my 22nd! on 25th oct '07.

how time zoom zooms. :)

thanks for all the birthday celebrations, dinner, prayers, gifts, words. v blessed by the spiritual family here. and of cos, the sg household as well. :)

and to those great peeps in sing, the video and card received was absolutely fantabulous. really touched. thanks for presenting your giftings in the various musical instruments, voices, and the wacky places you guys choose to speak the words of encouragement to me. :) appreciates. and all those who wished through smses emails ecards and whichever channels. thank-yous. :)

and even the old faithful wee! hahas. thanks for faithfully remembering my bday and the yearly birthday dinner treat. was really pleasantly surprised when u remembered, thanks friend!

some pics i have w me. up first.

day 1: with dmm!

pretty cake.

ho suet suet. :)

day 2: caregroup in la trobe!

party hats! reliving childhood days eh. haha

day 3: pancake palour with sg-ians!

another pretty cake with the sweetest flower.

a was-up-whole-night-typing-report-and-i-m-feeling-o-so-fatigued-but-glad-its-birthday face! :)

laterrrs!

was reading hongteck's blog, and he shared about him being a big fan of sarah chang, the violinist. so went and take a look at the url.

and i was so impressed. wow. i heard she was good. but never knew she was THAT good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCLxso5XDN4

i pray for such finger talent too. to play guitar. haha.

today's lesson for shepherding was on grace. and it really brought me back to appreciate this elemental quality of Christ.

and i learn that, grace is the core concept of Faith. it's His gift to us.

yes, gift. and grace does hold the meaning of gift in Greek. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast..."

so, what is Grace? :))

share a little of what i've learnt today,

Grace is one of God's attributes.
Psalms 116:5 "The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion..."

and it is the expression of God's character. how so?

• He forgives us.
• 2 Chronicles 30:9 "If you return to the LORD, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him."; 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

• He does good to us!
• Psalms 111:4-5 "He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate, He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever."

• He gives generously to us!
• Nehemiah 2:18 "I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work."

• He helps us in times of need.
• Psalms 116:5-6 "The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me."

• He answers our prayers.
• Psalms 25:15-16 "My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted."

• He is patient with us.
• Exodus 34:6 "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."
  

one thing that spoke to me much about grace, was when atom shared about how sometimes, we do feel condemned due to the sinful nature, and feeling unworthy to go to the feet of our Father. and she shared about this incident she experienced in thailand, where she was feeling self-condemned. Her mentor flipped to a verse in 1 John 1:9, and asked her to read that out loud 300 times!

and she shared that after she read it for 10 over times, how tears just flowed out inconsolably. she was deeply touched by God's immeasurable grace in her life. how He choose to forgive and purify us, if we confess and repent, and make attempts to do the right things again.

what a wonderful, gracious Father we have, who loves us, not cos of good works, not cos we serve, but loves, cos He loves.

looking at photos. thought should add some colours to the blog with photos of wonderful peeps. :))

happenings of the past weeks. in random order. (my brain is random now. hahas)


last day at city centre's service. baby watching!
after soccer in school. :)when karryn came to melb! :) (look how she integrated into aust so fast with her aust jacket. hahas)

after one of the darebin services with ag, mag and suet. :)

and agnes girl. :)

was looking through the CONNECT journal that's starting this thurs. on hebrews and galatians.

and as i steal a skim in the book first, saw this quote, which seems to speak to me loads together with the song of planet shakers-for the cause.

"Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow." -Theodore Epp.

He came as a ransom to set us free. it's a love that's amazing, divine.

so, what can be our responses to that immeasurable love? :)

i believe, we can many.

but i suppose, all that He wishes of us, is just to simply love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

m off to school to drop books and to atom's for shepherding! :))

good-bye!

believe it will be a long night once more. with a rather hard-to-digest-the-readings-and-hence-hard-to-churn-out-something-that-make-sense-essay. and having an hour forward with daylight saving seems to make it all a tad time-tight. Hmmmmm. but timely, was encouraged in ways!

be it through the praise and worship songs that are singing loudly from my lappiee now, be it through just have people asking me how i am which i much appreciate, be it just chancing msn nicks that lifted me up and reminded me of His promises! like.

...i will get down and pray, and know that help is on its way! :)

pray, and yes, it spoke to me, that in all things, commit it FULLY to Him! :) let everything, give Him honour and praise, as we do it unto Him. hallelujah!

surely! amen. :)

daylight saving has commenced. rights. hahas. so now, 3 hrs ahead of sg. i must really rem that.

switched all the watches. and hp. it's like "stealing" an hour from the earth. hahas.

and today was water baptism day! hana, janeth, tlp, suet and yurim! at st kilda's beach!

it was a blessed day, cos the weather was exceedingly good at 31degrees! knowing melbourne's weather, going from hot to cold, cold to windy all in a span of few hours is never surprising.

and the past few days had been cold. and today was nice, warm and sunny! it's almost God's shower of blessing for their faith and obedience, with of nice sunrays and nice clear water. nice breeze and nice scenery.

and i can finally savour paddle pops in full contentment. :))

believe that this step taken for Jesus, will bring each of them to greater heights in their spiritual walk. :) 2 cor 15.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

am going for the local membership class tomorrow. haha will be great to refresh the meaning and importance of being part of a spiritually family. :) the last time i went was 5 years back. how time zooms me by.

dear Lord. prayi ng for irrepressible joy, and strength in my service and walk with You always. and forever. :)) You guide me. amen!

