Miriam's Song

destination: 2012

2012-01-02T12:03:00.004+10:00

Hahah so the 'new year post' which should traditionally be done on the first day of the year is running a little late this year :D

My reflections on 2011.....mmmm

work: has been a real challenge this year...days where my heart was pounding so fast I had to pray to calm down, afternoons i couldn't breathe properly because the stress was weighing down so much, breaking down into tears in morning meeting during devotions (soooo unprofessional and not to mention very embarassing...I hate crying in front of people at the best of times) having chats with my superiors about the situation trying to figure out what could be done...trying to function on empty is bad bad bad. I will be waiting to see if there is a change this year...if not...I'll be making one :D

God, church & ministry: a few ups and downs here and there, i guess there always has to be when dealing with humans haha :D When dealing with God however, I have never stopped believing in God's overwhelming goodness, seeing His love and his promise to never leave us nor forsake us come to life in my own personal life as well as in those of my friends and family. One message that has been resounding in my for the past 2 weeks is "be a hope giver and a peace maker". I pray that with God's abundant grace, both Dave and I will be these things in 2012 :D

projects and goals for 2012:

- ZUMBA with my husband! :D for stress relief and general health. FYI....I hate exercising...but this is sorta dancing and exercise at the same time so it seems much more appealing :D

- get rid of all the junk (that may come in useful one day) that just takes up space in our cosy apartment :D

- stop looking at houses casually and actually make time to look at a few this year

- do more date nights :D

- have more friends nights :D

- sell my macarons! For family, friends and friends of friends as I am the sole baker in this project and will therefore be only taking limited number of orders depending on how big particular orders are and also how many orders there are per month :D (for those who know me contact me for quotes and flavours :D)

- and of course, always, be led and fed by God as a couple. On holidays Dave and I had the great opportunity and privilege to be able to minister and teach on the 'heart of worship' to a group of youth from Dave's auntie's church. They are bright and bushy-tailed and eager to be better leaders and also learn how to be better worshipers. It was a huge learning curve for Dave and I who have actually never ministered as a couple like that to a group of people so maybe we may have an opportunity to do this more? who knows where God will lead :D

So therein concludes my 'new year post' :D Hope everyone had a merry and blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year! :D

p.s. i had a wonderful time with Dave's family in Singapore and it was glorious coming home to the familiarity of home as well :D will share pictures on FB ....soon :D Meanwhile, feast on the great photographic talents of our friend Yuhui who took our family pics (we called her last minute and she did an amazing job!!! Thanks Yuhui!!!)

lovelove :D

picture outside the family home :)

family eating bao for breakfast. I love how Dad is contemplating his bao hahah :D

back shot

front view

eating bao...as you do :D

this is my personal favourite :)

innocence

2011-10-11T10:28:00.003+10:00

Whenever I feel tired, worried, frustrated, run-down, burnt-out, exasperated and possibly slightly desperate...I always reach for my favourite fictional book. It's actually a children's book...or rather a book full of life lessons cleverly disguised as a beautifully written children's book by the name of "La Petit Prince" or..."The Little Prince".

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

It is always a beautiful reminder to keep my childlike faith that God will always come through for me, and to never lose sight of the really important things in life :)

lovelove

hello old friend :)

2011-08-16T20:14:00.002+10:00

ah yes...in the flurry of activity in the past...lets see...months....I have to say that I have completely forgotten about my blog except for the one or two guilty thoughts about having not updated for so long. I then start to think guiltily...

"maybe i should just let it go....close it down...its just not fair to keep it hanging on...."

there have always been things to blog about...many things!...and to say that there hasn't been enough time is just simply not true however the energy required to put thoughts and feelings into words just wasn't there.

Nevertheless...I am here now ...and this blog feels like an old sweater that I loved and accidently tucked away in the back of the recesses of my wardrobe...although having said that given the size of my wardrobe its hard to believe that I could lose anything its so small haha :)

Anyway...I guess this is where I update what I've been up to...

work:
incidents galore!!! UFC in the classroom really. sigh. I was called a 'fool' the other day by one of my students...nice...said that I was a 'joke' to the rest of the students and that no one actually took me seriously...that actually really hurt to tell you the truth...it took a little while but i'm over it haha people say funny things when they're in desperate situations...and I would say drug psychosis and paranoia is probably part of the reason why those things were said...I had to pray about it and really think about my relationships with my students to sorta battle that...after all its not very nice to hear words like that especially if one of your primary love languages is words of affirmation...but i'm all good now :D

God really affirmed me over the weekend when Ps. John Jacks and his wife Monette prayed over Dave and I and also when I went to a training program on Monday I shared my practice framework with the trainer and he said that I was well ahead of his employees that had masters degrees in social work and psychology. He also said that for the resources we had, we were doing very well. That made me feel better :)

ministry:
my connect group is amazing :) for all the hardship i face at work with kids that struggle with themselves more than anything, my girls are a breath of fresh air. I am so blessed...with minimal input the girls have grown so much...i can't say I've had much to do with it at all actually :) Praise God. New people are coming to youth...I sense a spiritual shift :)

marriage:
Dave and I are probably going through a refining process...this is probably one of those very steep learning curves...learning to handle the home and finances as well as being responsible towards one another and still keeping the romance in it. Spontenaeity is probably something I have lost since starting my job and is something I'd like to see come back. I guess i feel guilty about this too sometimes...like I know I should instigate a few things like dates and stuff but at the same time I feel like its impractical because there are so many other things going on...for one...youth is on every saturday night. The times I usually take time off is when there's a wedding to go to....I need to fix this. I suppose in doing so we need to build up the leadership team more... :)

leisure:
BAKING!!! I have been developing my newfound passion for baking! who would have thought?! I used to shudder at the thought of baking a cake sticking only to savoury foods (which I find more appealing anyway). I used to think of following a recipe as a rigid set of rules I had to adhere to but...NO MORE! :D

I actually really enjoy baking...well actually its more the 'making it look pretty' process :D accomplishing and creating things that I can share with other people :) It is better to give than receive after all! Poor Dave is sometimes left to 'sort his own dinner out' when I am suddenly taken by the move to create a confection :)

anyway...it is getting late and I need to sleep :)

here is my very short and abrupt update :D

lovelove :)

day 1 of holidays: nua-ing around

2011-06-27T10:44:00.002+10:00

that's right people! :D I've finally taken some well needed rest from work :D

today is officially my first day off and my plans are.....

...going into work. hahahaha :D

seriously though, I am going to be dropping by work just to hand in some receipts that I didn't get around doing last week hahaa :D its not such a big deal as work is just down the road from me....and also gives me a chance to visit that awesome gourmet food/ingredients supplier that is oh so conveniently placed just one shop away from my workplace! :D

for the rest of the day I plan to catch up with my cartoons, try out another macaron recipe, maaaaybe experiment with pulling sugar (that's if i can get my brother to buy me a lemon on his way to pick up the yap boys from o ur house. Yes that's right the famous D. Yap is staying with us while he's introducing his brother J to Brisbane life :D J will be staying in Brisbane to do his final year of uni. We have already introduced D to the 'new generation' of SG and M'sian kids and they were interested to meet their predecessor :D I believe D will be busy meeting up with the 'old crew' before he leaves in two weeks :)

later on in the day we plan to visit a very dearly loved family who's little girl is in ICU to offer support in prayer and prescence. For those who know who i'm talking about (C family) please keep them in your prayers. Little H is out of her coma but has gone through another procedure where they have injected the cysts again. Pray for controlled inflammation and for a quick healing process. Pray that God's will be done and that peace above all else, rests on the family.

lovelove :)

xu

2011-06-20T20:28:00.002+10:00

The fancy xu came to visit Oz this week :)

The fancy xu went fishing

ate lasagne

went camping

went to church

went to church meetings

ate pie

and then regrettably went back to the sunny island from whence he came.

thanks for visiting mr. xu!!! :D

lovelove :)

loco

2011-05-25T21:50:00.002+10:00

Today would have been the craziest day at work to date.

yesterday was all about crisis. Everyone who came through my office door had a maaaaajor crisis.

apparently stealing someone's smokes is a major offence.

today, I experienced my first fight. I wasn't involved...unless you count yelling at the boys involved and separating them getting involved.

i won't say too much except that the incident was quickly defused.

you know what this means....loads of case-noting hahah happy day.

lovelove.

release

2011-05-19T19:11:00.005+10:00

the season i'm in kinda sucks right now.

no i'm not talking about winter. i'm talking about this time. tired, frustrated, struggling...

sometimes i wonder if anyone notices...

fatigue, tension...then guilt because "i should know better" than to keep going...but sometimes you have little choice.

trust me the temptation is always there to throw my hands up in the air and yell and scream about how unjust it is to be treated poorly, to be taken for granted, to be yelled at, to be constantly justifying the rules...to break down and cry about the lack of rest, pushed boundaries and get so frustrated about the lack of change. it would be all to easy to just let everything drop and walk away...but the cost is too high.

i will not give up on the many relationships i've built so far

i will not abandon those who have been rejected so many times before

i will not compromise on my faith

i will not waver in my love and care for them

i will not stray from my purpose

so...

i go on.

i was seeking God and what He thought about this recently and one thing kept echoing in my heart...

'i will never leave you nor forsake you'

i have to say i felt intrigued. i know this verse is from the bible and i've heard it many times before but it's never really resonated so much within me before this time. so led by my curiosity i looked up the full verse where this promise was made:

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you"

-Deut 31:6-

I didn't feel any warm fuzzies straight away...but it was like a gradual release....the more i repeated this promise to myself...the more i felt my boldness increasing...i felt the tension slowly dissipate. suddenly i remember that God is in control and that I don't have to carry the burden because He's already done it for me and that He promises to never leave me or forsake me. i am never alone in whatever i'm doing. i have to admit that this is something i knew in my mind but something i had forgotton in my heart.

this verse has become my 'power line' this week. i've been repeating it in my mind and everytime i do i feel a wave of faith and confidence.

you know...i realised that the more i get trusted with...the more i have to trust God.

as in...as i go on in life, gaining wisdom, maturing in faith...(still a long way to go of course hahah) the more responsibility i gain and the less time to fulfil those responsibilities! I guess you could look at it like flying an airplane...

there will be times when you fly through thick cloud, where you don't know where you're going because there are not landmarks...its in those times that you just have to TRUST your instruments...the higher you go, the higher the level of trust and dependence on your instruments.

the further you go in God...the more you have to trust your faith eyes more than your human ones...the more you have to depend on God to guide you through life :)

its a good feeling :)
BRING IT ON WORLD. RAWR.

lovelove :D

beautiful language

2011-05-04T15:24:00.004+10:00

I know what you're thinking:

"omg two posts in two days straight!"

haha :D well justified thought if that was indeed what you were thinking dear reader :D

Actually as I was trawling through blogs today I stumbled across this poem that I had to share!

Being in my line of work I'm constantly surrounded by an array of crass language and awkward explanations by my foul-mouthed but totally lovable students :) Sometimes I find my mind numbed by the simplified discourse that I find myself engaging in and its just so refreshing to be reminded how beautiful the english language can be :)

enjoy :)

To love life, to love it

even when you have no stomach for it

and everything you’ve held dear

crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,

your throat filled with the silt of it.

When grief sits with you, its tropical heat

thickening the air, heavy as water

more fit for gills than lungs;

when grief weighs you like your own flesh

only more of it, an obesity of grief,

you think,

How can a body withstand this?

Then you hold life like a face

between your palms, a plain face,

no charming smile, no violet eyes,

and you say, yes, I will take you

I will love you, again.

by -Ellen Bass, The Thing Is -

hmm I wonder where or whom the inspiration came from for this poem...violet eyes...I wonder what that meant for the poet :)

lovelove :)

the truth about me

2011-05-03T12:45:00.011+10:00

Yes...I know its been a while since my last blog...and I know this is not the first time I will be updating (apologising) after a long hiatus)...you know I have so many things I want to say but then don't end up saying them because I fear my post will be a deluge of literary proportions and will therefore not make any sense.

So I will just share my recent thoughts :)

I recently talked to one of our pastors about an issue that has been bugging me for a couple of years now...

There are a few people that just get under my skin. There you go, I've said it and its all out in the open now. I try to love people but its just so difficult sometimes. Especially when people take advantage of you. So I set up boundaries to prevent them from taking advantage of me after all, its my responsibility to be wise about how I respond to situations but you know there's still that niggling feeling that gets to me that its simply not right.

I guess its the legalistic side of my nature that simply doesn't like it and says that its wrong that people treat others that way...and you know its not even like its a big deal when I look at things in perspective but I am of the opinion that how one treats others reflects one's personality. Kinda like a physical expression of the heart.

I poured out my heart to my pastor and told her how I seem to flit from one extreme where I get so incensed about being taken advantage of to then feeling guilty because I should be more loving then totally over-compensating by being (trying to be) nicer to the person in question. Don't mistake this for being fake...If there is one thing that really gets me...its someone being deceitful...whether that means they are lying to me...or to themselves. For me, and feel free to disagree if you actually think I am being less than genuine... but I think this is just a conflict because I have a desire to do good and to be good but at the same time I'm so flawed it frustrates me to no end! I think I have some idea how the Apostle Paul felt when he wrote Romans 7:15-24.

I also told my pastor all about how I do believe I've forgiven people however I just keep finding that the people in question will just keep doing something that just makes my skin crawl.

I shared that I felt so confused and like such a bad person for being judgemental, legalistic and critical as my pastor listened in sympathy. In her great wisdom and through much questioning she suggested that maybe its because I care so much.

I truthfully told her....no. This was not the case. As much as I would like to say that I am that good a person and say that I am such a saintly soul that I just care for people so much that it moves me so passionately...is simply just not the truth about me.

The fact is, I probably did care at some point but along the way I had the realisation dawn on me that I did not matter to these people except for when I could provide a service for them. Did I feel unappreciated? Yes. Taken for granted? Heck yeah. Not that I'm looking for gratitude really but maybe some reciprocation? Maybe even friendship??

It was at this point my pastor said:

"actually I think you may feel the injustice of it...that they do not take responsibility for their actions"

She hit the nail on the head. For so long I haven't realised WHY I got this way and it wasn't because I particularly cared more than the average person but because I felt that there was great injustice in the whole situation and then no responsibility taken for it! No acknowledgement of wrong doing and certainly not retribution...so what now?

I guess I feel a peace knowing what it is exactly I'm feeling or rather, facing so I feel a sort of steeling in my resolve. Its easier to fight when you know what your enemy is. In this case its not really the people ...and yes I am aware that this sounds like a contradiction of what I said earlier but really...when I think about it its not really them...its just the choices they make and the behaviours that they express that I allow to impede my life.

So there it is, the truth about me. I am not extra caring or anything...just a bit more sensitive when it comes to injustice it seems haha :) On a more serious note, I guess this is just another reflection on the journey we all like to call....life...

BAHAHAHAH ok that was corny and super lame :D but really, just another self reflection. I think its healthy to have a very honest look at myself every now and again :D keeps me on my toes :)

lovelove :)

the macaron: attempt #1

2011-04-20T10:08:00.011+10:00

Hello dear readers! :D

So it seems that I've been bitten by the baking bug of late. Of course there was extra motivation to be more domestic as Dave bought (well we redeemed our credit card points) to get a KitchenAid Food Processor!!! :D

The reason why I was so excited was because everytime I watched any cooking show (*ahem* Jamie Oliver's 30min meals) they usually use the food processor...the clincher was when I saw him slice up a bag of potatos in something ridiculous like...2 mins. And everytime I saw how fast he cooked I would look wistfully at Dave pleading to get something of the like haha :D

Of course because he is so wise and because he is such a loving and wonderful husband...he got me the best one haha :D

So anyway, to break it in, I decided that I should use it to make something nice. I wanted to try making macarons for ages so I thought I would actually break it in making macarons...however I had to make a potato bake soooooo...that was the first thing I actually used it for haha :D

Now more to the point...Macarons.

