Looking Forward ...

Seems that i am much more motivated to blog. After the exodus to wordpress for a month, the return to blogspot has given its effects, which is great :) Not that i'm 'free'er' these days, but the ease with blogspot has given me more opportunities to have a quick entry either over lunch or like now, a small pocket of time before bedtime. But i thought i really need to jot down some of the things i badly want to catch up on. These days have been pretty much tied up everyday and often some free time hasn't been that constructive because you just want to sit and not do anything which is bad. So where are the priorities these days? Thus ... For a planned free night tomorrow, I would really like to catch up on the following, so please for all who's reading this entry, pray for me ya :)

• Pray. Time of true refreshing in His presence; a time to get back to His perspective and align myself to it.
• Plan out the schedule for August (Unit plans, roster, shepherding ...) If possible to prepare some shepherding lessons in advance
• Read. (i've got a stack of books stashed by my bed-side, gotta catch up on them)

Got to be recharged. Can't find anywhere else better than spending time in His presence. Recently observed responses of discouragements have brought signals to remind me to buckle up myself with the full armour of Christ so that in this, i will not be beaten and battered by the enemy but rather stand victorious to know that it is the enemy who will be sent flying out of the window.

Have I told you lately that - I love you!!!

Its been a blessing, and a great joy. God has used every single one of you to demonstrate love, faithfulness and sincerity in such real and tangible ways. Though the differences in each individuals' personality and sometimes "funny habits", I am glad we have all chosen to walk together and pursue greater things for God. Through each one of you, i have been taught that my life is not my own, and i am glad. Through you, i learnt that obstacles in ministry is real and i have so much weaknesses and limitations. Thank you for celebrating many memorable occasions with me, from Birthdays to Wedding especially too when families are far away. I wouldn't trade anything for the life we share together. I love our times of reaching out together, and also sharing silly jokes and laughters; I love every single young lady (Sorry guys i am a bit bias here hehehe) of whom we have shared many things behind "closed doors". Thank you for putting up with me too, my funny ways and for your grace that has covered the times that i have failed as a leader to you. God has demonstrated his goodness, and i am glad that through difficulties and stresses, many of you have emerged as stronger people, willing to go further. We have come a long way, especially for many who has been around longer :) and I am sure, with each victory or obstacle we had, God uses them all. Keep going, and remember, you will never walk alone.

* Sneak Preview of our 2007 Unit Snapshot, going to be made available on the Inside Hope Blog soon, so stay tuned :)

Believing God for more

God has really blessed me a huge deal in providing with a wife who would always be around no matter what. The times when I fell sick, she was just making sure that everything went on well and that I had breakfast and lunch. I quickly recovered by Monday, when Sunday I had to lead Praise and Worship with a slight fever. Was really good, cause then I know for sure that God was really taking charge.

Now I am still in the middle of job searching. I am really waiting in all gratefulness believing that God will provide the best job for me; one that helps with ministry and also finances.

It really isn't easy trying to find a job these days. But during this time of job hunting, I really caught up with lots of reading, thinking and also just grounding a stronger relationship with God. I am still having faith that God will provide my family with more. For His grace is more than sufficient! I'll believe that no matter what.

Learning this new song currently. Learning to sing it and play it at the same time! Its a great song from Hillsong: Savior King. I'm not ashamed.

This song really reflects my cry out to people around me, come on! lets declare God's name no matter where we go! Stay tune for this Sunday's P&W, we'll be singing the song!

Wedding, Masquerade Party, Baby Shower and the weekend :)

Congratulations to Lilin and John who tied the knot last Thursday. You look beautiful! Heard snippets of the wedding from the girls and i am so happy for u! I miss all the girls back home :) Though as what Vic said, our relationships for the past 10 years has been spent with 70% long distant, I can't thank God enough for giving me such great buddies. Many of you whom i got much closer over the years i am in Australia, and though with some, we really hardly keep in touch except for meeting up once a year when i am back, you are all so close to my heart. Wish i could celebrate such happy moments with all of you. Thank you for always sending pictures and with Lucia's many visits here, i can more dramatic and detailed illustrations. Lilin my best wishes to you and John. May your union bring much joy to you and to all around you too!

*Missing in the pic: Xiaode & Lilin

We had a Masquerade Party [silly me, no photos taken] last friday instead of the usual life group! It was fun, though the mask feels funny on the face. But it was such a good time making new friends, interacting, funny games. The whole place was packed with laughter and good food too. Home made pumpkin soup, lamb shanks, spagetti, home made brownies, heart shape cakes (Wow! Patrick!). Am blessed to the brim. Thank you Claire and team! Great job. To the new friends made that night, thank you for coming, hope to get to know all of you more in time to come. To all who has gone all out to invite new friends, you've done a great job, Impact more lives as the spirit of God overflows through you!

Lillian's baby shower was fun, quick and funny. So much laughter, i love the games! So girly and we had a baby education session too, finding out great products for the very fortunate new generation of babies. [Best find: Rubber Ducky that indicates the safty of the temperature of water in the bath tub for babies! cool]. We were surprised to know the size of a preggie's stomach too :) We are really looking forward to the arrival of this little one, which marks too the arrival of the 2nd Generation in the Afternoon service!

Rest of the weekend was spent making burnt cupcakes (sadly), preparing CDS, cleaning the house (more done by the husband - Lucky me) a trip to Ikea (nice breakie and lunch that cost $3 in total) with Jos, transformer! (great movie) ... best of all, witnessing too the spiritual birth of new sister in Christ!

5 Languages of Love

Ok this is funny as our first debut in our new (once again website). We or rather I decided to do this test together, based upon Gary Chapman's 5 Languages of love. I must have done this a while ago but somehow things gets stuffed up in some corner and you never quite look at it again. Besides, the last i did, i was not even in a relationship yet, so i guess things must have changed along the way. As i type this i have yet to know Kel's results for the test, since all i have gotten is a bunch of html codes. Its pretty exciting since we've come to realise how different we're intrinsically though many have thought we sound the same over the phone :) Oh wells, shall not be kept in suspense anymore but to take a look at the results.

His Results:
My primary love language is probably Physical Touch with a secondary love language being Quality Time.
Complete set of results
Physical Touch:
11
Quality Time:
6
Receiving Gifts:
6
Words of Affirmation:
4
Acts of Service:
3

My Results:
My primary love language is probably Receiving Gifts with a secondary love language being Quality Time.
Complete set of results
Receiving Gifts:
11
Quality Time:
9
Acts of Service:
6
Physical Touch:
3
Words of Affirmation:
1