Past, Present, Future...

Our hearts are made to live in the larger story that God intended for us to live in. but somehow, somewhat we lose sight of that bigger story. So we created our smaller stories to live in and to survive.

All these smaller stories offer a taste of meaning, adventure and connectedness. But none offer the real thing. They are not large enough. God has set eternity in the hearts of man. Yet people are not living for eternity. That is where the problem is. We are trapped in the present.

Office Bully & Victim

Attended the course: School Bullying Issues and Prevention Approaches.

I began to think about my office, whether I am a bully or a victim. Being in a nice environment where most people are easy-going and loving, I think I can never be a victim. Maybe once in a while I find myself stuck with listening to a self-centered colleague. This one really loves to talk about herself! Oh my goodness! Nvm la, I just comfort myself and say that some people just need to be heard and validated. Even counselors have their own issues la..

I belong to the group that people would categorise as bully.. haha.. But i only show it to one person. I am amazed at the agression I can expressed to the colleague I have problem with. I tried keeping my peace, but I guess he just pick the wrong to wanna "talk things out". The talking things out time is usually a time for him to defend himself. This really provoked me and I just unleashed all my pent up frustration.

What perpetuate matters is that he dare not look at me while we talk. So, I found my frustration rising and scolding increases. Sad to say that at the end of the day, I lost all respect for him.

So people, when you get bullied, pls stand up for yourself. This will make the bully at least respect you. If you just run away, the bullying will worsen. This comes from the point of view of a bully. Maybe I should say a repentant bully. I dont want to tear him down anymore.

God protect me from the evil one, and lead me not into temptation.

Si Chuan Earthquake

"中国是个备受古难的民族" My Malaysian colleague said this..

手足口症，大雪灾，四川省八级地震.. In less than a year, they have experienced 3 major national crisis..

19th, 20th and 21st May are set as National Crisis Day. To mourn for the earthquake victims at the exact timing of 2:28pm when the earthquake happened.

During this time of painful reflections, I pray their hearts may turn to God for help and comfort.

I want to do more than praying. I want to be there somehow, somewhat. Yet I am not sure if i can stand the sight and the smell of dead bodies all around. The sound of wailing and mourning for the loss of homes, families, jobs, dreams and future. One major city, go under ruins in a matter of seconds. That is how fragile life is.

On a individual level, homes, families and jobs are lost. One a city level, a whole generation of young people are LOST! Thousands upon thousands of young people buried under the ruins of their school. "How long would restoration take?" This must be the questions many are asking themselves..

Oh I just read this heading- "银行表示并不承担地震风险 房贷政策目前无变化"

Oh I pray that they will provide some help here. That the victims who got their homes destroyed will not have to repay their bank loan.

God, I just want to be there. Whatever I can do I dunno. I just want to be there.. Being here when there are hundreds of thousands suffering is too much to bear..

WeiXiong&Rebecca's Wedding

Abang used his normal camera to take these pictures of the couple.. Bt I find them so pro sia...

Here is the wedding couple.. Simple and beautiful wedding.. That's them.. Not much nitty gritty, only a simple until cannot simple wedding.. haha. Simple until I really admire them, admire their simplicity.



After the wedding ceremony, we got so obessessed with the big beautiful cross and the grand piano.. Have to take pictures with it!

1 of it is taken with HL's camera, so the effect maybe not so good..




And finally, here are the NUS SOWers group.. haha.. Plus the couple too =)



Thanks to Abang & HL who sent us the pictures.. I have been looking forward to them..

About 5 years we know one another.. Its the common understanding between us that binds us together.. God, heart for people in social work and one another..I am blessed. SK not in social work line, but he often joke that he is half a social worker already.. =)

Prayer of Jabez

一生奉献，一生不回头。。
Of the whole song, I only remember this line.

Many times as I serve God, I looked back. I wondered how things would have been different if I chose otherwise. Yet in looking back and counting my loss, I always give thanks that He has blessed me this much.

Admit it, I have lost out when I serve God full time for 2 years. Lost out in experience as a social worker, lost out in mometary gains and other things. I have got to face it and stop denying that I didnt lose out!

BUT...

The gains that I have receive I need to proclaim it in my life!! The time to watch over Lucas and my family, the time spent with the girls, the lessons learnt about God in my period of serving full time. These are eternal and priceless..

Where is my place in the will and plan of God? Am I where He wants me to be? I know that I dont want to just spend 9-6pm in the office and finish my job. I can do more and be much more. (I am beginning to wonder if I am an ambitious person?) But if I give more in the office, other areas of my life will suffer. Either family, ministry or my personal life..

"O Lord that you would bless me and enlarge my territory. Let your hands be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. And God granted the prayer of Jabez."