Matthew 18 (The Message)
Whoever Becomes Simple Again

1 At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?"
2-5For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.

the hour before i woke up, i have no idea why, but suddenly, i was exceptionally filled with the worries and complications of the world, about school. about people. about a whole lot of things. and even things that happened in the past before i know God, came back as brief flashbacks. and i wanted to escape by not waking up, and sleep in. sleep on, to avoid waking up to do work, and hoping i will fall asleep, so i won't let my mind manifest on the thoughts of things that happened in the past. and of cos, gave myself all reasons like i am sick and need more rest et cetera.

but i DO know that the root of all matter, is, i want to run away. so, pulled myself up, cleared my nose. and prayed. and was reminded of Matthew 18. and John 14:27.

desire to go back to square One. and be all simple and elemental in my life. to prevent myself from flowing to think that complicated thoughts means more efforts given into thinking. Also, He is the Prince of Peace. from the day i received Him into my life, the old has gone, and all is surrendered to Him. He has left His peace with me as a child of His, and He does not gives His peace like the world gives, so never let my heart be troubled, and never be afraid, for He is with me side by side.

always and forever. :)

amen.

主祢要往哪里走, 我就跟祢走
领我走到世界尽头, 一生不在回头
让世界听到我们敬拜, 我们的祷告
让复兴从我们开始, 让主爱带到人群中

..祢大能赐给我勇气, 我会勇敢走出去

-赞美之泉-勇敢走出去

Lord, wherever You go, I will follow.
Lead me to the ends of the earth, and never will I turn back.
Let the world listen to our praise and worship unto You; our prayers unto You
Let revival start from us, and let us be the vessels to bring Your Love to Your people.

..May Your majestic power grant me strength, and i will walk on and step out with this strength and courage that You bless me with.

amen.

caught sight of this. thought it was pretty cute. :) i like the turnips part. haha.

PLANT YOUR GARDENS...
It's time to plant our gardens. As you plant, may I suggest the following rules for your garden planting:

PLANT three rows of squash:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash criticism
3. Squash indifference

PLANT three rows of peas:
1. Purity
2. Patience
3. Perseverance

PLANT six rows of lettuce:
1. Let us be unselfish and loyal
2. Let us be faithful to duty
3. Let us search the scriptures
4. Let us not be weary in well-doing
5. Let us be obedient in all things
6. Let us Love one another

NO GARDEN is complete without turnips:
1. Turn up for church,prayer service, and Bible study
2. Turn up with a smile, even when things are difficult
3. Turn up with determination to do your best for God's cause.

After planting, may you "Grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ". -2 Peter 3:18

amen! :)

tagged by dawn. haha and this is long overdue.

Rules: Each player of the game starts off by writing 6 weird things about themselves before choosing another 6 of their friends to sabotage. People who get tagged needs to write in a blog on their own, 6 weird things about themselves and state the rules clearly.

so, here goes:

1. i can twitch my ears easily. and in the recent years, have learnt to dissociate by twitching one ear at a time.

2. i have reported abnormal head circumference when i was a baby. and was observed for it. (i don't think it has kept growing though.)

3. when i have a flu, i don't like my hands to be occupied with tissues..so will always attempt whenever possible to hold the tissue paper between my nose and upper lip to free my hands for work.

4. i like to sleep on towel-like texture since young. (have red-towel-like-blanket when i was young). now its replaced by the insides of a giodarno jacket which i like to put near my neck and face when i sleep. it gives me comfort.

5. when i like a song, i can play it over and over..and over and over again throughout the night without getting tired of it. :) and even for the days after that. similar for shows.

6. according to suet: i have this weird urge to push up the specs of others when its slipping down their noses. (hahas. i didnt quite notice that.)

and 6 to sabotage..hahas. i guess i will let it go. (: for those who will like to share about their weird habits to me, always welcome.

mr handsome boy in darebin. luke. (: hahas. he's really a darling. i like the way he attempts to move the big chairs, and to give a hand in whatever we are doing. look forward to welcome him during service each week.

the week has been a toll on me, physically. and was at its peak last night and this morning. but thank God for His comfort and care from others, the stuffed up nose is slowly clearing and headache's gone. PTL.

i was just laying limp on the bed last night, wanting to worship in spirit, but the moment i move my mouth, i cant breathe properly. the feeling was, terrible. i just hummed. and prayed in my heart that may the Lord heal and comfort me. and i hummed to sleep.

and a good sound sleep i had indeed. (: a restful rest.

listening to: streams of Praise's Precious corner. very meaningful lyrics. will share more about it tmr morn, i guess.

resting time. (:

when mountains fall i'll stand
by the power of Your hands
and in Your heart of hearts i'll dwell
and that my soul knows very well...

let heart, soul, mind and strength, be in one line again.

touched when i saw this. indeed, it was funny how 7 wonders was mentioned over a conversation a few days ago, and i saw this today. and i realised that 7 wonders are classified into many categories.. e.g. natural wonders, or man-made wonders etc. so there are actually many many "seven" wonders in the world!

and its true. we can always go to the macro and classify the huge majestic pieces as Wonders. how about, going micro a little, and thank Him, for creating the 7 wonders in your life. (:

indeed, your life is a wonder by itself already, isn't it? (:

was a good time of thinking thru of the mini 'milestones' in my life after eric's sharing at cg today.

thank You Lord.

am blessed. (:

But he saw the twinkling eyes of Jesus
the kindness in His smile
and the boy cried out
with the trust of a child,
he said:

"Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
I hope it's not too small..."

I trust in You..I trust in You.

So I'll give you every breath that I have
O Lord, you can work miracles
All You need is my "Amen".

- Five Loaves and Two Fishes. Corrinne May

Amen.

came across this as i surf, about parenthood.

i think, they are nice simple reflections of a parent. :)

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
-Diane Loomans, from "If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again"

so in the mood of chinese. hahas!

saw a package in my room with pleasant surprise ytd evening! think housemate signed it for me. :)

haha a chinese pendant with my name in chinese characters. and notebook, with a photo of much-missed penang with kind words of encouragement on it!

ace! 真的谢谢你! :)) (my first way of saying thanks! hahas!)

