Great Memories of 2007!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The Holidays have been a fantastic accompaniment to the ushering of the new year. Christians have been having a blast celebrating the ocassion of Jesus Christ's birth- sweet melodies of Christmas song filling the air, merry wishings and gift givings just warms up the heart and soul, making the spirit praise in joyous wonder.

Most important of all, is to thank the very person whose ultimate sacrifice to die for our sins gives us the reason for all our celebrations- Jesus Christ, whose birth and and human life all the way to his death on the cross has been a cause of inspiration on how we should lead our lives. His example has given us a chance of freedom from sin, freedom from the worries of this world, freedom from materiality and worldliness, and chance for eternal life.

I want to thank all the christians who have made my holidays such a perfect one. Thank you to Ely and Emman who convinced me to treat myself to the Christmas lights of Orchard on the day I was feeling so depressed due to homesickness. I can never be thankful enough how the christians made me feel so loved when they showed up in Orchard to encourage me. Thank you to Patrick, Weng Fatt, Alan and Su Fen, David and Shirley, Andrew, Victoria, Sandy and Celine for being so encouraging. Special mention to Sera, who really wanted to be there but unfortunately can't- I am sure the the night would have been even more fun if you came.

I also remember the great fun my Bible talk had during our Christmas party celebration. Raymond made sure that the event went well and truly, we had an unforgettable party. As Raymond puts it "The party was wild even before we had the Bailey's out." Haha! How true. Great food, great people and great ocassion to have fun equals a really great time!

Also unforgettable is the East coast over night that Gary's and Andrew's group plus plus had. Me and Ely were fortunate enough to be invited for the hangout and boy we sure had a blast! Christmas singing that turned to a christmas concert and a localized "Twelve gifts of Christmas" with Andrews hilarious one plate of chapati! Fireworks and candlelight on the beach, and whole lot of great time of fellowship- and more singing on the beach!

Then on Decmeber 29, I had one of the best dates I have ever had. Kelvin Pang, Wilfred and I decided to cook up a feast for the sisters with our signature dishes. Shepherd's pie, carbonarra, chicken chop, brownies plus a whole lot of wine!!! What followed is a great time of fellowship. (Thank you to my date Sandy for being such a great date and conversationalist.) Then when we thought the date was over, karaoke soon took over and the food feast easily became a song and dance party! Loved every moment of it.

And of course, who can ever forget the Year End party we had at church? We had a blast and dressing up for the event was fun in itself with me Ely and Emman taking pictures all the way. The 80's retro theme was wild and it is fun to see other christians dressing up in fun and hilarious costumes. If you ask me Phua Hee, Kelvin Pang, Sera, Victoria, Gideon and Zach were the best dressed for the night. Want to thank my dance partner Rupa who was great fun all the way. The night would have been different without you.

Well, for now that's it. Another new year has come and more great memories to make and look forward to. Thank you for the many names who are not mentioned here but are equally important to the unfolding of these events. To everybody, let us start the new year with a grateful heart and happy memories to carry us through. And most importantly, let us thank God who made all these things happen.

Encouragement

I feel really encouraged lately, specially within the Church.

I felt that the discussion on "Why Do I Behave the Way I Do" really shows how our leaders give so much effort to effect positive changes in our lives. I am really grateful, specially to John and Karen, who took the time and occasion to make sure this exercise goes out well.

I especially appreciate Karen's sharing about her own lifetraps and her experiences in the past. Her making herself vulnerable to to others makes me trust her more and more and makes me want to be vulnerable to her myself.

I really pray that from all these, I would be able to figure out my lifetraps as well and do something about it.

By the way, while surfing other people's blogs, I have encountered a blog from an American disciple (who may or may not be from our Church) who has a lot of awesome insights. I put it up on my link so you all can read his posts for yourself.

Faith in God

Faith in God

My faith in God is rewarded in ways not defined by material things, but defined by simple expressions of joy, hope, love and strength in spirit. For though everything belongs to God, His reward is beyond human perceptions limited by the physical world, and instead resides in the nourishment of our souls and spirits. He means to build up the part of us that will face eternal life, and not the temporal part of us that spoils with time.

