God is Love

Needed to unload something that has been constantly repeating in my head for the past few days.

Was reading my devotions on YouVersion one day and I was asked to think of one characteristic of God which was relevant to me at that point of time. Immediately, descriptive phrases came out like how God is slow to anger, patient etc. I knew those words came from somewhere.

All along, I knew that God is love, but I never got to putting the pieces together, until that ride on the train.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 

-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Replacing the word love with God. It was like a eureka! moment. This was a simple fact, and yet it took me so long to fully comprehend its meaning. 

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 

-- 1 Corinthians 13:13

Help me to love, God.

My BIG God

Take My Life, I Lay it Down

It's so hard to let things go some times. Often we pray and surrender them to God, but when troubles start flowing in, we panic and start to take everything into our own hands... I think it's good to have reminders every now and then.

Arms Open Wide

Take my life, I lay it down 

At the cross where I am found 

All I have I give to You, O God 

Take my hands and make them clean 

Keep my heart in purity 

That I may walk in all You have for me 

Oh here I stand 

Arms open wide 

Oh I am Yours 

And You are mine 

Take my moments and my days 

Let each breath that I take 

Be ever only for You, O God 

My whole life is Yours 

I give it all 

Surrendered to Your Name 

And forever I will pray 

Have Your way

Have Your way 

Blogger with a new look

Blogger has a new look!

Okay, not the best starting line for a blog post ever, but as usual, I'm blogging only because I'm bored with nothing much to do (or just plain reluctance to do anything)...

Photos take during Ah Ma's birthday Celebration

Ah, it's true... This new blogger format is sooo much better than the old one! I don't have to copy and paste the pictures that I add in or drag them around and they have a caption function. Hooray for the new look!!!!

It's amazing how God places songs or things to say in my head way before their due time. Sometimes, however, I feel that the songs I choose or the words I say are to make me look good. Said a short prayer to myself on my way home when this thought came up to mind: God, let the words that come out from my mouth, and the songs that I sing not be something that makes me look or sound good, but instead makes You the star of the entire worship. 

It's scary how such thoughts can just suddenly popped into people's minds.

I think I'd better write this down too, just so in case I forget the answer that I've found to my question. Sometimes I (we) feel that pre-believers who turned to Jesus have better testimonies to share, and they have a higher chance of transforming people's lives with their testimonies. It was until recently that I thought it through that Christians born of a christian family are of an equal position. It's through them that we see that no one is made perfect. Even when born into a christian family, it doesn't mean that we don't err. I realised that when sharing, these are somethings that we can share. The stupid mistakes that we made and the lessons we learn from them, by the grace of God.

Am I making sense? Hmm...

I guess I've always been wary and rather afraid of going out to evangelize to strangers. I think God make all of us different, even in the way we reach out to pre-believers. So until the day God really shakes me up and tells me it's time to step out of my comfort zone and go out, I'll do what I'm doing now....

blog through phone

Okay, gonna try blogging through phone. So, test test.

Pictures of food from nydc ;D

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Sigh..

I have nothing going on in my head. Why? When I piece things together, it just jumbles up and becomes a whole big of nothingness. I want something to pop out man.

Spontaneity

This has been a really interesting week.

1) Spontaneous Ben and Jerry's interview - Got Accepted
2) Spontaneous buy of my new Canon Ixus 230 HS
3) Chatting with a nephew (sec 3 this year) whom I've not really saw or spoken to in years - we really hated him last time, but he's grown into a fine young man with dreams.

Funny how my almost boring week can turn out so interesting, kinda. Its funny how time can change someone and their perspectives of something. Well, maybe 'cos our thoughts mature as well?

Will take more pictures with my cam, once i figure out how to use it properly. Oh oh oh, maybe we could plan a cousin outing? Hmm...

NUS Open House tmr, wanna go to bed but my hair's still wet.

Home :)

I'm HOME! from Shanghai and Bali :)

Bali was a nice getaway, though I wasn't totally right into the holiday, maybe cos I just returned from another country, and I didn't really feel a need for a break from homeland. In any case it was a good time spend in Bali with my poly clique and in lovely, sunny Bali. I love the villa, the private pool, our personal cook and our driver Wyane!!! I'm a little lazy to upload the picture i took from my phone, but the Sony Ericsson phone camera does take very good pictures :D Well of course, you have to see the person taking the picture too ;)

But somehow, in the middle of the trip, I felt a little lost among my friends. Maybe cos I've been too long away from them, so felt a little distant. I didn't have time to adjust myself back with them.

And then there's jealousy. Is it normal? Somehow it feels like I'm trying to fit in with the group. Guess time will slowly help me adjust.

