In walking everyday, there are actually so many windows of learning, even up to the simplest learning or re-learning of placing Him 1st, patience while queuing instead of sulking embracing the silence in the wilds travelling, give thanks & look positive instead of whining about what couldn't be done actively finding time set aside for my Maker Intercessory prayers, preparing ahead, thinking before speaking,
this year is coming to a close, so what have we done with the life we had this year? How have we seen the goodness of the Lord working amongst us, not necessarily on us this year?
Have a blessed week counting down to the thanksgivings my friends(:
counting the days from the last entry, 17 days just whizzed by, like how time passed setting up the things at my new school these few days.
Yesterday was day 1 at Holland Drive officially after 2 months odd at Jurong West. leaving missing these children who gave me joy that comes with the anger&frustration that taught me as a teacher to manage their child-like nature.
watching very hard God moving in the midst though i'm blinded/distracted a lot from the physical fatigue, things on my mind to hold on that I have this fear of fading if I took it off too long. just the lack of discipline to pen down my thoughts that I have with my Father cos I realised the memory of mine is very temporary. Was walking home monday night without a flat phone, thinking back what I saw in the Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader past friday.
Apart from 'WAH's & other sound effects that accompanied my seat in all movies so far:X
It struck me when they began the voyage, where they were forewarn of temptations, portrayed in smoky green things that slowly seek to engulf you,buzzing around you. I was like, don't you just want these things to just not appear in the first place and all the struggle to stay strong need not take place, but that's actually what we encounter in life walking the journey isn't it? with perseverance & 'Aslan' revealing Himself to steer you back.
And when Aslan, dug the claws into the sand, roared at Eustace disintegrating the 'dragon scales' on the outside reminded me of the time when Corney saw sharing from Isaiah 53:5 in his summary that " by his stripes, impossible is nothing." from the 3 stripes in the sand.
which actually had the description of the moment Aslan ws brought to the stone to be killed by the ice queen in the 1st movie before he was resurrected.
the next part of thougts revolved around relationships with people dear to me, the significance/purpose of the trip to Cambodia, taking myself out of being like this 'I know what's it like to be there' mindset and clearly seeking what He's saying to me. before it continued, prayer followed in& I reached the lift for an interruption.
My heart to quieten with my Maker Blessed week my dear friends(:
The journey begins, we're all getting in, into the Word of God!
that's the 1st line of the song that will greet us at each session at Vacation bible School. I thank God for allowing me to be part of the time spent there, tasked to shared about the life of Peter, Paul, all the people with 'p's in their names. And also, spend the time with HIM each morning for my recharging before we busily get into the mode of things. Witness His movement when the group of believers gather to pray and intercede. This will not last as a 'Spiritual high' only, but a reminder even as we con't to walk daily with Jesus(:
Give me eyes to see More of who You are May what I behold, still my anxious heart. Take what I have known And break it all apart For You my God, are greater still.
No sky contains, No doubt restrains, All You are, The greatness of our God. I spend my life to know, And I'm far from close To all You are, The greatness of our God.
Give me grace to see Beyond this moment here. To believe that there Is nothing left to fear.
That You alone are high above it all. For You my God, are greater still.
And there is nothing That can ever separate us. There is nothing that can ever separate us from Your love. No life, no death, of this I am convinced. You my God, are greater still.
And no words can say, or song convey, all You are the greatness of our God. I spend my life to know, And I'm far from close to all You are, the greatness of our God
I was spoken to through the song, Thank you Lord(: Did you?
Monday, November 15, 2010
just browsing through my list of posts randomly, looked back at the one where I talked about attending the seminar at Scripture Union on organising Children's Camps on May 3rd 2010.
reminder to self for what is to be done at camp, not just 'talk' about it.
From the mountains, to the valleys, hear our praises rise to You From the heavens to the nations Hear the singing, fill the air
Will always be researching for actions for the Kaboom Worship songs on Youtube especially on Fridays,even Saturday nights. & the number of potential songs and actions I get surprised and excited over at while looking for the ones that I was suppose to just makes me go 'Wow'. An art form to praise God.
So just clicking and clicking, you find old songs you heared from Life Meetings at Campus Crusde during your polytechnic days, or from some devotion, praise time you had somewhere with a group of brothers and sisters in Christ to Praise God.
So I found one, and Darlene Zschech then, Darlene Zschech now, but this time the Lead worshipper that has gradually pushed the next generation up, passing the mantle.
Remembering Elijah doing so with Elisha before he was brought up to heaven. And what i need to do.
Remember the games in commmunication, being called where a sea of distracting other voices calling out to their own other half, while you scringe and try to listen out to yours,getting carried away saying,"where? where?" which adds to the whole commotion.
