thanks for all your blessings

one more year has passed. another 23rd sep.
as the years go on, there is no much to celebrate...
i had dinner w cell grp, dinner with family and dinner with my few best friends...
it is a nice cosy thing now, not the ra-ra birthdays that used to be...
i receive my birthday present from JP today, a top for the big tummy me... thanks candy!!!
got a watch from my mum, another top from pat...

baby is 4.5cm in length. it is so exciting to see baby again... it is like the most exciting thing thru the weekend, waiting to see him/her on Monday... thru a blur image...
i guess that's how it is being a mum and dad (for gab), u just hope u can scan everything u want to so that u can take a glimpse of baby....

i am feeling less tired lately though occasionally u will literally want to sleep on the spot, no matter where u are...my mouth got weird taste all the time...

gab says he never buy anything for me, but i think he gave me all the love and care and concern thru these 2 months... no money can buy... and actually he buy me some bottoms which cause a bomb....

God's word to me this week and I stand in awe of Him

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well." Psalms 139: 13-14

I am so glad Gabriel will be back tomorrow night! Really miss him.

greetings from Houston. it is 2.30am now. not that i can't get to sleep but rather i just woke up from my power nap... the time difference and the 20hrs flight took a toll on my body so, though i wanted to keep myself awake to adjust to houston timing, my body decided otherwise and i went to bed at 7pm!!! So now i am wide awake.
i didnt eat much as well and i am super hungry when i wake up. forgetting all the diet i am in, i soak my cup noodle with not-so-boiling hot water and now i am enjoying my cup noodle while blogging. thank God for cup noodles!!!!!
i went shopping at kathy mills outlet. every shop is on sale today. fall sale. but i was so so tired that i didnt want to try on clothes. (lin, i ended up buying clothes for u...)
oh and i am staying in homewood suite, the rooms here are huge!!!! the rooms are all suites (i think that's why call homewood suites). i am actually sitting in the living room now and there is a small kitchen. then there is a mircowave oven, stove, a big fridge and a dish washer (which i dun know how to use), i have a huge bed with 6 pillows and there are 2 tv in this suite... i wish i havemy camera to take a picture to show u how big it really is... but then again, why would 1 person need such a big place... just make me feel more alone...

great! it is 3am now. and if the sleeping spell dun hit me now. i am going to zzzz thru tomorrow meeting esp the post lunch slot... i have finished my cup noodle... like not enuff le... feel like having 1 more =P. i also bought mac cheese, just put into mircowave... aiya how... very hungry le... think i better go sleep now...

i m like a glass of champagne

it has been a long time since i felt so excited... and that's why i feel like a glass of champagne. the excitement is like bubbling inside me... it is really hard to describe. i m approaching the 40 days of purpose campaign in good light. i so believe i will grow thru it. i am believing my cell will grow together thru this. i am believing that my church will grow thru this.

at first, i tell myself not to get too excited, in case it is not as happening as it sounds to be. But God reminded of the lessons I've learnt in the beginning of the year on faith.
Heb 12: 1 (NKJV) "faith is a substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" and NLT quote it as " faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen, it gives us assurance of things we do not see" what i hope and want to see happen, i must first put faith in that it will happen. and most imptly put faith not in man (the planning comm) but in God.
Proverbs 19:21: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (this verse came to me 2 times last week, like God reminding me again and again it is not our plans but His will be done)

i m drinking bubble tea again. Bubble tea is really addictive and also very fattening.
Some days, I drink it daily and I think it contributes to the weight gain!!!!
soon my face will look like the 'pearls' in the bubble tea...
Sorry, feeling very monday blues today so talking very much of rubbish.

Nipponland day 1&2

Today is my first full and last day in Nagoya. It is really exciting here. I have so so much to share!!!!

Yesterday we touched down in Tokyo to take a transit flight to Nagoya. Well, the flight was cancelled due to the typhoon in Japan. after much confirmation with the airport staff, they direct us to take the Shingansen (bullet train) to Nagoya. Amazingly, the schedule we got brought us to Nagoya earlier than taking the plane!!!

In the Shingansen

The train ride is great, I slept most part of it (since I didn't sleep the night before ) and it was really fast. Before i knew it, we reached Nagoya, Candy was supposed to picked us up at the station, we waited for some time before she came (i tot the fetcher should be there waiting..hmm...) She was late because of the shopping. It is like great Japan sale, everywhere is 50% off!!!! And my shopping starts as well!!

