Juggling ...

One mistake i make too often than desired, is to try juggling many balls at one go and in the midst of doing so, forgetting the most important thing: Fix my eyes on Him and not merely focusing hard upon the balls just to keep them in the air.

O God, please forgive me and lead me back on track with you.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18
17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Motivate me please!

It's one of those days when you wish the sun is shining and you could be reading a book by the waters or at a park. But the few weeks of falling sick, body aches and perhaps lack of sleep has found me a conclusion of an aging body which desperately needs some form of exercise. Haha i get lethargy attacks after Carbo intake resulted from a body that has its metabolism losing its efficiency. I seriously need to get myself moving and start putting on my dusty sports shoes to go for a brisk walk and eventually a run. I need some motivation and some kakis, anyone for it?

Serving and Pleasing God

2 Quotes I want to share with our readers.

"Ministry is an outflow of our relationship with God" (Author unknown)

"We can't make God love us any more or any lesser, but we sure can PLEASE God" John Bevere

I think these two quotes really spoke to me. I want my life goal to be that of Pleasing God in all that I do. And serving Him is through an outflow of my relationship with God. It all adds up and link up!

But it all starts with our relationship and walk with God. What we understand about God will determine the type of relationship we have with God. I am learning to have the right perspective of Who God is. I have long accepted that His ways are much much higher than mine, but whatever He has revealed in His word is all I need to know. And I'll be satisfied with that.

The Week that gone by

What a week it has been. I think it's all at one go. The day I took on the kiddos, was also the day my throat and body started to sore. It finally progressed on to fever and flu and i think its just added up with many things on my mind. Baby-sitting arrangements with the rest of the "PDD" Care taking crew, Sending and picking kids up from school and also the getaway that was over the weekend. I remembered i was literally groggily preparing the lessons in the midst of the sneezes and nose that kept running away. I think it was almost like a physical and spiritual battle i was trying to fight all at one go, desperate for God to really lift up my burdens and spirit and in return an enthusiastic heart that will go for Him.

All in all, i am just glad the weekend was over. Glad that the J1 getaway went well (Thanks Sharon, you've been great!) There was the presence of God, and the presence of great and fun people.

Sunday i would say was well spent. Despite the 'weakness of flesh' on a Sunday morning (haha seriously, when i got home to get change for the service on Sunday morning, i did feel a tinge of temptation to remain stuck on my sofa). Despite my tiredness (haha not to mention hunger) God was really speaking throughout the day from JG mUster to the service. How could i ever want to trade such a day with something else?

All in all, God was just great. Really, such times knocks in the conviction that i ought to live my life and serve Him through His grace! I have also been truely blessed that i have a husband who took the bulk of all the bustling activities over the week, sending/picking the kids, cooking for me when i am sick, driving me to the docs, all these on top of the many things he was preparing too! This morning marks the ultimate, I got to stay home first while He got up earlier to send the kids to school, only to have met with some hiccups that ended up with him driving around Brisbane for the next 3 hrs! Thank God for His tremendous blessing to me - Hub, you deserve a massage from me tonight

As i ask Kel as he entered in after driving around in the rain for the past almost 3 hrs, So... 3 kids? Guess his reply? "hmm.. i don't wanna think about it now, maybe one is enough ... " I take my hat off to the mothers. Really with kids, your life is never the same.

A Photo that reminds me of You (Yen)

I know these few days and weeks have been really busy and tough. Looking after the Kids (P.D.D), preparing for the getaway, it always seems to be so much to do but so little time.

And worst still, you are still recovering from the flu. But I will not forget of the love I have for you. Thank you for really enduring with me for the past 3 months as your husband. I Love You!

You gave me a promise

Playwright Thornton Wilder said this,"I didn't marry you because you were perfect. I didn't even marry you because I loved you. I married you because you gave me a promise. That promise made up for your faults. And the promise made up for your faults. And the promise I gave you made up for mine. Two imperfect people got married and it was the promise that made the marriage. And when our children were growing up, it wasn't a house that protected them; and it wasn't our love that protected them---it was that promise."

I came across this on Vic's Blog and it's such a good reminder for me. 3 Months into married life has it's ups and downs. But it made me all the more glad of God in the centre of our lives. Imperfections and faults all the more gave us opportunity to mature. The tests of love were held on by the promise and most of all the covenant established between us and God.

Because of this, we're ready for tomorrow.

Amusing Stuffs

We caught some really amusing stuffs at New Farm Park the other day. Really Cool ...

James (our bro in law) if you are reading this, this one specially put up for you! The Wall Vandalism says "Art is what you can get away with"

And ... this is our fave. Its amusing



How random ...

PRAISE GOD! I am HEALED!!

Praise God! NO MORE TISSUES AND SORE NOSE!

I was feeling a bit sick yesterday with flu or block-nose. But yesterday at Prayer Meeting, when asked to pray for healing, I raised up my hands and a huge bunch of people started to pray for me. After the prayer, I was still feeling the sickness. But the next morning, I realised that I was totally healed!