You'd be suprised to learn that I have never tasted one in my life. ever.

"But you had them at your wedding and they were great!" I hear you protest...

YES I did have them at our wedding and they were wonderfully made by my good friend Zoe however despite that...I didn't even get to have ONE.

Since then there has been a bit of an international craze regarding macarons. I figured, that I wanted to give it a go just to see if I could make it haha :) So without further adieu...here are some pics of the first batch of macarons I've ever made in my life :)

piped out and 'drying'

close up :D The shells are coloured pink because I tried making strawberry ones :)

FEET! :D although they could be higher :)

here is the finished product filled with strawberry dark chocolate ganache :) The verdict: I don't think I processed the almond meal enough so it was still grainy and I don't think I folded the mixture enough so it wasn't runny enough hench the little 'smurf hat tops' that I got when piping haha :)

The deluge of mess that ensued my baking :)

I did try one...and it was SO SWEET. I have the unfortunate disposition of not really possessing a sweet-tooth yet I seem to like baking sweet things the most! Oh well...I suppose others will always benefit from it haha :D

So to end, I guess there are a few things I could work on :) but considering the horror stories I've heard...this isn't so bad at all for a first try! :)

Stay tuned for more! :D the next one I want to try to make are salted caramel macarons :) and i shall have my trusty Assistant Cell Pastor to help me :)

lovelove :)

struggle

2011-04-05T22:04:00.006+10:00

As promised dear readers, an update :D

So its been a few days since camp and some of the cuts and bruises are healing up nicely and the muscles (some of which I had no idea existed until they hurt) are no longer sore.

Camp really was an awesome experience and I have to say just how incredibly proud I am of all my students for completing the camp and finishing the full 20-25kms! None of us (including the teacher who organised this haha) were actually aware of how lengthy the distance was or how rigorous the hike would be and considering last year (on the camp that I did not attend) there were 4 students sent home because of behavioural issues...this year is a definite improvement. No students were sent home and apart from minor dramas on the first night (I had four students come up to me at different times petitioning why they should be on a bus home asap) we all dug deep and pushed through till the end.

On Day 2 the teacher kept on commenting how quiet I was during the camp...it was actually because I was so fatigued that I was channeling all my energies...yes even talking...to will myself up a hill (which really was a steep slope...followed by many more steep slopes all turning into a massive hill).

#Note: By the way...never believe anyone who says that 'from this point there are no more hills'. They're lying. They're trying to motivate you but really this is a terrible way of doing it because it just lures one into a false sense of achievement and security that is shattered by the reality of another steep hill looming overhead.

Anyway, as we were hiking along (during the less rigorous terrain) and in between spots of conversations with students, I was able to reflect on how on earth I ended up torturing my body by going on this camp and how my body was actually still moving forward. A particular verse came to mind which is located in James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I never really understood this verse because to be honest I only ever focussed on the first part of it regarding 'pure joy' and 'trials'. Logically, these words just don't go together at all however as I walked I began to realise that it is in fact during one's struggles that you learn life's greatest lessons. It is also during and in the moment of struggle and challenge, the choice that one makes, defines their character.

I had the opportunity to share this with my students as we were resting by a dirt road (catching our breath and resting our feet). I shared my little revelation of how during life we are all met with challenge and we all experience struggle however sometimes, we just have to keep pushing forward, willing ourselves to keep going. It's going to be hard, it's going to be painful at times too but the important thing is to keep making the choice to move forward and eventually we will arrive at the end destination be it a material goal or as it says in James, an increase in faith which results in an increase in maturity and a promise of contentment.

I love my kids :) each of them has their own story, their own struggle and their own way of dealing with things (which aren't always the best ways...) and during camp, they ALL overcame a very tough physical and mental challenge and they all showed love to each other even in the smallest of ways. They really are beautiful students and it is such a privelege to be able to share this experience with them...scratches, bruises, mozzy bites and all :)

lovelove :)

snapshot: school camp

2011-04-02T13:06:00.004+10:00

4 days no shower, rations of food, hiked for 20kms with a 17kg backpack up and downhill, through rough bushland, across gullies, had an epic stack on 3rd day, have never gotten so many bruises, scratches and bites in one week, cooked with a trangier, killed approximately 10 spiders, 4 mosquitoes (the rest got away), peed in a hole in the ground, dodged thousands of cow pats (missed one or two...), set up tents, dealt with student breakdowns (on the first night) not to mention temper tantrums and the abundance of swearing. Never sweat so much in my life, nor have I treated water like it was pure gold before. Drank in the beautiful scenery and praised God for the gorgeous weather we had.

Watching students accomplish something through struggle and hard work and realised that I did the same thing...awesome.

Totally dominated school camp.

HOO-RAH!

lovelove :) more details to come...

WICKED

2011-03-23T18:16:00.003+10:00

We went to see WICKED with a few of our friends a while back and it is everything the critics say it is!

We bought mid-range tickets and were seated on the left wing of the QPAC theatre. Close enough to see the action not too close to warrant pricey tickets hehe :)

I've been listening to the soundtrack for a while now and I have to say that whoever was in charge of casting is a genius. Lucy Durack who plays Glinda (previously known as GAH-linda) is absoloutely brilliant and superbly funny especially when performing my personal favourite "Popular". Jemma Rix who plays Elphaba (or Elphie as Glinda affectionately refers to her as...) has possibly the most beautiful voice I have ever heard in my life. Such beautiful tone and power not to mention an amazing range! I was so completely awestruck by her rendition of "Defying Gravity" it brought tears to my eyes haha :D

Sigh...I really want to watch it again...if anyone is in any doubt over watching this musical...GO WATCH IT. It is really a work of art :D

lovelove :)

journaling luke

2011-03-20T17:46:00.003+10:00

I've been mentally chewing on a concept for the past 2 weeks. It was a thought that came upon me as I was journaling last week and has since been in the back of my thought life since.

In the first 10 verses of Luke 7 we picture Jesus wanting to heal a man however it was the Sabbath day and the Pharisees were wanting to see what Jesus would do.

My understanding of the role of a pharisee was that they are a learned religious teacher...they know the word, the know the law however what I believe they lack, was in their relationship with God.

We see later on in the verse that Jesus knew that they had a legalistic spirit and healed the man anyway because it was good. I believe that Jesus was trying to teach the pharisees to turn away from judgmental hearts and legalistic critical thinking however, because of their pride...they completely missed this...and missed the miracle that happened in front of them.

In fact when Jesus pointed out their pride, they became even angrier and started plotting against him...

...they missed the whole point.

Can you imagine scrutinizing someone, watching and waiting for them to stuff up and then have a miracle performed in front of you, and still completely miss it? There wasn't even a mention about how they thought 'oh wow that guy is healed! that's awesome!'. They were so blinded...

It got me thinking about how many people are so caught up in thinking in legalistic terms even in their own faith.

"If I do this much then its ok"

"If I only go this far and no more then its still ok"

...and they miss the whole point. They completely miss what God is speaking to them or what God has in store for them or their purpose and destiny all because they're too busy drawing lines in the sand.

The laws are good and they should be obeyed out of an overflow of our love for God and his love for us. In fact I think the more we come to know God and get familiar with his heartbeat the more we realise just how good the laws of God are. The commandments were not given to us to benefit God...but to benefit us. God loves us so much that he shows us what to do and then goes so far as to give us the free will to choose whether we want to follow or not. It's incredible to see how far God goes for us and also how incredibly vulnerable He leaves His heart. For all those who have ever suffered rejection, you'll have some inkling as to how this must feel.

I saw this journaling as a reminder to check my pride this week and to be that love to others out of the overflow of love that I feel from God for me and my love for Him. It is a reminder to love first, then correct with gentleness...especially in my line of work haha :D

lovelove :)

2011-03-08T23:17:00.000+10:00

new fave song :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNy8llTLvuA

such a nostalgic sound :D

lovelove :)

journaling Luke

2011-03-03T08:43:00.002+10:00

I've been 'slumming it' on the bus lately as Dave has taken our Philbert (car) for work purposes...now before you start feeling sorry for me (as I know you all would because you all love me so ;P)...I'll say that it has given me the freedom to read the bible on my way to work.

Today I was journaling Luke 4:10-18 but what caught my immediate attention was verses 10-12.

For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. 11 And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’[a]”
12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’[b]”

I got the warm-fuzzies when I read the first part, God protects and gaurds us so much so that we wouldn't even stub our toes on a rock. You may recognise that this verse is actually quoted by Satan during the temptation of Jesus.

[As a sidenote, I think its sometimes easily forgotten that the devil himself and all his minions know the scriptures so well and know who Jesus is...sidenote adjourned.]

Jesus responds by quoting scripture back "you must not test the Lord your God". It kinda got me thinking about the many times we fall back on the concept that God, our Father in heaven will always look out for us and save us and protect us, but the word I got from this was WISDOM. I think its easy to rely on the fact that God will always save...and He does because He's faithful but then the tendancy there is to believe that no matter WHAT we do, we will always be saved.

I often say this to my students when they try to justify their wrong-doings...e.g:

"God created marijuana and put it on the Earth so it MUST be good."

[cheeky bums. trying to outsmart me using my faith hahaha but if it means they would research the word of God then its alright hahaha]

Jade: "Yes but God never told us to smoke it. God also gave us brains to differentiate right from wrong and wisdom to prevent us from doing the wrong thing".

This is usually followed by reluctant looks of defeat haha :D

To be honest I'm not quite sure how to end this post but it was just my morning's musings while on the bus.

As Christians I guess we must never forget the responsibilities that come with being part of the greatest romance in all creation.

God saves YES however God's creations we have been fearfully and wonderfully made with a brain to gain wisdom enough as we grow in maturity to discern right from wrong and respond accordingly. Think of all the time you could spend with God, enjoying his company instead of pleading with him to get you out of another sticky situation that could have been prevented by applying wisdom. Afterall, prevention is better than cure.

the melbourne mission

2011-02-22T09:25:00.032+10:00

The 11th of Feb 2011 marked the day that the Abide Youth mission team went down to minister to FGA Melbourne.

It was a great few days where we saw salvations, healings as well as gifts being excercised for the first time! I would say that everyone was stretched in one way or another, having to lead worship and play in front of a completely different congregation than we're used to, having to do the same in a completely different youth group that we're used to and also having to preach/give offering messages on a sunday morning main service!

I've amassed pictures from various cameras (Ray, Joel, Daniel's and ours) for your viewing pleasure :D

In preparation for the mission trip the youth band led worship for sunday morning service

Finally the day has come! waiting at the airport for the luggage to be checked in. I have to say we all did pretty well luggage wise :D

on the plane trying to catch up on our sleep coz we got to the airport at 6:30am...zzzz

Day 1 Dinner!!! all you can eat buffet..and it was pretty good too!!

Check this handsome little piggie out! :D

look who we met up with for dinner! :D Mikey came out to meet us even though he was busy studying for exams :D lovelove mikey! :D

This is when we infiltrated the FGA office on Day 2 of our trip before the youth service :D

hahah blasian and a wasian eating with chopsticks :D

youth night at FUNGUS (stands for Fun and Us with God in between) :D

Day 3: Practicing ALL DAY for Sunday morning service.

We cooked indo -mee for lunch then realised that we totally forgot to bring plastic plates and forks...so the boys went out on an expedition to find aforementioned utensils and came back with...skewers to use as chopsticks and disposable cups. hahaha! creative to say the least thanks guys!

After that we had dinner with the 101 university ministry. It was chinese new year dinner so yup...more great food! Followed by an epic karaoke rendition of Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On by Rach and myself hahha :D (complete with heartfelt actions)

Sunday morning service! Look how pro they are! :D

That's me doing the offering message...I have this annoying thing I do when I'm nervous...I giggle...alot. They seemed to receive the message well so praise God for inspiring me!

After our busy Sunday morning service we hung out with the FUNGUS crew and played basketball and futsal. I play neither so I decided that we should do an ABIDE photoshoot :D I bossed everyone into participating and told them how to pose. Daniel (my baby brother) took the photos and edited them. He did very well don't you think? :D

Janice: Youth leader and in charge of multimedia during the trip.

Candice: vocalist and my very capable cell assistant

Joel: our 'fun-sized' bassist (he's only in grade 10!!!)

Mkhululi: our token black guy/blasian and drummer

Joe: our token white guy/wasian and electric guitarist

Rachel: vocalist and Dave's assistant for youth band this year

Geoffers: our keyboardist and hard-out evangelist for God

.
.
and of course we took some couple pictures as well :D

Janice and Seanbean

ooOOOoooo!

This was our 'light lunch' at Sophia's. A pretty awesome Italian restaurant.

After this day, Dave and i left coz...we had to go back to work. The rest stayed on and took more pictures :D

Look familiar to you? ;)

ahhh...school pictures hahaha :D aren't they adorable :D

Mkhululi has levitation powers!!!

This pic was not posed at all but just naturally looks awesome.

ahhh abide team you guys rock :D look how much you've all grown!

lovelove :)

happy birthday winnie :)

2011-02-22T09:12:00.004+10:00

Yesterday marked the birthday of a beautiful lady who's been a long time close friend.

These pics were actually taken during a recent catch up over...food. hahahah :D there always has to be food...where there are asians...there is food. Good food. hahah!

"oh noooo! if you take this pic everyone's gonna say i'm such a pig again!"

oh but what a beautiful piggie you are dear wins hahah :D just kidding, I admire people like wins so much, she's go so much grace and compassion for people...and patience...oodles and oodles of patience. She sticks by people who are frustrating, hard to love and she's also an excellent singer and choir leader :) Wins was also my maid of honour!

Happy birthday to one of the world's greatest women :)

lovelove :)

ps. I do realise I haven't blogged for a while...but i feel like I can't really move forward until I get all those USA pics up and posted hahaha :D I WILL DO THIS SOON! :D (i promise).

if I have not love...

2011-01-31T09:02:00.005+10:00

I have nothing.

One of my all time favourite verses has to be the famous chapter on love in 1 Cor 13.

There are many parts that I love but the one that was highlighted to me recently during a prayer session was the line above.

I have to confess that my walk with God has been a fairly distant one at best during the last half of the year. I've been thinking and talking about it for a while now and I have come to the conclusion that because I was "doing so much" out of servitude...I fell into a trap of thinking that I needed to do more to get closer to God. And so...as a result I became resentful...of work and ministry...which really are interchangeable in a sense as my work is my ministry and my ministry is also my work. I began to feel like I was doing things 24/7 and although I used to remember how to just shut off from work in the past, I seemed to have forgotten how to do it in the present. I pushed on and on last year trying to keep it together, well aware that I was reaching breaking point but not feeling that I could stop for many reasons...

I've managed to isolate the things that were possibly contributing to my feeling this way:

- My 'saviour complex' leads me to believe that people need my help and that things won't get done without me because I think that there's such a shortage of leaders in our ministry that I just try to push through the 'pain barrier'.

- I know that young people are dependant on me and that the relationship between leader/youth worker and student/youthies is very dependant on consistency.

- I felt that I didn't want to let people down...I didn't want to be undependable, not trustworthy...someone told me very harshly quite a few years back that people couldn't trust me or depend on me because I would never finish things I started and that I wouldn't always follow through on my word.

The last reason is one that I did not discover until early this year after a work meeting. I burst into tears to my great suprise (and i'm sure to the astonishment of my colleagues who were very empathetic). I recalled that Mum-in-love said a while ago that tears were a sign of a hurt that has not healed so I started reflecting on it...

