just read an e-mail... another reminder to be constantly thankful for our circumstances...

Living in Singapore itself is a blessing...

We complain about the books we have to study... but others don't even have a chance to read... others crave for this chance to equip themselves with this knowledge so as to improve their living standards...

We complain about the things we have... but others don't even have many things...

Rah...

I feel so selfish...

Lord... break me down from my selfish wants... and allow me to pursue your Kingdom's needs...

I recommend every christian to watch the show Facing the Giants...

I've never cried for so long... it's a really touching show... or maybe it's just because the state I'm at right now...

So many times we say we can't... but God can... we serve a big God... and He is there for us...

I'm really touched when I see the wife... who continues to have faith in God... who continues to love God... even when God din seem to answer her prayers to have children... even when the odds were against her... she still said "I will still love you..."

It's an amazing show.... amazing... and we have an amazing God...

"What's impossible with God? Nothing..."

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

The steadfast love of The LORD never ceases
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning

Lamentations 3 : 22-23

The Lord continues to encourage me... and to touch me in His ways... it's amazing... and it's powerful...

Lord I lift your name on High...

It's tough... it's tough...

Time heals all wounds... does it?

Life goes on

Life goes on

Contemplation

I just met Ailing today... and she was like telling me about being sensitive to God's signals... or his signs... like why did this thing happen at this time... what's the significance... and what is the thing to be inferred...

She was talking about another issue... but interestingly enough... after she mentioned this concept of sensitivity... I realized that I was placed with an issue at hand... and it seems as though... the events that have unraveled... points me to one direction...

I do not want to be the one to hurt someone else...again... I want to be a man that stands up to what he says... for he has felt the downside of it himself... A man that does not want others to experience what he has so painfully experienced himself...

I guess it's time... for the love of another... and for reasons greater than myself... to make the decision... and be firm with it... (:

Lord... I hope this is what you want... and I hope I can do it....

It's been very long since I've last posted...

I no longer know what to write anymore...

Yeah... I just had a terrific trip to Perth... but it seems like... there are so many questions left unanswered in my head...

And sometimes... when you bask in the serene suburbs... plenty of thoughts fill your mind... It's almost intimidating... It's almost... wistful...

Yeah... been exposed to a new community recently... PUA...an acronym they coin themselves ... it is short for Pick-up Artists... how i got this exposure? through non other than the international bestseller titled "THE GAME", written by Neil Strauss.

Well... it was the book that kept me preoccupied during empty moments of the trip... for example... on the coach, late at night, on the plane, and so on... it was quite interesting... the way he picked up this form of 'art'... and how he made it of his own... i couldn't really take the way they worked their artform... and thus skipped all the way to the back... because I heard of people saying that there's some sort of a disappointing twist in the end...

but to me... it wasn't disappointing... I got to see that he actually ended up with a girl that he developed feelings for... that it wasn't just all about picking up women for the sake of it... or worse still... just for the joy of physical intimacy... Thankfully for the ending... I'm willing to read through the whole book... to further understand the kind of impact that it had on his life... that this man was willing to give up... the kind of authority over most women he met... that he could have nearly whoever he wanted... (One of the PUAs even picked up Paris Hilton) and yet he gave it all up for the love of one woman...

Okay... just some thoughts from reading that book... I hope I can finish that book by tomorrow... but I highly doubt it... anyway... this leads me perfectly into listing out the goals I have for my holidays... well... I've decided to finish up 3 fiction books... "The Game" (even though they say it's non-fiction) , "To kill a Mocking Bird", and "Tuesdays with Morrie"... I also want to finish 3 non-fiction books... still undecided on the books though...


Hmmm... yeah... there are still many things on my mind... and it's bugging me... owell... got to overcome them slowly i guess... rah... will blog about it next time... have a happy holidays everyone...

In Christ Alone...

Deny Yourself

For anothers cause, today I choose to die
I leave behind those things which exemplify
the me that I used to be
And now I choose to sacrifice myself,
not for my good
But for the good of someone else
This flesh that was given to me, I give it back
for truly it is not my own
And the things which it desires, the
fulfillment which it seeks, is wrong
So I die
Not today, not tomorrow, but
daily, I die daily that I might live
And in death I give up those things
which truly, have the potential to kill
I deny myself all the sick satisfactions
that elate my flesh
And I choose not what is good
but what is best
Ola Kelly

Copyright ©2008 Ola Kelly

Okay... I realise that I haven't posted anything for quite some time...

Perhaps I've lost the flair of writing... I dunno... There were instances when I wanted to write a simple post... but ended up deleting everything instead...

Ah well... Exams are coming!!! Holidays are next!!! woo... seems kinda surreal... the term is ending so soon!

Anyway... i wish best of luck to everyone who's having exams out there now... and that we do not neglect our other responsibilities and priorities! :)

Take Care all....

Patience is imperative...

Rushing things that can't be rushed is really futile...

:)

Urgh... I can't seem to get proper rest recently... and I keep having this bored feeling! I really dunno why ! =(

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12

Learning to try to let go of things that aren't pleasing to Him...

That there is nothing good outside of God...

Not being a slave to any other things except being a servant for Him...

Learning to control my tongue and speech and actions and thoughts...

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

You're Indescribable Lord... This is the song that I wanted to post for very long... but somehow kept forgetting... I really like the lyrics for the song... Enjoy guys :)

Limited resources?

Do we use it as an excuse not to serve?

Do we rely on God's strength to overcome our weaknesses?

Do we serve in God's way? or our own way?

Do we believe that God can accomplish more through us as long as we offer our bodies to Him?

In the book of Judges... we see Gideon... leading 300 men to victory over the Israelite's enemies... Not only the Midianites... but more...

Gideon rounded up 22,000 troups... but God cut it to only 300 men... Gideon could've said then... hey... we don't have enough resources God... and doubt the fact that they will win eventually... But he did not... He trusted in God... He had faith ... even if every human logical and rational sense told him against winning... He believed...

There were so many instances that showed God leading His people out of their enemies...

If today we were doing God's work... and we know that this is our calling... do you think God will not help us?

Are we over-rationalising things? If God gave us $1... we can only return $1? back in tack...? in its orginial pristine form? Does God gain glory through that?

It is because we are weak... and that's when we are strong... when God manifests His greatness through us... we may have $1... but we know that we can give back $2 if we entrust ourselves to God... and maybe even more... But are we even putting in that effort to work past that $1 ?

I'm terribly disappointed at many happenings yesterday... but the verse in Matthew 7:1 constantly comes back to haunt me...

All i wanna do is to continue to pray to God... that we'll have a united body in Christ...

I might be rash... but I hope I'm rash for God... I really believe that we can do much more... Oh Lord help us...

To God be the glory... The best is yet to be... we'll work hard for you !

edit

was just thinking about this issue again... Again thought of King David...

With 5 stones at hand, he managed to defeat Goliath the giant...

With his background... who would've thought he could've won? Even his brothers did not believe in him...

But God gave him the strength to defeat the Philistine...

A man who tended the flock became a warrior who defeated one of Israel's greatest threats then...

Did it seem like he had the relevant skills for the job? Didn't seem like it... Because it was so... people knew that the God of Israel was with him... and he attested God's glory through his actions...

I'm sure there are countless of other examples...

But the lesson here is that we don't always use our human logic in doing God's work... If we only do the work that we are able to do ourselves, that our 'skill set' enable us to do... then we are not doing God's work... but our own work...

Really thank God for a very good week... He has indeed blessed me with many good things for the past week... and I really thank Him for His help...

The sermons these weeks have been very encouraging... and I thank God for the sermon application times... I can see that God is starting to answer our prayers and He is working in His time and in His people...

I can see quite a few people picking up... and I continue to pray for our fellowship that we will grow together and please God more.

