HaPpY 24th Birthday!!!!

Happy birthday to you,
you are born in the zoo,
monkeys donkeys and lions,
you are one of them too

Hahah still remember this song??
My dearly missed and beloved sister... HAPPY HAPPY 24th Birthday!!!
Hope ya will have many many great returns this YEAR..
since you working shift on you birthday. so sad :(
How i wished i am there with you to celebrate you birthday!!!

Special Days get especially lonely without you around and I truly understand the meaning of loneliness in the midst of crowd. It has been such a great blessing and truly one of God's greatest gift to me when He gave you to be my sister. What a privilege!!!

You are always here to lead and guide not jus with words but with the way you live you life!! From your christian life, i have learn so much. Guess its good that you are so far away.. haha.. to put what i have learn in your life into practice. I think when you are with me, i tend to share everything with you and seldom in prayer cos anyw God alr know, and alw He hears our conversation also.. oops *rubbish*.. and the things that i share with God mostly, its cause you cant control like exams..haha.. Now.. i think i am slightly more reliant on God and yet i am still having my long "6 hours of prayer". hai... so horrible

Hope you like my horribly written poem below .. hehe.. wrote it jus for you

I LOVE YOU :D

My Beloved Sister, My special friend
Oh how much I Love you to the very end
Life is a struggle without you around
Joy is present wherever you are found

Twenty four swift years have passed
So many wonderful memories that last
Happy 24th Birthday my dear
Many wonderful returns to cheer

Longing for your return which is soon
To hug and cherish on a dear dear noon
Loving you no matter the miles apart
Missing you till we no longer part

Dearly missed, you are to us
Moments are special when you are with us
Press on my beloved friend
Stay faithful to God to the very end

Christ's Love

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinhutton/627296585/

2 Cor 5:14-15 (NIV)
14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Everyday has been a mad rush so far... But I am thankful for the fellowship I had with the Youths in YF sessions, etc... Few weeks back, we had a video screening that has been a constant reminder to me. It's regarding 5 missionaries who gave their life for Christ.. Two days upon arriving, they were savagely murdered by the Aucas-The ones who they hope to share the gospel. They were compelled by the Love of Christ!!!

I have been struggling to please God in all that I do, instead of pursuing results. Yet the going has been tough. I remembered memorizing this verse. Of course they were jus words that doesn't mean anything to me till now. I alw tot how will it be possible for us not to live for ourselves, it goes against human nature. It's because I din fully comprehand the first part of the verse and i guess i will never be able to fully comprehand till i see God in heaven someday.

When life is tough, it is good to remember what Christ did on the cross for worthless and filthy sinners like (you and) me. The INFINITE goodness He has shown us in our EVERYDAY life. Past weeks though busy and trying, had been a lovely encouragement and blessings filled one. Sometimes i am jus so blind to the blessings God put into our lives everyday, often taking dos for granted.

Thank the Lord also for brothers and sisters in Christ. Working on the 25th anniversary have been a great encouragement. It is nice to see of God's faithfulness thru the 25 years and how the youths have grown together-both physcially and spiritually. The end product is encourging.. haha.. but the process have been relatively stressful cos of the deadline and also a test the following monday. Praise God for Spen, Irv & Nana who lend a helping hand to put together the video. haha.. I tink along the way, i have been stressing Spen and Irv, but thank God that they are all so patient and understanding.

Let's strive to Live a Life Worthy of Our Calling.

Life

Life is tough... Don't be those who make the alr tough life tougher!!!
Hopefully, we are those who ease the tension off ppl goin thru hard times and bring comfort wherever we go.

Do we bring joy WHEREVER we go? Or do we bring joy WHENEVER we go?
- a phrase once said by my uncle

Exponential Stress!!!

struggling yet still enjoying statistics. 4 weeks of sch past in a flash and the workload is getting exponentially high and stressful. hmm come to tink of it.. not really workload cos usually finish tut way before hand. It's the effort that is needed to understand what the prof are talking about. Applying all that i learn in the past 3 yrs into the 4th yr of study.. which usually aft each sem, most things that are learned are forgotten once i leave the examination hall. they are usually extremely abstract and there is really no way to rem them.

Jus finished reading thru my prof thesis (>200 pages) and found some err.. need to go thru it again but in more detail as ny stat prof coming back fm overseas soon and i need to give him a summary. so much things to do yet so little time!!! hai.. if i am as faithful in studying God's work, i will be able to find infinitely many errors of my own ways.

alw feeling so tired and having more intense headaches. not enuf rest= alot of time wasted..imagine the irony. spend lesser time sleeping, means sld have more time at hand.. but very high proportion of these time get wasted. feeling sick again!!! xian!!! have been falling sick since the past few weeks.. during times of tiredness, i often make extremely horrible decisions.

cant wait to hear from my beloved sis soon.. she's away in paris again!!!! traveling again!!! haha.. so glad that she can take a break fm work and stuffs and hopefully have a relaxing time there. well.. frankly cant wait for 16 dec to arrive. then i will get to bully her!!! yeah..
though we are miles away, she neva fails to call to encourage when things are tough either at home or in sch.

hard times bring me closer to God (i hope).. its when i reach the end of myself, that i will realize of God's infinite resources, power and grace. well.. i dun mind trying times bcos these are the times i tink i grow and mature.. sometimes we wonder why certain things happens, yet in eternal perspective it doesnt matter!!! wat really matters is wat we take from it, and who we eventually becomes.

