I recently watched Ghosts of Girlfriends’ Past. The movie (which is a loose adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol) is about a hedonistic, womanizing bachelor who despises the idea of love and marriage. The night before his younger brother’s wedding, he is visited by ghosts representing his past, present, and future girlfriends. By the next morning, he opens his broken heart to love again.
Personally, I don’t recommend the movie—except for maybe the last 10 minutes. In particular, the best man’s speech was positive: “Someone once told me that the power in all relationships lies with whoever cares less. And he was right. But power isn’t happiness . . . happiness comes from caring more about people—rather than less.” The “power” referred to above is the power of selfprotection. You know—those games we play to try not to care too much for someone. And, yes, it may keep a broken heart from getting hurt again, but there is no joy or life in it. It only ends up incarcerating the soul in a prison of fear, emptiness, and selfishness.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah described the dangers of self-protection. Figuratively speaking, he said that when we try to protect ourselves in the darkness with our own self-generated light, we will end up in torment (Isaiah 50:10-11). Protecting ourselves by deadening our hearts may seem to make sense, but it only makes things worse. It reminds me of the proverb that says, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Nothing is greater than the power of love. Only the willingness to care and be cared for is what brings us true joy and life and the freedom to be who God made us to be for others. First comes love, then comes joy. —Jeff Olson
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Don't be afraid of opening my heart up to love others, for fear of being rejected, under-appreciated or not being reciprocated. Because Jesus loved me with all His heart unconditionally, I can now do the same to others.
7:42 PM
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
I've been spending the past few days going around school with my bro's DSLR, snapping photos for a few recent photo/video assignments.
I still take my usual routes, but it's interesting what I can find when I'm actively looking out for different angles.
This is what campus life should be like - fun, spontaneous, breaking out of the usual flow of things - not just about walking from one class to the other, or holing up in the library in a valley of books.
I even have people stopping behind me to see what it was that caught my attention.
How cute is that.
5:34 PM
Friday, February 26, 2010
Colossians 3:13 - "bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."
In Matthew 6:12, Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” Jesus immediately explained why we must forgive those who have wronged us (vv.14-15). And He later illustrated it with a parable (Matthew 18:23-35).
How much did the first servant owe the master? Ten thousand talents (v.24 NIV). One talent was the equivalent of 20 years’ wages for an average worker. It would have taken 200,000 years for the servant to earn 10,000 talents. Although the servant promised to pay back everything (v.26), this was an impossible debt to repay. So “his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt” (v.27). How much did the fellow servant owe the first servant? One hundred denarii (v.28 NIV). Equivalent to 20 weeks of common labor. This debt could be repaid within 5 months. The fellow servant begged for some time to pay back this debt, but the first servant refused and had him put in prison instead (vv.29-30).
You are a free person. Jesus has set you free. But when you refuse to forgive, you become a prisoner again. A prisoner of your own unforgiveness. A prisoner of your own bitterness. A prisoner of sin again (vv.32-34). The worst kind of prison is the prison of an unforgiving heart.
In his book The Lord and His Prayer, N. T. Wright wrote: “Failure to forgive wasn’t a matter of failing to live up to a new bit of moral teaching. It was cutting off the branch you were sitting on. The only reason for being kingdom-people, for being Jesus’ people, was that the forgiveness of sins was happening; so if you didn’t live forgiveness, you were denying the very basis of your own new existence.”
If we are truly forgiven, we will be forgiving. —K.T. Sim, Our Daily Journey
Another email devotional I received, taken from here:
“Perfect path”
My wife and I had prayed. We had sought God. We had sought godly counsel. Now we presented our plans to a group of people who would help us realize a vision for ministry or shut it down. They chose the latter.
We’ve all felt the pain of having plans dashed and dreams deferred. The confusion and disillusionment that follows can be overwhelming. Where’s God in all of this? What are His plans for us?
God has a perfect path that He continues to blaze in this world. His plans can’t be shut down. “It will all happen as I have planned. It will be as I have decided,” God spoke through Isaiah (14:24). In the New Testament, Peter stated, “God knew what would happen, and His prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed” (Acts 2:23).
These verses reveal that God’s perfect path—a path that once led Jesus to the cross—lies before us. And though He allows His creatures to choose or reject Him (Deuteronomy 30:15-16; John 14:15-17), God will arrange things so that His “prearranged plan” will come to fruition.