Ace-veron tay jiaying!

ace, a constant source of encouragement. a barnabas in my life indeed. your love for Him and His people is truly evident from your acts of service and words of encouragement. simple heart for God and truly humble.

still vividly remember the night where you and abi came to my cg for the first time. and that was the fateful day i was caught in my placement uniform which is not fit for public display. hahas. but nevertheless, a good laugh, a good time to remember. (and of cos, a nickname that i have gotten myself ever since. hahas)

and how afterwhich, u honestly confessed that you werent motivated to be a friend of mine before that. and didnt even feel like talking to me, even we were in the same word for life class earlier on in the year. air of arrogance around me, u said. hahahas.

rights. and i laughed. but its really amazing how in the end, we talked and was blessed by your life!

through you, i got to know DI peeps. a group of people that truly touch my life with their simple love for Jesus. their young hearts, but a fresh hunger for God and His touch. often amazed how they go thru each circumstance with a grateful heart.

thanks for allowing me to know you, your people, and Him better. i believe that He has great plans for you.

be strong and courageous, and lead for Him, jus as how He as led you.

I give thanks to God always for you. (1 corinthians 1:4)

love, mingxiu.

12th october 2007.

poring through newspapers. and came across this article on this group of centenarian friends, coming together to celebrate their many years of friendship and life. :)

what caught my eye was one of the sub-titles used: 100 ways to say 'thanks'.

ahha. was thinking, yes, what are 100 ways to say thanks!

i recall seeing this poster during my penang placement, on 20 ways to praise a child. it was very good. i'm sure i will feel good as a child, cos it feels like i have been praised over 20 times. hahas.

so, 100 ways to say thanks? haven quite thought of this before. what about 100 ways to give thanks to Jesus?

it will be fun thinking of that. :)

God really made human beings very interesting things.

a combination of the logical and illogical.

we are wired in a way, that we find it hard to understand ourselves at times.

but that's the element of mystery God has in store for us. cos that's for Him to know. and to allow us to be followers of His lead.

:) amazing.

received this in my email today.

GOD Has Called You

God has called each of us to serve Him in the place He has us. In His eyes we all have a ministry. Many serve Him in a local church through variety of ministries, such as music, teaching, youth work, or by being part of the church staff. Others serve on the mission field, on the job, at school, or at home.

God knows you and He knows your heart desires to serve Him. You are someone that He will use to make a difference, to share His love, and to touch the hearts of others. What has qualified you for this high previlege of being used by Him? Is it your talents, your personality, your education, your influence, or your resume? It is none of these; rather, it is the response of your heart toward Him. God is always searching for those whose hearts are yield to Him so that He can work mightily through them.

Sometimes we can be led to think that God's work is dependent upon us, upon what we do and upon what we know. The truth is that God wants us to be totally dependent upon Him. He is the Treasure, we are the vessels; He is the Vine, we are the branches; He is the Living Water, we are the channels through which He flows.

The apostle Peter was someone who needed to learn this important truth. Jesus taught him the futility of trying to get results through his own efforts by allowing him, an expert fisherman, to labour all night and come up empty. Afterward, when he followed Jesus' word to cast out into the deep, Peter pulled in a catch tht was beyond his dreams.

As His servant, remember that your ministry is His idea, and not yours. He is the One who knows you, who has called you, and who has equipped you to serve Him. Remain true, remain faithful, remain restful, and remain totally dependent upon Him.

God is not looking for those who are clever, but for those in whom He can be wise; He is not looking for those who are talented, but for those to whom He can be all sufficient; He is not looking for those who are powerful, but for those through whom He can be almighty...

-Roy Lessin.

was reading through some online newspaper articles for a report writeup. and came across this article.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22415193-24331,00.html

sometimes, its really brings you onto a realm of, how unconditional love can be; how it can be translated into giving up of something- something as dear as life, to bring life to another.

like a mother's to her child. how she has set apart her knowledge as a doctor that she is taking risks, and dangerous risks.

but, with love, cost is never calculated. and she went on, even with full knowledge that she will not have many lived moments with her child.

wow. :)

old poem that i kept on my desktop.
i love the feeling of opening things that you have kept for very long, and then you revisit them again. :))

perspectives may change. and hopefully, the perspectives have grown along the way as well.

the poem encourages me. hope it does for u too.

When The Winds Are Strong

If your life is windy these days-
winds of change, winds of adversity,
or may the constant winds of demands and expectations
that leave you feeling, well...
windblown- take heart.
As my mother used to say,
"The roots grow deep when the winds are strong."

- Charles R. Swindoll

thank God for His ways of encouragement. :)

woke up this morning feeling kind of blue. as i dragged my feet to the laptop, i sat down and prayed for today.

and i feel like clearing things on my desktop. to re-organise it a little. random, i know.

but as i put the documents into the folders respectively, i came across a longg letter, that i wrote to God on 10th March 2007, in the morning at 9.39am. typing at THE corner of the room, once again.

"10 March 2007-
...my heart, is suddenly peeling off. I think I am going to get an “infection” anytime soon. And God, I really don’t want it to happen..

...Dawned upon me that, holding tight to objects that you love very much, may not be beneficial. Let go, Let God.

...Believe His plans are always meant to prosper me, not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. Yes, and amen.

...Really love you Lord, my Heavenly Father. I know that you are listening to every beat of my heart now. How long it has been, that I last felt this way. In fact, none, ever since I became a Christian, isn’t it. how funny. :)

..Don’t ask me why God, I have no reasons. You do.

John 14. I trust in You.

