These few days have been mad. Rush here and there to get things done. And after all those traveling, I noticed that it's finally here. Tomorrow is 28th of January 2009 - means it's RBS registration. Yup!! I'll be leaving tomorrow. Looking forward to it or not? I've no idea. I'll be surrendering my phone upon arrival. And my phone will be kept until the last day of RBS. So, in order to save your money and sms, don't sms me. It's only a waste of money. Okay? Take care people and log on to my blog once in a while. For I've prepared some posts during my absence. =) I'll be in RBS till 5th of March and there's a visitation day on the 8th of February. So, see you!!!
*A "friend" called fever is visiting me now. So, do pray for me. Thanks
Today's (Friday) -caregroup!!! I'm going to meet them for the last time before I leave for RBS
Tomorrow's (Saturday) -last "shopping" with brother -bbq with my cousins -eating my cousin's darling's spaghetti (nice anot leh?) :P
Sunday's -worship (last worship before leaving for RBS) -steamboat with my family (reunion dinner!!!) -angpao!!!
Monday's -more angpao!!! -grandpa's birthday lunch -traveling to mum's hometown (not looking forward to it, I just don't like to travel in car) -more food (cornflake cookies and "gui ga pek" - my favourite!!! and probably laksa [homecooked by aunt or Tasik Raban or both] that I get every year)
Tuesday's -more more angpao!!! -meet up with uncles, aunties, cousins, nieces and nephews -more more food!!! (maybe eldest aunt will get me that very particular Penang chee cheong fun, don't know whether she remembers anot) -discussions (who will get married first, who got/will get how many A's, who this and who that) -traveling back to Ipoh (home sweet home!!!) -last packing for RBS
Wednesday's -RBS, here I come!!! Whee..!!! -bidding farewell (not so looking forward to this cause I'm so gonna miss everyone) -RBS means.. new friends!!! new environment!!! new leng lui and leng zai!!! new.. almost everything!!!
All work and no play may have made Jack a dull boy But all work and no God has left Jack with a lost soul But he's moving on full steam He's chasing the American dream And he's gonna give his family the finer things
Not this time son I've no time to waste Maybe tomorrow we'll have time to play And then he slips into His new B M W and drives farther and farther and farther away
So he works all day and tries to sleep at night He says things will get better better in time
Chorus: 'Cause he works and he builds with his own two hands and he pours all he has in a castle made with sand but the wind and the rain are 'comin crashing in time will tell just how long his kingdom stands his kingdom stands
His American dream is begining to seem More and more like a nightmare with every day passing "Daddy can you come to my game?" "Oh baby, please don't work late." Another wasted weekend And they are slipping away
[ Casting Crowns Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ] 'Cause he works all day and lies awake at night He tells them things will get better it'll take just a llittle more time
Chorus
He used to say, "Who ever dies with the most toys wins." But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end I'll take a shack on a rock Over a castle in the sand
Now he works all day and cries alone at night it's not getting any better looks like hes running out of time
'Cause he worked and he built with is own two hands And he put all he had in a castle made with sand but the wind and the rain are coming crashing in time will tell just how long his kingdom stands his kingdom stands
All they really wanted was you All they really wanted was you All they really wanted was you
An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.
Proverbs 18:19
-random thoughts came-
TRUE FRIENDSHIP
There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
Many people today feel isolated from others. Ever feel that way? Being in a crowd might make you more aware of your isolation. Lovely people don't need to hear "have a nice day". They need friends who will stick close, listen, care and offer help when it is needed - in good and bad times. It is better to have one such friend than dozens of superficial acquaintances. Instead of wishing you could find a true friend, why not seek to become one yourself. There are people who need your friendship. Ask God to reveal them to you, and then tak on the challenge of being a true friend.
INNER BEAUTY
Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.
Proverbs 19:22
Many people spend tons of money trying to improve the way they look outside. Unfortunately, they sometimes neglect their inner appearance. Inwardly, you can be as attractive as you want to be. You can have kindness, for example, in any amount you choose. Or, as this verse suggests, you can be loyal. You can control your most important asset: the attractiveness of your character.
I got a part time job as a promoter at Tesco Extra. I was given the job to promote contact lens. And it's so not easy. Standing there for hours to earn money is indeed a.. HARD thing to do. I know it's hard to earn money. And I'll treasure them. =) My legs are aching now. Gotta to get some rest. Imagine standing for 2 days and I could only sell 9 boxes. So, I'll just tell myself that the economy now is not good. That's why. Hehehe.. See you.