I think my post-Shanghai sickness is starting. However, it feels like I've never left Shanghai -.- (said by Yurong and Yong) But I know Yurong secretly misses me ;)

Now that I'm back home, I wonder how regular I'll be updating my blog.

Gonna take time to adjust back to my ministry, meetings with people and settling some admin stuff.. Yum Cha tmr, Driving Centre and maybe facial on Wed, prbly visiting Xiao Ling Jie and Titus on Thurs or Fri.

As of now, my official job: bumming around and catching up with people.

short prayer

Dear God,

Grant me peace and love in a situation like this. I really feel super mad and ridiculous at this whole thing. It doesn't help with the whole esteem situation as well. So God, help me to love them and give me a peaceful heart, not to think of this thing anymore.

Thank you God.

In Jesus's name I pray,
Amen.

Sweet Memories

Cousin introduced this to me, worth a read:

http://jeremysng.wordpress.com/2010/05/08/some-things-i-remember-from-the-90s/

Really miss those days hanging around the mama shop to talk to friends, with my favourite snack: Calbee Chilli chips and Pokka Grape Aloe Vera drink. Somethings maybe a hot dog with chilli or pizza bread.

Everything is Beautiful..

Everything is Beautiful - Ray Stevens

I first heard this song when I was in pri 6, love this song particulary because of the first verse :) Anyways, I said I wanted to share about the women's conference that happened last sunday. I think God really put many new thought into my head. I've never thought of how each of us have our own flesh pattern. The new insights she gave to the bible stories which i've heard since young were really refreshing.

She mentioned the one of Abraham and isaac. Abraham "sacrificed" Isaac at the top of the mountain. I'd always thought God wanted to test Abraham and his faith in God. But Pastor jennifer really put me in a new light. She said that in a way Abraham did scarificed Isaac. Isaac was Abraham's flesh, something that Abraham held on dearly to, but on the altar, he sacrificed that flesh to God, giving Him control. I was like, Wow, this was somethigns I've never thought of before.

My favourtie phrase was "God takes our strength and make it our weakness, so that he can take the weakness and make it into His strength." Lovely phrase. Can't remember what story she took it from but I remember she mentioned God breaking the thigh bone of someone, and the thigh bone is the strongest bone in the human body.

Oh one other thing that I've never thought of was how God uses us as intercessors with our prayer. Pastor Jen used the story of Moses praying for his people and God relented as an example. Someone questioned why would God changed his mind. She answered that He didn't. Because He knew the depths of his heart, he told Moses his plan to destroy the people, wanting Him to be an intecessor for his people. I think that God's really Cool man!

Julie, Evelyn, Anne and Linda were amazed at my doodles in the notebook. I doodle with sense ok! It's the only way to keep me awake during her lessons. The sermon syndrome. But in any case, it kept me awake, sort of :)

On another note, here's a picture of my beloved nephew :)

I like how his face lits up when he smile. FYI, he's sleeping.

Joe Yong is coming to Shanghai tomorrow, finally!!! Wooo~~ So excited about the things we're gonna do :) Will update on that, if i don't forget from all the fun i'll be having when she's here. AHahahahha..

Three more days of work (excluding today). Can't wait, and I need to get started on the reccomendations thing, today. When yong's here I'm pretty sure i won't be in a mood to work at all, like how I am already. Been browsing through youtube almost everyday

Countdown List
1 more day - Joe Yong's arrival in Shanghai
9 more days - Home sweet home :D
11 more days - Bali Grad Trip

Baby Titus II

Soon, I tell you, soon, this will be a blog for Titus, named - Titus' Growth Journal <3 <3

Aww man, he's so cute *drools*~~

More Beautiful You

Jonny Diaz
More Beautiful You

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are

So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl


Note: Wanted to put in the music video, but they've disembled the video. Nice song :)

A week more :)

I can't believe it, only a week more left to internship :D :D :D (that is ezcluding today). OH man, boy am i excited for joe yong to come over.

I really have to thank God for his awesome timeliness. The rental problem has been settled within a night :) That's one worry down. Well, my uni application is (almost) completed.

Can't wait for tonight to come, Julie, Linda, Carmen, Annie, Anne and myself are gonna be staying in the hotel for the Women's conference happening today and tomorrow. Will update about the event soon. I think God has big plans.

As for Me and My House - John Waller

Powerful song, they played this song during offering last Sunday and I was greatly moved by this song.