Trust in You and not myself, will always lead to blessings, Lord have Your way in me. Amen.

Love, mingxiu. 9.39 am."

i prayed to God for my heart.

and as i prayed and sang to Him, i cant thank God enough, that He has made Yesterdays, and Tomorrows.

i find it hard to understand the things that He has allowed to happen at times.

but i thank Him, that, He made every yesterday a learning experience for tomorrow. He has allowed us to leave Yesterdays behind, so as to have a hope for a new Tomorrow. :)

arh.. it can only get better.

thank You Lord.

Clean Heart

"Create in me a clean heart,
O' Lord
And renew a right spirit within me

Create in me a clean heart,
O' Lord
And renew a right spirit within me

Cast me not away
From thy Presence O' Lord
And take not thy Holy Spirit from me
Restore unto me
The joy of thy Salvation
And renew a right spirit within me..."

meditation. realignment.

thank you Lord for revealing my heart attitudes. can run, but can't hide.

and thank you for dealing with them one by one.

the last thing that i want, is that You cast me away. thank You for not giving up on me.

in Your hands, i commit. big or small, all is Yours. amen.

no greater love.

received this thru' email from a friend. timely, and encouraging.

we are all fine-tuned instruments of God. :)

A Fine-tuned Instrument
by Os Hillman, October 4, 2007

"...I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name and I will answer them; I will say, "They are My people," and they will say, "The Lord is our God."
- Zechariah 13:9

My former business career was as an owner of an advertising agency. Over the years, I had the privilege to work on many different and prestigious accounts. One of those accounts was Steinway Pianos, the maker of the world's finest pianos. Each piano has always been made from scratch; it takes over a year to make one Steinway. The most impressive scene as I toured the manufacturing plant was the place where the soundboard is stretched to its maximum tolerance and allowed to sit for an extended period until it remains in the curved design. This was done in an off-to-the-corner part of the plant. If the wood were alive, it would be crying out for mercy.

After an extended time of stretching, the wood will never spring back to its original state. It is permanently changed. The piano is becoming a fine-tuned instrument. After this process takes place, the next step requires another point of stress. It takes 11 tons of pressure on a piano to tune it. Each step in the process moves the piano closer to a finished product that will ultimately be played by the world's finest musicians. These musicians desire a particular sound that only a piano like this can make.

God looks at each of us as a fine-tuned instrument. However, we begin as rough wood that He desires to transform into gold. Tuning us requires certain experiences that will stretch our faith, our frame, and our very life. Sainthood springs out of suffering. If we can stand the strain of this intense process, we will come forth as gold-as a sweet-smelling offering to our Maker. When we are in the midst of these times, it feels like fire. It is painful to be stretched beyond our perceived limits, but the Lord knows this is necessary for us to become an instrument that can play a beautiful song that others will seek after.

Let the master Craftsman have His way in your life today. You will be pleased with the instrument He fashions.

good Morning Lord!

today i am in a total mood to affirm my spiritual family members that i have worked with closely before. i shall start from today. and hopefully, i get an opportunity to write consistently.
so i will provide a short description of each :))

was just thinking last night of all the blessings and love that is demonstrated through each and every unique family member, and i cant stop giving thanks for their lives!

so a practical way would be, to jot em down i suppose. :) so that i can come back and smile at their photos! hahas.

and if i happen to miss anyone(cos it's not in my phonebook contact list, really, drop me a comment! human brains do fail. :)) )

starting from A, drumrolls*..

Abigail Zhang YuYu!

this girl's laughter is unceasing! and its contagious. :) always enjoy spending time with this girl, cos i get so infected by the joy each time! and her simple heart to serve the Lord is one that i truly adore. i love her spirit of serving, and spirit of using her giftings and talents to serve the Lord Jesus. enjoyed the times that we had jamming tog, and i enjoy watching her play the keyboard. hahas. she looked so focused and truly engrossed, and i really appreciate her encouragement and patience.

thank God for you abi; you have truly been a blessing to X2 and me though i have not known you for long. it's amazing how God binds this friendship in such a short time. He has definitely watered it. :))

with love, mingxiu

04Oct'07.

God's promise never fails.

we had 40 adults in attendance, and 3 kids for our debut evening service in Darebin! Praise the Lord for we had prayed for 40!

and as we did evaluation in eric's last night, it was a time of remembering how God has blessed us much, since we started out as a team on this new service.

though stretched, but God's grace and love fills and abounds. :))

and how we were reminded, to have a loyal heart to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9), and a heart that's pure before Him. and that's a heart that He adores, and blesses (Matt5:8). :))

"....I have found Your peace, it replaces any fear
You have done it all, I can trust in You
Lord I'm stepping out, from the comfort zone
Letting go of me, holding on to You

Freedom comes, when I call You Lord
You are Lord, my God

You are the Centre of it all
The universe declares in awe
Your Majesty, I surrender all
I make You the Centre of my life
Lord I respond with all I am

You placed in me the song
Of Heaven's melody
Your Majesty, I live to sing Your song..."

- Centre of it All

it's 1st oct. :) happy birthday suettttttttttyyyy ho!

happy children's day in sg too. :))

The Wings of Prayer
Just close your eyes and open your heart,
Feel your worry and cares depart.
Just yield yourself to the Father above,
Let Him hold your secure in His love.

For life on earth grows more involved
With endless problems that can't be solved.
But, God only asked us to do our best,
Then He will take care of and finish the rest

So when you're tired, discouraged and feeling blue,
There is always a door open for you,
That is the door to the house of prayer,
You'll find God waiting to meet you there.

The house of prayer is not further away
Than the quiet place where you kneel to pray
For the heart is a temple when God is there,
When we place ourselves in His loving care.

