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If you can't read the above title, it means blessed birthday bro! HAHAHA

I hope that as you grow a year older, you will grow as much or even more in knowing who you are living for and look forward to Christ's coming when He makes things right. (Psalm 103) As a Christian life, a life that follows Christ at all costs is not a bed of roses but full of suffering. As you suffer like Christ, may you realize how deceitful our hearts can be and how powerful Christ is who has overcome the power of death and sins. Never ever give up on serving Him when you know who the source of life but persevere as Christ grows your faith in Him.

It's a huge blessing to have come to know Christ and serve Him together.  My prayer for you is you will think, serve, live, speak, and love like Christ as to the Father. Be conform to His likeness and be pleased with what pleases God. Live up to the calling that you are called to. (Eph 4)

You were once the guy standing at the corner but now standing at the middle of the stage to serve Him and His people, may you see the transformation is done by Christ. May He continue to sculpt you to His likeness through serving and living for Him.

You are always the loudest, the considerate one, the sporty one, the most mafan :), and the one who is willing to learn humbly. Praise His mercy and grace that He allowed you to grow in IMUCF and in church throughout this 1 year. Pray that you will continuously be mature in Christ by HIS WORDS and become a blessing to God's people with the gifts God gave you.

As you read these wishes, may you be smashed by the love we have for you in Christ haha XD Thank you for bearing with every one of us as we go through ups and downs with one another. Cheers to many more to come in Christ. Let's go jogging soon ~

LISTEN AND OBEY GOD = LIFE (Deut 30)

Sister In Christ,
Bethany.W
11/10/2023

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Capturing the moment: 2 bros chilling at camp

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Hiii Bao, happy birthday!! It's been a year since we've known each other in CF, and I recently gotten to know you more as we serve together in welcoming party. You have many strengths-- thoughtful, responsible (wanting people to treat ministry seriously), patient (thanks for matching pace for jogging haha), and you can be energetic when you want to be (kudos to the WP gamesmaster energy !!).
I hope these few months have been a reflective time, and continue to be, as we consider how we are to live our lives worthily of the calling of our Lord, who has redeemed us sinners, slaves under sin, to be his children who serve him in dutiful delight. As we continue serving God tgt in years to come, let's continue to bear with one another and build up each other by speak the truth in love, and grow in maturity in Christ (Col 1:28-29).

Sister in Christ, Erica.

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Our gamemaster working hard on rehearsal night 

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Good morning brother! hahaha. You can guess what time I'm writing this. Anyway, Happy Birthday!!!

It has been a blessing to us in CF to have you here with us and serving we us. I thank God that He placed you here in IMU with us and cut your heart on what truly matters in life. What a blessing this is.

You and me only met a few months ago but sometimes it feels longer than that. Probably cuz we are from the same school of pharmacy or we have similar humor 😂 Regardless, I am glad to have you as a friend.

We at CF are glad to have here with us, learning about God's truth and telling the world what is at stake. So, let's work had together, not neglecting to meet one another, not neglecting to speak the truth in love with one another, not neglecting to care for one another, not neglecting to read God's Words and always working hard for God.

Have a blessed birthday Desmond! When I return, let's have midnight dim sum 😆

Your sister-in-Christ,
Faith

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Happy birthday desmond!!

We've been through so many ups and downs together that sometimes it becomes easy to forget that we haven't known each other for a year yet hahahaha. I still remember how we started to get closer because we were in the same CG during the 10 Commandments Series and we made lots of sarcastic jokes about how we might as well stay overnight in Uni because it was so late dy and we both had classes early in the morning the next day. I'm really grateful for your friendship and fellowship, and all the times we've spent studying together, reading God's word together, taking sermon notes next to each other, having PSDs and also giggling like idiots about the stupidest little things ever.