Just have to stop, listen carefully again after the initial orientation of hearing your partner's voice. In my life now, stop, listen, an added Look around, "What do you see? What is called for you to do? Who is in need? What is in need? So how?"
For myself, I have to ask, "start from where?" or else i'll go from all areas and never ever complete my tasks efficiently similarly in my daily work. In the sea of 'calls'/expectations from others and self, which expands exponentially.
Ok in a sea of self confusing words, I need quietness and listen Open my ears(:
Its a day before the 'Sabbath' which most Christians hold pride in being at church mornings ,sometimes to even catch on work from the weekdays.
After repeated warnings of to rest, finally the physical body could not bear the brunt of me abusing it with late nights, long hours in the childcare, where the ocassional sneeze from a child without covering his/her mouth eventually got to me. Or simply, your body said, "cannot tahan la!I'm only mere flesh" More importantly, I was asking myself, where is my Sabbath each day to spend with my Creator?
Do I actually have so much things to do (even blogging) to not even spend quality time with my Father? I'm not looking at the pious Christians looking at me shaking my head, "no, no, no." but I'm looking over faithful Christians, who dedicate their lives to praising God each day 1st, in stillness, Quiet Time to just listen. Serving in the kingdom, holding full-time jobs, juggling a family& that just forms the basic level of a Christian person.
Doesn't get mastered overnight, practise makes better(:
"Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove: O no! Its is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to very wandering bark, Whose Worth's unknown, although his height be taken. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle's compass come: love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom."
Reading the Eulogies for Mrs Lee from the papers today, just beautiful descriptions of how a woman held a family so knitted together. & that will be once in many whiles that such emotions could emerge from a newspaper for me. To the man whom she stood by, the mother to the her children & 'Nai Nai' for her grandchildren.
as quoted from Samuel Butler through her grandson, "I fall asleep in the full and certain hope. That my slumber shall not be broken; And that though I be all-forgetting, Yet shall I not be forgotten, But continues that life in te thoughts and deeds Of those I loved."
was just a thought to genuinely declare that my room can be 'ORGANISED'!
was just reading through certain links briefly, this one especially at the all too familiar "I might need it someday" really made me laugh.
The One-Year Box. "Take all your items that you unsure about getting rid of (e.g. “I might need this someday…”), put them in a box, seal it and date it for 1 year in the future. When the date comes, and you still didn’t need to open it to get anything, donate the box WITHOUT OPENING IT. You probably won’t even remember what there was in the box."
Watching an excerpt of Mrs Lee Kuan Yew's life was like I knew her yet I didn't sort of feeling. And watching her silently at public appearances & the bond they shared was just 'awww', hilarious how they care&joke with each other..touching(: 63 years of lives spent together.
A short conversation about what dos and dont's for woman during confinement with my mother spanned a long list of tips to ensure 'wind' don't enter the woman's body after giving birth. The trusty ginger,dried pomelo skin +ginger+lemon grass for bathing, black chicken soup, water boiled with logan as her main fluids, some brandy thingy she drank. The tedious duty my ah ma had to undertake caring for 3 of us living a floor below last time. & all the nonsense i can remember she put up with me as a michievous child.
Thankful for these 2 women in my life(:
A quote from MM Lee, "in western culture, you marry the woman you love, in eastern culture, you love the woman you marry..." followed by laughter from the crowd:)
Looking at a messy book shelf, one the 'loose' pieces of gifts that you tucked at various ridges of your shelf or placed on top of books was narrowed in. A bookmark with the poem of 'The Hundred Languages of Children' from this pioneer of the Early Childhood field in Italy. This is one of sharings & gifts I received over these few years learning in the Early Childhood Education field. Reggio Emilia,Italy would be a previlage to be at for an opporunity to learn even more how are we able to have an extended approach on how we can nurture our children.
My stint at the childcare centre will begin officially next monday, filled with so much things to do for our children, for administrative, for preparations, I want my inner bridge to still stand strong&strengthen even under pressure as these I build relationships with our children & teachers(:
The child is made of one hundred. The children has a hundred languages a hundred hands a hundred thoughts a hundred ways of thinking of playing, of speaking. A hundred always a hundred ways of listening of marveling of loving a hundred joys for singing and understanding a hundred worlds to discover a hundred worlds to invent a hundred worlds to dream. The child has a hundred languages (and a hundred hundred hundred more) but they steal ninety-nine. The school and the culture separate the head from the body. They tell the child: to think without hands to do without head to listen and not to speak to understand without joy to love and to marvel only at Easter and Christmas. They tell the child: to discover the world already there and of the hundred they steal ninety-nine. They tell the child: that work and play reality and fantasy science and imagination sky and earth reason and dream are things that do not belong together. And thus they tell te child that the hundred is not there. The child says: No way. The hundred is there.
