31 Dec 2009

Last day of the year!!
As i recalled whatever things that had happened in this year, be it good & bad, all things work for good to those who love Him. Haha..so may the Lord help me as i will be finishing my last project of the year in couple of hours' time i.e. Thanksgiving service. Die die make sure we won't miss the countdown :D

Hmm..was relaxing at my godchildren's home, then HBO was showing the Indiana Jones's series of movies. Sometimes, it is good to just relax & watch some oldies movies. With gab entertaining himself in the cafeworld, gaius nuaing away & chloe walking around with her kok kok shoes, what a way to pass by the afternoon before the real work starts. Haha..But i like it as i drank the home-made coffee, amused by my godchildren, what can i say about life right? So the idea of nuaing is pretty cool. But with my character, i can't nua for that long. Somehow, my hands must do something. Before i know it, i was helping the kids keeping their lego toys. Haha..elaine chua..you just simply don't know how to enjoy life by nuaing :p

Ok, getting myself ready for the real thing. Haha..not coke but countdown.
Let me wish all of you "HAPPY 2 0 1 0".
It is my pleasure to blog in 2009 & may 2010 colour even more of my blogging world.
Hope you are blessed :D

Writing Notes

Oh my..another round again..
Haha..i am buried in writing CET notes again.
No materials at all, so have to start from scratch. Haha..thank God for internet that i could get some ideas & come out with the course syllabus first.

Oh my..no related books on the Miracles of Christ in the church library.
BUT thank God for TCA library where i managed to borrow couple of books & started to write my very first lesson.
Though the process is tedious, i sort of enjoyed it because it pushes me to the limit of learning & feels the sense of achievement upon completion. Haha..it reminded me those thriled feelings when i first penned the notes of modern cults.

Today my eyelids are so heavy after staring at the screen for hours, not forgetting that i woke up at the killer hour of 3am by sending my two aunts off to the airport. Of course, cannot sleep a wink at all upon return then next got to prepare myself for work liao.
Haha..i need my power nap :D BUT i thank God for the joy within me that sustained me through the whole day.
The joy of the Lord is our strength!

Countdown

3 more days to go before we welcome 2010..
Haha..before i welcome that, i have to finish my last project of the year: Thanksgiving Night :D
Not sure how it is going to turn out but i guess that doesn't matter since God will be in charge & He is in control.
Come to think of it, i have not gone for night cycling for ages. I must say it was fun but that was in the past because i am still young & energetic. Haha..nowadays, i cannot dong through late hours & by 3am, i will be seeing stars & moon liao. This year, my bro invited me to join them for night cycling. Though my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. Sure cannot take it one, so better 有自知自明，自有量力. Go for supper still can, but not the challenging night cycling. Haha..i do miss cycling. One of these days, i will bring the kids to east coast for cycling :)

It has been a fruitful 2009 for me in terms of making new friendships, knowing new people, taking up the masters program for my biblical studies, travelling to new countries & of course growing deeper in my spiritual walk. God is truly faithful.
People ask me "How come you can travel so often?" I guess the only answer to give is "God is faithful. As long as i do His work & trust in His provision, He will bless me & grant me the desires of my heart. I still can enjoy life with God as my Senior Partner."
My friends, though we are counting down in the number of days, yet we can count even much more of His blessings in our lives.
Count His blessings :D

New Image

One day ago i was celebrating Christmas in church & with friends.
The next moment, Christmas came & went off silently.
Probably you would still hear carols ringing about in the shopping centres, but i tell you sooner or later, you would welcome the rhythm of CNY songs. Haha..one moment ago was busy shopping for Christmas gifts, then next moment i would be looking out for new year clothes.
If i am not wrong, i did not get any new clothing for the last two CNY. Guess i would look for something new, bright & probably clothes that i may have never tried before in the coming year. Haha..make 2010 a happening one by working on my attire. How about that?

Haha..i would also have to start working on my hair liao. The curls are almost gone, the colour too. The only thing never gone is the length of the hair. Oops..better do something as i think my hair is out of shape & out of form liao. Hmm..but i hate to go to the salon leh because you would have to spend hours there perming, cutting, washing, dyeing the hair. Well, bo bian lor..要美就要牺牲咯！就是这样的啦!!

Haha..suddenly just thought of this carol "you better watch out, you better think twice.."
Haha..i guess u all want me to change my image right?

Editing Photos

Haha..really long overdue photos!
Guess what? They are all piling up.
The Beijing holiday ones..then the Taiwan ones..then still got my India mission trip ones.
Wah can die man..must really get it done before the year ends else people will "haunt" after me :)
The moral of the story is DON'T ACCUMULATE!
Haha..like me now.."suffer" to do editing for the tons of photos
* faint faint *

Spent the whole morning editing, rearranging & renaming them. What is this man? Can't believe that i am doing this on Christmas eve. Haha..i shall press on & get this done :p

Hmm..thinking of investing in a good camera as the present one has served me for the last 3 years.
Should i or should i not? Hmm..