Remember that time that we went for a run together (when I tried to sprint and lap you but I failed) and I found out afterwards that you were actually Malaysian, not Bruneian? Or that one time we went to go watch oppenheimer together with Huay Xin and ended making a very big discovery together?*skull emoji* Or even the most recent one where we were "love rivals" for Pris MS HAHAHAHAHAHAA *more skull emojis*

HAHAHAHA these memories are really precious to me and it's surreal for me to realize that this is the last birthday that I'll get to celebrate with you in person before it's time for me to go overseas…*crying emojis*

Things haven't been entirely smooth sailing for either of us lately and I know it's been stressful… But I want to encourage you to keep pressing on and increasing in the knowledge of God and learning more about who we are and who God is!! I know it's been really hard work and sometimes God's word can be difficult to understand and we really do struggle…but keep working hard because it's worth it!  Let's continue to be diligent in Ministry and also on God's word while remembering that this is who we already are, a people chosen before the foundation of the world, a new creation, God's treasured possession and ultimately God's people. So continue to be who you already are in God and press on! See you at the finish line *uwu emoji*

Your brother in Christ,
Jeriel :'))

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Happy birthday Desmond! Not really sure what to say because I havent known you for long but thanks for talking to me and being a brother in Christ and a friend to me haha. Thanks for also prompting me to go for CG sometimes too haha, will try my best to make it for CG next timee but all the best in whatever you do. Blessed birthday! :D

- Nat Chin

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First time running with Desmond- thanks for guiding me on how to run, making me to realise that not only do I need technique, I also need perseverance

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Blessed birthday! Desmond Lu Teck Bao - Praise God for creating you and making you understand His gospel :)

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Blessed birthday! Desmond Lu Teck Bao - Praise God for creating you and making you understand His gospel :)

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Happy birthday Desmond! I'm so glad that I have seen you grown to step out of your comfort zone more and more because you want to serve God instead of just following your own desire to live your own life your own way. I believe that every lives that have been created and transformed by God himself is a miracle so praise the Lord that you have understood the gospel:
You were created in God's image. You failed but by God's grace, He sent His son to die on your behalf. May you live in gratitude towards God's mercy.

Thanks for teaching me step by step that I can actually jog if I try hard enough and persevere to push myself more and more - constant denying my own thought of wanting to stop jogging is indeed important. So, I pray that you can translate this kind of mindset more and more in treating God and your life as His follower! To push yourself more and more to be a man based on God's original design, the future head of a household, leading the whole family in worshipping God, showing sacrificial love and commitment towards God's family just as Christ died for His church.

I pray that you can be more and more like Christ- the real man that loves God and His church. Do not stop to run the race together with the church because Jesus has died on the cross, gave your life and will come again

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Happy birthdayy Desmond!! It's been great getting to know you as a fellow brother in Christ through CF ✨ I pray that you'll continue to serve in CF to build God's kingdom and be reminded that God is the one who always provides and sustains our lives. I also pray you'll keep growing in the understanding of the word, and continue to be blessed by it 🙏

Gladys :)

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Happy birthday, Desmond!

I am thankful to God for uniting us in the faith to be able to serve Him. I am glad to be able to witness your growth and eagerness to learn about God to image Him. Ministry work is not going to be easy, there will be where you will feel swamped with the workload while trying to cope with studies, and at times even face opposition. I pray that in times like these you find strength in the gospel that has given true life to you and persevere on, encouraging other brothers and sisters to do the same too. As a recipient of God’s grace, may you find courage to speak this truth to those around you and be salt and light of the world to your loved ones and give them true life. Keep working on growing in God’s word and attain maturity in Christ. See you soon!

Sister-in-Christ,
Shu Ern.

