Another Year

In a blink of an eye, 2009 is coming to an end. I still remember my last post of year 2008, whereby I was sharing how God had lead me.

This year has been a quiet year. My life generally was like a roller coaster. Sometimes it is high, sometimes it is low. Hm, should I consider it as an exciting year? Perhaps so...

Things were still fine during early of the year. I still remember last year this time, I was anticipating for a better 2009. I was hoping that relationships would be better, career would be more stable, etc.

Shortly after I fell down from the staircase in February, things started to change gradually.

From a very close group of friends, we became like strangers,

From a stranger, we became close out of a sudden,

From an acquaintance, we became closer as time goes by,

From very close, we became strangers again...

Up and down, up and down; that was my life in 2009.

In terms of career, as usual, I feel that I am stagnant in this place. Should I move on? Should I stay? Where do You want me to go?

This Christmas has been very quiet. I went to my former Church to attend Christmas service. Ironically, I felt home. However, things often happen in such a way that we ourselves cannot understand. I was hoping, and still hoping that I can grow up spiritually in a place I think I can grow; but God seems to be playing tricks on me. The more I want to leave, the more tasks He is giving me.

Oh, what should I do? Should I stay on for another few months? Well, knowing myself, I think I would not be going anywhere until strong signals from Him showing that I should move on.

Will 2010 be a better year? Will my blog entry be different at this time next year?

I am anticipating this...

Wo Yuan Yi ~ Faye Wong

Wo Yuan Yi ~ Faye Wong

 
si nian shi yi zhong hen xuan de dong xi
ru ying ~ shui xing
wu sheng you wu xi chu mo zai xin di
zhuan yan ~ tun mo wo zai ji mo li
wo wu li kang ju te bie shi ye li
xiang ni dao wu fa hu xi
hen bu neng li jin chao ni kuang ben qu
da sheng de kao shu ni ~
yuan yi wei ni wo yuan yi wei ni
wo yuan yi wei ni wang ji wo xing ming
jiu suan duo yi miao ting liu zai ni huai li
shi qu shi jie ye bu ke xi
wo yuan yi wei ni wo yuan yi wei ni
wo yuan yi wei ni bei fang zhu tian ji
zhi yao ni zhen xin na ai yu wo hui ying
shen me dou yuan yi
shen mo dou yuan yi wei ni

ENGLISH TRANSLATION :

Missing thoughts is a very obscure thing
like shadow ~ taking shape of whatever
Silently and breathlessly resurface at the bottom of heart
In a blink of an eye ~ shrouded me in loneliness
I weakly fight against, especially at night
Think of you till breathless
Hate that I can't immediately sprint towards you
Loudly tell you ~
willing for you, I'm willing for you
I'm willing to forget my name for you
Even if just an extra second in your embrace
No regrets losing the world
I'm willing for you, I'm willing for you
I'm willing to be left at the end of the world for you
As long as you sincerely reciprocate with love
anything (i'm) willing
Anything (i'm) willing for you

思念是一种很玄的东西
如影~随形
无声又无息出没在心底
转眼~吞没我在寂默里
我无力抗拒特别是夜里喔~
想你到无法呼吸
恨不能立即朝你狂奔去
大声的告诉你~
愿意为你我愿意为你
我愿意为你忘记我姓名
就算多一秒停留在你怀里
失去世界也不可惜
我愿意为你我愿意为你
我愿意为你被放逐天际
只要你真心拿爱与我回应
什么都愿意
什么都愿意为你

Happy Birthday to...

you...

It has been few months since we last contacted. I wish you well. Blessed Birthday to you in advance. I know it is tomorrow but I just thought of wishing you now. I know you might not visit this post, but it is just my style to wish everybody I know on their birthday. So, no special meaning attached.

Take care and God bless!

I Think Too Much

Very often in our lives we will go through a series of events that will lead from one to another. Sometimes we tend to think too much about one certain event, and this may lead to two conclusion: good or bad. Hmm, what is this about?

Myself, for example, sometimes I tend to be sensitive and think about things that is actually not the case. How do I go about this? For instance, my dad asks me to drive carefully whenever I see a motocyclist in front of me, but I will go on to think that he is saying that I drive too fast.

This in turn, would lead to miscommunication. If this is not clarified, it will lead to bitter feeling in me. Consequently, I will have my mood swing and react badly to the situation.

Yes, I do think too much. I feel that sometimes we can just leave things as it is and let the thing speaks for itself. A is A, B is B, it is just as simple as A, B, C. Why do we want to complicate things and think about things that is actually not the case?

LOL~ I think my mom must have inherited her imaginative skills to me. She is really good at this, and very often, misunderstanding arise from this too :p

Anyhow, I have to learn to be simpler. A will not be B unless in extreme cases whereby we can just draw a stroke below and it turns out to be B.

"Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself". This is what Jesus said. It is time to let go and let God take over things that are not within our control.

Cheers!

Grateful (I)

Yesterday I was having lunch with my colleague. As I was chatting with her about her mom's condition, I came to realise that there are a lot of things that we should be grateful about. For instance, I am grateful to God because my parents are still healthy and still able to move around.

In life, there are a lot of things that we tend to take for granted. When I hear that her mom is hospitalised, I was really grateful that God had mercy on us 13 years ago. I still remember it was few days before my birthday, my mom had to undergo a lung operation. I told my mom to be strong and that God is with her, and she must come out to celebrate my birthday.

At that time, Doctor informed that the operation was only going to take two (2) hours; so I was in my school uniform, thinking that I could still attend class after visiting my mom after her operation.

Two hours passed, but nobody came out. My family and I were getting anxious as there was no one to inform us what was going on. Hour by hour, finally after the sixth hour, the Doctor came out and informed us that the operation was successful! Praise the Lord!

Then the Doctor told us that he had to cut out my mom's lung (one side) [the reason my mom went for lung operation was because she had a shadow at one side of her lung (suspected cancer)] because they were afraid that the 'shadow' will spread to other parts of the body.