PRAISE GOD for Healing me.

I'll be praying for me wife who is currently sick.

Thanks Joan!

I think we are blessed by many talented people around. So many have helped in our wedding, and it made it all more memorable when your photography(s) were done also by friends. Joan, my JC friend took our wedding photos during the Singapore wedding and she did such a great job :) Even better, through this, another friendship that has been 'lost' over the past few years because i have been in Australia have been rekindled :)
Check out the photos :)

Just a Clay Pot Wish ...

This is one thing i wished i was residing in Singapore. I will not even need to head to the shops for mom would have in stock, clay pots of different shapes and sizes, different depths and designs. Clay pot apparently retains heat and flavour better, which means all your yummy claypot rice, herbal soup and Bak Kut Teh ... Slurp. At the moment, my version of clay pot rice is done in my wonder rice cooker, not too bad, but definitely missing the aroma. And also, who can resist the presentation of it all? Soup and dish served in clay pot, just makes it all pro looking.

Scary Nightmare

Last night was a night where I was woken up by a scary nightmare. I think it is only wise that I don't describe it fully in this entry. But yeah, bloody scenes of myself. So scary. I got such a scare that I woke up in the middle of the night and it took my awhile before I could get back to sleep. But then after I woke up this morning, I forgot all about it until my wife asked if I had a good rest last night.

Well, somehow the rest was good, I woke up happy and all. And my encouraging, supportive, beautiful, intelligent, godly and sweet wife said: "Its good, at least you know you are on the right track since someone is taking interest in making your sleep less comfortable." After that I thought to myself, am I really on the right track that someone needs to disrupt my journey.

But I guess I am growing and learning more about God and His word. I have never been more consistent in my quiet-time in my life. This time maybe is a chance that God is allowing me to grow in my passion and desire for Him and His word, that no matter how busy I am, I WILL STILL NEED HIM. Strengthen everyday, ready to take on the world.

Towards Maturity

Heb 6:1 "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on
to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead
to death, and of faith in God .. "

I pondered upon what i just read in Kelvin's earlier post. I asked God what He meant by maturity. This word suddenly seemed vague and I badly need some insight from the Holy Spirit. KJV version of Heb 6:1 reads maturity as perfection. As i began to search through the scriptures [reading from 1 Cor 13:11, 14:20; Eph 4:13-14] spiritual maturity comes with Christlikeness, complete growth in mental and moral character, the putting aside of the bliss of innocence and ignorance. Maturity, now to my understanding goes beyond just being 'spiritual' but is both spiritual and cognitive. It deals with the transformation of our hearts and mind in accordance to His word. It is demonstrated through our thinking patterns and demonstrated through our lives in areas of human relationship and decision making. It is not being driven by childish wants and live carelessly but to realise that for every action and speech, comes consequences beared not just by self but repercussions to many around. It is a character of consistency both in our mental and moral values based strictly upon His word.

Eleanor Roosevelt quotes

“A mature person is one
who is does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when
deeply stirred emotionally ... "

A mature person in other words bears the humble character of Christ and do not hold on to self righteosness and is able to channel their emotions appropriately and think beyond how they feel. A mature person even when provoked do not repay evil with evil, one who will choose not to judge others with the ideal but seek to respond in Christ's ideal.

Rom 12:17"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[a]says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[b] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

The more i read and meditate, the more i see the kind of perfection God desires of us. It's like telling me that it's not enough knowing, but practically accessing my action and speech. Intellect does not bring us to maturity, walking in His spirit does. I am still crunching and digesting.

Ministry of People (Part 2)

Learning more and more about my ministry of people, I just grew to understand that people who don't experience God will never have that maturity to accept tough hits from the evil one. Moses had to come out of his comfort zone to do something he did not want to do; to lead people. I think I fully understand the struggles he had and some reasons why he did not want to lead the Israelites. Then were not even supportive or appreciative of what he did for them.

Moses was already a free man, he had a comfortable life, with his family and all. But God had to come in and challenge Moses to another level of faith in God. God had great plans for Moses, but the people Moses was leading was just not understanding how much God loves them. All they did was complain and complain, why isn't there food, why do we only have manna, why is there no water. They just kept complaining about their physical needs.

I reckon people have not changed over the few thousand years. People are still caught up with their physical needs and wants. That is why it seems like its so hard to lead and deal with people, trying to meet their needs, comfort them, counsel them, teach them and sometimes even trying to catch them when they are falling.

This is an on going process of us Christians maturing. Moses out of his frustration from leading the people, he failed to trust God enough to honor Him as Holy (Nu 20:12). He was also rejected from the promise land.

I really don't know how come people are just refusing to grow up in their maturity of their faith. All they keep asking if for more milk, more milk. Seem like other leaders of the bible faced the same problem. So I will press on with my growing faith in God.