"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that(BU) we may present everyone(BV) mature in Christ." Colossians 1:28

Today's sermon again reminded us not to treat fellowship as a social gathering... It is a distinction from the social clubs of this world... And that distinction is God and the spiritual aspect of it...

Let us continue to teach, admonish, rebuke, and encourage one another with the motivation of love and with the intent of presenting everyone mature in Christ.

Let's continue to strive for the more important things in life... on our relationships with people and not merely focusing on our career, our studies, and etc. albeit its relative importance in this world.

Although the revival camp might be postponed... I hope that God will continue to answer our prayers for many individual revivals throughout our fellowship... :)

Have a great week ahead everyone... Let us strive to get that balance of spending time with God and with brothers and sisters in Christ. see you all on wednesday

"Like a lawyer, the human brain wants victory, not truth; and, like a lawyer, it is sometimes more admirable for skill than virtue." - Robert Wright, author and journalist

hmmm... i dunno what to make of this... comments anyone? hahs.. it sounds like a very sad statement to me...

"32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Thank you Lord for the short talk with Wei En...

My life is screwed up... Satan totally used my school work to get the better of me...

Alas, I haven't found the right balance still...

Going to go back to God...

Once again I strayed away from you Lord...

Please forgive me for such disobedience...

Pray for a more focused heart....

I am increasingly finding it difficult to understand myself.

I am currently involved in planning a Community Service Project in which we want to actually impart certain inter-personal skills. One of which is to let the beneficiaries know more about themselves.

How do you define knowing yourself? How much can you ever know? What defines you ? The things you do? The principles you have? Your looks? Your character? Your learning style? Your thinking style?

What? What constitutes you knowing yourself? Can we ever be fully known by ourselves? Do we know how we will react when certain situations arise?

I am getting more and more confused... and I do not have the luxury of time to ponder about it deeper...

Help me Lord...

It's time to move on... and I really want to... I do...

Recently had been feeling quite down at school... sometimes feel quite dumb... very humbled... and feel very powerless... and useless... don't feel the kinda confidence that I had back in JC period...

This quote was quite a good encouragement... Ailing printed it for me... it was mentioned in the movie " Aquilla and the Bee"

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually... who are you not to be?
We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to
do the same. " Quoted from Marianne Williamson

I hope that I am able to blog about my QT at least twice per week...(gone down from thrice) haha...

"Spiritual Myopia" Myopia is not that we cannot see at all, it's just that we are able to receive information through our eyes, but unable to find the right focus.

Similarly, we tend to lose focus easily... especially when we focus on our problems and issues and so on... It's easy to identify issues in your personal walk, in your relationships, in your fellowship, in your family and so on... but it's not easy to maintain the focus that God provides and He is the God Almighty, El Shaddai.

"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 2 Kings 6:16

Elisha reminded his servant to be able to have the right focus... His servant could only focus on the enemies... (6:15) but Elisha prayed to God to open his eyes to the horses and chariots of fire who were sent by God to protect them...

What is within us, is greater than what is outside of us...

We do not say, "God, I have a big problem," but rather we say, "Problem, I have a big God." That's quite a cliche saying, but it's a timely reminder for me.

Yes, there are many issues in life, but God will provide and He will guide. His plans for us are the best, and I pray to Him to continue to give us this focus to go back to Him...

Take care, my brothers and sisters...

在你手中

我願意將我全心交在你手中
毫無保留 毫無保留
我願意將我全心交在你手中
毫無保留 毫無保留
生命中一切全是你所賜給我
賞賜在你 收取在於你
也許曾渴望擁有
但你要我慢慢學習 放手 在每一分鐘
現在我已經不同
生命屬你 不屬於我
甘願 成為你手中美好的工作

Rationality

Rationality... sometimes putting things into perspective is just that important... As sinners... our vision is so limited... peripheral... Peripheral has two meanings... interestingly... the overlap of vision of our two eyes is called peripheral vision... Peripheral can also mean focusing on relatively minor and irrelevant issues... Such a pun... It is indeed accurate to term man for having peripheral vision...

Rationality distinguishes from emotions... Sometimes... you're just so emotionally attached... that you no longer wanna hear the rational side of yourself... And you delve and sink into emotions... and that's where you lose yourself... where negative thinking sets in... where you don't think straight... That little bit of rationality... is so important...

When we are too engrossed at what we have at hand... we tend to forget about the little things in life that can make us happy... In fact... it takes very little to make one happy... isn't it? Rationality puts things into perspective... not drawing focus away from what we need to be focused on...

I pray for the fine balance of rationality vs emotions... something i've been struggling all this while... to be in control of emotions... and to not be void of emotions at times...

Have a blessed week ahead everyone ; )

Inextricably... Such a beautiful word...

An inextricable web of deceit and lies that we live in...

Hope for an inexorable truth...

Brought by an immaculate death on the cross...

'Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."
But the people said nothing.' 1 Kings 18 : 21

Sometimes when I read the old testament, I don't see the direct link between the happenings and my life.

I still remember Ailing posting me this question, "Either you choose to belong to God or you choose to belong to the world."

In comparison, the many things that we might place priority over God now are all Baal.
A continual process of evaluation is required, to ensure that we do not neglect God as the center of our lives.

'The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ' 1 Kings 19 : 11-12

The still small voice that speaks to us amidst all the busyness of life... Are we still sensitive to it...?

Food, we just can't live without it. Consumption for survival is stating the obvious, but somehow, food satisfies other needs as well. It acts as a stress relief, an enjoyment and some would say it's an art form.

It is so essential, and can be so satisfying. In fact, many of us look forward to our lunch breaks, where we can take our minds off work for a moment, to enjoy the simplicity of putting chunks of delicious food into our mouths.

That's how most of us would take a look at food...

You may ask... how else can we define it???

Jesus says, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work" John 4:33-35

Doing His will. An essential of life. An enjoyment. A necessity. An every day thing.

Are we doing it?

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ... Matthew 11:28

I can't believe that a sinner can neglect even such a simple message brought forth by Jesus...

It's such comforting words to me now... Thank you Lord for providing with such an encouragement...

Forgive me Lord... For not having faith in you...

Even with the prayers for the modules... I'm still so flustered and worried...

Results coming out soon !

"And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as son."

Endure hardship as discipline;God is treating you as sons.For what son is not disciplined by his father?

If you are not disciplined ( and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Hebrews 12 : 5-11

God will discipline those He loves... and thus I am grateful for the many ways that many people have been giving me feedback for me to continue to mindful of my speech and my actions and to continue to allow Him to mould me into His likeness.

Had been very tired for the past few days... The Freshmen TeamBuilding Camp (FTB) was really tiring... Initially it was still okay... but the sun... the physical and mental activities... the lack of sleep... the mosquitoes disturbing my sleep... the rocky ground we slept on... made me feel super tired at the end of it all... and i didn't feel tired till the end of it.. thankfully...

And I guess I didn't get enough rest after that... Went to a CIP thing on thursday, and then spent the whole Friday with my church friends... and alas, I caught a slight fever...

Rested at home for the whole day already... Feel much better... should be able to recover by tomorrow...

Hmmm... A new environment... the university... SMU... many temptations, distractions surfaced since matriculation. I thank God for the revival camp committee... that as we discussed about certain issues.. it presented a reminder to me as well... that my life was slowly shifting to the world again... and from Friday morning's QT sharing... that sometimes we lose sight of why we uphold certain principles... and that we too often assert our supposed 'rights' too strongly... I ask myself... since others are doing it, what's so wrong about me doing it ? Or worse still, since other 'christians' are doing it, what's wrong about it? I guess this resulted in not spending enough time with God...

