On the third day of Christmas…

I’m busy trying to upload Christmas photos -_-

But FB is not cooperating.. So I thot I might as well blog abt it as I upload

23rd Dec: Xmas w FS

It was a potluck event at AJ’s house, but no gift exchange dis time.

I’m just very happy to be able to meet up with these precious ppl in my life

**We are more happy and excited than we look. really..**

Just dat Kia’s not very impressed by AJ’s skill of squeezing out the wasabi.

YUCKS.

ALOT of food! and as usual, we din even finish like half of it???

And we talked till 2am

Amazing how different our lives are right now… And AJ’s leaving for Sweden on 13th Jan.

Probably half a year w/o any pri sch gathering coz he’s always the one planning

OH NOOOOoooo….

24th Dec: Mani-Pedi

Free mani pedi from mum’s fren so y not yeah…

Rushed off to do last min shopping… zzz mad christmas crowd.

Too many last min shoppers out there.

24th Dec: Christmas with Poppy

Tried to prepare at top speed, but good thing that Poppy had to drive down to office to do some stuff to his tyres and changed car w his mum, so he took another hr to reach my place (past the planned time).

Which is good, coz I JUST finished preparing then.

A place whr we dun have to get stuck in a jam, wait endlessly for carpark or queue 2 hrs to get a seat.

Quaint little French restaurant…

Extremely nice feeling to have Poppy say grace for us and to say Amen tgt

“We serve the meats red in the middle.”

We love it!

Love the food, too many things to say and compliment, but the dessert was below my expectation

So much of a chocolate fan, I hate Blackforest.

And the 72% Choc Mousse tasted like concentrated Black forest.

The lemon tart was very light and tasty, but far from anything special.

Vanilla ice cream was pretty nice though… coz u can even seen the vanilla bits inside…

Gift exchange!

Sth dat Poppy has laid eyes on for a long long time but din get for himself coz he’s saving for new lens…

I really love the box alot coz it’s full of words and really swt words

Had a happy evening w Poppy… <3

24th Dec: Church Celebration

Rushed to church aft dinner to join in the celebration…

16 of us wanted to cont celebrating so we ended up looking for movies to watch.

Most places were sold out except for….

TIONG BAHRU PLAZA.

Hah! And my last day was the day b4 lah… How coincidental

And we watched Bodyguards and Assassins. A side story abt Sun’s revolution.

Pretty nice show… Very good cast.

25th Dec: Cookies Baking

Spent Christmas day with Poppy, lazing ard, talking to Poppy, watching Clean House marathon, binging on tidbits, talking abt his new Faith and s’more last min shopping -_-

Then we started to bake cookies for his potluck and it took hours man…

And we realised that sth is wrong w our measuring tools

But the cookies were ok lah, prettier, but not as crunchy as the last time…

And aft Poppy sent me home, we sat down to prepare presents for CHAOS.

Christmas gathering w CHAOS was… as usual… chaotic.

We planned for it to be a double surprise whr we told WX we are celebrating Deon’s bday and told deon we’re celebrating WX’s bday.

Glad that everyone was able to made it although… the plan din go on time

And the WAITER who pretty much spoiled our plan for Deon…

“Oh, u guys got a cake? They have a cake inside too!”

*ARGH*

But it still went pretty much like wad we envisioned it to be

We told u it’s sth dat u wanted

CHAOS’ standard way to eat a bday cake…

The result in NEVER pretty (so is the process)…

Anw we sang from 12 to 6pm and went for dinner whr we had our gift exchange

Super yummmy food

We took these photos outside the restaurant and the ppl inside kept looking out -_-

Well… dat’s it for Christmas 09

I had a great time catching up w some lovely people and received alot of nice gifts…

But the greatest gift that I received this year…

Poppy received Christ

I’m sure it’s his greatest gift as well…

And to see so many ppl expressing their joy and excitement when they hear that he is part of the great big family of God

Yeah!