It was a subtle deception that fed an insecurity that I was totally unconscious about. Little did I know that those words were still having an effect on me. As a result I was tired, burnt out, frustrated and resentful...and when I wasn't feeling these feelings I felt guilty and ashamed because I shouldn't feel this way if I am 'a good Christian' and that if I stopped to let people know how I was feeling that I would be deemed undependable and not trustworthy once more.

I knew in my mind and in my heart that what I needed was to get closer to God but I felt resentful towards God because it almost felt like I had to DO more in order to get closer to Him. I knew in my mind that this was not the case...this is not the God that I believe in...a God of criteria...the God I love and believe in is a God OF love and He doesn't look to what I achieve but my heart...because this is what He desires above all things :)...yet it was so hard for me to reconcile with God.

In the end, I had a very honest conversation with God...I told Him I was angry...at myself for feeling this way...angry that I even allowed myself to get into this state and sad because all I wanted was to just be in His presence but I felt that I was just too far from God.

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

- Rom 8:39 -

I am now on my journey back towards God...I am focussing on 'being still' again...I feel that God is calling me to 'come closer' this year...during worship the other night I felt so refreshed as if my heart was parched and I was just thirsting for more of God's presence revelling in the warmth of the familiarity of His presence and having that inner healing done. Dave also prayed for me earlier in the week and broke those negative words that someone had said over me and that I would not be held down by false guilt and shame. It's so awesome to have a husband that gives me that spiritual covering and protection :)

To end...I will go back to the beginning of this post...

If I have not love...I have nothing...I have interchanged "God" with "love" in past blog posts because God IS love...so if I were to re-write this scripture it would be...

'If I have not GOD...I have nothing'.

Its true though...the more alienated I became from God, the more I began to lose sight of my purpose. I felt like I was just going through the motions of life BUT...the beautiful thing about God...is that He will never EVER let you go without a fight...He is a God that pursues your heart relentlessly with love and will never give up on you :)

As for me, I can feel the embers stirring :D I'm on my way :D

lovelove :)

enough is enough

2011-01-28T16:16:00.003+10:00

Dear Readers,

Enough is enough. I have had it with a certain type of tagboard that keeps allowing randoms and spam flood my board. You will notice that I've now found out how to allow a "comments" section (located below lables) and have deleted said tagboard forthwith. Please use this if you would like to leave me a note in future. I know its pretty small...I'm still trying to figure out this blogskin :D anyway, that is all for now. Apologies for any inconvenience that ensues.

lovelove :)

busted!

2011-01-27T22:24:00.006+10:00

we caught some kids consuming "a certain substance" at school today.

heheheh >=)

sorry. one has to laugh though....they weren't very smart about it:

1) doing something wrong on school grounds (which happen to be located on church grounds) in full-view of surrounding classmates in broad daylight.

2) didn't do anything to conceal the distinctive smell or bloodshot eyes.

3) tried to deny it in front of us.

nice try fellas.

anyway, they were reprimanded and told that their enrollments would be cancelled if any of the staff suspected that they were 'under the influence' in future.

sigh...sometimes i just want to slap them upside the head or shake them and say 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING???'

but then...i remember that i was once young and silly and full of zeal with no wisdom haha :D it truly is painful to be an adolescent.

its frustrating and its hard to keep plugging away at the same kids who keep making the same bad choices...but when it pays off....wow it really pays off :)

one of my girls told me during the holidays that she had walked 2 hours in the swealtering summer heat just to donate clothes towards the flood relief. she also told me she quit smoking and is no longer hanging around toxic friends. as a result her behaviour...although still loud...is more consistent and she has matured so much. when she told me all these things and what she was aiming towards i literally jumped up and down with joy! although my contribution was small, i really felt like i had gained such a great reward by seeing her grow into her potential. praise God for the miracles he's doing in these young peoples lives...and indirectly the miracle that is happening in mine :)

one day...i will be able to say the same thing about the boys that got busted today :)

lovelove :)

anticipation

2011-01-24T22:41:00.003+10:00

I'm so happy! Dave bought me this:

www.osim.com/AU/home.aspx

This is the OSIM uPapa hug. The way it massages is similar to if you had 2 Japanese drummers working away on your shoulders! :D I tried it out in Sydney during our anniversary weekend and there was a sale too sooooo...we bought it :D Mainly because I get pretty bad pain in my shoulders so this will help a great deal :D

ahhh...i just have to wait for the phone call that tells me its arrived in Brisbane! ahhh yes... then I will be using it EVERYDAY. haha :D

I'll let you know how it goes :D

on another note...there have been a few things i've been mulling over of late but haven't been able to really concrete yet...but when I do I'll blog about it :D

lovelove :)

H2O

2011-01-19T14:47:00.008+10:00

In recent times, floodwaters have made their disastrous path across Queensland. Many people have experienced flood damage to their homes and businesses and some have even lost loved ones. Despite the decimation that we've witnessed in the past week, the thing that I've come to admire the most is the unfailing hope and a spirit of joy that overcomes despite the surrounding situation.

There has been such a spirit of community that has risen amongst the greater population of QLD, strangers reaching out to help strangers, neighbours that rarely said a word to each other, calling out in the dead of night to see if there was anyone around that needed help. Acts of kindness go from people donating their time and energy to physically rebuild what has been torn down to people donating financially and even baking food for volunteers. Human beings have never been so beautiful...

I won't pretend that only good has come from this flood...there have been points where one witnesses the depths at which humankind can sink to...people have been looting from evacuated properties trying to steal and destroy what is left of people's livelihoods, those who are ignorant and refuse to help with the flood in any small way because it doesn't benefit them...It's sad to see immense beauty marred by seemingly random acts of evil and selfish desire.

I am aware that alot of people are out there also racking their brains on how to help...even yesterday I was discussing with my colleagues how useless I felt at times...I'm not strong...I have no muscles to speak of...my health is not good at the moment...I am small...

...then I recalled something I said to a friend who was battling with their own mental health issues...

"you may think you are small and that you can't do anything but even the smallest pebble can alter the course of a river"

haha, I think I said that when I was 14yrs old...I must have borrowed it from a movie or a book I read. It's good to take your own advice sometimes haha :D

So, dear readers, for now, while I am still small, I am not helpless nor am I useless...and though I am not rich, I can at least give some of what I have as funds to the flood relief. Every little bit counts after all :D

If you would like to donate money, here is the official government website:
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

If you would ask me what I had learnt from this...here are some things:

1. Humans are amazing creatures, capable of great love and great evil ...

2. No matter who you are or what talents you were blessed with, how big or small you are, you can always help in some way in any situation...we don't need a flood to remind us of it.

3. Disasters, like most things in life, can bee seen 2 ways, as a destructive force, punishment for sins of the land...or an opportunity...to show love to those who need it the most. Maybe this is both...only God would know...and it's up to US to find out :D

I will finish with a verse that comforts..

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God[c]; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

- Psalm 62:5-8 -

lovelove :D

its a milestone!

2011-01-09T17:14:00.006+10:00

January 9th 2011 marks the date of our first wedding anniversary :)

I look back on the year and its sprinkled with so many fond memories and sweet moments that I will keep in my memory bank forever :D

Although we aren't able to celebrate together on the actual date (we just arrived from US this morning and Dave had to fly off this afternoon), I'll be joining Dave in Sydney the following weekend for a belated anniversary celebration! :)

I can't wait to see what God takes us through in 2011!

'So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder'

- Matt19:6 -

I'm so incredibly blessed by you. I'll save the sappy lovey dovey stuff for when I see you face to face! :D but for now....Go Team Tan! :D

oh by the way, our pictures were taken as part of a family portrait done by a friend of ours Sam! She's so incredibly talented but I'm sure her pictures speak louder than my words :D If you like what you see, visit her blog below! :D

http://bubsnbellesbysam.wordpress.com/

lovelove :)

travelling

2010-12-24T04:26:00.003+10:00

firstly...

Dear Blog. I apologise for neglecting you. Yes I know its been a while and I promise to be more diligent from now on....and yes I am aware that I have said this before...have faith dear blog that I will always come back hehe :D

this is in response to J's facebook notification about my poor blog letting her know that it feels neglected hahaha :D

anyway, after a 13 hour trip from Brisbane to LA and then another 3 hours from LA to Houston...I don't think my bottom could feel anymore sore or lack any feeling to this extent altogether. During such an extended flight, one begins to have silly thoughts like "I wonder if they make seats soooo uncomfortable as an encouragement to those who travel poorly to invest in at least business class seating..."...having said this, we were actually very suprised to find that we had premium economy seats haha! :D thank you very much travel agent :D

anyway, the service was wonderful on our Qantas flight and it really DOES make a difference on such a long haul flight. Despite having premium economy seats which boasts extra leg room and a larger seat PLUS greater degree in recline. Despite all the extra perks...I still had an uncomfortable flight...there's not that much you can do in a small bathtub of space really...that plus i'm the WORST traveller. I get all stiff and can't sleep properly...so annoying because i like what's on the other side but the process in getting there is so painful. literally.

Tomorrow, we hit the outlets for shopping!!! looking forward to it hehe :D

lovelove!

confused?

2010-11-10T19:43:00.010+10:00

I was meditating and just being still in God's presence last night when a thought came to me...

"Don't confuse man's choices and its consequences with God's plans and processes"

There are so many times where I've heard my young people challenge me about God and my faith in him because 'if He was really a good God then why would bad things happen to good people?' and again and again I say that bad things happen to good people because people make bad choices that impact them. Then they get confused haha :D

I think sometimes its easy for people to forget that God even allows trials to come our way because its only through trials that we grow...we get stronger through a storm, we get wiser from experiencing tribulation and our spirit man begins to develop and mould into something God purposed it to be in the first place.

--I wrote this ages ago but didn't have a chance to finish it and today when watching T.D Jakes I was reminded of it...its the 16th Nov now LOL--

Today I'm on sick leave and as I was resting I decided to listen to Bishop T.D Jakes' podcast and again was reminded of this post...

Bishop T.D Jakes so eloquently caught my attention by saying:

"you cannot wear the crown if you will not carry the cross...this is confusing, you prayed for blessing, here comes a burden, you prayed for a triumph but here comes tragedy will think God did not answer you but He did! He put your feet in the right path to get the blessing but the tragedy is a part of the process to get to the triumph! You can't be a winner if you're not in a contest, you can't be a conquerer if you haven't had conflict, you can't have victory if you haven't been in a fight, you can't have a testimony if you haven't had a test, you can't be an overcomer if you haven't had a mountain!"

-T.D Jakes: Tragedy, Triumph, Torment Pt 1-

and its true...The Israelites had to FIGHT to overcome giants in the promised land to get to the milk & honey...sometimes we want the blessings without having to go through the struggle to get there and we forget that it was because we overcome giants, that we can celebreate victory and access our promised blessings.

I am reminded of the account of David's victory over Goliath the Philistine...when Saul challenged David by saying that he was 'just a young man...just a shepherd boy'...David told Saul:

"Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine."

-1 Sam 17:34-37-

David was giving an account of the trials he had to face and the triumphs that he got from them through the grace of God.

If he had not overcome these trials...would he have had the confidence and the skill to overcome Goliath?

The other thing about challenges is that when you overcome them, your testimony inspires people to overcome their enemy as well...in 1 Sam 17:52 when the Philistines saw that their hero was dead the armies of Israel surged forwards and pursued the Philistines and gained victory.

Your personal triumph not only inspires the people around you but can also unlock things in the spiritual realm! Until David had defeated Goliath, Saul's army was dismayed and fearful but AFTER David defeated Goliath (the strong man), the spirit of fear was banished and the armies of God defeated their enemy!

From personal experience, I had realised a while ago that although God desires for me to not have to go through pain and struggle, however like a good father, sometimes He allows me to make mistakes so that I will learn from them and grow...and through Christ I believe that He always turns my ashes to beauty and my trials to my testimonies :) By God's grace we overcome our trials and go to new levels in our faith not just for our benefit but for the benefit of others as well.

It's not that confusing when you know that God always desires the best for you and that He will always have your back no matter what :D

lovelove :)

wardrobe

2010-10-26T20:54:00.006+10:00

I remember numerous times growing up when mum and dad would always ask Ben, Daniel and myself to clean our rooms (this process didn't actually end until I moved out haha! :P)

My brother's, being the diligent children they are, cleaned their rooms properly. I on the other hand...not so diligent...stuffed whatever I could in my wardrobe. Yes. I was one of those children.

One day, I had stuffed so many things in my wardrobe that it all fell on me and around me...

I was recently reminded of these incidents (yes its happened more than one time...) when one of my students called up in sobbing on the phone as she and her boyfriend just had a fight and she fell down the stairs. She said they broke up and although she wanted to work things out he walked past her and left the house. She asked me with a very pained voice,

"Jade...why does it hurt so much?"

My heart went out to her having had my fair share of heartbreak myself...I explained to her that usually fights are not usually about what the fight is actually about. I told her that sometimes what happens is that we have a mountain of hurt that we've hapharzardly thrown into a wardrobe in our efforts to 'suck it up and move on' without really dealing with the issue at hand and what happens is that when you've stuffed too much in there, it only takes one small action to make everything inside crash down on you and surround you.

Suddenly it makes sense why arguments can escalate so quickly ...just like things falling out of your wardrobe, hurtful words get thrown in and what you thought you were fighting and arguing about turns into something completely different and resurfaces old wounds and pain that you thought you had moved on from.

I believe that unless we learn to be more introspective (not self-absorbed) but learn to be good self-studies, we are limited in our understanding of how others 'work'...not to say that because you think a certain way that everyone else does as well, but understanding that humans all process things differently but we all share commonalities such as knowing what it feels like to have your heart broken, to have experienced betrayal, dealt with grief, give joy, bring hope and love and be loved. I think understanding people comes from understanding yourself first, knowing that you were once 'young and foolish', showing grace because you know you've made mistakes too...and being loving towards someone that may not be that easy to love but loving them all the same because even if you've never experienced the emptiness of a loveless life you know that you just as easily could have been in the same position.

As Mother Theresa pointed out:

"There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the lonliness. We must have the courage to recognise it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them."

How many are there in our own family of Christ that so hunger for love?...

I believe that love brings change.

To those receiving love, and to those who are giving it.

Jesus was the absoloute embodiment of love...given to us by our loving Father so that we would be free and to live a life that God purposed for us.

Yes it is hard to deal with the things that you've shoved in your wardrobe for so long...it was excruciating for Jesus to endure crucifixion for us...but he did it out of love because we were counted worthy... and when you give your wardrobe a springclean...you'll see that it's worth it too :)

lovelove :)

cuteness

2010-10-22T11:06:00.003+10:00

as I was stalking my favourite blogs I came across this very cute picture :)

by garrett ross photography.

I think it just captures the frivolity and innocence of childhood! :D

lovelove :D

prankster

2010-10-21T10:18:00.003+10:00

For those of you who don't know, I usually get my packages sent to work because that's where I'm spending the majority of my time in the day after all. So anyway, this morning, Rob comes up to me and goes...

"Hey Miss J! Your package arrived!" with a smug grin on his face...

Immediately I got all worked up and dismissed the thought that 'this box is awfully weird to send some T-shirts in' and opened it up positively brimming with excitement...

only to find...

this little fella! :D I screamed because I fully expected to see T-shirts inside and not a live animal hahahah! All the guys laughed at me...nice prank guys...nice one haha :D

lovelove :D

last night's dinner

2010-10-20T13:49:00.005+10:00

Hello dear readers! :D

I made a second attempt at hainanese chicken rice last night :D unfortunately ...my pandan plant has died...so no pandan flavour in the rice ...

Not a bad effort though!

Menu:
- Hainanese chicken rice
- Steamed tofu with oyster sauce and crunchy deep fried garlic

lovelove! :D

cooking

2010-10-19T10:44:00.007+10:00

Hey everyone!