I remembered that the Doctor said it was classified as second stage cancer, but my dad kept on denying it. Anyhow, having only one lung, my mom is still very healthy now. Doctor said she would be under observation for five (5) years, and if nothing goes wrong, she is okay thereafter :)

Today, after 13 years, she is still here with us, living healthily and is a living testimony that God is great. I really thank God for being kind to us and that He always remembers us at all times. I hope that my colleague's mom will accept Christ as her Saviour.

I also hope that readers who are Christian help to pray for my colleague's mom, Mrs Wong, that she will be able to open her heart to accept Christ when the news of salvation reaches her ear.

Abba Father,

We cast Mrs Wong unto Your hands. We know that You are a merciful Lord, that You love all of us although we do not deserve it. Lord, please open Mrs Wong's heart, so that when we share with her about You, she would be able to accept You with a willingful heart. We pray for her salvation, and also pray that You would heal her from her sickness, so that she would be a living testimony for You.

In Jesus' precious name we pray, Amen.

I Realised I am Not Alone...

Today I attended a Conference for Christian Lawyers together with ST and others. All this while, since my first experience working in a legal firm, I thought that the society is so realistic that what firms care about is to make money. Of course, it is not wrong to be realistic; after all, we need money to survive! However, is practice about making money? Isn't it a Profession? Do we really need to be like the "Ambulance Chaser" described on Facebook?

It is indeed disappointing to find out the true colours of the society; gone were the days where we dreamt about being a good lawyer, and more importantly, a Christian lawyer. When I say 'society', I mean the society in general, and not about the legal society per se. I still remember when I worked as a Sales Assistant, all the employer cared about was: "how much profit did you earn for me today?"

One of the organiser said: "You are not here by accident". So, I was not there by accident. Is there something that God wants to tell me from this Conference? I think so...

I realise that I am not alone in this field. What I mean is, I realise that there are actually a lot of things that we can do as Christian lawyers to help those who are in need, which is my initial intention in embarking my journey in this career. How am I going to do it? I really do not know that answer, but having attended the Conference, I believe that it serves as a stepping stone. The step may be small, but at least one step is taken.

Will I be able to realise my own intention? I trust that God will make a way.

Dear Lord, I thank You for giving me the opportunity to learn how to serve You in my career. Please lead me through as You know that I am weak. Please guide me and show me Your light so that I will be walking on the right path. Please open Your way for me, and show me how I can serve You in this aspect. Jesus, we need You to help us to overcome the dilemmas that we might face during the pursuance of our career. We pray that You would give us wisdom and strength to overcome the challenges ahead and shine for You. Please help us to be compassionate, loving, kind and always have the fire in us to fight for justice, for You are the righteousness Lord.

In Jesus' precious name we put down ourselves and commit ourselves to You so that Your name shall be glorified. In the Lord's name we pray, Amen.

Five Finger Prayer

This is beautiful - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a 'sweet duty.'

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all, which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, 'The least shall be the greatest among you.' Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.


Don't tell God how big your storm is, Tell the storm how big your God is!!!!!

劉力揚 – 我就是這樣

Liu Li Yang – Wo Jiu Shi Zhe Yang
Jade Liu – I Am Just What I Am

我就是這樣 天馬行空的磁場

Wo jiu shi zhe yang tian ma xing kong de zi chang

I am just what I am, an unrestrained and vigorous magnetic field

或許你還不習慣 我在等你變成拍檔

Huo xu ni hai bu xi guan wo zai deng ni bian cheng pai dang

Perhaps you’re not used to it yet, I’m waiting for you to become my partner

我就是這樣 注定和你不一樣

Wo jiu shi zhe yang zhu ding he ni bu yi yang

I am just what I am, destiny different from yours

謝謝你欣不欣賞 我的風格是限量*

Xie xie ni xin bu xin shang wo de feng ge shi xian liang

Thank you, whether or not you admire it, my style is limited

攤開的手掌 柔軟又剛強

Tan kai de shou zhang rou ruan you gang qiang

A spread out palm, soft and unyielding

(十指纖長 指尖藏著一股力量)

(Shi zhi xian chang zhi jian cang zhe yi gu li liang)

(Ten delicately long fingers, fingertips storing strength)

安靜的目光 溫柔卻也狂放

An jing de mu guang wen rou que ye kuang fang

A peaceful view, gentle yet wild

(眼神明亮 有好多話想對你講)

(Yan shen ming liang you hao duo hua xiang dui ni jiang)

(Bright eyes have much to tell you)

我獨特的模樣 是全新的信仰

Wo du te de mu yang shi quan xin de xin yang

My unique style is a completely new conviction

**

Rap：
你不會躲在 不長不短的裙擺
Ni bu hui duo zai bu chang bu duan de qun bai
You won’t hide in a neither long nor short skirt

耍無賴太依賴 都不符合你的心態
Yao wu lai tai yi lai dou bu fu he ni de xin tai
Wanting the hoodlum to be dependent fits with your mentality

乖乖早過了時代 怪怪才有人青睞
Guai guai zao guo le shi dai guai guai cai you ren qing lai
Obediently pass through the era early on, being odd will get the people’s good graces

不需要表態 讓大家慢慢猜
Bu xu yao biao tai rang da jia man man cai
You don’t need to declare your position, let everyone slowly guess


既古代又現代 愛HIP HOP也愛李白
Ji gu dai you xian dai ai HIP HOP ye ai li bai
Since both the old and modern times both love Hip-Hop and Li Bai (Tang-dynasty poet)

是女孩像男孩 這次出場注定精彩
Shi nv hai xiang nan hai zhe ci chu chang zhu ding jing cai
A girl who resembles a boy, this appearance is destined to be splendid

我嗅到英雄神采 我瞄到美人姿態
Wo xiu dao ying xiong shen cai wo miao dao mei ren zi tai
I sniff out a heroic countenance, I am for a beauty’s stance

多變的節拍 接下來該是你跩
Duo bian de jie pai jie xia lai gai shi ni zhuai
Many transformed into a rhythm, what follows should be your swagger

詩人的濫觴 刻板的印象
Shi ren de lan shang gai ban de yin xiang
A bard’s source, an inflexible impression