Thank God for coming to Earth for our salvation on that wonderful night 2000 over years ago and giving us the greatest gift on Earth.

Amen…

Proclamation of Faith.

Poppy got baptized today with 40 over other brothers and sisters in Christ

A joyous and special day indeed!

All three choir groups came tgt during worship, and the piano was played by 2 ppl (qianning, it was really nice!! Now I noe why ur hands cramp! haha)

Poppy’s name appearing all over the place

My little pres for him

I realised I did not know how to appreciate the meaning and significance of baptism until I went thru his today.

Thank God for giving me a chance to experience it again.

I hope Poppy feels all the sincere love and concern that our brothers and sisters have expressed

We’ve all been praying for this for a very long time…

And Poppy, dun worry abt not getting ur prayers right ok? Take ur time to learn, just make sure u stay consistent

LOVE YOU~!!

Good News!!

I’M BACK~!!

the mission trip to Mambau, Seramban was amazing.

I know it’ll be a great experience, I just din noe it’ll be dat amazing

Throughout this entire trip, I felt God’s blessings in great abundance.

And I felt sooooo mmuch love…

Love from God

Love from the brothers and sisters in the mission trip

Love from the ppl in Mambau

and Love from Poppy.

While we brought GOOD NEWS to the ppl in Mambau,

I brought GOOD NEWS back as well

**I wanted to share this w u guys tmr, but I simply can’t wait!!**

Poppy received Christ on 18th Dec 09, 11.50am in Seramban

I almost cried when he ask me to turn to the page of Sinner’s Prayer and do it w him…

It was the moment I’ve been dreaming and praying abt for 2 years…

He’ll be having his baptism tmr in church

Ahhh~!!

I’m still busking in the joy of it

**Twirls ard and smiles to myself**

It really shows me God’s amazing power… And I can’t find the right words to express exactly how happy I am right now..

Really really thank God for his amazing work

And many thanks to those who have been praying for him and really concern abt him.

And to Jia Jun and Cheng Chang who spoke to him during the trip and helped to resolve some of the struggles that he had…

It’s great to see how Poppy has bonded w the guys during the trip and how involved he was in the entire process…

And I did the Sinner’s prayer w another girl from Mambau at the Christmas celebration.

It’s really great that we have the chance to bring God’s salvation to the ppl there and I hope that they have the opportunity to cont growing in their r/s w God…

I really have alot of thoughts and emotions about the mission trip, but I noe I cant express them well enuf thru words.

I just hope I can savor them for the time when I can still rmb them in my heart

**Just finish wrapping a little present for Poppy’s baptism tmr Gng to slp now and pray hard we won’t be late for his big day!!**

Everything

Lyrics to the song that we’ll be performing our skit to for the mission trip:

Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That’s leading me
To the place where I find peace again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose…you’re everything.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won’t let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you’re all I want, You’re all I need
You’re everything,everything
You’re all I want your all I need
You’re everything, everything.
You’re all I want you’re all I need.
You’re everything, everything
You’re all I want you’re all I need, you’re everything, everything.

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Jars of Clay.

The speaker came out onto the stage. He pulled out a one-hundred dollar bill.

“Who would like this one-hundred dollar bill?” he asked.

Hands shot up all around the room.

Then he crumpled the paper, threw it on the floor and ground the dirt into it with his foot.  Holding up the dirty, crumpled and tattered money, he then asked, “Now, who wants this one-hundred dollar bill?”

The same hands went into the air.

“And that is why God still wants you,” he continued. “You may be battered and bruised. You may be tattered and torn. You may be crumpled and creased but that does not change your value to God any more than what I have done changes the value of this one-hundred dollar bill.  You are still precious and valuable to the God who chose you, redeemed you, and loves you as His own.”

“He knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). God understands that we are fatally flawed creatures, yet deems us immeasurably valuable no matter how crumpled and soiled we are.