May the Lord God also grant my prayer- the prayer of Jabez..

Victory or Defeat

I just wanna write something here.. Have not written for a long time. Sitting in my new office and enjoying a moment of peace before my colleagues all comes in... A blessing of peace..

In the spiritual realm, great battle are going on all the time. The question is whether we are aware of it or not.

I have been feeling defeated, not leading the victorious Christian life that we children of God should be leading. After yesterday morning's reminder, I finally come to my senses... Thank God for the timely reminder and the grace that so sustains...

Lord, transform my mind, my life and my attitude. Jesus, may your blood cover my family to shield them from the evil one.

Blessings

Was blessed by dear ChaiLing with this article. Would like to share with all who need it.An extract of the article...

"Being single is a time to learn of God and o ourselves, a time to discover who are in Christ, and to grow in Christlikeness.

It is a time to be zealous fr good works and involved in ministry to others. Being single has a magic of its own that should be enjoyed in its time because once passed it may not return.

There is nothing quite as sad as a woman now married who regrets what she could have been and done with her life while single. All was lostfor the sake of hurrying to be married without consideration for the plan or work of God.

Every season in life has its wonder and beauty of its own."

Enlightening and encouraging.. May all who need it read it and be blessed.

On a more personal update. My work has been fine, colleagues are also fine. Once in a while some complains, but overall ok. Still adjusting. I believe once I have adjusted, I will enjoy my work even more. Most of the time, its getting the hang of things and how they are done.

I think I do enjoy my work. Because time flys while at work. The week flys pass without really me noticing it. So I guess that's a good sign that at least I am not looking at my watch and waiting for the day to end.

More learning to do. Everyday is some learning about myself and to grow from what I observe and do.

But it gets tiring when there are meetings after work, and more meetings on Sat. Saturday is like another work day when I wake up at 630am and only reach home at 9pm. Ministry, ministry, ministry, church. If I have not been involved in ministry since young, I am not sure if I would be in ministry now. The demands are indeed high. No wonder so many working people find it hard to commit to ministry.

The demands that the world put on us is great. And many get distracted by the different demands when there is no focus.

May the Lord God be my focus. The anchor of my soul, in whom I do all things for His sole purpose and desire...And may the joy of the Lord be my strength...

What amazes me..

As I look at Ling and Ruth.. It amazes me to see how cousins can be so close.. like friends.. really very sweet..

I looked at the older girls.. It amazes me to see how far our friendship has gone. The meet up was just like old times, as Ling said.. It was fun..




But beyond the fun, I hope there are more things that they picked up through the time together.. It was not structured.. What I hope to teach I didnt. Because what was lacking in the girls is not knowledge, but fellowship. They hardly get to meet as a group now. Such combined PT are precious. But what little that I taught through the bible, and the many things said that was not from the bible, I hope they caught something. I also hope God will use it to bring growth into their faith.

你在许多见证人面前听见我所教训的，也要交托那忠心能教导别人的人. 2 Timothy 2:2.
My desire is to see them teaching others what they have heard from me. To teach others who will also be faithful to pass the message on.

Robert reminded me at DMT that what our girls see us do, they will do. What is in our hearts, they will catch on. One bit that I hope they will catch on, is the desire to invest in young lives for God.

I recognise that God has a special plan for each of them. Will they all stay to be laborers, I dunno. God is the one who send laborers into the harvest field. I am only responsible to be a laborer.

Weekend work

Saturday, 9pm.. Here I am doing preparing for a workshop on Monday. I wonder if that's my life for the next few years? I am quite opposed to bring office work home.. But yet.. I hope that I may be able to manage this aspect of my life better..

Something very sweet which Serene did for us..




One of the picture I got cut off.. I thought I was not in the picture with them until I realised that it was the same pic but diff design.. How blur can I get? And till this day, I still dunno what they mean by getting the pic published? Is it really published? Then can I get to see it somewhere?

Anyway,such nice pictures are hard to come by.. =)

Do not give up meeting together

Thankful for people in my life who remember me enough to want to meet up with me. If they were sales persons, I might think they have ulterior motives. ha.. But they are not..

HuiYue organized a meeting with me and Miaoling to kinda celebrated my farewell. I didnt expect that. It was a very pleasant surprise for me.

Shuxian also out of the blue sms me and asked to catch up with me. Again I told her that I was plesantly surprised that she would do that. I guess I am not one who would take the effort to plan meet-ups with people. I usually tack along people who organise and I benefitted from the efforts of the organisers.

Really thankful for people in my life who bothered to meet up, otherwise I might just live in my own isolatred world, which most times I am pretty contented in. People like Doreal, Jia, Serene who bother to plan for meet up.. Thankful for them also..

Hebrews 10:24-25.. Do not give up meeting together...