Thursday, November 12, 2009
Looyee, you're just one cm away from friday. (:
Sammie prayed for me before my Geog paper. I like the way she viewed exams- like it's an offering of worship to God. After my math paper, I was grumbling within about pathetic question 1. But I paused and thought, what can I say, if You are pleased with this offering of worship?
I thank Him for He looks at my heart and not my results.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Some things which I want to pen down quick before I forget.
The other day.. An idea dropped into my head to gather some friends together for prayer. I hesitated cause it was near to A's but I'm glad I did it. Especially thankful for Rach, Victor and Cheese for doing the word and worship, and everyone who came. We really had a great time! It was more than just preparing our hearts for A levels, but really encouraging one another in our walk with God. Life is really more than just about studies..
Jem asked me about how we set the prayer fast content. And I couldn't quite remember and I didn't really blog it down in details.. Hmm. Which makes me think.. We really need to learn to journal down these minute details in life that matter.
All the best to all for A's! (:
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Camp David Peace Treaty.
Oh yes, I'm about to reach the end. I think the thing some of my friends and I feel is mutual. Especially Sophia. We really supported each other during this two years, spurring each other on. Think I'd miss her a lot. And she made sure I invite her to my wedding next time. Haha.
History is officially my best friend for the past few days. Had mock paper. When I postpone the intl paper last night due to lack of preparation, I thought I could almost float in my bubble of joy. (: I'm glad Ms Chan came to bring conviction in my heart that I've neglected Math again. Alright Math, I'll try to get to know you better. Even though sometimes you're quite weird for a friend. I thought we used to know each other so well.
Lunch with family. Time spent with family has been more regular. (:
1 Cor 15:50,57
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This verse really brought comfort to my heart and mind.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
One thing that I'm definitely going to do after A's is go for a food binge! =D But as yet, I can't quite find a friend who is as hungry..
Farewell assembly was nice.. really nicer than I've ever thought. Singing the school hymn for a last time, photos with the class, the really wonderful gifts from teachers. It almost felt like children's day. And I was really encouraged by my teachers' notes. I'm like a notes person i.e. words of affirmation work better than a car key. (I hope so, since I've never received a car key in my life. Heh.) Or rather, I re-read the notes you give to me at least 3 times on the day you give me. And time with exco and class was really great. Love the class video! Haha. (:
Maybe I will marry someone who can cook.. Like get them for a cooking audition or something. Kidding. (:
Thursday, October 08, 2009
I will not be afraid of Math.. I'd bite the Math paper to prove it. (:
Saturday, October 03, 2009
I look back at Block Test 1 and I don't know why I'm laughing nervously within.
"So there I was, still feeling upset about my studies (as though that one lousy attempt should mark me down)..." June 21
If one falls and never picks him/herself up, that is when he/she truly fails. This is a very cliche line that always appear in dramas, but it is very true. I really thank God for picking me up, and for the people around me who never fail to drop a word of encouragement to spur me.
Block Test 2 was a hurdle for the mind and heart, but I made it. I wanted to improve for Prelims, and I did it. Indeed, when I am weak, He makes me strong.
Oh Lord, guard my heart and my mind from the fear and anxiety that try to creep in to steal my peace. I pray this for my brothers and sisters-in-Christ too, that You will put in us the spirit of love, of power, of sound mind and of discipline. May our friends also be encouraged by our lives. In Jesus' name, amen! (:
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
word of life
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
This verse really assured me that God is for me. He doesn't withhold good things and I have to trust Him for whatever He is doing. It isn't really like people give pressure to me. But the past week, I have been "fear-struck" (I can't think of a better word) and it just paralyses me when I think about A levels.
And this verse really made me think- of how real the cross is and how real the love of the Father is! (:
Thank You for this love.
Friday, September 25, 2009
It's one of my happy coffee days again.. (:
I really feel proud of myself of cutting down on coffee, chilli and fried food. Like really cutting down. Sometimes I even feel sick looking at the latter.
Back to school kinda days. I guess I don't feel that lousy because I spent my time well before it's time for me to get some momentum, somehow. Especially the dead sea scrolls outing. It was totally awesome! =D Was just looking at some of the photos which Rach took and the i-cant-believe-im-staring-at-it feeling was back. I think it was love at first sight for me and the handwritten bibles-especially the older than old English one. It was so so beautiful. How I wish I can own one. Although the things for us to view was a little limited, I can just take a long time admiring each of the exhibits. (and we can probably bring the ideas to Easter Week next year. haha!) Really wish I could stay there longer. And I think the guide helped us to understand the exhibits a lot better.