I remember Wei En's sharing... Satan spends 168hours trying to distract us from God... and we only spend so little time with God... A lesson learnt and currently trying to apply is to talk to my God more... Too many times I try to reason out things in my own way... not talking to God about it... Again I go back to Wei En's sharing bout continually conversing with God throughout the day... short prayers, is a good help to keep focus throughout the day...

There are many things out there that can discourage us... Christians who don't be have like christians... arguments that arise... etc. but ultimately, we're not here to judge. And God has already given me the hope of salvation... the faith and love that He has given to me... The strength and everything to continue to walk with God... He is our all in all... He is the Lord Almighty... The Most High... The King of Kings... Just heard the song from ziling's blog... it's really a gd reminder... a simple yet powerful song... :

"Did you ever talk to God above?
Tell Him that you need a friend to love
Pray in Jesus' name believing that
God answers prayers

Have you told Him all your cares and woes
Every tiny little fear He knows
You can know He'll always hear
And He will answer prayers

You can whisper in a crowd to Him
You can cry when you're alone to Him
You don't have to pray out loud to Him
He knows your thoughts

On a lofty mountain peak He's there
In the meadow by a stream He's there
Everywhere on earth you go
He's been there from the start

Find the answer in His word it's true
You'll be strong because He walks with you
By His faithfulness He'll change you too
God answers prayers "

I like the part about every tiny fear, telling Him everything, and that He knows our thoughts, and to continue learning bout His word and walking with God as He walks with us...

Let us continue to walk in Christ, being focused on God alone, viewing other things as rubbish just like Paul did... and have the courage to let go the things we need to let go... ; )

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on Toward the Goal
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3: 7 -14

Alas, the fellowship has undergone the restructuring.

I really believe that this is a plan given to us by God as we can see the many reasons that we really need to have two ministries now - YA and YF.

In every system, there is imperfection. In every change, there is resentment. Things happen for a reason. Life goes on. We need to continue to press on for God.

The reality of the issue hasn't really set in me yet, but I am sure that once things do, I will really miss my two brothers who have crossed over to the YF ministry to serve. It is projected to be a 5 year long period where they will help train up new Disciple Makers and the future leaders of the YF ministry. I will continue to keep them in prayers.

Through the restructuring, I am now given the opportunity from God to serve as a group leader as well as being a disciple maker. Today the preacher mentioned a very interesting thing that happened to him. He said that someone said that he was very happy of his service because he was the least qualified, which makes him depend on God more for strength and wisdom in his service. I think that it was a good point being made. Sometimes, we rely too much on our own strength. I thank God for humbling me, and I know that I am very limited as a person, but I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. On top of that, He has given me a good leader who continues to help me and good co-workers who provide support for me. I pray that God will continue to use me to help my brothers and sisters, to present everyone mature in Christ.

Well, life is tough. A cliche saying goes like this, "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going". It's time to get going. I believe in God's providence. He is the Jehovah Jireh, and He will provide with the necessary strength and wisdom to pull me through the valleys - the challenges ahead. I praise the Lord for He has continually shown faithfulness to His people, that He will send His angels before us in war, that we are not in this battle alone, that He has provided us with such a great fellowship, great leadership, and great brothers and sisters.

Let's continue to run this race, like one who runs for the prize, being focused on Him and not be distracted by the worldly attractions. Let's press on for Him! ; )

"24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Cor 9:24

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. " Colossians 2 : 6-7

Thank you for the cross, Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love, Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious

High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-34

One of the verses that encourages me alot...

"19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. " James 1:19-21

"18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." Romans 7:18

Oh Lord help me please.

Struggling to continue keeping the right priorities... but a christian life is never easy... There are many things that we do not see the complete picture of... for we are after all limited beings.

I really enjoyed my time at the SMU Christian Fellowship(smucf) camp... But after going back to my church fellowship and giving feed back about the smucf, then I realised that there are certain implications... which honestly I had this feeling that things weren't as easy as just joining a fellowship.

I loved my fellowship group there... I thank God for the opportunity of having a good experience of learning from different brothers and sisters in Christ and seeing them placing their priorities in God rather than in their school work and grades.

I hope to be able to reach a balance in handling my time... and to find a way to blend smucf into my life... with a broad perspective of its implications and that I'll not be going against any principles.

Went for a career talk by the Office of Career Services (OCS) in SMU today... Again another psychoing session. Telling us to beef up our resume, telling us what is SOOOOO important to us... I can only agree to a certain points... but they are just trying to live a busy life... finding meaning in what they think defines them... but sadly it isn't so...

I always try to search for certain words that the speakers say... to see if there are any hints that he/she may be a christian... sadly, what I hear is just branding yourself, TEACHING you to be make yourself different, to partake in more activities, to bask in the richness of the SMU culture and opportunities... but all these are just a mindless chase if you do not have the compass given from God. The thing that can align us, to center us in the right direction. I really hope to have a better filter against all this things that might take us captive... and also that my brothers and sisters will not fall into its deceptive attraction.

Anyway, I'm just feeling really down that things aren't always simple as it seems. I'm tired... of the complexity of things... Well.. that's life... no one promised a rainbow... not God... not parents... not friends...

Learning to rejoice in life... It's a painful and arduous journey ... EMO !

Knowing You.... Jesus

All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres and wars to own;
All I once thought gain I have counted loss,
Spent and worthless now compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my Joy, my Righteousness,
And I love You Lord.

Now my heart's desire is to know You more,
To be found in You and know as Yours,
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my Joy, my Righteousness,
And I love You Lord.

Oh to know the power of Your risen life,
And to know You in Your sufferings;
To become like You in Your death, my Lord,
So with You to live and never die.

Super touching song, and rich in content... Oh Lord, may we know you more and more... and that we conform to Christ-likeness more and more... You're our everything, Lord, nothing more is needed other than you.

We are christians who happen to be students.

Where are our priorities ?

Are we God centred... worshipping Him in all we do?

Or are we taken captive by what the world can offer?

In James it says that do not love the world... for you are either a friend or a foe with God...

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling...

Continue to press on for God... for we are citizens in Heaven... !

Take care brothers and sisters in Christ! ;)

Thank GOD !!!

The SMU Christian fellowship is quite a good fellowship.... The brothers and sisters are quite grounded in His word... and they are focused on improving in His word and the application of it in our life in SMU....

Thank God for the time of fellowship with CYYAM brothers this mornign as well... went Heng Wei's place for QT...

Thank God also that He reminded me constantly to learn the lesson of patience...

Thank God for letting me be more clear about certain issues in life... e.g. seeking, church camp.

Thank God that Jia En, Jia Hui and Ying Qian have agreed to be in the church camp committee.

Thank God for blessing me with all these things... and for the sermon given through His servant James who's currently serving in the Christian Fellowship in SMU... For the passage on Colossians... and how to continue to seek motivation and to ground my principles and to evangelise in SMU....

I pray for all my brothers and sisters in Christ... Not limited to GBC.... that we'll all continue to conform to his likeness... to be edified... to continue to thirst for His words... and to continue to obey Him and to have hope in our eternal life... ; )

Take care guys.

Urgghh.... I think I lost my ring... Must've been dropped when I dozed off on the bus... was super tired yesterday... and I think my fingers became smaller or something... My ring was like too big for me already...

Well... I think there are some lessons to learn....

Why am I so attached to something that is material ??

Why can't I let go ?

I'm telling myself that it is not important... i mean... the ring has no significance... other than the fact that i bought it myself... i mean it's not like a gift from someone, not like it's my wedding ring... and yet I find myself searching high and low for it even after knowing that it is most likelye gone... urggh !

I don't think i'll replace it... unless there is some special reason... must learn to let go...

I thank God that even though I fell asleep... I did not lose anything else... all my other important documents were still with me... my handphone, my student card, my matriculation bag and so on... Must learn to give thanks... and not to be attached to what is seen...

I was really quite irritated with my feeling of lost for the ring... owell... GET OVER IT WEI HONG !