Countdown List
8 more days - Joe Yong's arrival in Shanghai
16 more days - Home sweet home :D
18 more days - Bali Grad Trip

Valentines' Day

Happy Valentine's Day One and All~~~

It's Forever Alone Day too :D :D :(

Spedning Valentine's Day at work with my love - the computer. Thanks God for my cousin who's also at work. Well, finally (almost) done with my NTU application, just waiting for Uncle Bob, Wai Aung and Miss Chan to reply to me email/message about the appraisal. And now, to move on to the very much messy NUS application.

I'm considering a lady night for the lonely, moi, tonight - Manicure :) But na, the guitar strings will spoil my nails and it would defeat the purpose of the manicure, perhaps a pedicure? But in this winter, who can i show off my toes to.. They're better in the warmth of my socks and shoes. Haha.

Anyways, I have a house viewer tonight, can't go anyway but home. I'll binge on strawberries and snacks to make my night better :)

Countdown List
11 more days - Joe Yong's arrival in Shanghai
19 more days - Home sweet home :D
21 more days - Bali Grad Trip

*Hooots~~!!!*

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. "

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Uni Application

NUS Application, why you no convenient???

I've been working on my application to NUS and NTU, actually mainly NTU. NUS's appliation form is driving me nuts - everything is in the same page and it can't be saved! Meaning to say, i have to retype everything once i close the browser :(

It's so inconvenient to do application when I'm overseas :( There's no access to my results, my certs etc. And my so very "efficient" brother has not send me the scans either. GAAHHH... Okay, I'm not gonna stress myself. Tonight, I shall work on the 300 words essay for NTU, and the 300-2000 words essay for NUS -- YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE???

8 days before application closes. God, please help me...

Need to request for appraisal from Uncle Bob and a letter of reccommendation from my supervisor. I should send him an email soon....

Countdown List
12 more days - Joe Yong's arrival in Shanghai
20 more days - Home sweet home :D
22 more days - Bali Grad Trip *Hooots~~!!!*

Here's a new song that I've fallen in love with :) Nice melody and Lyrics

Reign in Us - Starfield

More pics of baby Titus :D

I'm in love *drools*

Can't wait to be back to carry him :) Wait for me Titus, auntie is coming home...

(unofficial) End of Intership

I've been waking up more tired than ever even though I sleep in earlier than usual. Body, what's wrong with you???

Anyways, it's been a long week - troubles and all. And I thank God that I've pulled through, Yipee~~

I really am blessed with such a nice and awesome supervisor! For one, I had feared the little but kinda major mistakes I made during the event would pull my final assessment grades down, but I still got good grade and much encouragements from him.

"At the end of the day, your grades doesn't really matter."

I was relieved when he shared that its okay to make mistakes and that he won't mark me down for the mistakes I made. He had made a graver mistake before. All in all, he's awesome.

God's Awesome too :D

Gonna make a Countdown List to keep my spirits up high:

17 more days - Joe Yong's arrival in Shanghai
25 more days - Home sweet home :D
27 more days - Bali Grad Trip *Hooots~~!!!*

Alright, now to get started on my 1000-word learning journey report for KK, and to apply for the local unis.

growing pains

It really amazes me to see how much the years can change someone. Back then, we were all young kids running around the house, playing house and being ourselves. As the years go by, little by little we change.

Maybe it's because i'm far away from home, it makes me feel like everything is as it was in 2011, we were all from that age and we remained at that age.

There's so much out there to see, the freedom we own as we get older. Bu the truth is, I don't really wanna grow up so fast...

那些年。。。

Was looking through some of the posts I wrote when I was 14 and I found this :D Man, I love this picture a lot, partly because I think I look quite pretty here, heheh. They say that good hair days comes once in a blue moon, and indeed. I think mine's a purple moon. Gosh Yong, I totally didn't remember that hairstyle of yours, PUAhHAHAAHAHAhahahah

Is that Jing Shen at the back? For a moment it looks like Jeremy K.

We had the same top and necklace :D

Ah, boy do i miss those days... Think I was slim-er at that time. Anyways, its back to work - report at lunch.

*Chants: No procrastination, no procrastination, no pracrastination*

Loving it

This week's gonna be a busy week, and i love it :D

Something from Commissioner's blog :)

Shows for Thoughts :D

So, I've been watching a lot of movies and shows this past few days. In fact, i've been drama hopping.

Between

Scent of a Woman (Korean)

And...

Misaki No. 1 (Jap)

Good thing both of them aren't really long dramas. Scent of a Woman has 16 episodes while Misaki No. 1 has 10. Thank God! Don't think I can get through long soapy dramas. Been trying to get my cousin to watch the Jap drama. Somehow I find this drama very animated. Its like watching an anime with real life beings.. Haha. But still nice, nothing heavy, light-hearted and funny :) I think the group of 5's really good looking, especially the one with curly hair :D Gonna return to my Korean drama after I'm done with the Jap drama - two more episodes.

