especially when the winter season gives way to the season of spring.  As I was pondering about change, God just reminded me of the verse He gave me eight years ago.  Gen 12:1, the Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”  At that time, I thought it might be the time for me to change churches.  I never thought that I would be leaving Taiwan for Canada.

Looking at life at Singing Waters, I see many people going through seasons of change within change.  Many people come to join the Young Leaders in Training Program for many reasons, once here and settled in, though, they begin to hear the voice of God.  They begin to see His purpose in bringing them here and a new season of change begins.

God’s purpose in change is to help us grow and mature in our spiritual lives so that we can be in a deeper relationship with Him.  There are areas of our lives that need healing, but we may not see it until God calls us through one door and then opens the door of healing.  God’s goal is always a heart to heart relationship with us.  Let us just embrace what God has in our life.

Gloria Hsieh

SHORT, BUT BLESSED TIME!

The short period of time I’ve been at Singing Waters has definitely been life changing.  With about one week left I am now reflecting on how my time here has been.  I came with a strong desire to be restored and renewed.  I wanted whatever God had for me here.  It was clear to me the Lord wanted me to come to Singing Waters at this time in my life.

I knew that it would be very good for me and I would benefit from it greatly. I didn't know what to expect before I started here as a Young Leader In Training.  My friend, Matt and I expressed a strong desire to be in as much of the Isaiah 61 Winter School as possible.  Little did we know we would both be sitting in every session.  I guess that is what the leaders here felt God wanted for us.

I came ready for anything because I didn't know if my time at Singing Waters would be busy and exciting or boring and slow.  It turned out to be busy and exciting, so busy that I had to take some days off to rest from being burnt out.  However, it was very exciting to see and feel the changes that God was making in me.  He has given me so many revelations and so much healing in the past two months.

I have made a lot of friendships that will last a life time.  My experience of living and learning here have been so wonderful that I am planning on returning once and a while to rest and be refreshed.  Although it has been overwhelming at times, the Lord has done a lot in me at Singing Waters, and I am so blessed and thankful to have been here at this time in my life.

Philip Meissner

CHANGE WITHIN CHANGE

Be ye flexible or thou shalt be broken, was the tongue in cheek motto of my DTS when I was at Youth With A Mission many years ago.  Among the many fond memories and lessons learned that simple phrase has stayed with me as a good reminder of how we should be open for whatever Father has for us.  Even with going into doing this month’s newsletter, for me, is such an example.

Having the privilege of editing, I have the fun of discerning the themes for the issues.  For this particular month I felt it could be change within change as March being within a year of change has so many of its own changes.  From daylight’s saving, to the changing of seasons, Passover, and the completion for the 2010 Isaiah 61 winter school.  I had my ideas of where to go with this issue, but just before that could be initiated I was presented with a different idea that seems to me the way to go.

Change is good, without a flow of change things can become stagnant which does lead to nastiness.  With non-moving water you begin to see the rise of slim, algae and most annoying of all, mosquitoes.  So, I’m going to be flexible and go with this new theme idea and expectantly see where Father will take this.

I do wish also to make note here, in the aspect of change and YLIT, that this March we will experience the change of one of our dear YLIT’s leaving.  Melody is moving on into whatever the Lord has for her next.  Needless to say she will be missed around here as she truly lives up to her name and has been a sweet melodic addition to our team from work duties to leading in worship.  May you feel the Father’s presence wherever you go Melody.

Jason Knox

HOW I GOT HERE

My story begins much like any other story.  I had just turned 18 and was trying to figure out what to do with my life.  I had just moved out from home and was living with strangers in Huntsville, ON; a pastor and his family whom I had met only once before.  I was completely convinced that I was in God's will.  Has that ever happened to you, not the whole moving in with relative strangers, but the part about thinking you were in God’s will; only to find out later that’s probably not what was going on?  Sucks, eh?  Anyways, there I was, all by myself, minus the family I was living with.  The first night was pretty weird, with the whole "not knowing who I was living with" thing going on, so I just stayed in my new room.
 
The next day, I realized I had forgotten some basic bathroom needs: toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, etc.  So off I went to the nearest Wal-Mart.  As I walked into the store, I noticed I was having difficulty closing my right eye.  Brushing it off, I proceeded to buy my various bathroom products and went home.  When I got home though, I found I was also having trouble speaking, drinking, eating, and closing my right eye.  It turned out that I had Bell’s palsy.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's where half of your face, in my case the right side, becomes paralyzed.  It sucks.  I couldn't tell you how many dirty looks I got from people; however it was fun to play it up.  The good part about it was that I had to wear an eye patch 24/7 so my eye wouldn't dry out, so I looked like a pirate.  That, in turn, hindered my job finding ability, who wants to hire someone who looks like they could possibly be wanted for water-related crimes?

However, I was still adamant that I was in God's will.  When God healed me of Bell’s palsy mid-October, I threw myself into the job hunting game.  I was out almost every day applying for almost anything, going to job workshops, applying for E.I. and so forth.  It took about a month, but I found a job, thank God.  Yet God had other plans for me.  About 2 weeks went by and I realized I wouldn't have enough money for rent.  Don't get me wrong, I mooch just as much as the next guy, but only from people I know.  Not from people I had only met once and who had taken me into their home, treated me as a member of their family.  So, I decided to check out other living arrangements.  That’s when I remembered someone telling me about the YLIT program at Singing Waters.  I mainly remembered the "no rent" part of it.  I looked into it and within the week was accepted.