(沒有文字 足以介紹你的出場)
(Mei you wen zi zu yi jie shao ni de chu chang)

(There are no words sufficient enough to introduce your appearance)

你愛曬太陽 我賞我的月亮

Ni ai shai tai yang wo shang wo de yue liang

You love to sunbathe while I appreciate my moon

(井水河水 各自徜徉各的海洋)

(Jing shui he shui ge zi chang yang ge de hai yang)

(Well water, river water, each ocean wandering unhurriedly)

想發出一道光 讓世間不平凡

Xiang fa chu yi dao guang rang shi jian bu ping fan

Wanting to issue a light to let the world become marvelous

**

溫柔 倔強 勇敢 都是我

Wen rou jue qiang yong gan dou shi wo

Gentleness, strength, and courage are all me

我擁有太多 不同基因

Wo yong you tai duo bu tong ji yin

I possess too many different genes

安靜 吵鬧 沉默 都是我

An jing chao nao chen mo dou shi wo

Peace, noise, and silence are all me

分鐘 不同的顏色

Fen zhong bu tong de yan se

Minutes, all different colors

**

** + RAP

A Story that Never Fails to Touch Me [II]

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift !

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who died too early on this earth.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around.

Too beautiful not to share !

I Wish It Is Simpler...

Is life complicated? A very subjective question indeed. I think it is normal for us to be in lost of direction at one point in our lives. Some people will face it once in a lifetime, whilst some will face it from time to time.

I wanted to be a lawyer when I was 13 but as I grow up, I feel that being a lawyer is not what I thought it would be. Of course I realise that being a lawyer will not be as glamorous as those 'lawyers' we see on TV, but the least that I expect is, there is some sense of satisfaction in whatever that I am doing.

Do I know what I want in life? A friend once said : "I thought I know, I think I don't know". Yes, I thought I knew, but now I think I don't know. Where am I heading to? What is God's will in me? How 'lost' am I? Will I be able to find back my direction in life?

Life can be simple yet fulfilling. Do you agree with this statement? In my opinion, I think this is possible. We can lead a very simple life. When I say simple, I do not intend to mean that our mindset is simple. I mean we can have a simple lifestyle yet we can still achieve what we want to achieve.

Sometimes thinking too much is not necessarily a good thing. I have seen people with simple mindset, but they lead a very healthy and happy life. 1 + 1 = 2. It is just that simple. How I wish I can have that kind of life too. However, will such life be termed as meaningless? You may take a look at the children on the street; isn't their life simple? YET, they can have a fulfilling life too. For instance, they feel good about themselves when they achieve good results in school. Yes, their mindset is simple, but is it meaningless?

Back to reality, we have too much to think about. Life in general, work a.k.a career, family, relatives, friends, relationships, financial etc. Is it possible for us to be like a child? Child, what a nice word.

A thought came to my mind when I was typing the word 'child'. Memories came back. I remember during Church camp, most of us feel like a child again, because we were embraced by God. Oh, how I wish I have that feeling again.

Life is simple so long as we follow His light because with His guidance, we are on the right track. It is a matter of choice whether we want to follow Him, but we also need to be aware of the consequences should we sidetracked. However, is it really that simple? It is not an easy route, but results guaranteed. Can I do it?

I have a friend, not simple minded but a very simple person by nature. She is having a fulfilling life now, I believe. So I guess to have a simple yet fulfilling life is possible. Where there is will, there is a way...

I wish I can cast all my anxieties unto Him and it is as simple as that.

"Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself"

My favourite verse. Oh, memories again! I remember how simple-minded I was. I am still but last time I know how to have faith without doubting. I do not doubt now, but I have 'empty' faith instead. Oh, isn't this confusing?

I wish, I really wish it is simpler...

Change [II]

I found this on my friend's FB :)

Why is change needed?

Many times, in order to survive we need to start a change process,

We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits and other past traditions,

Only freed from past burdens, can we take advantage of the present.

Have a good weekend =)

Change [I]

Change! a process that all of us need to go through from time to time. Can we adapt to change? Are we flexible enough?

Change! can be positive, can be negative. How do we react when we face with change?

Change! is what we need when things are so mundane and stagnant. We need change when we are not moving forward. We need change to face challenges and obstacles. We need change when it is time to do do. We need change when it is right to do so.

Change! can be fearful. This is because we might not be able to figure out the outcome of change.

"Ships" can change from time to time, and when we least expect it to change, that is where the fear comes in.

Change! Am I prepared for it? Are you prepared for it?

It Started Off as a Game...

Each time I read the story I posted earlier ["A Story that Never Fails to Touch Me"], tears would collect at the corner of my eyes.

Yes, it is just a story. Some people might feel that it is ridiculous to feel touched about invented stories such as this. Let's ask, how many of us would cry when we watch a movie or TV drama, or when we read a book? Aren't those "stories" too? Furthermore, where do stories come from? I guess it is safe to say most of it come from personal experiences. Moreover, life itself is a story. What is your story?

They initially started as a 'game' but it turned out to be a 'true story'  after they get along with each other for about 30 days. Isn't love amazing? I always wonder whether love is blind. I mean, besides God's love and the fact that God is love; what is the significance of 'love' in the general context?

I read a friend's blog recently and he posted an entry about true love. Love is blind. Yes, I do agree.  When the whole world seems to think that a person is lousy, it is not so in the eyes of the lover; because we can only see the strengths and willing to compromise to accept the weaknesses of the person we love. We are not perfect, that is why we are there for each other to complement each other. I also agree that it is more than mere feelings. There are indeed a lot of issues to consider before we commit ourselves into a relationship.

Race, Culture, Religion, Belief, Values, Compatibility, Political Views, Priorities in Life, Habits, Interests, Dreams etc, all these would contribute to the success of a relationship. It may start with feeling, but it will progress to commitment at a later stage. Can we live together despite the differences between us?

Of course the answer is in the affirmative; otherwise there will be a lot of divorce cases by now. How can we live together? Tolerance? Patience? Consideration? Understanding? Communication? Compromise? I guess the list will go on and on...