A note from Cailin... please keep the student at University of Texas in prayer, where Uncle Richard's sons are at, supposedly gunmen are in their compound at the moment:S
Hearing my parents really concerned for their nephew & family, while I do my part as cousin. Please be praying for my cousin brother Joseph seem to undergoing quite a challenging phase right now, having baptised and dedicated himself to God's Lordship, has objections from his father. The disagreements are starting to spew out of control revolving around this disagreement, peace and calm parties to resolve it amicably.
I suddenly had an urge to do a google search on the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation(GIC), then went over to Temasek Holdings just to see what's it like on taking place through their webpages. Wow, the big-ness of the names I see on each page with full credentials, internalising why they are hired to be there, and the amounts each organisation handles each year.
Thought the current organisation that I'm working with was quite big - this was BIGGER made me feel small, really tiny for such a big man, literally.
It reminded me of the smallness picturing lightning& blasting thunder I heared on a few ocassions in rainy storms, with 1 just happening last wednesday. Perhaps the call for global warming is ever louder, and the anger filled in the storm. Watching the flashes & deafening sounds of the thunder, the power contained in each bolt that will not hesitate to strike a sinful man like me.
I am gonna begin a journey of teaching our young ones, mulling over my decisions between Early Childhood or the Primary track. Or decisions over in my life as come to know of good/not so good news. Asking myself the very real question, "what do you want to do?" and Higher, "Lord where do you want to place me?"
To witness his Big-ness from my BIG man, was just humbling. I have to come before Him, to lay at HIS feet. Do you want too?
Pardon for the poor chinese. It should mean in every household, each has their own difficulties. I'm observing it in most families that I come across, the tinge of 'dysfunctional'/imperfection that makes this family unit characteristically unique,knitted&perfected in some way.
like how we are put under the umbrella of God our heavenly Father embracing us & remembering Jesus as our Saviour & seeking direction from the Holy Spirit.
In imperfection, I seek HIS hand to strengthen us(:
The Lord gives and takes away,but my heart will choose to declare Blessed be the name of the Lord..
Perhaps I was singing it at different occurances of the today&yesterday, the line from one of the vacation Bible school(VBS) songs this year, its flowed back in my mind earlier. "Today is the day, you have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it and I won't worry about tomrrow, I'm trusting in what you say, Today is the day."
Indeed Lord's promises as we gaze upon Him. gonna take a lots of faith-ing this week to declare that instead of just a comforting sounding song.
1 I will give thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to you before the gods. 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnifies Your word according to all Your name. 3 On the day I called, You answered me; You made bold with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth wil give thanks to You, O Lord, When they have heared the words of Your mouth. 5 And they will sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord. 6 For though the lord is exalted, Yet He regards the Lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in te midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will strectch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Perhaps its the time of age that adults reaching their 50s get a little grouchy, or its just that the events happening are taking a toll on their inner spiritual composure and adding to it an extremely irritating son like me, who tends to be rash talking to them, asking whys whys and more whys, welcoming a debate.
So stop....pause(just for a split second) AND Honour my father and mother.
that's the thought heavy on my mind this week that i got directed to during dinner with my dear friend,Farhana from the polytechnic, currently at the one the childcare centres being forefront of advocating best practices for our children.
Peparing to begin my sponsorship bond on top of preparing for Kaboom,Vacation Bible School(VBS), tidy up my every messy room.
What do I want to achieve out of this experience?
Retreat for HIM to speak to me this week as He lead my way(:
Preparing for the Army Half Marathon with a semi closed wound from a wisdom tooth extraction's not a thing you wanna have before a run, but taking it in my stride.
Getting an earful reminder of the my role as a Chrisitian before participating in such things happening on Sunday from my faithful dad.
Realising that doing a shorter run while helping people like reading of the Yellow Ribbon Run would have been a better alternative, (resolution for the coming run selections) though with the hoo-haa of people misappropriating funds& the very stories of funding not getting to people who really need it, and at the back of my mind, feeling strongly to demand the commitee to be accountable. Hope the funds contributed to the run will be disseminated adequately to the various people who REALLY need the assistance.
A start to the new week, People with exams, more school homework during the holiday week, exam preparaions. Have a blesssed week& we look towards our Father for our strength(: AND another few more days to O.R.D.
I'm beginning this post at such an unruly hour after returning from sending Han off earlier.
