Changed from the Inside Out
by Max Lucado
When you believe in Christ, Christ works a miracle in you. You are permanently purified and empowered by God himself. The message of Jesus to the religious person is simple: It’s not what you do. It’s what I do. I have moved in. And in time you can say with Paul, “I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).
If I’m born again, why do I fall so often?
Why did you fall so often after your first birth? Did you exit the womb wearing cross-trainers? Did you do the two-step on the day of your delivery? Of course not. And when you started to walk, you fell more than you stood. Should we expect anything different from our spiritual walk?
But I fall so often, I question my salvation. Again, we return to your first birth. Didn’t you stumble as you were learning to walk? And when you stumbled, did you question the validity of your physical birth? Did you, as a one-year-old fresh flopped on the floor, shake your head and think, I have fallen again. I must not be human?
Of course not. The stumbles of a toddler do not invalidate the act of birth. And the stumbles of a Christian do not annul his spiritual birth.
Do you understand what God has done? He has deposited a Christ seed in you. As it grows, you will change. It’s not that sin has no more presence in your life, but rather that sin has no more power over your life. Temptation will pester you, but temptation will not master you. What hope this brings!
Hear this. It’s not up to you! Within you abides a budding power. Trust him!
Think of it this way. Suppose you, for most of your life, have had a heart condition. Your frail pumper restricts your activities. Each morning at work when the healthy employees take the stairs, you wait for the elevator.
But then comes the transplant. A healthy heart is placed within you. After recovery, you return to work and encounter the flight of stairs—the same flight of stairs you earlier avoided. By habit, you start for the elevator. But then you remember. You aren’t the same person. You have a new heart. Within you dwells a new power.
Do you live like the old person or the new? Do you count yourself as having a new heart or old? You have a choice to make.
You might say, “I can’t climb stairs; I’m too weak.” Does your choice negate the presence of a new heart? Dismiss the work of the surgeon? No. Choosing the elevator would suggest only one fact—you haven’t learned to trust your new power.
It takes time. But at some point you’ve got to try those stairs. You’ve got to test the new ticker. You’ve got to experiment with the new you. For if you don’t, you will run out of steam.
Religious rule keeping can sap your strength. It’s endless. There is always another class to attend, Sabbath to obey, Ramadan to observe. No prison is as endless as the prison of perfection. Her inmates find work but never find peace. How could they? They never know when they are finished.
Christ, however, gifts you with a finished work. He fulfilled the law for you. Bid farewell to the burden of religion. Gone is the fear that having done everything, you might not have done enough. You climb the stairs, not by your strength, but his. God pledges to help those who stop trying to help themselves.
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6.) God will change you from the inside out.
From Next Door Savior
Available in Hardback or Paperback
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2003) Max Lucado
Lord, thank You for speaking to me during today's Word, and for driving it into me again by this weekly devotion by Max Lucado=)thank You for telling me that I have a new life now, a new power and that You will help me, You will continue this good work You have started in me!
I really want to say as Paul did, that truly, it is no longer I who lives in me, but Christ that lives in me.
Monday, January 28, 2008
tennis galore~
"Never tell anyone how good you are. Let your game do the talking."
- Dale LePrevost
Today's headlines shocked me. Or maybe it is yesterday's headlines that shocked me. Federer lost. to this djokovic person. sorry, I admit, I'm biased. haha. cause of the fact that I hardly watch or play tennis, I just have this one small link with tennis-the acclaimed champion of tennis. I know it's cliched, you know, watching tennis or checking up on tennis news just because of this one guy and it has to be the reigning person still..but hey!You've got to give credit to him yeah? I know and admit that there are many more excellent players out there, and many are amazing players and sportmen(and sportswomen), but there's just something about this federer guy.
Apart from him being a Swiss, there's like so many other reasons that make him so favourable. Like for instance-He isn't very noisy out on the field while playing(or I've not heard him emitt any loud outburts of energy or animalistic shouts as of yet..),His tennis strokes are awesome(can't give much professional opinion on this, but yup, they look terrific), He wears the nicest headbands(which helps in giving him the nice floppy brown hair look),and of course, did I mention he's Swiss?And Roger Federer's such a nice name? haha.All in all, there's just this special quality about him.Oh oh, and he doesn't really show off when he wins? Like he doesn't do crazy things like ripping his shirt off(pity for some fans..badminton players tend to do this..), or swinging his racquet till it whacks someone in the stands..I think all he does is smile that award-worthy winning smile of his and serves the winning tennis ball to the audience. I'm smiling now as I reminisce about it. haha=)
btw,I'm starting to kinda expand my field to people like rafael nadal. He plays really well on clay. Well, these two players got knocked out of the finals for the Australian Open, definitely by superb players(I wanna watch the match between Tsonga and Nadal!), but we'll definitely be looking forward to more amazing tennis from federer and nadal.
haha. provide me with some professional knowledge about tennis and more players, and I'm considering applying for the post of a commentator.
To end,
"This pertains to life as well as racket preparation at the net. Prepare for the worst & you'll always be ready for the easiest."(Dale LePrevost again)
oh, and I like this one too,
"First to the net, first to the pub." - Patrick Rafter
- Dale LePrevost
Today's headlines shocked me. Or maybe it is yesterday's headlines that shocked me. Federer lost. to this djokovic person. sorry, I admit, I'm biased. haha. cause of the fact that I hardly watch or play tennis, I just have this one small link with tennis-the acclaimed champion of tennis. I know it's cliched, you know, watching tennis or checking up on tennis news just because of this one guy and it has to be the reigning person still..but hey!You've got to give credit to him yeah? I know and admit that there are many more excellent players out there, and many are amazing players and sportmen(and sportswomen), but there's just something about this federer guy.
Apart from him being a Swiss, there's like so many other reasons that make him so favourable. Like for instance-He isn't very noisy out on the field while playing(or I've not heard him emitt any loud outburts of energy or animalistic shouts as of yet..),His tennis strokes are awesome(can't give much professional opinion on this, but yup, they look terrific), He wears the nicest headbands(which helps in giving him the nice floppy brown hair look),and of course, did I mention he's Swiss?And Roger Federer's such a nice name? haha.All in all, there's just this special quality about him.Oh oh, and he doesn't really show off when he wins? Like he doesn't do crazy things like ripping his shirt off(pity for some fans..badminton players tend to do this..), or swinging his racquet till it whacks someone in the stands..I think all he does is smile that award-worthy winning smile of his and serves the winning tennis ball to the audience. I'm smiling now as I reminisce about it. haha=)
btw,I'm starting to kinda expand my field to people like rafael nadal. He plays really well on clay. Well, these two players got knocked out of the finals for the Australian Open, definitely by superb players(I wanna watch the match between Tsonga and Nadal!), but we'll definitely be looking forward to more amazing tennis from federer and nadal.
haha. provide me with some professional knowledge about tennis and more players, and I'm considering applying for the post of a commentator.
To end,
"This pertains to life as well as racket preparation at the net. Prepare for the worst & you'll always be ready for the easiest."(Dale LePrevost again)
oh, and I like this one too,
"First to the net, first to the pub." - Patrick Rafter
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Jumbled thoughts
I feel like a trishaw-puller in the olden days. haha. imagine me with one leg propped up on the seat in front of the computer, with a sweet potato in my hand...
hmmm..the dumplings for dinner were nice but too sweet, the sweet potato is lacking in the sweetness. Irony!
I think I was very mean in church today. Sarcastic actually. cause we were playing a question and answer game, and I happened to get a weird question, so I just filled in an answer laced with sarcasm..okay, shall not reveal the question nor the answer. I felt bad after that cause I kinda meant what I said and I know I would kinda write in the same reply if I am given another chance. sheez. haha, the negative side in me is out!
anyway, we celebrated mark's(our fellow cellmate)birthday today and it was quite hilarious. Even though he guessed right at the start that we were going to play a prank on him, he very sportingly went through with it. We had him like do a commando roll(which I had no idea commandos had their own kind of rolling style..), hop with one leg and arm up, squat like a duck, walk up and down a few stories and led him to our HQ(our church's very own Hallelujah Quadrant), before presenting him with our home-baked cake and two birthday songs=)
Apparently, he was quite touched. haha=)
I'm waiting for the camera-man to send us the pictures of the cake before posting them up. The cake tested perfect the second time round. it was yummilicious!
oh oh, a random note, but I was collating the email list of 129ers when I came across some of our ex-classmates email names. I couldn't stop laughing after I saw carol's old name. zoogaNders* girls, do you still remember it? It was: Carol the Supremo=)
haha. carol! if you ever see this, it's a good title, I strongly think that you should keep it. anyway, I was thinking after that, how I'm glad this group of friends have been through so much, and as a result grown so much closer to one another. we're learning to appreciate each other more, understand one another more, and learning to give and take much much more=)I'm thankful.
Thank You Lord, for speaking to me during today's word. Thank You for reminding me once again, that just like the crumpled up fifty dollar note, no matter how screwed up my life may be, no matter how many times I've done wrong, You still love me and I'm still worth the same value, that I'm still precious in Your eyes. And thank You for telling me You'll continue to save me, to help me run this race You have marked out for me. Lord, help me to not look back into the past, but strive on towards the finishing line..let me fix my eyes on You Jesus, and may You help me to throw off all sin and distractions that so easily entangle. I choose to believe, and may all glory go to You=)
More of You Holy Spirit, more of You in my life..more of You.
hmmm..the dumplings for dinner were nice but too sweet, the sweet potato is lacking in the sweetness. Irony!