Love is not a game. It could have started as a game, but once we decide to be in a relationship, it is commitment. Commitment is not a big word, it is whether we are willing or not...

Are you willing?

A Story that Never Fails to Touch Me [I]

Daniel: I guess we are the left overs in this world.

Jasmine: I think so.. All of my friends have boyfriends & we are the only 2 persons left in this world without any special someone in our lives.

Daniel: Yup! I don't know what to do.

Jasmine: I know! We'll play a game.

Daniel: What game?

Jasmine: I'll be your girlfriend for 30 days & you will be my boyfriend.

Daniel: That's a great plan in fact, I don't have anything to do for the following weeks..


DAY 1:

They watched their first movie together & were both touched in the romantic film.


DAY 4:

They went to the beach & had a picnic... Daniel & Jasmine had their quality time together.


DAY 12:

Daniel invited Jasmine to a circus and they went to a Horror House.. Jasmine was scared and she tried to touch Daniel's hand but by accident she touched someone else's and they both laughed..


DAY 14:

They saw a fortune teller down the road and asked for their future. The fortune teller said: 'My darlings, please don't waste the time of your lives... spend your time together happily.' Then tears flow from the teller's eyes.


DAY 20:

Jasmine invited Daniel to go to the hill and they saw a meteor... Jasmine mumbled something.


DAY 28:

They rode on a bus and because of the bumpy road, Jasmine gave her first kiss to Daniel by accident.


DAY 29:

11:37 pm

Daniel & Jasmine were sitting in the park where they first decided to play this game...

Daniel: I'm tired Jasmine... do you want any drinks? I'll buy you one.. I'll just go down the road..

Jasmine: Apple juice would be fine,thanks.

Daniel: Wait for me...


20 minutes later... a stranger approached Jasmine.

Stranger: Are you a friend of Daniel?

Jasmine: Yes, why? What happened?

Stranger: A reckless drunken driver ran over Daniel & he is critical in the hospital.


11:57pm

The doctor came out from the emergency room & handed out an apple juice & a letter to Jasmine.

Doctor: We found this in Daniel's pocket.

Jasmine read the letter which says:

Jasmine, this past few days, I realized you are really a cute girl & I am falling for you.. your cherished smile, your everything when we played this game.. & before this game ends, I would like you to be my girlfriend for the rest of my life. I love you, Jasmine...

Jasmine crumples the paper & shouted..

'Daniel! I don't want you to die...I love you... Remember that night we saw a meteor? I mumbled something.. I wished that we would be together forever & never end this game. Please don't leave me, Daniel... I love you, you cannot do this to me

Then the clock strikes 12

Daniel's heart stop pumping


THEN IT WAS THE 30th DAY...


Always love your loved ones & show them how you feel before it's too late.. You will never know when they will be gone from your embrace.. If you were given a time to bestow petals of everlasting compassion & love to your love ones, today is the day. Love them while they are still here...

Stop Dreaming and Start Working!!

The voice in me shouts: "Stop dreaming, and start working!!"

Sometimes we need "incidents" to wake us up from our dreams. For instance, we are so deep in our thoughts whilst walking on the street and suddenly we hear somebody shouting, "Help! Help!" and we just look up and see the lady shouting trying to chase after a snatch thief. Then it occurs to us that we need to focus, be alert, and be aware with our surroundings when we are walking on the street.

As mentioned in my earlier post, there are more and more disasters happening on earth nowadays. We need to be alert as the second coming of Christ is soon. Some predicted the date 20th day of December 2012. Personally, I think whether or not the date is true, we need to wake up and start working, because there is not much time left!

In the legal line, we always have to meet deadlines after deadlines; I believe other fields face the same kind of stress as well. When the deadline is nearer, we are getting more stressed, anxious, nervous, you name it, and the feeling exists.

The deadline that we are facing now involves LIVES! Yes! LIVES! There are so many people out there who need salvation! There are so many people who are in need of LOVE, JOY, PEACE, GRACE, BLESSINGS!

Christian, or non-Christians, it does not matter anymore, because Christians may have drifted apart from God and we need to hold them tight; and needless to say, the souls of non-Christians are precious.

It is often very disappointing when we hear people say, through their own experiences they are disappointed with Christians. I have also heard people commented that non-Christians behave better than Christians. Does it matter? After all, we are all imperfect humans created by God.

Christianity is a belief, it is NOT a religion. This is what I have learn in the past. We believe in our hearts and confirm in our speech that Jesus is the Son of God. We admit we are sinners and need God's mercy and forgiveness.

Many people seem to think that being a Christian there are many restrictions. For example, no sex before marriage, not to lie even though it is a white lie, not to swear but to just simply say yes or no, and the list goes on.

Have you ever thought about this: why do Christians avoid smoking? Is it because the Bible says so? The Bible does not specifically state that we are not to smoke; so why are the leaders stopping this? The reason is simple, the Bible says we are to search for wisdom; let's think this way: is it healthy to smoke? Is smoking good in the long run? If no, why do we choose to be 'cool' and smoke when it is scientifically proven that smoking causes cancer? Thus, why not we CHOOSE to be wise instead, to avoid things that would affect us negatively?

Lately I am touched by a lot of things. I do not know how to explain this, but something is telling me that there are a lot of things to be done before the second coming of Christ. There are so many people out there that need our LOVE and CARE. I may not be able to do a lot to help, but the least I could do, is to do my part.

Jesus loves me, and He never thought of leaving me behind. It is our privilege to be able to share with others how He loves us. Therefore, it is crucial that we WAKE UP and STOP DREAMING! We seem to be engrossed with a lot of things happening around us, that we neglect the crucial things in life. However, I believe it is never too late to discover the purpose of life. I cannot guarantee that I will be a better person from now on, but I know I must try my best to please Him.

I Want to Draw Nearer to You...

God never leaves us, it is always us, who leave Him. From time to time, He will be in the picture when things go wrong; when we are restless and hopeless; in short, when things are negative, suddenly it struck us that we have a God behind us at all times...