Having decided that I will not fall asleep before I end my prayer to God tonight, I decided it was time to change my posture to at least end my prayer properly. People dear to me, Loved ones, things just ran past my mind praying, and I actually ended the prayer for the night. But closing my eyes just didn't seem to 'off' the mind' with tooth aching, perhaps caffeine overdose with coffee&tea earlier. So, rather than flipping&tossing in bed, ink it down before its put off AGAIN.
Its ever closer to my Operationally Ready Date(ORD), resting at home having gone for wisdom tooth extraction, thank God for the intercessions & encouragement from Jonas,Mithrian, Sue Ann,Joel, Amanda , many more that morning, for medical staff that were up with a smile, for patience in waiting, table tennis finals to cheer on before&after the mini surgery. (1 more later in the morning:p) In times of struggle where holding on to God felt most real. Remembering for thanksgiving & placing HIM 1st(:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SVOBKbWndU
-Like Incense-Hillsongs-
Remembering the simple phrase of 'Oh God you are my God& I will ever praise You' seeking Him in the morning(&evermore),learning to walk in His ways while my doctor drilled on for my tooth in that duration of 15minutes.
These 2 weeks watching the Youth Olympics Games' Volleyball ,Table Tennis matches &the National Day Rally stirred up the attribute of a leader.
While your workers are labouring, its not the leader who takes a break, but yet he/she works even more. like spotting for your blind spots, Really observant coaches feedbacking your performances in sport match breaks for really effective counterattacks, captain of volleyball teams especially the Peru girls' Captain hanging on in the entire match up against Belgium. The brief shot of Mentors seated in front of the Prime Minster, of continuous learning even at such advanced ages. How important a lesson.
And Procrastination,('waiting a while') struggle mann, do it now instead. Something i should leave out of my system. Dear friends, raise your flag and flag me! I'm learning to note things on my mind&do it while my trusty notebook hangs around me to help me.
Renewal & growth Lord, putting You no.1 in ALL things(:
Passed out not from fatigue, but from Basic Military Training over at the Sunny island that most boys will call home for 3 months(: And I had the privilege to be playing for his parade. The familiar faces all gather at the same venue at each passing out parade from each cohort, Polytechnic mates,mission trip mates&church mates. And my good old company building, with the memory of booking in for the first time as recruit, fearing everyone that wasn't of the same rank intially. Returning,promoted 2 ranks, passed my fitness test and almost completing my stint with National Service was just 'WoW' & thankful(: No wonder when guys meet together, this topic of National service will rarely leave their lips, the camaderie, the feeling of being tired, the laughters of singing songs when it was time to book out. crazy sounding as it be, I'll miss NS Thank God for bringing me through the entire process(:
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me
was like this "you sure you had everything?what if it doesn't go?are you suppose to do this/that?" combined with a week that goes up looking over the beautiful view at a sunny/rainy Tekong and down with fatigue/withholding the Word, owing the little amount of sleep the previous night, and the absence of the Spirit.
These words were part of the bigger Psalms 51 that I flipped to making my way to church today. Its like not so quiet quiet time with the muted noise on the trains&tunnels to the walking feet/buzzers...ok, doesn't sound that muted after all suddenly. In the midst of that 'distraction's, psalms just redirect the direction as I bring myself to church to praise HIS name with fellow brothers and sisters.thank God for that(: its a silent retreat from the hustle and bustle of getting in a car to church with the rest of family. Myself, God and HIS people on the train, and thoughts of people who are physically not around me at the moment.
when I begin work or a school year, I hope draw to HIM ever nearer will be what I can do each day.
Hope you find your moment to draw near to what He has for you each day my friends(:
This past week,returning from church camp,and not falling sick though sleep was like 5 hours a night. Thank God & thank the vitamin C. I look back to see how gracious God was as the Vacation Bible School for the children was ran at the church camp, I saw how everybody involved came together to present to the children their better. Better? Cos it was great effort that I saw being put in and with the attitude, we can do even better!
was reminded&embarrassed how I can fall-in on time in the army, at work, at events, but I had seemed to have left that attribute of punctuality back in SG and lateness got the better most of the time if not ALL the time:/
and I saw a very pressing need to live on the power of prayer, dedicating what we do, defending ourselves against spiritual warfare, uplifting fellow brothers and sisters. Pray powerfully my friends in the name of the Lord!
Was listening to Randy Harris sharing about the ressurection of Lazarus and the series of events that unfolded between Martha/Mary.