Excerpt from today’s devotion of Girlfriends in God.

What better way to describe God’s amazing grace and wonderful love for us

Really thank God for guiding me thru these 3 weeks of mugging, for all the strength, support and energy that He has granted me.

One last paper in 3 hrs’ time and I’m all set for FREEDOM.

PRIVE PRIVE PRIVE, POPPY POPPY POPPY, SUNSET, SUNSET, SUNSET, CHOCO CRUNCH CHOCO CRUNCH CHOCO CRUNCH, DAISO DAISO DAISO

B4 I start working and tuitioning and get busy with mission trip prep

Brunch Time~!!

Don’t Grumble, Be Grateful.

Right after I posted the complaining post at the bottom, I came hm to do QT and guess what’s the topic today??

It’s about GRUMBLING.

“Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)

Dear LORD, I confess that I grumble and complain way too much. Help me to have a grateful heart for all that You have given me. Today, I commit to turn my grumbling into gratefulness and my complaining into contentment.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Ok, back to WORK~!!

Four Wives.

Man’s dream right… Polygamy…

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most and adored her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies.

He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms.

However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife.

She was his confidant and was always kind,considerate and patient with him.

Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom.

However, he did not love the first wife.

Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short.

He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, ‘I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you.

Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?’

‘No way!’, replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word.

Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, ‘I loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?’

‘No!’, replied the 3rd wife.  ‘Life is too good! When you die, I’m going to remarry!’

His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife,’I have always turned to you for help; and you’ve always been there for me.

When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?’?

‘I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!’, replied the 2nd wife.  ‘At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.’

Her answer struck him like a?bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: ‘I’ll go with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go. ‘

The King looked up, and there was his first wife.

She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the King said, ‘I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!’

In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives:

Our 4th wife is our body.

No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth.

When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends.

No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul.

Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day:

Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you’re in the perfect position to pray…

In the sprit of LOVE.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable.

Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken.

If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal.

Wrap it carefully with hobbies and little luxuries;

Avoid all entanglements;

Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.

But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change.

It will not be broken;

It will become unbreakable, impenetrable, and irredeemable.

The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love is Hell.”

- C.S. Lewis

A Fresh Brew of Faith

I was reading my daily bible study material from Girlfriends in God and today, they asked us to treat our faith like our addiction for a morning cup of coffee or tea.

We should yearn for the warmth and the energy that God brings just like we yearn for the first cup of coffee every morning.

While excessive caffine is bad for the body, we can never get too much of God.

In fact, most of the time we do not get enough.

When I wake up feeling tired and weary every morning, I snooze my alarm clock when I could simply have prayed to God for strength and be very certain that strength is exactly what he will grant me.

Not just strength to help me wake up, not just strength to walk me through the 1st hour, but strength that will stay in me and keep me up for the rest of the day, against what ever challenges I may face.

THAT is the strength that the Lord provides, and no additional 5 minutes or even 1 hr or snoozing can compare to that.

It’s week 11 in a day’s time.

3 weeks – 1 paper due, 1 quiz, 1 take-home exam, 2 presentations and the big one after week13. Not to mention the tuitions and the driving lessons.

I need the strength from God more than anything now because he had guided me through so much, I know only He can bring me through what is about to come.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

(Isaiah 40:29-31, NIV)

Dear God, You have brought me through so many challenging times. Please give me a fresh shot of faith that equips me to live today in Your strength. Help me to trust You, and keep me from leaning on my own understanding.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

For those who wish to seek God daily, here’s a nice source of electronic newsletter with God’s words and sound advices

http://www.crosswalk.com/newsletters/

What I really hope to achieve..

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4: 11-13 NIV).

Faith in My Weaver

My life is but a weaving, between my God and me,
I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily,
Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride,
Forget He see the upper, and I the underside.
Until the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unfold the canvas and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver’s hand,
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

- Quoted in Tramp for the Lord

When feeling lost and uncertain about the future, look to the one who is giving the directions and have FAITH

Problems, prayers, patience :)

“We can rejoice when we run into problems…

they help us learn to be patient.