These truths can be a great encouragement to us when we feel that the path we’re on has taken a wrong turn. Peter pulls from Psalm 16 as He proclaims, “I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me” (Acts 2:25). My God is still with me even when the path is confusing. “My body rests in hope” (v.26). My hope is in God and not my circumstances. “You have shown me the way” (v.28). God will reveal His perfect path to me.
Several years after our ministry plans were shelved, the very thing we had hoped and prayed for became a reality! But it happened in God’s perfect timing and at just the right place along His perfect path.
—Tom Felten, Our Daily Journey
Assure me Lord, that things are gonna turn out better than I imagined or what I can see now. Cos when I pictured what today would be like a month ago, I didn't think it'd be like this.
*Year of Aggressive healing. Aggressive peace & rest. Aggressive love.*
1:46 PM
Monday, February 15, 2010
CNY + Vday = all things red and *hot* pink! ahahaha :D
Recently this thought has been floating around in my mind (not sure if I can articulate it completely and comprehensively, but I'll give it a shot): our relationships are built upon the assumption that we'll still see each other again.
When we make appointments for the future, or even a simple "see ya!" when we bid farewell, we are taking it for granted that we will still be able to meet the person again. Who knows whether he/she will still be alive tomorrow, or the next minute for that matter? Life being full of uncertainties, I just find it interesting how easy we can undermine the importance of each other's existence.
While visiting my dad's 3rd auntie yesterday, she wistfully commented that CNY is becoming quieter and quieter every year, cos people start leaving one by one...... her own husband being one of those who didn't make it to this CNY. I started to picture the 'spirits' of my paternal grandparents who had passed on recently, together with the other distant relatives whose faces I can't remember, crowding around the living room as she said that.
And I started thinking, I'd better cherish this very moment I have with these people around me, cos who knows whether I'll get to see them again next time, God forbid. It was so bittersweet.
I know from a Christian's POV, God has promised us long good fulfilling days, and we won't pass on before He writes the full stop on the story of our lives. But, resounding with Pastor Lian's first point yesterday about enjoying the gift of the present, I want to learn to cherish every single moment and person in my life in the present.
To have my family, relatives, friends and loved ones still around with me -now- is something I can't take for granted. To know that my mum is one wall away altering my blouse to make it smaller (praise God for the braces diet! lol), my dad at his desk outside my door, and my brother across the family hall playing his FB games......... it's a piece of heaven on earth (:
And friends aren't easy to come by. "有缘份才能当朋友"..... or rather, if God didn't plan it, they wouldn't be in my life now. I can't afford to waste another day not showing them enough love, since God is entrusting me with their hearts by blessing me with them.
I don't wanna stop loving. And being humanly fallible, I can only do that if the source of that love is from God's overflow in my life. My hands are so small... but I can love much when I know I'm loved much. By the One who created Love, and IS Love itself. The One who is madly in love with me. And will never suddenly walk out of my life one day and tell me He doesn't love me anymore.
So everything goes one big round and comes back to love (and Jesus=Love) again, at the end of the day (:
7:33 PM
Monday, February 08, 2010
I chanced upon this comment on a post on the 'Le Love' blog and just felt like posting this here... once again, maybe someone needs to hear this (:
"Honey,
It's not that there will never be spiders in your bath or asshole bus drivers or bad bulbs...the reality of life is not that your love will make those things disappear, it's that you will have someone to capture the spider and take it outside, to kiss you in the rain and make you laugh at how silly you looked chasing that bus, and light a candle for you when you call him to come and save you from the dark.
Life is not a Disney movie. Trust me, I've been where you are, and it might take a year or 5 or 10, but you will find your love and it will make everything worth it. It will be better than a Disney movie, I promise you that.
So don't lose hope, don't give up. All the waiting, all the pain and loneliness you feel, all those bad days and bad guys and cold nights will become insignificant. They'll still be there, they never go away...but your love will overpower them. He may not be a prince by any means, but he'll be yours and he will save you.
<3"
11:47 PM
Friday, February 05, 2010
Inspired by the module we're taking this semester called 'Itadakimasu - Food of Japan' (.... and ever since we borrowed our tutor's book of children's bento boxes during tutorial on Wed), Amy and I decided to start making our own bento lunches for school :D
We headed down to Daiso yesterday after school to buy bento boxes (and adorable lunch box belts to boot!), and were so intrigued by the variety of super-cute bento accessories on display as well.... from little animal food-picks and sauce cases to rice moulds and bento box bags.....