25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ,the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
and further down.... . 38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.39"Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." 40Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
for the moment that I said "yes Lord, I believe in you" how many situations have erupted that really got me compromising that and just keeping the faith to myself. This word 'Faith-ing', got me reminded to live out my faith. English majors please correct me if i'm wrong, its a verb yea?
ready to be'Faith-ing' for Jesus? Our mighty God, and Father who gives you peace lead you in your week ahead my friends(:
This past week, during Lord supper reflection by Uncle Suen Kwong, forgetting the bible text for the Sunday:X
It talked about the law and its purpose, and how people reciting the law doing the law, might not last without such a physical commandment imprinted in stone/papayrus. instead of being told what was right, the REAL test of whether doing right really applied in your lives will be revealed especially in a family context when the parents are no longer there to be your physical law to direct you. When the people who upheld accountability for you are not around, Ready to ever stand strong & uphold the accountability for yourself?
But it reminds me of times when I'm brought a problem/challenge... instead of getting stunned, freeze up, screams flying around in my head, breathe, pray for GOD to use you or me greatly in the situation. Cos getting stunned doesn't help, screaming's not really solving the thing except telling everyone you're still stuck, you're kinda going no where.
take a bow- Rihanna
It was used to describe an inner sense of frustration that some people had with issues that arised in church. "but its over now, go on and take a bow"The curtain's closing, show's about to have a closing chapter. The talk was the imminent possibility of the permanent absence of certain people because of how the situations have snowballed.
i'm calling out the need for us to not be higly skilled in the word, in our works. Its just not enough, its like a shortfall of something. In our faith in Jesus , God and the Holy Spirit which was given, serving as a guide in our lives, and the rest of the things will just fall into place thereafter. Cultivating aGod- spirited led being instead of me being the centre of it. How we respond to others in the right spirit or not?
In my situations, in my experiences... but "For me and my household, we will serve the Lord" Let's do that my friends(: -Praying for HIM to fill each one of us with the right spirit to move in our lives-
This 2 weeks have led me to such a a varied range of emotions.
From laughing at funny antics of band mates, a very cool duty buddy making exquisite Origami, listening to some of the never ending compilation of movie soundtracks he had with the ocassional peek into songs from Chris Tomlin.
Being sad over aunty Cassandra's departures, my spirit beginning to flow with tears as the medium listening to the final sharing that afternoon that resounded in "don't be sad". To joy for the return of a daughter to God & how she stood courageous as an example for many of us,deciding to not fear her imminent departure but be using the energy left with the relationships that mattered.
The melting of my heart when Wesleigh her daughter dashes towards me to hug at my knee height and the child expressing honest words of love.
The gratitude to God giving us a founding father's Goh Keng Swee whom I could meet when the body laid in Parliament House.
To worshipping with our children at Kaboom resounding in How Great is our God. Indeed He is Great(: How's God great in your life?
Looking at how the Spirit of God manifest or don't manifest in a person's life is rather scary and a reminder to persevere in cultivating the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in my being for HIS glory.
Another week for HIM to work in your life my friends(:
that was 1 of the many phrases for the movement in the squares that we used for our band display. Completing Navy Open House with the daily trips to Changi Naval Base, taking a different habit of feeding from the book of Joshua, thinking about where's the kingdom of God in my life? and for once in a long while, reading a novel, the Kite Runner.
I just smile at the way they reply one another, my emotions racing a little at certain revelations of our main man Amir's life, though the outcome was just further down the page. and the ending of feeling released as he began chasing the kite. vivd descriptions of certain emotions and feelings in simplified analogies are really helpful. can't remember all of them, perhaps a re-read will serve me well, before the National Library calls for its return. I just love the way they way people reply sincerely, "For you a thousand times over" the extent of what one will do/sacrifice for another person that you cared for is just heart felt Reminded of what Jesus did, imagining the love God had for us for the love sacrifice to happen, and we're made clean. The way we should be responding towards others that we meet in our lives(:
In unison the children and young people resounded in the song from Celine Dion's "Because you Loved me" as we said Happy Mother's Day to our Mothers at church. The pureness of the children's voices, the 1 voice that gathered from all the many voices singing
" You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith 'coz you believed I'm everything I am Because you loved me "
No matter how old I get, remember my parents have done for all of us(:
In this past week, from what I understood, Aunty Cassandra who has been battling cancer for the longest period of time was about to leave to return to the Lord like really soon.
Personally, yes, I will rejoice that a daughter of God is returning to HIS arms, but its just the thoughts of children with the eventual absence of their mother, a husband's loss of a soulmate that pushes me to say, "Lord, I ask for you to heal her?"
I'm just asking GOD to be GOD and do what HE needs to do, and this son of yours to commit to prayer & fixing my eyes on Him through this process, praising HIS name, thanking HIM.