I think I was very mean in church today. Sarcastic actually. cause we were playing a question and answer game, and I happened to get a weird question, so I just filled in an answer laced with sarcasm..okay, shall not reveal the question nor the answer. I felt bad after that cause I kinda meant what I said and I know I would kinda write in the same reply if I am given another chance. sheez. haha, the negative side in me is out!
anyway, we celebrated mark's(our fellow cellmate)birthday today and it was quite hilarious. Even though he guessed right at the start that we were going to play a prank on him, he very sportingly went through with it. We had him like do a commando roll(which I had no idea commandos had their own kind of rolling style..), hop with one leg and arm up, squat like a duck, walk up and down a few stories and led him to our HQ(our church's very own Hallelujah Quadrant), before presenting him with our home-baked cake and two birthday songs=)
Apparently, he was quite touched. haha=)
I'm waiting for the camera-man to send us the pictures of the cake before posting them up. The cake tested perfect the second time round. it was yummilicious!
oh oh, a random note, but I was collating the email list of 129ers when I came across some of our ex-classmates email names. I couldn't stop laughing after I saw carol's old name. zoogaNders* girls, do you still remember it? It was: Carol the Supremo=)
haha. carol! if you ever see this, it's a good title, I strongly think that you should keep it. anyway, I was thinking after that, how I'm glad this group of friends have been through so much, and as a result grown so much closer to one another. we're learning to appreciate each other more, understand one another more, and learning to give and take much much more=)I'm thankful.
Thank You Lord, for speaking to me during today's word. Thank You for reminding me once again, that just like the crumpled up fifty dollar note, no matter how screwed up my life may be, no matter how many times I've done wrong, You still love me and I'm still worth the same value, that I'm still precious in Your eyes. And thank You for telling me You'll continue to save me, to help me run this race You have marked out for me. Lord, help me to not look back into the past, but strive on towards the finishing line..let me fix my eyes on You Jesus, and may You help me to throw off all sin and distractions that so easily entangle. I choose to believe, and may all glory go to You=)
More of You Holy Spirit, more of You in my life..more of You.
Friday, January 18, 2008
We need a Savior!
We Need a Savior
Friday, January 18, 2008
“Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”
Hebrews 9:28 NKJV
“You can’t forgive me for my sins nor can I forgive you for yours. Two kids in a mud puddle can’t clean each other. They need someone clean. Someone spotless. We need someone clean too.
That’s why we need a savior.
Trying to make it to heaven on our own goodness is like trying to get to the moon on a moonbeam: nice idea, but try it and see what happens.
Listen. Quit trying to quench your own guilt. You can’t do it. There’s no way. Not with a bottle of whiskey or perfect Sunday school attendance. Sorry. I don’t care how bad you are. You can’t be bad enough to forget it. And I don’t care how good you are. You can’t be good enough to overcome it. You need a Savior.
1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in No Wonder They Call Him the Savior
haha. Max Lucado rocks. He's one of my fave authors, as many of you all know=)But you know what? God's still the best and my most loved author!Because even though He's the one who hung the stars in the galaxies, the one who created the heavens and the earth, and there has to be much more important things for Him to do..yet,He takes the time and effort to tell me(and you) in all sorts of ways possible that He loves us so dearly. That we are deeply loved, greatly blessed, and highly favoured.Jesus, You reign!
Friday, January 18, 2008
“Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”
Hebrews 9:28 NKJV
“You can’t forgive me for my sins nor can I forgive you for yours. Two kids in a mud puddle can’t clean each other. They need someone clean. Someone spotless. We need someone clean too.
That’s why we need a savior.
Trying to make it to heaven on our own goodness is like trying to get to the moon on a moonbeam: nice idea, but try it and see what happens.
Listen. Quit trying to quench your own guilt. You can’t do it. There’s no way. Not with a bottle of whiskey or perfect Sunday school attendance. Sorry. I don’t care how bad you are. You can’t be bad enough to forget it. And I don’t care how good you are. You can’t be good enough to overcome it. You need a Savior.
1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in No Wonder They Call Him the Savior
haha. Max Lucado rocks. He's one of my fave authors, as many of you all know=)But you know what? God's still the best and my most loved author!Because even though He's the one who hung the stars in the galaxies, the one who created the heavens and the earth, and there has to be much more important things for Him to do..yet,He takes the time and effort to tell me(and you) in all sorts of ways possible that He loves us so dearly. That we are deeply loved, greatly blessed, and highly favoured.Jesus, You reign!
Ontology-the being who you are=)
You can still be the person you want to be, no matter where you are.
- Daniel Meade, Ugly Betty.
that was really sweet. I mean at times, we feel just like what Betty felt. That at certain points in our lives, we feel that our situations or circumstances will influence us for the worse, mould us into people we fear of becoming, or are not supposed to become...but the quote reminded me that the possibility will always be there, what matters is that we know we have a choice, and we just need to have faith that we can still be who we want to be. Or in a more favourable case, we can always still be who God wants us to be=). Remember, God loves us just they way we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way, He wants us to be just like Jesus.
So yes, if we allow Him to, He will guide us, and prevent us from ever falling.
As for how the week has been, it went really well. God has really blessed me with much-for friends, for crazy tutors, for the Navigators team, for my schedule, the mind-stimulating lessons...even for the thick but interesting books we have to plough through=)
cell's coming over tomorrow!haha..I'm looking forward to it=)
I know You'll see us through.And we thank You for being You.
- Daniel Meade, Ugly Betty.
that was really sweet. I mean at times, we feel just like what Betty felt. That at certain points in our lives, we feel that our situations or circumstances will influence us for the worse, mould us into people we fear of becoming, or are not supposed to become...but the quote reminded me that the possibility will always be there, what matters is that we know we have a choice, and we just need to have faith that we can still be who we want to be. Or in a more favourable case, we can always still be who God wants us to be=). Remember, God loves us just they way we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way, He wants us to be just like Jesus.
So yes, if we allow Him to, He will guide us, and prevent us from ever falling.
As for how the week has been, it went really well. God has really blessed me with much-for friends, for crazy tutors, for the Navigators team, for my schedule, the mind-stimulating lessons...even for the thick but interesting books we have to plough through=)
cell's coming over tomorrow!haha..I'm looking forward to it=)
I know You'll see us through.And we thank You for being You.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Grace-inspired=)
God healed my computer mouse!
Thank You=)
anyway, I didn't know what to type or blog for the past few days. haha, lack of things to type and regrettably, I seemed to have reached a stagnant point in my writing. haha. I need inspiration! and that can be helped by some good old' quality time at Starbucks..meet-ups with good old' quality friends..I'm sure most of you out there are in the latter category, so well, I hope the hint is clear enough. haha=)
Other than that..
I was reading Jane Eyre just now(silly me thought it was possible to finish the reading in one day, the book is longggggg...) and listening also to Lenny Leblanc's newest CD titled "all for love". And because of my ability to multi-task, I was able to pick up some really meaningful lyrics from the fourth song. It's called "The Rain".
And I was just listening to it..and I managed to catch some words..and of course, I check out the lyrics.
I can feel the wind blowing
I see rain on the horizon
There's a cleasning flood coming this way
I can smell revival
Thirsty for Your arrival
Light of the world reign in me
It's coming from the north
It's coming fromt the south
It's coming from the east and the west
Let all the nationsof the earth be blessed by
The rain
Reaching up to Heaven for the rain
Standing close to angels in the rain
Giving praise to Jesus for the rain
For so long we've been waiting
Worshiping and praying
For the glory of the risen Lord
I hear the sound of thunder
I feel the ground moving under
My feet will dance in the healing rain
It's falling, it's falling, it's falling down
It's falling, it's falling, it's falling down
- The Rain by Lenny Leblanc
After reading the lyrics, I thought of how I have always pictured rain as being the storms in life we have to encounter, rain as gloomy as sunshine is bright. I thought of how wet and dark rainy days are..and how that is one of the reasons why I like to carry my yellow umbrella around. I try to brighten up the gloomy days with my bright yellow brolly.
Anyway, I wanted to say, that I've never thought of rain being something we want to expect, something good, something that can bring healing and revival. I mean I have sung songs, praying that God will heal me, cleanse me, send the revival that I need..but I've never once linked rain as being one of the ways where God can carry out all that. Water crossed my mind, Jesus' blood definitely did cross my mind..but not rain.
You mean to say storms, thunderstorms which clash and roar, downpoars which soak us, gloomy weather that brings about melancholic moods actually have a purpose?
Oh wait. I remember something. Rain helps to revive deserts.
hmmm..okay, I remember now saying something about it some time back. Anyway, that realisation only came back two mins back. The one point I realised earlier is this..Rain need not put us in that melancholic mood..our spirits need not be dampened by it. All we have to do is to ask God to change our perspectives of rain. That It brings about a good change, revival, and most of all, rain brings about healing and cleansing. And yet, I realise also, that once in a while, we need to let go of our emotions, feelings..and I do know also, that we'll get over it=)
One resolution for the new year: to dance in the rain at least once. Anyone cares to join me?=)
haha. It looks like I'm striving hard to keep this blog up-to-date.
Lord, may Your grace and Your light shine through every rain-storm we go through, that You might brighten up all the days of our lives.
Thank You=)
anyway, I didn't know what to type or blog for the past few days. haha, lack of things to type and regrettably, I seemed to have reached a stagnant point in my writing. haha. I need inspiration! and that can be helped by some good old' quality time at Starbucks..meet-ups with good old' quality friends..I'm sure most of you out there are in the latter category, so well, I hope the hint is clear enough. haha=)
Other than that..
I was reading Jane Eyre just now(silly me thought it was possible to finish the reading in one day, the book is longggggg...) and listening also to Lenny Leblanc's newest CD titled "all for love". And because of my ability to multi-task, I was able to pick up some really meaningful lyrics from the fourth song. It's called "The Rain".