It's been previously pointed out that my blog has more words than it does pictures hahaha :D (thanks YH!) so here are some pictures to make up for it :D

I've always liked cooking, albeit I will never be the awesomely awesome cook my mother is. Seriously guys...everyone says that their mother is the best cook...well..sorry...my mum wins hands down :D As far as someone that can cook ANYTHING...she is the only mum I know that can do that hahah :D If I can cook half as well as my mother I will be a very happy woman indeed :D

Anyway, without further adieu, here are some pictures of the dinner's I've been making so far. I shall post somemore when Dave remembers to take pictures of the food hahah :D

This is the first time we're using our outdoor set! Note the attention to detail in the table setting. Thanks to Xiao Bao Bei (Matty) our housemate haha :D

Lighting candles for some ambience. On the menu tonight...

- Pan seared steak

- Blanched asparagus pan fried with bacon and garlic

- Creamy mashed potato

Lol everything sounds good when you make it sound fancy haha :D

Thi sis the quiche I made last week! :D it turned our really well :D even Dom said it was pretty good for a 'cheat quiche' (puh-lease as if I have the time to make shortcrust pastry from scratch. Puff pastry is a life and time saver...plus its really yummo!)

and last but certainly not least, last night's dinner and my first attempt...

Lotus wrapped steamed chicken!

I'm still far from good at cooking but Dave seems happy so its good hahah :D

lovelove :D

giving

2010-10-13T21:50:00.004+10:00

I was reading the bible last night and just roaming around praying for a new revelation when my eyes settled on the word:

'give'

I started to think of all the things related to the word 'give'...

The Queen of Sheba gave gifts when she went to visit King Solomon...giving opens doors...

The boy with the loaves of bread and fish that gave his lunch to Jesus and He multiplied it to feed five thousand people...when you give to God then God will increase and multiply it!

The bible speaks of sowing seeds and reaping harvests, this is how God responds to our giving, He takes it and multiplies it...till it overflows :)

In a world that teaches you to take anything and everything you can get to be the top dog, society is becoming more and more self-inclined, self-absorbed, self-centred. As the great C.S Lewis points out, we live in our tiny bubbles, surrounding ourselves with luxuries and hobbies, becoming more and more myopic and deaf to the cries of the hurt, the hungry and the outcasts...and in the process, our hearts harden to voice of God.

I am also reminded of a book by Rob Bell where he shares a story of a friend who had a revelation after years of exploiting women for sex...his friend found that when he robbed someone of their humanity...he himself was being robbed of his own humanity.

God asks us to do the opposite...to live our lives giving...to give time and an ear to those that need to be listened to...to speak for those who have no voice...to care for those who have been rejected and to love everyone. When you give love, grace and hope...I believe you become beautifully human.

As I was meditating on this a friend pointed out that one can't really give anything...until they have first received.

It's true...how do you give something if no one has first given you something? Humans learn so many things through social interaction...from a young age we copy what we see in our parents...model their behaviour. This can go either way...one can be taught to take, or to give...depending on who we model our behaviour on.

Do we choose to model the god of this world? Or the one true God?

I choose to try to model my heavenly Father's character (granted I will fail at times hehe but I am trying :D)

He first loved, and gave his only Son so that we would have the gift of salvation.

Again and again the bible quotes that God gives, God loves to bless his children...

and again and again we are reminded of that when we study the life of Jesus when he gave up his life...so that we may live.

I think this verse in Acts sums it up nicely:

"You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

-Acts 20:34-36-

lovelove :)

BOOOOOOO...

2010-10-12T10:55:00.006+10:00

our home had a leak...

yuk. now i have to clean it up...hopefull the water stains come out...building insurance should cover the costs praise God! :D

lovelove.

updaaaaate!

2010-10-04T15:36:00.004+10:00

yes i know its been a while since I last set eyes on this blog. apologies dear readers.

just a quick one to update everyone on our goings on:

we have a new housemate!!! :D
his name is matty aka xiao bao bei! hahaha :D he's a wonderful housemate that plays bassoon really well, loves to swim and lives his life hard out for God!

dave recently went to sydney to get his US visa in order and met up with Timmy there :)

school's back in and so that means i get to counsel kids again rather than do things like tidy up the office...which if i'm in the right headspace is not always a bad thing...

church is in 'conference mode' as we plan and prepare for our upcoming annual conference! :D many ~~late nights~~ music practices are underway!

youth is awesome! prepping them to lead worship on one of our conference nights which is exciting for both them (as its their first time to lead worship at such a large scale event) and for us as leaders, watching them grow skills-wise and in spirit.

we met up with some of dave's uni mates last night as well which was fun as one of them was back from singapore for a while.

hmm...i think that's about it...

oh i held hannah on the weekend and fed her for the first time! ...but then she cried...gah...haha :D

lovelove :D

a sign of the future? :)

2010-09-13T12:29:00.003+10:00

Dear readers,

just a short one today hehe :D we had the lovely opportunity to play with Hannahbanana during service on Sunday :D Usually Dave's happy for me to just hang on to Hannah but last Sunday, with Mei's prompting, I handed her over to Dave who did swimmingly! :D

he looks like a natural haha :D

how adorable is Hannah!? She's so strong! Hannah kept on bobbing up and down on her legs like she was jumping hahaa :D such a clever girl! :D Must have gotten that from her mum and dad :D

Anyway, I just wanted to share this haha :D Dave will make such a wonderful Dad one day :D

lovelove :)

barry

2010-09-10T09:53:00.005+10:00

I feel the need to share about a special someone at work :)

His name is Barry :D

My first encounter with Barry was when I walked into work on my first day. He regarded me with caution and when I smiled and greeted him he regarded me with MORE caution and mumbled something under his breath.

Undeterred, the next morning I greeted Barry with my most cheerful 'Good morning Barry!' and he broke out into a grin, waved and greeted me with equal gusto, if not more replying 'Good Morning how are ya!'

Every morning since then, Barry has since greeted me in this manner. Sometimes he brings me the mail with a very big smile and then proceeds to ask if I'm going to open them straight away with child-like innocence.

Yesterday Barry was carrying a suitcase and I asked him where he was headed. He replied loudly that he was "going to the bank!". I asked him what he needed the suitcase for and he replied that it had his money in it and promply said very firmly that he was going to "give it all away!". Amused, I asked him to whom he was going to give it to and without a moments hesitation he replied "to anyone who wants it!" :D

I found out today that Barry has 'Fragile X syndrome' (look it up on wiki!)
Long story short, its a congenital condition that affects the X chromosome which then affects the development of the frontal part of the brain responsible for social interaction and interpretation among other things. People that have fragile X syndrome are characterised with long faces and prominent ears as well as low muscle tone and lack of coordination.

His life has been an amazing one...Barry grew up in an orphanage when he was a boy and he used to get bullied alot. One day the boys (also had disabilities) pushed him into a meat slicer and he wasn't able to correct his body fast enough to prevent his fingers from getting sliced off. I wanted to cry when I heard this about him...I was sad that he was treated so cruelly by people who didn't know any better...yet...as my colleague says..."Barry only has four fingers and he can still roll a ciggy better than any of our kids!" :)

With all his 'disabilities', I am so blown away by how much love and joy Barry brings to our workplace. He's not paid to be at work however he comes every day without fail on his bicycle wearing his uniform proudly...and sometimes to be very honest, he can be more of a hindrance than a help but...the impact that he has on people is priceless :D one could never find an 'employee' to replace him :D

People say 'poor barry, his life must be so tough' and its true there have been occasions where some very cruel things have happened to him however, I don't think Barry is 'poorly' at all. In fact I've never met anyone else who has overcome his battles more than him, is so honest, is so free from the love of money and has so much childlike joy apart from him.

I'm so thankful for the daily reminder of God's grace, love and mercy when I see Barry and the love that people have for him...just recently he had a birthday and loads of people from his church came including his brother and there was just so much love and happiness. Everyone pitched in to buy Barry a new bicycle and he rides it to work with pride :)

Some may say that Barry needs to be more like 'normal people' but you know what...what's 'normal' anyway?? And who decides it??

I think we all need to be a little more like Barry...free from the trappings of the world and just being a beautiful creation of God...

People say that we help Barry but I disagree...Barry helps remind us of what its like to be innocent, joyous, free living, loved children of God :D

lovelove :D

our newest acquisition

2010-09-06T09:00:00.007+10:00

Hello dear readers! :D

As some of you may know, Dave and I have been looking for an outdoor set for A VERY LONG TIME.

I am proud to say that we've finally got one!

You see the main challenges I had was that most of these furniture ebay purchases are 'pick up only' and they happen to be located (all the nice affordable ones anyway) in Melbourne or Sydney...a bit too far for your afternoon drive really...

So imagine my excitement when I found...

THIS!!! XD!!!

And the best part was...it very close to where we live! woooooot :D SO... Sunday afternoon after church our little troop (consisting of myself, Dave, Timothy and Joanie) made our way to the designated pick up point to retrieve our new outdoor set! :D

here are "THE MEN" putting it all in the ute that we were kindly allowed to use from Jon and Mei! (sidenote: hannah banana was dedicated yesterday! WOOO! congrats guys!)

Load it up! :D (oh yes Jon if you're wondering why Dave is holding that plastic sleeve...its coz we used it to put all the nuts and bolts in when dismantling the table haha...hope you don't need it back..haha!)

Timothy get off the table!!!! hahahaha :D

I think the fellas did really well considering it was wet and rainy and they pretty much had to wing it to figure out how to pack it all up hahah... good work guys! :D

Thanks Timoanie for helping us grab the table and benches! :D we'll have to invite you guys over to make use of it! :D

Dave and I only managed to put it together last night coz we had Father's Day dinner and Oovoo with our dads hehe :D HAPPY FATHER'S DAY Baba and Dad! :D

So excited about decorating it...:D (i'll probably just put a pot plant in the middle hahaha)

lovelove :D

la serpiente (spanish for 'the snake')

2010-09-02T16:48:00.004+10:00

check out the snake that visited our site this morning!! :D

I had a video I took...but blogger doesn't want to upload it... haha oh wells :D

lovelove :D

just because... :)

2010-08-19T08:38:00.003+10:00

I'm so blessed :)

blessed with a wonderful Leong and Tan family who are supportive, loving and have taught us the foundation of a great relationship within marriage, friendship and with God...

blessed with awesome friends who are honest, encouraging and inspiring...

blessed with great work places and ministries...challenging as they may be sometimes haha :D

and...blessed with a wonderful husband...who does the dishes because he knows I don't like doing them...who will rub my tired feet because he knows my ankle hurts if I stand too long...who will crack my back because he knows that it relieves tension for me...and who never forgets to leave for work without kissing me goodbye...and even though he knows how to do these things everyday...he also knows how to give me flowers...not because its our anniversary or because he wants something or as an apology because he thinks he's done something wrong (as all my work colleagues asked me haha) but simply...just because... :)

and with these beautiful blooms came a card with the words...

"I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?? Lovelove :D"

the words that he used to propose to me hahah :D

I love you! and the answer to this question is always "yes!" hahah :D

lovelove :D

Singaporeans and Malaysians in Oz

2010-08-18T14:19:00.016+10:00

Recently we have been overtaken by Singaporeans and Malaysians visiting us in Oz :D

First it was the wonderful girls from Singapore, Junebay, Shunzie and Gen...

our trip to West End markets...very excited to find that they sell that awesome popcorn there! (those are our big bags of popcorn by the way haha)...

Then a tri p to the Eumundi markets! :D

This is Gen with her awesome dunnowhat food :D

Eunice, Clarence and Estee with Shunzie :D

ahah I caught Junebuggy while she was on the phone :D

It was so great having the three girls here and we really enjoyed just having you guys in the house :D now the house is so silent without you all here! hahah...I will miss you all and our late night chats and our 'driving all around sunshine coast' chats haha :D You girls are such beautiful women of God and we hope to see you all soon whether it means us going to Singapore at some point or you guys making another trip down! :D you're always welcome to stay with us!! :D

The "Malaysians" consisted of Sa Chek, Sa Chim and young master William :D We were blessed enough to be able to spend a couple of days with them as they made their way to Brisbane specially to see us! :D

During their stay we had a great time laughing, chatting, eating together and dressing up one flustered Mr William Tan :D (He was a very good sport!)

here we are at the Gold Coast. I'm trying to explain the concept of 'edge' and how to create it by doing something simple like rolling up the sleeves of your button up shirt. Young master Tan very apologetically told me 'thank you' but that he preferred his sleeves down and buttoned hahaha :D so adorable! :D

I then tried to 'edge' him up a bit more by swapping his sneakers with some converse lookalikes :D Once again he told me thank you but he preferred his sneakers hehe :D Unfazed, I told him that the 'chicks dig it' however this did not seem to deter him! hehe :D It was fun anyway and Mr William Tan, if you would ever like any fashion consult, please feel free to ask me :P (not that i'm that great or anything but i like to try!) hahhaa :D

After meandering around Surfer's Dave decided that we should drive to Mt. Tambourine. On the way we met this beautiful mare. She was so friendly and tame and ate the grass right out of your hand :D

Sa Chek and Mr William Tan minding Philbert while Sa Chim and I fed the horse :D

We managed to find a quaint cafe/nursery...(actually I think it's a nursery that happens to have a cafe in it)...where we were able to rest our weary legs and have a sit-down before looking for the perfect location to view the sunset...

we found it :D There's this place further up where hangliders run off the mountain! and this is where we sat and watched the sun give way to the night :D

Young Master William and I enjoying the warm sun :D

It was so wonderful having the KL Tan's with us! :D We miss you guys and look forward to seeing you all again! :D

oh and in case everyone was wondering where Dave was...he was the one taking all the pictures hahaha :P

Lovelove :D

moments...

2010-08-03T10:22:00.008+10:00

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Chan! :D Dave and I had the great honour of being part of their bridal party on the weekend.

Out of the many things that were running through my head there were two things that struck me the most...

1. My favourite moment in a wedding...is the moment just before the bride walks down the aisle...the anticipation, the proud look on her father's face, everyone just getting ready for the bride to meet her groom :) its so beautiful.

2. It's a very different sensation or experience rather to observe and partake in a wedding from the viewpoint of someone who has yet to look forward to being married herself and then experiencing it from the viewpoint of someone who is currently enjoying marital bliss. Going from the stage of life where you are eagerly anticipating marriage and dream that one day you will be that bride walking down the aisle to smiling as you see the bride herself walk down in eager anticipation knowing exactly what she's going through. It's really a beautiful thing :D

It's a bit of a random today but yeah, the wonder of a covenant between two people who love each other and their God.

God bless you two! love you heaps :D

lovelove

gardening

2010-07-06T00:10:00.004+10:00

Recently inspired by Estee's green thumb I decided to do some gardening today.

As I was getting my hands dirty preparing the soil for my little seeds, a thought came upon me..."I hope my seeds will grow well"...and not only was I hoping that they would grow well...but that ultimately they would grow to look like the image of flowers from the very packet from which they came.

I thought to myself ...if they didn't end up looking like the packet...it would be ok anyway because they are mine and they are unique in the way they were formed...fearfully and wonderfully made :)

I wondered if God shared the same thoughts towards us....before we were formed he knew what we would be like...and what we were supposed to look like...but even if we didn't make it...it would not make Him love us any less because we are His children.

anyway...just a bit of a random :D

lovelove :D

opportunities

2010-07-01T12:06:00.004+10:00

Last Sunday during worship Juls quoted a line from the movie Evan Almighty.

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other? "

It got me thinking about the way so many pray that God would 'fix' their problems...and then think immediately that God never bothered with them or that God simply didn't care or even worse, that God doesn't even exist because they didn't get what they wanted...or what they thought was the answer to their prayers...