I thank God for her presence, even before she had a relapse in the condition. I remember the times when she is in Singapore for treatment, and her youngest daughter comes to Kaboom Worship, with seperation anxiety concerns on some sundays right before we begin. With the "see you later mummy", both mother and child move to their different venues, main auditorium & Kaboom Worship Hall, reuniting at the end of the session with smiles on their faces once again
Or when a group of us visited her when she became less mobile due to the swelling in the legs from the treatment, she still uplifted, doing her best to be a good host, laughing, maintaining that positive outlook. Turning to her saying, " I'm waiting for you to come pick Wesleigh up from Kaboom." something along the lines of "sure, sure I will" she replied
Let's continue to pray & ask HIM for HIS will be passed(: Have a blessed week my friends
This past weekend was over at the St Andrew's village listening to David Leong or Uncle David and the Scripture Union Team sharing on how to organise Children's Camps. its usually the case during seminars where everything is 'wahhhh, quite cool', but the real questions lies after you're done with the thing,"so what have you learnt?"
Some things that caught me by the eye, was the potential depth of how our camps can be for our children&even for our adults, *Quiet time for our children, for the whole process of organising the camp & executing it to be filled with the people committing to pray, not just for lip-service but sincerely as we petition for God's will to preside as the camp is runned. -To pray like never before-
Its a timely reminder that the spiritual warfare that goes on in our christian lives everyday from Joshua&Han, from the Lord of the Rings' final installation of 'The Return of the King' on Saturday night. To not be just on the defense, but on the offense to drive Satan back. Especially walking through potential valleys of darkness, the scenario of one side tempting me and the other side waiting to embrace me. He's closer than I actually pictured it to be.
Asking to stand up strong with God's strength in the battles as I journey ahead. Hope you draw yours from there too(:
The past 2 weeks, as I talk to certain people, whose lives have such a desire to not be wasting time.
1 side reminding me,"think,think, how are you gonna lead this group of people?" like a person from the corporate world. Or am I thinking upon it with God? Am I asking HIM to lead my life. Am I even acknowledging him daily be my no.1 instead of myself or the other things 1st?
the other side, another friend,having a gift for accuracy, calculating that actually based on 24 hrs, you actually suppose to spend about 2hours with God, if your doing it on a 10% basis:X How much time do I spend actually with HIM?
my eyes 'opened', whenever I walk in my day. I'm glad & thankful it did(:
These reminders just pop in my mind, especially when i'm free, like resting, perhaps laughing about stuff, poking fun at people for the moment, travelling to and fro destinations. and back to the thinking mode, praying mode, asking to be wise in my discernment.
have to fix my eyes on things that use my time meaningfully before Satan's does put his 'ideas' into my head. he almost did again.
Its been 2 weeks returning from Siem Reap, Cambodia. Had to re-ignite my engine for 'regimentation' reporting in various attires for different occassions after a week dorn in shorts and slippers for almost the whole time.
I'm looking at food in a different light each time its in front of me, having spent 3 days for various reasons not having/ having little lunch. For Aunty Cassandra, for the benefit of children at the Tonle Sap, for the benefit of the children at the lunch gatherings we had. The thankfulness&appreciation of the abundance we have, the ability to afford such immediate needs, The replies of 'good', laughing together as the children and adults sit together. Just reminds me of the children in Siem Reap, the memories of insisting 'feed the children' before i eat.
Living like a tourist or a tour guide was a challenge that Uncle Paul gave us at 1 of the devotions.
Going local roadside than resturants that does remind me of a Holland Village enclave. No complaning of rusty water for bathing, of mosquitos, of the heat, of a lower standard of food hygiene, feet that will almost never be entirely clean with the sandy, eating a beetle that taste like ikan billis, eating a half formed duck egg as part of a devotional thought to live like street kid, dry season reminded me of the similar experience up in Phetchabun, Khek Noi Village in Thailand last year.
The morning devotions that our Japanese friend, Junichi gives daily. The same question echoing with the accent, "How can we be friends with children?"
with our Hands, Our Feet, Our Ears, Our Mouth, and our Hearts.
No matter how childish children naturally are, approaching them with a sincere heart. I listened to stories they share about their lives gives me a 'wow' and also how family units are not as intact compared to many of us here I saw them rest in the common hall of the guesthouse sleeping soundly like angelic beings for a brief amount of time and up moving about again, the generosity of them giving you the bangles they make, paper wind mills, being your tour guide cycling along the cambodian road and the occassional tempers when they misunderstand your intentions in getting them lunch for that day.
For a land that needs God, in the bustling of a tourist area. For lives of children to be ministered to, for the hungry, for the misguided individuals. So much to do for a relief worker/missionary placed there. So much to be praying for each time instead of for yourselves 1st.