Since we're new to the whole bento idea, we decided to start off simple and just put together whatever we could find in our kitchens this morning before coming to school.
Presenting..... the 1st ever Bento Day with my favourite girls :D
Making a good attractive-looking bento certainly takes a lot of creativity and time and patience! There's a wealth of bento websites online, and just a simple google image search for 'bento' will bring up a whole array of adorable charaben (character bento: cartoon faces and all) that look incredibly painstaking to make and too pretty to eat =P
This NY Times article on bento-making "approaching cult status in the United States" got me quite intrigued on the way this traditional Japanese practice has crossed over a huuuuuuge ocean and made fans in a country of potato-gobbling meal-upsizing people =P (it has nice bento pictures too, which is making me REALLY hungry right now =X)
In fact, all the brightly coloured pictures of bentos are making me super hungry right now, so I should stop torturing myself and here's cheers to many more lovely bento-making days to come! :D
2:31 AM
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
+Jesus' precious says (2:28 AM):
* anyway if you need to cry i'm always here to lend u a shoulder ;D
* i dont care if u just sit there & do nth but cry & never say anyth LOL
awwwww Yeow. You make me wanna cry again =P love ya!
1:14 AM
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
(best listened to with earphones... and preferably with eyes closed to savour the moment =P)
In the stillness of the night... a few piano notes delicately glide over the soft wind floating in through my window...
... and as the wind blows through my hair, something within my spirit stirs. I hear strains of violins rising up in the background, and I close my eyes, as I allow the music to swirl around me and envelop me in its embrace.
And my heart is suddenly arrested by You.
I hear Your voice through the vocals of the singer, and yet above the words that are being sung...
"Come away with Me, My love, into the stillness of the night......."
Only You have the power to capture my heart. And it beats with the rhythm of Your love.
For always and forever (:
I love moments like this.
12:31 AM
Friday, January 29, 2010
Read this in a devotional sent to my email account today:
“Loved enough”
The truest friend does not doubt but hope.” While many movies based on books leave much to be desired, Douglas McGrath’s 1996 production of Emma vividly portrays Jane Austen’s endearing characters, Emma and her beloved Mr. Knightly. The strength of the relationship, though, comes from Austen’s pen as she reveals the longing of every heart—not only to be loved, but to be loved in truth. A man of conviction, Mr. Knightly affirms to Emma that his chastisement of her unacceptable behavior doesn’t come from a rejection of her but from his belief that greater things reside within her.
Spiritual growth doesn’t happen without a confrontation with the truth. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” Far more than factual information, God’s truth is inseparable from His love. Truth required the cross; love made it possible.
Jesus loves us enough to speak straight to us. He does this so that our feet will be set firmly on the solid rock of His Word. In return, we must be willing to love others in truth.
Truth is not easy to hear, and hard words hurt. Love, however, persists past niceties. “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6). Longing to see things set right, love willingly walks the difficult path of speaking the truth found in God’s Word. We do a great injustice to the body of Christ when we pretend that sin doesn’t exist (Ephesians 4:25).
The strength of God becomes active in our lives when we live out the twofold calling to truth. We must be willing to speak it (Proverbs 27:17) as well as receive it (Psalm 141:5). God’s love deals in truth. Anything less isn’t really love.
Sounds so familiar (: And also what Benjin has been telling me since last semester.
And like what Pastor Prince said, "In order to truly help someone, you must be independent of their opinions of you."
And what my mum used to say, "I don't care if you hate me, but if I don't correct you now.... I'm not your mother."
Isn't this what unconditional love is? To have seen and know the person's faults and ugliness, yet still loving the person enough to point it out - even at the risk of ruining the relationship - for the person's benefit.
LOVE. Is not just a dreamy feel-good thing. It's an aggressive, resilient force that stands against all odds.
4:05 PM
Saturday, January 16, 2010
I was searching for iPhone cases online when I came across this article:
Wow seriously?! As much as I love pink, I can't even decide if I like or hate this hahaha.......