Since Sunday School, we have been taught to spend some time everyday with Him. We are to read the Bible, to pray, to listen to His voice, and to meditate. However, with the pace of life nowadays, many of us tend to leave this behind. Some may say, "I am too busy", whilst some will say, "I still have plenty of time" etc.

I still remember there was one particular year I spent some time everyday to read His words. I was so thirsty that I wanted to know Him more and more; just like how we first get to know a friend and want to spend more time so that we can know more about the friend. I really miss those days.

This year is different; instead of getting closer, I am drifting apart from Him. There are a lot of reasons behind it, but all these are mere excuses. When He had given His most precious Son to sacrifice for us, are there any valid excuses that can relieve us from our duty?

Duty? What duty? No wonder people say being a Christian has many restrictions; cannot do this, cannot do that; oh, it's so frustrating!!

Of course not! Bible is the "Basic Instructions/Information Before Leaving Earth". Since young, we learn to carry out instructions. In fact, we do that throughout our lives. At home, we listen to our parents; at school, our teachers; at work, our employers; at Church, our leaders; and the list goes on. Therefore, surely we need to know what God has in store for us, agree?

God has already opened the door for us, all of us. In turn, it is our duty/responsibility to find out more about Him, about what He has provided for us. For instance, our parents had used up their savings to send us abroad to further our studies, surely it is our duty/responsibility to fulfil our part as a child/student. Thus, same theory applies here.

God never leaves us. His arm is always open to welcome us. He is our best friend. To be frank, my greatest fear is that He leaves me alone, not bothered to care about me anymore. We can live without anyone on this earth but God.

Without Him, I am nothing!

With Him, I am something!

It is because of Him, I am here today;

and I want to be a living testimony because He is just so great!

I remember I shared with some friends some sweet experiences of my other friends. I was telling them, I just find it irresistible to share it out. If the experiences between/among human beings are worth sharing; how about sharing what God has done for us in our lives?

The end of the world is coming very soon. Although I seldom read the newspaper, but I am aware that there are more and more disasters around the world. I believe there are more to come. What should we do?

Lord, please have mercy on us. I pray that more and more souls will be saved. Your love, Your joy, Your peace, Your grace, Your blessings are wanted here! Please work in all of us so that people will know You. Lord, we need You desperately. Please live in us. In Jesus' precious name I pray, Amen.

A Vessel of Love

The topic of the sermon today is: "A Vessel of Love".

Again, it is about love. God is love and love come from Him. I always believed that in everything that we do, it begins with the word L.O.V.E.

Love comes from God and springs from out heart

1 John 4:10 ~ This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:19 ~ We love because He first loved us.

God's love is unconditional.

The Great Commandment - Matthew 22:36-40

The Great Commission - Matthew 28:18-20

The Behaviours of Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-6

~ Love is not doing things that are fantastic; love is actually our daily attributes and daily principles in life

~ Love is not about changing another person, but being gracious and regarding the person positively

Abraham Joshua Heschel

"When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people."

Albert Schweirzer

"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate."

Love is not about doing something special, but it is about choosing not to do foolish things.

Love can be strong yet fragile

Love requires communication and expression

Love nurtures and protects 

If love is betrayed

It takes time to heal ~ Let go of your pride and hurt, receive the love of Christ and the help of the Holy Spirit, choose to forgive

It requires sincere repentance ~ True repentance requires practical action

Where there is love, there is relationship;

Where there is relationship, everything else does not matter;

Let the love of God springs from us and walk with us;

Be a Vessel of Love! 

It is Not a Coincidence [II]

If you refer to my previous entry, you might think that I would be writing about KF today. However, there are a lot of incidences in our lives that do not just happen to be that way. In everything decision that we have made, whether wise or unwise, it is not by coincidence. Likewise, in every action that we take, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it happens for a reason.

There are a lot of times we would have self-doubt, as to the decision or steps that we have taken. We might even feel confused as to our decision or steps, and at times we might even ponder WHY things happened the way it did. IF we take another step, would the outcome be different? WHERE do we go from here? Do we correct a wrong with another wrong? Do we just go with the flow? WHAT do we need to do so that things would turn out to be the best out of the worst situations? HOW can we achieve that?

Am I making sense here?

Now this is an unrelated story:

There is a BBQ Party in conjunction of celebrating the Mooncake Festival last Saturday. I was contemplating myself whether to attend this event as I know that I would be very very tired, and seriously in need of a good rest. Out of the blue, I just asked a good friend of mine whether she would be interested to join the event. I did not expect a positive answer at all, as I was just 'simply' asking.

Hours later, she sms me and asked for the details regarding the event. Frankly, I was taken by surprise. I really never thought that she would agree to come, but she did. Praise the Lord, for another seed is planted on her.

I wonder when the harvest would be. I really hope that the day is coming soon. I remember inviting her to my previous Church's musical night. If I remember correctly, that was the first time she attended a Church event with me. This is the third time that she joins me. I hope that she would be able to see that God has been watching her all this while.

I believe her presence last Saturday was NOT a coincidence. I pray hard that Salvation would reach her, and her heart would be open for the Lord to enter and do wonders in her life. There is a Chinese saying: One member of the family is saved, the WHOLE FAMILY would be saved.

May God bless you abundantly, SJY!

Touched [I]

[Canon in D]

Step by step, the Bride walks along the aisle and there goes the start of the wedding ceremony...

I attended a "stranger's" wedding this morning. It is strange that when I enter the Church I do not feel awkward at all. In fact, I feel as though I am welcomed into the Lord's family. I still remember when I first attended a new Church many years ago, I felt so heavy...

Although I do not know the couple getting married today, I was close to tears looking at how a lovely couple being united in God's presence. It is truly a blessing for the couple as well as those who attended the wedding to be able to experience how the Love of God unites all of us.

The Brothers and Sisters in the Church are very warm too.. I even took photo with the couple. I felt so free and light from the second I entered the Church. It it truly a great experience for me. God has once again showed me that He is AGAPE!