An Invitation

Dear brothers and sisters....

you are cordially invited to my house this Thursday at 9.30am to have a time of QT and sharing session...

Please inform me if you are intending to come... looking forward to a good time of fellowship...

Likely program :

0930-1015 - Breakfast
1015-1115 - Quiet Time
1115-1215 - Sharing + Prayer
1215-1245 - Singspiration
1245 onwards - Free Time (Probably lunch... or even tennis if there is time)

EDIT!!!!

It's no longer at my place.... to suit some person who needs to study... we're switching it to bishan.... Either Cheng Hung or Ziling's place... pls update your attendance... so far there's Cheng Hung, Wei En, Ziling, Ying Qian, Kai En and I... Hexi i'm sorry... but I won't be there at 5pm anymore... or rather i'll be giving tuition then... and Kai En will be meeting Ailing at 3pm... You can check with Cheng Hung or Wei En if they are still there...

okok.. the timing wise hasn't changed... just that the venue is changed... we will meet 0930 at bishan mrt ... Cos i dunno how to go to their homes... =x

Okay see you all !

Thank you, Father

Lord, I thank you for revealing your unlimited grace to me.
For accepting the ugliest me, the unworthy, filthy me.

Thank you for rescuing me from the valley of death,
for staying with me through my darkest times.

When I was so far away, you were waiting...
for my rebellion to stop.

Thank God for your grace to let me see my foolishness
to pick up again, to commit to your kingdom

You welcomed me back with open arms
and allowed me to partake in your work

Now at this point in time, I've learnt that you have your timing
And I'll await your time, not on my sole persistence

i've become amazingly white thanks to SK-2 whitening products... Deyong aren't you jealous...? ( My fren who has this obsession of being white when he's so dark =x)

Learning to entrust things into God's hands... many things that are really beyond my control....

Learning to seek help from brothers and sisters as well... and not just on what I can do myself...

If you are still mourning and blaming
yourself it is not because God is blaming
you; He has put the blame on Jesus. It can
only be due to one of two things. Either
that you have not really repented, or, more
likely, you are mourning over your lost
righteousness. Perhaps you feel that, having
been saved for so long, you should not
be failing as you are. . . . You are in effect
saying, “Alas for my lost righteousness.”
That is nothing but pride.

Excerpt from the book " When we have failed, what's next?"

" All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away. "

Isaiah 64:6

As seen from the passage, all our righteous acts are like filthy rags? Why then are we still holding on to the fact that we can, by ourselves, be righteous? The first step to righteousness is recognising that there is nothing righteous about our self... Another paradox of our faith... On a side note... there are many paradoxes in our faith... The greatest amoung you is the least, many who are first are last, many who are last are first, to lose yourself is to find it... those who humble yourself will be exalted... and so on and so forth... okay back to the main topic...

The author then goes on to sum it up using the verse in Philippians 3:8-9, a famous line by Paul:

"I consider everything a loss compared to
the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ
Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost
all things. I consider them rubbish, that
I may gain Christ and be found in him,
not having a righteousness of my own
that comes from the law, but that which
is through faith in Christ—the righteousness
that comes from God and is by faith"

If you are still mourning and blaming
yourself it is not because God is blaming
you; He has put the blame on Jesus. It can
only be due to one of two things. Either
that you have not really repented, or, more
likely, you are mourning over your lost
righteousness. Perhaps you feel that, having
been saved for so long, you should not
be failing as you are. . . . You are in effect
saying, “Alas for my lost righteousness.”
That is nothing but pride.

Excerpt from the book " When we have failed, what's next?"

just realised my blog is really dull ! there are no pictures ! no appeal =x okay just a picture from taiwan.. to spice things up a little =x

was browsing through some of the channels on the tv... The Apprentice is such a gross show... The business sector is like a dog eat dog world...

Although they were formed into teams of two to complete a project for Donald Trump, when it came to the point where one of them had to be fired due to failure to deliver.... both of them turned onto each other... The acrimonious remarks they gave to each other... the animosity !

It revealed the core of human sin... self-centredness... every man for himself... even the seemingly humble point... when the person could defend herself no longer... she mentioned that she accepted her mistake and immediately tried to play down the project's significance in evaluation of her abilities... but Donald Trump fired her immediately upon hearing this statement... Quite shrewd and decisive of him...

I can't believe that I might be entering into such an industry in years to come...

Saw the presentations and ideas that they had to come up with... I'm like thinking... at crunch time... will I be able to deliver??? I've had a few experiences speaking in front of big crowds... the stage fright isn't really there... but I sometimes struggle with the words to be used... Oh well... Do not worry about tomorrow ! okay sorry.. it's not years to come... it's coming... Project presentations in uni ! oh no !

And I was just thinking about the future ministry involvements... and I realised that I'm gonna get really busy ! really... it's like... I'm not even sure if I have time to squeeze in my exercise times...

Looks like I really need to find time to sit down with Ying Qian to set the principles and priorities for life in university as we previously discussed...

Just read Wei En's blog again... on the sermon about knowing God's will in our life... how to be sure... like how Abraham was sure... reading the trajectories of His word... and His leading...

2008 is the year when Wei Hong is finally disciplined... okay... trying hard to keep the principles i've set myself.. and thank God for the courage to explain it to my other friends as well.. yay...

Have a blessed week... brothers and sisters...

There are some things that really steal focus from God... Thank God that He has started to take away some of my greatest distractions...

Things that preoccupy your mind when you're alone... Sometimes some things just pop up in your mind... when this time could be better spent thinking about other things...

I pray that I'll be able to consistently improve in these areas... ; ) Yay...

I'm finally freed of one of my tuition students... The one that was most difficult to handle... He lives at punggol... and sometimes he is crying when I reached his place for tuition... for very lame reasons... and he wastes alot of my time.... So it's good that I'm finally rid of him... =x if i put it in a bad way.. yeah...

The past week was pretty busy... but thank God for all the lessons learnt... and the times of fellowship with brothers and sisters... yeah... take care folks.

Thank you Wei En for a very encouraging verse... will share to you all here...

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God [a] ;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Psalms 62 : 5-8

Was quite troubled yesterday... but God is amazing... He turned my troubles into something to be happy about... Was thinking through some things... and perhaps I've finally gotten the answer from Him... Will continue to seek His will in this matter...

It takes courage to let go... to get out of your comfort zone... ; )

Be strong Wei Hong!!! uRghh... many things to improve on... I pray for strength to ercome them...

Thank God for His guidance, grace and teachings this week.
Thank God that He has let me readjust back to life in Singapore already.
Thank God for the talks with Ailing and Kai En and with brothers this week.
Thank God that my mom is eating healthier already.
Pray for wisdom to continue to plan and ponder about future directions and how to better help spur each other on in Christ.
Pray for understanding and continual application of His word.
Pray for strength to overcome temptations and not to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ( Away from com. games for most of this week... Pray that can resist temptations of television)
Pray for extended times of prayer and reading of His word.
Pray that I'll be a good steward of time and money given by God.
Pray for understanding and applying the true meaning of being holy, not just in setting rules, but the heart to be set apart from sin ... and that I can achieve it in all aspects in life...
Pray for brothers and sisters in christ who are facing struggles..
Pray for CYYAM revival...

My prayer requests for the week.

sometimes... you'd think you understand a person... but in fact you don't...

you can try to observe... you can try to analyse... you can try to evaluate... but you can't seem to identify the radical self...

society and whatever external factors has shaped you to who you are today... you try desperately to put on a false facade... of what you hope others to think of you...

is it really you? or issit just a masquerade??? Unmasking the real you... who are you ... my dear friend... my closest one...?

The mystery of the hidden self...

As John Calvin tries to sum it up, " There is no deep knowing of God without a deep knowing of self and no deep knowing of self without a deep knowing of God."