And patience develops strength of character in us and

helps us trust God more each time we use it

until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.”

- Romans 5:3-4

Unsettling Goodbye

While talking to shammy ystday morning, she suddenly brought up the name Elisha.

And my mind filled with the happy moments that MIX had at Gotham few mths ago, coz we entered under the invitation of Peggy’s fren, Elisha (a very very goodlooking guy, while I’m at it).

Then the nxt sentence came:

“He passed away. Suicide.”

There’s an article in the papers, but I cant bring myself to read it…

While no one really close to me has chosen to end their life, he is def not the 1st one I noe that has commited suicide.

When I was doing Abnormal Psych last sem, there was this particular topic on Depression and Suicide.

I guess it’s high time I share these info with u guys (all taken from PL3236 notes):

MYTHS ABOUT SUICIDE:

1) “There are no warning signs”

- Most people do tell others of their intentions (up to 70%), therefore all remarks about suicide should be taken seriously

2) “Faked” suicide attempts are about getting attention and not serious”

- Many people accidentally kill themselves while they are at it

3) “Talking with someone about suicidal ideation will increase likelihood someone will kill themselves”

- Talking is likely to prevent a suicide attempt

- Useful for gauging severity of threat

- Contract can prevent suicide (eg, asking a person to promise to call u if they ever feel depressed or is thinking about suicide again)

4) “Suicidal people want to die”

- Many people are grateful when s’one actually helped them to prevent a suicide attempt

WARNING SIGNS:

- Low mood / depression (note: risk of suicide may be greatest as the depression lifts because it’s only then that a person has the energy and will to plan and carry out the attempt)

- Hopelessness

- Suicidal ideas / remarks

- Well thought out plans

WHAT TO DO:

- Do something – don’t ignore

- Talk about it with the person

- Contact a GP

- Contact a psychiatrist or psychologist

I guess we may not be able to stop everyone who want to commit suicide from taking their lives, but at least we can spot them and do sth for them b4 anything happens…

There may be alot of ppl who deeply care for them, but they may not have realised how precious they are to the ppl ard…

Life is really precious, it’s God’s amazing gift to us, and I really hope that everyone can cherish evey single moment of it because He has great plans for all of us…

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.

They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

- Jeremiah 29:11

what would you say?

** Long post, but I promise it’s interesting **

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY.
He asks one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL – POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.
But GOD didn’t.
How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

( Student is silent )
Professor : You can’t answer, can you ?
Let’s start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes..
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . . . GOD . . .
Professor : That’s right.
Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ?
And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?

(Student does not answer)
Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don’t they?
Student : Yes, sir..
Professor : So, who Created them ?

( Student has no answer )
Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.
Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist.
What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith..
Professor : Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No sir. There isn’t.

( The Lecture Theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don’t have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can’t go any further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

( There is Pin – Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )
Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn’t Darkness?
Student : You’re wrong again, sir.
Darkness is the Absence of Something…
You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .
But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and its called Darkness, isn’t it?
In reality, Darkness isn’t.
If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn’t you?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.
You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.
You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, Science can’t even explain a Thought.
It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a Monkey?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?

( The Professor shakes his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument is going )

Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and
Cannot even prove that this Process is an On – Going Endeavor,
Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?

( The Class is in Uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor’s Brain?

( The Class breaks out into Laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that
You have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?

(The Room is Silent. The Professor stares at the Student, his face unfathomable)

Professor : I guess you’ll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir . . .
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Moving & Alive.

NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so . . .
You’ll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won’t you?
Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH.
It turned out later that the student is Albert Einstein.

Happy Easter!!

On Easter Sunday, Jesus overcome death and is resurrected.

That is a fact that cannot be denied. Let us all remember that