14th of January marks the D-day of it! My car test. I'm kind of nervous eh. Scared I won't pass my slope, can't do my parking, can't drive well, engine will die, etc. Aiyo..!! I was given two hours extra by my instructor (need to pay wan ok!). Maybe he also doesn't have the confidence in me. Sigh. Pray hard peeps! If you don't want to meet with any accidents, please don't go to Simee, Jusco and Tasek area between 11am and 2pm. I'm driving there. Better stay out of there! Just in case.
Calm down!!!
breathe in.. exhale.. breathe in.. exhale.. Prrrryyy... Prrrryyy... Mah! Mah! Mah! (If you und this =p)
Went up to Penang yesterday after lunch. Journey was long. Maybe it's due to the absence of my brother and I was there just because I was free at home. First destination was mum's youngest sister's house. Then, went to my cousin's house to take house keys to my eldest aunt's house and went to my third aunt's house. I know it's confusing. It's all because of my mum's big family. I'm also quite confused at times. Sigh. After those visitation, it's FOOD TIME!!! Woohoo! I've always love Penang food. So, food=gain weight=fat! Yes! That's what I will get from Penang trips. So for dinner, I ordered fried oyster, laksa, curry mee, fried kuoy "gark" and "chai kuey". Of course I didn't finish them myself. It's a tradition in my family that we ordered different dishes and have a taste of all the food. Yummy! After that, my aunt packed a packet of wan ton mee for us to be brought back as supper. After sending my aunt home, we headed back home to get some rest.
Today, dad woke up early morning and went to GH for his check up. That was the main purpose of the trip. Mum and I followed him just to get some Penang delights. =P I could hardly sleep last night so I woke up quite late. Went for breakfast around 10.30. Haha.. We ordered loh mee, fried kuoy teow and chee cheong fun. After that, we headed towards my 3rd aunt's house again as we didn't manage to visit her yesterday. When we got there, I was so super happy. Know why? There's a baby there!!! Aaahh!!! It's my niece!!! First time meeting her. I was so excited. This is a picture of her.
Cute right!!?? Haha.. I love her so muchie. She warmed up rather fast. According to my aunt, she's scared of stranger, especially those with dark complexion. But with me? Maybe I'm more friendly, fairer (haha..XD), etc. So she gets close to me in less than 15 minutes. Hehe.. **applause** I remembered how she cried when I was about to leave. Poor thing! She wanted me to carry her. So, I told dad that I'll carry her for a few minutes. Dad said okay. When it was time, my aunt wanted to carry her. She didn't want her grandma. She clung on to me so tightly. Kesian. I had to leave, my dear girl. She cried and cried. My dear girl, I'll see you during Chinese New Year, okay? After that, we headed to Sunshine for a short time of shopping. Sad to say, no things to buy. Just grab a packet of "lurve". Then, I went for lunch. Yes! Food again. Hehe.. Lurb them! Ordered laksa, fried kuoy teow and curry mee. We packed Hokkien mee (prawn mee) home for dinner. Rushed back to Ipoh after that as I have driving lessons. Yup! Exam is on this Wednesday. Very nervous..
2 a.m. and the rain is falling Here we are at the crossroads once again You're telling me you're so confused You can't make up your mind Is this meant to be You're asking me Chorus But only love can say - try again or walk away But I believe for you and me The sun will shine one day So I'll just play my part And pray you'll have a change of heart But I can't make you see it through That's something only love can do
In your arms as the dawn is breaking Face to face and a thousand miles apart I've tried my best to make you see There's hope beyond the pain If we give enough, if we learn to trust
[Chorus]
I know if I could find the words To touch you deep inside You'd give our dream just one more chance Don't let this be our last good-bye
This phrase has been in my mind for a long period of time. Actually, this can be considered as a regret. A regret that will haunt me. Even if it doesn't haunt for 24 hours a day, it will still haunt me for at least a few minutes or seconds in a day. I have always wondered when this friendship can be mend. Is it within seconds? Minutes? Hours? Days? Weeks? Months? Years? Or even a life time? I know it's so stupid of me to have such thoughts. Deep inside me, I knew that it's impossible. BUT, there's only one person who can mend this - God. I've been praying and praying and praying for it for such a long time. Sometimes, I do feel tired. But, I know that persistence is all that matters. And I know God has His purpose for the answer "wait" or even the answer "no". Because He knows what is best for me. He would not give me something that He thinks is not good. However, sometimes, humans just find it difficult to trust and be patient. And I think I'm one of them.