And I was just listening to it..and I managed to catch some words..and of course, I check out the lyrics.
I can feel the wind blowing
I see rain on the horizon
There's a cleasning flood coming this way
I can smell revival
Thirsty for Your arrival
Light of the world reign in me
It's coming from the north
It's coming fromt the south
It's coming from the east and the west
Let all the nationsof the earth be blessed by
The rain
Reaching up to Heaven for the rain
Standing close to angels in the rain
Giving praise to Jesus for the rain
For so long we've been waiting
Worshiping and praying
For the glory of the risen Lord
I hear the sound of thunder
I feel the ground moving under
My feet will dance in the healing rain
It's falling, it's falling, it's falling down
It's falling, it's falling, it's falling down
- The Rain by Lenny Leblanc
After reading the lyrics, I thought of how I have always pictured rain as being the storms in life we have to encounter, rain as gloomy as sunshine is bright. I thought of how wet and dark rainy days are..and how that is one of the reasons why I like to carry my yellow umbrella around. I try to brighten up the gloomy days with my bright yellow brolly.
Anyway, I wanted to say, that I've never thought of rain being something we want to expect, something good, something that can bring healing and revival. I mean I have sung songs, praying that God will heal me, cleanse me, send the revival that I need..but I've never once linked rain as being one of the ways where God can carry out all that. Water crossed my mind, Jesus' blood definitely did cross my mind..but not rain.
You mean to say storms, thunderstorms which clash and roar, downpoars which soak us, gloomy weather that brings about melancholic moods actually have a purpose?
Oh wait. I remember something. Rain helps to revive deserts.
hmmm..okay, I remember now saying something about it some time back. Anyway, that realisation only came back two mins back. The one point I realised earlier is this..Rain need not put us in that melancholic mood..our spirits need not be dampened by it. All we have to do is to ask God to change our perspectives of rain. That It brings about a good change, revival, and most of all, rain brings about healing and cleansing. And yet, I realise also, that once in a while, we need to let go of our emotions, feelings..and I do know also, that we'll get over it=)
One resolution for the new year: to dance in the rain at least once. Anyone cares to join me?=)
haha. It looks like I'm striving hard to keep this blog up-to-date.
Lord, may Your grace and Your light shine through every rain-storm we go through, that You might brighten up all the days of our lives.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Giving Thanks~
Speaking of a Friend in high places, thank You Lord for blessing me with friends in all places=)
well, not all places, but in places that matter.
thank You Jesus for blessing me with the zoogaNders* girls. I thank You personally for grace, sharon and carol. Thank You for blessing me with these three lovely friends who have been through so much with me, seen so many sides of me..I thank You that they have never left me even though I can be such an introvert and emotional wreck at times. I thank You for letting them be able to know me so well, for them being there when I need them for talks, for their words of strength and encouragement, for just their being there. I thank You Lord, for the amazing three years we spent together, and I pray You'll bless us and keep us together for many many more years ahead=)
And of course, Lord, I praise You and thank You for my cell group: Leadersheep. Lord, thank You for blessing me with such a fantabulous bunch of sheep for my family in Christ=)Thank You for calling each and every one of us together, and for letting our paths meet. I thank You individually for the wonderful girls(in no particular order..haha):Sammie, Shu Hui, Judith, Karen, Yingqi, Angela, Gek Theng, Jen, Pris, Lea, Georgie, Kimbo, Liting, Nicole. Thank You for blessing us with the times of sharing, of bonding, of encouraging and edifying one another. Thank You for allowing and wanting us to be Your children, Heavenly Father. Thank You for the many times of baking sessions, playing of games like taboo, the sleep-overs, the movie marathons, the times of praying for one another, the church services where we sit as a cell..thank You Jesus for all our times spent together=) I thank You also, for every single guy in our cell, for their gentlemanly sides, for them being there and for the times where we need an extra dose of intellect and strength.
I thank You also for cherished people like Yiwen, Belle, Elaine, Obe, Jia min, and all the people in my tutorial groups like Jean, Yi Jun, Stacey, Constance, Angela..and many more=)They really do light up my life!
And Father, thank You for my family. I really do love my family. They have been there for me every step of the way, and even though we have our disagreements and all..but I know for sure that we are still one family, and that we will stand by each other through all times, all seasons.
Indeed Lord, You have blessed me with much, and may You look after every single one of them. May Your good hand be upon my loved ones(and Your loved ones), and may Your love, joy, health, peace and approval overflow in their lives. May You oh Lord, guide us, lead us in Your perfect way.
well, not all places, but in places that matter.
thank You Jesus for blessing me with the zoogaNders* girls. I thank You personally for grace, sharon and carol. Thank You for blessing me with these three lovely friends who have been through so much with me, seen so many sides of me..I thank You that they have never left me even though I can be such an introvert and emotional wreck at times. I thank You for letting them be able to know me so well, for them being there when I need them for talks, for their words of strength and encouragement, for just their being there. I thank You Lord, for the amazing three years we spent together, and I pray You'll bless us and keep us together for many many more years ahead=)
And of course, Lord, I praise You and thank You for my cell group: Leadersheep. Lord, thank You for blessing me with such a fantabulous bunch of sheep for my family in Christ=)Thank You for calling each and every one of us together, and for letting our paths meet. I thank You individually for the wonderful girls(in no particular order..haha):Sammie, Shu Hui, Judith, Karen, Yingqi, Angela, Gek Theng, Jen, Pris, Lea, Georgie, Kimbo, Liting, Nicole. Thank You for blessing us with the times of sharing, of bonding, of encouraging and edifying one another. Thank You for allowing and wanting us to be Your children, Heavenly Father. Thank You for the many times of baking sessions, playing of games like taboo, the sleep-overs, the movie marathons, the times of praying for one another, the church services where we sit as a cell..thank You Jesus for all our times spent together=) I thank You also, for every single guy in our cell, for their gentlemanly sides, for them being there and for the times where we need an extra dose of intellect and strength.
I thank You also for cherished people like Yiwen, Belle, Elaine, Obe, Jia min, and all the people in my tutorial groups like Jean, Yi Jun, Stacey, Constance, Angela..and many more=)They really do light up my life!
And Father, thank You for my family. I really do love my family. They have been there for me every step of the way, and even though we have our disagreements and all..but I know for sure that we are still one family, and that we will stand by each other through all times, all seasons.
Indeed Lord, You have blessed me with much, and may You look after every single one of them. May Your good hand be upon my loved ones(and Your loved ones), and may Your love, joy, health, peace and approval overflow in their lives. May You oh Lord, guide us, lead us in Your perfect way.
A friend in high places~
A Friend in High Places
by Max Lucado
God has put all things under the authority of Christ.
(Eph. 1:22)
Christ is running the show. Right now. A leaf just fell from a tree in the Alps. Christ caused it to do so. A newborn baby in India inhaled for the first time. Jesus measured the breath. The migration of the belugas through the oceans? Christ dictates their itinerary. He is
the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
(Col. 1:15–16)
What a phenomenal list! Heavens and earth. Visible and invisible. Thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. No thing, place, or person omitted. The scale on the sea urchin. The hair on the elephant hide. The hurricane that wrecks the coast, the rain that nourishes the desert, the infant’s first heartbeat, the elderly person’s final breath—all can be traced back to the hand of Christ, the firstborn of creation.
Firstborn in Paul’s vernacular has nothing to do with birth order. Firstborn refers to order of rank. As one translation states: “He ranks higher than everything that has been made” (v. 15) Everything? Find an exception. Peter’s mother-in-law has a fever; Jesus rebukes it. A tax needs to be paid; Jesus pays it by sending first a coin and then a fisherman’s hook into the mouth of a fish. When five thousand stomachs growl, Jesus renders a boy’s basket a bottomless buffet. Jesus exudes authority. He bats an eyelash, and nature jumps. No one argues when, at the end of his earthly life, the God-man declares, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18).
The Christ of the galaxies is the Christ of your Mondays. The Starmaker manages your travel schedule. Relax. You have a friend in high places. Does the child of Arnold Schwarzenegger worry about tight pickle-jar lids? Does the son of Nike founder Phil Knight sweat a broken shoestring? If the daughter of Bill Gates can’t turn on her computer, does she panic?
No. Nor should you.
Thank You Lord, for re-assuring me that You'll be with me this week, and all of my days. Lord, be the Lord of my studies, the Lord of my family and friends, the Lord of my life. Jesus, will You be my Lord?
by Max Lucado
God has put all things under the authority of Christ.
(Eph. 1:22)
Christ is running the show. Right now. A leaf just fell from a tree in the Alps. Christ caused it to do so. A newborn baby in India inhaled for the first time. Jesus measured the breath. The migration of the belugas through the oceans? Christ dictates their itinerary. He is
the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
(Col. 1:15–16)
What a phenomenal list! Heavens and earth. Visible and invisible. Thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. No thing, place, or person omitted. The scale on the sea urchin. The hair on the elephant hide. The hurricane that wrecks the coast, the rain that nourishes the desert, the infant’s first heartbeat, the elderly person’s final breath—all can be traced back to the hand of Christ, the firstborn of creation.
Firstborn in Paul’s vernacular has nothing to do with birth order. Firstborn refers to order of rank. As one translation states: “He ranks higher than everything that has been made” (v. 15) Everything? Find an exception. Peter’s mother-in-law has a fever; Jesus rebukes it. A tax needs to be paid; Jesus pays it by sending first a coin and then a fisherman’s hook into the mouth of a fish. When five thousand stomachs growl, Jesus renders a boy’s basket a bottomless buffet. Jesus exudes authority. He bats an eyelash, and nature jumps. No one argues when, at the end of his earthly life, the God-man declares, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18).