When I got here, I wasn't expecting much.  I wasn't expecting for God to take me, turn me inside out, mess me up, and change my world.  God has a funny way of getting you back on track, doesn't He?  Here I was, a shy, quiet kid, thrown into a world where I met new people almost on a weekly basis.  Within a couple months I was leading worship, something that I was familiar with, but not used to.  In this time, I have come to realize the importance of those "quiet times" where you need to sit back, be still, and know that He is God.  To know that no matter what your day throws at you, He is still God.  He holds it all in His hand.  That has been such a relief to me, because I know that I don't need to have an answer or a plan for everything.  Just put your trust in God and have fun with the outcome; ‘cause if you can’t have fun with God, who can you have fun with?

Storm Williams

HEALING LOVE

Greetings, my name is Derek and I am part of the Young Leaders in Training here at Singing Waters.  God has been so faithful ever since I came to Singing Waters and He has been so good.  The Lord also has stood by me on the days when I was hurting and feeling lonely.

I’ve experienced the Lord healing me of a bitter root expectancy that was formed by continually being pushed away.  As a result I began to view people, and life, through that bitter root.  However, now that I am healed, I no longer see people the same way as I did before.

Also, I have seen the Lord heal the sick and do miracles.  Like this one person whose one leg was shorter than the other and it grew out to be the same length as the other, instantly.  I have the Lord Jesus heal broken relationships, heal people who were hurt and broken through abuse and rejection.  I’ve experienced seeing the broken hearted and unloved receiving healing from the unconditional love of our Lord, including those who have never even known the love of a father.  People actually begin to know who they really are and see themselves as valuable and having a purpose when they encounter the love of God.

Jesus is truly the God who heals and I just want to release to you this blessing; may the Lord bless you and keep you; may He cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.  May He lift up his continence upon you and give you peace.

Derek Hogg

YOUNG LEADER IN TRAINING

Editor’s Note:  This month it is with mixed emotions, we bid a farewell to one of our YLIT’s, Melody.  She has certainly been a delightful “song” who has been woven into the fabric of Singing Waters and so we felt to once again share her testimony.

------------

Looking back over the past two years, I am amazed by God’s work and healing in me. When I first came here, I found it challenging to be still, this was because my life back in Taiwan was too busy.  By God’s grace, I slowed down and had a chance to examine my life and find my identity in God.  I learned that I didn’t even know myself very well and that my identity came from how people saw me and what their opinions were of me.

In the world, people always evaluate you and your self-worth based on career success.  I grew up in a pastor’s family, so there were a lot of expectations and restrictions on my life.  Also, I had put a lot of pressures on myself.  I had to perform well otherwise my family would be shamed and I became a people pleaser instead of pleasing God first.

One time when Barry Adams was teaching about our Father’s love; during the worship time, I was laying on the ground when Father spoke to me.  He said that I can just “be” and not do anything exactly like I was, lying still on the floor.  I realized for the first time that He really loves me so much, simply because I am His precious daughter and that He wants to give His children good gifts.   Before I only knew in my head that God loves me, but that day that revelation came alive in my heart.  

After God’s love came and touched me, I knew I was different.  In 1 John 4:18 it says “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”  You cannot get this revelation by studying alone; it’s something you can only experience!

I also had some areas that I could not surrender to God.  Before I came to Singing Waters I said to God: “God, you can control some parts of my life, but there are some areas that you cannot touch.”  After experiencing this love, I submitted my whole life to God.  He is too good to me and my trust in Him is increasing.

His ways are always better than our ways and His thoughts are always higher than our thoughts.  I also prayed the Lordship prayer: Confessing my sin, submitting my life and allowing Him to control my life.  God’s encountered me in a deep way at Singing Waters and I really appreciate my time here.  The healing journey is like peeling layer by layer.  I know my healing journey continues on and I am excited about walking with God and serving Him in whatever I do.

Melody Chen

It’s amazing how I found myself with God in such a beautiful place like Singing Waters; a place of serenity, just between me and God.

Back in Taiwan, my parents are both pastors who lead a church in Taipei.  I have realized that going to church was more out of obligation than my own desire.  Being here at Singing Waters is like a personal retreat for me with no high expectations and no pressure.  I’m away from all distractions and have plenty of time to myself.

So far God has stretched me and moved me in every other way.  I get to deal with my issues and really get to know myself more.  I started to lean more on Him, putting my plans into His hands and be still in His presence.

Whenever God moves, I feel so refreshed and healed.  I want to know God more and continuously soak in His faithful love.

What a wonderful place that Singing Waters is!

Ellen Yang

TO THE YLIT'S & HOUSE STAFF

Leaders in training learn to be positive and influential in every part of their involvement at Singing Waters.

Whether you are leading worship, helping with house duties or on the sound board; a servant’s heart is always present and I see that in each of you:
Balazs, Derek, Melody, Sharon, Storm, Ellen, Phil, Matt, Happy and William.

I have seen you grow during your time here.  I have also learned a lot from each of you.

I know that when there is a task to be done, it will be done to the best of your ability.

I’m looking forward to what God has planned for the upcoming months!

Ps. 91

Jennifer Noel