Anyways, I watched this really heart-warming movie called Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. It's a movie based on a novel by Lisa See. I think I've read the book before, but can't remember when though. Well, it stars Li Bing Bing, Jun Ji-hyun, Vivian Wu and Hugh Jackman.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan movie

Well, thank you Pepe for the nice recommendations :D Will start on Goong S (maybe) when I'm done with the rest.

Aim: to finish my report by this week...

Baby Titus

My handsome, cute and dashing nephew <3

Man, I wanna hold him and carry him :( He's gonna break many young girls heart when he grows older ;')

Secrets - One Republic (Jayesslee Cover)

Gosh, I really love their voice. And they just keep improving over the years.

How Great is Our God

Awesome song :D

初七

So while my dear friend Shella is sleeping soundly at home, Jolene is at work, working hard (not).

Anyways, discovered a new thing to keep me entertained during work :) - Christianradio.com. I wonder why I've never thought of looking up for an online christian radio before. But thanks to Anne, I did :D

Found this while reading Celine's blog sometime back. I took a snapshot of what she wrote firstly because it brightened my boring afternoon and secondly, it brightens my dull blog...

I SHOULD CHANGE BLOGSKIN! Change it to something brighter yet still simple. Alright, more things I can do to kill time at work :D

Gonna work on my report during my free time at work.

Think i'm gonna keep adding stuff to this post till i have nothing left to add or when adding pictures on blogger starts getting on my nerve. It's so stupid :(

From Carissa's Twitter

Saw this on twitter. I guess I never really thought about worship in this manner before. I think many times we are like that, expecting each experience during worship to be the same as the previous's, but many a times we forget that each experience, each encounter that we have with God may never be the same.

This is from my today's reading:

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all."
1 John 1:5

I'm two more books to finishing the new testament. Old testament would be a great challenge.

Can't wait for dinner with Pepe tonight :) Craving for curry now....

New Year's Blues

It's day 3 of CNY, and this has been my daily routine.

Wake up
Eat
Watch Shows, movie etc.
Eat
Watch more shows, movies etc.
Sleep

My mundane life... And gosh, I really really miss home :'( I miss my family, my cousins and my friends.

Well, at least today's been productive. I've recorded two songs. Will upload the songs some other time... Really love this two songs. I'm not the best singer you can find, but I have to admit, one of the spiritual gifts that God has given me is my gift of music. Well, I'm no master of it, but it's better than nothing right?

Today I've been reminded once again how as Christians we need to be watchful of the way we behave and the things we say, whether if it is Christ-like and ultimately, if it would reflect well upon ourselves. Well, we wouldn't do unto others the things that we don't want to happen unto us... That's my belief.

Ending off with these verses:

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."

1 Peter 5:8-11

Chinese New Year

It's two days to Chinese New Year :D

I found this on Commissioner Lim's blog, it's a good read :)

http://burninginthebones.blogspot.com/2012/01/culture-and-our-faith.html

Yea, Cos there's nothing better to do..

Just read my old posts and gosh, I can't help but to laugh at what I've written. Ahhahahah... *tears in the eyes*

I guess my writing did mature as the years go by. And yea, I've cut down on the number of "....." I use after each sentence and I'm actually trying very hard to use proper english when typing (Give me some credit, i've really been trying since mass comm happened)...

It's gonna be a lonely CNY this year - Julie, Wee Sham and Linda are back in Singapore. Man, I've no new clothes to wear and no angbao to collect this year :( And I won't be spending time with my cousins this year.

Worst of all, I HAVE TO WORK TOMORROW!!! :( :(

Mom, keep my angbao for me please *puppy eyes*

Hello

Well I guess this is my first official post for the year. HAHAHAHA...

Not much of a writer (i'm just plain lazy to write ok...) But I'm bored with having nothing much to do, so the next best thing I could do was to type a blog post.

Well, last year's gone pretty fast. I still remember the surprise farewell happened not too long ago, and in a months time or so, I'm flying back to Singapore. heheheh.

I wonder what motivates one to keep updating their blog. Writing is one thing, keeping it interesting and entertaining is another.... Manda, how on earth do you do that?!?!

Ok, nothing's on the mind now. So i guess that's it then.. Erm, till then?




#I'm listening to - Just One Last Dance

How He Loves Us

How He Loves Us

He is jealous for me
Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me.
Oh, how He loves us so
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us so.

Yeah, He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves.

So we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

That he loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

He loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

Cause He loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

Yeah, He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

The words to this song are really really beautiful...