Here our first dinner in Japan...

Yummy Food!!!

Day 2 - Nagoya Dome...

We were awaken by the noise in kitchen... That's Candy cooking our breakfast... we have hotcakes happy meal and it makes us really very happy...

Today's Nipponland adverture starts in Nagoya Dome. It is like a huge shopping mall with lotsa things...

pretty umbrellas, i m so tempted to buy one, but i hardly use them...
Lin, do u like this, the small pictures are mushrooms...

I bought lots of clothes. No wonder Lindy says no need to bring clothes there, everything there is nicer than what I brought. And they are on sale so every piece is like less than $20!!! I already spend $170 shopping in less than 2 days.

After a yummy lunch, we went to Candy's church, NC3. There is like 30 people, Candy says it is usually not that crowded but because there is 2 person getting baptised today. They sang hillsongs in Japanese so gab and i could follow in english. The presence of God is definitely there, even when I couldn't understand the prayer, I could sense so much thanksgiving and joy in the hearts of the believers. The world is really small, I met Ayumi, who happens to be the daughter of the Pastor of NC3 and she is Pat's friend.

there is so many people in church todaybaptism in the bathroom

Pat's friend, Ayumi and me

After church, we immediately rush home to change into our Yukato (a japanese costume) and head to Nagoya Port. The pictures will explain it all. It is really a beautiful port and we took so so so many pictures. We could potentially be perspiring but the weather was so perfect, God is so good, it was super windy because of the typhoon yesterday yet there is no rain today. We also managed to catch the hanabi (fireworks) at the port. We were all very hungry before we settle for western food at Cats Garden. The dessert is superb!!!!

Candy, Jiamin, Pamela and I in Yukata

japanese wannabesGab not in Yukata

i am proud of the ribbon i tied, very kawaii

Yummy ice-cream after dinner...

After this, we took a slow stroll to the subway and went home... We all can't wait to get out of the yukata!!!! hahahahahaha....we can breathe at last!!!

Back from camp

I had a great time at Port Dickson.
Rev Mark Chan spoke on David's life. We heard about David for like 10 if not 20 times but i guess if i have not live like David, I have not really become a woman after God's heart... I felt I learnt about David all over again, this time even more. The most significant thing I have learnt is abt facing the Goliath of my life. Sometimes, I just felt so timid in front of some people. But in David's heart, he only fear God and not even a giant like Goliath. It is only if I start fearing God more than fearing man, I can move as God leads.

Other than sermons, the team time was great, we built our own houses, drew vineyards. Is it because I am older now, I felt I could click with the adults better... I felt great fellowship with them.

This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog

Seriously there is nothing to do at Port Dickson, we played Bang every night til 1 plus am. And in the afternoon we just hang around walk ard. We are so bo liao that we start taking funny pictures...

This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog十连拍。。。what we do on a boring afternoon free time...

Well, all in all, I had a great great time. Ok. I am ready to get back to office and faced my hundreds, if not, thousands of emails!!!

Church Camp - Port Dickson

Bags are packed, heart prepared, ready to go for my 1-week 'vacation'.
4 days of camp (3 days to be exact, 1/2 day to travel there and 1/2 day back), what will i hear from the Lord? It is really exciting when you really put aside time for the Lord. Cos you know that this time is consecrated for no one else, with no other agenda but to rest physically and rest in the presence of God.

We packed a few different card games there. Swap, Bang, Uno. Heard that the place we are going is very very ulu, may not even have prata or ramly burger.
Sushin left her dog at a pet hotel today cos she will be with me at the camp. She super miss her dog... Ian had diarrhea, i hope he will be well by tomorrow else the trip there will be bad for him. XM will be going Mongolia on Tues, I believe it will be a good trip for her. Hopefully she do not lose anymore weight there. She doesn't like mutton...

it is 1.30am now. i am very tired but cant seems to put my excitement to rest.
But still I better sleep else my exciting camp may become a flu-ish camp...
Ok. Will update when i get back on thurs. Friday still on leave. Yipee!!!!

My turn to go JAPANing

After Lindy write so so much on her blog on her japaning, I so wish I was there with her!!!

My wish is coming true in July. I am japaning, MY TURN NOW!!!