Princess and the Frog

Decided to bring my godson Gabriel to watch "Princess and the Frog".

Haha..not sure if he understands or even asks his famous question "Why?"

Me: Gab, when you watch the movie later hor, don't keep asking me "why" hor?

Gab: Why, godma?

Me: * faint * Gab, i just told you not to ask "why" right? Haha..but ok lah, godma allows you to ask 5 "why" during the show.

Gab: Godma, i think no need lah.

Me: But why?

Gab: Godma, you just told me not to ask "Why" and now you asked me again!!

Me: * faint *

Haha..that's Gab! Always so entertaining & amusing. True enough. He didn't ask too many "why". Instead asked me "Godma, what time does it end ah? How come the show so long?" Haha..really win liao, but well at least i did something different with him.

Also had a good time with Jiawen & Jiajia :D

Haha..found an overgrown daughter for ps aaron & grace. Gab's chinese name is kaiwen,chloe's is yingwen & gaius's is shaowen. Then Lebbillie's is jiawen, so she is the lost found sister of the low kids. Hahaaaaaa...

Young

Being young is a cool thing but not a privilege.

Because everrryoooone will outlive being young & graduate into the adulthood.

One thing i personally felt that can be secured is BEING YOUNG AT HEART.

We may grow old physically, yet we can keep ourselves at a young mode.

However, while keeping yourself in a young mode, you must strike a balance of being YOUNG & MATURE. You cannot be young, yet not growing mature. We should be growing in statute.

I guess it's how you want your life to be. For me, i chose to keep my heart young at heart, so that i can stay tuned with the young people & build the bridge with them. At the same time, i will not stop growing in statute so that i can minister to young people with God's wisdom & maturity.

My Love

Thank you for colouring my life.
Thank you for being the special U in me.
Thank you for supporting me.
No one else can take your place.

Thank you again :D

Christmas Break

Yes..i am on leave this whole week.
So exciting..it's Christmas week too :D
I have one whole week of activities lined up for me to do man, so actually it's not really a break for me but at least i can do what i want to do, meet who i want to meet AND NO OFFICE WORK for the time being. Hehe..so gonna be relaxing, haha..你们不要羡慕我哦!

I think i will be stuck at home wrapping presents, oh no..haha..but nevermind lah..i am happy to do that because it is more blessed to give than receive.


Note:
Do be thankful & remindful that this is a season of giving because Christ gave His life for all!

Pretty Stuff around Malacca

Overdue Testimony

This is a long overdue testimony :P

Erm..when we were in India, we were caught in the strike situation. The team members cannot go out for ministry as all modes of transport were freezed except motorbikes. There i was, already struggling to have time to finish what i needed to teach at the Bible school. Now with this thing happened, how man? The students kept pestering me to try coming to the school on motorbike. Praise God for their hunger in the Word of God.
Haha..thank God for ps michael's motorbike & i reached the school safe & sound. According to the locals, i might be attacked though motorbikes are allowed on the road. Thank God for protection :D
Quite fun to sit on motorbikes esp when we are turning. Your body has to follow the direction of the bike & can be quite scary if the turn is too curvy. Haha..but overall it was fun.

Testimony continued..
Then on Tues evening, we heard that there was a high possibility of another strike on Friday. That was the day we would be returning back to Singapore, which means we might not get back on that day.

Mixed feelings-on one hand can stay longer for more ministry, on the other wanna get back home to see our loved ones. Haha..well just let God take charge as His ways are higher than ours. True enough, we heard the news the following day that the strike was postponed to later date, so we could go home on Friday.
The whole episode taught me 3 lessons:

1. Man may plan the steps, but God directs the way.
2. Man may see danger & challenges, but God sees opportunity.
3. Man may avail themselves, but God sets the blessings.

Sick

Irritating diarrhoea...yucks!
Kena this while i was in India last week, guess it's because of the water + the daily consumption of curry in EVERY dish at almost EVERY meal.
I thought i would get better after self-medication, but i am wrong.
The diarrhoea didn't stop, so today finally went to see doctor who confirmed that it was due to the food & water. Ok lor, so he sent me back home to rest. I guessed it is better since i will be leaving for camp on this weekend.

"By His stripes, i will be healed."
Do keep Regina in prayers too. We shared the same symptoms!

3 Little Pigs

Heard of the fairy tale "3 Little Pigs"?

Yesterday at the last cell meeting of the year, our fairy tale master Andy shared with us the significant lessons we could learn in this story.
If you forget the story, you may check it out online.

• When the wolf blew down the STRAW house made by the 1st pig, it ran to the house of the 2nd pig for safety. Ever wonder why did he choose to run to the brother's house instead of any other place? It tells us the IMPORTANT OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, where the pigs chose to identify themselves with their own family in the midst of situations. In other words, when we meet with life issues, our family plays an important role for you to find shelter & safety. Therefore, build strong relationships between parents & siblings.
  