He hears every prayer, and answers each one,
when we pray in His name~Thy will be done
The burdens that seemed too heavy to bear,

Are lifted away on THE WINGS OF PRAYER.

-Author unknown

Dear Lord. take over.

sometimes, i think i am just being silly and emotional in feeling the way i feel now.

thank you Lord; know that You are here with me.

amen.

i give thanks to the Lord, for the Works of His Hands for today. it was awesome. :)

we had our debut service in Darebin Centre this evening! hallelujah!

feeling a lil sleepy. so description of the day will leave to the next. (want to give it a real good justice by sharing the blessings and testimonies, which i m too sleepy to organise my thoughts now. :)) ) but rest assured, i will rest my brain and come back to this again.

though physically tired, we are all filled with joy, and peace.

i love the team. i love their spirit. i enjoy serving the Lord with each and every one of them. :) their Spirit has taught me much.

and i thank God for the presence of Pastor Wilson who shared the Word; Pastor Ian who led Holy Communion, and Pastor Mark, who shared his testimony. :)

and of cos, i always thankful to the Lord for Eric and Atom, and baby Rhema. they are just like our parents. spiritually, and even in our daily needs. and Rhema has been a bundle of joy.
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.." Philippians 1:3

today, i really enjoyed facilitating the praising and worshipping of the Lord today. it didnt feel like a duty or responsibility; it was a privilege to have a chance to lift our hands and voices to Him. :)

overwhelmed with Your love. thank you Lord.

slept on a few thoughts last night. and prayed on them. and prayed till i fell asleep. haha. but i felt, 'liberated' from the thoughts when i woke up. i think i have made sense of them already. praise Him. :)

i really smile at the thought of the people that He has sent to me, in this foreign land.

how He has showered and embraced me with the care, and agape through them.

thank you. i appreciate it, really do. :)

good nights.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. ” Philippians 1:9-10

amen.

random thoughts.

as i was washing up, brushing my teeth, and peering at myself in the mirror.

the literal reflection, brought me to see some areas of myself.

i was thinking.

thinking that often, i'd still choose to run away, for certain events that come into my life.

and so i ve thought that, i have stepped out of comfort zone for this running-away syndrome. that i have decreased in running away from times of uncertainty.

but i just realised, i haven't quite got it, yet.

sometimes, it could be feelings of vulnerability to circumstances. fears of being hurt.

when it should really just be, being vulnerable to Him, and Him alone. to no one else. to nothing else.

to fill and strengthen the heart up, with the love of God.

"And I pray that you... may have power... to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge..." (Ephesians 3:17b-18)

the extravagent dimensions of Jesus' Love.

praise and worship prac with dr sengloke was good. i enjoy having these times of worship.

and today was our first time having a full-fletched 6 songs in a row. but yet, i thank God that it seems that in God's realm, there seems to be this theory of "never too much". let the blessings and promises overflow! :))

it is never too many, of the praises sung to Him.

it is never too much, of the clap offerings that we give unto Him.

it is never too much, of talking to Him in prayers. and telling Him how our day was like.

it is never too much, of love to give to Him and others.

came back, had dinner. and decided to set some time to quieten down my heart. many thoughts in my head. and honestly, i don't know where to start.

so was telling God about how i feel, and about the good feels. about the tiring feels. i want His touch. and what eric shared was very true. to ask God to search our hearts and our minds and give God permission to deal with any heart issues that we may have (Psalm 26:4).

and as i worshipped with chc's online service, this song was singing out my thoughts.

when I am weak, He made me strong.

He knows my every thought, like i'm an open book.

and let my whole world fade away.

to fall at His feet,

and giving my life, wholly to Him.

Falling.

:)

Lead me in your holiness

Lead me in your righteousness

How I love You

Beautiful Saviour

When I'm weak You make me strong

Bearing my cross I carry on

How I need You

Heavenly Father

Search my heart o Lord

You know my every thought
An open book to You

I placed my all in your hands

Falling at Your feet

As my whole world fades away

Falling at your feet
Let my life be wholly thine,

Jesus

Emmanuel

Emmanuel

Abba Father, Never let me go..

- Falling; City Harvest Church

Enough

[Written by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio]

All of You is more than enough for

All of me for every thirst and

every need You satisfy me

with Your love

And all I have in You

Is more than enough

You are my supply

My breath of life

Still more awesome than I know

You are my reward

Worth living for

Still more awesome than I know

You're my sacrifice of greatest price

Still more awesome than I know

You're my coming King

You're everything

Still more awesome than I know

i really, really love this song. i'm so happy that i have it now.

to remind me, that in everything, He is more than enough for all of me. in everything. every single want, every single need.

it may need constant reminder, but yes, this song is good reminder. (:

good night.

today was a nice sunny day. :)

took a slow stroll down the road to northland for some grocery shopping.

and funny things happened, like how my voice cracked, and went to all kinds of pitch when i said "i'll like to have half a kg of chicken breast, please." and so the lady gave me a puzzled look. and i decided that i should summarize my sentence with this kind of voice quality. so, i pointed to the heap of chooks, and said "half kg." and ended the statement with a smile to cover up my embarrassment. haha.

was talking to liyan online as well. she is voiceless! and she will be leading prayer meet tomorrow. and how she gave thanks to the Lord, that it is a time, for her to learn to speak less (as leaders normally are excited to impart their all!), and listen more to the voice of the Lord, and from others.

we can give thanks to the Lord for everything. :)

which i thought was really true. i tried to sing to the Lord with my voice for the past hour. the remnants of the voice in my voicebox was, terrible. haha. but still, it's pleasant to the ears of the Lord!

one song, Trading My Sorrows. and yes, i am trading my sickness in Jesus name! :)

was reading this hopesg sister's blog. and as she described about Hopesg's anniversary service and JUMP (JesusUMustPraise) concert, i was inspired by the reflections of her learning. she wrote..