"God if you could stop this...."

"God if you could grant me this..."

"God please take this away...fix this..."

...and somehow we are led to believe that if God would only make something go away or solve this problem or give us something...it would all be alright.

What we don't often realise is that sometimes our problems are brought about through our own choices and through it we just keep tripping over our own feet at we walk around in circles.

If we're honest we want God to fix our problems for us...but maybe what we're supposed to do is LEARN wisdom from the choices we make...maybe the choices we make are 'wrong' so to speak because what we're basing it on, are OUR plans, not His. This may sound weak to some, that I'm depending on God for everything, asking God things all the time, looking for His opinion over mine but you know what...in the end it always works because God, like our earthly parents...can see things that we can't...of course it pains Him to see us roam around aimlessly or in circles...and yes He is a God of miracles. To those who think this I would ask you one question... how are we ever supposed to grow up properly if we don't learn how to deal with or avoid the hard things or the bad things in life?

God didn't promise that it was going to be easy, He did say that we would never be alone though.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."

- Deuteronomy 31:8 -

lovelove :)

ready, set, GO!

2010-06-29T09:43:00.003+10:00

I've been thinking lately...(a dangerous pastime) about the way one makes a decision... do you remember in school doing junior athletics and participating in races? Well I do... and I remember that for those few moments just before the race...I was the most focussed 5th grader you will ever meet...just for those few minutes the only thing in my mind was the race and making sure I finish it the best I can...I was only listening for those three words...

Ready...

Set...

GO!

Over the past year I've had to make some pretty big decisions. Getting engaged...buying a house, getting married, starting a new job...and while I was mulling over the decision making process...I had a flashback to junior athletics and I focussed particularly on the take off point of a race...when the referee first asks if you are READY, then directs you to SET before you GO.

I love looking up definitions...not because I don't always know the definition or use of a particular word but many will know that I am not a 'logical structured thinker' so this helps me communicate my 'free-flow thoughts' in a more legible manner :D

read·y
/ˈrɛdi/ Show Spelled [red-ee] adjective,read·i·er, read·i·est, verb,read·ied, read·y·ing, noun, interjection

–adjective
1.
completely prepared or in fit condition for immediate action or use
2.
duly equipped, completed, adjusted, or arranged, as for an occasion or purpose
3.
willing

there were a whole lot more extras as far as definitions go but I always take the first few as being the most accurate and I also figured they were the most relevant for my situation.

Isn't it funny how 'willing' is definition number three? I usually only relate the meaning of the word 'ready' to being in the state of readiness...prepared and equipped in spirit, mind and body and forgot that if you're not willing to be ready in the first place that this is very important! hahah :D I guess that's where the saying "ready and willing" comes from :D

set
/sɛt/ Show Spelled [set] Show IPA verb,set, set·ting, noun, adjective, interjection
–verb (used with object)
1.
to put (something or someone) in a particular place
2.
to place in a particular position or posture
3.
to place in some relation to something or someone: We set a supervisor over the new workers.

Set...once one has made the decision that they are 'ready' then one 'sets' themself, puts themself in the right position. To me this speaks of a time of preparation, you must set your mind and your resources right before you can...go :D It makes sense really...you can be 'ready' all you want but without being in the right position to receive or give, being ready just isn't enough.

A pastor from Mikey's church said that in soccer, you can be ready and willing to receive a ball to kick the goal but if you're not set in the right position...you will not receive or be able to pass the ball at all.

go
/goʊ/ Show Spelled [goh] Show IPA verb,went, gone, go·ing, noun,pluralgoes, interjection, adjective
–verb (used without object)
1.
to move or proceed, esp. to or from something
2.
to leave a place; depart
3.
to keep or be in motion; function or perform as required

almost there! Go...to go...to move to proceed and to function as required...in order to do all these you need to first be ready and willing, set yourself in the right position before you can effectively run your race. Even if you're going to go and do something...if you're not willing and if you haven't done the set preparation...its like running a race with no prior training whatsoever!

so in any decision making process for me I have to remember to be ready, and set before I GO! :D and I know that this always means seeking God and HIS will, not mine, knowing that HIS plans are better and that He can see things as my Heavenly Father that I can't and being encouraged by the fact that this is ok...this is how it is meant to be :D to have a relationship with the Father and being able to run the race with Him as my coach, my cheerleader and my rewarder in the end :D

lovelove :D

faith

2010-06-23T15:31:00.002+10:00

"faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

- Hebrews 11:1 -

This is one of my favourite verses for a few reasons. I used to see this as just applying to me...my faith in God and what His promises are and what that means for me as a child of God. Nowaday's I realise that this doesn't just apply to me and my relationship with God...but my relationship with my friends, family and students and work colleagues...

I have faith that they will change...that slowly but surely God will work in their hearts and that I share an important role in facilitating that. I have the faith to see what they have the God-given potential to become a beautiful human being and that one day when they overcome their hardships, they will be able to share their awesome testimonies and how God has the victory in their lives.

I am sure that God will reveal Himself to them one day, and I am certain that even though it may seem like they've been too badly damaged by society, they will indeed overcome.

lovelove :D

amazing

2010-06-16T20:08:00.004+10:00

it's amazing what God has been doing at my work! We've been blessed to have Pastor Jordan and Gerry to minister to us and I can really feel God's presence and there's been an amazing change in my students! :D

Praise God!!! :D

Also, Birthday was amazing thanks to husband, family and our wonderful friends :D
here's a picture hehehe :D

our cellgroup blew up ALL the balloons and hid them all in our room hahah it was a beautiful colourful 'mess'! (i also had fun decimating all the balloons in the days to follow muahahaha)

I feel so bold today! Like I just want to share God's love with people!!! Especially those at work :) I love my job! :D

lovelove :D

messenger

2010-06-11T09:18:00.004+10:00

yesterday afternoon I helped to deliver 'the good news' to people hungry for love and not knowing they can find it in God....

yesterday night I was burdened to give bad news to a friend...

it's weird how things work out sometimes...

lovelove

updates

2010-05-26T19:45:00.004+10:00

before I get into the actual update allow me this brief rant...

-rant commencing-

...how hard is it to find a pair of nice boots in a tan colour that doesn't look I stole them from the closest "lady of the night" or cowboy. I mean...seriously... apparently its very hard. To this day I still have been unable to find the perfect pair of leather boots. BOO.

on another note I'm also trying to find a nice jacket...nothing too embellished and nothing with the current ridiculous "shoulder pads on steroids" trend. Military style is nice but then I find designers like to go overboard with buckles and buttons and such making the item under scrutiny fashionable but not functionable at all as the wearer would have to put aside an hour everyday in order to take said jacket on and off.

-rant thus concluded-

anyways...on a less sarcastic note :) work has been really tough lately for various reasons and I find that i've been getting massive pain from tension in my shoulders and that leads to tension headaches...not fun...but you know God's really been speaking to me throughout the whole experience...about love...being a very practical thing :D and you know what one of the girls that used to come to our youth group...she kind of disappeared from youth for a while but now she's now at my school :D it's amazing how God works! I'm now finding myself in a position where I can speak into her life about many things and about God and what He has done in my life :D I'm excited about this :D

one of the verses I've been meditating on is ...

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other."

John 15:16-17

Last week was a crazy crazy ridiculously horrible week at work and I found that I kept on taking things on and taking them home and doing it all by my own strength and this verse really reminded me that even though young people may be challenging, its not me that is changing them but the Holy Spirit and that I have been put in this place for such a time and season not to be someone that forces change but to be someone who is instrumental in bringing about God's change.

I have to say...this week has been much more of a relief because I keep reminding myself of this haha :D

Other things that are going on...mm...

This weekend I'm going to see my little brother in love and cousin in love!!! :D AND i'm going to EAT loads of GOOD FOOD hahaha :D totally looking forward to it! :D

lovelove :D

new look :)

2010-05-25T16:46:00.004+10:00

I felt like a change :D

Still working out the bugs :D

lovelove :D

The MooCam

2010-05-13T16:02:00.024+10:00

We recently received our photos from Derek Moo's camera! woooo! :D

I've posted some of my faves :D they're not in any particular order haha I just like them :D

Dave, Random Waiter, Timothy hehe don't you think Random Waiter looks like the perfect between of Dave and Timothy???

aww :D Jon and Rach! :D

and of course...no wedding is complete without shots such as these...

or these hahaha :D

I love this because its just cute hahah Joanie needed a mirror and Tim provided her with one :D

This just made me laugh hahaha :D

MikeyMike!!! being cute hahaha :D

The fellas trying to be hardcore haha :D

My fave pic of Sarong :D

Ahaha right before this picture we took a very nice composed one :D but i like this better :D

My fave family picture!!! :D

Fave random shot :D

It's all in the details :D

yeaahhh singapore girls represent! :D

I think this picture of Janice is just gorgous :D

and I think this pic of Pengu and Sibling is hilarious haha :D

fave sibling shot :D

yaaaayyy!!! we made it! :D

and so dear readers thus ends my "fave pics from the MooCam" post :D

lovelove :D

love thy enemies

2010-05-13T08:57:00.009+10:00

"when I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."

- 1 Cor 13:11 -

At work I have posted up some verses to remind me of my purpose there...one of the verses is 1 Corinthians 13:3-11.

Many of you will be familiar with this verse as it depicts what real love is however I will admit that I didn't really understand why verse 11 was there...I mean it makes sense but I always wondered why it would be included in the chapter about love. Now I get it.

Yesterday I received a tirade of false accusations and verbal abuse from an unreasonable parent. I was fantasising all afternoon after the event took place about having a face-off with the woman where I could give her a piece of my mind yet I kept on remembering the verse above and that it came from the 'love chapter'.

Then I would constantly remember "love your enemies"...to which I would petition God how exactly He expected me to love someone that was so unreasonable and angry. As someone of her age I would expect her to carry herself with some dignity and have some reason and show respect however I was stunned by her complete lack of all the above. I was pondering about it all night and this morning...I think I understand...

I usually expect adults to be a certain way but at the same time I know that age does not equate to maturity. This woman has not grown up and put her childish ways behind her yet. She's obviously had a tough life, experienced things that I never have and has thus hardened herself as a means to cope...

I realised this morning that things change when you look through the eyes of love. People who seem to have it together, who are deemed adults by our social culture may not be seen that way in our Jesus culture. I realised that if I look through the eyes of love, that woman is still a scared little girl who, out of fear, lashes out at people pre-emptively to distract from the focus on her shortcomings.

1 Corinthians 13 starts off by saying "and now I will show you the most excellent way." and the answer is love.

It is challenging indeed to put my offense behind me and in doing so put my own childish ways behind me but it's something that I am determined to carry out so that in doing so I hope that people will see Jesus in me.

And now I will finish this post off with another C.S Lewis quote:

"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained."

- C.S Lewis -

lovelove.

sacrifice and mercy

2010-04-28T08:47:00.005+10:00

I was doing my journaling yesterday on Matt 12:1-10 and the first few verses led me to think of legalism...having that kind of legalistic mind and then I was struck by a part of verse 7 which reads in the NLT version...

"I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices"

I meditated on that for a while and I was asking God about it all until I received a revelation...

When one shows mercy...there is already a sacrifice made...

In showing mercy, you sacrifice your pride, your right to be offended and you surrender it to God.

The word says that when a sacrifice is made...there is forgiveness for the people so in actual fact...

By showing mercy, you not only lay down your pride as a sacrifice but you yourself gain forgiveness.

I love revelations :D

and with that I will end the post with a quote from one of my favourite authors:

"I believe in Chrisitianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it, I see everything else."

- C.S. Lewis-

lovelove :D

be healed!!! :D

2010-04-22T22:35:00.003+10:00

just a short announcement :D

My ganglion is GOOOOOOOOOOOOONE!!! :D

It was pretty big and wasn't going anywhere for ages...until transformers 2 camp!! :D i received prayer and took authority over it ..within a few minutes it had shrunk to half its size...in a couple of days...IT WAS GONE!

Praise God for his healing :D

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear gaurd."

Isaiah 58:8

lovelove :D

this post was birthed from pure irritation and frustration.

2010-04-20T16:30:00.007+10:00

ARGH. I'm so irritated and frustrated today that I will allow myself to rant.

my top 5 pet peeves.

1. People that blame their recurring mistakes and poor life choices on everyone else but the person in the mirror. Take some responsibility for your choices for goodness' sake. If you keep doing something and its not working ...CHANGE IT. Bad things and challenges will be sure to come to you but you can always choose to respond with optimism and rely on God's word and His provision...and please...realise that sometimes you go through bad things because you made a bad choice. Grow up and deal with it...it makes you a better person.

2. SWEARING. There's no need for it and it only shows one's ignorance not to mention very poor vocabulary.

3. People who complain about everything and shoot down everyone else's ideas but can never come up with a solution themselves.

4. RUDENESS. Would it really kill you to just say please and thank you??? Please deal with your bitterness because its affecting everyone else around you and worst of all, you isolate yourself coz no one wants to hang out with a bitter-bumbum.

5. Not being able to get a good night's rest. Jade 2 comes out and she's reaaaaallly crabby.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSAAAAAAAAAAAH.

Dear God,

Please give me a greater measure of your grace and patience in dealing with people who are in obvious need of a greater love. Please grant me wisdom and discernment in dealing with people who are stubborn and blinded and please give me your peace in knowing that your hand is over them and give me the inspiration to love them just as you love me. Thank you God for your grace and that love that always meets someone where they're at and I pray that I would be able to embody that more each day.

Amen.

sigh.
lovelove :)

hannah has arrived :D

2010-04-16T09:54:00.003+10:00

This beautiful baby girl Hannah was born to proud parents (and our close friends) Jon and Mei :D

look how beautiful she is :D

heheheh her eyes are her mum's and her nose is dad's, the mouth is half and half but altogether...she looks like her aunt Joanie hahahaa :D

life is a beautiful thing :D watching her grow in her mummy's tummy in eager anticipation of what God is creating has been awe inspiring :D

i'm filled with the warm fuzzies now hahaha :D

lovelove :D

house & garden

2010-04-16T09:08:00.009+10:00

Hey Everyone!! :D

I am proud to present the latest developments in our humble abode :D

here's is our balcony garden! :D it's no longer the 'garden of death' as i called it previously because half of the plants were dying...i still don't know why....but now the plants are thriving!! :D)

oh! here are some 'accidental' plants hehe. I chucked in some wintermelon seeds only half expecting them to sprout in my lemongrass plant...and lo and behold! they LIIIIIIIVE!!! :D so now we have a baby wintermelon :D

these are my californion poppy seedlings! grooooow my lovelies...groooooow! :D

did you know that if you cut off the bottom of buk choy and stick it in the ground it will sprout again....another pearl of wisdom from mummy leong :D (fyi i'm only left with 2 now as the other 2 have dieded...yes i originally had 4 but i knew one would die coz it was frozen when i took it out of the fridge so its life expectancy was very low...the other one though...may have been half frozen ...who knows haha :D)

and here is our dear avian friend keeping us company :D

and also, what the top of our tv looks like hehehe :D btw...WE'RE GETTING A NEW TV!!!!

praise God :D we got one cheapcheap and its going to be flat (not a cube like the one we have now) and its going to be LCD and won't skip (like the cube we have now) yaaaaay!! :D can't wait till it arrives :D

now you know what this means...