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Desmond in other photos is very cool/cute so I want to put a photo of him being funny

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Happy Birthday wuri (our) Desmond Bao! 🥳 We never really had a chance to have a good convo, but I still remember the first time I met you in CF in January (I wasn't aware of faces back then so that's the only moment I can remember). You were timid, even during GFRS, you would say "no" to anything on stage. But this WP you are performing on stage!!! 🕺🏻 I like how you hype the vibe during the game session (and also the Chinese joke). And you always try your best to help even when busy with studies and practicals. It's great to meet you in CF and see how you grow and start to serve in CF. All of these are by God's grace and show how His word transforms a person. I know you are trying to minister to your friends, it will be frustrating because of our incompetence, or the lack of truth in them. Continue to bring the truth (gospel) to them and shine bright. ✨ Hope we can talk more so we can grow together as brothers and sisters in Christ 🤓
As you grow older become more mature, stay healthy, take care of yourself, and continue to work hard, physically and spiritually. 💪🏻
Let's go jogging! 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻

From Ealison (DT122)

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Pls train your spiritual muscles more haha(1 Tim 4:8)

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Blessed be God who had chosen you before you were born! Hopefully and prayerfully this year will be another year you will grow in His Word to make Christ-centered decisions for life (Esp. after we bought you those books as your bday gift)

I'm grateful to God who had used His people to guide and teach you His Word such that it had changed how you had been thinking and living. I rmb how you had changed so much this year, from talking to you at the January bday thrown by CF to leading you in CF small grps to working with you as comms in the recent WP.

I'm quite sure things hasn't been smooth sailing for you, but that's the reality of working with sinful people in this world. I'm not saying that you should just tolerate & be discouraged in ppl's sinfulness. I'm saying that we should continue to learn on how to bear, encourage, teach, rebuke, correct, and train each other in love to holiness. May you be able to love because Christ first loved you and care for your fellow church to persevere together until the end!

I hope that you'll be able to reflect and thank God for your life as you celebrate your bday and receive all these wishes. And hope to talk to you more & play more sports tgt haha

by sis in Christ
Jev.

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Blessed birthday Desmond! I thank God for He has revealed the knowledge of His Son to you. It is a glorious knowledge that should become the anchor to all our desires, emotions and therefore decisions. Blessed be God that we share this same knowledge and same master we serve.

We have been through quite a lot of ups and downs brother. I like your compassion for people - you want to relate to them and you want the best for them. And you could always put yourself in their shoes. Your messages asking about how people are doing and what we can do for them often encourage me to work harder at loving people whom God has put in our lives. My prayer is that such compassion be rooted in Christ instead of empty emotions, such that what we desire is not a good relationship or wellbeing for ourselves, but for the service of God. Often we fall into fleshly compassion which causes us to disregard holiness but pursue warm but empty togetherness. We will be tested in suffering brother, let us stand firm.

The moments we shed tears, may they not be for ourselves, but for repentance where we loathe at how we taint God's glory, for a deep concern because of the gruesome situation of idolatry among our people, and for God's kingdom to come soon.

Seeing you ultimately choosing to take responsibility in welcoming party, pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone to lead games the way you have never before, I want to use that to encourage you to be the person who can put down his own comfort, and lay down his life for God's use and ministry needs, just as Christ died for His church. I know things have been hard for you, the amount of pending labor has been overwhelming, but hardships train us to depend on Him for the power to love and serve His church. Do persevere on, keep thinking, don't give up on yourself and others. Remember that we do not serve our Lord by our own strength, for if we do we only sought destruction to His people and condemnation upon ourselves, but we rely fully on Christ to persevere us and give worship to God.

As for other stuff in life, sorry I have not been jogging with you hahaha. The timing usually... not ngam. But I'll try and make time for it. Your formal greetings are ever funny, just make sure you use them at the right time haha. Your popularity... use it for God kay, with great power comes great responsibility heheheh Oh and... you are the person who makes me always shower before I sleep no matter how tired I am. Thanks for that :P

Blessed birthday brother.

In Christ,
Lee Yue

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The first time you joined CF and even stayed back for mamak hehe. 

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(It's a privilege to be the first person you had in contact with in CF. )
You were initially quite shy and reserved. Glad to see you be more comfortable and open now :).

Thanks for being loud among us quiet people. Thanks for being a super extrovert in our orientation group and striving to build rapport with the juniors though you were tired. Thanks for your thoughtfulness.