There are some things that not even thorough introspection can't shed light on the truth of your self...

For as mentioned in scriptures... " The heart is deceitful above all things" Jeremiah 17:9

Well... before you understand yourself better... albeit it likely a lifelong journey... how'd you go about understanding others??? do you doubt their motives? question their character? embrace their false self? is it hypocritical to be that?

Well... As mentioned in Matthew 7 : 1-5 .. do not judge your brother... embrace each other in love... we can try to identify other people's flaws... but we seemingly have difficulties identifying flaws in ourselves...

Love always trusts, always hope... 1 Cor 13:7

just some thoughts on a book I read... and on how to bring it to understanding others as well....

Lastly... how to find your other half?? haha.. how to know her... ?

haha.. I guess it's difficult... but with prayer and seeking it's possible...

Proverbs 19:14b " but a prudent wife is from the Lord"

Feel free to make comments brothers and sisters...

okay... I officially hate english....

There are just so many words that I do not know... It's frustrating...

Oh well... I shall be learn to be more patient... and sustain my diligence in checking the dictionary for all the unknown words...

Going to write every word that I learn into some notebook... but I haven't found a notebook yet... and I'm not very enthusiastic bout the idea... urgghs..

just to clarify... i din remove my tagboard... something wrong with my blog... lols... i'll try to fix the tagboard soon

Eh thanks for the prompt response from Ying Qian... Haha... after typing this post... I decided to pick up my bible to read... Read Ephesians 4:17 - 5 :21... Talking about living as children of light. Really many reminders... and had a good discussion with Pei En on Romans 14... about the weak and strong faith over disputable matters...

Anyway... I think the why I felt lost was because of watching too much television... Being influenced by the wrong content in the media... Which led to negative thoughts...

Managed to overcome any urges to play games today.. but succumbed to the temptation of the box... Tomorrow will be a better day... as a promise to Wei En... I'll spend even more time reading the bible tomorrow..

Thanks for prayers ; )

I tend to pass judgements on people too quickly... was brought to light during my army times... and continues to create struggles in me...

I dunno if talking to the people whom I think i have made bad judgements would help clear the doubts... or that it might create more hurt...

rather not face it now ba.... see how things go... I guess I can be more proactive in understanding the people who I think that I have wrongly understood.

feeling a bit down... dunno why... i think i'm just physically really tired... hope to recover from this state of restlessness... Please pray for me.. thanks..

Taiwan

The Taiwan trip was just fantastic...

Many lessons learnt... a few opportunities to think through of some stuff...

Okay... I just love the jungle... we went for quite a few adventurous hikes... one was at yang ming shan... the other 2 at hua lien... it was fun to go back to the wildlife... where I used to have so much training at.... Managed to apply some of the skills learnt from training last time... so least the SAF training didn't go down the drain....

There were many opportunities to serve each other... We helped each other... helped look out for one another... and helped encourage...

There were so many fun times that I cannot mention each and everyone of them... It was just really great to have such fellowship...

I particularly like the hostel too... cos it like made me remember of my army .. haha... it was like a 6 man bunk... double decker beds... we had to set the rules... and worked for the hygiene of one another... having the room to ourselves for the first 2 nights allowed us to have late night talks... haha.. it was super fun... all the brothers together... talking, sharing, praying... it was great...

The scenery at Hua Lien was breath-taking... The majestic gorges... the beautifully sculpted pebbles and rocks... the gushing waterfalls ... can't be accurately penned down... it's sad that i don't have a camera... but I'll definitely get some pictures from my brothers and sisters..

Well... there were some nights... I guess I was really tired... some may think i was at an emotional state... but I was just thinking through some stuff.. yeah... there were some incidents that sparked off my thinking... and realised that I hadn't fully entrusted some parts of my life to God... some things that I thought I did... but realised I didn't...

Then there was one night when I was again reminded that I depended on myself too much... when problems surfaced... the first thing I did was to try to settle myself... Olivia really believes in the power of prayer... and then she reminded me to pray... instead of being flustered and worrying and trying to solve myself... because then we faced some communication breakdown... and I had no contact with a group of people who were in a different cab....

Alas, everything turned out fine... and we met up with each other at the desired location...

There was another incident... when we were trying to bring Uncle James in for his sharing on some verses... but somehow or another... things were working against us... It started raining when we were singing songs of praises... and to make matters worse Uncle James had a bad migraine... I was thinking like there was some force working against us... and was a bit upset... but later on reminded that it was probably God's way of saying that that wasn't the best method to share to the seekers...

Thank God that through other methods... the gospel was succesfully shared to Winnie and Alene... though both yet to accept Him yet... but hopefully having the seed implanted in them... they'll one day learn that no gift is as great as the gift of salvation from God.... The reunion with your creator... with the being who loves you most...

Now... being back in Singapore... i'm not really used to everything yet... hahs... i think i'm 1/3 taiwanese... it feels so natural to be in taiwan... it's really a nice place.. and i get the feeling that this isn't the last trip to taiwan yet... ; )

Well... went for a swim today... back to my healthy diet after consuming all the oily foods in Taiwan... hahx... likely to go gym tomorrow... yay... okay shan't waste any more time today... will go and read some books... wanna finish my narnia books... bought them and didnt follow thru... a bit wasted... okay.. take care folks ; )

ARGGHHHH!!!! so happy today !

learnt something new.... I was wondering how come... in times of trial or temptation... even when I tried to quote the bible verses... Sometimes I still failed and succumbed...

Now I understand... when you're quoting scriptures... be wary of the serpent who is similarly aware of the scriptures as well... As Satan tempted Jesus... even he quoted scriptures to try to deceive Jesus... but Jesus believed and understood the word... and quoted the scriptures accurately ... unlike Eve who though understood God's words... but quoted wrongly...

Thus... do not be shocked when there's a battle within you... when you seem to ponder about the truth about a particular verse... Quote accurately... and have faith... and remember what are the principles you need to live out...

HAPPY!

Hello !

Dear readers.... haha... sorry ah... soooooo long never update... dunno why also... lost the stamina to.... Guess I didn't quite knew what to blog....

Okay... many thoughts recently... and learnt a lot through Quiet Time with God... church camp ... serving for Him and from brothers and sisters in Christ...

First and foremost... I really see God's work through us in the church camp... He has spoken to many of us and through the sharing and through the actions.... I see growth in many of us... His words cut deep into us... people who live in the city... The problems we face as an urban church...

I always thought... that... methods were secondary... that as long as we shared the gospel... it was alright... until now... that I understand that even with faith... our deeds must be planned... The methods we use to reach out must be catered... suited for our target groups... Even in sharing the gospel... we cannot be rigid... Planning and saying things that are more relevant or more catered to a specific person is not that we do not have faith... but rather we have faith and we have wisdom in speaking to those who need the gospel so much....

Next... I would like to share the eagle story... for those who still do not know about it....

Once there was a farmer... who went up a hill to chop some lumber... He went in the morning... and on his way up... he heard some weird noises near a tree.. He went over... and realised that there was a small eagle in its nest... with its mother nowhere to be seen... He thought that the mother eagle went to gather food for its child and thus continued with what he had to do... After gathering the lumber... on his way back to his farm... out of curiosity, he went to take a look at the nest again.

To his amazement, the young eagle was still there... all alone... seemingly malnourished and he made an effort to locate its mom, but to no avail..
He decided to save the small life... and thus brought the eagle back to his farm.

He looked around his farm for a place to rear the eagle... As he had no idea how to provide a proper environment for it... he resided to growing the eagle with his brood of young chicks. The baby eagle and the baby chicks grew up together... feeding on rice scattered on the floor by the farmer himself... Anyone passing by can hear the sounds made when the chicks and eagle pick up the rice on the floor. " tok, tok, tok..." they went...