I will need to scout a new entertainment unit muahahahaha!!! :D trip to freedom/ikea anyone? :D

lovelove :D

my job so far (post as requested by mr. xu)

2010-04-12T17:31:00.002+10:00

hi all! :D so a friend of mine commented last night that I should blog more about my job hehehe :D and to honour that comment, here is the said blog post.

apologies for erratic nature of future posts...still getting used to working schedule again hahaha :D

btw, youth camp was awesome!!! even despite the bugs :D
more on this at a later date :D (i.e. when dave loads pics for me muahahhaa)

sooo things i've experienced in my job so far:

1. awesome kids that are sometimes what I like to call "behaviourally challenged"

2. kids warming up to me alot sooner than I thought they would :D (they like me!!! yaaaaay!) ahahah :D

3. canoeing with said students. getting decimated together by mosquitos the size of the tip of my pinky finger. no joke. they were huge mozzies.

4. dealing with some really deep personal issues and talking about positive relationships ...and then later finding out that students have been taking my advice!! :D (so cool!)

5. lawn bowls with awesome students and having laughs with the senior citizen that was teaching them the art of the game and watching them all totally lawn bowls fail hahaha :D

6. talking to students while they were doing community service and encouraging them on more positive choices and finding out they already have been making positive changes :D

7. participating in a day for 'drop in' and had to remove all 'weapon like objects' from the room because 2 sisters were beating each other up all over a mobile phone. (scary stuff hey)

8. loving morning devotions we have before we start work :D

9. having great chats with wonderful and supportive colleages that are on the same page :D

10. coming home at the end of the day and bumping into wonderful husband in the lifts on the way up to our apartment :D

and that's what's been going on so far in my workplace :D can't really go into too much detail because of confidentiality but its been awesome :D

thank you God for your favour and blessing.

lovelove :D

transformers 2 THE SEQUEL!!!! :D

2010-04-07T21:59:00.003+10:00

yaaaayy!! looking forward to going on Youth Camp! :D woohoo!

many things to say...so little time...
but i am still here :D

lovelove! :D

light

2010-04-01T09:34:00.003+10:00

During last Sunday's worship I was struck by a revelation triggered by my brother's prayer (Ben was leading that Sunday and did a great job I might add).

...since the beginning God has been saying 'Let there be light!'...

The bible is peppered with verses that encourage us to let our light shine... that we would shine like stars... to be the salt and light of the world...

it got me thinking during the week about the significance of light and what that really means to me as a christian...

...to shed light on the matter means to make clear, to understand something, to see something as it really is.

...a lighthouse is something that guides ships through storms so they come to port safely...

...a light is something that gives hope...a ray of sunlight is something that brings peace...a fire gives warmth and can be intense, powerful and full of energy...

...light is not something that is static...it moves and it moves people...

to be the light of the world, i think...is to be all of these things...

If you think about we call Jesus the light of the world and He embodied all these things and more...

I want to be the light of the world too! I want to be like Jesus :)

lovelove :D

quote of the day

2010-03-29T10:03:00.001+10:00

"Color is joy. One does not think joy. One is carried by it."

-Ernst Haas-

lovelove :D

forgiveness is...

2010-03-24T15:49:00.004+10:00

...letting go of the right to be offended

This is what God has been speaking to me lately...

I found myself wondering why certain people just constantly got under my skin...why do I always seem to be irritated by the same people over and over again even after constantly telling myself things like 'let it go and just love them and forgive them' and then praying against any ties or any other spiritual cancers.

Amidst my contemplation I was led to think whether or not I really ever did forgive anyone in the first place and that was kinda scary but yet I didn't think this was the case. Reason being that I do feel peace after prayer and saying that I forgive whoever offended me and then they'll go and do something else that really irks me and that sets me off all over again. rawr.

So one day I really had it out with God and asked Him what the deal was. I mean I'm optimistic but I'm also realistic...I don't expect to get along with EVERYONE and I know there are people out there that probably just don't get along with me because of my personality and that's cool coz there are still things I'm learning in life's odyssey...and then God hit me with a mental picture of Jesus on the cross...

I mean...how many opportunities did Jesus have to be angry and offended...countless I'm sure...yet He never wavered from His calling and if anything, the fought back with unrelenting love...if Jesus is my Master and I am called to serve Him and His people...how can I even assume that I have the right to be offended and hold a grudge when Jesus didn't even do this? If I did I would be saying that I'm better than Jesus which is blasphemous to say the least and would make me a heretic.

I had to really think about this hey...letting go of the right to be offended isn't easy...and it doesn't mean that people don't do wrong by you or that you can never be offended at all...of course people will make you upset and angry...the key to this phrase I believe lies in the word 'right'.

"I'm right and you're wrong therefore I am offended"...there seems to be alot of pride circling around this word 'right' ...when you let go of the 'right' to be offended...you let go of your pride...and isn't it funny that people say 'my pride was hurt'...if you have no pride does that mean you can't get hurt?...maybe...I can't say that I know because I don't think I've ever fully been rid of my pride heheh

...then there's the thought that constantly nags me...well then what DO you do if someone comes at you to hurt your feelings or if someone is just reallllly really irritating?? I guess that's where I remember that God is the judge and not me...that although I can differentiate from right and wrong and try to guide people or make people see if they don't listen or refuse to change then I guess its up to God.

the other thing that God pressed on my heart during my mind musings was that its simply not enough to just let go of something...if you picture it relationally you'll understand...

imagine if I had a friend...and then slowly stopped spending time and talking with that friend...gradually our relationship with deteriorate...even if I stopped doing all the things that took up the time I used to spend with this friend.. just stopping is simply not enough to resurrect that friendship...what I would have to do would be to start spending time with that person...get to know them all over again, apologise for my neglect etc etc so on and so forth.

Its not enough to just let go...there needs to be an action to initiate relationship again..and this is the part that really tests you. This is the part where you forgive, let go of the offence and then re-engage that person through loving them...after all who am I to judge...i'm a sinner just like them, just like you and Christ died on the cross for me just as much as He did for you. Maybe its something that comes with time and practice...and a bucketload of patience and grace but I imagine that is a plan that works :D

lovelove :D

p/s: I discovered that I am a natural at lawn bowls today when we took the kids to go and play at the seniors centre hehe :D lots of fun!

p/p/s: did you know that lawn bowls has the highest mortality rate in any sport?

our house

2010-03-23T20:32:00.010+10:00

Dear readers :D hello again! it has been too long since I last wrote but its all been for a great reason...i've been at work! woohoo hahaha :D now that i have a chance to blog a bit, I thought that I'd show the developments in our house :D

but first...my valentine's day bouquet from Dave hehehe :D its been a long time coming but I finally managed to blog about it hahahaha :D isn't it such a happy yellow? :D

Anyway, here is our bedroom and our wonderful smartspring design mattress!
"what's a smartspring mattress?" I hear you say...

hehe it just means that the springs in the mattress are individulised...so they're not connected...kinda look like alot of slinky's side by side :D this reduces the overall bounce disturbance which is essential for light sleepers like myself :D

i love my bedsheets.... :P soo...'country modern' don't you think? ;P

This is the spare room that's turned into our laundry room haha :D

This is where the ironing and drying of clothes occurs :D

this is me doing the laundry...or something around there :D if you're wondering why the pic looks old its coz i was playing around with this filter program that Dave got (hubby is a genius!!!) and its got an 'antique' filter on it :D

and this is my 'country modern' clock :D

if you haven't figured it out yet my theme is 'country modern' hahaha :D

no more shoes cluttering up the entrance!!! (well not ours anyway) :D thanks to our handy 'shoe-shelf' :D I love taking things and using them for things other than their original use haha :D well...its still storing stuff but i don't think the designers thought one would put shoes in their beautifully designed shelf :D I'll have you all know as well that i constructed said 'shoe shelf' all by myself :D i felt ever so accomplished hehe :D

That's it for now :D Tomorrow i'm going lawn bowling with the students hehe :D its to built community links with the seniors :D did I mention I had an awesome job? Praise God.

lovelove :D

education support worker (that's me!!!)

2010-03-17T17:26:00.002+10:00

I have to say...i am extremely blessed :D

i started work at my new job yesterday and my experience has been nothing but AWESOME!!! :D

on my first day...i got to meet and greet staff and students and concentrated on familiarising myself with the role and with the students. Can you believe it...I have no KPI's per se...nothing that says I have to get a certain number or percentage...instead...I make sure that the students under my care have emotional and social support :D

my job is no longer a numbers game which is awesome :D its like God took a job and tailored it exactly for my personality :D

hallelujah heheh :D

today we went canoeing :D yes its true. I get paid to go canoeing! :D david doesn't think i got a tan but i believe that i am slightly browner than before hahaha :D

anyways, that's day 2 of my new job and i'm loving it :D
will tell you more when I have time...have to inhale my dinner and go to leaders meeting haha :D

lovelove :D

jehovah jireh is truly amazing :D

2010-03-11T18:14:00.003+10:00

praise God I am gainfully employed!! :D

I got the call today from YOS (Youth Outreach Service) and i'll be starting on Tuesday next week! :D

Its a bit of a paycut from my last job but the environment looks great and the people are really friendly :D the best part is that YOS is part of the Salvation Army which was founded on Christian principles :D AND where i'll be based is actually not very far from home which is AWESOME.

thank you so much family and friends for your prayers and your encouragement :D I love you all! :D

God's really been amazing throughout the whole 'finding a job' experience :D comforting me from the point of redundancy and building me up till I was ready for this job :D I told God that whatever happens, I will do my best, no matter what job I get, I will try my hardest and the rest is for Him to decide :D

just a short update :D back to making dinner :D

lovelove :D

return of the queen :P

2010-03-09T20:08:00.005+10:00

hello dear readers!!! :D I have returned and I am happy to announce that our internet is back up and running which means that I am back on the blogging scene! :D

there have been events a-plenty since the last time I have documented and its all blurring into a big mass of memories in my head haha :D makes it hard to blog when you have blurrybrain.

soooo I will save the updates for another day :D instead I will leave you all with one of my fave wedding pics heheh :D (plus i thought it was fitting for the blog title) They are all amazing and you can see Ezra Koh's awesome handiwork on our facebook! :D

for now...

lovelove :D

this skin is more trouble than its worth. i'm seriously thinking of changing skins

2010-03-02T19:15:00.000+10:00

internet woes

2010-02-28T19:13:00.003+10:00

don't worry all, I am still alive...

I've been surviving on practically NO INTERNET for the past week. Its horrible T_T.

At this very moment I am scamming internet off my brother just to let you know that I have not forgotten this blog or all its readers :D

I should be online soon :D soooon :D then I can continue my daily blog/FB stalking along with the production of any inspirations boards when the inspiring mood strikes me.

lovelove :D

i know famous people! :P

2010-02-23T16:56:00.001+10:00

check it out! Jon Ong photography was featured in eatdrinkchic.com!!! :D AND PETE AND KEL ARE THE FIRST PIC! hahah :D

i know famous people hehehe :D

lovelove :D

freedom

2010-02-22T10:11:00.002+10:00

Hey all! :D it was a fun packed weekend and i'm going to start by what I gleaned during the night of the Youth Prayer Rally!!! :D

I have to say first off I'm really really proud of all my girls who made it and led prayer and also led worship!! :D

At first I was just going to introduce the girls and then let them lead but then I felt a prompting in the spirit to speak about it just a bit...

I then got the verse "it is for freedom that Christ set us free" stuck in my head so I frantically searched for it and found it in Galatians 5:1

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free..." (NIV)

When I got up on stage I said that there were 2 things that I got from this verse...but before I was going into that I asked them why they thought it was important to have freedom before we see revival come. One girl put her hand up and said very joyously "So we can be free!" hahahah :D

We all got a bit of a laugh out of it because its true even though it sounds like it came out of the school of redundancy..."you set me free so that I would be free...duh?"...but if you delve just a bit deeper you'll find that this is not the only meaning :D

The first point I shared was that YES Jesus Christ came to set the captives free! He came for the downtrodden, the lonely, the brokenhearted, the homeless and the poor, the theives and the prostitutes...Jesus came for the sinners to set them free from their sin and its by his grace we are FREE.

Its a powerfull thing to be free...to be free from the chains of the past, from all the words that were holding you back from doing something great, from all the generational curses from all the moments in life where you were abused or struggling. When you are no longer bound by these chains, you are free to live your life unburdened knowing that Jesus' sacrifice has given you full pardon from the weight of your sin.

The next point I shared was that...we often think of freedom in a 'self' context...

"God came to set me free from sin"

Which is correct but the first part of the verse reads that...

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (emphasis added)

Christ set us free so we could free others in His name...we were set free not just to keep it to ourselves but to spread the good news and free others in God's name from the shackles that are binding them and holding them captive!

After this we all spent time casting off the old and cutting off the chains to set ourselves free and declared healing and restoration and above all else, freeeeeedooooooom!!! :D

Then Jojo led us in prayer to cut off especially any bonds of fear that came from past experiences and Michelle led us in prayer for empowering us to live within God's freedom and not the world's version of it.

After this I felt led again to share the last part of Galatians 5:1 which reads:

"Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (NIV)

I felt led to pray for those especially struggling with addictions and to release determination and faith that in the darkest of times that God will always come through and that it is by this faith that we are able to stand firm and not go back to the old ways but focus on the future that God has for us!

After this Rachel and Candice led us in worship singing "You'll Come" written by Brooke Fraser and what a wonderful job they did leading not just with great skill but also with authority in the spirit, with every word they sang they sang with anointing and proclaimed it out with the power of God! :D

It was a great night! :D

lovelove :D

wishlist #1

2010-02-21T21:57:00.003+10:00

hey all! :D

I may or may not be a little bit addicted to making 'boards' hahaha :D

here is my current wishlist of beautiful things I would like to have :D

enjoy!

i loooooooove all things whimsical, pretty and just a little bit quirky :D

the first image from top left to bottom right is:

1. a beautiful artistic print of balloons

2. 'horology' necklace

3. totally love this yellow 'all seasons' dress from anthropologie

4. and of course it wouldn't be a whimsical 'anything' without a vintage bicycle!

5. polka-dots never looked so cool thanks to very talented designer akira isogawa (images from his Spring 2010 design

6. 'marisol wingtips' by anthropologie (are you seeing a pattern here)

7. a pretty collection of full fluffy blooms featured on www.absoloutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com

8. 'state fair' dress by (yup you guessed it...) anthropologie!!! :D

heheh for now...until I returned to becoming an employed member of society :D these are things that shall wait :D

lovelove :D

stupid photobucket

2010-02-20T10:52:00.003+10:00

why does it always insist on ruining my skins???!!! argh.

i just spent the greater part of this morning trying to recover my old skin BEFORE it was completely pwned by photobucket icons.

frustration much.

anyway...today promises to be a day filled with joy and laughter :D

we have friends coming over for lunch and also tonight we'll be sleeping over at Mei and Jon's house! :D woohoo!!! (its so David can watch the Man U match) hahaha :D

lovelove :D

home beautiful

2010-02-18T15:37:00.004+10:00

Hey all! :D

Inspired by Joanie's inspiration board for her wedding I decided to do one for our house :D I am cleaning the house in between hahah :D anyways I thought I would incorporate my favourite colours and also ones that would 'go' with the theme of our home :D

let me know what you think :D

lovelove :D

Leeland Concert!!! :D

2010-02-18T10:57:00.016+10:00

Ok so I forgot to blog about this in the 'recent life happenings' post :D

After we got back from honeymoon the lovely and most beautiful Pengu organised for a group of music lovers (myself, Dave, Kevman, Veron-ica, Dom, BLAM) to go to LEELAND!!! :D it was really really cool :D

There were 3 bands playing that night and then the worship band from the church we went to as well :D

I knew Leeland was going to be good...but the band that suprised me the most was NewWorldSon they are amazing and SO skilled at playing music :D The set that they played was so entertaining and I am just a little bit put out that I didn't get any pics of them until after when I went to get my CD signed by them :D they're really lovely people as well and tried to have a conversation but i was too starstruck hahahaha :D

Leeland were so great...their 'set' was really a worship session and it was great...so awesome that they brought that spirit into the auditorium and it was a wonderful way to finish off the night :D

On with the pictures! :D

yeah!!! kevman is rockin' it already! hahah :D

ahh...and so is Dom! hahahah :D

the girls :D

OMGOMGOMG IT'S LEELAAAAAND!!!!