So anyway, Sophia and I have been cheering each other to keep the fire going. (: And once in a while we go, "The fire gone so fast." Haha. Got back some of our prelims results. Thus far, I've improved quite a lot but my Math slipped cause I didn't focus much. Heh. But I've been taking it optimistically. The aim I had for this exam was: improve. So I guess there wasn't any unrealistic pressure on myself. And now the final lap- the term they use all the time but I don't see how 'final' it is. Haha.
Each time handing my worries to Him again. (: Thank You for Your faithfulness.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
If you can't find nice books, go find Max Lucado. He can be really witty in what he say and I never get bored of his books. I can't quite put an excerpt here else he might sue me though. )= But I guess I can briefly describe.
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He first described two scenes of a boy building sandcastles and a man in the business world building on his career. Both with a few similarities- making something out of nothing, really determined and hardworking. For the boy, he knew the waves would come, and he claps his hands as he sees the waves draw near. But the man, he hovers over his 'sandcastle' and defiantly says 'it's mine'.
"The ocean need not respond. Both know to whom the sand belongs."
Left on his hands are the remains. Had he listened- not that no one has told him. All things cease to an end someday.
Lucado ends the story with these lines, "Go ahead and build, but build with a child's heart. When the sun sets and the tides take-applaud. Salute the process of life, take your father's hand, and go home."
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We take pride in our studies and work. I do. But everytime we need to remind ourselves that God, our Creator, is the one who enable us to study and to work. I remember during the Block Test 1 period, I kept thinking, "Why do I have to study?" And Joe told me that God gave me my brain cells and made my role now a student (if I may add, and a child of God always).
May we learn how to hold things loosely-- putting excellence in our work and yet committing our plans to God-- so that we will not be building treasures only here on earth. (:
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
And I will go to the altar of God,
My joy and my delight
I will praise You with all of my heart.
Song: Altar of GodYay. Basically, Rach and I have been going crazy over the two 'Glory Revealed' CDs which are really worth buying and the songs are stuck in our heads. I shared with my mum the other day that I can't stop thinking and sometimes it even feels like I'm not really resting when I sleep. She told me to sing some songs and then sleep. That was a good idea which I didn't think about. But typically as human, I did for the first night and not the subsequent. These CDs came timely. Haha. And it's so cool the way they get the lyrics from Bible verses that you probably wouldn't believe could be made into a song. (:
I'm really grateful for the sermon last Sat when Pastor Dan shared about uncertainties in life. After the sermon that day and even the very fact that I read some correlated stuff during QT that morning, I begin to pray daily that God will take away the worries that have been weighing on my heart and I feel so much better! I think prayer is really cool. (: It's more effective than asking a few elephants to come and take away your load. Haha.
One more paper. Honestly, I feel like I'm having a holiday or something because the papers are spaced out quite widely. (good thing)
Friday, September 04, 2009
iris
To my dear dear Iris, I hope you've arrived safely!
Hope that you'd be able to settle down and adapt well, with the new friends and stuff.
And we are all very concerned about you, so do let us know what's going on on your side of the world. (:
And your laughter is irreplaceable. So are you.
I'd really miss the time talking to you about all kinds of stuff under the sky. And how you always buy the $1 coke on the way home.
We'd be keeping you in prayer! Take care!
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My mind is thinking in a ji-pua-ji-pua (fragmented) way so I'm just going to type whatever comes along my mind (with discretion). I've parted from the virtual world for quite a while and I think it's going to continue because (i) the router's down so I have to use my brother's laptop (ii) A levels is not so far away. Kept telling myself to make good use of the time so that I'd be able to enjoy my 7 months or so of break without regret.
I'm having a one week break and three more papers to go. Sent Iris off yesterday. The people who sent her off could almost form a fan club. Haha.
Saw pris tan along the way home. She's taking geog major at FASS. Oh man, I've thought of the real world out there and it's a little daunting. Well, I guess I'd just hold that thought for a while. (:
Good talk with Ben. Like somehow my eyes are opened by God to see my life really as a life filled with grace. And the grace overflows, hopefully to others' lives too.