"attended ps Prayuth's teachings in the morning. one main thing struck my mind- the quality of a stage minister's life is so so so important. better to have one musical instrument whose musician's life is close to God than having the whole band whom players' lives are not fully for God. direct truth, yet it is real love in truth. it reminded me of my service unto God, it gotta not only be of excellent service, but also of excellent attitude and motives. my day ended with more phonecalls of coordinating the accomodation for the hope bangkok team..."

i like the part where she shared that as we offer our service to the Lord, let it be full, with a pure heart of dedicating the praise and worship to One audience.

so if there is 1 musician, let that 1 play for His Name. and so, i thank God for Dr SengLoke that has played for Darebin with all his heart; and most importantly, for the Lord so far!

God will add more of such hearts into Darebin's Worship Team, just like the city centre's, which possess many musicians who are after God's hearts!

fully for Him!

i recall learning in school some years back about the different development stages of a child. the suitable toys and games for each age group. and of how they classified "peekaboo" as a theory of 'object permanence' if i didnt remember wrong. the young ones will think you have really 'disappeared', by closing their eyes, and 're-appeared' by opening their eyes. :)

reading this poem brought back really fond memories of the usual peekaboos that i played as a child. and even the times when i was at my paediatrics placements, how we played peekaboo with the little ones. and oh how they really love it. really, their indulgence in this simple game, and the pleasure they exude during the process, catches you in all amazement.

and you will feel young, and childlike all over again. :)

peekaboo with our dear Daddy in heaven. :)

PeekABoo

"Peek A Boo - I see You."

I overheard my neighbor's child."

Peek A Boo - I love You!"

I watched and listened for awhile.

The little girl skipped down the walk,

Humming as she moved.

From time to time, I'd see her stop,

And sing her childish tune.

"Peek A Boo - I see You."
Her sweet face looked so intent.
"Peek A Boo - I love You!"

Then down the path she went.

I saw her do this several times,

Poor, lonesome child, I thought.

She only has a nursery rhyme,

To go with her on her walk.

"Peek A Boo - I see You."

She did it then once more."

Peek A Boo - I love You!"

Then I scurried out my door.

I could not stand it any longer,

What did this child see?

I hurried up and caught her,

Hoping she'd explain to me.

"Peek A Boo - I see You."

Her face buried in some Daisies.

"Peek A Boo - I love You!"

Was this child crazy?

"Honey," I called out to her,"

What are You looking at?"

(I may have to tell her mother,

And I needed all the facts.)

She gave me a vacant stare.

And said, "There's nothing's wrong!

I see Lord Jesus everywhere,

That's why I sing my song."

"Mama says He's in the flowers,

And He's in the bushes and the trees.

And He's in rainbows and in showers,

And He's even in the breeze."

"I see Him everywhere I look,

And I like to tell Him so.

You see, He's not just in The Book,

He's everywhere I go."

"Peek A Boo - I see You."

I peeked into her precious face.

"Peek A Boo - I love You!"

Then I thanked God for such grace.

- Unknown

k.i.s.s
=keep.it.sweetly.simple.

this acronym, has been with me for as long as I have served Him. was shared to me by a fellow sister. but yet, paradoxically, the longer this acronym stayed with me, the more difficult it was to fulfill it.

sometimes, human minds rationalise. human minds inject more perspectives that it should have right from the beginning.

actually, its all really simple. in His Word, He said:

To love Him, with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength.

that's really quite about it. :) i pray that i ll grow towards it.

anw, just want to thank God for preservation of my voice for the Darebin party earlier on. now i hav lost half of it already. haha. totally sound like a duck. think its some healing of throat in progress.

and talking to sis online is a very funny process. and i was thoroughly, but pleasantly surprised by her ending the msn conversation with...

Gina says:
MUACKS! bye!!

hahas! yeah a little stunner over there. my sis doesnt do that yeah. not to me at least for the past donkey years that i have lived.

o wells, absence makes the heart grows fonder yeah. now she misses me. wahahahahas.

heard patiyam, the domestic helper looking after my granny is going back home to indonesia end of september. the family's feeling a little sad to have her leave, but yeah, she has been a great help in taking care of my granny for the past half a year or so. despite not knowing her long, her diligence, laughter, and most importantly, the caring and loving heart that she has for granny, spoke volume of what a wonderful lady she has been.

sent my regards, and praying for the best for her as she reunites with her husband and son.

:)

off to rest. good nights.

just gotten an email from karryn that she will be in melbs from today till next thursday!

how wonderful!

hopefully she reaches in time that i can bring her to attend the service at melb church even. :)

and rui said she's coming in dec for christmas. and even emailed a holiday plan on behalf of the perthrians. haha! comical.

sounds cool. looks cool. :)) look forward to catch up with them.

off to sister's gathering. ps mark, eric and atom will be sharing. i believe it will be a great time listening to their sharings. :)

was thinking through of songs that embeds the meaning of friendship within. and someone's msn nick caught my eyes. -> "that's what friends are for."

hmm..thought of this song that was played in a walt disney cartoon. and i remembered i was very moved by the song.

you-tubed it to see how the original artists sang it. indeed, it was heart-felt singing. :)

so, this song's dedicated to you, you, you, or rather, youS, with a bigg 's'. the different 'youS' in my life that i really love and treasure; the 'youS' who love me, the 'youS' whom i can count on; the 'youS' who have been shining and smiling; the 'youS' who have always walked by my side, and leading me in His ways.

to youS: "I'm glad I got the chance to say, That I do believe I love you.." :)

- That's What Friends Are For

That's What Friends Are For
Performed with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder
Written by Bacharach
Released as a UK single in 1985

And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you

And if I should ever go away
Well then close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today
And then if you can remember

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Well you came in loving me
And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you

Oh and then for the times when we're apart
Well then close your eyes and know
The words are coming from my heart
And then if you can remember...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtGF2m102Wg

Dreams are what we make them to be.
There is hope in every heartbeat.
Tiny as it seems. You're a beautiful seed.
Every hope, every power,
lies in the heart of a seed that flowers.
Intertwined all across the land.
We're all seeds in the maker's hand.