Father Lord, I know You are the great and Almighty one. Without You, I am nothing. I pray that You will give me the strength to continue. I pray that may my faith in You will grow as time goes by. Amen
You can whisper in the crowd to him You can cry when you're alone with him You don't have to pray out loud to him He knows your thoughts On a lofty mountain peak, he's there In a meadow by the stream, he's there Everywhere on earth you go He's been there from the start
I'm sure there's a reason for the songwriter to write this song.
Today was the long awaited day. It's the International Youth Rally..!!! 4 churches were chosen to lead the singspiration (or worship). They are - Ipoh Wesley, CGMC, CGBC and my church ~ Elim!!!. The whole day was raining today (as the Ipoh-ians know). So, I said to myself that, "God purposely let the rain pour now so that there will be no rain tonight." When the finale started, it was still drizzling. So, I thought, "God wants us to have a cooling condition to worship Him. Yes! It must be like this." And true enough, the rain STOPPED!!! Thank God! So, it went on and on and on. Until Uncle Steven started sharing, I don't know why. Tears somehow started to swell up in eyes. Don't ask my why. I really don't know. I managed to control it until we had our round prayer for our team. I couldn't stand it anymore. Tears started rolling down and down and down. Some thought I was nervous. But, I'm not! I was told that one of our youths raised up the hand when Uncle Steven asked who would like to commit themselves to God. I was so glad!
Having people coming from different country to worship God is really wonderful!
One heart, one spirit One voice to praise You We are the body of Christ
Finally, it was our turn! We went up there and gave out our best! Yup! Our very best!!! I don't know about the others. But me? I managed to worship. Thank God! Towards the end, I was jumping with the team. I think, for those who know me, their specs must have dropped. Haha.. Everyone thinks that I'm a girl who is controlled strictly by my dad. Yea.. I daddy's girl and sort of thing. Anyway, I'm not there to show other people anything. I just want to tell everyone that with God, everything is possible. Thinking back on what we did just now? It's really fantastic! Indeed God is Almighty! May our singing and praises be pleasing unto Him!
To give you praise In everything I do And all the praise goes out to You!!!!!
Matthew 18:1-4 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (NIV Bible)
In this scripture passage, Jesus calls us to become like little children. The call isn't to be childish, but to simply be child like. Young children know that they are needy. They look to their parents to provide everything that they need and want...food, clothing, shelter, teaching, activities, guidance and even discipline. They are like love sponges, having the capacity to soak into their little bodies as much love as we can give them. They live for hugs and kisses and meaningful touch, an intimate connection that affirms them and tells them that they are welcome into this world and that they are greatly loved.
Jesus calls us to become like little children. Since Jesus says that becoming child-like is a pre-requisite to entering the Kingdom of Heaven, we should take note of another characteristic of a little child. Simple faith. Little children have the faith to simply believe that they will receive what they need when they need it. They don't worry about it, they don't strive over it, they simply expect it.
When my youngest daughter Candice, was very small, she was completely confident that I had an unlimited supply of personal finances for her to draw from. Whenever she wanted something extravagant, she would tell me just to go to the bank and get the money, because they had lots. "Just go to the bank dad" she would say. I think in some ways that God wants us to relate to him like my daughter, Candice related to me.
No worries, no striving, just complete confidence in the ability of her father to meet her needs. While my little girl did not always get what she wanted when she wanted it, I couldn't help but to delight in her boldness and her complete trust in me. As you read this devotional, my challenge to you is to simply let yourself become very little. The expectations in the world we live in are often to be very grown up. While maturity and responsibility are wonderful attributes, for a moment, set aside the strong, self-sufficient, independent you and allow yourself to become very small and needy before God.
He wants to pick you up, give you a hug, and whisper your name in your ear. You are his child, and he is your Father. This is your destiny, this is what you were created for. When you let Him love you in this way, as a father loves his little child, you will begin to realize that you are still a love sponge, and the need for love and affirmation that you had as a little child is still there within you. When we allow ourselves to be embraced by God, we begin to see that this is what we have been looking for all our lives. We may have searched for it in careers, relationships, and in many others things, but we only find it in one place…the arms of our Heavenly Father.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, I pray that you would give me the grace to become more childlike. I want to walk in the simplicity of faith that allows me to trust you wholeheartedly for all my needs. I want all that is within me to cry out Abba Father just like Jesus did. In the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
(Excepts from the Father's Love Letter Devotional)
It's 1st of January 2009 (crap)!!! Which means it's a new year, a new life, a new chapter, a new beginning and so much more "new". I'm 18 this year! Which means I get to watch movies that I wasn't allowed to for the past 17 years. I'm not despo for it. But, I feel like I'm a grown up now. Hehe.. Anyway, Happy New Year to all and all the best throughout the whole year! I wonder what will happen this year. hmm...