I LOVE THIS SONG! I would have had this as our walk out song for our wedding but decided on 'Hey!' instead :D

towards the end of the set Leeland (the lead singer) took out his Bible and began sharing the Word with us :D I love how God centred they are...God isn't an afterthought but central to their music and their lives :D

This is NewWorldSon!!! hehe Pengu, Veron-ica and I are all getting our CD's signed :D I was too shy at first to go but then Dave said that I should do it...so I did hahah :D I have no idea why I'm so shy...I mean...they're just guys that play great music! hahah :D

heeee :D

Shaking hands with the drummer :D each band member has a really cool personality and they look like alot of fun :D

...ahhh what a great night hahah :D afterwards we totally pigged out on Macca's hahah...i was too hungry to take pictures of that...

For the record...the Mighty Angus is soooo much better than the Angry Angus...at least that's what I feel :D

lovelove! :D

Chinese New Year OZ style :D

2010-02-16T12:11:00.016+10:00

Hey Everyone! so here are our pics from chinese new year! we forgot to take family pics with our camera but mum has them hahaha :D

first up, dinner at the Leong house :D

myself and Mum with her gorgeous HAND MADE chinese new year decorations :D

Dave and myself :D

this is what happened to the fish we caught hahaha :D

yay cousins came! (plus my two nieces)

check out all the FOOOOOOOOD!

and of course some poker hahaha :D

I WON! THREE OF A KIND BABY!!!! :D

Daniel is sad that I claimed all his mooooney :D

Ben didn't get much at all hahaha :D

This was actually the one and ONLY game we managed to play haha after that Dave and I had to send my cousins and niece back home :D

After we arrived home we hopped on to OOVOO to meet with the TanClan!! :D

It's the first year that none of the boys are at home with Mum and Dad so we decided to use technology to our advantage hehehe :D

yaaaayyy 'gam' and ang bao!...and a CABBAGE! hahahah :D

it was a great time to catch up even though we're all in different time zones hehe :D

I love cny and family :D

lovelove :D

recent life happenings

2010-02-16T10:19:00.024+10:00

And now for some updates! :D

As I'm writing this its pouring rain outside which always makes me feel a little nostalgic :D

Anyway, since we've come back from our honeymoon, we've had some friends drop by and have dinner at our place! Here are a couple of pics...

Pengu and Veron-ica having tea after some Tom Kha Gai (jade style) hahaha :D

Dom, Clarence, Estee, myself and Dave having a 'whatever goes, just bring whatever you have to eat' dinner after soccer on a sunday arvo :D

...and now some pics of what we got up to on Saturday 13th Feb :D This is where Dave and I got sunburnt hahaha :D

all for the love of fishing!!! :D

yaaayyy i caught one! :D we actually caught a few of these fish...but they were so ugly we threw them back...until we kept catching them...so we figured we should ask Mum Leong

a) What are they?

b) are they edible?

She said that the fish is called 'laimung' (i'm spelling it phonetically coz i don't know how its actually spelt) and that its nice to eat...so we ended up catching an extra 4 of them plus a few butterbream :D

FYI this is the reason why I enjoy fishing :D coz Dave is wonderful enough to do all the scaling and gutting of the fishies!!! wonderful husband :D

here's a picture of our house (a bit messy) but you can see our new couch!!! :D

the view from our huge balcony!

I must say...we get some pretty spectacular sunsets here :D

stay tuned for the next post on chinese new year celebrations, Oz style :D

lovelove :D

i can't get this song out of my head...

2010-02-15T12:26:00.005+10:00

I've been listening to Owl City of late and I have to say I really love that its different and has a 'feel good' atmosphere to it :D dreams and whimsy! It's great to hear music that's not about the usual sex, drugs and etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaynbd-lH8E

if you want to hear it go on youtube and have a listen! :D

another one of Owl City's popular songs is Fireflies which I also loooove :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMr52bCXNdU

lovelove :D

Happy Chinese New Year! :D

2010-02-14T22:58:00.003+10:00

Hope you all have a blessed and joyous new year! :D

I will upload pics soon of what Dave and I did on CNY :D

for now here's a pic I scammed off the internet of CNY in Australia :D ABC STYLE! :D

lovelove.

yay new look! :D

2010-02-11T11:47:00.006+10:00

ahhh what a refreshing change :D

I've been meaning to change my skin for AGES. Since...last year in October hahaha :D Anyways I wasn't able to because I couldn't find a nice enough skin...UNTIL NOW! :D

Can you believe that girl who designed this blogskin is 14 years old... 14!!!! It's amazing how talented our young people are (and I laugh because it makes me sound old when i say that hahaha)

...and speaking of new looks, over the course of this year I will be showing you pictures for your viewing pleasure of our home and its ongoing improvements :D (note: don't judge me on my poor photography skills hahaha :D)

pic 1: The shelf

this is Daniel and myself setting up the shelf :D actually it was Daniel that did most of the work hehehe :D thanks sibling2 :P

BEHOLD! the finished product :D

since this purchase we've added a lounge to our furniture inventory which already includes a dining table thanks to those clever swedes at IKEA and I've also started our balcony garden! :D

more pics to come :D

promise :D

lovelove :D

one month!

2010-02-10T09:23:00.000+10:00

Upon Uncle Frankie and Auntie Sharon's advice we celebrated our one month wedding anniversary (one day earlier) heheh :D

The night before we went fishing...and bumped into a whole lot of underaged drunk kids who were reaaaally friendly :) it was a bit sad though...one kid got kicked out of home...and the girls were pretty much throwing themselves on boys...and they were only 13-14yrs of age...my heart really broke for them and it just made me realise again how much this generation needs God :)

Our actual anniversary was a relaxed day in of DVD's and chatting hehe :D

It's been one month and I love you more each day :D May God continue to watch over us and be the centre of our marriage as we come to know each other more and encourage each other in our ministries and in our callings.

Love love! :D

that is all.

pictures! (finally)

2010-02-08T14:06:00.001+10:00

Hi Everyone!! :D

I feel an explanation is needed ...

you see, i haven't been blogging as I have not had any pictures to share whilst telling you about recent events of a wedding nature hehe :D

...and for all the people who are going to ask me this question
"so how's married life?"

here is my answer

"Married life is awesome!" *insert big grin here* hahaha :D

Indeed married life is good and in the midst of job hunting I've been busying myself about the house :D It's amazing how many things are still on our post-wedding 'TO DO LIST" and also how many things still need to find their 'place' in our home hahaha :D our spare room seems to have become our 'storage space for whatever doesn't go anywhere else for the moment' haha :D I just spent today cleaning it up and putting things away and now I feel quite accomplished that I can walk around in there without putting my life at risk due to haphazardly strewn miscellaneous items on the floor :D

Now don't go thinking I have lured you here with false promises of photos haha :D I have them and you only need to scroll down, but bear in mind that I'm only putting a few of my favourite pictures up of the singapore wedding (thank you Jon Keng Photography!) and just one of the honeymoon :D

more to come from the Oz ceremony later when i receive those pictures :D I can't wait to see the photobooth ones!! :D

anyway, without any further adieu...

This is us having a romantic dinner at dusk on the beach :D we had a massive seafood dinner :D

If you want to see our pics of the honeymoon I've posted them on facebook :D

This is just after serving tea to mum and dad :D we had a family hug hehe :D

Serving tea to Jon and Rachel haha :D they're so cute I love them :D

'hallelujah' haha :D Mikey serving tea to us :D I have inherited another little brother as well as a big brother and sister and a mum and a dad! :D I love it! :D

This is after the tea ceremony :D we're just chillin' but I love how candid the shot is :D

Here are the pro ones :D

'LOOK INTO MY EYES!!!' hahahaha :D

see my monster lashes!? haha :D

I dunno how long we were out here for until they called us back in hahaha :D

Pastor Eugene and Pastor Julie from FCBC prayed for us :D

our first dance :D we never did a dance in Oz so this actually was our first dance :D
The whole time we were dancing Dave was asking "do you want me to twirl you? lets do a twirl!"

and I'm saying "NONONONONONONO I WILL STACK IT FOR SURE"

then I said...

"how bout we do a dip?? wanna do a dip? :D"

to which Dave replied..

"er...i dunno how"

so we agreed, that although not much to look at...we would stick to 'side to side' dancing and not run the risk of falling over ourselves hahah :D

Mummy and Baba giving their speech! :D a wonderful speech I might add hehe :D

Mum and Dad giving their speech! also wonderful! :D we're so blessed to have great parents :D

So there you have it peeps :D a short but sweet presentation of what happened in the 2nd half of our wedding activities :D

more to come when I see the pics! :D

that is all.

tomorrow is the day! :D

2010-01-08T17:20:00.001+10:00

Yaaaay! :D less than 24 hours till the big day and everything is coming together :D

according to JaNice " this is the most magical church has looked " hehehehe :D

loads of colour everywhere and its all fun and whimsy :D (especially with the lampstands muahahah)

throughout this whole 'getting married' process...I have to say what a superb job my fiance has done in protecting me, helping me, inspiring me and keeping me on track throughout this whole ordeal (and it is an ordeal...thank God we only get married ONCE!) hahaha :D He's been making an active effort to allow me to relax and screen calls for me to do with wedding planning and just been plain wonderful :D i'm so blessed to be able to spend the rest of my life, with the one I love, and one who loves me :D

I also have to say, that we are both so incredibly blessed to have an amazing set of friends who have all rallied around us like a family would and just pitched in no matter what the job is whether its fluffing pompoms, doing table seatings, coordinating or vacuuming the auditorium or cleaning the toilets or doing flowers :D i love you all so much!

that is all :D

not long now! :D

2010-01-06T14:54:00.000+10:00

not long now everyone :D

only 3 days to go till our big day...and oh what a day it will be :D

to think that 25years of waiting, hoping, praying and anticipating will finally be satisfied this saturday on the 9th Jan 2010!

shout out to Nads and Eug who are going to be wed on the same day! hahaha :D

that is all...for now :D

are you breaking up with me?

2009-12-21T17:19:00.001+10:00

ahh...dear readers...I got the news today that I have been made redundant. At that very same moment I also had what would be my first...and last...breakdown at work.

There I was crying on the shoulder of my CEO who broke the news to me that unfortunately, things weren't working out and it wasn't me, it was them and really...its ok because I deserve better.

heheh :D ok so it wasn't that dramatic but I did have a bit of a weep and my CEO was so good to me and said that I would be paid till the end of January so its not all bad but the initial shock really got to me hey...and later on it really suprised me just how much being made redundant and the emotions that went along with it is so parallel to being broken up with...before I knew it I had purchased some chickflicks and comfort food (brie cheese and crackers, fresh cherries and ice cream nomnomnom) and I am shutting myself off from the world for a while :)

All being said...although I was sad and couldn't stop crying for a while (purely out of feelings of rejection) I know God has a plan for me...an amazing one :D and you know...the funny thing is...Ps Mike Knott had a word on Sunday morning service...that someone had just been made redundant and don't worry because God will bring you to greater things. I thought that it could have been me he was talking about...now I know it was hahaha :D

I have been thinking about working for church too...if they'll have me that is hahah...I was scared to because I didn't know if I could handle the whole day being at church...but you know what...the more I think about it the more I don't know if I would mind so much at all being in the house of God all day :D plus its close to home hehe :D but we'll see what happens :D

and you know the other thing I remembered was how 'bleh' about my job I was feeling mid this year and I had a little niggling feeling that it was time for a change...that my season there was up...but I didn't want to move..and I prayed ...

'God...if you want me to move...you're going to have to make me'

hahaha how incredibly cheeky of me that I would say that to the creator of the universe :P

oh well.. :D

so today...I am going to chill.

Tomorrow...I will start working on my resume :D

thanks for all your prayers everyone! :D

that is all.

update!

2009-12-20T22:41:00.000+10:00

hallooooo! :D

ok so countdown till wedding day hehehe :D less than three weeks! its getting less stressful and more exciting now I have to admit and really..the Christmas season is just so romantic and special isn't it? :D

We just had our Christmas special at church and myself, Weiner and Thelma were asked to sing :D we came across a song done by Cece Winans called The Christmas Star and immediately we decided to scrap the Mariah Carey one (which is insanely difficult) and started learning this song instead :D

We actually pulled it off quite well and kudos to Sean who played the piano for us last minute! Great sight reading skill there :D

hahah the most hilarious part was when we were doing the acapella Destiny's Child version of Carol of the Bells hahahah major fail because of a few forgotten (and improvised) lyrics haha I have to admit though the improv lyrics were pretty well done and not many people noticed that we stuffed it up hahahah! :D

I just sent Dave off to the airport so he can embark on his week of fun and relaxation with Pete, Kel, Jonjon, Weiyi, Yuhui and Mikey! :D I wish I was there but I also believe that being here may be better ...just because tomorrow I find out if I'm still offered a job next year :) the most unsettling part is that I had a horrible dream last night that my CEO didn't offer me a job and not just that but as a dedicated employee I thought that I would just work the day out and then leave (rather than take 2 weeks for some odd reason) but then she yelled at me and told me that she didn't want me there and to get out! T_T I was so sad...then I went to church asking if they would hire me ahahahah :D but then they also said that they weren't hiring!! I felt so upset and rejected at that point in my dream...then I woke up and found that I was crying in my sleep coz I was so distraught hahahaha :D poor me hahaha :D

So anyway on that note please pray that whatever happens tomorrow God's will is done :D its a brave new frontier out there and this little lady is gonna tackle it all come what may! :D

Anyway...enough of the randomness..hahah :D just thought i would update my blog seeing as I haven't..in a long time hahahah :D

that is all.

marriage vs invidividualism...and boundaries...and other things :D

2009-12-03T09:40:00.000+10:00

This is something that has been running around in circles in my head for the past month actually but I've not had time to blog my thoughts down till now...or rather I'm forcing myself to take the time out to put these thoughts to bed hahaha :D

Naturally as the Big Day nears I've been thinking about how marriage changes the relationship between myself and Dave. As the Big Day nears, the chatter in the office has become more focussed on the wedding and so others share their stories of marriage and their early years.

I actually quite enjoy these talks but one comment really caught my attention the other day.

I was talking to a friend and I am a true believer of wedding vows and how important they are as a covenant not just between a man and a woman...but also before God.

I said to my friend "when he married you, he also married your debts" meaning that no matter what happens, you both tackle the situation together because you both made a promise to love each other and stick by each other no matter what.

As I was explaining theconcept to my friend, someoneelse piped up and said "no he didn't, he didn't marry your debt" which could have been a misunderstanding on both our parts but it just made me acutely aware of what an individualistic society we live in...and it got me thinking about how that affects a marriage...

I was talking to another friend the other day and she mentioned how she knew this couple who were married and every bill, was split 50% each and they didn't have a joint account, they just kept their own money and the other day, my friend said that she was talking to the husband and he was saying how 'she's just bought herself a new car'. My friend thought it was bizarre. I have to say that I agree. I mean how you handle your finances in marriage is your own choice but...buying a car...don't you think that's something that should be discussed between a husband and a wife? and then how would living such separate lives under one roof affect their children?

In my opinion, I think individualism in itself is just a fancy word for 'selfishness'. After all, the focus is on self and your own needs, what pleases your 'self', what suits your 'self'...you are indeed the centre of your own universe...and there is only ever one centre of any universe...so if the centre of your universe is 'self' then how can one even begin to even try to make room for another person...especially in marriage?