10:36 PM
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
belated 21st present from my aunt.
what can i say.
so blessed :D
9:59 PM
Thursday, December 31, 2009
I wish I had time to create a video of 2009 like I did for last year, but my photos aren't with me cos I'm not on my laptop now, so words will have to suffice.
With the little kids running around in the background, dashing in and out of the shower, and cousins lounging around on the bunk beds waiting to play Hearts, it suddenly comes to mind that I don't even realise how much has happened in this 1 year.
The person who sat at her computer typing this 1 year ago isn't here anymore.
(Ok that sounded slightly morbid, but you get what I mean hahahaha.)
In fact at this time last year, I was still moving boxes from my previous Bishan apartment to my current one. Wow.
This year was marked as the year of Free Favours - I'm so glad it doesn't mean that free favours are only limited to this year, but that this is the year we discover how much free favours we can enjoy... OUR LIVES ARE MARKED WITH FREE FAVOURS.
I feel so happy just saying and seeing that :D
And even happier to see it manifest over and over again throughout the year, from grades to friendships/relationships, in the family, ministry, church, friends, little little things that happen everyday... and the list goes on.
This year has also brought about a season of change + growth, in the CG and Ministry: where meeting new people in the cg has opened my eyes to seeing things in a new light, new revelations of God and learning new ways of handling situations; and in ministry where being given a bigger platform to serve has caused me to undergo even more pruning and testing. It hasn't always been easy, but yet there has always been peace because Jesus is the one who planned those in the first place.
And other things I had to undergo/undertake this year... I remember asking my Mum, "Are these necessary? As long as the people around me still love me, it doesn't really matter right?" But I still went ahead with those anyway, 1 of them being getting BRACES... and it warms my heart to know that no matter what I do/look like, I still have people who love me through it all.
Yes, that's the thought that crossed my mind last week as I reached my doorstep. That I'm so blessed to have people who still love me through everything (:
I don't really know how to end this entry, because technically there's no full-stop to my life.
But I'm so excited about the new year of REST and even more Free Favours that's going to happen in about 58 minutes' time. Woohoo!!!~
BLESSED NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!~
P.S. My cousin just said, "You should get married NOW." Last random quote of the year. HAHAHAHAHA.
12:08 PM
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He lifts up (to make it grow better) and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me (make your home in Me), and I in him, bears much fruit...
... for without Me you can do nothing.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
~ John 15:1-8
Which branch can survive without the Vine to provide it with its source of water, food and nutrients? How can I possibly think I can be self-sufficient and look after my own needs or chase after my own ambitions without first putting Jesus in the centre of my life?
And yet, God does not chop me off from Him whenever I screw up real bad... cos even if I "(do) not bear fruit, He lifts (me) up" to get more sunlight and grow better. And when I bear fruit, He prunes me to bear even MORE fruit haha.
But at the same time, undergoing pruning isn't a painless easy process either. It involves cutting, trimming, bending, twisting -- correcting, putting me through tougher situations, humbling myself -- so that I can turn out sturdier and wiser than I was before the pruning (bearing more fruit).
But as long as I find my safety and refuge in Jesus, the altogether lovely One who loves me enough to DIE for me, my hopes and dreams will be fulfilled by Him - because He was the one who placed those desires in my heart in the first place.
And I can be 101% sure that I will definitely be blessed and prospered by Him, because I am His ambassador leh! "By this my Father is glorified"... He blesses me to use me as His living testimony to others, how can He afford not to pour all His riches onto me right? =P
We children of God are in such a blessed position, because we're always in a win-win situation. No matter what we do or cannot do, He still blesses us.
We can't even earn our blessings and favour, so what we can or cannot do, CANNOT take it away from us. All we need to do is to believe in His love for us and keep ASKING Him for it.
Could I ask for a better deal?
Living the Divine (The Vine) life :D
1:45 PM
Friday, November 27, 2009
5 more days left to my last paper... and I've been playing too much!
Going to the museum...
Having cooking competition + karaoke party with my BFF...
Hanging out with the cousins...
Jamming and recording songs with the awesome cg people...
And the family and relatives are off in Malacca now... so finally some peace and quiet to get down to serious studying =P
Love today's daily devotional: Thank Your Way To Peace
Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God"
It's not about merely praying about my situation or problem, cos that just makes me focus more on the problem itself actually. It's ending my prayer with thanksgiving, cos He always provides more than enough for me, He who "feed the birds of the air and clothe the lilies of the field", is my constant source of blessings.