The Christ of the galaxies is the Christ of your Mondays. The Starmaker manages your travel schedule. Relax. You have a friend in high places. Does the child of Arnold Schwarzenegger worry about tight pickle-jar lids? Does the son of Nike founder Phil Knight sweat a broken shoestring? If the daughter of Bill Gates can’t turn on her computer, does she panic?
No. Nor should you.
Thank You Lord, for re-assuring me that You'll be with me this week, and all of my days. Lord, be the Lord of my studies, the Lord of my family and friends, the Lord of my life. Jesus, will You be my Lord?
Pain!
My toes are officially bruised.
The new pair of shoes from prettyfit really symbolises the brand's name. Pretty and fits really well. Too well. Okay, maybe the reason is that they are pointed shoes, and as we know, pointed shoes do tend to crush people's toes. Major Ouch.
I have a feeling the ramifications will last for some time..
haha. enough of mundane topics. I shall talk about much more interesting things=)
last friday, sharon, grace and I met up for some books and shoes shopping, and a late drink at Starbucks. Thanks girls, for the much-needed time together and for the things we talked about..haha, I spilled my guts out that day. Not literally of course..but I really did talk about some feelings I've had for quite some time already..and I think yet another issue is somewhat resolved..
I guess for me, and for many of us out there, we just want to be a good friend, a good companion..and at times we start to question whether we do meet the standard or not. And for the past few years, I've been questioning whether or not I'm a good friend, and I've been trying to be more sensitive and all that it has somehow over-whelmed me. after the talk, the truth finally sank in. I do need to be mindful of what I say, and friendship does need effort and all, but with your close friends, the pressure is off. Be mindful of what you say and do, but not to the extent where you feel restrained, and not to the extent where you pretend.
for me, I've realised, I need to not be so easily offended, to be less sensitive to what others say, and to know that the closeness of our friendship ties is not based on how I feel at particular moments. And I realised also, that sometimes, we say some things, and we do other things. Or sometimes, we don't mean what we say. We do need to correct this flaw in us, but like what I told ronnie, with the people close to us, our feelings are always there, and are true, even though our words may not carry through at times..
okay, enough of the sombre topics. haha, what's with me today? Mundane and sombre topics..
on a lighter note, I'm going to try my hand at poetry soon!so watch this space for upcoming poems!but as with all writing, it will only be up when inspiration strikes=)
haha.
another week ahead, Lord, may You see us through it and may You bless this week and draw us closer to You=)
The new pair of shoes from prettyfit really symbolises the brand's name. Pretty and fits really well. Too well. Okay, maybe the reason is that they are pointed shoes, and as we know, pointed shoes do tend to crush people's toes. Major Ouch.
I have a feeling the ramifications will last for some time..
haha. enough of mundane topics. I shall talk about much more interesting things=)
last friday, sharon, grace and I met up for some books and shoes shopping, and a late drink at Starbucks. Thanks girls, for the much-needed time together and for the things we talked about..haha, I spilled my guts out that day. Not literally of course..but I really did talk about some feelings I've had for quite some time already..and I think yet another issue is somewhat resolved..
I guess for me, and for many of us out there, we just want to be a good friend, a good companion..and at times we start to question whether we do meet the standard or not. And for the past few years, I've been questioning whether or not I'm a good friend, and I've been trying to be more sensitive and all that it has somehow over-whelmed me. after the talk, the truth finally sank in. I do need to be mindful of what I say, and friendship does need effort and all, but with your close friends, the pressure is off. Be mindful of what you say and do, but not to the extent where you feel restrained, and not to the extent where you pretend.
for me, I've realised, I need to not be so easily offended, to be less sensitive to what others say, and to know that the closeness of our friendship ties is not based on how I feel at particular moments. And I realised also, that sometimes, we say some things, and we do other things. Or sometimes, we don't mean what we say. We do need to correct this flaw in us, but like what I told ronnie, with the people close to us, our feelings are always there, and are true, even though our words may not carry through at times..
okay, enough of the sombre topics. haha, what's with me today? Mundane and sombre topics..
on a lighter note, I'm going to try my hand at poetry soon!so watch this space for upcoming poems!but as with all writing, it will only be up when inspiration strikes=)
haha.
another week ahead, Lord, may You see us through it and may You bless this week and draw us closer to You=)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
there is hope yet!
haha. Today's lecture on Singaporean Literature has sparked off this hope in me=)
we learned about "found poetry" today, which is basically turning articles, signs, anything with words into poetry. The subject matter in the poem can be the same or different from the subject matter of the original document. And we went through a few examples and it seemed relatively okay to handle!haha. by the end of this sem, I will have learned the basics of poetry-writing, and I can thus start writing some of my own poetry!yay
We went through some poems depicting life in Singapore also, and reflections of people who think that we should not feel that our country or our quirks and iconic things are inferior to that of the outside world. It was really interesting and I'm looking forward to more SL lectures and tutorials!(Lord, please let the tutorials be engaging and enjoyable!Thank You Lord=))
haha. Victorian Literature was fine. A little dry..but the texts all look interesting, so yup, should be quite fun too.
film and theory tomorrow, and after that a meet-up with grace and sharon!Carol can't make it, but I'm sure the next time she will be able to=)
hmmm..I pray the rest of the girls in cell are enjoying school too=)yay..excited about Sunday!Sundays are absolutely the best days of the week. Time spent with God and His people=)
Sharon!I'm happy that you're happy!haha.that is what I've been wanting to say for quite some time=)
and grace, you rock and reign! (haha,can't find the exact verse, but SP said last sunday that we reign with Christ!)
haha, if anyone knows the exact verse, please tell me!thanks
awesome.
haha. Today's lecture on Singaporean Literature has sparked off this hope in me=)
we learned about "found poetry" today, which is basically turning articles, signs, anything with words into poetry. The subject matter in the poem can be the same or different from the subject matter of the original document. And we went through a few examples and it seemed relatively okay to handle!haha. by the end of this sem, I will have learned the basics of poetry-writing, and I can thus start writing some of my own poetry!yay
We went through some poems depicting life in Singapore also, and reflections of people who think that we should not feel that our country or our quirks and iconic things are inferior to that of the outside world. It was really interesting and I'm looking forward to more SL lectures and tutorials!(Lord, please let the tutorials be engaging and enjoyable!Thank You Lord=))
haha. Victorian Literature was fine. A little dry..but the texts all look interesting, so yup, should be quite fun too.
film and theory tomorrow, and after that a meet-up with grace and sharon!Carol can't make it, but I'm sure the next time she will be able to=)
hmmm..I pray the rest of the girls in cell are enjoying school too=)yay..excited about Sunday!Sundays are absolutely the best days of the week. Time spent with God and His people=)
Sharon!I'm happy that you're happy!haha.that is what I've been wanting to say for quite some time=)
and grace, you rock and reign! (haha,can't find the exact verse, but SP said last sunday that we reign with Christ!)
haha, if anyone knows the exact verse, please tell me!thanks
awesome.
A timely devotional~
A Yoke of Kindness
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29 NKJV
Farmers in ancient Israel used to train an inexperienced ox by yoking it to an experienced one with a wooden harness. The straps around the older animal were tightly drawn. He carried the load. But the yoke around the younger animal was loose. He walked alongside the more mature ox, but his burden was light. In this verse Jesus is saying, “I walk alongside you. We are yoked together. But I pull the weight and carry the burden.”
I wonder, how many burdens is Jesus carrying for us that we know nothing about? We’re aware of some. He carries our sin. He carries our shame. He carries our eternal debt. But are there others? Has he lifted fears before we felt them? Has he carried our confusion so we wouldn’t have to? Those times when we have been surprised by our own sense of peace? Could it be that Jesus has lifted our anxiety onto his shoulders and placed a yoke of kindness on ours?
1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in A Love Worth Giving
Taken from www.maxlucado.com/
Thank You Lord once again for reminding me that You are walking alongside of me, and for taking my burdens upon You=)
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29 NKJV
Farmers in ancient Israel used to train an inexperienced ox by yoking it to an experienced one with a wooden harness. The straps around the older animal were tightly drawn. He carried the load. But the yoke around the younger animal was loose. He walked alongside the more mature ox, but his burden was light. In this verse Jesus is saying, “I walk alongside you. We are yoked together. But I pull the weight and carry the burden.”
I wonder, how many burdens is Jesus carrying for us that we know nothing about? We’re aware of some. He carries our sin. He carries our shame. He carries our eternal debt. But are there others? Has he lifted fears before we felt them? Has he carried our confusion so we wouldn’t have to? Those times when we have been surprised by our own sense of peace? Could it be that Jesus has lifted our anxiety onto his shoulders and placed a yoke of kindness on ours?
1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in A Love Worth Giving
Taken from www.maxlucado.com/
Thank You Lord once again for reminding me that You are walking alongside of me, and for taking my burdens upon You=)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Lord, I really cannot do poetry.
For a while now, I have been so inspired by poems and stories I've read about my friends' experiences with God, what they have learned from Him..and I wanted to try my hand at typing what I've learned from Him in a poem or story. And I just couldn't do it. No words came to me, and I got stuck right at the beginning.
I tried to do one just now, and I ended up staring at the computer screen, typing random words..and finally, I scrunched up my face and said, "Lord, You didn't really bless me with the gift of poetry did you?"
And I burst out laughing. haha. I mean I love writing about Him, about my feelings about Him and what He has taught me over time, but to do it in a poem or story..now that is a completely different thing.
Well, not to lose heart. Maybe one day, I'll just be blessed with the gift, and who knows?Maybe I'll end up writing poems for a living. haha. highly impossible, but oh well, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!-Philippians 4:13.