What does it take for us to become who God wants us to be? Or are we doing things jus to please men? from experience pleasing men sometimes ends up in disappointment. yet if all things are done to please God, then the outcome doesnt matter. (haha.. outcome sldnt matter.. yet its so hard to apply when we are in a world that see only results. so blinded that they cant see my "sweet character".. haha). well.. at the end of the day, we are only answerable to God not man.
It amazes me how God can love us the same! nothing more or nothing less.. when all our ugly side ( the motives, tot, weaknesses, etc..) are transparently before him. PTL for who He is!!!

Devotion: David and Goliath

(1Sa 17:34) But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,
(1Sa 17:35) I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. (1Sa 17:36) Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." (1Sa 17:37) And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"
(1Sa 17:50) So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.


A familiar story...
While i was reading this passage again, I am reminded of David's faithfulness. He like most of us, din start with the BIG BATTLES of life. Before he faced Goliath-the giant, he was faithful in the comparatively smaller battles of his life. Imagine if David was not faithful as a shepherd... then he would not be able to defeat the Philistine.



Well.. I hope that i can be like young David, trusting fully in the Lord for the battles of his life. My life is now filled with alot of uncertainties and I am almost reaching yet another crossroad. Alot of decisions to be made, and alot of unseen consequences to follow. Yet I hope that each step that i take, I look upon the Lord for guidance and strength as my battles belong to Him. I went thru life thinking that I am "Miss know it all" and it took God to put me thru alot to show me that it is He who knows it all and I have been stealing credits from Him. University life is tough, and has been a constant struggle. In the coming year, hopefully i will be able to rely on Him more instead of my own limited strength and wisdom. Like David, it is God who had delivered me thru 3 tough uni years (and many previous years of education) and He will continue to deliver me thru another year because He is a faithful and loving God who never fails.

An Hour Run

A Christian race is never a sprint where the race only last for a few seconds.. although behind every few sec, hours and hours of hard work are put into training for strength, endurance, stamina, etc. The Christian race is usually seen as a marathon, a long run which requires a lot of discipline, endurance, preservation... There are alot of similarities and differences between a normal marathon run and a Christian marathon.

A few major differences to me:
Christian Marathon:
1. Glory last through all eternity for a well run "Christian race"
2. Christians don't race each other. We are suppose to build up one another
Normal Marathon:
1. Glory only last for a short period of time.
2. "Dog eat Dog" world. Competition to be first to reach the finishing line

Short hour of run was pretty much well spent in prayer, reminiscing the times where God brought me through trials big and small and also the wonderful memories of a loving and caring sister. Who we are today came a long way from who we were. Who we can be will be determined by how much control we allow our loving God to have over our lives NOW. Sometimes its scary to think back and ponder about our Christian growth... were we still the same (or worst) as compared to a few years/months ago??

My Christian race seemed to be moving a step forward and two steps backward often finding myself back to square one or at times discourage till the point of giving up. It amazed me by how often I fail to learn of God's faithfulness in the same exact trial/situation over and over again. The many times God provided with miraculous grades, strength and wisdom yet when going thru exams, the vicious cycle repeats itself. I doubt, I fear, I rely solely on my own wisdom and strength..... soon finding that i had reach the end of myself when everything either fail or don't turn out the way i expect it. Now the physically, mentally & emotionally drain start to turn my focus back to the ALMIGHTY but long forgotten God. Yet He is ever so patient with me, always waiting to pour out His loving kindness and gentle mercy reaching me with His stretch out arms.

The fastest FIVE weeks of my life

Holland

Madurodam: World-famous miniature city

All famous Dutch features are built in a scale of 1:25. We are giants in this land!!!

Amsterdam

TWINS

London

Berlin

Time really flies when having fun especially with ur love one!!! I have no idea what happened to the 5 weeks in Europe. In summary, the photos show of the really wonderful and blessed time we had together. Its really marvelous to be able to spend time together with my beloved sister after a long and dreadful 6 months of separation.

Thank God for busy moments meeting deadlines during the school semester which seem to numb the effect of the pain of separation and to be able to draw comfort and strength in Him. Its a miracle going through each semester without my sister. I look up to her in almost all aspects of life.. Through her struggles, I learn and grow in God because everything that she goes through is so real to me and it always amaze me how she can have so much faith in God. One of God's greatest gift to me is none other den a loving sister who is alw here for me regardless!!!