So the more I know His heart towards me, which is that to always GIVE and GIVE, the more I can thank Him for being so unfairly and unconditionally good towards me =D
This is the Semester of Undeserved Unmerited Grace!!!
11:14 PM
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday the 13th + Last day of school : I FINALLY GOT MY BRACES!
Yes, I didn't get pink.... cos my dentist recommended the transparent ones which are of a slightly different model. But according to him it's better cos each individual bracket can be unlocked and the wire adjusted more easily.
I'm still not used to many many little things sticking into my lips... takes some time to open and close my mouth cos the corner brackets protrude out more than usual.
And. Because of the awkwardness in adjusting to the braces, I can't smile or laugh properly!!!
My mum's first reaction when she saw me was, "Oh no! What's going to happen to your smile now??"
How does one smile naturally in braces?
I want my smile back!!! Jesus multiply it back manymanymany times more and better than before :D
Actually, there's much to give thanks for.
I can't believe I had been complaining about only having braces now when I'm already over 20, or fussing about looking weird in them, when to be able to receive this treatment is already a tremendous blessing.
I didn't realise how much of a blessing it is to have my parents willing to invest so much money in this, until friends around me started telling me I'm so lucky my parents are paying for my treatment, and another friend mentioned that she would want to get braces but may have to wait until she earns her own income if her parents aren't going sponsor her.
I'm so blessed, and I don't even know it =X
So instead of complaining about the discomfort now, I'm still going to give thanks to You Jesus, because You've showered me with every good thing and will make the next 1.5 years a smooth and enjoyable journey with my new teeth companions (:
9:32 PM
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Jordan and Dad have been teasing me about tomorrow, "So you're gonna lose your wisdom? =P"
Bwahaha. Very funny.
But that doesn't stop me from feeling the inevitable mixed nervousness+excitement about tomorrow. My life is going to be changed!!
I'm gonna have a wisdom teeth operation and get my braces fitted in tomorrow.
Okay, there. I've said it. I never thought this day would come, but somehow it did. And Daddy God I'm believing You for an awesomely smooth and painless procedure + speedy recovery + accelerated jaw correction all the way!
After all, You're a God of the SUPERNATURAL, and I can't expect anything less than a supernatural miracle from You (:
Now I can move on to the more optimistic part of the matter... what colour should I get for my braces? :D
Okay I can't run away from loving pink...
... but baby blue/teal looks so adorable too!
Good thing I get to change them every once in a while, so at least there's something to look forward to and be "experimental" with the colours. And I'll try to take more pictures in future with the new teeth companions so I won't feel so awkward or goofy in them. Hehe.
Okay Jesus I'm trusting You to look after me!! May everything be for Your glory and testimony!!
7:06 PM
Sunday, October 25, 2009
A quote I came across in a book when researching for my Sociology term paper:
"After I became a parent of a teenager, I realized how many ways my mother had shown love through waiting up for me at night, driving me around, sliding a five dollar bill into my wallet. I hope she understood that I was a bit too self-centred to be grateful in those years."
Don't know why I just felt like posting it. Maybe someone needed to hear it =P
8:15 PM
Saturday, October 24, 2009
This thought just came to me again.
I want to cherish every moment I spend in NUS now, no matter how mundane, boring, tiring or annoying it may be at times.
Maybe it's a "Year 3 crisis" like John says. Hahaha.
Because what matters more to me is not how well I did for my assignments or exams during the time I had here (of course those are important), but the precious times I enjoyed with blessed company here.
Because at the end of my life here on earth, I won't be thinking about my grades or certificates, but of the relationships I had with others throughout my life.
When I think about various places in school, I immediately visually recall the things that happened at those places. Places where our lives were changed, things that I'll still be talking about with them many many years from now =P
Like how when the bus drove past ACJC on Thursday evening, John, Leo and I could still vividly recall the random hilarious things that happened, like me "flinging my towel off only when I was at the edge of the pool" hahahaha...
And I thank God that what I have is Godly fellowship, Kingdom friendships, full of His life and supernatural joy. Because the company we hang out with is so important in shaping our thinking and mindsets, outlook on God and life, actions and behaviour, and what kind of adults we grow into.