For a while now, I have been so inspired by poems and stories I've read about my friends' experiences with God, what they have learned from Him..and I wanted to try my hand at typing what I've learned from Him in a poem or story. And I just couldn't do it. No words came to me, and I got stuck right at the beginning.
I tried to do one just now, and I ended up staring at the computer screen, typing random words..and finally, I scrunched up my face and said, "Lord, You didn't really bless me with the gift of poetry did you?"
And I burst out laughing. haha. I mean I love writing about Him, about my feelings about Him and what He has taught me over time, but to do it in a poem or story..now that is a completely different thing.
Well, not to lose heart. Maybe one day, I'll just be blessed with the gift, and who knows?Maybe I'll end up writing poems for a living. haha. highly impossible, but oh well, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!-Philippians 4:13.
of traveling and love~
I'm bored.
School was fine today. Funnily enough, the highlight of today was meeting last sem and this sem's professors in the English Staff office. It felt really nice to be able to talk to them and just exchange a few lines with each other=) Plus, we finally got to meet the professor of Magical Realism. woah. Yiwen and I were totally bowled over. Sharon would have been too..if she saw more than just his back view. But oh well, I didn't really get to see him clearly, but he does give off the Orlando Bloom vibes..
haha. Seriously people, one of the major points why you should take up English Literature is because there will always be charming, good-looking and friendly professors or teachers in this course. They can be a little intimidating at times, mumble a bit at times..but well, they're still good to look at=)
oops. haha, what am I saying??I mean, there are so many other reason why English is a good course!And I certainly did not choose this course because of this reason..
Anyway, I wanted to type about something else. This is random, I just wanted to say it in the spur of the moment. This isn't really what I wanted to say, but it'll do.
I realised that I'm very passive when it comes to things I'm unsure of. For instance, love. Sharon pointed this out during our girls' talk the other day at corduroy's cafe, and I agreed but didn't really see the point. Until one day at my usual bus-stop, near my house.
I was waiting for a bus when I connected what sharon said to what I always do. Whenever I see a bus at the bus-stop, or approaching the bus-stop, I will never board the bus unless I have my card in my hand. It doesn't matter if I am just standing a few steps away from the bus, I will still hang back and search for my card first. I usually never run for buses on my own, I just don't like the feeling of being un-prepared as I board the bus.I need to be prepared, I need to expect a smooth entry onto the bus, and achieve it.
And I thought, can my attitude towards love or affection be the same? I mean just like grace said about herself, I really cannot see myself with someone either. Either I feel completely awkward around him, or I'll end up talking nonsense and babbling. Or, you won't even see me around a guy. haha. I know, I know, it's studies time now!focus on other things!haha. yup, I am..just that this topic is so fun to explore and it's always interesting to blog about it.
Like I said, I was bored.
I feel better now though..I'm off to sleep!goodnight=)
School was fine today. Funnily enough, the highlight of today was meeting last sem and this sem's professors in the English Staff office. It felt really nice to be able to talk to them and just exchange a few lines with each other=) Plus, we finally got to meet the professor of Magical Realism. woah. Yiwen and I were totally bowled over. Sharon would have been too..if she saw more than just his back view. But oh well, I didn't really get to see him clearly, but he does give off the Orlando Bloom vibes..
haha. Seriously people, one of the major points why you should take up English Literature is because there will always be charming, good-looking and friendly professors or teachers in this course. They can be a little intimidating at times, mumble a bit at times..but well, they're still good to look at=)
oops. haha, what am I saying??I mean, there are so many other reason why English is a good course!And I certainly did not choose this course because of this reason..
Anyway, I wanted to type about something else. This is random, I just wanted to say it in the spur of the moment. This isn't really what I wanted to say, but it'll do.
I realised that I'm very passive when it comes to things I'm unsure of. For instance, love. Sharon pointed this out during our girls' talk the other day at corduroy's cafe, and I agreed but didn't really see the point. Until one day at my usual bus-stop, near my house.
I was waiting for a bus when I connected what sharon said to what I always do. Whenever I see a bus at the bus-stop, or approaching the bus-stop, I will never board the bus unless I have my card in my hand. It doesn't matter if I am just standing a few steps away from the bus, I will still hang back and search for my card first. I usually never run for buses on my own, I just don't like the feeling of being un-prepared as I board the bus.I need to be prepared, I need to expect a smooth entry onto the bus, and achieve it.
And I thought, can my attitude towards love or affection be the same? I mean just like grace said about herself, I really cannot see myself with someone either. Either I feel completely awkward around him, or I'll end up talking nonsense and babbling. Or, you won't even see me around a guy. haha. I know, I know, it's studies time now!focus on other things!haha. yup, I am..just that this topic is so fun to explore and it's always interesting to blog about it.
Like I said, I was bored.
I feel better now though..I'm off to sleep!goodnight=)
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
one more issue resolved..
For a very long time now, I have been searching and seeking God to reach out to me in some sort of explosive encounter. Some sort of really special experience. I have heard of how people have had those experiences with God, those divine and miraculous encounters with Him. And honestly to say, I don't think I have ever had those kind of experiences. For four years, I tried to think, okay..there will come a time where God will speak to me in a very personal way, in a way only He can do.
And this afternoon, I was hit again by a wave of longing, longing to just be able to feel Him, to sense His presence. I asked Him to allow me to be like Thomas, who had his hands placed in His. I told Him that I could be seen as having a weak faith, wanting to live my life by sight now, not faith..anything, just to be able to sense His presence. I couldn't stop the tears from coming. And yet, I still didn't feel His presence.
I wanted so badly to hear Him speak to me, to tell me where He wants me to go, to guide me, to lead me so clearly..
I still want Him to.
But when I was preparing lunch just now, a reminder came back to me, "If you keep waiting for an explosive encounter with God, you will miss seeing Him in all the little things in life."SP Dan Foo said that. I wasn't able to really understand this. I thought that wanting to sense His presence once in a while would be understandable. Then I realised, that God speaks to different people in different ways. And now I feel I'm beginning to realise that He doesn't speak to me in the way I hope for Him to, but that doesn't mean He doesn't speak to me. Looking back, my God has spoken to me in so many other ways, taught me, helped me, provided for me in so many ways that I have lost count.
No doubt, I still have that lingering hope that one day, I will too have this special encounter with Him-my own personal experience with God. But for now, I thank Him for all He has shown me all these years, all He has blessed me with all these years, and I pray Lord, that You will let me see You, let me see Your good hand in the many little things of life, that every day will be a day spent with You.
Once in a while special encounters with You would be very nice. But seeing You at work in every moment and circumstance of my life is way better. Lord, I think You made me a little too emotional and sentimental...but I know You're moulding me, and I'm still a work-in-progress.
Lord, continue to speak to me, continue to lead me. Continue oh Lord to be my Savior close enough to touch, strong enough to trust.
And this afternoon, I was hit again by a wave of longing, longing to just be able to feel Him, to sense His presence. I asked Him to allow me to be like Thomas, who had his hands placed in His. I told Him that I could be seen as having a weak faith, wanting to live my life by sight now, not faith..anything, just to be able to sense His presence. I couldn't stop the tears from coming. And yet, I still didn't feel His presence.
I wanted so badly to hear Him speak to me, to tell me where He wants me to go, to guide me, to lead me so clearly..
I still want Him to.
But when I was preparing lunch just now, a reminder came back to me, "If you keep waiting for an explosive encounter with God, you will miss seeing Him in all the little things in life."SP Dan Foo said that. I wasn't able to really understand this. I thought that wanting to sense His presence once in a while would be understandable. Then I realised, that God speaks to different people in different ways. And now I feel I'm beginning to realise that He doesn't speak to me in the way I hope for Him to, but that doesn't mean He doesn't speak to me. Looking back, my God has spoken to me in so many other ways, taught me, helped me, provided for me in so many ways that I have lost count.
No doubt, I still have that lingering hope that one day, I will too have this special encounter with Him-my own personal experience with God. But for now, I thank Him for all He has shown me all these years, all He has blessed me with all these years, and I pray Lord, that You will let me see You, let me see Your good hand in the many little things of life, that every day will be a day spent with You.
Once in a while special encounters with You would be very nice. But seeing You at work in every moment and circumstance of my life is way better. Lord, I think You made me a little too emotional and sentimental...but I know You're moulding me, and I'm still a work-in-progress.
Lord, continue to speak to me, continue to lead me. Continue oh Lord to be my Savior close enough to touch, strong enough to trust.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Chance and Love-
Hope is the most exciting thing in life and if you honestly believe love is out there, it will come. And even if it doesn't come straight away, there is still that chance all through your life that it will.
- Josh Hartnett
Saturday afternoons are really the worst times to travel. This is not the first time, and it probably would not be the last either. She holds on to the metal railing next to her albeit cautiously, trying hard not to think of who else could have left their mark there, or left some particular stains behind.
She grimaces as she sees a fellow standing in the far right corner who seems particularly interested in discovering the contents of his nose. It was almost a reflex action to let go of the railing and try to balance and not bump into anyone next to her. Quite a feat really, considering that she is currently sandwiched between a lady prone to flicking that hair of hers, which lands a sharp sting as it hits the faces of those near enough, and a teenager who looks like he’s going to suffer from some sort of a neck sprain if he continues that bobbing of his head.
She refrains from sighing, and instead, tries to comfort herself that with just another fifteen minutes, she will be able to get off the train and be on her way to her destination. The music of the teenager continues to blast into her ears. She reminds herself, ‘Fifteen more minutes…fifteen more minutes...’