As time passed by... it was inevitable that the eagle was sticking out from the pack. It was so much bigger than its "relatives"... One day... one of the farmer's friends visited him... and he mentioned about the unsually large chicken... "How did u manage to rear it to be so big? " "The farmer mentioned that it was an eagle that he picked up in the woods"

The farmer's friend then understood.. He was very insistent that an eagle shouldn't live with chickens... and he managed to convince the farmer to release the eagle into the air...

He shook the eagle for a bit... and then said " Go eagle... you belong to the skies... FLY !" The eagle struggled a bit, but managed to extend its wings... and took flight... The eagle had sharp eyes... and it zoomed in on the rice on the floor that he fed on.... " Time for food" it said... and it flew down to the ground... and then " tok, tok, tok..." It stayed back on land... where it didn't belong...

The farmer's friend intervened again... and was determined to give the eagle back to the skies. This time he brought it up to the farmer's roof... and again he did the same thing... " Go eagle.. you belong to the skies... FLY!" And again the same cycle repeated. The eagle took flight... but due to its sharpness, flew back to the ground... and then "tok, tok, tok..." it fed on the rice on the floor...

This time the farmer's friend was even more determined. He took the eagle up a hill... and on the peak of the hill he released it...

"Go eagle... you belong to the skies... FLY!!!" This time... things were different. The eagle could no longer see the rice on the floor as it was too high up... It was a majestic sight... The eagle fully extended its wings, gliding across the horizon and howled as if in extreme delight...

Actually many christians are like that... we forget that we belong to the heavens... we are just passers-by on this earth... Do not focus on what is seen but what is unseen for what is seen is temporial but what is unseen is eternal... 2 cor 4 : (last part) dunno wad verse.. haha.. i think 18...

I am so stuck in my worldly life... this fallen world has taken so much of our time... Post modernism theories embedded in our heads... Education, money, ambition, hobbies have taken up our time... Instead of loving God... we end up loving the world... loving ourselves...

The greatest commandment... love your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind... and the 2nd greatest... loving thy neighbour as yourself...

How to love God?? An abstract idea? Or kissing your bible...?

3This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1John 3-5

Loving God is obeying his commands... How best to obey his commands??? Through understanding and familiarising and living out His words.... I thank God that my quiet time has improved by leaps and bounds... and He has spoken to me a lot through His words...

Again... Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"[a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13 8-10

Loving your neighbour is an action to fulfil the laws... to obey his commands... There are still many instances where I fail to keep this law... to love even non-christians... To be patient... to live out what love is in 1 cor 13.... Sometimes... being a D-character... I tend to be impatient... I just shouted at some Malaysian crewman that day... felt bad about it... I really need to be slow to anger ! argghh...

Also... in the later part of Romans 13... 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature..

Sometimes... it's just so easy to try to gratify your own desires...

Another point mentioned by Pastor Lai during the church camp is that we are to die to ourselves... We are no longer living... Living in us is Jesus Christ Himself... The Holy Spirit lives in us.... And we are not to gratify any desires... as they are but temporary....

I still can't let go of many things... I still can't find enough joy in spending every min. of my life wisely.... I'm working on it...really really... Pls pray for strength to overcome the stupid games... and stupid television... thanks !!!!

Okay.. I'm really tired.. getting a bit frustrated.... feeling so sticky and all... and my dad keeps asking me random questions... urgghh.. i'm boiling up... okay going to bathe and sleep now... Taiwan here we come... ; )

祷告

祷告 因为我渺小

祷告 因为我知道我需要

明瞭

祢心意对我重要

祷告已假装不了

祷告因为祢的爱我需要

祢关怀

我走过的祢都明白

有些事我只想要对祢说

因祢比任何人都爱我

痛苦从眼中流下

我知道祢为我插

在早晨我也要对祢说

主耶稣今天我为祢活

所需要的力量祢天天赐给我

I thank God for the sermons on Sunday... that He has finally answered certain queries that were left lingering in my mind...

I'm now more focused in my daily life... being able to withstand temptations better... and use His words as a sword and a shield to fight the daily battle towards sin.

Had a chance to picture what it's gonna be like a few years down the road...

I realised that I've been too engrossed in the mundane things in life... there are so many things that are bigger than I ... bigger than the things that I've been thinking...

There are some things that I don't mind leaving behind for now...

Definitely there are sacrifices...

To carry up the cross and follow Jesus...

To stand firm admist all the trials and temptations...

God disciplines those He loves...

It will definitely not be smooth-sailing... but I believe that all will be worthwhile...

Do you... ?

" Only one life,
'Twill soon be past;

Only what's done,
For Christ will last. "

Life is full of contradiction... full of complications....

You really need to pray for wisdom.... to lead a purposeful and focused life...

Never lose touch of your own principles.... and never be swayed....

The world can become the darkest place... but it can do with a few lingering bulbs of light around.....

The heart is deceitful above all things....

Some say the deepest place is a person's heart...

It's so complicated...

Is THERE REALLY NO RIGHT AND WRONG?

IS THERE REALLY NO ABSOLUTE TRUTH??

NO BEST WAY OF LIVING?

It's so frustrating....

I can't get to sleep.

I dunno why... many thoughts flooded my mind. Haiz.

Post some random thoughts.

The human brain is amazing. However, somehow I feel that it is limited by emotions.

Imagine a computer having emotions.

You want to chat on the internet...

The computer says no as it is sad... or angry... or whatever..

Has the computer surpassed the human brain????

On certain levels it has... I guess... or perhaps it's human's method to create a perfect organiser that is void of emotions...

URgghh..


I'm hungry...

but I can't eat...

I'm tired...

but I can't sleep...

!!!!

There are some things you do that have repercussions beyond your imagination.

I was taught that painful lesson today.

WHAT A SCINTILLATING PERFORMANCE FROM LIVERPOOL AND ARSENAL! I was still unsure that I made the right decision to view the match last night (this morning).

My heart sank when Diaby scored for Arsenal early on in the 13th minute. Arsenal seemed to dominate the possession and always looked dangerous on the attack. Adebayor is a player that has developed to be a quite a lethal weapon, and one cannot rule out the likes of Fabregas, Hleb, and Diaby who have the scoring touch.

Thoughts of Liverpool losing flooded my mind, but I told myself to have faith in the team and their Champions League form. True enough, a great give and go (one-two) by Aurelio and Gerrard allowed the former to get a deflected cross in, which Almunia, the Arsenal GK, managed to parry out for a corner.

As Liverpool were forming up for their corner, I realised that they had a great advantage with Crouch and Torres around. Amazingly, the ball was floated in beautifully by Gerrard, and Hyppia ( the defender!) knocked the ball ferociously into the net with an impeccable header.

Surprisingly, Liverpool started to dominate the attacking play, keeping good possession of the ball and threatened to create the chances. I guess this must have been the result of homeground advantage.

The score remained 1-1 for the first half.

Then, I thought that this score could not be eluded when this 2 teams clashed. They already had two 1-1 draws in the last week and I was thinking about the possibilities of an extra time battle and maybe even a penalty shoot-out. Then again, I realised that Fernando Torres, my most loved player in Liverpool, wasn't on the scoring sheet for all 3 matches against Arsenal... and I was hoping that he would be the goal-scoring hero... I was rooting for him to score since the start of the second half.

Again, Liverpool showed good form and good composure in the start of the second half. Then, at the 69th minute, a moment of brilliance from TORRES!!!! He received a knock on pass from Crouch, and with him being the only person in the box, made a clever turn and blasted the ball into the top corner. I wished that I could shout out loud, one because Torres scored, the other for my seeming prophesy. Haha. But alas it is in the wee hours of the morning, and there was no one to share my joy! So i punched my fist in the air, and shook with delight!