...in fact the more I think about it the more I am convincing myself that an individualistic view is probably one of the main reasons for the ridiculous rate of divorce. People are either the perpetrators of individualism or the victims of someone else's individualism. You see...I think the reason why relationships go sour most of the time is because someone is only thinking of what they can get from the relationship...whether it be financial gain, sexual gratification, having the trophy wife/husband and the status that comes with it instead of thinking of what they can GIVE into the relationship and what they can do to make things better.

It's something I actually talk to my students about alot...the value of good relationships and how to expect one and how to cultivate and maintain one. In my humble opinion I think people have forgotten the art of relating to each other and maybe its because our senses are constantly bombarded and assaulted by N O I S E and pollution that there is an increased need to just retreat back into our caves at the end of the day...

I was watching this documentary on TV recently (one of very rare occasions I have time to watch TV I assure you) and there was a researcher who put out a thought that isn't it funny that the more our pleasures are increasingly accessible in more immediate ways, the higher the levels of depression, anxiety, suicide and other mental illnesses.

have

lost

the

art

communication?

is it because we find it hard to balance our work with our personal lives? All of a sudden, work is accessible from so many avenues and so are our personal lives. We can check facebook on our iPhones while we're checking our work emails and writing up reports to meet our deadlines? Have our personal and professional lives leaked into each other so much so that the lines that separated them are now so blurred we can't even decide what is and is not work and social?

or is it because ...

we've simply forgotten what was supposed to be really important to us?

Why do we set boundaries anyway?
Is it because we want to keep things in...or is it because we want to keep things out?

Probably both :D

I think maybe we are just a bit confused on what we should be keeping in...and what we should be keeping out...and just what is it we are protecting within our boundaries? What's the thing we are sheltering from the outside forces? Isn't it usually something of great worth?...after all, if there is no worth then it wouldn't be worth protecting correct?

So then what is it that should be protecting? What are the things that you should be holding dear?

family? friends? husbands? wives? girlfriends and boyfriends? kids?

...you know...I believe that if God is in the centre...and you protect your relationship with God first...that everything else will fall into place.

After all...God is a relational God :D

that is all.

how should I do my hair?

2009-12-01T11:19:00.000+10:00

I've been pondering and wondering about the 'hair issue' for a while now...

hair up...or hair down?

half up...or chignon?

wavy...or straight?

choices choices...

Anyway...it seems that I'm in favour of an updo rather than half up hairstyles or all down hairstyles...

my reasoning is this:

- its gonna be stinkin hot.

- don't want windy weather to mess up the 'do'

- easier to stick in a veil

- did I mention its gonna be really hot?

...the problem then lies in having that 'relaxed' feel without compromising on hair security hahaha :D...

having said that...i think i like the last pic the best with michell williams...updo...chic yet relaxed... :D

what do you guys think? :D

that is all.

i love this :D

2009-12-01T11:15:00.001+10:00

this image makes me smile :D

that is all.

ouchie

2009-11-17T09:29:00.000+10:00

While in desperate hunger on a breezy Sunday afternoon, I started opening a whole lot of take-away containers. In the process, a speck of dust was in my eye, naturally I tried to rub it out.

Note to self: Do not attempt to do this when you've been opening take-away containers that contain chilli as one of its ingredients.

My eye turned a bright red as I tried to flush out the culprit chilli particle with good old water...I did think about using milk (thank you yr 10 chemistry) however I was at church at the time and I figured that rather than waste time rummaging through the church fridge in hope of finding a bottle of milk there was better chance of getting quick relief if I just kept at it with the water.

I'm happy to say that my eye is back to its normal colour now haha :D

that is all.

idea

2009-11-12T14:13:00.001+10:00

I thought about having balloons in place of flower bouquets the other day ...

so pretty...

so whimsical...

and romantic...

but seriously...its not practical at all.

After much thought and deliberation. I have decided to ixnay on the balloons and stick with tradition :D

(I do still love balloons in pictures though so they may make an appearance in our photographs hahaha)

that is all.

nesting

2009-11-11T10:25:00.000+10:00

We've been amidst a flurry of activity now for the past week just trying to make our new home livable...and clean haha :D

One would assume that it is proper real estate etiquette to clean the house PROPERLY before handing it over to the new owners (that's us) ...much to my dismay, my colleagues advised me that this is not a legal requirement so what one would usually find is that if the house has been cleaned at all, its just something 'nice' that people do when handing over a home.

I walked in to find scuff marks on the walls (thanks to June and Serene who helped me get them off the walls over the weekend!) and the pantry...omg. It may as well be deemed "The Little Larder of Horrors"...the previous owners must have put all their cooking sauces there as well as their oils...and didn't line the shelves because they were filthy. Thank God for Ajax Spray 'n' Wipe! Many thanks to Weiner who came and helped me clean yesterday night too! :D With our combined efforts Wins and I managed to settle the kitchen area! :D

Eug also helped with cleaning one of the showers LOL :D I've never met anyone so creative in my life hahaha :D He used a power tool, attached a buffer sponge sort of thing to the end of it and used it to buff away all the caked on soap scum in the bathroom! hahah :D Oh yeah...I made an important discovery last night. Read cleaning product labels before use. I was busying myself cleaning the shower (the other one) when I noticed that my skin started itching and was going a bit red. Slightly alarmed I quickly rinsed off the cleaning product I was using in case I had an allergic reaction to it. Then I read the label. In big red bold letters it said ...

"CAUTION: BLEACH CONTAINED IN PRODUCT. CORROSIVE LIQUID. DO NOT USE WITHOUT GLOVES".

Just goes to show how much cleaning I actually do nowadays hahaha :D

Anyway...

Dave has moved in (very quickly) to our Bowen Hills abode and many thanks to Eugene who has helped him to move his 'stuff' as well as organise all our white goods appliances! :D

We now have a shiny new fridge and microwave and our washing machine is making its merry little way to our home on Monday coming!

Still some furniture to purchase while doing all our wedding planning amidst the chaos! haha :D It's all starting to take shape now though so that has me quite excited :D

that is all.

hello

2009-11-03T19:06:00.000+10:00

hello blog...oh how I have missed you...

hahaha :D ok well after my very emo post I am feeling much better :D thanks to everyone who was so loving and caring while I was emo-ing :D

anyways just a short one today amidst creating spreadsheets and so on..I would like to announce...

HOUSE SETTLEMENT IS THIS WEEK!!!

this thursday in fact! :D

Dave and I will be going for our 'last inspection' on Wednesday before the handover of keys on Thursday!

Hehehe...we're going to bring along the brilliant Eugene who will be measuring the fridge space and help us research some white goods :D

Our priority buys are:
- Fridge
- Bed
- Washing machine

I'll also have to buy some shower stuff coz I want to go SWIMMING!!! yes yes yes!!! omg i'm so happy :D This is a major milestone in our lives :D

that is all.

tough cookies

2009-10-26T09:15:00.000+10:00

Planning a wedding...is bittersweet sometimes.

Who would have thought one could be so torn with what one's heart feels and what her head is speaking to her...

Reconciling two extremes of the spectrum is never easy and when other's feelings are involved it just becomes increasingly complicated and sometimes just plain messy.

..and then there's the people I don't get to hang out with because every spare moment is consumed by either:

a) doing tax (which needs to be in by this friday omg.)

b) wedding planning

c) budgeting for wedding and our new home

d) finalising and settling our finances and decisions for our new home

...not that i'm complaining...I just wish I could have more time...I am thankful for all these things and I knew at some stage I would have to encounter reams of paperwork that large institutions are so fond of as well as pay numerous fees associated with collecting more seemingly important pieces of paper haha ...I just have to take time out that's all...I need a hiatus yet I simply can't afford the time...and all this time I have this sneaking feeling that I am being misunderstood by quite a few people...past hurts being dredged up in the process of creating an event signifying a new life together...isn't it ironic...yet I see the necessity...

...was this always part of the plan God?

... ...

I guess its time to do some spring cleaning :)

that is all.

love and beauty

2009-10-12T11:06:00.000+10:00

While I was posting comments on a friend's blog the other day I started pondering about the concept of beauty in relation to love...

...is there beauty where there is no love?

....does beauty still exist when environments and people are void of love?

It's different than beauty witnessed in action despite surroundings that are loveless...

...so then I started asking myself...can humans even perceive beauty if they cannot love? I think so...I think that we are still able to perceive beauty even though we've not witnessed love as I believe that beauty and love transcends human understanding and reasoning. In this instance I think what would occur is that one would witness an alternative reality to what they've been existing in...I use the word 'exist' because I don't know if one can really 'live' without love. But I believe what would happen is that a person in this circumstance would be able to see something that would stir up some feelings of desire, longing..for something better?

...the other thing that I then asked myself was that if humans can still perceive beauty despite not having felt love, can they themselves be beautiful if they do not know how to, cannot or refuse...to love?

"Beauty is within the eye of the beholder"...

Sadly, many of those that are looking upon lost souls that do not know of beauty or love, will not deem them to be beautiful at all. Many people make an assumption even just on face value...that one is only as attractive as their appearance but such fake interpretations of "beauty" are to be abolished as they are breeders of low self-esteem.

Some can see that beauty is beyond physical features and can look to a man's heart to observe that even with 'average' exterior features, if a person has a great character and personality and deem that there is beauty.

But what about those who do not have what the world calls 'attractive features'...nor have they been blessed enough to be taught by loved ones to have good character and personality? What about people that are hard to love and are unable to see love because they've been treated as society's throwaways? Despite their calloused hearts and rough exteriors...are you still able to view them as beautiful? I had to ask myself if I was still able to see that there is beauty there because they are fearfully and wonderfully made as a child of the Most High God?

I think there are many ways to express love but at the same time...I think there is one type of love that we all aspire to have and also to give out...and that's God's agape love. I don't know if we'll ever get there by our human understanding...probably not...but the aim is to always try :D

that is all.

haus haus haus!!!

2009-10-12T10:46:00.000+10:00

Hey Everyone!

I do realise I have been MIA for a while now so please accept my apologies. Due to wedding planning, house hunting, ministry and work commitments it has been unavoidable.

Anyways, here are some updates:

WE'VE GOT A HOME!!! The banking finance approval came in over the weekend and we've notified our lawyers so...officially its not yet ours haha but SOON VERY SOON! :D

now I have to look for ways to decorate an apartment and make it look...like something Dave and I could live in hahaha :D (I love things being unique so living in an apartment block is kinda defeating the purpose as they're all pretty much the same but I really love the place!!! It's got a pool, sauna, gym and its close to the city and we can see fireworks when riverfire is on as well as the Ekka!)

So now I need decorating ideas... I am aware that paint can do wonders but if anything we'll probably just go for a white background....and so can furniture accessories :D I'm thinking lovely textures, bright colours (yellow of course) and calming blues :D all over a white canvas :D) Any ideas? :D (jonjon ong i'm going to be calling you about this hahaa)

Wedding updates:
- had wedding meeting over weekend, booked another one
- Invites organised thanks to wonderful future Mum :D
- Driver's and transport almost finalised
- Photographers organised and had short discussion with one, he is now looking for locations

omg. i'm getting married! :D

there's a counter on our webbie that says there's 90days left! LOL.

oh yeah have to go back to budgeting drawing board and give account for what we've (I've) spent haha :D

I also need to come up with a list of things that I will not compromise for the day...for example, wedding dress was something I was never going to compromise but save the dates and programs are able to be compromised :D

gah glass cake stands are getting to be increasingly hard to find :( (at least for reasonable prices)

no matter...the Lord will provide :D

Anyways, other thoughts that have been floating around my head...so many things to post about.

that is all.

random musing

2009-10-07T22:17:00.000+10:00

I've realised of late that when I meet with people outside of church and who are non-christian...I listen to their life stories and their problems and think...I wonder what this person will be like when they find God.

I start envisioning them being at church in the mornings with their partners and imagine us greeting each other with a wide smile knowing that we belong to the same spiritual family, excited to see what God has in store for us that Sunday morning.

I get excited as I start imagining them attending prayer meetings and seeing them hunger for more of God and praying for justice and for love...

hehe :D People have so much potential...

God has so much in store for them...but so many are just unaware of it...

I guess this is why the great commission exists...so we will make them aware of how loved and how special they are as children of God and that there is nothing so bad that they have done that God would turn them away...there is no distance too far gone that God's hand cannot reach and there is no problem that God cannot fix. We serve an amazing God :D

isolation

2009-09-29T09:48:00.000+10:00

I believe isolation is is an alarm bell...a danger sign that one is falling into a dangerous pattern of life.

When one is isolated, there is no relationship...when there is no relationship, you have no one to point out your blind spots, or look out for you...or encourage you and support you.

When you choose to isolate yourself.

you.

are.

alone.

One may argue..."but God is always with me"

which is always true...but then I would ask...are you letting Him in to your heart?

I'm a little pensive today LOL :D

that is all.

Quote of the day

2009-09-28T09:06:00.000+10:00

"Personally I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught."

-Winston S. Churchill-

...ain't that the truth haha :D

that is all.

vulnerability and strength

2009-09-23T21:38:00.000+10:00

Most people view vulnerability as a weakness...as a state of being when you are defenceless...

I believe its a strength...

A strength that requires no weapons to move someone...

A force that can cause people to crumble and hearts to soften without aggression...

think about it.

it takes a greater strength to love someone despite their shortcomings...despite any wrongs that may have been done to you...to love thy enemy takes a greater measure of strength than it does to hurt them back...in the end...love always overcomes.

that is all.

Things to bring to Youth Lock In

2009-09-17T18:33:00.000+10:00

Ah yes its that time again...YOUTH LOCK IN TIME!!!! woooo!

I must pack everything tonight because Aunty Patsy and Uncle Tim are here and we're going house hunting tomorrow soooo I won't have time to bring anything.

So anyways...things I must bring to a lock in.

- Comfy clothes
- shower stuff (which means i have to bring a hairdryer as well etc etc...)
- warm clothes
- pillow
- blanket and sleeping bag
- misc. bathroom accessories
- bible
- camera

...

i can't think of anything else LOL i dunno if that's a good or bad thing.

that is all.

Diamonds

2009-09-15T11:27:00.000+10:00

Hey all,

only a short one of my recent thoughts :D

Wandering through the shops in Chermside the other day I was struck by how expensive wedding rings were...especially the ones that I happened to like the most haha. Then I thought to myself...I like to see sparkle...however, sparkle is expensive and at that moment I passed a store that sells simulated diamonds...man made diamonds...and at a tenth of the price...

I was tempted by the thought of having bling and being able to have a 'diamond' but then I kept thinking that the knowledge of having an imitation, no matter how good it was...would still at its best...be an imitation and will never beat the real thing.

life lesson: No matter how good an imitation is, it will and always forever be just that...a really good imitation and what we crave...is the real thing :D

Maybe that's why so many people are stuck in a cycle or running after every other imitation in pursuit of the real deal but are looking in all the wrong places...

Maybe that's why people get frustrated when they meet people who just aren't real and honest with them...

...and its true...the more exclusive something is...the more valuable and the more pure it is in form...the more the cost to attain such a thing.

Can you think of anything more exclusive...more valuable...more alluring and more pure than the Love of God...the cost indeed was great...the life of his only Son...but because of the price that was paid...what God has rightly bought by the blood of the Lamb...is now freely available to us in the form of a gift of Salvation.

Imagine someone giving you a diamond ring...and you just leaving it there...

or you just leaving it lying around...treating it like its some ordinary old thing...

It seems absurd does it not to do such a thing with a diamond ring...so why do so many of us treat our salvation the same way?

If you knew what a precious gift you had...would you not treasure it...would you not gaurd it and would you not be proud to share your good news...

that is all.