End Lyrics from Beautiful Seed by Corrinne May

beautiful song.

You are a beautiful seed in His hands. and me too. :)

the heart of seed is so important.

awaken feeling oh-so-nauseated. i so dont know why. and throat hurts overnight. that i have trouble falling asleep again at the moment. to pray for healing! amen!

yay-ness.

i was in extreme excitement when suetty passed me the card addressed to "minghu" that was stuck in the postbox. i took my stuff and ran to the mall in all eager anticipation to see what i've got!

i was so happy that i forgave the postman for mispelling my name. lucky him. haha.

as the lady passed me the package, the familiar merlion stamp on it makes me feel oh so excited!
ripped open the package, and jumped around outside the post officeee.

a card and corrinnemay's beautiful seeeeddd...

SO LOVED.

thanks so much, ace. you really know my heart. :))

the walks to school, and back home each day, has become increasingly therapeutic.

with each step taken, there's bound to be a blooming flower in sight by the roads!

and some in my backyard too!

thank God for His wonderful creation.

i recall reading in 40-day purpose-driven life, that as we appreciate His creation, we are worshipping the Lord too. :)

so let us freely enjoy the things around us, that speaks of His magnificent creations and the intricate details that He has don on them . :)

the song provoked some reminiscence.

thought through past glories, as defined by the world. some failures, as deemed by the world.

and indeed how true it is, how the trophies, can never be equivalent to the grace by which i stand in Him.

and how many times, have i directed the glory of successes to myself, and not Him.

and how many times, have i attributed the failures and weaknesses, to Him not lifting me up from the situations.

i am thankful that He has chosen to remain in me, even though many times He felt misunderstood by His people, even though many times, He could have easily felt unjustified of the circumstances thrown at Him. He doesn't need to bear those from us, and for us.

but still, because of His great Love for us, He still chose to.

thank You Father.

In Christ alone will I glory
Though I could pride myself
In battles won
For I've been blessed beyond measure
And by His strength alone, I overcome

Oh, I could stop and count successes
Like diamonds in my hands
But these trophies could not equal
To the grace, by which I stand

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory
In the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone

In Christ alone will I glory
For only by His grace
I am redeemed
And only His tender mercy
Could reach beyond my weakness
To my need

Now I seek no greater honor
Than just to know Him more
And to count my gains but losses
And to the glory of my Lord

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory
In the power of the cross

In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone...

In Christ Alone

-Michael English

wholly yours.

and, Your love and grace is more than enough.

(:

good night.

Happy Birthday Hope Melb! Happy Birthday Hope Sing!

glimpse of what Hope Melb's like. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffersonsiow/collections/72157600002596061/
thanks to the wonderful shots of jefferson. (:

Faith Church conference has brought renewal of the soul. Faith, is a timeless topic that will be revisited again and again in our spiritual walk. But the amazing part is, the sharing will never fail to bring forth new revelation each time.

and yes, expecting a great testimony from logan for church anniversary tomorrow! about the good works that the Lord has done in Darebin pioneering! (: it shall be a powerful one when all glory goes back to Him! amen.

suetty ho is online! and feels so..weird talking to her knowing she is miles away, when her laughter is usually audible from the next room. does feel a lil strange not having her around. haha. yes, i think i am missing her, already.

and this girl has been a blessing to me in melb. as she walked into the departure gates yesterday, i was feeling a lil, strange. though she is just going to be away for only like, 4 days. (: as she went in, i smiled to myself. not cos she's gone (haha!), but thanking God profusely for the blessing that she has been in my life.

she shared excitedly about how she has told her cellgroup back home about the great and wonderful blessings that has happened in melb. praise the Lord!

and she shared that the ROM for her bro today was extremely moving. especially when her sister-in-law teared profusely when exchanging the marriage vows. suet was moved by it as well.

so asked for how's the vow like. here goes.

"I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life..."

suet's fav line is "when our love is simple and when it is an effort..", cos love can be trying at times, and to love till it hurts. the vow literally blew her away. (:

i like, the part where it shares that "you are my best friend". cos, it brings a full picture of, this union is not just about emotions of love and passions on high, but in all rationality and in the routines of life, i have a best friend to depend on; to share the nitty gritties, to share the mundane, to share the everydays, to share advice, to be offered a shoulder to lean on, to share my likes, to embrace my dislikes, to hear my rattlings as if it is music to the ears et cetera et cetera et cetera. Gold star best friend there yeah. haha.

and of cos, when it ended with, all the days of our life. it completed the whole vow.

bliss. (:
and a first-week-in-winter-melb photo to compliment the mention. hahas. thanks s.ho. (:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the LORD.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts..."

- Isaiah 55:8-9

faith. trusting God's hand to work in a tomorrow that you cannot see.

yet. :)

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4

"Where does my help come from?
It cometh from the Lord
The Author of Love, and Courage and Strength
He's where my help come from

Who gives me peace within?
Peace like the still waters
The Father of Heaven and all universe
He gives me peace within

Lord of Creation
All sing Your praise
The beautiful name of
Jesus proclaimed

No one, no other
You are my all
Take me and lead me
To serve Your call

You are the Answer to life's mystery
You are the Reason that I came to be
Now with Your peace and anointing on me
Father I offer my life
Unto thee..."