How self-sacrificing and loving she is even to people who I find it hard to like. The many struggles she faced "alone" each day, putting up with the many issues that are trivial yet meant alot to people she stays with. Issues of Boys VS Girls... Both side blinded by their "own rights". All i can say is it takes 2 hands to clap. Wonder why either side dun consider it from my sis position-the buffer zone. Seeing what she put up with each day... it's really God's grace that enable her to go thru. Continue to uphold her in your prayers. Alot of things that seemed unfair... we can all take refuge and assurance in God that all things are seen and allowed by Him. PTL.

Back to Singapore... Back to the reality of life.. Every phrase of life are decisions needed to be made. Whether which area of statistics i sld based my honours on, whether sld i consider doing a double major with onli short of 3 math modules, whether........ so many uncertainties!!! Yet one thing is certain.. MY FUTURE IS IN GOD'S HAND. No matter how unsure and uncertain my future is, I just needed to be sure of one certainty. God provides what He KNOWS is BEST for me. Truly, I do not know what is best for my future. Neither am I sure of the path He wants me to take now.. The question that I alw struggle with is "How do you know it's God's will? How do you tell?". Like a driver in a car, the things that I see are so limited. God with the Bird's eye view sees and knows everything. In addition, He has the power and the unlimited resources to provide for the Best.

@ UK Blessing

Yeah!!! My first blog.. after sitting on the idea for a year. Having more time on my hands now, I decided to start blogging. Hopefully it will not be my last post. Hehe..

Here is an update of the tour in Europe. Just came back yesterday. Went Amsterdam & Holland, Berlin, London. Everything was great!! The best of it all is that i am doing it with my sis!! What a long awaited and blessings filled trip.

1st stop: Amsterdam and Holland

Amsterdam is filled with lotsa architecture and the night seem always young to the locals and tourists. From the innocent food and tour to the not so innocent legalize drugs, sex, partying and getting drunk. We reach our hotel at average 12am every night. So much to do and see everyday. The free tour in Amsterdam show us pretty much about the history of the city. This photo was taken @ the red light district tour. The tour guide showed us the area and ended of with a free shot for us in the pub. The drink and low oxygen caused me to "white out" in a small squeezy supermrkt. My vision went from colored to white, everything was blurred!! It was super scary. Thank God that after leaving the supermrkt my vision was back to normal again.



We went to Holland the next day. Holland was filled with beautiful scenery and lotsa cattle and shady green pastures and of course their famous windmills. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

2nd stop: Berlin

Berlin was fun and depressing at the same time. This is the fun and beautiful Berlin!! Things are much cheaper and affordable in Berlin compared to Amsterdam. The small truck is actually a motorbike!!! (Maybe i can tell my family that i wanna learn how to drive a "truck".. haha)

.

Now the depressing Berlin. We went for the concentration camp of the Nazi. The tour guide gave us an overview of what happened in the concentration camp. The experience of how innocent people were tortured, humiliated and killed becomes real, totally different from textbook learning.

It reminded me what Christ had choose to go thru, the suffering, pain and humiliation He endured on the cross to save undeserving sinners like you and me. He did all this while we were his enemies and there is nothing we had done or can do to earn and deserve such great love. Thinking abt what He has done for us on the cross and also our daily lives should cause us to love Him more and more each day. Yet for me, my walk with God has been a daily struggle. My faith in Him is a classic roller coaster ride where it peak only at a short moment and I find myself back to square 1 again.

Last stop: London

The name speak for itself!!! Super experience city. View from London eye is relatively beautiful. Things to do in London: Eat, shop, sightseeing and sleep. Went to Harrods too. Bought some tin biscuits which cost close to S$90. I think that is the most my sis spent on biscuits. Thankfully the both of us not really interested in teddy bears. haha.. if not i think she will be super broke.

Coming back from London was quite stressful. I was praying very hard that we will not miss the coach back. When we reach the airport, the coach had left 5 mins ago and we had to take a cab to the next meeting place which cost us S$120!!! During this time of distress, i tried to include praises in my prayers. Initially I was thinking who can praise God in times like this, then i was reminded by what uncle JA says "God doesn't need us to praise Him, cos if man dun do it, the rocks can! Praising God is good for us". I started praising and thanking God of how He has guided us thru the trip. The prayer turn my focus from the problem to back to God and my unsettled spirit of distress became one filled with peace and joy, knowing that my God is in control of everything!!!


This is the end of our tour. Now I am back to Stockton where life is slow and boring. Shops close everyday at 5pm and most shops are closed on Sunday. I am home alone again longing for my sis return from work where i can continue my plan of disturbing her. haha.. We both realize that no matter how nice Europe is, nothing beats being home with family and church members. Hmm.. In the same way, we should all be longing for heaven as it will be our real home and our final destination. Praise the Lord for all his blessings, guidance and protection throughout the whole trip.

1. This world is not my home
I'm just a passing thru’
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Chorus:
O Lord, you know I have no friend like you,
If heaven’s not my home, O Lord what will I do
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I cant feel at home in this world anymore

2. They’re all expecting me
And that’s one thing I know
My Savior pardoned me and now I onward go
I know He’ll take me thru’ tho I am weak and poor
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore