Monday, May 29, 2006
I am a woman and I enjoy being one

Wanted to post this since I came back from Malacca. Malacca re-encounter was great. It was great knowing the people in EJ 288. So inspired by them. When it's time to run for the Lord, they fought to their best. When it's time to let loose and play, they play really hard. I had fun time knowing the Jaspers!!! Jaspers are cool people. Had so much fun. Didn't know that Pastor Jimmy and Pastor Debra are such fun-loving people.

During the retreat, the highlight was in Gen 1: 27.
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
What a simple verse, yet so meaningful and powerful.

Firstly, we are created by God. Let's clear all misconceptions that we are birthed out of rubbish bins. Hello, did you hear that, we are created by God!!! The same God that created the heavens and the earth, the hamsters, roses, stars. And he didn't forget us, he created you and me.

Secondly, we are created in the image of God. Cool, I'm sure God looks really handsome. Wow, in his image, with all his qualities and characteristics. And yes, we talked about the 12 characteristics of a Godly woman.

Thirdly, we are created as male and female. This to me is the most ministering verse. Many a times, the society forgot that females exist. They are crushed in the spirit by the competitiveness and their feminity are demeaned.

The exciting part was the dinner banquet. We were paired up with a brother-in-Christ as our dinner and dance partner. Prior to the banquet, we were front loaded that it is alright to dance with a brother. Father danced with daughters, Sons with mothers. Splendid.

The brothers came and fetched us, gave us a rose with our name on it and ushered us into the ballroom. Throughout the night, we were treated like princesses. They served us our portion of food, attended to all our requests, affirmed our beauty and invited us to a dance. We ended the night with worship, giving thanks to the Lord.

I thanked God for the dinner for it brought me to my acknowledgement that I am a woman and I enjoy being one. It is alright to be treated like a princess. In fact, it was very ministering. And, not all male-female relationships have to be romantically linked. Yes, there can be brotherly-sisterly relationships. The key is handling it with maturity.

I AM A WOMAN AND I ENJOY BEING ONE!!!!!

Sunday, May 21, 2006
Gentlemen, start your engine....

I'm back on the road. I have a love-hate relationship with driving. After failing my first test, I took a super long break from it. I needed that 1 month break to draw away from the fears and recharge myself. It felt great! It felt almost as if some bondage was broken, the metal ball at my ankles was taken away. I feel light and free!!!!

Unreluctantly, I picked up driving lessons again cos my test date is near. My last test date? 7/4. My next test date? 4/7. Interesting. And it's independence day!!!! Yes, I am going to get my independence in driving. No more driving instructor by my side when I drive. I'm going to conqueor the road this time.

But I love driving too. I like the feeling of cruising leisurely especially when there are no cars. I like to drive with gear 5 too. Feels like my car is lifted from the road. Wooh!!! Feels great!!!

So why is there a love-hate relationship? Hmm....this is a very chim question. I like driving, but I dont like the drivers on the road. They purposely make things difficult for those with L-plate, especially the double L-plates. You try to filter in and change lane, they purposely speed up so that you can't change. You take a slightly longer time to move off, they start honking you. Just when you speed up to fill in the gap, they cut into your lane, or turn in suddenly from the side lane. Can't they just be more gracious?

Don't worry, I have forgiven those drivers.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Hamster Talk

Of cos hamsters can't talk. But God can speak thru hamsters.

Incident no 1.
I was kindda upset about my honours project. So as usual, I sat beside the cage and talked to them to relieve stress, as if they could understand my emotions. Interestingly God spoke. Do you think they are happy? I think they are. They seem like they have no worries. Everyday just eat, sleep, play the wheel, eat, sleep, play the wheel. Why do you think they are happy? Cos they have no worries. Why dont they have worries? Cos we provide for them. There's food, water, shelter. What's there to worry about? Are you happy? I'm not sure God. I'm worried about the project. Why are you worried? Don't I provide for you, just like your family provide for the hamsters? ....... There was no reply from me, but I had my burning questions in my mind answered.

Mat 6: 25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, waht you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Incident no 2.
Again, I was sitting beside the cage, talking to them. This time, I was observing the things they were doing. Some are sleeping, some running the wheel, some eating, some grooming themselves, etc. In my mind I was thinking aloud, "What a boring life!!!" Dont you think they lead a pretty boring lifestyle, with no books to read, no tv to watch, no internet? But come to think of it, my life is pretty boring too. Wake up, go to work, do some stuff, come back, sleep. There is morning and there is evening - the next day.

God spoke. Do you enjoy watching them do all these boring stuff? Of yes, of cos I do. I mean they are really cute. Though they do the same old thing everyday, and they dont perform tricks to entertain me. But lo and behold, I do enjoy watching them.

Do you think I enjoy watching you do your "so-called" boring stuff? Erm, you mean you enjoy watching me sleep, brush my teeth, eat my food, watch tv and stuff? Yes of cos. Just like you enjoy your hamsters do their stuff. I created you. Of cos I will enjoy watching my creation. Wow God, I didnt think you enjoy that. Indeed, God is not looking at what we can do for him, he is more interested we dwelling in his presence.

Sunday, May 07, 2006
How Great is Our God

In all things, give thanks. It's so easy to thank God when we have good times. When our bosses like us, when we are in the pink of our health, when we do well in studies, when everything seems to be doing so well!!!! But, can you give thanks when you fail our exams, when there's no favour at work or when your health is going down the drain? That's a test of your faith. God is shaking your foundation on him! Is your security anchored on the blessings of God, or is your security anchored on Jesus, the object of your faith?

Book of Job is really an inspirational book. It brings about many emotions of Job when he suffered. His trail of thoughts and his unwavering faith.

Is your security placed on the physical things that God has blessed you with? The Merz, million dollars in the bank, condo?
Job1: 11"But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." God did allow his physical blessings to be taken away overnight and even his children died, but Job did not curse him.

Is your security placed your health?
Job2:5 "But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." God allowed Job to suffer from painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, but Job did not curse him.

When you are suffering, does it mean the Lord hates you and is punishing you? NO! Precisely because he loves you so much, that's why he allows trials and tribulations. To mould you, so that at the end of the day, when you are tested by fire, you can come out as refined gold.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, but I will still continue to praise his name. Then I will have this consolation - my joy in unrelenting pain- that I had not denied the words of the Holy One. Even in my difficult times, I stand by my faith to testify, How Great is Our God.

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God,
And all will see how great,
How great is our God.