So blessed, so loved to have all these friends brought into my life. I couldn't have done anything to gain or deserve any of this. But I also know that this is something I can continue trusting God for.
If you're reading this, I thank God everyday for you (:
1:50 AM
Friday, October 16, 2009
Your LOVE has seen me through all my days :D
Thank You Jesus for keeping me alive til today... the fact that You've saved me from so many near-death situations in the past assures me that You have a great purpose for me, and I'm excited about the road ahead with You (:
So at this 21st-year turning point, I give thanks for the past 20 years, and dedicate the rest of my 120 years on this earth to You :D
3:38 PM
Monday, September 28, 2009
My dear,
It's been one year since we first knew each other. From the beginning, finding out that you're mine has elicited a plethora of reactions from family and friends - some were truly happy for me and gave their approval, some gave me shocked looks - but eventually everyone agreed that we were a perfect match.
It wasn't love at first sight. I was more interested in the one next to you initially, but my brother convinced me to give you a chance, and I've never regretted it since then.
You are my window to so many worlds I didn't know existed before.
You've accompanied me on so many periods of hectic deadlines and late nights.
The sight of you cheers me up even when I'm moody and tired, because you have such a glow radiating from you.
Happy 1st Anniversary, V.
You know I love you.
xoxo,
Jofid
(i don't really have any photos of me and my V, so this one taken during CNY will have to do =P)
11:21 PM
Saturday, September 26, 2009
I laughed when I first read this...... but why do I suddenly feel like I can relate to this?
Trying to reign in the younger brother who thinks he can get away with irresponsibility and faking stuff to get out of things he doesn't want to do.
We can be so chummy and free with each other, but there are times when things are damn annoying! While I usually appear to be calm and incapable of raising my voice, I think only he can bring out the explosive side of me. You don't wanna see me when I'm angry.
I can never love enough with my human love. There's nothing for me to draw from, not to mention loving at times when he is so downright unlovable. Jesus, how do you do it? How can Your love be so unconditional and so scandalously abundant and free at the same time?
Let go and let God. I can't afford to wait til I'm at the end of myself to turn to You for help. I have to involve You right from the start, draw from Your unending supply of love and don't care even if I get hated by anyone in the process, and know that You will give me your wisdom to do and say the right things at the right time.
10:36 PM
Monday, September 21, 2009
So I'm made to feel bad about helping someone my family doesn't like?
Was it wrong to help that person? Should I not have done that? Am I too gullible?
...........
But Jesus said to love your enemies right?
Eeeeee I feel so lousy and used now.
But a child of God has no business to feel condemned!
"Jofid, I will still prosper your mistakes."
---
I feel like I'm entering a new season/phase in my life. Cos my mind's being opened to so many new things lately. New people, new perspectives, new revelations of God.
And then, I'm hit in the face with this unusual bout of condemnation.
Maybe it's another sign of this new season, that Jesus, I need Your wisdom more and more everyday.
4:14 PM
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Jas's birthday surprise: 15 Aug 2009
Jas screams in pain as her beloved Pooh gets cut into half as Huixian sadistically grins away
And then. It all started from Jasmine's ice cream cake.
Presenting, the Dry Ice Experiment......
10:33 PM
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
09.09.09
Just thought I'd commemorate that =P
2:10 AM
Friday, August 28, 2009
Haha I'm sitting in front of my computer, smiling myself silly at the little things I'm beginning to recall from my childhood days.
Because my primary 2 classmate added me on Facebook today.
And talking to him on Facebook now suddenly makes me realise that I miss my childhood. And my childhood friends (:
I don't know why I still remember this incident, but somehow I can vividly recall the day when our form teacher read to us our 1st ghost story in class after our exams, and I was subconsciously leaning backwards more and more as the story approached the climax... when suddenly he pounced on my shoulders with a "boo!" and I nearly screamed out loud.
Lol. 13 years have passed in a blink of an eye. And thinking back, I don't think I've ever dreaded a single day of primary school. Some memories make me want to crack up all over again. It's a good thing I'm in the privacy of my own room, so there's no one to laugh at how ludicrous I look swinging between smiling dreamily and grinning ridiculously in front of my screen =D
Jesus, you really know how to put a smile on my face with sweet surprises like this (:
12:39 AM
It's past 4am on a Thursday night (Friday morning actually) and I'm still furiously working away at my lappie to perfect my brother's class presentation slides...