- Lord of Creation

Lyrics-Crystella.

morning happenings.

"...I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth..."

-Psalms 121

LORD, let me be reminded, that whatever i have heard or experienced, are not meant to discourage me. but to build me stronger to continue serving You. YOU are with me.

amen. :)

it just hit me hard the importance of to be rested, in mind and body.

i don't like the way i am feeling, now. i feel that my threshold for everything comes to a low. and i don't like myself when i am like that.

and i feel distracted with how i am feeling now. somehow, feeling unsettled and thrown off balance.

forgive me if i have stepped on your toes.

so to prevent any more uneasy feelings within, i shall put down all work now, pray and go sleep.

and wake up feeling fresh and ready to face tomorrow! :))

Psalms 3:5

good nights.

one more thing that shouts out to me that spring is here!

apart from the much-loved sunshine, it was the shocking buzzing sound that cries out spring!

A GIGANTIC FLY FLEW PAST before my eyes when i was toasting bread in the morning. heeelllp.

aussie flies are really, TWICE as fat, and buzz THRICE as loud.

HELP.

anw, i just prayed that they will mind their own business while i mind mine. so i chose to ignore it and walk away, of cos in between, filled with a few shouts. hahas. i can't imagine summer. prayers should intensify then. hahas.

anw, was just thinking. it's been exactly 2 months. i thank the Lord for His people that He has placed all around the globe as family. that when you set your eyes to doing His work, you will never walk alone. and the best deal is, you know your loved ones at home are being taken care of as well.

that's how much our Chief Shepherd loves us.

some of the happenings for the past month. :)

fm radio NOVA's mascot for our open day!

while walking home with charmaine after open day. something that signifies spring is on its way. (:

lunch break at school agora one sunny day. (:


the girls!

after caregroup! me and suetty with visitors agnes and kim. (:

(:

leo and david at the colourful brighton beach! with some vietnamese rolls, we had a visual demonstration of Footprints in the sand, by none other than facilitator himself. hahas. good sharing there, about trusting in the Lord, in good times and bad times.

my fave pic.

yellow house!

and my purple one!

st kilda's. i like the reflection of the splotches of rays on the waters.

dave. logan. leo. (look at how wide dave smile for this pic! (: )

man with seagull.

i like the interaction between the elderly man and the tiny seagull. nice.

(:

"...And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love...."
- 2 John 1:6

as the car past by cedar college at east coburg today once more, i was reminded of the word- strength.

i like how plants and flowers are named. or rather, i like to know the meaning of behind the names of the plants, cos more often than not, it carries the meaning, or characteristics of the plant.

so for example, since my secondary school days at Cedar girls', i wondered what is the characteristic of cedar tree. but i never really bother to find out, or ask. all i knew was, the cedar tree at the school porch will always remain as short as it is in the hot weather of singapore.

it was when i became a believer, and sometimes the word 'cedar' jumps out in some verses, that i came to know the cedar is a tree of strength.

prolly what i've heard is not accurate, but still, i choose to believe that it indeed, is a tree that signifies strength. (:

and since then, i like cedar even more. for better reasons than the blue blouse, grey skirt and tie.

few years back. when i was prepared to go for water baptism, i was praying about the name that i wish my life will anchor by. of cos, biblical names were thought of, and probably, i hadn't had a character in the bible that speaks to me yet there and then.

so naturally, it came back to the basics for me- plants and flowers. and i immediately thought of the english name that my mum has given me, but one that i seldom use in my schooling years. simply cos of the common connotation of 'poison' with it, i disliked it. revisited the meaning of the name, and suddenly at the age of 18, i finally felt the sense of ownership of the name that i've chucked aside for many years.

a simple reason for why its chucked aside then? cos i thought i feel closer at heart when i am known by mingxiu. (: but now, i will still want to anchor my life upon the characteristics of this plant, for the rest of my journey with Him.

Ivy

- love, fidelity, friendship, affection, new promise

I Prayed For You Today

I prayed for you today,

gave thanks for your life,

wished you the best, asked the heavens

to bless you with good health and

happiness. I sent you good thoughts,

surrounded you

with hope and faith and love.

I asked the earth to be good to you, and

I asked GOD to show you His perfect way.

I prayed for you today.

- Unknown

thanks suetty. (:

today was an amazing day. i have no other words to express, but to really give thanks to the Lord, for being the ever-lasting sweetener of my soul.

initially, i wanted to really recount of the happenings today. but somehow, as i sit here, i realised that, its not the things that we do, the places that we are at, the number of new things accomplished etc. that matters. its the people- the people who loves and honour God, that made the fellowship an ever encouragement in my walk. (:

so, in a nutshell. today strengthened and refreshed my heart. with Women of Christ who truly serve the Lord with their all and their being. atom and bee. and even young believer hana who is faithful with what she has been entrusted to. (:

not forgetting m, tlp, suet and steph who were present for lunch at bee's place too.

and of cos, the ever dearest baby rhema, who was very good and smiled a lot today in between her burps. she was an encouragement to my soul too. (:

both atom's and bee's sharings lifted me up. and just like what bee shared, she prays to the Lord day to day, to never ever let her go.

this closeness, this yearning, i desire.

for the coffee drinkers. :) received this fr kaisze, tot it was v. meaningful. focus on the coffee brew, not the cup.

as i prayed. was reminded of some verses for the day.
"13What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.... " - 2 Tim 1:13-14

"15 I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I will bring him, and he will succeed in his mission.
16 "Come near me and listen to this: "From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there." And now the Sovereign LORD has sent me, with his Spirit.
17 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed from before me..." - Isa 48