Letting Go [I]

At some point in our lives, we will meet with incidences or people that hold us tightly to the extent that the thought of letting go is just so impossible. It could be our bad habits. It could be our own stubbornness. It could be our hobby. It could be our friends. It could be ANYTHING.

Recently I found out that it is possible to let go of things that once bound us. For instance, I used to love watching the television a lot. When I was young, I would do my homework whilst watching the television programmes. I would be so obsessed with a drama or show that I would tell my friends not to call me during that time because I want to enjoy the full drama or show. If people do call me, I would actually feel annoyed because they did so.

Sometimes the urge in our hearts can be so strong that when our mind tried to remind us that a certain thing or person is not good for us, we just refused to be logical and rational, and instead, we chose to listen to our hearts and be emotional about that issue.

Someone had hurt me deeply recently, just a few months ago. I took quite some time to allow myself to be free from this person. At first I really thought that I would use more that six months to get over with it. However, with the comfort from the Lord, and encouragement and support from my friends, I have let go of this person.

The feeling of letting go is really great. I can feel that my heart, my shoulders, and in fact my whole body, mind and soul are so light. From here, I learnt that sometimes we must let go for our own good. When we are holding tight onto something, it may be a burden to us. Why trouble ourselves when we have a better option to deal with it?

BALANCE is what I think is crucial here. In everything, we just have to know how to balance, be it our minds, our hearts, our emotions etc.

Also, besides letting go, we also need to learn not only to FORGIVE but to FORGET as well. I am thankful that I do not have a good memory. At most times, I would not be able to remember things for too long. LOL, short term memory may be not be a bad thing after all.

The feeling of forgiving and forgetting is great too. When one does not have the stumbling block in our minds and our hearts, the light feather is truly a blessing!

God bless =)

Angels Around Me [I]

From the second I was born till today, I believe that there were many Angels around me. I really thank God for what He had done in my life. Today I want to share about my court attendances.

I am not a very talkative person. My friends would describe me as a very soft person. When I told people that I was reading law, they would say, "Oh, so you are going to be the type that vets through documents in the office? You won't be going to Court right?"

Surprisingly, and even out of my own expectation, I have been doing litigation works, though not actively, since the day I started practising. It is quite a different experience and I am glad that my firm allows me to have a minor exposure to the world of litigation. I would not say that I enjoy it, but I would say that it is definitely a good exposure. At least I would not be sitting in the office all the time, I take it as a short break.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I am not trained in advocacy skills. Therefore, each time I go to Court, I will go earlier to prepare for my speech. Amazingly, each time there is an Angel to help me improve on my prepared speech and I always get to bump into friendly and helpful seniors to assist me.

God is great, all the time!

All the time, God is great!

Isn't He amazing? =)

It is Not a Coincidence [I]

I have always wanted to post an entry here, but work these few days did not permit me to do so. We started work on Wednesday; oh, what a good break that we had. However, we have to back to the reality.

I had a good time this holiday. For the first time, I wore a Saree. I really felt comfortable wearing it and it was quite interesting to learn about the process. I really thank my friends, MGA and MAD for their company on the first two days of holidays.

It was also the first time I attended a Catholic Mass. This is a very different experience all together as their rituals are totally different from ours. Well, I think it is a good thing as I get to learn about something different from my own culture and practice. It is definitely an eye opener.

I had a good rest on Monday. Dad slipped, fell and injured his arm. There is no one to fetch me to the station in the morning. So I took some driving practices with my brother and it did not turn out too bad, bearing in mind that I did not drive for the past eight years.

On Tuesday I went out with WJ. For the first time since many many months ago, we had 'our' time, i.e. a time just for the both of us. Although it felt awkward at first but I guess we managed to go with the flow.

So, what is meant by "it is not a coincidence"?

For some reason, I wanted to look for handphones as I thought it is time to change my 'smart' phone (s).

For some reason, we just dropped by at one of the stalls.

For some reason, we chatted with the sales person for quite some time (more than half an hour).

For some reason, we talked about his personal experience (s).

For some reason, we introduced God to him.

For some reason, he showed interest in what we were talking about.

For some reason, he did not reject when we asked him to join church activities.

For some reason, we became 'acquaintances'.

Of course, I did not really talk with this sales person, KF throughout the whole conversation as I was busy thinking about my 'new phone(s)', so it was WJ who talked to him most. I believe it is not by coincidence that we get to experience this.

As he did not have his lunch yet, (at that time, it was already near dinner time), WJ went to buy a bread for him and he told WJ that he was touched by the small deed. I believe small deeds such as this will be a great blessing in the future. As the saying goes, we must go around to plant our seeds, and God will determine the time to harvest.

All in all, I really had a good time this holiday. Although I did not really rest physically but I had a good time with friends whom I seldom get in touch with.

I hope that I can continue the story about KF in the future and the story will go on and on to encourage all of us that God never forgets about us, even in our times of despair, He is always there for us. Even if He is not there, He will send someone to convey His message to us. All we have to do is to focus, to focus on His direction, on His voice, on His light, on HIM ALONE.

The Book of Song of Songs

Some months ago, my church had a special talk on the Book of Song of Songs. I cannot remember too well whether I have shared it here but today I feel like sharing it :-/

Usually not many people will pay attention on this book; some people would say that this is a book on friendship,  relationship; whilst some would have other opinions. I cannot remember too well the exact words that the speaker said but I must say it was indeed a good talk.

One thing that I could remember well is this:-

"Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens"

Oh~ such a beautiful description. It is always wonderful to think that in the eyes of the person (s) we love and who love us, only positive traits are being emphasised and focused on. I guess where love is involved, whatever negative traits can be tolerated.

God is LOVE. Isn't His Love WONDERFUL? =) God bless...

Psalm 37

I was doing my devotion and when I came across this Psalm, I love it and would like to share it with all of you here :)

1 Do not fret because of evil man or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plant they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;

17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish: The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish - vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those He curses will be cut off.

23 If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm;

24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.

25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.

27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

28 For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29 the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;

33 but the Lord will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.