Pray that you will man up for God, not just physically but spiritually as well.
Pray that you (actually we) will THINK more, think God's thoughts and not just do as you are told. This comes from the constant reading of the Word until we attain maturity in Christ together with the church.
Pray that you will strive to please God, not man. That your conviction to serve, to fellowship is out of worship towards God.

Persevere in this life and I hope you can find true rest in Christ alone!

Sis in Christ,
Huay Xin

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huhu Desmond in church 👀 Jesus & the Holy Spirit :0

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Greetings! Happy Blessed Birthday 楪思们 (Desmond) ;)

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Greetings! Happy Blessed Birthday 楪思们 (Desmond) ;)

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Praise the Lord for another life lived on this world bro, but not just living life in death (Eph 2:1-3) like we once walked. Instead, we've been given a life in Christ, our living hope to be made able to live for God, even while we continue to struggle and fight against the effects of sin, both from the world and our own flesh and desires.

So don't be ashamed of the gospel (Rom 1:16-17), for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. It is the greatest news that anyone could hear of it, the truth that will truly set them free in Christ, those who are predestined by God before the foundation of the world. For God does all things for the glory of His name. Therefore brother, let us do all things for the glory of Him. That is why He deserves our praise, for He does thing according to His will, and not dependent on humans, that we may have full assurance. For our God is true.

For this very reason, we have full confidence to preach the gospel (can learn from ur small sifu LY on 2wtl, good video production, might consider buying rights from him ahahah), because salvation is not based on the works of man but of God alone. This is also the reason why we are enabled in Christ, by the work of the Spirit through the word of God to continue to fight against our sins, for sin no longer reign over us. May you be reminded of the gospel truth to exercise your mind, to think after God's thoughts, reflecting His glory as you image Him.

Theological thinking --> theological conducts, behaviours (living) --> fruitful for God !

Continue to be a Singaporean in your timing! let no Malaysian change that fact of you! Do exercise love in rebuking and speaking the truth towards your brothers and sisters who have low respect towards time. For the concern is to be righeous and godly as the image of God, who we are made to be. Now, we are redeemed, transformed to be the new creation in Christ. May you be hungry for God's word always.

Press on brother to live out this reality tgt, which is rooted in the word of Christ. Let's go jogging/ running soon :3

your sis in Christ,
xintzeee

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Happy birthday des! Still remember the first day when we met at pandan haha (I'll never forget when I mistook you for someone who plays cajon HAHA so embarrassing ><) anyways, happy bday bro. May your day be filled in remembrance of God's grace , just as His sovereignty guides your life as his son!

Your bro in christ,
Jon

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Hey, this wish is coming pretty late haha (typed this 18th Oct) but anyways, in hopes that you'll be seeing this, I'm still writing in, since it's quite rare that I get to encourage you as a Christian sister to a brother.

Happy Birthday! Birthdays are always a reminder of how far we've come in life, and yet it also reminds you of how far more we have to walk - hope that this year has granted you a greater clarity of what it means to say "Jesus is Lord", and I pray for more years like this ahead, for greater clarity of what it means to be a disciple of Christ, and what it means to be staying in the Way, the bright but yet very narrow way of true life.

I haven't had much interaction with you but I've been encouraged myself that the newcomer guy i met a year-ish ago who was really smitten with his gf (my impression la har haha) is someone that i see around church and now being someone smitten with Christ (hopefully?).

Pay close attention to the path you're on, knowing that dangers are lurking everywhere, the if you don't progress, you'll be drifiting backwards, that once you take your eyes away from Christ the light, you're doomed. Always start from Christ and end with christ in your thinking process, and beware once you start having your thought processes starting from "I" and ending with "I". Let's continue moving upwards together! Heh many many references to "The Way of the Master" sermon - it was a good one :3

Hoping to be able to spend more time with IMU CF peeps soon,
Joyce Yee :)