She closes her eyes and continues her balancing act, and as she does so, a familiar train of thought surfaces. ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if there is someone, someone who is significant or is going to be significant in my life, here in the same train as me?’She thought, ‘Like some sort of chance encounter, where two people meant to be with each other happen to be in the same place at the same time, but they don’t really know of it?’An idealistic romantic at heart, her mind is prone to wander to such thoughts from time to time.
‘What about like right here, right now?’As she feels the wind in the train compartment blow past her, she can feel the beginnings of a smile on her face.
_______________________________________________________________________
‘Seven more stops. Fifteen more minutes to go.’ Today is not a good day for him. Having sent his car for repairs, he has no choice but to bear with the subway for his mode of transport to work. On a Saturday no less. Dressed in his usual brown coat, light-blue long sleeved shirt, and dark brown pants, he looks just like the rest of the people on board the train. It is just he feels a little claustrophobic all of a sudden, feeling cramped by the people around him. He can hardly make out the faces of the people around him for goodness’ sake; they are all packed up like sardines against each other.
Fiddling with his green tie, with which he had no idea why he made the extra effort to look nice, he tries to look around him and immediately regrets it after seeing a person digging his nose in the far left corner of the train compartment.
‘I wonder is there any good that can come out of traveling in a crowded train on a Saturday afternoon?’ He closes his eyes, and tries to block out the noise around him. ‘Fifteen more minutes…’
______________________________________________________________________
After forty painful minutes, she finally reaches her destination for that day: Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Here for the first time to pick up her friend’s meds on her behalf, she feels a little lost and she glances at the signs around hoping to find a sign that will point her to the pharmacy.
Just as she is looking around and preparing to approach the counter for help, she feels someone brushing past her. She looks up only in time to see a man in a brown coat walking briskly away from her. Looking at the direction he is walking towards, she happens to notice the sign she has been looking for- directions to PPTH’s Pharmacy. ‘Maybe that person was sent to help me find the place I was looking for!’She realizes that something good can be found in something bad after all. It is just a matter of perspectives.
______________________________________________________________________
The queue at the pharmacy was long to say the least. It took her at least two hours before she got her turn and another hour to pick up the meds and to pay for them. Her friend better be grateful about this…
After three hours of visiting patients, scheduling and overseeing of treatments, Dr. James Wilson is ready to pack up and head straight for home. There hasn’t been much to do at the hospital lately, and for once, he is glad for the rest.
______________________________________________________________________
Adjusting the bag-strap over his right shoulder, he walks out of the lift, and heads towards the glass doors. And for the second time that day, his shoulder brushes against another. Only this time round, he notices her. It was hard not to. With her messy brownish blonde hair, her colorful scarf, and that smile on her face, she is quite a remarkable sight. Not to mention, the light in her eyes as she immediately says “sorry” and looks up with a sheepish smile on her face.
He finds himself smiling back unconsciously, replying with an “it’s alright.” She smiles back at him again and extends her hand out for a proper introduction. “I’m not quite sure if we’ve met before, as you seem quite familiar…Anyway, I’m Allison.”
“James Wilson. I am quite sure we have not met before, or at least we have not been properly introduced to each other as of yet. I work in this hospital actually…”He resists the urge to fiddle with his tie, instead choosing to focus on her next words.
“So I presume you’re a doctor? Now that is interesting…Say, do you have time? I happen to know of this great diner just round the corner, and I am really famished and tired after a long day of traveling. Do you want to grab a bite together?”
“That sounds nice, a good dinner and rest is exactly what I had in mind. Shall we make a move then?” His warm smile squashes all hesitancy she may have felt earlier about proposing dinner with a stranger she has just met for a few minutes. A stranger she feels she has known for quite a while.
With that, they proceed to walk out of the hospital’s compound, talking and laughing as though they have met before and as though this isn’t their first time meeting each other.
In fact, unbeknownst to them, this is actually their third chance encounter. Moreover, who knows? There may have been more chance meetings between them before this Saturday’s. And that is precisely why they are called chance encounters.
Then again, Richard Bach once said, "Nothing happens by chance, my friend...No such thing as luck. A meaning behind every little thing, and such a meaning behind this. Part for you, part for me, may not see it all real clear right now, but we will, before long."
This seems more like the case for this pair of people. Indeed, one can conclude, nothing occurs by chance.
- Josh Hartnett
Saturday afternoons are really the worst times to travel. This is not the first time, and it probably would not be the last either. She holds on to the metal railing next to her albeit cautiously, trying hard not to think of who else could have left their mark there, or left some particular stains behind.
She grimaces as she sees a fellow standing in the far right corner who seems particularly interested in discovering the contents of his nose. It was almost a reflex action to let go of the railing and try to balance and not bump into anyone next to her. Quite a feat really, considering that she is currently sandwiched between a lady prone to flicking that hair of hers, which lands a sharp sting as it hits the faces of those near enough, and a teenager who looks like he’s going to suffer from some sort of a neck sprain if he continues that bobbing of his head.
She refrains from sighing, and instead, tries to comfort herself that with just another fifteen minutes, she will be able to get off the train and be on her way to her destination. The music of the teenager continues to blast into her ears. She reminds herself, ‘Fifteen more minutes…fifteen more minutes...’
She closes her eyes and continues her balancing act, and as she does so, a familiar train of thought surfaces. ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if there is someone, someone who is significant or is going to be significant in my life, here in the same train as me?’She thought, ‘Like some sort of chance encounter, where two people meant to be with each other happen to be in the same place at the same time, but they don’t really know of it?’An idealistic romantic at heart, her mind is prone to wander to such thoughts from time to time.
‘What about like right here, right now?’As she feels the wind in the train compartment blow past her, she can feel the beginnings of a smile on her face.
_______________________________________________________________________
‘Seven more stops. Fifteen more minutes to go.’ Today is not a good day for him. Having sent his car for repairs, he has no choice but to bear with the subway for his mode of transport to work. On a Saturday no less. Dressed in his usual brown coat, light-blue long sleeved shirt, and dark brown pants, he looks just like the rest of the people on board the train. It is just he feels a little claustrophobic all of a sudden, feeling cramped by the people around him. He can hardly make out the faces of the people around him for goodness’ sake; they are all packed up like sardines against each other.
Fiddling with his green tie, with which he had no idea why he made the extra effort to look nice, he tries to look around him and immediately regrets it after seeing a person digging his nose in the far left corner of the train compartment.
‘I wonder is there any good that can come out of traveling in a crowded train on a Saturday afternoon?’ He closes his eyes, and tries to block out the noise around him. ‘Fifteen more minutes…’
______________________________________________________________________
After forty painful minutes, she finally reaches her destination for that day: Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Here for the first time to pick up her friend’s meds on her behalf, she feels a little lost and she glances at the signs around hoping to find a sign that will point her to the pharmacy.
Just as she is looking around and preparing to approach the counter for help, she feels someone brushing past her. She looks up only in time to see a man in a brown coat walking briskly away from her. Looking at the direction he is walking towards, she happens to notice the sign she has been looking for- directions to PPTH’s Pharmacy. ‘Maybe that person was sent to help me find the place I was looking for!’She realizes that something good can be found in something bad after all. It is just a matter of perspectives.
______________________________________________________________________
The queue at the pharmacy was long to say the least. It took her at least two hours before she got her turn and another hour to pick up the meds and to pay for them. Her friend better be grateful about this…
After three hours of visiting patients, scheduling and overseeing of treatments, Dr. James Wilson is ready to pack up and head straight for home. There hasn’t been much to do at the hospital lately, and for once, he is glad for the rest.
______________________________________________________________________
Adjusting the bag-strap over his right shoulder, he walks out of the lift, and heads towards the glass doors. And for the second time that day, his shoulder brushes against another. Only this time round, he notices her. It was hard not to. With her messy brownish blonde hair, her colorful scarf, and that smile on her face, she is quite a remarkable sight. Not to mention, the light in her eyes as she immediately says “sorry” and looks up with a sheepish smile on her face.
He finds himself smiling back unconsciously, replying with an “it’s alright.” She smiles back at him again and extends her hand out for a proper introduction. “I’m not quite sure if we’ve met before, as you seem quite familiar…Anyway, I’m Allison.”
“James Wilson. I am quite sure we have not met before, or at least we have not been properly introduced to each other as of yet. I work in this hospital actually…”He resists the urge to fiddle with his tie, instead choosing to focus on her next words.
“So I presume you’re a doctor? Now that is interesting…Say, do you have time? I happen to know of this great diner just round the corner, and I am really famished and tired after a long day of traveling. Do you want to grab a bite together?”
“That sounds nice, a good dinner and rest is exactly what I had in mind. Shall we make a move then?” His warm smile squashes all hesitancy she may have felt earlier about proposing dinner with a stranger she has just met for a few minutes. A stranger she feels she has known for quite a while.
With that, they proceed to walk out of the hospital’s compound, talking and laughing as though they have met before and as though this isn’t their first time meeting each other.
In fact, unbeknownst to them, this is actually their third chance encounter. Moreover, who knows? There may have been more chance meetings between them before this Saturday’s. And that is precisely why they are called chance encounters.
Then again, Richard Bach once said, "Nothing happens by chance, my friend...No such thing as luck. A meaning behind every little thing, and such a meaning behind this. Part for you, part for me, may not see it all real clear right now, but we will, before long."
This seems more like the case for this pair of people. Indeed, one can conclude, nothing occurs by chance.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Hot Lemon Tea Day-
"I don't drink coffee; I take tea, my dear."
- Sting, An Englishman in New York
The first time they met was at a café.
It was a café just round the corner of the road leading to the hospital. It was purely a chance meeting.