My Lovely Sister [I]

One must be wondering who is this young lady and why do I want to post an entry about her in my blog. This beautiful lady is Jacklyn. She is a great friend and a great sister of mine.

Behind her smile lays a wonderful story about her personal experience with God. I still remember I first got to know her when I was in Form 1, we were in the same class. The first impression that she had given me was: a happy-go-lucky and easy-going lass.

We were in the same class again in Form 3, but I was not close to her yet, until one day, my mom told me that she attended the same church as I. Perhaps I should say we were just acquaintances at  this point. She sat behind me during exams, so one day after exam, I approached her and we got to know each other more from then on...

After PMR, we attended a camp together. This was the start of our friendship. The reason I got to know that we attended the same church was because of the demise of her beloved mother. During the camp, God comforted her with His love, joy, peace, grace and hope. I could see for myself how God touches her life.

From then on, we got to know each other more and more. We attended Physics tuition together in Form 4 and Form 5, and were 'neighbours' in Form 5. It was really fun being with her. I still remember I always teased her, and her easy-going character just made it more interesting when we tease each other.

This young lass is really great. I always feel comfortable being with her and her experiences with God really encourage me a lot. I know I can always open myself before her, and am not afraid to share with her my deepest feelings. Her great smile and strong character make me feel so warm and seeing her, I just cannot stop myself from smiling.

I still tease her now. We try to meet up as often as we could since she is in Australia now. Once in a while we will chat on MSN, or through video calling, SMS and e-mail to each other. Having her as my sister is definitely a blessing from God. I love her and I know she loves me too.

T***t,

I love you :) Thanks for allowing me to post an entry about you here. Hope to see you soon! =)

Love,

Yin

P.I.A.N.O

 

"I want to learn piano"

"LOL, I don't think you're serious right?"

"She must be kidding, I doubt she can finish till Grade 8"

"You really want to learn?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I will buy a second hand piano for you."

That was when I was nine years old. I told my family that I wanted to take up piano lessons, for reasons that I do not know. My mom used her pension to buy me a second hand piano and from then on, I have been taking piano lessons till year 2006 or 2007.

Although I did not manage to pass my Grade 8 examinations, but I did learn until Grade 8. I believe it is by God's grace that I am able to take up piano lessons, given the fact the I come from an average-income family. I also believe that God has His own reasons for giving me this opportunity.

I started to serve as a pianist in my former church's youth fellowship when I was 16 [if I remember correctly]. Although it was just for a short period, I did enjoy the process. Recently, I was given the opportunity to serve Him again as a pianist. I really appreciate the opportunity given and am very happy that I am able to serve Him with the blessing that He had provided me some years ago.

God's grace is always sufficient for us. I really thank God for whatever that He had given me; without Him, I am nothing...

FGA Youth Camp 2009

Hmm, it was held from the 4th day till the 6th day of June 2009. Actually I intended to post this earlier but just did not manage to find the time. All of sudden, I feel like posting it today.

Again, I contemplated whether to attend this camp. This time, the reasoning was because I did not want to hold any responsibilities; it was predictable that I would be chosen as a 'leader', but in the end, I just joined the camp.

Hmm, I would say I did enjoy the camp. I was longing to experience God and that was my only intention of joining. True to my prediction, I was chosen as one of the leaders. Although reluctant, I chose to be submissive to God's planning. Hmm, after so many years getting involved in youth activities, it was quite awkward to join the youths once again; this time, I felt that I was just carrying out the necessary duties.

Praise the Lord that I was able to enjoy His presence and comfort during the camp. God is LOVE! Below are some photos for sharing :)

My Blog

I was reading my friend's blog last week and when I saw her entry, it reminded me that I was facing with the same situation; she mentioned in her blog that most of us start a blog with a theme but along the way, the entries just lost its purpose [something along these lines]...

Wonderland! I remember in my introduction I was saying that I want to share my views, experiences etc in this blog. However, along the way, I think I have lost my own direction. From time to time, I will read the entries that I have posted on Friendster and I think I prefer my entries there, at least I was able to attract some readers with my stories and/or experiences...

I look back at this blog, it seems that my entries are so messy, there is no theme, everything is just everywhere. Oh, I really do not like this idea at all! When I read it, I do not feel like continuing reading...

Recently, I find that things have been different. It seems that I am starting my journey to search for my direction, the direction that God has prepared for me. I hope this fire will continue to burn in the long run. I hope my entries will be 'alive' and do not sound as though there is no hope in life. I hope that I will be able to make a difference in my own life, so that I will have a breakthrough and share with everyone what He has done in my life.

God is indeed awesome! I am able to find peace and hope in Him. I hope that He will continue to use me to glorify Him because, without Him I am nothing.

One Year Later...

God has His plan in each and everyone of us. For every event that occurs in our lives, He has His own reason for allowing it; and in every event, we will have the opportunity to experience Him in different aspects of our lives...

As mentioned in my earlier entry, I have attended a visit to a children home a year ago, and there was one voice that encouraged me to attend the visit. I wonder, if I did not listen to that voice, what would have happened now?

A year ago, I found back my passion to serve Him. Although I was not sure whether He wanted to use me in the Youth Ministry, the heart to serve Him came back!

A year later, I really want to find out what He has in store for me. An announcement to Sg Ruan and again, a voice had encouraged me to go. However, this time I am more reluctant to attend, because, after spending about a year with the brothers and sisters-in-Christ, I find that I cannot really adapt to their world. I am quite adamant about my decision this time but...

JH asked me again few days before the trip and I can sense that God wants me to go. I tried to avoid but I know that when God wants to speak to you, there is no point to run away from Him. I tried to sms KY and tried to make her availability as God's answer to my prayer.

Yeah! KY said she cannot make it! So Lord, that must be Your answer! That was what I had in mind at that time.

For some reason, I spent some time to pray to God on that night. My heart felt really uneasy. I was drafting my sms to JH informing her that KY cannot make it and at the same time, was hoping to say that I would not be attending as well. However, I know it is best to listen to Him. Subconsciously, I just typed my NRIC and sms JH thereafter.