Planning for holiday is a very exciting experience... Though Lindy says I am crazy to do that kind of detail planning, I am excited looking at my planning spreadsheet filled up with information. Candy says Japan will be super hot in July. She says the sun is like right behind you. Then Japan do not wear spagetti top... We are also going Mt Fuji and Disney Sea, so so exciting... Gab n I managed to get free Northwest air tickets so we are just going to spend our money on food food food... thinking of all the sashimi, shabu shabu makes me drool... (I cant wait til JP, think i will have jp food this week)

Mt Fuji pic from website I am going to scale this mountain!!!

Flowers for me!!!

thank you dear dear for the beautiful flowers.

though i do not have green fingers and the flowers die within a week in my care,

i still love them cos it is from you!!! =)

A very good friday

On Thurs, 1 day before good friday, i was reading my friend's blog (http://pattypat-chiang.blogspot.com/2007/03/saved4areason.html).
This is the part that caught my attention..

" Someone said this before, 'All it takes for evil to succeed is for people to do nothing at all'. All the devil needs to do to succeed in bringing as many people with him to hell is to convince as many christians to do nothing about this precious gift that we possess.To get us to feel nothing, say nothing, and be oblivious to the cries of people who are yet to be saved, not seeing the bleeding heart of Jesus when He sees so many precious ones dying each day without knowing Him as their Lord and King, their Savior and Friend."

I am glad to say that we did not do nothing this Good Friday. It is so easy to tell yourself that you have work hard day in day out and need a break over this long weekend.
It is so easy to sleep til late morning, watch tv thru the afternoon and waste the evening away.
But I am glad we did something so that the Lord's death 2000 years ago did not come to nothing.

The very purpose for Jesus's death to bring life to us. And Good Friday, （耶稣受难日），is the day where Jesus die for us all, even before we come to accept him as our Lord. He die for all not just me but all.

This is the very thing that amazes me til today. His love...

So as I was saying, we had our very first cell outreach party. The response was good with 4 new friends. When Nathan shared the song and Lindy, her testimony, I know the seed of love has been planted in the heart of all.

day 3 in Shanghai - dinner perfected w some great friends...

The people you dine with is far more impt than the food you dine on...

Today's dinner was great... I met up with Patrick, an old friend whom I work wif a long time ago... I guess it is the 'suffering' we share that made our friendship stronger.

Plus some new friends i made this time, (James is a funny & not-so-fierce-afterall guy and Echo whom I just found out that she is younger than me), dinner on a cold, mid-week evening was filled with warmth...

I am so glad... =)

day 1 in shanghai - trace back the familiar nanjing lu

The last time I am in Shanghai was 2 1/2 yrs ago. It is like a familiar (i stayed here for 3 plus weeks the last time!!) yet not-so-familar place...

Today is the last day of CNY, fireworks are everywhere in Shanghai. When I meant everywhere, i meant everywhere. it is like the cracking sound is all ard u and u can hardly turn ard in time to catch them on camera.

The temperature here has dropped by several degrees. Today is abt 8 degree C, tomorrow may go below 5. My face is frozen as I walk along the streets and I am beginning to have stuffy nose now. =( I am excited to be walking on Nanjing Lu again. I am more excited abt meeting my long-time-no-see friends.

Ok going to sleep now in my very nice hotel room and wake up early for a good day!!! (see I got 4 pillows to myself today)

In His Presence

Lyn taught abt being in God's presence in the last bs. How we can tap on His anointing when we are in His presence. Not that I am totally ignorant abt this before my bs, but after that session, i am brought to even greater awareness of His presence. it is almost like you know when u are in and when you are out of His presence. God's anointing power is amazingly great when you are in His presence and when you become aware of this, it is almost like you grow dependant on His power, you know that your own human strength is so limited that you just want to draw from His strength.

I also come into realisation that I only want to be successful by His anointing. Cos I no longer know the success i get using my own strength is 'real' success. Like leading a great worship is no longer a success to me unless God's ministry is in His people. Leading a good teaching in cell is not good enough unless lives are changed!!! I really desire to see God's hand moving in my life!!!!

"Where can i go from your presence?

Under your wings, i take refuge.

You search me deep within my heart

I know we'll nvr be apart.

Everyday, I draw closer to you Lord.

I long to see your face

And hide in your embrace.