Friday, August 28, 2009
This morning, I woke up feeling a little uneasy within. And this is what spoke to me as I read my devotional material..
"Even when imaginary fears slip in like the morning frost to blight our faith, He's there- in charge...."
It's so interesting- how God speaks to us. Just simple sentences that tap on the doors of our hearts and we know that it's Him.
The previous day when I was studying for GP, I was asking God some funny questions and I just felt like I didn't really like what I was reading because everything
seems debatable. And the back cover of my devotional material wrote, "God's wisdom equips us to handle life as it really is."
As it really is. God doesn't do pretense. That's not how we solve things. Bury it in a ground and act like it isn't there. Go to sleep and hopefully the night will change to day. But just to simply commit it into His hands. As I begin to study.. It's like tougher in a sense that there's higher requirements, but it's different. I feel like I'm studying and walking with Him, though not simultaneously as yet. Will there be a time when in everything that I do, fellowship with Him will be so so natural? I wonder.
The bridge from a song which I just got to hear: 'Desert Song'
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
Monday, August 24, 2009
A cuppa hot white coffee and a good book will do fine. Such a thrill to be able to sit down and get laid back, at least for a while.
It has been a rollercoaster week. All I can say is that I'm really glad that my family members are around to talk to. Because I guess we needed one another. I don't know if I'd be able to get over it, or if I have gotten over it. But through all these, I see the wisdom my parents have (and which I never quite noticed before) in dealing with it. And I begin to realise that parenting really isn't easy. As for me, well, each time I feel this sense of uncertainty... I offer up a prayer once again. It's truly a blessing to be able to talk to God like never ever to anyone else.
"Life gets painful and crazy... But as you gaze upon that cross, let your response be...
Worship."
Just a line from this video that church has been showing.
Friday, August 14, 2009
the joy of being a simple person
I'm back to blogging. To be very honest, I feel weird even typing something.
This retreat away from blogging is in a way a reminder to myself to always hand all things to God at first hand, the very first moment I experience something, good or bad. (although many times we veer towards doing so when experiencing the latter)
Some updates about my life (starting from the very recent), I guess..
1. Stepping down from SFC
I had a very good talk with Jem the other day even though our agenda was to discuss about some other stuff.. But somehow we just diverted to the topic and some things were very helpful.. Especially when he shared about how a pastor in his church is willing to do any task given to him and the next morning you still see him in church doing quiet time in the morning. Such faithfulness and how he holds things loosely in his hands.. I feel that a lot of times we experience this feeling of self-importance... so much that it consumes us and prides sets in once again. It's something that I have to constantly hand to God because sometimes I'm just so afraid of falling away..
Faithfulness is an issue I remember sharing with my cell leader. And the day when we stepped down, Canon shared something really assuring: we do have faith. And even with faith as small as a mustard seed (which is really very small), one can move mountains. I believe that during our term in SFC, indeed we have grown as we serve God.. To all SFC J2s, your small actions have impacted one or another although sometimes we, or even sometimes you, dont even know/see it! It is my prayer that not just the J1s, but also J2s 'who have stepped down', that we will all step up to live out our identity for God.
The emotional part of it.. The journey has been so wonderful.. That sometimes it can feel hard to let go. Especially when I look at my uniform where my badge used to be.. As in not the badge part, but how goods things also have an end and we're moving on. When I look at how the new exco is installed, I was so so happy for them because I remember how my journey has been and I really look forward to see them grow. And during the recent days of mentoring them, I feel like a mother hen to some of them, protecting them and yet knowing I have to let go.. I really cant wait to see what God has in store for them and the generations to come.
Aftering sharing (1), I cant remember what other things I wanted to share..
2. I did well for my Block Test2. (: Really really praise the Lord.
3. Good meet up with some old friends from NV recently. (:
4. Festival of Praise
I can never forget the FOP in 2006. It was the one when God deposited something in my heart and the comfort and assurance He gave brought me back to church. This year's was just as beautiful because some of the things shared really spoke to me about certain things. Yes, of course we do not seek God just via these concerts that lift up our spirits, but it really ministered to me especially when I least expected something many times.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
36 more days till I return to blog. (:
Just a beautiful verse I'd like to leave here. Whether you know Him or not, He will draw close to you if you will draw close to Him.
Psalm 27:4One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