So let me work for the things that please God. For He knows what is best for me beyond all understanding. If it pleases the Lord that I suffer, that in my suffering I am humbled and conditioned to receive His reward from His word, then let me suffer. If its pleases Him that I deny myself for His sake, that in my denial of my worldly self I attain eternal life in Him, then let me deny me. But if it pleases God that I live with joy, like a bright lamp chasing away darkness, then let me rejoice throughout my days.

How can it be so wrong if it is what God requires? He who is imperfect, does he not follow the one who is perfect? For it is only by following the perfect one that we attain hints of perfection. So let our days be perfect in God, through our faith in Him through His son Jesus Christ.

Song Therapy

Song Therapy

I know we have something called movie therapy at church. I think it is wonderful how we use technology to inspire people and bring out the Word of God. Though I am not sure how many people are reading my blog (I think I should do a little marketing), I still continue to use this space to pour out my thoughts.

Been really down lately. Though I resolved to be happy in any way, I found it tougher these past few days. It has been really busy for me. I have poured out so much of my time for my work, which I am really grateful for, in the expense of my quiet times, fellowships, and prayers. I am glad though that I would get occasional calls and visits from disciples but then sometimes it would not be enough.

It is a tough struggle. Specially when you feel so alone. I feel tired and spent. But I realize that there will points in life that you just have to spend time with God. And I guess this is the part where it has been rather uncomfortable for me. Being alone means that I have no one else to talk to- to laugh with, talk with, share stories with. Being alone means, for that moment in time, God has to be enough. No one else but me and God.

Frankly, that is the challenge because for His own reasons, God is not a talkative God. Many times I have asked for signs, a signal, a message, a heavenly apparition to descend on to my bedroom without success. Perhaps, there is a part of me that wants to really make sure He is real.

I do not know why I still have this doubts about Him. Though I pray and talk to Him every now and then, there are times when I can't help but ask. Or maybe, side-consciously, I also want to provoke Him to make His presence felt.

I do feel that my approach is wrong. My maturity as a Christian is not yet to point that God requires of me. Which is of course, in the irony of it, requires that I become like a child. Full of innocence, full of trust, full of joyful wonder.

Despite my wrong approach, God does have a way of reaching out to me. A sister from the campus named Tong Wei sent a link for this song by Mercy Me titled Home Sick. And when I heard it-oh wow- the song hit "home." It basically sums up all that I felt up to this point. The longing for His companionship, His awesome presence, His love and Fatherly care. That is why the posts is titled Song Therapy. Another wonderful way we can use technology to encourage each other and inspire one another. Nothing is as soothing as a good song. Nothing so personal as lyrics that seem to give expression to how one feels.

So I want to share this song as well to all of you who reads my posts. Be it just one or two of you, I am okay with that. In reality I feel that what I am writing are not just blog posts but actual letters to God. So Father, if you are up there, I hope you are reading these "letters." I know one day I will see you but for now, I will live my life in a way that pleases you. I love you God. And I know you love me too.

Here is the song link and the lyrics.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zvhrPMJe8LE&mode=related&search=

HOME SICK

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times

And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you

But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry

Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways

The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know

But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same

Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbyes

And in Christ, there is no end

So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have

To see you again

To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Oh wow I've been so busy with my new job. But still I'm glad I was able to go for a date last Saturday. Although we were all quite tired from Cheshire home, we were quite glad that we went anyway! Here are some of the awesome shots we took. Tell me if you like it.

These are pictures of me, Jessie, Daniela and Alicia at Mt. Faber at Faber Point. The view from up there is amazing and we had great time fellowshipping. We took these winning photoshots out of fun.




The night was very memorable and I was glad to have this souvenir.

Having fun at the Faber point. We know a good idea when we see one. And we just could not resist taking these poses.

Had dinner first at Vivo City. Even then, we were excited to take out cameras out.