... when all of a sudden my brother nudges me on MSN and sends me this pic:
Awwwwwww (:
3:18 AM
Sunday, August 16, 2009
precious times =D
Sitting in the backseat with Myron at the wheel, in the wee hours of the morning, zooming down the highway at 140km/h with the windows rolled down, Hillsong United blasting at its full glory, hair flying in all directions...
... I closed my eyes and wondered how long this moment would last.
Ah, you friends make me love life.
12:57 AM
Thursday, August 13, 2009
"I am the one HE loves! ♥"
Wow God, I'm totally bowled over by You! Great things always seem to happen at 3 a.m. =P The 2-hour long phone conversation has made me so refreshed I can't sleep now. Thanks ah, God =P
I'm once again reminded to bring You into every situation, into my school timetable... with You in the picture, everything turns out awesome. And thanks Jesus for protecting my heart as well from things You don't want for me.
"God is moving (: Even while the world is sleeping! working the night shift...." ~ Bang Lin
2:29 AM
Saturday, August 08, 2009
The Bling Blingz presents... Collection #3: CARTOON VOGUE!
(click on picture to enter blogshop)
This time round, we went overseas to personally handpick pretty vintage cartoon accessories (: These classic items are exclusively limited to ONE piece per design only, so check out our blogshop and place your orders quick before they run out! =D
11:11 PM
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Our labour of love ♥ wedding designers wannabe (:
Ah it's been such a journey! Our fruits of labour finally culminated on 25 July, the day before we flew off to Bangkok. And looking back, we could really see God's fingerprints covering everything... from the smallest detail to the grand picture.
It was, after all, our first attempt at something of this nature, and of such a scale and importance (wedding leh! cannot play play one...), and there were times when we would just stare at each other not knowing what to do. Or how to do it. And of course learning how to deal with our 'client' too.
But it was amazing how God dropped inspiration throughout the entire process. Even the number of bouquets we estimated... they turned out to be EXACTLY enough. no more no less. And the 2 full days we spent putting up the decorations in the church hall were incredibly smooth-sailing too, no delays, no damages, and errands we needed to run fell neatly into place.
the early stages: starting from scratch
bird cage ~
the pew flowers somehow ended up looking like something else LOLLL =P
rough prototype of the stage flower stands (that somehow reminds me of a ferrero rocher bouquet =P)
church hall front entrance
close-up of the entrance centrepiece
stairways leading up to the entrance
stage flower stand
final day of putting up the wedding decor
(oh how we treated ourselves to a good dinner after that!) wedding day! (@ Faith Assembly of God)
(fellow new-creation-er! what a pleasant surprise =D)
Queen Amidala wannabe =P
Tarzan & Jane pose =P
Huixian calls this the 'banyan tree ad' lol
having fun with the excessive amounts of cloth leftover from the wedding =P
We were so happy that the wedding decor was well-received by the wedding couple & guests =D We could feel the entire place literally transform itself from what it's like on normal days.
One that left an impression on me, was the church secretary who works at the church building (who was one of the few who witnessed the entire process of the setup). She was so cute laa... she noticed us scavenging around for food after we took down all the decor at the end of the entire ceremony (the couple didn't even bother to keep any food for us knowing we had to stay behind to take down the decor -_-" and the buffet area was WIPED OUT.) and so nicely brought us some packed food that was kept at a side. And she complimented us on the good job done and said "next time when i celebrate my 80th 'da shou' I'll invite you girls to do decor for me okay!" hahaha...
And later on we found out from the groom's mum that to have a compliment like that coming from her meant a lot, cos she's been working in the church for many years and have seen many many weddings... so for her to be impressed by the decor....... LOL. Praise God!
God is really so good! He was the one who gave us this opportunity, and He was also the one who gave us the desire and passion to be wedding decor designers... and no matter how clueless we were at the start, the little frustrations with our 'client' and the little appreciation we received from them during the process... He still anointed our hands and made our creations find favour in the eyes of everyone (:
And when I least expected it, He also surprised me with a gift that exceeded my imagination. I could hear Him saying to me, at the moment I took the packet in my hands, "You never saw this coming, did you? =P I am Your rewarder... you may think your efforts went away unseen and forgotten, but I see everything and I will never let you be shortchanged.