2-1. 20 minutes to go. Surely Liverpool have done enough. I mean, they have a good defence, and Arsenal had only managed to squeeze one goal pass them for each of the previous 2 encounters.

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal's head coach, had other plans. He substituted his two wingers for two strikers. Theo Walcott for Eboue, Robin van Persie for Diaby. This signalled danger as both players are equally lethal and can create something from nothing. Furthermore their fresh legs could spell trouble for Liverpool.

Then, I felt that it was fair for either team to progress as both teams had played well. Even though I was a Liverpool supporter, I wouldn't mind Arsenal progressing. I couldn't help but remember the painful 3-0 defeat by Manchester United not too long ago. If Liverpool progressed, and won the semi-final (against Chelsea), I guess a meeting with Man Utd was inevitable because I believe Man Utd will go all the way! They rock too. =x

True enough, Theo Walcott !!!!! A mesmerizing run from somewhere near his own penalty box to the Reds' penalty box. He beat 4 people in the process, and fed the ball for an easy tap in by Adebayor. Urgghhh. I was thinking what the headlines would be tomorrow, and how the Arsenal fans would scream with delight. Somehow most of my friends are Arsenal fans... so sad... there's even one who deserted Liverpool for Arsenal... hehe.. but it's because she likes Arsenal's team play better. Walcott really made the difference, and it was promising for such a young player to make such a big impact on such a big setting.

Oh oh oh oh oh ! I forgot to mention that Ryan Babel came in for Crouch. Crouch played very well! He is a good player. I like him. He has that something special. He is not selfish. He can pass. He can hold the ball well. He can shoot. And he doesn't have any airs.

But similarly, Babel is an amazing player. He is fast, he loves to shoot and shoots well, he is clever, he is a threat to any defense.

True enough, after the turn of events, Ryan Babel brought the ball into the box, but was brought down by Toure. wahahhahaahahahahaha. I was jumping with glee when I saw the referee's hands pointing to the penalty spot. ; )

Usually I would be afraid to watch the penalties taken by the team I support. I would change the channels. Or close my eyes until I hear the screams of the supporters. But somehow I trusted Gerrard to score. Crouching my head lower, till my nose was covered by my pillow, I watched as Gerrard cooly converted the penalty. YES !!!! LIVERPOOL 3-2 ARSENAL !!!! woohooo !!! Surely Liverpool will progress now.

Then, it was amazing. the last few minutes of the game was played off well by Liverpool. Benitez, Liverpool's head coach, did well to substitue Torres off for Riise as he was really tired from all his hardwork. And a substitution meant time wasting. ; ) clever ! and Dirk Kuyt went for the corner flag, and managed to waste even more time. GREAT !

And to top it all... the icing on the cake.... Ryan Babel, left upfield for a corner I think... chased down a long pass from his teammate... and beat the keeper in a one on one... 4-2 !!!!! and that's it... the final whistle blown. The Gunners gunned down... the Reds progress. YAY!

My prayer requests for this week. I didn't have time to write on sunday as I was in the church camp meeting with Ailing and the rest... yeah... so here it is..

Wei Hong

-Thank God for the painful lessons learnt through QT this week.
-Thank God for the opportunity to meet Ailing yesterday, and also for the Bible discussion time with brothers and sisters.. learnt a lot... and again challenged by Ailing. ; )
-Thank God for bringing me through my financial planner exam. It was better than I expected because I did not really study for it but managed to do more sums than I thought I would. (But most likely still fail la =x )
-Pray for strength to have a break through in time management. ( to get rid of com. games... thinking of picking a new hobby... and to flee from tempations. yup !)
-Pray for church camp coming up... that will have wisdom to plan the games part...
-Pray for wisdom to think through on the challenge posed by Ailing...
-Pray that I will be real to people around me...
-Pray that I can commit the future to God by being submissive and humble. I realised from QT that I tend to think too much about the things that I don't have control of, and in the process lose my focus on God.

I have never been so ill-prepared for an exam. I'm having my AFP (Associate Financial Planner) exam tomorrow... and I only looked through a set of summary notes... which are definitely not complete and insufficient for tomorrow's exam. I dread the exam... Oh well... I can't turn back time... and rue on wasted days... I'll just have to finish the exam... =(

1. PITFALL: Falling in love with the present world.

"For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica." (2 Timothy 4:10)

What is it about the world that leaders in particular are tempted to love? The answer of Jesus is clear:

Acclaim and Prestige
"Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and love salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts." (Luke 20:46)

Riches and Pleasures
". . .but as they go their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature" (Luke 8:14).
Successful leadership generally exposes a person more and more to the alluring forces of prestige and makes an array of worldly pleasures more and more accessible (because of travel, higher salary, wider circulation, etc.).

PROTECTION: Think long and hard about the deadly poison of world-love.

"If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. . . The world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever." (1 John 2:15,17)

"Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4)

. . .and ponder the never-ending delights of the mountain spring of God's approval and fellowship and beauty.

"Thou hast put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound." (Psalm 4:7)

"Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is nothing on earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever." (Psalm 73:25-26)

The spell of sin's fascination is broken by the superior pleasures of the presence of God.

From desiringgod.org

A reminder for me... A timely reminder..

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning."

Lamentations 3 : 22-23

a poem to share

This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital.



It was sent by a medical doctor.




SLOW DANCE



Have you ever watched kids


On a merry-go-round?


Or listened to the rain


Slapping on the ground?


Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?


You better slow down.


Don't dance so fast.


Time is short.


The music won't last.



Do you run through each day


On the fly?


When you ask How are you?


Do you hear the reply?


When the day is done




Do you lie in your bed


With the next hundred chores


Running through your head?


You'd better slow down


Don't dance so fast.


Time is short.


The music won't last.



Ever told your child,


We'll do it tomorrow?


And in your haste,


Not see his sorrow?


Ever lost touch,


Let a good friendship die


Cause you never had time


To call and say,'Hi'


You'd better slow down.


Don't dance so fast.


Time is short.


The music won't last.


When you run so fast to get somewhere


You miss half the fun of getting there.


When you worry and hurry through your day,


It is like an unopened gift....


Thrown away.


Life is not a race.


Do take it slower


Hear the music


Before the song is over.

It had been a roller coaster ride of emotions this week.

I was having problems in coping with my emotions again, and this started since the week before.

There were a few talks with Ailing. I thank God for such a patient and loving DM (not to mention fierce, or rather fiercely loving =x). Despite her busy schedule, she met me three times in the past 2 weeks.

Also, there are a group of loving brothers and sisters who are ever willing to support and give advice. Wei En, Pei En, Cheng Hung, Ying Qian ... wait a min... which sister? =x Fiana la... wahaha.

Again God has shown me the biggest homework that I need to learn... through all the issues that I had been pondering of... to be clear of my motives, to be self aware, and to see my self-centredness and selfishness.

There were mistakes made, and lessons learnt.

Finally, on this special Easter day, once again I am reminded of the core of my faith and the core of my life.

Current mood : Happy. ;)

Numerous thoughts flood my head.

Haphazardly; out of the blue; confusing.

I have a spltting headache.

Give my brain a break please! Don't torment me.

I need an avenue to release these frustrations.

I can't think straight.

My thoughts are all so disorganised - evident in this post.

I .... need .... to ... think...

Every decision you make is like a small dot in your life. When you thread a line through those dots, it depicts your life. Make every decision wisely, and do not waste time. As the cliche comparison concludes, everyone has 24 hours... How are you using yours...?

songs

2 new songs to share. one my the fusion band called "TRIX". Yes I know, there's a cereal brand that shares the same name... but that's not the point. Their jap style fusion is really nice. hahx. it's a super complicated beat, and their bassist, lead guitarist, keyboardist, and drummer are all equally crazy(technically gifted and the band as a whole is ultimately tight).