All my life, dwelling in your hold place

My heart O Lord, you've change

I'll nvr be the same, nvr be the same."

from song "Refuge"

a good day

i love today.
i got up in time to jog, something i realli wanted to do for a long time but nvr had the discipline.
i went to work, clearing most of the stuff i need to do today
i had a good lunch wif my collegues.
gab picked me up after work and we had a great dinner together.
then we went shopping with all the vouchers we had (means we spent almost nothing yet get to buy stuff!!!)
and we manage to leave orchard by 8pm and reached home at 8.30, giving us lotsa time to relax in front of the tv.
now i am just sipping my wine, watching tv, typing my blog before i head to bed...
wat a wonderful and fulfilling day!
i love today!!!

disappointments

have you been disappointed before?
have you been disappointed again and again?
have you been disappointed, then you recovered, then get disappointed again, then you picked yourself up again, and then again... and again?

i know man will disappoint me, i am all ready to face that, but yet today, i feel like hidding again.

i thank God that i have Him to cling on. else i wouldn't know where to find the strength to pick myself up again, the next time i am being disappointed. i thank God that He is the one i am serving so i know that even if man fails, God never fails.
(3pm)
-------------------------------------------------------------
(5pm)now i want to thank God for disappointments, cause they will mould me in my character.
No point dwelling in my disappointments, cause it doesn't fill me, it doesn't make me feel better, it doesn't cause me to grow either. ok!!! time to move on!!!!

High price to pay for my carelessness

I lost my camera last Sunday... I left it at Dunman market after my lunch. Though I went back like in 5 mins, it was gone... $700 camera that gab and I bought half a year ago. It just spoil my day lor.
Now i have to go buy another camera. I could have used the money on more clothes, bags, shoes. The loss is like $1.4k... (cos you felt a lost of $700 when you lose a camera, then you have to spend another $700 on a new one). not a logical calculation, but it is a feeling i get lah...

40 days Purpose Driven Life

Church is launching 40days of purpose driven life. i am both excited and worried. i feel it is a make it or break it project... and to make it, everyone must play a part in the whole involvement. it is like a team, if everyone is very onz, it will be good lor... but if everyone is very reluctant to give their time, then there will be no fruits lor...

Anyway, I am going to start reading the book again. I just collected it frm my mum's place.

friends, if u wanna find a purpose in your life, write to me. all of us has a purpose in our life.

Welcome 2007

My new year resolution

1. Put everything back where they belong. My table is in a mess!!!

2. Read at least 1 book every quarter. That's 4 books a year. Abit little but a good start lah

3. Meet up with my cell members frequently.

4. Pray for my cell members weekly.

5. Read my bible daily.

Ok just 5 resolutions now. but these are really huge tasks. esp no. 1. why m i such a messy person? and i must start a system for my drawers and cupboards. magazines say it will help in putting things back and finding things as well.

skydive - once in my lifetime

I have no been able to update for some time. 2 weeks ago, I move my blog to google. Not sure what happen but I was stuck with google in Japan!!! I can't understand any icon. Can't put up any blog.

So what had happen for these 2 weeks...

I came back from Perth and have survived the jump of my life!!! Yes, the very very extreme sport that I will never ever do again - sky dive from 10,000 feet!

I am trying to upload my video clip. Can someone teach me how to do it? Anyway, show u all some photos first of my perth trip ok...

Me and my sky dive instructor

Yummy food on Day 1

Yummy Food on Day 2 (see the steak is bigger than my face...WOW!!!)

@ the gala dinner

Youth Camp 06 - Cross Out

I can only testify of God's goodness in this camp. It cannot be done without Him. Glory to God alone!!

No pics yet. But I will put them up once I get hold of them.

Christmas

Yes of course. I chiong Orchard to get some gifts til 12midnight! You just go through Christmas without buying gifts. Though we told ourselves that we will not spend so much this Christmas, but I believe it is because Christmas is all about giving, God giving his son to us, you cannot resist buying gifts for your friends. The whole town is filled with people getting gifts. There is just this atmosphere of giving during Christmas, an atmosphere that cannot be explained. If you say that's because Christmas has been commercialised, it may seems true but generally people are more generous. Generosity cannot be created yah? Anyhow, I had a great time finding gifts for friends. And once again, I thank God for sending His son on earth this very day.

Sometimes I just feel like hiding somewhere where no one can find me...

I want to hide from all the problems that's before me...

I want to hide from all the people chasing after me...

hai... but i know I can't hide from God.

so it leaves me with no choice but to face whatever problem I have,

face the people I am trying to ignore.

Embrace the fact that there is no hiding before the Lord.

"For the spirit of God is not of fear, but of love, power and self control."

"You are my shield, my strength

My portion, deliverer

My shelter, strong tower

My very present help in times of need."