He had to purchase a drink that morning, seeing that he did not get much sleep the night before and caffeine was necessary then.
She was just there for her usual morning cuppa and breakfast.
He had dropped by this café before, a few times, but not regular enough to be familiar with its patrons.
It was her first time there. She decided to try out the café just that morning.
When one says one needs a caffeine fix, one usually thinks of coffee. However, for both of them, tea is the more preferred drink. The soothing effect tea brings, the bittersweet taste it leaves, the scalding but comforting sips of tea are exactly what they need to chase the blues away.
That day was hot lemon tea day.
“Hot lemon tea to go!”The barista hands out the cup of tea across the waiting table. Their fingers brush against each other’s as they both reached for the same cup at the same time.
Apparently, it was hot lemon tea day for the both of them.
She looks up in surprise, and after seeing the awkward smile on his face, begins to smile warmly and lets go of her hold on the cup.
Just as he sees her letting go of the cup, he motions for her to take it first and insists upon waiting for the next one.
“You’re a perfect gentleman I must say. It really is a pleasure to meet you; I am Allison by the way. Ally for short.”She introduces herself before smiling and taking a sip of her tea.
“James Wilson. It was kind of you to say that. Well, I must get going, the hospital needs me.” Unconsciously, he rubs the back of his neck with his hand, a habit he reverts to when feeling uncomfortable. Taking the second cup of tea, he realizes that he felt uncomfortable not because of her presence, but because of the sudden want to stay and talk to her. Get to know her more, say something, anything just to see that smile of hers again.
She nods her head, her face showing perfect understanding. Waving slightly, she acknowledges his need to leave and proceeds to smile as he begins to walk towards the door.
Just before he exits out the door, he turns back and asks, “Will you be here tomorrow?”
She smiles and nods her head slightly, “It’s black tea latte day tomorrow.”
He smiles back at her and left.
That day, they both thought, “Tea really does chase away the blues.”
The second time they met was at the same café.
The same café that sparked off the many dates soon to come after.
- Sting, An Englishman in New York
The first time they met was at a café.
It was a café just round the corner of the road leading to the hospital. It was purely a chance meeting.
He had to purchase a drink that morning, seeing that he did not get much sleep the night before and caffeine was necessary then.
She was just there for her usual morning cuppa and breakfast.
He had dropped by this café before, a few times, but not regular enough to be familiar with its patrons.
It was her first time there. She decided to try out the café just that morning.
When one says one needs a caffeine fix, one usually thinks of coffee. However, for both of them, tea is the more preferred drink. The soothing effect tea brings, the bittersweet taste it leaves, the scalding but comforting sips of tea are exactly what they need to chase the blues away.
That day was hot lemon tea day.
“Hot lemon tea to go!”The barista hands out the cup of tea across the waiting table. Their fingers brush against each other’s as they both reached for the same cup at the same time.
Apparently, it was hot lemon tea day for the both of them.
She looks up in surprise, and after seeing the awkward smile on his face, begins to smile warmly and lets go of her hold on the cup.
Just as he sees her letting go of the cup, he motions for her to take it first and insists upon waiting for the next one.
“You’re a perfect gentleman I must say. It really is a pleasure to meet you; I am Allison by the way. Ally for short.”She introduces herself before smiling and taking a sip of her tea.
“James Wilson. It was kind of you to say that. Well, I must get going, the hospital needs me.” Unconsciously, he rubs the back of his neck with his hand, a habit he reverts to when feeling uncomfortable. Taking the second cup of tea, he realizes that he felt uncomfortable not because of her presence, but because of the sudden want to stay and talk to her. Get to know her more, say something, anything just to see that smile of hers again.
She nods her head, her face showing perfect understanding. Waving slightly, she acknowledges his need to leave and proceeds to smile as he begins to walk towards the door.
Just before he exits out the door, he turns back and asks, “Will you be here tomorrow?”
She smiles and nods her head slightly, “It’s black tea latte day tomorrow.”
He smiles back at her and left.
That day, they both thought, “Tea really does chase away the blues.”
The second time they met was at the same café.
The same café that sparked off the many dates soon to come after.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Ladies' meeting~
An impromptu ladies' meeting today was just the perfect highlight-rounding off the holidays and starting the year amazingly.
And surprisingly, criteria no. 3 or 4 had all of them talking about it. The one with the surname issue. I mean hey, you guys tested it out and jean really goes way better with caucasian surnames right?=)
Amidst the running here and there, the cooking of soup, the mashing of potatoes and the getting of supplies, I managed to give one whispering thought(Waking thoughts, waiting thoughts, whispering thoughts and waning thoughts-Max Lucado) to Him. Thank You Lord for bringing us all here together, it couldn't have been better.
We ate, we laughed, we prepared, we cooked, we baked, we rested. We ate some more, talked some more, laughed some more, cooked some more. Then we ate some more, we played, we cleaned up, we played some more, then it was time to say our goodbyes.
And as promised, here are the photos. The first of many batches of photos to be posted by yours truly.
This was the mess we created. haha.
Sammie did the heart-shaped pizza base. Judith, jen and yingqi did the decoration of the ingredients. It looks so pretty right?
Yingqi's very own quiche.
Leadersheep's very own team of bakers=)
The whole lot of us ladies. A satisfied and happy bunch.
Alright. That's pretty much it. The day has indeed been well spent.
And as I sit here with my cup of Japanese tea, with my Japanese snack- small man tous, I am really very glad,and very contented.
One last photo of two rounded biscuits together.
I'm thankful Lord. Thank You for the many blessings.
And surprisingly, criteria no. 3 or 4 had all of them talking about it. The one with the surname issue. I mean hey, you guys tested it out and jean really goes way better with caucasian surnames right?=)
Amidst the running here and there, the cooking of soup, the mashing of potatoes and the getting of supplies, I managed to give one whispering thought(Waking thoughts, waiting thoughts, whispering thoughts and waning thoughts-Max Lucado) to Him. Thank You Lord for bringing us all here together, it couldn't have been better.
We ate, we laughed, we prepared, we cooked, we baked, we rested. We ate some more, talked some more, laughed some more, cooked some more. Then we ate some more, we played, we cleaned up, we played some more, then it was time to say our goodbyes.
And as promised, here are the photos. The first of many batches of photos to be posted by yours truly.
This was the mess we created. haha.
Sammie did the heart-shaped pizza base. Judith, jen and yingqi did the decoration of the ingredients. It looks so pretty right?
Yingqi's very own quiche.
Leadersheep's very own team of bakers=)
The whole lot of us ladies. A satisfied and happy bunch.
Alright. That's pretty much it. The day has indeed been well spent.
And as I sit here with my cup of Japanese tea, with my Japanese snack- small man tous, I am really very glad,and very contented.
One last photo of two rounded biscuits together.
I'm thankful Lord. Thank You for the many blessings.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
My new addictions: Starbucks' Black Tea Latte and Muji's Cheddar cheese sticks with cod fish(the latter sounds weird, but it's really yummy. Great for waving around to emphasise a point too.)
sharon, message me your definition or definitions of love. hurry and be spontaneous woman!
haha, the rest of you readers who I happen to give to you my blog address(you know who you are!), drop me a line of what you think is or are the definition/s of love!
I need the results for a survey.
thanks people=)
sharon, message me your definition or definitions of love. hurry and be spontaneous woman!
haha, the rest of you readers who I happen to give to you my blog address(you know who you are!), drop me a line of what you think is or are the definition/s of love!
I need the results for a survey.
thanks people=)
The List~
haha. I've decided to do a checklist with all the criterias I have for my expected significant other.
Checklist*:
1. He must be semi good-looking(shallow, but still!If you are going to be with this person for the long-haul, you have to enjoy looking at him right?)
2. Relatively wealthy(it's a materialistic world out there)
3. Preferably with a surname that goes well with Jean=)(this criteria sadly rules out 98% of asian guys)
4. He must be english-educated, speaks fluently in english for better words
5. We must be able to have long conversations and enjoy talking to each other
6. Good dress sense, will be able to buy his own clothes and just turn up for dates looking good=)
7. Intellect is essential
8. Nice voice(we have to enjoy talking to one another remember?)
9. He must be gracious, loving, and generous enough(vague, I know)
10. He must be able to carry me, and not fall.(haha,this is an absolute must!)
* -The list does not include the usual pre-requisites like him being at least a head taller than me, being healthy and fit, he can't be younger than me, he must be able to make me smile and laugh, he must get along well with my family and friends, I must get along well with his family and friends, and of course, he must be a believer!haha, a godly man through and through.
criteria no. 10 is quirky, but it really is an absolute must. Everyone who has asked me about my list has raised their eyebrows at this, but I insist!
Oh, I forgot to mention, all the people in my family, they have names that start with either a D or a J. so yeah. Not a must, but it'll be nice to keep the tradition going..(if it's too hard, I can be persuaded to give this up;))
so ladies, tell me, where on earth do I find such a person?
haha. I realised, that due to criteria no. 10, besides an interview and resume, there must be a physical fitness test included as well, to select and determine the One=)
if any of you find such a person out there, please go ahead and grab him. Because I know it'll be futile to even ask you to recommend such a person to me. Either he doesn't exist for real, or else he'd be too good to give up=)
haha. but yes, sharon, print out the list nonetheless and if some guys come along, bring out the checklist yeah?and punch me out of my "love is blind" mode if he doesn't even meet 5 criterias on the list(excluding the pre-requisites).
thanks!
haha. This has been quite fun.
Thinking through, I do believe You meet every single criteria. Exceed every one of them in fact. The surname one, it's okay, cause You'll be giving us new names. And besides, with You, the tradition of our family gets to stay=)You just really might be the One for me.