The other song is a hillsongs song that I really like.. yep yep.. enjoy !

On Dating & Relationships

If you cannot be contented in singleness, you will not be contented in marriage. Singleness is not something that keeps us from contentment and joy. Rather, it is a trying circumstance in which we are to look in faith to God, submitting in His good and sovereign will, and looking to him for every blessing. But singleness is not the only such trying circumstance. Another is called marriage, as two sinners seek to live in harmony without killing each other.

Phil. $:12-13 " I know how to be brouhgt low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abudance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Contentment only comes from God, and the sooner we start seeking it in Him, the better off we will be. A quote from Martyn Lloyd Jones:

"Man's happiness was never meant to be determined by his circumstances, and that is the fatal blunder that we all tend to make... Man's happiness depends on one thing only --- and that is his relationship to God! ... We cannot get it anywhere else. We must come back to the soul and to God who made it. We were made for him, we are meant for him , we have a correspondence with him, and we will never come to rest until, like that needle on the compass, we strike that northern point, and there we come to rest --- nowhere else."

This is Brooke White... from american idol. A great personality... she's unlike the other people... She's extremely talented and is very sincere with her music. enjoy the song. ; )

After a day of resting at home... I think I understand the feelings that I have right now.

It's the old fighting with the new.
It's a transitionary period. And I'm still not used to it yet.
I wanna shed away the distractions, and draw happiness from His word alone.
It is difficult to keep focus... it's a spiritual battle. satan does not want to give up, but I know God never did.

Another thing would be ya.. I think that I should not think too much about certain things. You cannot enjoy the things that you don't possess.
God has certain boundaries, and has His own time. Even when He gave Canaan to the Israelites, he had set specific boundaries for them, albeit them being very generous boundaries.

Yeah... anyway... yesterday Rev Tong said something very interesting. A saint is not a person who is without sin, but rather a person who is extremely sensitive to sin. Joseph was one such person whom did not succumb to the sin that was presented to him by Potiphar's wife! He is the perfect role model for us... willing to stand firm in his principles to the extent of being thrown into the jail, and being wronged, and yet without a single grumble against God!

suddenly confused.
suddenly troubled by things I thought never troubled me anymore.
struggling to spend my time wisely.
wanting to rid the then entertaining activities.

the weather is so cold cold cold.

Again, I find myself awake at this time of hour. I wanted to sleep early, so that I will not feel so tired during the day. Oh well, I was thinking about certain things.. and sort of realised that there are some things that I have yet to totally entrust to God.

In Philippians 3:13-15 ,Paul says "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.."

Sometimes I spend too much time on thinking of the past, and not entrusting my worries and doubts to the Lord. Straining for what is ahead, The prize that is heavenward.

It is a homework to learn. To entrust my worries and uncertainties to God (which implicitly requires a heart of faith to believe in His plans),forgetting what is behind, and straining for the eternal goal ahead.

Today has been a good day. Many lessons learnt, and a good exercise time in the evening. Oh, but I still fell prey to gaming in the middle of the day, but thank God that I managed to will myself to stop. Will continue to work on this problem.

"Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" Deuteronomy 6:5 and Mark 13:30

Wisdom

Thank you bro Ying Qian for introducing me this link on desiriggod.org:

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TopicIndex/106_Wisdom/299_Get_Wisdom/

In it are many lessons to be learnt. I will just quote a short paragraph from it, and you all can read the rest from the website yourself. This particular paragraph is especially meaningful to me now, as I have been hearing quite a few sermons on it.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalms 90:12

The shortness of life it is. In our minds, we know that life is short, and that this life is temporary, only a preparation for our next life which is eternal.

Why then are we so poor on prioritising our lives? Is not the eternal worth more than the temporial? For the things of today will fade away, but the glory of God remains forever.

Have you ever thought what it would be to look back on your life when you die? Will you be satisfied? Have you walked the good walk? Are you a faithful and obedient servant?

Therefore, cherish your everyday life, and do not take things for granted. And prioritise your life and grasp hold of opportunities. Fear the Lord, and saturate your heart and mind with His words. Gain wisdom then, to find true happiness in God's words.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4 : 18

Today has been a fruitful day at church. The sermon in the morning touched me deep. When Uncle James gave examples of the sister not sharing the gospel to his most beloved brother, I could not help but think of the close friends around me and my relatives.

I really felt that I have not done my best to share the gospel to my friends, to tell them this good news that I have, and to tell them the truth of life. I went to Rev Tong's sermon this evening, and he gave a terrific example on the truth of the gospel.

He said that someone asked him how he would answer the question that some people say that it is 'unreasonable', 'arrogant' that Jesus Christ claims that He is the only way to eternal life, and not believing in Him will go to hell. So many oppose this claim and want to see what exactly will happen to them.

His reply was very simple, imagine 'Air' being 'unreasonable' and 'arrogant' and claim that only by breathing 'him' then you will live. And if you do not breathe, you cannot live. And you choose to oppose it. What will exactly happen to you?

Haha. his example was quite comical, but portrayed a serious truth. He's saying that God is telling a truth, and the rule of life, and it does not make Him arrogant to say that! ;) I really hope my friends will one day realise the truth and also attain meaning in life and true happiness. (an eternal one)

Also, I realised that sometimes it is difficult for me to be very real in relationships with people. Or maybe that is not the exact word for it, but I'm still not very sure. I just feel that sometimes I do not put in enough effort to care for my brothers and sisters and my friends. It is something that I really need to work on.

Lastly, it is my prayer life. I still don't have a prayer structure for myself, and I find myself not praying enough for others. (ministry, people, missionaries, church, etc.) so I am going to do up a prayer structure for myself! ; )

Take care peeps. God Bless. ; )

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." James !:22-25

Books books books!

Haha... I do not know the reason, but I went into BORDERS one day and bought 3 books ! "For one more day", "A Mighty Heart" and "A New Earth " ; ) Don't tell me you have the book and could lend it to me for free ! I'll kill you. haha.

Anyway, there was a sale going on. Buying 3 books for the price of 2 (obviously you had to pay for the 2 more expensive books) Haha. And I saw this book "For one more day" again... it's been on my "booklist" for like dunno how long. I finally got the conviction to purchase it. I just finished one story book today... finally ;) am moving on to this new book today. yay!

Singapore

Yay! Singapore got awarded the right to host the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games!

That's great news for our economy.. In such a recessionary period like this, something like the olympics is a good boost for the economy as it generates additional jobs and keeps the economy moving. Since we have a deadline to meet, we cannot be lazing around and waiting for things to happen. It's a timely decision to bid for the host of the olympics, and it's a great thing we've gotten it. ; )

Oh man. Just wasted the whole day. I'm too slack. I must work. Giving tuition tml, and have financial course at night! How tough ! Urggh.. I'm getting very busy with all the tuition assignments at hand, and with ad-hoc relief teaching. Pray for discipline to manage time ! ; )

Take care pple.

" If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does" James 1 :5-8

Amazing... God's words is just so amazing... it is exactly the situation I'm facing now. I'm so lost and torn between choosing a course to a teaching career and a financial career. I've prayed about it before... I've consulted friends.. consulted my parents.. consulted my teachers... But I'm still so uncertain.

I was awoken by this passage... "but when he asks, he must believe and not doubt..." I realise... that I had not set my heart right. I did not set my attitude correct. I never had the mentality that if God showed me the path, I will be obedient and follow through with it even with any hardships that might occur along the way.

I guess this is why... my prayers are "unanswered". I do not want to be a double-minded man... I do not want to be unstable... Instability is not the character trait of a future head of a household. I must cultivate this area... to be truly obedient to God's words and His leading.

Please pray for me, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

To those who are facing the same problem as me... This is a passage to encourage you all...

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:7-11