No matter how strange songs sequence, we sing with a grateful heart. In perfecting our singing for singing class, a pure heart as you approach God. As you sing that He's the Father of Mercies, Worthy is the Lamb, the darling of heaven that was crucified, the song of the redeemed that God's children because He Reigns.
Leaving a day earlier was not easy, with the children's face sadden, with invisible 'I will miss you' on it. Giving your hugs, reminders for some of them to start school, study hard and get a good education. Knowing that MORE that we can do for these children on top of the fun stuff that was done each day. If i'm allowed to, it would be my previlage to return.
better get all of it down before I drift further away from the memories that formed this experience.
Surrendering to God in all of my situations(: Have a blessed week my friends
Packing my bag tonight for Siem Reap, hoping parents don't jump out of their room and nag at me, gathering my thoughts on the logistics of this team, remembering how the team was prepared in spirit during my time up to Thailand and what I could do with this team.
Thanking God for my brother, Joel's given grades, watching over him as he walks the next phase of his journey even when he doesn't seem to be able to feel so.
thank God for the showers of blessing which quenched a little of the haze, or most of it! it was WOW , my previlage to ask for rain & HE sent it and overflowing here. -have to start praing for Philipines& I to eat less rice-
Thank God for feeding on HIS word in Luke 19:1-10. bullet training a little at sharing,but in hope that the group was able to soak in HIS word as I was used as a mouth piece. and remembering Zaccheus, what Jesus did, how the crowds of people reacted to & remembering to put judgements of people on hold and find out before you 'box' them up.
Remembering to intercede for others, which you realised how many people in the world He watches over, how powerful prayer in faith and confidence of the Lord takes place, putting my struggles in front of HIM, giving thanks in all circumstances, Remembering he gives and takes away.
a week ahead to allow HIM to flow in us as offerings to HIS people in Cambodia, pray with me for the teams that congregate to serve with Love and passion for these people, as though we saw Jesus pouring in their lives.
I'll see you in a week's time!(: and Indeed he Reigns!
Beginning to run, dedicating it to God... Feeling the movement in the wind that blows in my face occasionally, and actually you never know where it specifically came from or where it stops. Having some 'eco-siveness', if that's even a word, that i think stirred up after helping twice with the Romanates' recycling project last year.., feeling compelled to pick up plastic bottles,cans, and dropping it at the recycling bin in my vincinity.
Porridge Buffet for lunch with 2 Band Mates, Kelvin & Luke... eating shocking amounts of oranges for dessert. taking an after lunch stroll before we cathing a 4.30 movie. Deciding with 'Alice in Wonderland' over Jack Neo's local production of '做人' a.k.a how to behave as a human being.
Alice in wonderland, was intriguing, filled with many underlying messages behind the characters involved.
Remebering the Red Queen's bad temper and executing everybody who was not up to mark with, "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" Alice's resolve to stand out as Alice who thought of impossible things, reminded by her father of doing 6 things. and the amusing thing about the 'smartest people all are actaully mad' when Alice is panicking of her nightmares & her action of consoling the Hatter. the quirkyness that happens in wonderland & cheshire cat.
Instead of feeding on physical food which i'm no stranger to, I will be feeding on spiritual food before I do anything else in my day.
At cell, an individual's resolve for the group to not live in a 'everything's good' world got the group discussing, sharing a slice of their life, deeper, which since shared are kept within the group to be interceded upon.
For us to be receiving in worship instead of just giving. is for us to Outpour our SELF and Let God fill our cups.
Praise The Lord! Hope you are able to praise the Lord this week and eat well(:
Resting at home before the SAF Band Anniversary Dinner in the evening. It was liberating to be spending good time quietly by the canal with God's word and HIS presence, to recall how he delivered me. How easy was is to fall back into old self thereafter, just wallowing in 'just nice comfy' zone, but the work goes on. Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? The warm spell in the air reminds me of my time in Cambodia and Thailand.
was blessed by this video watching Channel 5. watching the News yesterday of the Earthquake in Chile, my brother, Joel ask in jest, "so what happened to Haiti?" on top of the current disater, remember Haiti and do our part in efforts and prayer. Music simply brought unspoken feelings across easily. May you too exude similar emotions by it(: Have a blessed week my friends(:
Its the first day of the lunar new year....returning from reunion dinner. A reminder of the need to meet with extended family though we see each other rarely see each other, leading own lives away from their older folks.
a lot of things I have experiences that I have carried over these few weeks. of which I remember of it at the moment.