Checklist*:
1. He must be semi good-looking(shallow, but still!If you are going to be with this person for the long-haul, you have to enjoy looking at him right?)
2. Relatively wealthy(it's a materialistic world out there)
3. Preferably with a surname that goes well with Jean=)(this criteria sadly rules out 98% of asian guys)
4. He must be english-educated, speaks fluently in english for better words
5. We must be able to have long conversations and enjoy talking to each other
6. Good dress sense, will be able to buy his own clothes and just turn up for dates looking good=)
7. Intellect is essential
8. Nice voice(we have to enjoy talking to one another remember?)
9. He must be gracious, loving, and generous enough(vague, I know)
10. He must be able to carry me, and not fall.(haha,this is an absolute must!)
* -The list does not include the usual pre-requisites like him being at least a head taller than me, being healthy and fit, he can't be younger than me, he must be able to make me smile and laugh, he must get along well with my family and friends, I must get along well with his family and friends, and of course, he must be a believer!haha, a godly man through and through.
criteria no. 10 is quirky, but it really is an absolute must. Everyone who has asked me about my list has raised their eyebrows at this, but I insist!
Oh, I forgot to mention, all the people in my family, they have names that start with either a D or a J. so yeah. Not a must, but it'll be nice to keep the tradition going..(if it's too hard, I can be persuaded to give this up;))
so ladies, tell me, where on earth do I find such a person?
haha. I realised, that due to criteria no. 10, besides an interview and resume, there must be a physical fitness test included as well, to select and determine the One=)
if any of you find such a person out there, please go ahead and grab him. Because I know it'll be futile to even ask you to recommend such a person to me. Either he doesn't exist for real, or else he'd be too good to give up=)
haha. but yes, sharon, print out the list nonetheless and if some guys come along, bring out the checklist yeah?and punch me out of my "love is blind" mode if he doesn't even meet 5 criterias on the list(excluding the pre-requisites).
thanks!
haha. This has been quite fun.
Thinking through, I do believe You meet every single criteria. Exceed every one of them in fact. The surname one, it's okay, cause You'll be giving us new names. And besides, with You, the tradition of our family gets to stay=)You just really might be the One for me.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
2007-2008.
Jesus, Your love is one step closer
I will trust You will never let me go
Jesus, Your love has won me over
All my trust has found no other
So I will declare the beauty of the Lord
Nothing compares to the beauty of the Lord
Jesus Your love, it takes my breath away
And now I'm living every day
For the beauty of the Lord
- Beauty of the Lord, Jared Anderson
I'm going through withdrawal symptoms!haha, withdrawal symptoms from being away from church and my amazing cell members=)
For the past two weeks we've been going to church for almost three days in a week, and my cell mates and I have been meeting up often too..so it feels really weird not to see them around..haha. how will I cope when I go back to school??
thank God! I have ronnie and yiwen, not to mention grace, carol and the rest of my beloved friends=)I'm like super happy and excited whenever zoogaNders* meet up. And till now, I still think they know me the most.haha. at cell last sunday(the last sunday of 2007!), we were playing the game match the distinct quirk or experience to each person. Mine was: I have a dislike for phones. And only one person in cell managed to guess it..haha, frankly, I think it was a lucky guess. Anyway,I was thinking that if sharon, grace and carol were there, they would have immediately laughed or smirked and say it's me. And there was one quirk raised that was the person always sneezed more than once. I immediately thought, Sharon!haha, I still remember how grace and I will count the no. of times ronnie will sneeze..I think the present record is 8 times?or 10?In a row mind you..haha, till now, I'm still amazed sharon doesn't like collapse after her sneeze attacks..it's really quite amusing=)
anyway, Leadersheep(that's our cell name!) met on 21st of dec for our christmas party with the circles' cells, I met shu hui on the 22nd of dec for some christmas shopping, cell met again on the 23rd of dec for our usual sunday service and sang our first round of christmas carols. We met again on the 25th of dec for our Christmas service!The christmas drama was called,"He ran", based on the prodigal son story in the bible..want to know more?Ask and you shall receive!haha.After that, we met again on the 30th of dec for our usual sunday service with our last cell time for 2007!Then of course, we gathered one last time for one last watchnight service of 2007 yesterday, 31st of dec.And today, 1st of Jan 2008, I met up with Judith and Sammie!=)
haha. wow. no wonder I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
anyway, I'm going to do a next post on just my dearest zoogaNders* girls, or ladies, I should say=)
back to the watchnight service yesterday..I think it was my first!!With the adults I mean..normally we would go to the SMASH party for the youths. But shu hui and I decided to attend the adults' and young adults' service for 2007. Let me tell you, it was simply amazing. The atmosphere was so charged, and so blessed by God. Ice-breakers had us breaking into groups according to our surnames, dialects, how long we have been believing..
And after that, during worship, I just thought, that even though we are of different dialects, different nationalities, different lives and names..but we are all one family of God. We are all related in Christ!And I was just so touched and just so in awe of Him and His goodness.
We gave thanks, we worshipped, we listened to sharings of His blessings, we had our last Lord's supper of the year, we had His word, and than we began the countdown. And there we were, arms linked with one another, candles in our hands, we ushered the new year of 2008 together, united as one body of Christ. Call me sentimental, call me idealistic..but at that point of time, all I could think of was just this,"What better place to celebrate the year passed, and the new year to come?" And I realised, that at that moment, I was right where God wanted me to be, right where I wanted to be. In His sanctuary, with Him and His people.
When it's all been said and done,
There is just one thing that matters,
Did I do my best to live for truth,
Did I live my life for You?
When it's all been said and done,
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I've done for love's reward will stand the test of time
Lord, Your mercy is so great
That You look beyond our weakness
And find purest gold in miry clay
Turning sinners into saints
And I will always sing Your praise
Here on earth and ever after,
For You've shown me heaven's my true home
When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone
- When it's all been said and done, Don Moen
Lord, I surrender my 2007 into Your hands, and I welcome 2008 with You, with open arms.
I will trust You will never let me go
Jesus, Your love has won me over
All my trust has found no other
So I will declare the beauty of the Lord
Nothing compares to the beauty of the Lord
Jesus Your love, it takes my breath away
And now I'm living every day
For the beauty of the Lord
- Beauty of the Lord, Jared Anderson
I'm going through withdrawal symptoms!haha, withdrawal symptoms from being away from church and my amazing cell members=)
For the past two weeks we've been going to church for almost three days in a week, and my cell mates and I have been meeting up often too..so it feels really weird not to see them around..haha. how will I cope when I go back to school??
thank God! I have ronnie and yiwen, not to mention grace, carol and the rest of my beloved friends=)I'm like super happy and excited whenever zoogaNders* meet up. And till now, I still think they know me the most.haha. at cell last sunday(the last sunday of 2007!), we were playing the game match the distinct quirk or experience to each person. Mine was: I have a dislike for phones. And only one person in cell managed to guess it..haha, frankly, I think it was a lucky guess. Anyway,I was thinking that if sharon, grace and carol were there, they would have immediately laughed or smirked and say it's me. And there was one quirk raised that was the person always sneezed more than once. I immediately thought, Sharon!haha, I still remember how grace and I will count the no. of times ronnie will sneeze..I think the present record is 8 times?or 10?In a row mind you..haha, till now, I'm still amazed sharon doesn't like collapse after her sneeze attacks..it's really quite amusing=)
anyway, Leadersheep(that's our cell name!) met on 21st of dec for our christmas party with the circles' cells, I met shu hui on the 22nd of dec for some christmas shopping, cell met again on the 23rd of dec for our usual sunday service and sang our first round of christmas carols. We met again on the 25th of dec for our Christmas service!The christmas drama was called,"He ran", based on the prodigal son story in the bible..want to know more?Ask and you shall receive!haha.After that, we met again on the 30th of dec for our usual sunday service with our last cell time for 2007!Then of course, we gathered one last time for one last watchnight service of 2007 yesterday, 31st of dec.And today, 1st of Jan 2008, I met up with Judith and Sammie!=)
haha. wow. no wonder I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
anyway, I'm going to do a next post on just my dearest zoogaNders* girls, or ladies, I should say=)
back to the watchnight service yesterday..I think it was my first!!With the adults I mean..normally we would go to the SMASH party for the youths. But shu hui and I decided to attend the adults' and young adults' service for 2007. Let me tell you, it was simply amazing. The atmosphere was so charged, and so blessed by God. Ice-breakers had us breaking into groups according to our surnames, dialects, how long we have been believing..
And after that, during worship, I just thought, that even though we are of different dialects, different nationalities, different lives and names..but we are all one family of God. We are all related in Christ!And I was just so touched and just so in awe of Him and His goodness.
We gave thanks, we worshipped, we listened to sharings of His blessings, we had our last Lord's supper of the year, we had His word, and than we began the countdown. And there we were, arms linked with one another, candles in our hands, we ushered the new year of 2008 together, united as one body of Christ. Call me sentimental, call me idealistic..but at that point of time, all I could think of was just this,"What better place to celebrate the year passed, and the new year to come?" And I realised, that at that moment, I was right where God wanted me to be, right where I wanted to be. In His sanctuary, with Him and His people.
When it's all been said and done,
There is just one thing that matters,
Did I do my best to live for truth,
Did I live my life for You?
When it's all been said and done,
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I've done for love's reward will stand the test of time
Lord, Your mercy is so great
That You look beyond our weakness
And find purest gold in miry clay
Turning sinners into saints
And I will always sing Your praise
Here on earth and ever after,
For You've shown me heaven's my true home
When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone
- When it's all been said and done, Don Moen
Lord, I surrender my 2007 into Your hands, and I welcome 2008 with You, with open arms.