Oh, after I sent the sms, my heart was relieved! It was really a big relief, I could feel the burden was taken away from my shoulders! Praise the Lord!

Obedience to God will only bring goodness to us;
although in the process we might face with obstacles,
because we obey, God will make a way for us...

I thank God for not forgetting me. I did enjoy the trip! Praise the Lord! Thank You JESUS for not letting my hand go. It is because of You, I am here today!

The 6th day of September 20**

I remember posting on my Friendster Blog the events that happened about a year ago. A brief summary:-

An announcement was made to the Charis Home, and a voice encouraged me to attend this activity. I contemplated for quite some time as I was afraid that I would be 'invisible' throughout the whole trip. A sister said she could accompanied me if I wanted to attend and that was where the story began...

The 6th day of September 2008

Finally today is the day! I am going to visit Charis Home with other family members [church members]. I feel excited, at the same time I am worried because I hardly know anybody in the church besides CZ. I thank God that she had accompanied me to this event. However, she is not going to the home with me as she lives at the other side of the map. Oh no, hesitation fills me at this moment...

I was informed earlier by one Bro JL that I will go to the home by the church van. Oh, church van; meaning I will go to the home with other family members, a.k.a 'strangers'. Perhaps I should explain myself here: I came to this church some time in 2006 but hardly anybody approached me, so I was quite hesitant to participate in their events because I refuse to regard myself as an 'invisible' person.

On the van, I choose to sit beside a girl, by the name of WJ. Why? This is because from any perspective, she does not look like she is a high school student; meaning, she is probably in college. Hmm, the age gap would not be too big; great! I will just sit beside her then!

As I think that I will feel awkward if we just keep silent throughout the journey, I also feel awkward to start a conversation with a stranger. As awkward as it be, I tried to start a conversation with WJ and it is quite surprising that I am actually having a good chat with her.

So, that was how our friendship started...

Finally the visit has come to an end. Overall, I did not regret for making the decision to join this visit. It is time to go home! I called Pa to wait for me at church because I do not want to be left alone waiting with 'strangers' at the church. Surprisingly, KL asked WJ to go for a short tea session and asked me along. Hmm, why not? Perhaps I will change my mind about these 'strangers'...

So, that was how the friendship among the three of us began...oops, should I say four instead? As there was another Bro AY who was with us during the tea session. Of course, not to forget about KS as well, but he was quite quiet throughout the whole session.


The 6th day of September 2009

Today is the 1st Annivesary of our, hmm, friendship? Should we celebrate it like how lovers do? Do friends celebrate this event as well?

No, we do not have any celebration; in fact, no body mention anything about this. Perhaps there is nothing to celebrate about...

Before we were acquaintances
we were strangers,

Before we were friends
we were acquaintances,
 

Before we were good friends
we were friends.

Perhaps one would find that I keep on telling the same story again and again; well, maybe these events were significant to me at that point of time. However, things that were significant in the past might not be significant in the present.

Throughout this one year, many things had happened. There were up and downs. All I could say is, there is no more significance in any of these anymore, because I have learnt to focus on HIM alone. God allows things to happen because He wants us to experience Him more and more.

When our focus is right
everything is going to be all right!
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life,
He is the focus of my life!


Many many years ago...

In a Bible class, the teacher asked us to write what is the most precious thing in our lives on a piece of paper. After everyone in the class had done so, she gave us a brief sharing on putting God as our priority. Subsequently, she asked us to look at our piece of paper, then to tear it and make a prayer that we shall make God the priority in our lives and He shall be our 'precious' from then on...

P.S. I Love You ~ Cecelia Ahern

"Holly is a young Irish woman has just lost her husband. She struggles with what to do with her life now that the love of her life is gone. She struggles to get up each morning. She doesn't leave the house anymore or talk to her family and friends. Her mother calls one day to tell her that she has a package and needs to pick up. Holly gets it and realizes that it contains letters from her husband that he wrote before he died.

There are 10 letters each containing some instruction on what to do nowthat he is gone. She is only allowed to read one letter a month and each one comes with instructions about what to do now that he is gone. These are things she wouldn't have done if he were still alive, but because they are from him she abides by his wishes. All the while she realizes that even though he is gone he is still with her in spirit and she must go on with her life.

Holly finds a job, meets new people and trys to keep life normal. She goes out partying with friends and goes on vacation. She wrestles with the possiblity of starting a new romance. All the while trying to stay true to her husband. In the end she realizes life does go on. Her husband wants her to be an independent lover of life. He wouldn't be disappointed if she went on to be happy without him."

I was contemplating whether to get this book when I went to the Bookfest on Saturday, 22nd August 2009. This book can be classified as "romance", not something to my liking; eventually, I did not buy the book.

I went back on Thursday, 27th August 2009, to get "The Last Empress". Again, I came across this book. This time, I just took it and finally bought it.

I was wrapping my books on Saturday, and my brother saw the book. He was surprised that I actually bought it because he said this book does not suit me. After reading "A Prisoner of Birth", I have decided to slow down, and to read a more relaxing book. I chose "P.S. I Love You".

Surprisingly, my attention was drawn to the plot of this wonderful love story. I never thought that I would really sit down and concentrate to read this kind of book. There is no doubt that there are some parts which I find it not that impressive but overall, this is a good book to read.

I was actually wondering what is love all about, which was why I chose to read this book at the initial stage. After reading this book, it makes me realise that we have to move on with life no matter what happens. Holly was lucky because Gerry did not leave her to deal with the grief alone. He was with her for almost a year and his last message was to encourage her to open herself for another relationship.

It was quite surprising at first, because I never thought that Holly was a woman who put love as priority. This story described Holly as a woman who put Gerry as her priority in life. Nonetheless, she did move on with courage. Towards the end, she did whatever that Gerry had told her to do; things that she would not do if Gerry was alive. It was a sweet thought that Gerry was being considerate to keep Holly 'accompanied' for quite some time before he let her to be on her own.

I would say that I did enjoy reading this. After all, I wanted a 'relaxing' read...