Heb 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God

God will be my guide, shelter and pillar of strength. More importantly, my grace and love and patience for the people. I NEED YOU GOD!

Food for Thought

FAITH AND OBEDIENCE

by Michael Wilcock

By faith Abraham obeyed. (Heb 11:8)
Would you like to know what the future holds? Yes and no! Some of it Christians do know, including the best things of all—the big things like the promise of heaven and the promise of the Lord's unfailing guidance all the way there. But not knowing the details is a positive advantage, because that develops our faith in him. As the song says, we don't know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future.Of the many portraits of people of faith in Hebrews 11, Abraham's is given most space. It's worth remembering that of all the Old Testament details that go to make up this New Testament picture, Abraham knew nothing in advance except the promise of a family and a homeland at the end. At the beginning, he "set out" at the word of Yahweh, "not knowing where he was going." Perhaps he was not even told in which direction to go, and had to trust God that his own decision would be the right one!But what loomed largest in Abraham's mind was the simple command that God had made crystal clear. He did what he was told, trusted God for the consequences, and "looked forward" to the fulfillment of the promises. That's faith!

Trust in Him who holds the future, the beginning and the end ...

Ministry of People

God's love and grace is the most amazing thing we can feel or find on earth. Nothing else compares or even comes close to it! God just poured out so much for us, and He is still pouring out more for us. If only we can stop to think about what He has done for us and not just keeping on the track of asking God for more and more and more and more and more and more.

God will never not have enough to give to us, just that sometimes overlook the attitude of having gratitude for all that He has done for us. Appreciating what He has already given to us and never stop thanking Him for everything. If we actually stop to thank God for everything, we won't even have enough time in our lifetime to do it! So how come we are more caught up with the things we want don't not yet have?

Sadly, we as Christians only keep asking and wondering how come God doesn't give us this, doesn't do that for us, asking why we are still stuck in this situations, why God has placed such a difficult person for me to shepherd, why doesn't people understand me, why can't I do what I want. These questions just keeps on floating around our minds and guess what, we would in our most natural human instincts go and entertain it with our best utmost abilities! As we entertain such thoughts, we then fall into that trap of being self-centered and focusing at what our needs are and how others fail to meet that need.

"TING TING TING!!!" ITs WAKE UP CALL TIME!! It is time we stopped and look at the things that are happening around us and STOP thinking only for yourself! Yes, we are important to God, but we can't just be satisfied looking at the mirror and say:" Oh, You are so important to God, God loves you and God cares for you." We have to learn to say it to OTHER PEOPLE who are also living on this earth with us, in case you happen to forget that you are not the only person living on earth.

Spare a thought for your brothers and sisters, don't just be focused upon your own needs. Take a step out from the mirror and look at the needs that are out there. You'll learn to appreciate life a lot more and learn to appreciate what God is doing in your life already. MOST IMPORTANTLY, to learn to give to others and appreciate others because that is exactly what GOD Himself commanded us to do. Love Your neighbours as you love yourself.

Things that I still learning; the ministry of people is really a tough one. After pouring out what you as a limited human being have, people still can ignore all you have done. Just like how people have ignored what God has done by GIVING HIS MOST PRECIOUS; His son Jesus.

I'm learning to be humble and take what ever people are giving me and give to people whatever they are asking from me. My only cry:"If only they would see the example and learn from it."

No Mistakes

When insecurities grow, when eyes of envy burn and wonder why. I was taught to look to Him. He said "Do not look to how majestic the other mountains are, O rugged mountain. It is this very rugged mountain i have chosen as my dwelling place" Dwell in me O God, better a day in your house than a thousand days in the world. Better to spend a day with thanksgiving and gratitude and live the day as the best day than mourn about what we don't have today. God has better things in mind than to refrain from His blessings and cause us to waste a day. He makes no mistakes :)

We only have 24 hrs a day

Sadly, that is a fact that we have to live with. No man can say to the other, you have more time than me; simply because we all have the same amount of time. The only difference is how we manage our time. Words of wisdom from having the experience of dealing with so much time at hand.

At first I thought being unemployed I would be really free, and I'll be having lots of time to read, watch DVDs and playing guitar. But to my realisation of reality, I was wrong. All I keep complaining now is that "I don't have enough time!".

You must be wondering what can an unemployed person be busy with, something I am puzzled with myself. But Thank God for keeping me busy though, we all know what a day of laziness and fruitlessness can do to us; playground for Satan in our minds. So now I am just busy with writing selection criteria which seems to take forever, helping Ps Wenan with editing lessons, preparing more lessons, shepherding people, preparing for Sunday Worship and also some other innovative stuff that I am trying to come up with.

So the saying that time flies is true after all, it flies and never return. So I am learning to cherish every single moment I have now, even though I am still dreading the fact that I am unemployed. But God's will shall prevail. I'll just keep trying my best. Praise GOD!