I saw a father and his daughter of 12 being in conflict on Sunday afternoon,7th Feb, before I left for the Change-of-guards ceremony preparation. The immense outburst of energy that was filled in each moment of exclamation was just terrifying even for me. Feeling helpless to not be interfering when there's an angry man, I couldn't even pray but watching the cycle 3 times was just heart wretching. The scary 'thing' in him just creeped out and did its damage to his daughter possibly for for worse. it had to happen repeatedly cos she, like me, especially being angry in my younger days will just not do what parents ask me to do at that moment, which my folks will say,"sure, not needing dinner?alright." which I go hungry,swallowing my pride and I still have to ask for some leftovers later." but her male folk is a ltitle more insistent of his way, hence such a scenario. I hope its the last of such instances where I have to see father/fathers lose their cool in such a way. Its just personally rather deterimental for children to be expressing displeasure in such a rash manner. Still thinking about & wanna be praying for them....
and to be questioned on what's actually happening&beneficial in being at bible study,cell group on top of sunday's just froze me for a moment. In the span of such sessions, what exactly did I store in my head?how many percents just flew past me? And asked about the relevance to the working world, and yes,values differ, but there are ways to align the kingdom values with the marketplace ma. The pointing out of my opinions just stopped at the tip of my mouth taking into consideration of relation of seniority and being responsible witnessess to others cos being blunt might have aggravated the atmosphere. still thinking of it& praying for senior to let junior be allowed to spend time at especially cell group&bible study. For senior to see the transformation for what termed as 'timid' junior to a courageous servant in the marketplace when he's called to. And a reminder for me to put in extra effort for each meet I am provided with...
BLESSED NEW YEAR it will be to spend my time with my loved ones & family. Am thankful for the previlage to share in one. This time with much more thinking for others instead of myself(:
In a flash, Christmas and ushering in the New Year is past...
was collecting newspapers with the guys at Braddle for the recycling for church on the 27th. It is hard work I must say, 'selling' your smile, your patience, repeating the mini-speech, in english/singlish/mandrin/broken dialect, and my hand gestures of newspapers, plastic bottles & metal cans. Slow and steady Joseph and I went off each wing of the block to kindly have their recycables. Met a nice lady who waited the whole morning to pass you the recyclables. People who kindly turn you down as they did their part in recycling participating in their estate's bi-weekly collection just past Friday. The few folks very cautious of another 'salesman' at their door with a not so realiable product. Houses which were well re-renovated, dark houses which exudes an aura,brrrrr. Smell of one that reminded me of the children home in Seremban, of time not given to clean the house. One of which seemingly looked like a home business of massage going on in the house. The other group of Joey, Benny & Jordan re-telling Joseph and I of a household for interrupting their very crucial Mahjong Session:p The huge number of households which have not known of christ walking past their doors.
spending time in camp on New year's Eve was a first for me, catching some residue of fireworks, watching TV, calling to bid "see you later" to Xiang before she leaves us briefly for 4 years.
The movie of Avatar, watching the movie too noisily, making my own special effects of 'wow-ing' and 'ouch'. Need to restrain myself from those sounds.holding on to 2 boxes of nachos, half box of popcorn halfway into the show, when young cousins just nibble off some and you helm the rest automatically after.Avatar showed me the connectivity of each element on Pandora, how linked is everything, existing together, especially when your hair is the connection key in linking up with another being and when the Rhinos and Pather were called on. just Beautiful.
Christmas using what I have been given to share a little, though walking on the streets, you encounter the real people who needs some of this sharing. So a friend of mine said and was greatly convicted to say, and I refer to saying, "its rather strange that we can enjoy sitting in the cosy seats in church, when I can't help but think of the people who has not received this news and are not with us yet." while we go to church weekly, some people around us just can't fathom why we go each week, who is this God that we talk and profess, and claim as our Father, sometimes wondering "you christian?" or why are perceive people of good character and made fun of, just because its not realistic and world tells us to defend our needs 1st . Something to think about and work on it.
and the 1st week of 2010 just ended. More students on the trains, an activity learnt not too late during my time in Band to do to fellowship with others TT, or table tennis though its shortlived cos of the need to submit a report for a project. Spins of ball just momentarily sets me in awe for that split second. Prep talks that helped me in my thoughts, and reminders echoing in the background from the VBS CD resonating of I will not be afraid, get down and HE lifts me up, Faith to see beyond what I can see,
And the call to think further,when thoughts come into this mind of mine. Understanding the level of intensity that I should have. From the Body&mind, and the heart that houses my spirit, which should be at the core of every action I take.being wiser.
Another week lies ahead to grow deeper with God. Have a blessed week my friends(:
You are idealistic and intelligent and very much an all or nothing person.Tending to experience constant change in life security is found in your real and abiding values. With great organisational ability, industry and creative prowess you love to build tangible results and are especially gifted at transforming lost causes. Your intelligence is marked with keen perception and analytical ability. A secure home life and relationship are important for you.