  
• After blowing down the STRAW & WOOD houses built by the 1st & 2nd pigs, the wolf failed to brow down the BRICK house made by the 3rd pig. It tells us the IMPORTANCE OF RIGHT FOUNDATION & ENVIRONMENT. When things are established rightly, no matter how strong the wind is, you will not be beaten. Though foundation is crucial, we must also study the environment. Therefore, focus on both foundation & the environment.
  
  
• The wolf did not give up, but decided to enter the house by the chimney. It never expected that the 3 little pigs had prepared a pot of hot water & it became their dinner later. It tells us the IMPORTANCE OF WISDOM. Though the wolf was smart & even determined to get its prey, it forgot that the pigs were not stupid at all. They had thought through all strategies for any possible attack & even turned the whole thing to a win-win situation. In life, we face all sorts of attacks, yet we need the wisdom of God to strategise & counteract the situation. Therefore, ask God for wisdom in every situation you are in.

Our next request to the fairy tale master is "Jack & the Beanstalk".

Hope you are blessed :D

Camp

I think i am overdosed by CAMPS & sort of sian oredi..
Not because the camp is not good, but somehow the excitement is not there anymore (i am talking from my personal view). Probably the best is still the spiritual food from the speaker other than that, everything else remains the same.

Going to Malacca again!
This is my 4th trip there just this year alone, so i can say that i am quite familiar with the road direction. Except this time abit different, as i will be travelling there with Grace & the 3 kids. Haha..so going to be fun. Oh i missed the Nonya dumplings that i brought during the last trip. They were really yummy & i make sure i will buy some back for my family. Haha..must ask Bro Anthony for help liao as he is the expert of Malacca. Praise God that our brother can make it for this trip & i pray that he will be able to take the journey.

Good things will happen in the camp. Let's confess it!

Funny

Brought the 2 page boys to CJ & Cheryl's wedding rehearsal.

Haha..then Gaius really made me laugh.

Cheryl's mum, Sis Doris, was there too.

So i asked the 2 boys to greet her. Haha..then Gaius stared blankly at her.

I pushed him to call her again & unwillingly he greeted her.

Later while walking back to the car, that cheeky boy asked me this question that i nearly "fainted". "Godma, how come auntie doris changed face ah? Her face not like that one leh!"

You tell me lah, how can you don't be amused by him right?

Really funny & cheeky fellow.

Truly God knew the best. The accident did not happen to the other 2 siblings but him. Guess it is because He foreknew that this little boy can handle it. True enough, he proved to be a brave boy overcoming the traumatic experience. God is faithful & i believe He will watch over Gaius :D

Happy

Today i felt very happy!

Reason is because i went to visit my granny, who took care of me since i was a baby till 8 years old. I love her alot & respected her commitment towards the family & children.

She is now 93 years old, going on strong.

Granny, you must live to a ripe old age :D

Christ-MAS

Yes yes..Christmas is down the corner!
Wow..another bz time of shopping & merrying BUT i hope we will not forget the real meaning of Christmas. We must keep in mind that CHRIST is the REASON for this season. Though it is also about giving, yet we cannot & should not miss out the important character of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ.

I was invited to preach at the North East Christmas Celebration at Asansol India. The reason of the early celebration is because the students are from Nagaland, another state of India & most will be returning home after they end this semester of medical school. Haha..i think it was my earliest celebration & i really can sense that kind of excitement. The amazing thing is i was only told about this preaching engagement when i reach there on Friday. So here i was, with no sermon prepared for Christmas, was cracking my brain on what to share. Though it should be a simple & straightforward message to share, i want something different & memorable. So i asked the Holy Spirit for specific words..Haha of cos He is faithful & dropped me the words while i was teaching at the Bible School. Interestingly, the words just formulated one by one & without further hesitation, i quickly wrote them down.
God specifically gave me these:

• Christmas is all about CHRIST! Preach Him in the first part of the sharing.
• Then share on the alphabet "M". Christmas is the message about the MESSIAH.
• Then move on to the next alphabet "A". Christmas is the message for ALL.
• Finally the last alphabet "S". Christmas is the message of SALVATION.

That's it! It constructed the whole sharing & i just have to fill in the points with Scriptures & testimonies. No matter where you are & how unprepared you may be, the most crucial thing is to run back to the Messiah & He will rescue you!

I am thankful because i know it's the power of the Holy Spirit. "Not by my own might. Not by my own strength but by His power!"

India Mode

I am back :p
But i am still in the India mode..the timing, the food & the daily things that we did over there..The moment i woke up after returning to Singapore at wee hours, i thought i was still in that little cosy room at Ps George's house. Haha..but back to reality..i am now at HOME! On my comfortable bed with my nice pillow & cool aircon. Hmm..wanted to sleep longer. Somehow this body of mine just need 5 hours of sleep & i couldn't sleep anymore. Hopefully tonight i will be flat out & get real good sleep.

The thought of unpacking, sian man!
Haiz..has to wash the clothes but anyway i have a good time in India :D